Viking informed that it is suspending its river and ocean cruise operations until May, as a measure against the COVID-19 threat. According to Viking Chairman, Torstein Hagen, the company would its cruises from March 12 to April 30.
I am writing today because the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning. As a private company with strong finances, we do not have to worry about quarterly profit expectations – and that flexibility allows us the ability to do what is best for our guests and our employees, as we have always done
Mr. Hagen stated.
In addition, the company recently discovered a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia who was exposed to the virus, while in transit on an international airline. The guest is not exhibiting symptoms, but she has been placed in quarantine. The rest 28 guests will also be quarantined.
It is being reminded that the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) submitted a proposal to Vice President Michael Pence giving emphasis on preventing, detecting and caring during the coronavirus outbreak. The new plan includes travel restriction to travelers of a certain age and those with chronic health issues.
Before this plan, CLIA had announced additional enhanced screening measures in response to the outbreak. These included denying boarding to all persons who have traveled from, visited or transited via airports in South Korea, Iran, China, including Hong Kong and Macau, and any municipality in Italy subject to quarantine measures by the Italian government, as designated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within 14 days prior to embarkation.
