Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Cruise ships skipping Mexican ports of call
San Diego.com ^ | 29 April 2009 | Penny Crabtree

Posted on 05/01/2009 9:40:01 AM PDT by Grampa Dave

Major cruise operators said yesterday that they will temporarily suspend stops at ports in Mexico because of escalating concerns over the swine flu crisis. Three ships operated by Carnival Corp. – including one that departed San Diego on Sunday and was to visit Ensenada – abruptly skipped scheduled stops in Mexico yesterday.

Later in the day, the Miami-based cruise operator announced that it will expand the Mexican port ban for all voyages departing tomorrow through Monday. Within hours of Carnival's move, rival Royal Caribbean International said it will suspend port calls in Mexico for four ships.

Norwegian Cruise Line also said it will cancel the Norwegian Pearl's final two calls in Mexico this week. Cruise operators have been scrambling in recent days to ease passenger fears and determine the fate of near-term cruises to Mexico. The unusual move to suspend Mexico calls comes on the heels of a recommendation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid nonessential travel to Mexico.

“Like our guests, we take all health matters seriously,” said Dr. Art Diskin, chief medical officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises. “Although authorities have not raised specific concerns regarding the ports we visit in Mexico, we want to err on the side of caution.” Carnival and Norwegian also issued statements saying caution prompted their decision.

“This is truly something we've never experienced – hurricanes, yes, all kinds of situations come up where itineraries have to be shifted,” said Pam Kressley, president of The Cruise Hound, a Florida cruise travel agency. “But something like this is virgin territory.” Other tourism sectors are grappling with the swine flu fallout as well. Most major airlines have eased restrictions on rebooking flights or waived cancellation fees on routes to Mexico.

Though policies differ, the airlines' flexibility covers flights booked through early May. For instance, AeroMexico, which operates flights out of San Diego to San Jose del Cabo, is allowing passengers traveling to or from Mexico to rebook flights without penalty. Changes must be made by May 15.

Carnival said it is working to substitute canceled Mexico port calls with an alternative port. It is also giving passengers who don't want to sail on a modified cruise the option to reschedule.

The cruise operator is not offering to refund customers for altered cruises.

Among the cruise ships affected is Carnival's Elation, which departs San Diego on Thursdays and Sundays for three-and four-day cruises that include a stop in Ensenada. The four-day cruise also stops at Catalina Island.

The Elation is now sailing with 2,200 passengers, and yesterday skipped its scheduled daylong visit to Ensenada. Passengers on the four-day cruise, who visited Catalina Island on Monday, were given a $20 ship credit to compensate for the missed port, a Carnival spokeswoman said.

Royal Caribbean International did not respond to questions about whether it will give passengers the option to reschedule.

In a written statement, Royal Caribbean said all but one of its affected ships will either make alternative port calls or spend additional time at sea.

For instance, its Mariner of the Seas, which is scheduled in May to depart from a Los Angeles-area port for four seven-day Mexican Riviera cruises, will now sail a “revised itinerary” that visits Canada and the U.S. West Coast.

Cruise industry experts said passengers who were hoping to sip margaritas in Puerto Vallarta but may have to settle instead for a beer in Seattle don't have many options.

Cruise operators have stringent cancellation policies and are not obligated to refund cruise purchases if changes are made to protect passenger safety, Kressley said.

Kressley said she has fielded several calls from people who have booked upcoming Mexico cruises, and her advice is, “If the ship sails, be on it.”

“I tell passengers that the odds of them contracting swine flu are pretty slim, and the odds of getting anything back from a cruise ship operator if they cancel their trip is pretty slim, too,” Kressley said.

Nor can passengers necessarily count on travel insurance policies to cover altered cruises. Kressley said she received an advisory yesterday from a major travel insurer that it will cover swine flu as a sickness. But trips canceled out of fear of contracting the illness won't be covered.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Mexico; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: flu; flucruiseships; influenza; mexicaneconomy; mexicanflu; mexico; swineflu
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last
To: Grampa Dave

Hong Kong reports 1st confirmed swine flu in Asia

17 minutes ago
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gnKz6JKf1o0Bic6UrduEAAlxyQ1wD97TF4O81

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong leader says territory has detected swine flu, in Asia’s first confirmed case


21 posted on 05/01/2009 10:24:38 AM PDT by DvdMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave; Pete

Freeper Pete Just Posted This important tidbit !

More details on Hong Kong case. (Bold is mine for emphasis)
Hong Kong confirmed Asia’s first case of the new H1N1 flu virus in a Mexican traveller on Friday, prompting authorities to seal off the hotel where the 25-year old man had been staying. Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang told reporters the man arrived on a China Eastern flight on Thursday afternoon after a stopover in Shanghai. He had a fever and went to Ruttonjee Hospital for help on Thursday evening, Tsang said. The Mexican is now in hospital in a stable condition. The confirmation of the H1N1 infection was made by a laboratory at the University of Hong Kong.

“He didn’t leave the hotel (except to go to hospital) because he was feeling sick,” Health Minister York Chow told a news conference.

Two companions of the Mexican and a friend he met in Hong Kong were now in isolation wards at another hospital, he said. Tsang said he had accepted the recommendation of government health experts to seal off the Metropark hotel in Wanchai district where the Mexican was staying. Dozens of police wearing surgical masks stood guard both inside and outside the hotel late on Friday. Hotel guests were prevented from leaving while outsiders could not get in.

“I assure you the Hong Kong government will try its best to conquer the virus,” Tsang said. “At the present moment, I would prefer to do it more stringently instead of missing the opportunity to control the spread of the virus.”

Chow said the hotel had about 200 guests and over 100 staff and they would be quarantined for seven days. He urged those who were not in the hotel as well as taxi drivers who took the Mexican to the hotel and to hospital to report to authorities. The drastic action left some visitors distressed.

Cinmei Sinaga from Indonesia was left standing for hours on the pavement with her eight-month-old daughter. “I don’t feel that they are doing anything to help me. I just need my passport but we cannot go to another hotel and my baby needs to sleep. I feel scared,” she told Reuters.

The affluent financial hub on the south coast of China is widely seen as one of the best-prepared Asian cities to deal with the new H1N1 flu virus, given its experience in handling sporadic outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu, as well as SARS in 2003 which killed 299 people. The order to seal off the Metropark hotel brought back memories of how SARS started in Hong Kong in February 2003. A doctor from mainland China who knew he had been infected with SARS had travelled to Hong Kong to try to seek medical help. But before he could get admitted to hospital, he infected eight people in a lift lobby of the Metropole hotel where he was staying. Some of them then went on to spread the disease in Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and Vietnam.

To tackle the H1N1 flu virus, Hong Kong authorities have beefed up surveillance at airports and hospitals, improved public health response systems and stockpiled over 20 million doses of the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu.


22 posted on 05/01/2009 10:31:33 AM PDT by DvdMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ErnBatavia

“were given a $20 ship credit to compensate for the missed port, a Carnival spokeswoman said.
The generosity of Carnival is astounding... “

Like you, I was under whelmed at Carnival’s generosity.


23 posted on 05/01/2009 10:34:16 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: DvdMom

I wish there was someway you could set up an easy to read time line for these events on FR or have a link that does it.

Good stuff, but hard to keep in a linear way of thinking like the rest of the current flu events.


24 posted on 05/01/2009 10:36:13 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: rwfromkansas

bol

“If they tried to reschedule my Caribbean cruise for the Pacific Northwest, I would be pissed.

If I wanted fog and rain in ocean water colder than an icebox (I have been to Oregon....beautiful.....but water colder than all get out), I would have chosen that destination.”

We like Princess cruises, but I had to send them an email to keep me off lists re cruise during non desireable seasons like cruising the Panama Canal in July/August or Alaska in May or October.


25 posted on 05/01/2009 10:39:11 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

That makes good sense , Thanks !


26 posted on 05/01/2009 10:41:44 AM PDT by DvdMom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: ontap

We avoid the so called shopping off shore events and like to take the smaller boats into non shopping areas with beaches, good food ashore or on the boat, cervezas and margaritas.


27 posted on 05/01/2009 10:42:43 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

rassis cruise ships!


28 posted on 05/01/2009 10:44:04 AM PDT by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

I’d rather visit Bermuda.


29 posted on 05/01/2009 10:44:52 AM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: houeto

http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=99bd89cb343a627aa44d787.gif


30 posted on 05/01/2009 10:46:25 AM PDT by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: trisham

Bermuda is probably not safe at this time. It was beautiful.


31 posted on 05/01/2009 10:58:15 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: houeto

bol


32 posted on 05/01/2009 10:59:34 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin

That is basically in the Center of Mexico isn’t it?


33 posted on 05/01/2009 11:02:22 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: WOBBLY BOB

I don’t understand your post.


34 posted on 05/01/2009 11:18:44 AM PDT by houeto (Defang the FEDGOV. Repeal the 17th!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

Lately we don’t bother getting off the boat except for Grand Cayman. Mexico and Jamaica or nothing but tourist traps. Also every year the people who hang outside the shops have gotten ruder.


35 posted on 05/01/2009 11:45:22 AM PDT by ontap (Just another backstabbing conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave
Re: Dolores, Hgo., MX -- That is basically in the Center of Mexico isn’t it?

Yes it is....

36 posted on 05/01/2009 11:47:32 AM PDT by MeneMeneTekelUpharsin (Freedom is the freedom to discipline yourself so others don't have to do it for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: MeneMeneTekelUpharsin
There's a Dolores Hidalgo in Guanajuato state, and also one in Sinaloa.

I assume your relatives are talking about the one in Guanajuato?

37 posted on 05/01/2009 12:15:02 PM PDT by Max in Utah (A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

The Mariner of the Seas pulled into San FRan and passengers were not thrilled being dropped off in a cold water port.

They had spent 8 hours ashore in Cabo where no cases have been reported to date and then sailed at sea for 4 days and then delivered them to San FRan, an area where many reports of swiny flu have been reported..

Ironic?

We’re headed to Alaska next month out of San FRan, btw..


38 posted on 05/01/2009 12:40:39 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Sounds like Frisco was the highest bid to get that ship.

Have a good cruise.

If anyone going with you gets sea sick, you might want to get a couple of patches.

It can be fairly rough at that time of the year going under the GG and through the potato patch with the winds heading in shore to cool down Sacramento.

Then, where my wife and others got seasick was where they drop the pilot off and headed up North out past the California Coast. She had a patch and didn’t put it on and was miserable until the next day. Thank God for fresh air, 7 up and crackers for her that first night. Coming back she put on the patch when we left BC.


39 posted on 05/01/2009 12:59:45 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

Take a laugh break from the Flu and the White Lies House of 0b0z0 and go to this great thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2240628/posts


40 posted on 05/01/2009 1:11:23 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Does Zer0 have any friends, who are not criminals, foriegn/domestic terrorists, or tax cheats?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson