Some people 70 and older should be barred from boarding cruise ships, an industry proposal to the White House says. Cruise Lines International Association submitted a plan to Vice President Michael Pence on Tuesday proposing enhanced measures across the industry as coronavirus rages on. According to the proposal, boarding should be denied to any person over the age of 70 years unless they are able to present a doctor's note verifying their fitness for travel on a cruise ship, according to a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly. Source 4a.
Major cruise lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC, will suspend cruises to and from U.S. Ports of call for 30 days. The temporary suspension announced by President Trump in a tweet in conjunction with CLIA, the world's largest cruise industry trade association, will begin at midnight Friday. Viking and Disney cruises announced similar measures Thursday. The State Department advised Sunday against any travel on cruise ships, particularly for those with underlying health conditions. Ref. USAToday.
“Treated worse than prisoners”: Cruise passengers under coronavirus quarantine say they lack food, basic medical care. The evacuees from the Grand Princess, who are under a federal quarantine, say they are being housed in unsanitary conditions, contradicting President Trump's claims that getting them off the ship was a "Tremendous success." Ref. USAToday.
Two Coral Princess cruise ship passengers have died. The ship docked in Miami earlier today with at least a dozen cases of COVID-19. Disembarkation of the Coral Princess is expected to span several days and will begin with those who need medical care. There are nearly 2,000 people on board the Princess Cruises ship. Ref. USAToday.