Fears of the COVID-19 coronavirus spread have led to sudden cancellations of cruises that were supposed to depart from Singapore in the forthcoming weeks.
The cancellations come as several countries have issued travel advisories suggesting that travel to the city-state be deferred unless absolutely necessary.
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has cancelled two cruises to Southeast Asia that were scheduled to depart Singapore on 15 February and 24 February on the 169,000-dwt Quantum of the Seas (built 2014).
Celebrity Cruises, another Royal Caribbean brand, has cancelled a two-week cruise that was scheduled to depart this week on the 91,000-gt Celebrity Millennium (built 2000). The ship has instead moved to an anchorage off the Singapore coast.
In addition, Celebrity has altered the schedule of two back-to back cruises scheduled for its 90,900-gt Celebrity Constellation to become roundtrip sailings from Dubai to the Indian subcontinent that avoid calling at originally planned ports in Thailand and turning around in Singapore.
Carnival Corp’s Princess Cruises has cancelled a 10-night cruise that was supposed to depart Singapore on Thursday.
Vague explanations offered for cancellations
The cruise lines themselves are only offering vague statements about why they decided to enact these last-minute cancellations, despite there being no suspected coronavirus cases on board any of the vessels involved.
An RCI spokeswoman described it as being a precautionary measure made in light of current regional travel conditions.
“Royal Caribbean’s number one priority is ensuring the health and welfare of our guests and crew while delivering great vacations. We will continue to monitor conditions and will share other itinerary adjustments should they become necessary. The Singapore market remains of great importance to us and we look forward to returning there very soon,” it said in a statement that TradeWinds was referred to.
Other cruise operators with ships based in Singapore, including Genting Hong Kong’s Dream Cruises, Costa Crociere, Aida Cruises and TUI Cruises, have yet to announce and cancellations or schedule changes, and the country's cruise terminals remain open for business provided the ships follow the heightened health and safety protocols that were put in place after the cononavirus outbreak began.
Industry observers suggest that with countries such as South Korea, Israel, Qatar and Kuwait having issued travel advisories warning against all but essential travel to Singapore, Thailand and several other Southeast Asian nations, the cruise lines have suspended cruises from the city-state to avoid their vessels from being put into quarantine or barred from entering port.
These concerns are quite valid given recent incidents involving cruiseships based in northern Asia.
Holland America’s 82,900-gt Westerdam (built 2004) was only allowed to dock in the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville on Thursday morning after spending more than a week looking for somewhere to disembark its passengers after ports in five countries refused to allow it to dock following its call in Hong Kong while on a voyage from Singapore to Japan.
Princess Cruises’s 115,900-gt Diamond Princess (built 2004) entered its 10th day of quarantine in Yokohama on Thursday, with the coronavirus continuing to spread amongst the more than 3,000 passengers and crew who have been confined on board the ship.
Fears of cruiseships bringing in cases of coronavirus are beginning to be felt further afield with the tiny South Pacific nation of Tonga this week reportedly turning away two cruiseships despite them not having made recent calls at Asian ports.
TradeWinds reported on Monday that several cruise lines that had ships scheduled to call at ports in Asia as part of longer world cruises have diverted them elsewhere, while Norwegian Cruise Lines has cancelled an entire Asian cruise program for one of its ships that was set to begin in April.
