After the cruise ship Diamond Princess attracted media attention over coronavirus infection of dozen of its passengers, Princess Cruises announced that groups of guests and crew onboard the cruise ship ‘Grand Princess’ will be tested for COVID-19, before arrival into San Francisco.
After collaboration with and guidance from the US Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and local authorities, Princess Cruises can confirm the following proactive measures to ensure the continued safety and well-being of our guests onboard Grand Princess,
…the company said in its latest update.
While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 currently onboard, the CDC has identified groups of guests and crew to test before arrival into San Francisco.
There are fewer than 100 guests and crew for testing, including:
- all in-transit guests (guests who sailed the previous Mexico voyage and remained onboard for the current Hawaii voyage),
- guests and crew who have experienced influenza-like illness symptoms on this voyage, and
- guests currently under care for respiratory illness.
To facilitate this testing, the USCG will deliver sampling kits to the ship the morning of March 5 via helicopter.
Our onboard medical team will administer the test and the samples will be sent in batches by helicopter to a lab in Richmond, California, across the bay from San Francisco.
Public health officials have advised that no guests will disembark until release of all results.
Out of an abundance of caution, all guests identified for testing have been asked to remain in their staterooms.
Princess Cruises can also confirm the cancellation of the upcoming Grand Princess Hawaii cruise departing on 7 March.
All guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, Princess Air, Princess Cruise Plus pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items purchased through Princess.
The company will consider unexpected expenses, such as air change fees, reimbursement of reasonable non-refundable out-of-pocket expenses, on a case-by-case basis.
Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid on this voyage.
