Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has become the fourth cruise company in two days to suspend operations after finding five passengers aboard its Braemar ship tested positive for coronavirus.
The Bonheur-owned company, which has four ocean-going vessels and a river cruiseship, announced on Friday that it will stop cruises until 22 May.
"This is in light of the recent announcement from the UK Government which advises those aged over 70, or with underlying health issues, not to take cruise holidays," Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (FOCL) said in a statement.
"Along with many other cruise and travel companies, FOCL are facing challenging and unprecedented times in its industry as a result of the ongoing global Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak."
Fred. Olsen said its river cruiseship Brabant is unaffected by the suspension and is set to start its season for now on 6 April.
FOCL said it is becoming more difficult to give customers the promised holiday experience as ports close worldwide while ensuring safety to all onboard.
"FOCL's priority now is to get all existing guests and crew home as safely and comfortably as possible," the company said.
"Any subsequent itineraries will not go ahead once the current cruises have come to an end."
The decision comes after the company discovered earlier this week that four crew members and a guest aboard its vessel Braemar contracted the disease while docked in Willemstad, Curacao.
The ship's captain changed course to arrive in the ship's flag state of Bahamas instead of Barbados but the Bahamas is not allowing passengers to disembark, the company has confirmed.
"The captain and crew are doing everything they can to communicate the situation with the guests– and to ensure their time onboard is as comfortable as possible," the said.
Passengers are not being made to stay in their cabins, on the advice of Public Health England, but are being asked to keep a reasonable distance from each other.
"The economic impact of these effects will be communicated as appropriate in Bonheur ASA's future financial reporting, FOCL said.
Bonheur is the majority shareholder in NHST Media Group, the ultimate owner of TradeWinds and several other business publications.
