Cruise lines say they’ll beef up screening and other measures to fight the coronavirus
The cruise industry vowed Saturday to clean up its act to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Miami-based cruise companies will come up with stricter quarantine rules, begin screening passengers with temperature checks and move sick passengers to health facilities on land. Those actions should be finalized within 72 hours.
Vice President Mike Pence announced the plans after a meeting with CEOs of Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Ltd., and MSC Cruises USA at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Pence said cruising will continue.
“American people value our cruise line industry, it brings great joy and great entertainment value for Americans,” he said. “We want to ensure Americans can continue to enjoy the opportunities of the cruise line industry.”
Carnival Corp. said some of its ships had already started temperature checks as new passengers boarded on Saturday, but that it would take a little more time to round up enough thermometers for every ship.
The meeting, also attended by Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio and Gov. Ron DeSantis, comes one day after two people in Broward County tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19. One of the people who tested positive worked at Port Everglades as a guide with Metro Cruises, a company contracted by cruise lines to help cruise passengers on and off the ships, according to Ellen Kennedy, spokeswoman for the port. Metro Cruises did not return several calls.
Also on Friday, 21 people tested positive for the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 on the Grand Princess cruise ship, operated by Miami-based Carnival Corp.’s subsidiary Princess Cruises, as it floats off the coast of California. The Grand Princess is the second cruise ship to house a coronavirus outbreak. The Diamond Princess ship saw nearly 700 people contract the virus on board while quarantined in Japan in February.
Pence said federal health authorities are monitoring a third Princess Cruises ship, the Royal Princess, currently docked in Los Angeles, because a crew member from the Grand Princess was transferred there around two weeks ago. Princess Cruises said the crew member is feeling well and not showing symptoms.
Adam Goldstein, chairman of the cruise industry lobbying group Cruise Lines International Association, said the companies are prepared to pay for the transfer of affected passengers and crew to health facilities.
“Given the significance of travel and tourism, it is critical that Americans keep traveling,” Goldstein said. “And yes, we also recognize this is an unprecedented situation with COVID-19. Our commitment here today and going forward is to work closely with government and go above and beyond what we are currently doing.”
There are 2,422 passengers and 1,111 crew members from 54 countries aboard the Grand Princess, which remains in limbo off the coast of California awaiting word from the U.S. government about where it can dock. Nineteen people who tested positive Friday are crew members and two are passengers. Three of the people with the virus are between 21 and 29 years old, four are 30-39, six are 40-49, six are 50-59, one is in their sixties and one is in their seventies.
Federal health officials said Friday that passengers will be evacuated from the ship this weekend and crew will remain on board, a contrast to the handling of the Diamond Princess quarantine in Japan where thousands stayed on for nearly two weeks.
“Quick handling of those most at risk is essential to prevent the spread of the virus,” Princess Cuises president Jan Swartz said on a press call. “We need to get the ship into a port as soon as possible.”
The U.S. Coast Guard airlifted a critically ill passenger and companion off the ship Friday and delivered face masks and gloves.
Pence reiterated advice that elderly people with “serious underlying conditions” avoid traveling on cruise ships.
While not an official travel advisory against cruising — although Reuters reported the administration was considering one — Pence’s caution against cruising hit the industry where it hurts most. Retirees are the most popular age group for cruising. In 2018, 14% of cruisers were 70 years or older, and 19% were 60-69, the largest age group, according to the industry lobbying group Cruise Lines International Association. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning older adults to stay at home as much as possible and avoid crowds.
Pence’s warning comes right in the middle of what is usually the busiest booking season for cruise companies, when people cooped up and cold are most likely to take advantage of a deal. But this winter, the novel coronavirus is spreading across the globe, and the last place some people want to be is a cruise ship.
“This is a tough time, a really tough time,” Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. CEO Richard Fain told travel agents in a video message this week. “As far as the business impact on our business, it ain’t pretty. ... We’ve had to cancel cruises, we’ve lost revenue, and our people are putting in long days looking out for the health and safety of our crew.”
Ralph Santisteban, owner of Miami-based Dream Vacations travel agency, said business has slowed down, but he is optimistic younger people will take advantage of the low prices. Cruise companies are currently offering rates as low as $49 per night for cruises to the Bahamas.
“Up until two days ago, cancellations were at their peak, but I believe the bleeding has stopped,” Santisteban said. “You have a lot of people taking advantage of the fact that cabins are available for good prices. The industry always bounces back because in the end, people want to travel.”
Investors aren’t so sure. Shares for Carnival Corp., by far the largest cruise company in the world, closed at $27.15 Friday, down 24.16 points since Jan. 2. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. slid similarly. Royal Caribbean closed at $65.01 per share Friday, down 69.64 points since Jan. 2. Norwegian closed at $27.01 per share Friday, down 31.73 points since Jan. 2.
Staff writer David Smiley contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 11:38 AM.
