Cruise Line Industry Association chairman Adam Goldstein assured the US government that it will work fully with all authorities to help bring the coronavirus outbreak under control and treat those affected.

US vice president Mike Pence held a meeting Saturday in Florida with cruise executives and public officials to discuss the virus' impact on the industry and how to deal with it.

"We are here to listen and learn and work with you and your team so we can build on our proven safety record, leverage the first-rate medical facilities that exist on every cruiseship in the fleet," Goldstein said to Pence before the start of the private meeting.

Goldstein left Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines last week after 32 years with the company, most recently as vice chairman. Previously he served as Royal Caribbean's president and chief operating officer from 2014 to 2018 after serving as Royal Caribbean International CEO from 2007 to 2014.

He said the industry will continue to follow US Centers for Disease Control public-health protocols, as it has for more than 50 years.

"Given the significance of travel and tourism, it is critical that Americans keep traveling yet we also recognise that this is an unprecedented situation, Covid-19," he said.

"Our commitment, here today, and going forward, is to work closely with government and to go above and beyond anything we are currently doing to screen even more stringently to prevent those that should not be allowed to board, to monitor, test and care for those who are onboard, and to transition and help pay for any sick guests or crew to move to locations with staff equipped to handle Covid-19 cases."

He said the industry "will work aggressively" with government to further strengthen and develop all necessary protocols for prevention, for detection and for care.