Cruises and coronavirus: The latest itinerary changes and travel restrictions for each line
Many cruise lines have canceled or altered scheduled sailings to China and in and around Asia as coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) continues to spread through nearly 50 other countries on every continent except Antarctica.
Since early February, cruise lines, working with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), have swiftly reacted to the outbreak and started implementing their own precautions by canceling sailings, rerouting others, restricting passenger and crew boarding, and boosting screening procedures for passengers boarding from Chinese ports or who have traveled in or through China, Hong Kong and Macao. And in recent days, several have added South Korea, Italy and Iran to their no-board lists.
In addition, a number of ports in Asia and the South Pacific are barring ships with any suspected coronavirus onboard from docking. This has led to ships sailing around the South China Sea unable to dock, including Holland America Line’s MS Westerdam, which had no known cases of coronavirus at the time and was not under quarantine. Fears about the virus also spurred ports in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to turn away the MSC Meraviglia, which has since docked in Cozumel, Mexico.
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Industry-wide travel restrictions
On Feb. 7, all oceangoing member cruise lines of CLIA agreed to adopt enhanced screening measures intended to address the industry’s exposure to the ongoing outbreak.
In a statement, a CLIA spokesperson said: “The health and safety of cruise passengers and crew is and remains the number-one priority of CLIA and its member lines, which make up over 90 percent of oceangoing cruise capacity worldwide.
“Given the evolving nature of the ongoing 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak – and based upon prevailing guidance from global health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) — CLIA Members have adopted the following enhanced protocols for oceangoing guests and crew who have recently traveled from or through China, including Hong Kong and Macao. These enhanced policies, which are in effect as of February 7, 2020, build upon those which were implemented on Jan. 31, and continue to allow for informed decisions on a case-by-case basis whether a guest or crew member will be permitted to board.”
These additional measures include:
- CLIA members are to deny boarding to all persons who have traveled from, visited or transited via airports in China, including Hong Kong and Macao, within 14 days before embarkation.
- CLIA members are to deny boarding to all persons who, within 14 days before embarkation, have had close contact with, or helped care for, anyone suspected or diagnosed as having coronavirus, or who is currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to novel coronavirus.
- CLIA members are to conduct pre-boarding screening necessary to effectuate these prevention measures. Enhanced screening and initial medical support are to be provided, as needed, to any persons exhibiting symptoms of suspected novel coronavirus.
- “In coordination with cruise lines, medical experts and regulators around the world, CLIA and its member lines will continue to closely monitor for new developments related to the coronavirus and will modify these policies as necessary with the utmost consideration for the health and safety of passengers and crew.”
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Cancellations and itinerary updates for individual cruise lines
Read on to see which routes are being changed and which additional travel restrictions precautions individual cruise lines are imposing to combat the spread of coronavirus.
If no travel restriction is listed, that means that cruise line has not implemented restrictions beyond those set forth by CLIA.
AIDA
Itinerary changes: AIDA has canceled its entire Asia season for ships AIDAbella and AIDAvita.
APT
Itinerary changes: APT’s Paul Melinis, managing director for the U.K. and Europe, said, “No APT tours and river cruises pass through Wuhan, with our China itineraries starting at the end of March. In the meantime we are monitoring the situation closely through government travel advisories, the World Health Organization and our contacts within China. The safety of our guests and staff is always our top priority. We expect to continue operating all our river cruise and tours to China as planned.”
Aurora Expeditions
Travel restrictions: Aurora Expeditions does not have any cruises in Asia but its ship Greg Mortimer is operating its maiden season in Antarctica, so the company has adopted guidelines set out by CLIA and IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators), denying boarding to anyone who has traveled from, visited or transited via airports in China, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan and South Korea within 14 days of embarkation.
Aurora has also updated its health policy for all departures after Feb. 12. This includes pre-boarding health evaluations of every passenger and crew member, with anyone registering a body temperature above normal not be permitted to board.
Azamara
Travel restrictions: As of Feb. 24 and until further notice, Azamara will adopt these protocols:
- Regardless of nationality, boarding will be denied to any passenger who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Iran, South Korea, and the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto in the past 15 days; as well as any guest who has come in contact (within six feet) with anyone with 15-day prior travel to these regions.
- Passengers who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
- There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on any passenger who has traveled from, to or through Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy (all regions other than Lombardy and Veneto) in the past 15 days, and those who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through these regions in the past 15 days.
- Passengers presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.
- All guests that are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.
Carnival Cruise Line
Itinerary changes: All South Pacific cruises on Carnival Splendor and Carnival Spirit that were scheduled to visit New Caledonia’s Lifou, Mare or Isle of Pines ports have been diverted to other ports in Vanuatu.
Celebrity Cruises
Travel restrictions: In addition to complying with the CLIA restrictions, the cruise line will deny boarding to the following individuals:
- Anyone who has been to the following places or– in close contact with anyone who has – in the past 15 days, regardless of nationality: Iran, South Korea and the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto
- Passengers presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding
- Passengers who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
Specialized health screenings will be mandatory for anyone who has been to Japan, Singapore, Thailand and all regions of Italy other than Lombardy and Veneto in the past 15 days.
The same goes for guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who visited a country on either the denied-boarding or special-screening list in the past 15 days. All guests that are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.
Itinerary changes:
Celebrity Millennium: The ship’s entire 2020 season in Asia has been canceled, including cruises departing Feb. 29, March 14 and 28, April 10 and 21 and May 10.
The ship will reposition to the U.S. West Coast earlier than originally planned and offer a series of three, four and five-night Pacific Coastal sailings. From March to mid-April, the ship will be hosting a number of “Cruising for Heroes” sailings in support of California’s firefighters, first responders and veterans. Later in April, the ship will sail roundtrip from Seattle prior to the start of its 2020 Alaska season from Vancouver.
All booked passengers on Celebrity Millennium will receive a refund, plus a 25% future cruise credit, as well as refunds of any excursions and onboard packages. Those with air travel and hotel booked through Flights by Celebrity will be refunded automatically; people with independent air arrangements may receive up to $300 per person reimbursement for any airline flight change fees incurred.
Celebrity Constellation:
- The March 2 cruise will now be a roundtrip sailing from Dubai and skip Phuket, replacing it with a day at sea.
- The March 17 sailing will now embark in Dubai instead of Singapore, and Phuket will also be replaced with a sea day, plus port times extended in Cochin, Goa and Mumbai. Passengers on these two March cruises will receive an onboard credit equal to the rate of one cruise day.
For passengers forced to change travel plans to embark or disembark in Dubai, flights or hotel booked through Flights by Celebrity will be re-accommodated, and the line will assist those who booked flights independently, with a reimbursement of up to $500 per person for any flight change fees incurred. Shore excursions booked through Celebrity for Singapore and Phuket will also be refunded.
Celestyal Cruises
Travel restrictions: Celeystal is extending the CLIA ban to 30 days.
In addition, passengers who have been to China (including Macao, and Hong Kong), well as Japan, Singapore and Thailand within 30 days from their embarkation will not be allowed to board the Three Continents Cruise due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli public health authorities. Passengers should contact their original booking agent for alternative options.
Celeystal is also requiring passengers of all nationalities to complete a health questionnaire. Along with the crew, they must ago undergo non-touch thermal scans before every sailing.
Persons with signs or symptoms of illness such as fever or feverishness, chills, cough or difficulty breathing will be denied embarkation.
Costa Cruises
Travel restrictions: In addition to the CLIA rules, Cunard has expanded its no-board list to include all passengers from Vo’ Euganeo, Italy, and the following towns in Lombardy, effective Feb. 22:
- Casalpusterlengo
- Codogno
- Castiglione D’Adda
- Fombio
- Maleo
- Somaglia
- Bertonico
- Terranova dei Passerini
- Castelgerundo
- San Fiorano
Costa is contacting passengers who are resident in these cities directly or through travel agencies to let them know and inform them about the full refund procedures. The line has also canceled all shore excursions to the Piemonte, Lombardy and Veneto regions (in North Italy) currently under lockdown.
Measures that the company has adopted the past few weeks include the introduction of a medical form for embarking passengers and pre-boarding health screening, with temperature checks for people who appear or identify as symptomatic (respiratory or fever symptoms). Any reports or detection of symptoms of illness during pre-boarding screening can be managed by medical professionals to allow for informed decisions on a case-by-case basis whether a passenger or crew member will be unable to board.
Itinerary changes: Costa canceled all of its February sailings on its four China-based ships: Costa Serena, Costa Atlantica, Costa Venezia and Costa neoRomantica. Passengers are eligible for full refunds, or they can choose alternative sailing dates before the end of 2020 with $50 onboard credits.
Cruise Maritime Voyages
Travel restrictions: Cruise Maritime Voyages will not be accepting any passengers or crew for embarkation who have traveled to mainland China within the past 30 days. Additionally, extra health screening procedures are being put in place in all ports of embarkation.
Crystal Cruises
Travel restrictions: In addition to complying with the CLIA guidelines, the line has updated its pre-boarding public health questionnaire to include questions concerning the coronavirus. Cruisers will be screened before they board for body temperatures of 100.4℉ (38℃) or higher and/or showing signs of respiratory issues. If anyone is determined unwell to travel, they will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, if they don’t have insurance.
Furthermore, the line has canceled nonessential day visits to the ships when they are in port.
Itinerary changes:
Crystal Symphony: The following March and April sailings that were scheduled to sail from Singapore are canceled:
- March 1: Roundtrip Singapore
- March 1: Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- March 16: Roundtrip Singapore
- March 16: Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- March 31: Roundtrip Singapore
- March 31: Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- April 24: Kuala Lumpur To Rome
All passengers on these cancelled sailings will receive a 100%t refund of the cruise fare paid along with $500 per person for air consideration. Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit of 25 percent of the base cruise fare paid per segment as a gesture of goodwill. The FCC can be used on any of Crystal’s experiences including Ocean, River, Yacht and Expedition for voyages commencing on or before December 31, 2021. Port charges will be refunded to the original form of payment made.
Guests on the cruise that embarked Feb. 15 will disembark in Singapore as scheduled on Sunday.
Crystal Serenity: The following Asia sailings are canceled:
- March 3, departing Sydney
- March 17, departing Bali
- March 28, departing Colombo, Sri Lanka
Guests currently on the ship that were scheduled to disembark in Bali or Colombo will instead disembark in Sydney on Monday. World Cruise and in-transit guests to Mumbai will now sail a revised itinerary, which is being communicated onboard.
In a statement, the line said: “All guests scheduled to embark the Crystal Serenity on the above dates will receive a 100% refund of the cruise fare paid along with $500 per person for air consideration. As a gesture of goodwill, guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit (FCC) of 25% of the base cruise fare paid. The FCC can be used on any of Crystal’s experiences including Ocean, River, Yacht and Expedition for voyages commencing on or before December 31, 2021. Port charges will be refunded to the original form of payment made.
“Crystal will refund these guests for the unused days of the cruise fare paid and the corresponding port charges as well as provide them with a 25% Future Cruise Credit,” the company said. Crystal will also provide these guests with $500 per person credit to their shipboard folio to assist with travel arrangements.”
Cunard Line
Travel restrictions: In addition to the CLIA rules, passengers who have traveled from or through Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, or Malaysia within 14 days before embarkation will also be subject to enhanced pre-boarding screening.
Itinerary changes: Queen Elizabeth’s Asia season, scheduled to run from March 8 through May 15 has been canceled and replaced with an extended season in Australia. The new season will comprise two six-night Tasmania voyages, two 11-night New Zealand voyages and an inaugural 27-night full circumnavigation of Australia.
Queen Elizabeth will then sail a 25-night Transpacific crossing from Sydney to Vancouver via New Caledonia, Hawaii, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The ship’s Alaska cruises are unchanged, and the ship will resume its Asia program in September 2020 as already published.
“For those who have booked flights or additional packages directly through Cunard, all aspects will be refunded. If guests booked flights or additional packages via a travel agent or third-party tour operator, they should contact them directly. If any arrangements have been booked independently, guests should contact their travel insurance provider for details of how to submit a claim,” the line said.
Dream Cruises
Travel restrictions: Dream Cruises is exercising CLIA-style restrictions on Explorer Dream, which is based in Australia and New Zealand for the summer season.
Dream Cruises will offer affected passengers who are unable to sail on Explorer Dream’s March 8 cruise will receive full refunds of their paid cruise fare, port charges and shore excursions.
Itinerary changes: It is not yet clear whether Explorer Dream will return to Asia in March, but the line recently announced the ship will return to Australia for the October 2020 to February 2021 cruise season.
Dream Cruises canceled all future cruises of World Dream after the ship was temporarily placed under quarantine in Hong Kong on Feb. 5. The ship was cleared on Feb. 9 after no passengers or crew tested positive for coronavirus. Dream Cruises has also suspended all Singapore operations.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
Travel restrictions: The British line said it is monitoring the situation and following the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, World Health Organization and Public Health Health.
On Thursday, the cruise line said that health officials in the Dominican Republic had turned away one of its ships, the Braemar, after its captain reported that four Filipinos, two British citizens and two U.S. citizens were under medical observation for symptoms such as fever, coughing, or breathing difficulty. They have all since recovered.
“It is our opinion that this is an overreaction by the Dominican Republic,” Fred. Olsen said in a written statement.
Passengers on another Fred. Olsen ship, the Boudicca, were forbidden from disembarking on the second day of a 48-hour port call in Mumbai.
Holland America Line
Travel restrictions: In addition to following the CLIA guidelines, the cruise line has barred crew members from mainland China from joining any ship until further notice. Crew members from other regions of the world who might have been scheduled to connect on flights through China have been rerouted.
Itinerary changes: MS Westerdam’s Feb. 29, March 14 and 28, and April 11 and 25 cruises, all of which were scheduled to depart from Yokohama, have also been canceled. All passengers will receive a full refund, a 25 to 50% future cruise credit (depending on the departure date) and reimbursement of cancellation fees. New itineraries for Westerdam will be announced soon.
The Westerdam gained worldwide attention on its Feb. 1 cruise out of Hong Kong when several ports denied it permission to disembark there despite the fact that no one on board was sick. After rejections from Japan, Guam and Thailand, Cambodia finally let passengers and crew disembark there beginning Feb. 14. Although one passenger tested positive while traveling home through Kuala, Lampur the following day, she was cleared a week later. The remainder of the ship’s 1,455 passengers and 747 crew members tested negative and were given the all-clear to travel home. Holland America Line arranged and paid for all flights, in addition to the full cruise refund and 100% future cruise credit already communicated.
Hurtigruten
Travel restrictions: The Norwegian company is following guidelines and recommendations from the World Health Association), the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and CLIA.
The cruise line has also implemented a mandatory health questionnaire for guests and crew as a prerequisite for embarkation and said that passengers who appear to have symptoms will be subject to medical evaluations including, but not limited to, temperature checks as deemed necessary.
Any guest or crew member showing symptoms of any respiratory illness while onboard will be subject to screening for coronavirus, and may be subject to potential quarantine and disembarkation.
Lindblad Expeditions
Travel restrictions: While it is not listed as a member of CLIA, Lindblad is following that group’s guidelines and asking passengers to complete a health questionnaire in addition to pre-embarkation screenings.
Marella Cruises
Travel restrictions: While not listed as a member, Marella is complying with the CLIA guidelines and requiring health questionnaires prior to embarkation.
MSC Cruises
Travel restrictions: In addition to complying with the CLIA restrictions, MSC will deny boarding to anyone who lives in, or has traveled to, from or through any of the northern Italian towns under quarantine, including:
- Casalpusterlengo
- Codogno
- Castiglione d’Adda
- Fombio
- Maleo
- Somaglia
- Bertonico
- Terranova dei Passerini
- Castelgerundo
- San Fiorano
- Vò
In addition, the cruise line is conducting non-touch thermal scans on all passengers and crew before embarkation for every cruise operated by the company anywhere in the world, and people with signs or symptoms of illness such as fever or feverishness, chills, cough or difficulty breathing will be denied embarkation. Guests who develop fevers on board will be isolated in their cabins, along with anyone sharing their cabin or who had close contact with them, including crew.
Itinerary changes:
- MSC Splendida: The Grand Voyage to the Middle East and Europe that began Feb. 14 skipped Naha, Japan and Hong Kong in favor of the Malaysian cities of Langkawi, Penang and Kuala Lumpur and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- MSC Bellissima: The Grand Voyage scheduled to run from March 21 to April 18 has also been updated. The line has dropped calls to Shenzhen, mainland China; Hong Kong; and Keelung, Taiwan. The ship will instead call at Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand; Phu My/Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; as well as spend an extra day in Kobe, Japan. The ship will call at Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates, instead of Khor Fakkan, UAE, before sailing to Asia.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Travel restrictions: Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are now “off-limits,” and any passenger who has transited through them in the past 30 days before embarkation will be denied boarding. This includes flights transiting through or originating there.
As of Feb. 20, Norwegian had relaxed its previous passport restrictions, which barred cruisers with passports from China, Macao and Hong Kong from boarding. However, passengers with Chinese passports will not be allowed to board sailings with scheduled calls on Singapore or the Philippines, as ports in both of those countries are currently not allowing cruisers from China to disembark.
The line has also introduced non-touch temperature screenings. Cruisers who register a temperature of 100.4℉ Fahrenheit (38℃) or higher will not be allowed to board and will be directed to seek local medical treatment.
Itinerary changes: The cruise line has canceled all of Norwegian Spirit’s Asia sailings through Dec. 7. The ship is being redeployed to Athens, where it will begin 7-day European cruises beginning April 19. Destinations include Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini and Corfu, Greece; Kusadasi and Istanbul, Turkey; Ashdod and Haifa, Israel; Limassol, Cyprus as well as two new ports of call for the brand, Patmos and Volos, Greece.
Guests booked on the canceled Feb. 17 Norwegian Jade cruise will receive a full refund that will be processed automatically to the form of payment provided at the time of booking. In addition, and as a goodwill gesture, guests will receive a future cruise credit worth 25% towards their next cruise. This credit can be used for up to Feb. 13, 2021, and can be applied towards any of Norwegian Cruise Line’s currently published sailings. Furthermore, Norwegian Cruise Line will cover up to $300 per person for any airfare penalties or change fees.
Oceania Cruises
Travel restrictions: Oceania is extending the CLIA restrictions, denying boarding to the following:
- Any passenger or crew member who has been in China, including Hong Kong and Macao within 30 days of embarkation
- Anyone holding a passport from those places, regardless of where they currently reside
- Anyone who registers a temperature of 100.4℉ (38℃) or higher during the mandatory no-touch thermal scans
In addition, any passenger who exhibits symptoms of any respiratory illness while onboard will be subject to additional screening at the onboard medical center and could be subject to potential quarantine and disembarkation.
Itinerary changes:
- Oceania has canceled all cruises in Asia through June 2020. All passengers booked on canceled sailings will receive a full refund along with a future cruise credit, valid for any 2020 sailing, equal to 25 percent of the cruise fare paid.
- Nautica: The ship is currently sailing across the Indian Ocean having departed Cape Town on Feb. 3 bound for Singapore and will continue on a revised itinerary that will now conclude in Dubai. The line will be arranging return flights for all passengers who purchased Oceania Cruises’ airfare and assisting those with independent arrangements.
- Insignia: The Around the World voyage will operate a revised itinerary that charts a southerly course for Australia and New Zealand before heading across the South Pacific to Polynesia and Hawaii and concludes in California and New York on the original schedule. Passengers sailing on the full world cruise have been provided goodwill compensation in addition to a future cruise credit. Those who were scheduled to disembark in Singapore or Tokyo have been offered alternative arrangements.
PO Cruises
Travel restrictions: In addition to following the CLIA guidelines, PO is conducting enhanced screenings on anyone who has been in Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia within 14 days of embarkation to determine whether boarding will be permitted.
Itinerary changes: Arcadia’s World Cruise itinerary no longer includes overnight calls to Shanghai on March 5 and Hong Kong on March 9. The revised itinerary includes the following calls: Port Arthur (Feb. 29); Adelaide (Mar. 4-5); Albany (Mar 8); Fremantle (Mar 10-11) and Colombo (Mar. 19).
Passengers that were due to disembark in Hong Kong on March 10 or Singapore on March 14, will now disembark in Fremantle on March 10. The cruise line is organizing alternative flights for anyone who booked their cruise directly or through a travel agent. Passengers who booked through a third party should contact their travel agent or tour operator and file a claim to their travel insurance carrier. Anyone who cannot recoup their losses should contact the cruise line directly.
PO Cruises Australia
Itinerary changes: The Pacific Explorer cruise from Singapore, departing Friday, has been canceled. Passengers will receive a refund of the cruise fare plus 50% of the fare as a future cruise credit to be used within a year.
Princess Cruises
Itinerary changes:
- Sapphire Princess: All 2020 cruises in Asia been canceled through October. Instead the ship will offer 44 new cruises from five Australian ports for an extended year-long season, starting May 1.
- Majestic Princess: All cruises are canceled through to the April 2 departure.
- Sun Princess: The scheduled calls to Hong Kong on April 28 and July 14 and Shanghai on May 1 and July 17 have been canceled and replaced with calls to Incheon (Seoul) and Jeju, South Korea. In addition, the scheduled call to Pago Pago, American Samoa on June 22 has been replaced with a call to Moorea on June 29. These changes impact multiple voyages and guests have been notified of these changes. The line is also looking to remove Sun Princess’ transit calls on Shanghai on May 1 and July 17, replacing them with Japanese ports of calls.
- Diamond Princess: All cruises through to the April 20 departure have been canceled.
Diamond Princess was quarantined outside of Yokohama (Tokyo), Japan, until Feb. 19; more than 700 passengers and crew have tested positive for coronavirus – including at least 40 Americans – and four elderly Japanese passengers have died, along with a male British passenger.
On Feb. 17, more than 300 American passengers were evacuated to Air Force bases in California and Texas and medical facility in Nebraska, though some remain in Japanese hospitals. Princess is currently completing passenger disembarkation with the help of local government officials.
Quark Expeditions
Travel restrictions: In addition to following guidelines laid out by CLIA and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, the company is requiring passengers to complete a medical questionnaire and undergo a temperature screening for all cruises through March 16. Passengers with temperatures over 100.4℉ (38℃) or respiratory issues will not be allowed to board.
Regent Seven Seas
Travel restrictions: For cruises through April 8, boarding will denied to:
- Passengers and crew who have visited China, Hong Kong and Macao in the 30 days before embarkation. Anyone denied boarding for this reason will be issued a refund when they provide proof of travel.
- Any traveler – passenger or crew – holding a Chinese, Hong Kong or Macao passport will not be allowed to board any of Regent Seven Seas’ ships, regardless of residency
- Anyone who registers a body temperature of 100.4℉ (38℃) or higher during the non-touch thermal screening
Itinerary changes: Regent has modified Seven Seas Voyager’s March 1 and March 13 voyages in order to remove Hong Kong. The line says revised itineraries and further announcements will be communicated as they become available.
Royal Caribbean
Travel restrictions: In addition to the CLIA guidelines, the cruise line will deny boarding to anyone – regardless of nationality – who has been in South Korea, Iran and the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto within 15 days of boarding or been in close contact with anyone who has.
In addition to the CLIA-mandated health screenings, enhanced screenings will be required of passengers meeting the following criteria:
- Passengers who have traveled through select countries impacted by coronavirus within 15 days of boarding.
- Passengers who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macao within 15 days of boarding.
- Passengers who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
- Passengers presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.
All passengers who are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.
Itinerary changes:
- Spectrum of the Seas: All China and Hong Kong sailings are canceled through the March 21 departure. Passengers on canceled cruises will receive full refunds. The line will redeploy the ship to Sydney for an undisclosed period of time to offer complimentary cruises to firefighters and other volunteer first responders.
- Quantum of the Seas: All cruises through the end of March have also been canceled. Passengers will receive full refunds.
In addition, Royal Caribbean is allowing U.S. passengers on any Asian cruise scheduled before March 23 to rebook without paying a penalty at a later date.
Seabourn
Travel restrictions: Seabourn will not permit any cruisers who have traveled to, from or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao in the past 14 days to board its ships, and crew members from mainland China will be delayed from joining any Seabourn ship until further notice.
Screening protocols that have been put in place include:
- Required pre-boarding medical evaluations – including temperature checks – for anyone who appears or identifies as symptomatic.
- Medical screening for coronavirus for anyone who visits the medical center with symptoms of any respiratory illness.
- Additional disinfection screenings will be performed onboard in addition to the line’s regular cleaning and sanitation protocols.
Itinerary changes:
- Seabourn Ovation: In addition to canceling the Feb. 29 sailing from Singapore, the cruise line has replaced all of the ship’s Southeast Asia port calls through April. The ship’s next scheduled embarkation, originally planned for March 14 in Singapore, will now take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on the same date. Port calls from March 15 to April 3 are also affected, with some destinations changed and others rescheduled to alternate dates. Guests who were booked on this voyage will receive a refund of the fare paid for the 14-day voyage, as well as any prepaid purchases made through Seabourn including flights, pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, and shore excursions. Because the cruise was canceled close to the departure date, guests will also receive a future cruise credit.
- Seabourn Sojourn: World Cruise stops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila and Benoa (Indonesia), will be replaced with Freemantle (Perth), Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney, respectively. Additionally, because of the change in itinerary, the port call on Sydney on April 29, will be switched to Auckland. Port calls from March 11 to April 30 are also affected, with some destinations changed and others rescheduled to alternate dates. Guests who are booked on affected voyages will receive a future cruise credit.
Silversea
Travel restrictions: In addition to the CLIA guidelines, passengers who have been in Iran, Italy or South Korea – or in close contact with anyone who has – within 15 days of embarkation will be denied boarding. Any passenger presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.
Mandatory specialized health screenings will be performed passengers who are uncertain whether they’ve been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao in the past 15 days. Passengers who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptom will be subject to mandatory specialized health screenings.
Star Cruises
Travel restrictions: Star Cruises has suspended the boarding of passengers living in Wuhan and Hubei Province as well as their close contacts. Passengers who do not wish to travel due to the coronavirus outbreak are offered an unconditional refund.
Itinerary changes: Asia-based Star Cruises has suspended the operation of SuperStar Gemini and SuperStar Aquarius. All cruises have been canceled until further notice. Booked passengers have the option to change their cruise date or cancel with a full refund.
Tauck
Itinerary changes: Tauck’s Yangtze River itineraries begin in April and the line said it is taking a “wait-and-see” attitude before making any decisions, and it will continue to monitor the situation.
Uniworld
Itinerary changes: Uniworld’s China itineraries begin in April, and the line said it will continue to monitor developments.
Victoria Cruise Lines
Itinerary changes: Victoria Cruises, which operates three-, four- and seven-night itineraries on China’s Yangtze River, canceled six sailings through Feb. 16 after the Ministry of Culture and Tourism temporarily suspended tourism operations but has not announced any new cancellations. It says it will continue to monitor the situation.
Viking Cruises
Travel restrictions: Viking River and Viking Ocean cruise lines are complying with the CLIA guidelines sand continuing to monitor the situation regarding future ocean and river cruises.
Viking has also implemented enhanced health screening procedures for all guests boarding our vessels within the next 90 days.
Please note, any guests who have traveled from or through mainland China within 14 days of beginning their trip with Viking, will not be permitted to embark the ship.
Itinerary changes:
- All Yangtze and China cruises are canceled through June 2020.
- Port calls to Xiamen and Hong Kong will be replaced with stops in Singapore. Guests on impacted itineraries and their travel agents will be contacted directly.
- Viiking Sun will sail a modified itinerary on its way to London/Greenwich, England. Guests scheduled to embark/disembark on March 9 will now do so in Benoa, Bali (an update that supersedes any communication prior to Feb. 14).
- Viking Orion will be redeployed to Alaska, where the ship was scheduled to begin sailing in late spring.
Virgin Voyages
Travel restrictions: Virgin, which debuts in Miami in March, is expanding on the CLIA restrictions by denying boarding to anyone who has been in the following country in the last 21 days before embarkation, regardless of nationality:
- Japan
- Malaysia
- South Korea
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Italian regions of Milan, Lombardy and Veneto
The 21-day ban also applies to anyone who’s had close contact with people with confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus or who are being monitored for exposure.
Windstar
Itinerary changes: The cruise line is extending the CLIA restrictions to 30 days and denying boarding to anyone who has been to South Korea or in contact with someone who has. The same goes for anyone who’s helped care for someone with a confirmed or suspected case of coronavirus or who is being monitored for exposure.
In addition, all passengers and crew will be subject to a no-touch temperature check before boarding. Anyone with a fever (100.4 F°/38 C°) will not be allowed to board the ship.
Itinerary changes:
Wind Star: The cruise line replaced Thursday’s scheduled port call to Lifou, in the Loyalty Islands, with a day at sea and has received permission to dock at Mare on Friday.
Star Breeze: All 2020 Asia cruises are canceled. Instead, the ship will extend its 2020 Alaska season and then move to Tahiti for its previously scheduled inaugural season in Australia and New Zealand.
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