What you need to know if you’ve booked a cruise

Posted by Anita Froneman on 16 March 2020

As the world is experiencing a pandemic due to the coronavirus outbreak, many tourists’ travel plans are being overturned.

Read: South African government implements travel ban 

Unfortunately, many have already booked tickets for various trips including flights and cruises. If you have bought flight tickets, see what your airline’s refund and cancellations policies are.

If you have booked a trip with a major cruise liner like MSC, here’s what you need to know:

MSC Cruises has implemented a temporary suspension of all its U.S.-based new cruises embarkations until 30 April 2020, [when the cruise season ends] according to their website.

All South African cruises are going ahead at this stage.

The port of Durban is open and a cruise leaving today, 16 March, is scheduled to carry on as planned, according to MSC’s website. Any guest that has travelled to, from or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Europe, South Korea, United States, UK, Canada and Iran, or visited or transited via these airports, will be denied access to the ship, however.

The cruise line has put various other measures in place to ensure passengers’ safety:

‘If guests develop fever symptoms once on board, they will be isolated in their cabin and the same measure applies for their travel companions and close contacts on-board, including guests staying in the same cabin and family members, as well as any crew member who may have had contact with these guests,’ it states on the MSC website.

‘Any guest on board is able to have their temperature checked at the Medical Centre should they have any concerns in this regard.’

To see a list of upcoming international cruises that have been cancelled or other itinerary changes, click here or phone 087 630 0333.

Travellers who have booked through travel agencies should contact their agents directly. ‘Customers who have confirmed a tour or a cruise due to depart during this time will be assisted as per the re-accommodation policy in place for the specific supplier,’ Flight Centre posted on its website.

Image: Pixabay

 

 

 

 

 

 






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