The United States State Department issued a travel warning to US citizens against going on a cruise ship because of Coronavirus fears.

The "fluid situation" prompted the warning on Sunday evening and noted an, "increased risk of infection of COVID-19 in a cruise ship environment" by the CDC.

The State Department emphasized this warning is particularly important to travelers with underlying health conditions, who may be more susceptible to the effects of COVID-19.

Moreover, the State Department cited recent issues with some passengers being subject to local quarantines, as well as the issue of some countries implementing strict screening procedures that have denied port entry rights to ships and prevented passengers from disembarking.

The full warning is as follows:

U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship.  CDC notes increased risk of infection of COVID-19 in a cruise ship environment. In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, many countries have implemented strict screening procedures that have denied port entry rights to ships and prevented passengers from disembarking.  In some cases, local authorities have permitted disembarkation but subjected passengers to local quarantine procedures.  While the U.S. government has evacuated some cruise ship passengers in recent weeks, repatriation flights should not be relied upon as an option for U.S. citizens under the potential risk of quarantine by local authorities.  

This is a fluid situation.  CDC notes that older adults and travelers with underlying health issues should avoid situations that put them at increased risk for more severe disease.  This entails avoiding crowded places, avoiding non-essential travel such as long plane trips, and especially avoiding embarking on cruise ships.  Passengers with plans to travel by cruise ship should contact their cruise line companies directly for further information and continue to monitor the Travel.state.gov website and see the latest information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/index.html. 

This new warning is one in a series of events that have dominated the cruise industry over the last few weeks. The worldwide spread of coronavirus has prompted Royal Caribbean to allow cancellations up to 48 hours before sailing, as well as implement mandatory temperature screenings to the cruise check-in procedure.

Royal Caribbean has also taken additional steps onboard its ships and in the cruise terminals to stem the spread of Coronavirus by thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing. They have also added extra medical staff on each sailing, special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard the ship, and  complimentary consultations with medical experts for all guests & crew.

The warning comes on the heels of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Chairman and CEO Richard Fain speaking last week on the issue, and reminding the public that the current situation is far from ideal, but will eventually get better again.

"We're all spending time worrying, and that's natural, because we're in a storm, and when you're in the middle of a storm, it certainly feels like it'll never end. But as with most storms, it gets worse before it gets better, but it's hard to remember that this too shall pass."

Will this warning affect your decision to cruise? Let us know in our comments!

Royal Caribbean sent an update to travel partners that it will add mandatory temperature screenings to the cruise check-in process in order to better protect guests and crew against the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.

Beginning on March 6, 2020, all Royal Caribbean International ships will conduct mandatory temperature screenings for all guests and crewmembers on embarkation day.

If your temperature is above 100.4°F or 38° C, you and those in your party will undergo a secondary health screening. Temperatures will be taken with a digital, no-touch thermometer.

If you require a secondary screening, this is what you can expect:

• Your temperature will be checked again.
• You'll undergo a pulse oximetry reading. This means, a small device will be placed on your finger to measure your oxygen level.
  • If you happen to have a chronic lung illness, like asthma, please bring a letter from your medical practitioner that indicates your normal baseline oxygen saturation levels. This will help ensure you are not denied boarding if you are healthy otherwise.
• Then, a medical professional will check you for flu-like symptoms, respiratory illness, etc., and would make a final assessment to understand if you're fit to sail.

If it is decided that we must unfortunately deny you boarding, you'll receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit for your cruise fare paid, and any precruise Royal Caribbean International purchases and taxes and fees will be refunded to your original form of payment.

In addition to these protocols, Royal Caribbean is also taking additional steps to stem the spread of coronavirus on its ships, including:

• Thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing

• Special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard multiple times a day

• Adding extra medical staff on each sailing

• Providing complimentary consultations with medical experts for all guests & crew

• Plus, the Captain will make two daily announcements during your cruise reminding everyone of how to stay healthy onboard

Royal Caribbean has updated its health screening protocols in an effort to combat Coronavirus (COVID-19) from impacting its cruise ships.

Until further notice, all ships in the Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. fleet will adopt the following health screening protocols:

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to:

Any guest who has travelled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea, and the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto in the past 15 days.

Any guest who has come in contact with anyone with 15-day prior travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea, and the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto. The CDC characterizes contact with an individual as coming within 6 feet (2M) of a person.

Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptom.

2. There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on:

Any guest who has travelled from, to, or through Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy (all regions other than Lombardy and Veneto) in the past 15 days.

Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy in the past 15 days.

Guests presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.

All guests who are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.

In addition to these protocols, Royal Caribbean is also taking additional steps to stem the spread of coronavirus on its ships, including:

• Thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing

• Special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard multiple times a day

• Adding extra medical staff on each sailing

• Providing complimentary consultations with medical experts for all guests & crew

• Plus, the Captain will make two daily announcements during your cruise reminding everyone of how to stay healthy onboard

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. officially commented on the Coronavirus situation, and how it is impacting the company's bottom line.

Thus far, a total of 18 sailings have been canceled, along with several other modified itineraries.

Taken together, these measures have an estimated impact on the company's financial performance for 2020 of approximately $0.65 per share.  

Royal Caribbean also provided a financial performance forecast if they were to cancel all of its remaining sailings in Asia through the end of April, which would impact 2020 financial performance by an additional $0.55 per share.  Canceling the remaining sailings in Asia through the end of April is not currently planned.

"It is important that every organization acts responsibly, and we have already taken aggressive steps to minimize risk through boarding restrictions and itinerary changes," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO.  "Our shipboard and shoreside teams have been working tirelessly through these circumstances and I want to thank them for all of their extraordinary efforts. We appreciate our responsibility to our guests and to each other, and our focus on public health is unwavering."

Mr. Fain also mentioned that while the early impact due to concerns about the Coronavirus is mainly related to Asia, recent bookings for our broader business have also been softer.

If the travel restrictions and concerns over the outbreak continue for an extended period of time, they could materially impact the company's overall financial performance. 

Royal Caribbean announced it has ended the policy that banned guests who held a passport from China, Hong Kong and Macau due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The policy was implemented last week, "in response to numerous ports and governments around the world restricting travel for Chinese passport holders."

There is still a policy in effect that bans any guest who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, along with restrictions on individuals who have been in close contact with persons who have traveled from, through or to China, Hong Kong and Macau in the past 15 days. 

The cruise line has the following health screening protocols in place:

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to
   1. Any guest who has traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 15 days.
   2. Any guest who has come in contact with anyone from mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau in the past 15 days. The CDC characterizes contact with an individual as coming within six feet (2M) of a person.
2. There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on:
   1. Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 15 days.
   2. Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.
   3. Guests presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.

All guests who are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.

Royal Caribbean has decided to prohibit any guest holding a Chinese, Hong Kong, or Macau passport from boarding any of its ships, regardless of residency throughout the month of February.

The cruise line announced the stricter rule, in addition to tighter screening policies that were revealed this week.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean has tightened the health screening requirements and the following guests will need to undergo extra screenings to ensure safety at the cruise terminal:

• Anyone that has been in contact with individuals that have traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the last 15 days.
• Anyone that feels unwell or demonstrates flu-like symptoms.
• Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.

Royal Caribbean feels obligated to institute such stringent rules in order to, "maintain a safe and healthy environment onboard our ships, as well as in the ports we visit."

Royal Caribbean has delayed the next sailing of Anthem of the Seas by one day due to widespread reporting of Chinese passengers on the previous sailing who were feared to be infected with the coronavirus.

Local media reported on the ship's return to Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey as cause for concern that a coronavirus outbreak could have been onboard.  In the hours since the ship returned to port, personnel from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) boarded the ship and conducted screenings, concluding no presence of coronavirus.

The hospital is following proper infection control protocols while evaluating these individuals. New Jersey currently has no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and the risk to residents remains low.

For more information on novel coronavirus visit:https://t.co/XoWMvzv6Rv pic.twitter.com/ED30tFMx0r

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) February 7, 2020

While the ship has been cleared by local authorities, Royal Caribbean has decided to delay Anthem of the Seas' departure until February 8, 2020 in order to "reassure concerned guests" that the ship is indeed cleared by the CDC.

Letters courtesy of Emily Hufnal

Royal Caribbean is offering guests a 1-day refund in the form of onboard credit for the missed day onboard, as well as credits for any pre-purchased internet, drink or dining packages.

Royal Caribbean reiterated it is working with medical experts, public health authorities, and local governments to ensure its screening and boarding protocols are working to protect guests and crew.

Royal Caribbean also has taken numerous proactive steps to maintain high health standards. This includes:

• Thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing,
• Special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard multiple times a day,
• Adding extra medical staff on each sailing,
• Providing complimentary consultations with medical experts for all guests & crew,
• Plus, the Captain will make two daily announcements during your cruise reminding everyone of how to stay healthy onboard.

Royal Caribbean has posted newly updated screening procedures to ensure guests on its ships avoid the coronavirus outbreak.

The new set of screening procedures add onto what was first posted last week.

The cruise line consulted with medical experts and public health authorities to come up with these rules.  As a result, regardless of nationality, any guest or crew member traveling from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau less than 15 days prior to their sailing will be unable to board any of Royal Caribbean ship.

Additionally, Royal Caribbean has tightened its health screening requirements and the following guests will need to undergo extra screenings to ensure safety at the cruise terminal:

• Anyone that has been in contact with individuals that have traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the last 15 days.
• Anyone that holds a Chinese, Hong Kong, or Macau passport – regardless of when they were there last.
• Anyone that feels unwell or demonstrates flu-like symptoms.

In the past few days, guests with upcoming cruises reported receiving emails and text messages with similar screening procedures outlined.

Royal Caribbean believes these measures will help reduce the potential for the virus to further spread, and will ensure the health of guests and crew. 

Royal Caribbean posted a new set of worldwide screening procedures for its cruise ships to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The new policy has two checks that are conducted at check-in.

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to any individual who has travelled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days. These guests will receive full refunds.
2. There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on:
   1. Guests who have been in contact with individuals who have traveled from, to or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the past 15 days;
   2. All holders of China or Hong Kong passports – regardless of when they were last in China or Hong Kong;
   3. Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms;
   4. Any guest presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screening will be denied boarding.
3. These standards also apply to all employees, crew members and contractors of RCL.
4. We have cancelled all China and Hong Kong sailings through mid-February. Guests on cancelled cruises will also receive full refunds.

In addition, Royal Caribbean has emphasized their rigorous medical protocols that in place to help passengers and crew members who feel unwell while sailing.

Protocols include professional medical treatment; quarantine of unwell individuals from the general ship population; and intensified ship cleaning, air filtration, and sanitization procedures.

Royal Caribbean will be assessing developments constantly and will update these measures, as needed.

The new screening procedure come on the heels of Royal Caribbean cancelling three cruises due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Royal Caribbean cruise ships provide an advanced level of health care options that you might not be aware of.

Royal Caribbean provided a look at the medical facilities onboard, that can handle minor issues like sunburn or sea sickness, but also heart attacks, severe hemorrhages, heart attacks and respiratory failure.

They vary in size and layout, but all the medical facilities on Royal Caribbean ships meet or exceed the American College of Emergency Physicians’ Health Care Guidelines for Cruise Ship Medical Facilities.

All Royal Caribbean ships carry defibrillators and electrocardiogram machines, as well as digital X-ray equipment.

New ventilators have been installed to handle a range of respiratory treatments, and complete formularies are stocked in the shipboard pharmacies.

Telemedicine enables doctors on board to consult with specialists on shore, as needed, over the Internet.