Carnival Cruise Lines will resume visits to Mexican ports of call once all voyages with previously modified itineraries are completed in mid-June with the exception of the Holiday (out of Mobile) which was modified through late May

Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Line, said “The health and well being of our guests and crew is our highest priority and we are returning to Mexico after careful evaluation and consultation with the CDC. It is important to note that the concentration of H1N1 flu cases in Mexico has been inland rather than in the coastal resort areas where our ships visit.”

The cruise industry works closely with U.S. public health officials in the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program to develop extensive policies and procedures to mitigate illness aboard cruise ships. Along those lines, expect all the cruise lines to follow CDC guidelines for cruise ships, including pre-boarding health questionnaires for all guests and crew, along with secondary screening by shipboard medical professionals when necessary. Cruise ships will stock influenza test kits and anti-viral medications.

Naturally, Mexico is an important destination for the cruise lines, and for many U.S. citizens, and to lose it for an extended period of time would be a shame, financially and in other ways.

I think it is safe to say that when the cruise lines return to Mexico they will be very serious about screening passengers, as they should be. Although H1N1 did not turn out to be the “eminent pandemic” some of the news channels promoted it to be, there is still a significant amount of concern about the virus in the public psyche.

We all want ships to return to Mexico soon. In fact most of the outbreaks that have occurred in Mexico have been less severe than we were initially led to believe, and few of them occurred on the West Coast where the most port-intensive Mexico cruising occurs.

So it is highly unlikely, under current conditions, that a significant outbreak could somehow occur on a cruise ship. But if it did happen it would be a setback for Mexico tourism, including cruising, that would be hard to recover from.

Therefore, when ships start returning to Mexico we hope and expect that they will be careful and generous in screening pasasengers traveling there. If you are on a ship and you come down with flu symptoms while you are in Mexico, please report it to the ship and do not complain if you are quarantined.

We also hope that of a cruise line has to quarantine a passenger that they will be generous in making up the cruise to the passenger as long as they agree to cooperate with the health staff on the ship.

The cruise industry and the travel industry in general needs Mexico, especially with current laws that require cruise ships to make a stop in a foreign port before they proceed on any cruise transporting U.S. citizens. Let’s all tread carefully to get Mexico cruising back to a normal state.

Related posts:

1. Should You Cancel Your Mexico Cruise?
2. Cruise Lines Pre-screen for H1N1
3. Stand Up for Your Right to Cruise

The goal, naturally, is to prevent the flu virus from boarding a cruise ship. In truth, cruise ships have been giving passengers similar questionaires, asking if they have been vomiting or throwing up, for many years now to stop norovirus from coming aboard. But the questionaire now also asks about a cough, runny nose or sore throat.

Passengers exhibiting flu-like symptoms will be evaluated by the cruise line’s medical staff free of charge, but such persons may be denied boarding.

“The cruise industry is taking these proactive steps out of an abundance of caution,” CLIA President Terry Dale said in a statement.

Cruise agents say most passengers are still sailing, especially on Caribbean sailings where the changes have been relatively minor. Such itineraries have dropped Mexico ports like Cozumel, Progresso and Costa Maya and substituted extra days in Key West, Grand Cayman or added ports like Ocho Rios Jamaica.

Michelle fee, CEO of the large nationwide home-based travel agent company, Cruise Planners, said, “For the most part, cruisers with itineraries that have been rerouted to the Caribbean are thankful that the cruise lines are making safety a priority, and still enabling them to enjoy their fun-in-the-sun vacations.”

“Caribbean cruises are not [Mexico] port-intensive cruises,” said Ralph Santisteban, owner of CruiseOne Miami. As a result, consumers are less concerned with the ship’s course, he said.

But West Coast cruising is an entirely different story since that is the source of Mexican Riviera Cruises that usually start in California and sail to Mexican ports Cabo San lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and sometime Acapulco or Ixtapa. While none of the cities above are considered hotbeds of the H1N1 flu outbreak, cruise lines have voluntarily stopped visiting all Mexican ports, leaving West Coast cruisers with itineraries they didn’t expect when they purchased the cruise.

“Travelers who were originally bound for the Mexican Riviera and are now being diverted to ports like San Francisco, Victoria and Seattle, are quite disappointed.” says Fee. That is what CruiseMates readers have told us as well. Most people who have travel scheduled to Mexico even in the next few weeks still want to go there.

All ships that had been sold as Mexico Riviera cruises have had U.S. ports substituted, the most impact being to the newly repositioned 110,000-ton-plus megaships Carnival Splendor and Mariner of the Seas.

Each of these ships only began regular cruises to Mexico in 2009, Mariner having arrived in January and Splendor in March. These two are the largest ships ever to have regularly scheduled cruises on the West Coast were both too large for the Panama Canal and had to circumnavigate South America to relocate to California.

These ships are now both sailing on revised itineraries that include San Francisco, Seattle and Victoria Island in British Columbia.

This itinerary would actually be a boon for people who have never seen these great American cities, much like west coasters who have never seen Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The price is right as well with cruises starting as low as $399 per person. Unfortunately, most Mexico Riviera passengers come from the West Coast and have already seen these cities.

There is also compensation for the people who had already paid for their cruises. “Cruise lines are working overtime to do everything in their power to keep passengers sailing, like offering onboard and future cruise credits,” added Fee. Royal Caribbean is allowing any cruiser booked on Mariner of the Seas a cruise credit or the opportunity to cancel and book a different cruise entirely, for example.

Carnival is offering Splendor passengers a $75 credit or the offer to rebook the cruise on a different cruise anytime through December 31, 2010. The line is specific that refunds will not be given, however. Caribbean cruises missing Cozumel or other Mexican ports only receive a $20 credit but they still have the same generous offer to rebook you on another cruise sailing before end of 2010.

The shorter cruises normally scheduled to go to Ensenada are now going to the island of Catalina west of California only. These three or four-day cruises, skipping Mexican ports Ensenada and sometimes Cabo San Lucas, are giving an onboard spending credit, usually $20 to $30.

“Cruise Planners’ agents have not experienced a notable amount of cancellations due to the outbreak, thankfully. The cruise lines have done a superb job of keeping us up to date, and in turn, our Cruise Planners agents have kept their clients informed and accommodated their needs,” Michelle Fee told us.

Most of the cruise lines plan to return to Mexico cruising as soon as May 10. Some are holding off until June. Naturally, that is a fluid situation as conditions could change at any time. In fact, if anything concern about the virus has lessened in the last few days. It is also notable that the West Coast ports of Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan have not been hotbeds of viral activity even in Mexico. most of the action has been between the East Coast city of Veracruz and Mexico City in the center.

For the record, here are the latest stats according to a May 2 article in the NY Times:

Worldwide there are still only 615 cases of swine flu confirmed.

Worldwide (including Mexico) only 17 people have died (all in Mexico but 1, but the one toddler in the U.S. who came from Mexico).

There are only 397 CONFIRMED CASES of swine flu in Mexico according to Mexico who has been sending their specimens to US and Canada.

There are only 160 confirmed cases in the United States according to the CDC.

To date only 13 people have been hospitalized with H1N1 in the US, the rest of the cases are SO mild the people are staying home.

I ask you, if this government REALLY believed this was an “eminent pandemic,” as CNN calls it every 15 minutes, would they really allow verified infected carriers to STAY HOME? Only 13 people are hospitalized and only 160 cases are confirmed in the U.S.

I have a hard time calling that an epidemic at all, let alone a world pandemic.

Related posts:

1. Cruise Lines Venturing Back to Mexico
2. Should You Cancel Your Mexico Cruise?
3. Stand Up for Your Right to Cruise

The “H1N1 nee: swine flu” situation is overblown and the worst offenders are television media, especially cable news channel CNN using the phrase “eminent pandemic” at every opportunity. This is not a pandemic. In fact, this work week brought news of only two additional deaths from this disease, both of them from people who contracted the virus in Mexico.

Mexico, lagging in reporting because the government health agencies are not very robust reported the number of has gone up, but mostly because they are reviewing old, suspected case to see if they were H1N1. There are now more cases reported in Mexico than previously, but the Mexican Health Minister actually said new reported cases of the disease are slowing down. In fact, out of all deaths in Mexico only 12 have been confirmed as H1N1 deaths. Has the media told you that?

Obama just admitted there is no proof that this virus is any more lethal than any other flu virus, especially in its non ground-zero Mexican form. In fact, we still have not seen more than one death outside of Mexico.

There is a company called Veratect near Seattle that claims they discovered the virus long before the CDC did. Following their updates it is easy to see the panic in action. Many cases first believed to be H1N1 are later confirmed not to be. They also show that even in Europe and Asia, many suspected and confirmed cases are largely people who traveled to Mexico before they were warned to watch out for this virus. They caught something close to the original form and still noneof them have died.

Mexico is now largely shut down and tourism is dead. I doubt we will be hearing about many more cases of people going to Mexico and coming back with H1N1 within two weeks. That means the number of reported cases worldwide is going to drop very soon. And the touted European prediction “we haven’t seen any deaths, BUT WE WILL” could very well continue to be unfulfilled.

I have been getting email, and so far it is running five to one that people agree that H1N1 is overhyped by the media, for their own benefit and the administration in power. It is the perfect diversion from news of Chrysler going bankrupt.

It is an opportunity for our President to come out and sounding wise and concerned when he tells us “wipe your nose, you have a little something right there.”

Lets face it, the media loves to cover Obama, but the economy is a very dry subject. But Obama talking about something as common as the flu, that’s great TV, almost like adopting a puppy.

Joe Biden, aka “the gaffe machine” – said on the Today Show he wouldn’t take any subways or planes. The President’s spokesperson, Robert Gibbs, had to explain to the press what he “meant” to say. Did the administration forget to tell Joe how to couch his comments? Or did Joe uses his “oops” trick to say what no one else can say? When Joe makes a “gaffe” haven’t we all been conditioned to give the President a pass on it?

What does any of this have to do with cruising? All the cruise lines have been pressured by public opinion to cancel port stops in Mexico when they initially decided there was very, very limited danger of exposure. This is due to a flu virus that has killed nine people worldwide when 36,000 people die from flu in the U.S. alone every year.

There is another disease that the WHO already says is epidemic to the Caribbean, South America and other tropical areas called Dengue Fever. The WHO says some 2.5 billion people, two fifths of the world’s population, are now at risk from Dengue and estimates that there may be 50 million cases of dengue infection worldwide every year. It is spread by mosquitos. Dengue is now epidemic in more than 100 countries. Where is the 15-minute news update cycle on that disease?

What we are NOT being told is the message here.

Why do we keep hearing the words, “eminent Pandemic?” Why are other world health officials saying, “we haven’t seen any deaths yet, but we will,” but we haven’t? Why do we not hear about all the cases that have been proven NOT to be H1N1, when in fact it is ruled out in several cases every hour after tests. Why have all the things we are hearing will happen have not yet happened?

At some point the cruise lines are going to return to Mexico ports. There is a very good chance they could go back soon and not have a significant exposure to this virus as long as prudence is used when passengers go ashore. But that has always been the case in Mexico. Everyone already knows not to touch things and not to drink the water there.

The most likely thing to stop the cruise lines from going back to Mexico is panic on the part of the general public, not cruisers. We have heard from cruisers, they are NOT overly alarmed by this virus, and they want their cruise to Mexico. But if the media keeps boosting the H1N1 profile to boost their ratings, then we will hear an outcry from the general public not to let cruise ships go there. This will come from panicked moms, the same moms who stuff a kleenex and hand sanitizer in their kids’ pockets every morning.

All it will take is one comment from Obama or Joe Biden about cruise ships and this industry will take a multi-million dollar haircut. Hundreds of scheduled cruises to Mexico will have to be relocated to places that are already suffering from overcapacity.

And so it is up to you, dear cruisers, to tell the world that you want your Mexico cruises. Tell us you are willing to take responsibility for your own health. With your encouragement the cruise lines will be able to formulate a reasonable plan to continue cruising to Mexico.

By the way, where did I get the title “stand up for your right to cruise?” A Judith *** wrote this to me when I told her, “you have the right not to cruise to Mexico, but don’t infringe on my right to go there.” Here is her reply…

——————————————-

“Infringe on your right?” Please tell me you’re joking. (You know Colbert is joking, don’t you?) I have read the U.S. Constitution and doesn’t say anything about a “right” to cruise to Mexico. Maybe it’s
in the Arizona constitution? Second, the government is not suspending Mexican cruises–the companies are…

Seriously, if you believe that other peoples’ needs, interests, and perspectives amount to an infringement on your personal rights, then you’ve misunderstood the nature of a democratic society. I’m sorry I bothered you and I hope you can find someplace on this earth where everyone leaves you alone. No reply necessary or desired, you’re in my junk filter now.
——————————————

So, here is my reply, Judith. It seems to me it used to be acceptable to criticize the party in power in this country without being insulted. It was called free speech and as I learned in public school, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Judith, I happened to have a copy of the Constitution on my desk when you wrote that so I looked it up. The 14th amendment says every U.S. citizen has the right to leave the state and come back with full rights and liberties intact. No one can deny my rights for any reason just because I left. It is generally known as the “right to travel” amendment.

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Article 9 says that just because a right is not stated in the Consitution it does mean I do not have the right. It is called “the silent amendment.”

“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

So Judith, I will never tell you to shut up or insult your intelligence for your opinion. I respect your opinion, although I disagree with it. Too bad as a ‘democratic society” American you don’t see it the same way. And for the record, I am NOT right wing as you obviously assume. In fact I am equally skeptical and critical of the conservatives. The thing I abhor the most is the newly accepted practice in this country of insulting people instead of disputing their ideas if you disagree with their political opinion.

Stand up for your rights, including the first amendment which allows the right to a free press and freedom of speech. And please don’t let anyone intimidate you with name calling.

Related posts:

1. Flu Alerts: Just Doing Our Job
2. Cruise Lines Venturing Back to Mexico
3. Should You Cancel Your Mexico Cruise?

Because the Swine Flu is classified as a non-recurring virus (it creates its own antibodies), and because the outbreaks so far are mostly occuring in Mexico City and other inland areas, we recommend that people NOT cancel cruises to Mexico until and unless we get updates on the progress of this flu that indicate the situation is more serious. We strongly urge you to wait at least a few days.

The State Department has not yet issued a definite travel warning NOT to travel Mexico. Just yesterday the CDC was saying NOT to worry about travel to Mexico. Today they are saying they are “ready” to issue a warning about non-essential travel to Mexico if they feel it is needed. It appears the State Department is choosing to err on the side of caution.

The World Health Organization upped the threat level of the Swine Flu to a “four” rating, on a scale of one to six. Thi is considered a very serious situation but is not as bad as it gets. Some people returning from vacations in Mexico have flu symptoms, yet none of these Americans have died from the viruses they contracted. Some of thes U.S. cases are confirmed Swine Flu, however we have reports the vast majority are recovering or have already recovered.

Is Travel Insurance Enough?
Here is our concern; cancelling a cruise you have already paid for can be expensive unless you have travel insurance, and new information we have received about travel insurance has caveats. A state Department warning alone is NOT enough to get a refund unless you have purchased “cancel for any reason” insurance.

“Cancel for any Reason” qualification usually requires you to buy your insurance within two weeks after your first trip payment, you have to insure your trip for it’s full pre-paid value and if you cancel your trip for a reason that is not otherwise covered then you have to do so at least 2 days or more prior to departure. “Cancel for any Reason” also requires a co-payment of between 10 to 50 per cent of your trip cost depending on the plan that you’ve chosen.

Otherwise you must cancel for a “covered reason,” and most policies include being “quarantined” as a covered reason and would provide coverage if one was forced to cancel their trip due to it however; some companies exclude an “Epidemic” and would not cover being “quarantined” if it was caused by an “Epidemic”.

Now, if you contract Swine Flu during your trip it now becomes a sickness and you could be eligible for benefits under the medical expense, trip cancellation, trip interruption, travel delay, or emergency evacuation coverages found in most policies. Again the plans that exclude “Epidemic” would probably not provide coverage if it could be proved that it was the result of an “Epidemic”.

Most travel insurance companies are discussing the issues concerning Swine Flu and how it could be handled right now. It is a delicate balancing act for the underwriters between the public need and the possibility of a single event causing catastrophic losses. Will they respond and change their policies? We can only wait and see.

What is the Danger?
So far, most of the confirmed cases in Mexico are from deep inland; Mexico City and San Luis Potosi. Here are the locations identified by health authorities as having confirmed swine flu outbreaks:

Mexico City
Mexico State
San Luis Potosi
Veracruz
Oaxaca
Baja California (this is the only location of concern to cruisers)

It has not yet been revealed where in these states the flu cases occured. One woman in Vancouver with flu symptoms just returned from “southern Baja.” Her flu has NOT been confirmed as the Swine Flu yet. People returning from Mexico with a little virus is not unusual at all. In other words, this is not a pandemic, yet, so we urge you to wait a few days until we get a clearer picture of the progress of this disease.

For Caribbean cruises, the typical Mexico destinations of Cozumel and Progresso are 1000s of miles away from any cited outbreaks in Mexico. The only outbreak on the East Coast was in Veracruz, not far from Mexico City.

For cruises on the West Coast – if you are traveling this week or next we urge you to take precautions when in port, or to stay on the ship if you do not feel well or confident, but we are not concerned that going ashore is overly dangerous as long as you use prudent precautions such as not shaking hands, not sharing utensils and carrying sanitary towelettes to clean your hands. We do recommend hand washing first and hand wipes second over sanitizing gel, it is important to wipe your hands after you sanitize them.

Worst case situation – if this outbreak gets bigger between now and your sail date you can choose not to go ashore. The ship will likely remain a very safe environment as long as you continue to follow the hand washing regimen outlined above. Even in the notorious cases of Norovirus that affect cruise ships at times the usual contraction rate is only about 5% of the people onboard.

We expect to have much more detail on the disease by the end of the week. If further travel advisories are given or updated then we will update our current advice accordingly.

For people looking into a cruise right now – we highly recommend Alaska instead of Mexico. Alaska cruises are selling at bargain prices this year and they are a safer bet where Swine Flu is concerned. If you are booked on an Alaska cruise in the next few weeks please take precautions while on the ship just as you would in Mexico. By the same token, if you are very worried about Mexico but don’t want to cancel your cruise you can investigating rebooking on an Alaska cruise.

One last caveat; Many of the ships scheduled to cruise in Alaska this summer are locating to Alaska from Mexico. We don’t mean to raise unnecessary concerns, we are just pointing out the small potential that a crew member may have contracted a flu virus in Mexico. This is not confirmed at all, just a precautionary note to remind you to wash your hands onboard.

Any concerns about a ship repositioning from Mexico to Alaska should pass within a few weeks, as soon as a few cruises are completed without incident.

Related posts:

1. Cruise Lines Venturing Back to Mexico
2. Cruise Lines Pre-screen for H1N1
3. Stand Up for Your Right to Cruise