The more than six thousand people on board the Costa Smeralda cruise ship in Italy were allowed off the ship after a Chinese passenger tested negative for coronavirus.
The patient at the center of the lockdown was isolated on the ship with her husband as the Costa Smeralda cruise ship docked in the port of Civitavecchia, north of Rome. The suspicion was high since the woman traveled from Hong Kong. She had a fever while on the cruise.
The incident took place as Italy confirmed its first two cases of the virus in the country. The patients were Chinese tourists. Italy had since ban all flights between Italy and China.
Costa Cruises have been hit largely by the deadly coronavirus outbreak as it already canceled nine routes from Shanghai, Shenzhen, Sanya, and Tianjin.
Elsewhere, a number of cruises are being canceled or at least changing their routes. For instance, Holland American and Seabourn Cruise Line changed their routes in Asia, away from close contact to China.
Holland American canceled all its China stops, which were scheduled until March 28. A trip set to depart from Hong Kong will take place as scheduled, sailing all across Asia. However, the said trip will no longer end in Shanghai as scheduled. Alternately, it will end in Yokohama, Japan, in the port of Tokyo. From March 28, all its Asian cruises will begin and end in Yokohama and no longer Shangai or Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Seabourn also canceled its port stop in Xiamen, China. Alternately, it will visit Sandakan, Malaysia.
Earlier, Royal Caribbean International, the world's largest cruise operator, canceled routes from Shanghai. Carnival cruises did the same as well as MSC Cruises. The latter supposed to have scheduled voyages in Mainland.
All mentioned cruises are now working hard to contact tourists to either offer alternate voyages or offer full refunds.
Meanwhile, there are still cruises set to arrive in China this week, including Oceania's Cruises' Nautica and Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Millenium. The latter lines have yet to cancel any port stops in China, neither announcing alternate routes.
The developments have already sent cruise stocks into a decline. James Hardin, managing director of equity research for Wedbush Securities, said cruise lines are losing between $3 and $4 million of revenue for its canceled voyage.
Meanwhile, as many as 43 airlines in Europe, Asia, and North America have canceled trips to and from China.
There were already 9,320 confirmed cases worldwide with the World Health Organization declaring the outbreak of a global emergency. China confirmed 9,096 infections while still monitoring 12,167 people. Death tolls are at 213 while there 163 who recovered.
