Cruise industry proposes travel restrictions for passengers over 70 as coronavirus spreads

“We had 72 hours in which to respond, which we were able to do yesterday in time. We feel like we have been responsive on prevention, on detection, and on care for guests on cruise ships, and we believe that we’ve now elevated our ability to manage any situation that would arise and that people should feel comfortable to cruise with us,” said Goldstein.

He added, “Either elderly travelers or travelers with serious chronic underlying health conditions are the most vulnerable segment of the population, and we need to take that into account.”

Data from the Cruise Line International Association shows the average age of passengers on cruises is 47 while just 14% are 70 or older.

The cruise industry is already grappling with lower demand as more travelers stay at home. Data from SunTrust Robinson Humphrey shows a 35% plunge in cruise bookings last week, compared to the same time a year ago.

Royal Caribbean withdrew its first quarter and full year 2020 guidance. In a rush to secure additional financing, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line both secured additional lines of credit.

Credit rating agencies have also sounded alarm. SP put Carnival and Royal Caribbean on credit watch negative, writing “we believe it is increasingly likely that the demand for cruises will remain weak even after the virus is contained.”

But “we’re a resilient travel sector. We’re a resilient bunch of people…we’ve been through other remarkable, unprecedented, and unforeseen challenges and we’ll get through this one too,” said Goldstein.

Correction: The coronavirus has resulted in more than 124,000 confirmed cases globally, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. At least 4,589 people have died worldwide. An earlier version mischaracterized the figures.