And if they are what are the west coast ships going to do - it is not as if they can sail many others places being foreign flagged ?

BA shares down 18%, Lufthansa 12%.

Several countries have now started screening all pax arriving from Mexican destinations beofre they even get off the planes.

Could they get a temporary exception from the Jones Act and sail US coastal routes instead ?

quote:

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Originally posted by Frosty 4:
Flu in several states???? I have only heard of NYC area. Students that returned from a trip to Mexico.

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You can read about it HERE.

quote:

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Originally posted by Frosty 4:

The media is blowing this way out of proportion.

Maintain good sanitary pratices like washing your hands. A little common sense!!
Frosty 4

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Of course they are blowing it completely out of proportion-what else is new?? The press loves a story like this and they run w/it!

I'm sailing next Saturday and one of our stops is Cozumel. It was very likely I would not be getting off the ship anyway, so it would not bother me if the port was skipped. I've been there at least a dozen times and figured the stop would make a nice "sea day" for me.

[ 04-28-2009: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]

The Sapphire Princess is supposed to be in PV this morning, could someone with the tracking membership see where she is at ?

quote:

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Originally posted by jetwet1:
Well today will tell the tale.

The Sapphire Princess is supposed to be in PV this morning, could someone with the tracking membership see where she is at ?

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Web Cam shows her enroute but it has not been updated for a couple of hours...

quote:

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
The US Department of Health has recommended avoiding travel to Mexico for the next THREE MONTHS. Now 150 people have died from Swine Flu and cases are popping up all over the US, Canada and overseas. This appears to be a potential health crisis?

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Not all over Canada although the Canadian Government has joined a growing list of countries advising against travel to Mexico on account of the swine flu outbreak. So far only 6 cases.........2 in British Columbia and 4 in Nova Scotia. BC is on the West coast and NS on the East - nothing reported in the other Provinces.

At Pearson International Airport (Toronto, Ontario) on Monday, both customs officers and passengers were wearing masks, although authorities say the best defense against the swine flu is washing your hands well with soap.

I have asked my TA to get us out of this cruise, Princess is thinking it over lol

So what will probably happen is we will get stuck paying $8000 (3 cabins) for a Catalina island itinerary and then we won't cruise Princess anymore.

quote:

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Originally posted by GregD:
Carnival cancels all mexican port calls until may 4th.

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Royal Caribbean has canceled Mexican ports as well.

Ernie

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Temporarily Suspends Port Calls in Mexico
MIAMI, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it is temporarily suspending its port calls in Mexico. The decision was made in an abundance of caution, and allows additional time to better understand the full impact of the Swine Flu.

The suspension involves the company's Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands. Royal Caribbean International has four ships currently making regularly scheduled port call in Mexico - Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. Two additional Royal Caribbean International ships were scheduled to make upcoming Mexican port calls as they repositioned - Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas. Celebrity Cruises had one ship scheduled to make upcoming Mexico port calls as it repositions - Celebrity Infinity.

All but one of the affected ships will either make alternative port calls or spend additional time at sea. Royal Caribbean International's Mariner of the Seas will sail a fully revised itinerary, visiting Canada and the U.S. West Coast. The temporary suspension takes effect immediately and will be in effect for the immediate future. It will be regularly reviewed in light of any Swine Flu developments.

"Like our guests, we take all health matters seriously," said Dr. Art Diskin, chief medical officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Although authorities have not raised specific concerns regarding the ports we visit in Mexico, we want to err on the side of caution. We're taking proactive steps onboard our ships to help ensure the health and well-being of our guests and crew members, and this is just one more step in that process. We apologize for the disruption these changes will cause our guests, and we appreciate their understanding."

The company has been closely monitoring Swine Flu developments and is utilizing its Influenza Prevention and Response Plans. That plan was developed by its office of Medical and Public Health in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts. The plan is based on three pillars: Preparedness and Communication; Surveillance and Detection; and Response and Containment.

The company's onboard activities regarding the Swine Flu include:
-- Providing guests with Swine Flu information from the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
-- Screening embarking guests and crew members regarding recent visits
to, or travel through Mexico, contact with people ill with the Swine
Flu, and for recent flu-like symptoms
-- Conducting enhanced sanitizing of all high-touch areas onboard
-- Providing hand sanitizers throughout all ships
-- Asking guests to follow the advice of medical experts regarding the
best ways to help prevent the spread of flu and other illnesses - via
proper and frequent hand washing, and covering the mouth and nose with
a tissue when coughing or sneezing.

-- And, if necessary, onboard medical staff can isolate and treat guests
or crew members who display flu-like symptoms, using the supply of
anti-viral medications kept onboard all ships.
Additional details will be posted on the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises consumer websites.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. Additional information can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com, www.celebrity.com, www.pullmantur.es, www.azamaracruises.com, www.cdfcroisieresdefrance.com or www.rclinvestor.com.