Grand Princess in latest coronavirus scare
Another Princess Cruises ship is now the centre of a coronavirus scare, this time in the US.
Grand Princess is being held off the coast of San Francisco, with 3,533 people on board, including 142 British holidaymakers.
The ship is not being allowed to dock until authorities get the results of coronavirus tests after the death of a man who had previously sailed on the ship.
The 71-year-old man died in California on Wednesday, prompting the California governor to declare a state of emergency.
The deceased was one of three people who tested positive for coronavirus after sailing on a roundtrip Grand Princess cruise from San Francisco to Mexico last month.
Since then thousands more passengers have boarded and disembarked the ship, which has also sailed a roundtrip voyage to Hawaii.
Some of those currently on board have developed flu-like symptoms.
Princess Cruises said the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and local authorities have now taken samples from 45 passengers and crew and the results are expected today.
"Following guidelines received today from the CDC, all guests have been asked to stay in their staterooms while test results are pending. Guests are receiving meal deliveries in their staterooms by room service, and additional television and movie options have been added to in-room programming," it said.
"Guests have also been provided complimentary internet service to stay in contact with their family and loved ones, and the ship’s internet bandwidth has been increased."
Immediate family members of guests onboard Grand Princess can call the following numbers for information: International +1 872-201-6779, US and Canada: +1 888-358-8055.
The ship was due to arrive back in San Francisco tomorrow and depart on a Hawaii cruise but this has now been cancelled and all passengers refunded in full.
Princess said other expenses, such as flight change fees and out-of-pocket expenses would be considered on a case-by-case basis. Customers will also receive a future cruise credit equal to 100% of the fare paid for the cruise.
Princess Cruises has temporarily revised its cancellation policy for cruises departing up to May 31 amid coronavirus concerns.
Details vary by depature date and customers who go ahead with their cruise will be rewarded with on board credit.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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