Following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, we know some of you may have concerns when it comes to any future travel plans. To ensure that you feel safe when planning your next trip, we have gathered all the relevant information from our travel providers to help you get all the reassurance you may need when it comes to booking your next holiday.
Wendy Wu Tours (Asia tour specialists)
The Facts;
- The virus has been successfully identified, separated and isolated.
- Medical tests can now accurately detect and report on the virus within three hours.
- It is expected that immunisation will be available in less than 10 days.
- Xiehe Hospital in Wuhan has successfully treated 11 virus patients and released them, with all being completely clear of infection.
- Two hospitals are being built, each with 1000 beds, in order to provide a full quarantine facility
- As of midnight on 26 January, the National Health Commission had received a total of 2,744 confirmed cases, including 80 cases of mortality (the mortality rate is 2.9% among patients. It is a level 2 contagious disease, much lower than SARS and Ebola, both of which are level 1), and 51 cases of total recovery.
- The majority of the mortality cases are elderly patients, of an Asian ethnicity who have recently travelled to or live in Wuhan.
- The virus is passed on by saliva, at close contact.
“We are aware of the Coronavirus that is currently in the news and are carefully monitoring the travel advice, in line with our forthcoming tour departures, on a daily basis.”
“The travel advice to China is to avoid all travel to Hubei Province. Currently, some sightseeing attractions are temporarily closed until February 2nd, owing to the extended New Year celebrations.”
“Travel to all other areas in China remains unaffected. If you are travelling with us to China during February, we will contact you if there are any changes to your travel plans. Travel to China beyond February is currently planned to operate as normal.”
“Our passengers’ health and wellbeing is always our top priority and we continue to monitor this situation.”
CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)
“The safety and health of passengers is the number one priority of CLIA members. CLIA and its member lines maintain close contact with health professionals and regulators around the world, including the World Health Organization (WHO), and are continually assessing and modifying policies and procedures as developments emerge. This includes the modification of itineraries, where needed, in light of evolving circumstances, as well as health, travel and contact screening where appropriate, for guests and crew who have recently traveled from or through the affected area consistent with prevailing guidance from global health authorities. Screening protocols allow for informed decisions on a case-by-case basis whether a guest or crewmember will be denied boarding.”
“CLIA Members have suspended crew movements from mainland China and will deny boarding to any individual, whether guest or crew, who has travelled from or through mainland China within the previous 14 days.”
“Importantly, the cruise industry is one of the most well-equipped and experienced when it comes to managing and monitoring health conditions of passengers and crew. Cruise lines take precautions to conduct passive as well as active screening of passengers and crew for illness prior to boarding when circumstances demand. Furthermore, CLIA members implement outbreak prevention and response measures and their ships must be fitted with medical facilities, shipboard and shore side medical professionals available around the clock, 24/7, to provide initial medical care in the event of illness and prevent disease transmission.”
Princess Cruises
“Implemented additional screening and response measures”
“They include temperature and questionnaire screening for all guests from the affected region and illness screening for cases presenting with fever and respiratory illness while onboard”
MSC Cruises
“Due to urgent guidelines from the Chinese government to combat the spread of the coronavirus, MSC Cruises is required to cancel the upcoming cruise with MSC Splendida on 28 January. Guests booked on this cruise have the option to receive a full refund of their cruise ticket and port charges, or book an alternative sailing with an equivalent price and receiving additional onboard credit – with an embarkation date before the end of the year.”
“At the time of writing, MSC Splendida is planned to remain in port for the duration of the cruise from 28th January until 1st February.“
“We will continue to closely monitor the public health and safety situation in China and are consulting with international and local health authorities, as well as the ministry of transport of the People’s Republic of China, and strictly follow their advice and recommendations.”
“Guests and travel partners have been informed and will be kept abreast of any further changes as the situation evolves.”
Norwegian Cruise Line
“The safety, security and well-being of our guests and crew is our number one priority. As such, due to the growing concern regarding coronavirus infections in China, we are implementing non-touch temperature screenings for all passengers boarding ships from Chinese ports to avoid the spread of infection on ships.”
“Guests who register a body temperature screening of 100.4°F or 38°C or higher will not be allowed to board and will be directed to seek local medical treatment.”
Royal Caribbean
“In light of the latest developments with the coronavirus outbreak in China, we are suspending the 27th January and 31st January sailings of Spectrum of the Sears, currently our only ship homeported in China. We are working with our guests to provide full refunds for the cancellation. The health and safety of our guests and crew is our primary concern, and we continue to work with the World Health Organisation, the Centers for Disease Control, and government health authorities to monitor the situation.”
“We are monitoring the situation closely together with health authorities, and our ships are prepared to take additional preventive measures as circumstances indicate”
Celebrity Cruises
“We continue to monitor developments in the region and are in consultation with health officials to assess the situation. We have implemented precautionary measures at the terminal and onboard the ship to ensure the health and safety of our guests and crew who remain our primary concern.”
We will continue to update this guide on Coronavirus as an when we receive updates from our providers so that you can feel safe in the knowledge that you will be safe when it comes to future travel.
And just in case, why not follow the general advice from our trusted cruise lines when it comes to staying virus-free onboard their cruise ships;
- Use your cabin bathroom as much as you can as opposed to public facilities
- Avoid touching bannisters and hand rales as much as you can
- Always opt for the hand sanitizer you are offered each time you enter the dining rooms
- Try to avoid shaking hands with fellow guests or crew as this will just encourage the spreading of bugs that may be onboard
If you have any questions regarding your upcoming cruise or future booking in relation to the current outbreak of the coronavirus, please do call your package provider. They will be able to advise you on all the latest updates regarding the virus and help with any worries or concerns you may have.
For the most up to date coronavirus travel information, please visit the FOC website.
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