As many of you know, the cruise lines have suffered a lot in the past from bad press releases in regards to viruses being caught and/or spread  on board their cruise ships. Unfortunately, they had many fingers pointed at them even though the viruses could have come from many other sources. The cruise lines have continued to stay on top of these issues offering sanitizing stations throughout the ship and offered hand wipes when walking into the dining rooms and so forth. Well, they are steering clear of the recent swine virus spreading rapidly. Cruise lines are switching itineraries to avoid Mexican ports to protect passengers from the risk of swine flu.

Royal Caribbean Cruises has temporarily suspending its port calls in Mexico for both its Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara brands. Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has four ships currently making regularly scheduled port calls in Mexico – Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas.

Two additional Royal Caribbean International ships were scheduled to make upcoming Mexican port calls as they repositioned – Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas.

Celebrity Cruises had one ship scheduled to make upcoming Mexico port calls as it repositions – Celebrity Infinity.

All but one of the affected ships will either make alternative port calls or spend additional time at sea. Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas will sail a fully revised itinerary, visiting Canada and the U.S. West Coast. For the most up to date information from Royal Caribbean on the Swine Flu click here.

Carnival Cruise Lines has made several changes as well. They have actually made it easy to see the most recent changes. Click on this link to view the most updated changes regarding traveling to Mexico. So far the Carnival Ectasy, Carnival Fantasy, Carnival Legend,  Carnival Conquest, Carnival Valor, Carnival Paradise, Carnival Imagination, and the Carnival Splendor have all had changes to their itineraries. Most have either been moved from Mexican ports of call to Fun Days at Sea, Key West, Nassau, or San Francisco. For the most updated advisory from Carnival Cruise Lines go here – Carnival Travel Advisory.

Norwegian Cruise Lines released a press release on April 28, 2009 stating that they are closely monitoring the health advisories regarding the current Swine Influenza. They also listed the changes taking place with the itineraries sailing to ports of call in Mexico.

NCL cancelled the Norwegian Pearl’s final two calls in Mexico on its current repositioning cruise. The stops were scheduled for today, Wednesday, April 29 and Friday, May 1, 2009. Instead, the ship will call on San Diego, California, on Saturday, May 2. Apart from this sailing, Norwegian Cruise Line’s scheduled deployment does not include any other ports of call in Mexico until the end of September 2009

The cruise lines have all implemented and carry stringent protocols for cleaning and sanitation on all their vessels to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In addition, they are taking proactive precautionary measures to protect their valued guests, including, but not limited to, fleet-wide guest screenings via a health questionnaire prior to embarkation and on-board education regarding Swine Flu symptoms and preventative actions. As a result, the cruise lines do not anticipate that its guests’ cruise experience will be impacted.

Furthermore, the cruise lines on-board medical centers are stocking an appropriate amount of the anti-viral medication used to treat the illness, in the unlikely event the need for its use becomes necessary.

As the cruise lines as well as the CDC continue to issue updates, we will make sure to post the most recent updates. The temporary suspension will be regularly reviewed in light of any developments.