Trump closes down cruise ship operations for month to halt spread of coronavirus

‘It is a great and important industry – it will be kept that way’

Donald Trump has announced the suspension of cruise ship operations for one month – the latest in a series of steps to try and stop the spread of coronavirus.

Speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House where he announced a series of measures intended to halt the spread of coronavirus as part of a national emergency declaration, the president was asked about what was being done to help the cruise industry.

It is one of several to have been hit hard by the spread of the virus.

“We’re with them all the way,” he said. “It’s a great industry. We will be helping them, and we will be helping the airline industry, if we have to. So far people haven’t been asking.”

Yet shortly afterwards, he confirmed on Twitter that four operators had agreed to suspend operations for a month.

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“At my request, effective midnight tonight, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and MSC have all agreed to suspend outbound cruises for thirty days,” he wrote.

“It is a great and important industry – it will be kept that way!”

On Friday, a number of ocean and river cruise operators around the world said they would be suspending operations on a temporary basis to try and help counter the spread of COVID-19.

The Washington Post reported that Royal Caribbean Cruises, the world’s second-largest cruise operator, said would suspend all cruises scheduled to leave the US after midnight.

The suspension, in place for 30 days, affects 114 voyages and 26 ships. The company owns Royal Caribbean International, which operates the largest ships in the world, as well as Celebrity Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises and Silversea Cruises

Princess Cruises, Viking and Disney also announced suspensions, and on Friday MSC Cruises said it was cancelling its cruises from Miami to the Caribbean from Saturday until April 30.

“It is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakeholders of our commitment to the health, safety and well-being of all who sail with us, as well as those who do business with us, and the countries and communities we visit around the world,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

CNN said Virgin Voyages, the new cruise line that is part of Virgin Group, announced that it will delay its inaugural voyage until August 7.

“The current global health crisis is understandably making many people rethink upcoming travel plans,” said a Virgin Voyages’ statement.

In Canada, operations of vessels of more than 500 people have been suspended until mid June.

On Friday morning, a top US health official says Americans should prepare for nearly two months or more of shutdowns and working from home as the deadly coronavirus spreads throughout the country.

“It’s certainly going to get worse before it gets better,” Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases with the the National Institutes of Health, said during an interview on Good Morning America. He said Americans could see “eight weeks or more” of shutdowns and working from home as the virus surges in communities across the country.