Two cruise ships under coronavirus quarantine in Asia

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Princess Cruises’ 2,670 passenger capacity cruise ship Diamond Princess is under quarantine in Yokohama, after initial screening by the Japanese Ministry of Health of all guests and crew found 10 people on board testing positive for coronavirus.

Meantime, Dream Cruises’ World Dream returned to Hong Kong today after being denied entry to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The entry ban followed positive tests for coronavirus on three passengers who had traveled on board World Dream from January 19 to 24. Reports are that World Dream is now under quarantine in Hong Kong.

The turnaround of Diamond Princess from Yokohama was initially delayed after a guest who had disembarked the ship in Hong Kong on January 25, visited a hospital there six days later and tested positive for coronavirus on February.

Princess Cruises says that the guest, who was from Hong Kong, had embarked the ship in Yokohama on January 20 and sailed one segment of its itinerary before disembarking.

The cruise line says that while on the ship he did not visit the ship’s medical centre to report any symptoms or illness. The hospital in Hong Kong reports that he is in stable condition and that family members traveling with him remain symptom-free.

Meantime the 10 people who have tested positive for coronavirus on board the ship include two Australian guests, three Japanese guests, three guests from Hong Kong, and one guest from the U.S. in addition to one Filipino crewmember.

They will be taken ashore by Japanese Coast Guard watercraft and transported to local hospitals for care by shoreside Japanese medical professionals.

The ship will now remain under quarantine in Yokohama for at least 14 days as required by the Ministry of Health.

The ship plans to go out to sea to perform normal marine operations including, but not limited to, the production of fresh water and ballast operations before proceeding alongside in Yokohama where food, provisions, and other supplies will be brought onboard.

Guests will reportedly be confined to their rooms but will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone to use in order to stay in contact with their family and loved ones, and the ship’s crew is working to keep all guests comfortable.

Princess Cruises will continue to fully cooperate with and follow the instructions of global medical authorities and the Japanese government.

The cruise line has canceled the next two Diamond Princess cruises departing Yokohama (Feb 4 and Feb 12) and will begin notifying guests today.

Princess Cruises confirms there are 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew currently onboard covering a range of nationalities. Approximately half the guests onboard are from Japan.