As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads rapidly, ports are starting to reject cruise ships.
Namely, the latest development comes from the Caribbean Island nations of Curacao, Aruba, and Bonaire, which all denied permission to cruise ships to dock in their ports after they were informed that the ships had cases of the virus aboard.
More specifically,hHealth officials from Curacao told local mediahat they felt the percentage of the number of infections was too high while noting that it was also rising rapidly.
As for Aruba, it denied Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Freedom after the ship reported COVID cases among its crew. Bonaire has also turned away the Carnival cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean International confirmed that during routine tests aboard their cruise ship, 55 passengers and crew members tested positive for COVID-19.
The cruise line noted that all 1,599 crew aboard are vaccinated and 95% of the 3,587 passengers are also vaccinated and tested negative before the cruise’s departure.
In Europe, MSC Cruises also put on hold planned Northern European cruises in the Baltic region after an increase in restrictions and health protocols in many of the ports. MSC now plans to restart that cruise program in mid-January, while cruises are continuing as scheduled in other areas.
What is more, cruise lines have also raised their level of restrictions. Namely, the major firms announced that they would be enforcing requirements for masking onboard and vaccinations.
