The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has indicated that nine ships due to arrive in Victoria over the course of this month currently have confirmed COVID-19 cases on board.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched an initiative, the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, in order to monitor the virus on vessels operating out of the United States.
As part of the program, the CDC assigns a colour status for participating ships in order to provide travellers with information on the number of reported cases on each vessel and if an investigation is needed or if additional public health measures need to be taken.
The first ship that was initially scheduled to arrive on April 6 — the Caribbean Princess — was assigned an “orange status” by CDC which means that at least 0.3 per cent of passengers and crew aboard the ship had tested positive for the virus.
An orange status label also means that the vessel meets the requirements for further investigation by the CDC.
On Princess Cruise’s website, it says cruises on the Princess Caribbean were cancelled due to a change in scheduled maintenance.
With Princess’ cancellation, the first ship to arrive for the 2022 season will be the Holland America Koningsdam on April 9.
The CDC website also shows the Koningsdam is at an “orange” level for COVID cases on board.
Six other ships scheduled to arrive in April are also marked with “orange status” by the CDC, including Holland America’s Zuiderdam, Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam, Disney Wonder, Ruby Princess and the Grand Princess.
Additionally, two ships — Norweigan Bliss and Viking Orion — have been labelled by the CDC with a “yellow status” meaning that under 0.3 per cent of passengers and crew aboard the ship have tested positive for the disease.
Both Royal Caribbean ships — the Radiance of the Seas and the Ovation of the Seas — which are scheduled to arrive towards the end of the month are the only ships listed as “green status” meaning there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on board at this time.
To see a full schedule of cruises slated to arrive in Victoria this summer, visit the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority website here.
Graham Cox
