Search Travel Market Report

mainlogo
www.travelmarketreport.com
U.S.A.
English
Canada
English
Canada Quebec
Français
  • News
  • Packaged Travel
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Air
  • Training & Resources
  • Luxury Travel Report

Cruise Travel is Still Safe Despite Coronavirus, Says World Health Organization

by Jessica Montevago  February 19, 2020
Cruise Travel is Still Safe Despite Coronavirus, Says World Health Organization

Cruise ship travel remains a “manageable risk” for now despite coronavirus concerns. Photo: Shutterstock.com.  

Cruise ship travel remains a “manageable risk” for now, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

“These are manageable risks and again we need to reflect on the fact that the vast majority of these cases are within China,” said Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, during a press briefing.

“People who say we should steer clear of cruise ships or steer clear of airports or steer clear of certain ethnic groups and steer clear of other things, we have to be really careful here. We need an approach to managing risk that allows us to continue to operate as a society while minimizing the risks.”

Japanese authorities said Tuesday 542 cases of the coronavirus have been identified among the 3,711 passengers and crew on the quarantined Diamond Princess. An additional 14 Americans evacuated from the ship by the U.S. government – days ahead of the end of the ship’s quarantine – tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, one American who had departed Holland America’s Westerdam for Malaysia on Friday has tested positive for coronavirus. The 83-year-old guest is currently in stable condition. According to Holland America, the rest of the guests tested negative and are all in the process of returning home.

While these stories have been capturing international attention, Ryan said it’s important to keep in mind they are the outlier.

“Outside Hubei, this epidemic is affecting a very tiny, tiny, tiny proportion of people, so if we’re going to disrupt every cruise ship in the world on the off-chance that there might be some potential contact with some potential pathogen, then where do we stop?” he said.

Dr. Sylvie Briand, director of global infectious hazard preparedness at WHO, said infection prevention and control measures are difficult to implement in a ship environment because there are a number of factors that are very difficult to put under control.

WHO is working closely with the various constituencies and Japanese authorities, as well as the chief medical officer on those cruise ships, Dr. Briand said, to see what would be the best measures to put in place to protect the people.

WHO is also providing advice to countries on how to do screening, testing, contact tracing and treatment, and we have put out a call for US$675 million to support countries to prepare.

It also appears that COVID-19 is not as deadly as other coronaviruses, including SARS and MERS, according to WHO. More than 80% of patients have a mild form of the disease and will recover.

“We need to make sure that we focus on our public health objective, which is to contain the virus, not to contain the people,” Dr. Briand said.

  
  

MOST VIEWED

  1. U.S. Issues Worldwide Travel Warning for All Americans Traveling Abroad
  2. Travel Leaders Network President John Lovell to Depart for Cruise Role
  3. Hilton Rewards Reservations Canceled Amid Transition of Playa Hotels to Hyatt
  4. Delta Air Lines Clarifies Schedule Change Policy for Travel Agencies
  5. Ask-an-Advisor: How Do I Know When It’s Time to Fire a Client?
  6. Here Are All the New Cruise Ships Coming in 2026, 2027, and Beyond


  1. Former Virgin Voyages Head of Sales John Diorio Lands New Role at Celestyal
  2. U.S. and International Airlines Halt Dubai, Mideast Flights Due to Iran-Israel Conflict
  3. Overtourism Backlash Heats Up in Europe as Summer Season Kicks Off
  4. New Greece Cruise Passenger Tax Coming this July
  5. What Does Success Look Like for a Travel Advisor?
  6. New U.S. Travel Bans Would Hinder Tourism, Industry Leaders Say
TMR Subscription

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth luxury coverage, analysis of luxury news, luxury trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Top Stories
CDC Adds Aruba to Level 4 Travel Advisory List
CDC Adds Aruba to Level 4 Travel Advisory List

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday added Aruba to its Level 4: Very High COVID-19 travel list.

France Adds Mandatory Quarantine for Unvaccinated Arrivals from U.S.
France Adds Mandatory Quarantine for Unvaccinated Arrivals from U.S.

France has added the U.S. to its COVID-19 Red List of countries.

Cayman Islands Change Travel Requirements Ahead of the Holidays
Cayman Islands Change Travel Requirements Ahead of the Holidays

The Cayman Islands’ pre-travel testing time is changing. 

WestJet Calls Canadian Travel Advisory a “Setback” to Airline Industry
WestJet Calls Canadian Travel Advisory a “Setback” to Airline Industry

“Air travel is the most tested and protected consumer activity in Canada.”

Canada Warns Citizens Against International Travel as COVID-19 Cases Rise
Canada Warns Citizens Against International Travel as COVID-19 Cases Rise

A rise in COVID-19 cases is again causing concern among Canadian government officials.

CDC Adds Italy, Greenland to Level 4 Travel Advisory List Over COVID-19 Concerns
CDC Adds Italy, Greenland to Level 4 Travel Advisory List Over COVID-19 Concerns

Italy and Greenland, along with Mauritius, has been added to the highest COVID-19 advisory list. 

TMR OUTLOOKS & WHITE PAPERS
View All
Advertiser's Voice
The Collette Premium Experience
About Travel Market Report Mission Meet the Team Advisory Board Advertise Syndication Guidelines
TMR Resources Calendar of Events Outlook/Whitepapers Previous Sponsored Articles Previous This Week Articles
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
71 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
© 2005 - 2025 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Manage cookie preferences