1st Post

In the Wuhan area of Hubei province, China, a new coronavirus appeared in mid-December 2019 and came to worldwide attention in mid-January 2020 and by the end of February despite efforts to contain the outbreak via quarantine in China.  The Diamond Princess ship docked in Yokohama, Japan in early February and its passengers and crew were quarantined for 14 days, with 169 passengers and crew removed to Japanese hospitals for treatment. Four of those passengers died. It is suspected that a crew member was exposed to the virus on the previous cruise. By February 27, all remaining passengers had left the ship and returned to their home countries where Canadians were put in an additional 14 days of quarantine after being flown to an armed forces base in Ontario.  Over 60 countries have reported at least one case of COVID-19 with serious outbreaks in Iran, northern Italy, South Korea and Japan.

Events creating confusion for travelers due to the COVID-19 illness worldwide spread:

February 7-  All oceangoing member cruise lines of Cruise Lines International Association (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 Macau. These enhanced policies, which are in effect as of February 7, 2020, build upon those which were implemented on January 31, 2020, 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:

1)   CLIA members are to deny boarding to all persons who have traveled from, visited or transited via airports in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, within 14 days before embarkation. 

2)   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. 

3)   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."

    February 12-  Celebrity Solstice and most ships in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean and being affected by the virus of the same group of diseases as the common cold, but is more severe. Friends on the Emerald Princess - which cruised from Los Angeles on February 1, 2020 for the Hawaiian islands; Apia, Samoa; Pago Pago, American Samoa and the French Polynesian islands of Bora, Bora; Moorea and Tahiti – had the ports of Apia and Pago Pago cancelled and substituted for two additional Hawaiian ports. Apia and Pago Pago officials are barring visitors from countries where the new novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been detected which although originating in Wuhan, China has infected people now in hospitals in Canada, Australia, the USA and over 20 other countries.

  From the Science Magazine website on February 12, 2020:

      COVID-19 is a name for the disease, not for the virus that causes it, which until now had a temporary moniker, 2019-nCoV, signifying it was a novel coronavirus that emerged late in 2019. But the pathogen also got a new designation, which arrived before Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of theWorld Health Organization (WHO), had even finished his press conference, by way of a preprint posted on bioRxiv by the body charged with classifying and naming viruses. The Coronavirus Study Group (CSG) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, the paper noted, had decided to call the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.

     February 13-  Nuku'alofa, Tonga, upon orders from its public health minister, has closed its port. However, Fiji ports Lautoka and Suva are allowing ships to dock.  Other countries refusing cruise ships are: Philippines[MOU1] , Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and some Vietnam ports.

     February 17-  Tonga has updated its entry measures in response to COVID-19. You'll need to complete a health declaration card on arrival. 

     February 21-  notice on Celebrity Cruises website:

We are closely monitoring global developments regarding the coronavirus, and we are fully focused on protecting the health and safety of our guests and crew.

To comply with guidance from CDC, WHO and other public health authorities around the world, we are implementing several global measures to protect guests and crew. These measures are intentionally conservative and apply to anyone boarding our ships, guests and crew alike. We apologize for the inconvenience created by these precautionary measures. 

Until further notice, all ships in the Royal Caribbean
Cruises Ltd. fleet will adopt these health screening protocols:

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to:

  Any guest who has travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 15 days. 

Any guest who has come in contact with anyone from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau in the past 15 days. The CDC characterizes contact with an individual as coming within six feet (2M) of a person.

2. There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on:

Any guest who has travelled from, to or through Iran, Japan, Singapore, South Korea or Thailand in the past 15 days.

Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 15 days.

Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.

Guests 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. 

We have rigorous medical protocols in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing. Our protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures. 

We are assessing developments constantly and will update these measures as needed. Guests with questions may contact Celebrity Cruises … 

   February 28from Cruise critic website : “Coronavirus: Updated Cruise Ship Policies and Cancellation” relating to Celebrity cruises

1)    Travel Restrictions
    Until further notice, all ships in the Celebrity Cruises fleet will adopt these protocols:

2)    Regardless of nationality, boarding will be denied to any passenger who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, 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. 

3)    Passengers who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.

4)    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.

5)    Passengers presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.

6)   All guests that are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds. 

Itinerary Changes (to the fleet, but not affecting this cruise itinerary, so far)
         Celebrity Cruises has canceled the rest of Celebrity Millennium's2020 season in Asia. 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. March through 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 percent 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. 

  In addition, the line has changed its series of Dubai-to-Singapore and back sailings on Celebrity Constellation that were scheduled for February and March to embark in Dubai, instead of Singapore, and travel roundtrip. The new itinerary will skip Phuket, Thailand, and extend port times in three India ports -- Cochin, Goa and Mumbai. 

   Celebrity Constellation's March 2 cruise will also become roundtrip from Dubai and skip Phuket, replacing it with a day at sea. This means Celebrity Constellation's March 17 departure 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.

   February 29  There have been 83,000 cases of  COVID-19 reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).

     March 4-  There have been over 93,000 cases of  COVID-19 reported in 67 countries,mostly in mainland China, including 8,000 cases in South Korea, South Korea Iran, northern Italy and Japan. Today, Washington state has 8 deaths in a Seattle nursing home and more cases in the Seattle area.

March 5-  Email from Celebrity Cruises

Dear Guest,

We look forward to welcoming you aboard for your upcoming Celebrity Cruises vacation.  Before you embark on this exciting journey, we would like to advise you of some additional health screening procedures that will occur at the pier during your check-in and boarding process.

As we monitor global developments related to the coronavirus, our priority remains the health and safety of our guests and crew, as well as providing you an amazing vacation experience.  To comply with guidance from CDC, WHO, public health authorities around the world, and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), we are enhancing our rigorous global boarding and screening measures to protect our guests and crew.   

Effective Friday, March 6, mandatory temperature screenings will be conducted for all guests, crewmembers, and visitors prior to boarding any vessel.  Your temperature will be taken via a noninvasive digital scan.  If your temperature registers above 100.4°F (38° C), you and your traveling companions will be referred to a secondary health screening.  

Secondary health screenings will be performed by medical professionals who will check for flu-like symptoms and pulse oximetry readings.  Any guests who are denied boarding due to concerns during their health screening will receive 100% refund.

If you don’t feel well while onboard, it’s imperative that you visit our onboard medical facility immediately for a complimentary checkup. Our onboard doctors and nurses are always available and ready to assist.

March 6-  Why are cruise ships being turned away?  From Australian Broadcasting article

Health authorities in some Pacific Island nations have made the assessment that the risk posed by large groups of foreigners disembarking on their shores is far too high, given the spread of coronavirus to more than 70 countries worldwide.

While this would be frustrating for those on board, it is not a decision Pacific leaders are making lightly — cruise ship passengers are vital to the region's tourism industries.

Cook Islands this week decided to prevent the MSC Magnifica from making a stop at the island of Aitutaki, an itinerary change that cost the territory around $200,000 according to tourism officials.

The ship was still able to stop at the largest island, Rarotonga, where four passengers were admitted to hospital for medical issues not related to coronavirus.

Eleven cruises that were scheduled to stop in the Cook Islands' outer islands over the next two months have now had their visits cancelled, while Tonga and Samoa are also blocking cruise ship arrivals for the time being.

A bit closer to Australia, the islands of Lifou, Mare and the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia have all barred cruise ships from visiting, while the Royal Caribbean-operated Voyager of the Seas cruise ship was last week turned away from Vanuatu.

There were several cases of the flu on board, and Vanuatu made the decision "out of an abundance of caution", a spokesperson for the Vanuatu Tourism Office told the ABC.

"Cruise ships are notbanned from calling at Vanuatu ports — Golden Princess is currently in Vila Harbour and another one is scheduled for later this week," the spokesperson said.

Voyager of the Seas, which also had to abandon planned stops in New Caledonia, was ultimately forced to head away from the tropics and toward the colder climes of New Zealand.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean said the itineraries for the ship's upcomingMarch cruises — one of which leaves Sydney tomorrow — were "currently under review".