MERS Outbreak Alters Cruise Itineraries

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

Courtesy: CDC

 Royal Caribbean Cancels

South Korean Calls

Since May 2015, the Republic of Korea has been investigating an outbreak of MERS. It is the largest known outbreak of MERS outside the Arabian Peninsula.

CDC does not recommend that Americans change their travel plans to the Republic of Korea or other countries because of MERS. More

 Strong Disease Control Recommended (WHO)

 "A joint mission by the World Health Organization and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare to review the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) in the Republic of Korea has recommended that continuing strengthening of contact tracing, monitoring and quarantine as well as expanded laboratory testing will prevent further spread of the virus."

There have been 138 confirmed cases of MERS CoV (including 1 confirmed case in China) reported in the current outbreak so far, with 14 deaths.  The World Health Organization has made recommendations to contain the disease in South Korea which include identification of contacts, quarantine, infection prevention, and travel restrictions for infected patients.

Cruise Line Response

Cruise lines that are sailing in the region are monitoring the situation and taking necessary actions.  The first to cancel ports of call in South Korea is Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas will skip visits to Seoul until at least August 2015. Mariner of the Seas also will skip Jeju Island.  

Impacted cruises will substitute sea days or visit other ports including Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Okinawa or Nagasaki, Japan.

Passengers and crew are being screened and provided with information about the MERS outbreak and symptoms.  If passengers or crew members show symptoms, such as a fever, cough and shortness of breath, the ships' medical staff will isolate and treat patients using anti-viral medications onboard.

Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess also has scheduled stops in South Korea. Princess Cruises is monitoring the situation; we are not aware of any changes to itineraries at this time.   We will continue to provide updates as information is made available.

Protect yourself from Respiratory Illnesses

• washing hands often,
• avoiding close contact with people who are sick,
• avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and
• disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

Know Before You Go

Before leaving on any international travel, land or sea, we suggest visiting our International Travel tab.  The page contains information about passport & visa requirements, travel advisories, health information and much more.

Resources:

WHO recommends strong disease control to end MERS-CoV outbreak
Fact sheet on Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
FAQs on MERS‐CoV
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Republic of Korea
Learn about MERS (CDC)

If you are traveling in the region impacted by MERS or any other infectious disease, please be sure to visit the WHO and CDC sites for current information.

Cruise Lines Return to Japan

 Costa Cruises to Homeport in Shanghai

Adds Sailings to Japan & South Korea

In March, 2011, Japan had a devastating earthquake and Severe Tsunami Impacting Japan & Hawaii. The world watched the unfolding nightmare as the country's nuclear plants were on the verge of meltdown. After the Tohoku Earthquake the cruise lines cancelled calls to ports in Japan.

Six Months Later...

The following announcement brings hope that life can be returning to normal in Japan. From August to October Costa Classica will home port in Shanghai, operating 12 cruises to Japan and South Korea. The selection of itineraries includes four-night cruises to Fukuoka, Japan, and Cheju, South Korea; a six-night cruise to Pusan, South Korea, and Fukuoka and Kagoshima, Japan; and a five-night cruise to Fukuoka and Nagasaki, Japan, and Cheju.

Costa Expansion in 2012

Next year Costa will substantially expand operations in Asia with the inaugural deployment of the 75,200-ton, 2,394-guest Costa Victoria, which will replace the 53,000-ton, 1,680-guest Costa Classica. The larger ship will offer 246 veranda cabins and increase Costa’s capacity in the region by 40 percent.

In 2012 Costa Victoria will call at new Japan destinations, including tropical Hososhima/Miyazaki; Wakayama, which boasts the country’s largest hot spring resort; Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city; the popular sightseeing cities in the Kanto Area; Yokohama and Tokyo, the nation’s capital.

Royal Caribbean International Also Returns

Starting in August and continuing to October, Legend of the Seas will be operating 11 sailings including a number of charters to various Japanese ports-of-call such as Okinawa, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Beppu, Nagasaki and Hokkaido, out from Hong Kong, Tianjin and Shanghai.  These sailings are mostly based on the ship’s itineraries originally planned for this year, which do not call at the areas affected by the tsunami and nuclear crisis.


Kelvin Tan, Regional Director, Asia Pacific of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said, “Judging from the current situation in Japan, we are well-assured of the safety of traveling to Japan. Japan has always been an attractive tourist destination and its show of great resilience in the face of the recent crisis has given travelers the confidence to visit the country again.”

Other Cruise Lines

Holland America has not revised its schedule.  The line had canceled cruises through 2011 and modified others in 2012.

As we hear of any additional changes for the region, we will let you know.   For now it is good to see that the rebuilding continues as tourism returns to the country of Japan.

Related Blog Posts: 

Cruise Lines Return to Japan  (six months later, some cruise lines have returned)

Strong Quakes Continue to Rattle Japan

Another Strong Quake Hits Japan

After the Tohoku Earthquake

Severe Tsunami Impacting Japan & Hawaii 

Azamara Quest Skips Osaka Call

QM2 Skips Nagasaki Sails to China