United Arab Emirates Transport Authority announced that all cruises operating out of the UAE have been suspended. The latest precautionary measure announced Tuesday night come as a response to stop the spread of coronavirus the government said.
Today the Italian cruise line Costa Cruises, announced they will not allow embarkation of passengers from Italian ports until April 3. The cancelations come after the Italian government imposed travel restrictions across the country. Voyages currently underway will stop in Italian ports only to allow guests to disembark and return home, the company said in a statement.
The cruise ship MSC Opera has canceled the next 12-Day Mediterranean voyage departing from Genoa, Italy and the vessel will remain in port until further notice. According to MSC Cruises, the cancelation of the March 10-21 cruise on MSC Opera comes after the Italian government announced new restrictive measures that affect the entire Lombardy region and 14 other provinces in northern Italy.
Grand Princess crew will stay onboard after all passengers disembark the ship at Port of Oakland, California on Monday, March 9. Once disembarkation of the guests is completed, Grand Princess will set sail with all crew and most probably will remain off the coast of California. Plans for a crew quarantine are still being determined as the US authorities decide what to do. Is this the right decision to keep the crew isolated on the ship? Only the time will tell.
The non-profit organization World Central Kitchen, established by chef José Andrés and his wife, started delivering pre-packed meals and food supplies to the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship Grand Princess which is still off the coast of California.
Princess Cruises has canceled the March 7, voyage on Royal Princess. The cruise ship was scheduled to depart from Los Angeles (San Pedro), California on a 7 Night Mexican Riviera cruise, however, it was canceled at the last minute notice as the guest had already arrived at the cruise terminal.
During a press conference, after meeting with the cruise line executives in Port Everglades, Florida, Vice President Mike Pence said they are tracking another cruise ship that may have shared crew members with the Diamond Princess or the Grand Princess. Vice President Pence who is in charge of a task force to manage the U.S. response to the Coronavirus outbreak didn’t say which specific cruise ship the state authorities are tracking.
The fear of another Coronavirus outbreak on cruise ship became reality after 21 people tested positive for COVOD-19, including 19 crew members and 2 passengers on Grand Princess. The news was released just minutes ago by Vice President Mike Pence, adding that 24 tested negative and one test was inconclusive.
The fear of Coronavirus has spread on the cruise ship Grand Princess after two passengers on the previous February 11- 21 voyage tested positive upon arrival in California. Grand Princess is now being held off the coast of California while public health officials determine if anyone on board has been infected.
The cruise ship MSC Opera is on high alert after Austrian passenger who disembarked the vessel on February 28, in Genoa, Italy tested positive for Coronavirus. MSC Cruises was notified today by the Austrian Health Authorities that upon arrival back home the man has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
