Thread: Celebrity Travel Alert

Celebrity Cruises has issued a travel alert statement regarding the Swine Flu (below) but, eventhough there are X ships on Mexican itineraries, they have not publically announced any port cancellatioins. (Several other lines are skipping various ports in Mexico)

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From the Celebrity website:

Swine Flu Statement - (April 27, 2009) -

We've been closely monitoring all developments regarding the Swine Flu, to help ensure the health and well-being of our guests and crew members.

Health authorities from a variety of nations are investigating the situation and we remain keenly attuned to their progress. We maintain close working relationships with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our industry association, and we're working in close coordination with them.

It is important to note that health authorities have not raised concerns regarding the ports of call we visit in Mexico. None of our sailings have been altered and none are scheduled to be.



Our ships visiting Mexico are taking pro-active measures, such as:

• Placing a notice in the daily, onboard newsletter to provide our guests with basic information regarding this matter.
• Placing a letter, along with a fact sheet from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in each guest stateroom.
• Providing hand sanitizers throughout the ship.
• And, conducting enhanced sanitizing of all high-touch areas.

We're also asking guests to follow the advice of medical experts regarding the best ways to help prevent flu and other illnesses:

• Washing hands thoroughly with soap and hot water - often.
• Covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Putting used tissues in waste baskets.
• If tissues are not available, coughing or sneezing into upper sleeves, not one's hands.

Like our guests, we take all health matters seriously and we'll continue to closely follow all developments regarding the Swine Flu.

Additional information regarding Swine Flu is available at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Celebrity Cruises has issued a travel alert statement regarding the Swine Flu (below) but, eventhough there are X ships on Mexican itineraries, they have not publically announced any port cancellatioins. (Several other lines are skipping various ports in Mexico)

According to another press release, they have cancelled Mexican ports.

Miami - (April 28, 2009 ) -Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced it is temporarily suspending its port calls in Mexico. The decision was made in an abundance of caution, and allows additional time to better understand the full impact of the Swine Flu.
The suspension involves the company's Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises brands. Royal Caribbean International has four ships currently making regularly scheduled port call 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. The temporary suspension takes effect immediately and will be in effect for the immediate future. It will be regularly reviewed in light of any Swine Flu developments.

"Like our guests, we take all health matters seriously," said Dr. Art Diskin, chief medical officer for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Although authorities have not raised specific concerns regarding the ports we visit in Mexico, we want to err on the side of caution. We're taking proactive steps onboard our ships to help ensure the health and well-being of our guests and crew members, and this is just one more step in that process. We apologize for the disruption these changes will cause our guests, and we appreciate their understanding."

The company has been closely monitoring Swine Flu developments and is utilizing its Influenza Prevention and Response Plans. That plan was developed by its office of Medical and Public Health in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts. The plan is based on three pillars: Preparedness and Communication; Surveillance and Detection; and Response and Containment.

The company's onboard activities regarding the Swine Flu include:
Providing guests with Swine Flu information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Screening embarking guests and crew members regarding recent visits to, or travel through Mexico, contact with people ill with the Swine Flu, and for recent flu-like symptoms
Conducting enhanced sanitizing of all high-touch areas onboard
Providing hand sanitizers throughout all ships
Asking guests to follow the advice of medical experts regarding the best ways to help prevent the spread of flu and other illnesses - via proper and frequent hand washing, and covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
And, if necessary, onboard medical staff can isolate and treat guests or crew members who display flu-like symptoms, using the supply of anti-viral medications kept onboard all ships.
Additional details will be posted on the Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises consumer websites.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is a global cruise vacation company that operates Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Pullmantur, Azamara Cruises and CDF Croisieres de France. The company has a combined total of 38 ships in service and six under construction. It also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America.

Thank you for this, Karean!
I didn't realize I had missed Celebrity on my round of updates last night ...

H1N1 Flu Statement - (May 14, 2009) - Celebrity Cruises has temporarily suspended its port calls in Mexico. The decision was made in an abundance of caution, and to allow additional time to better understand the full impact of the Influenza A/H1N1 Virus Infection (Swine Flu). We continue to closely monitor the flu situation in Mexico.

Like our guests, we take all health matters seriously. Although authorities had not raised specific concerns regarding the ports we visit in Mexico, we want to err on the side of caution. We're taking proactive steps onboard our ships to help ensure the health and well-being of our guests and crew members, and this is just one more step in that process. We apologize for the disruption these changes will cause our guests, and we appreciate their understanding.

We continue to closely monitor H1N1 flu developments and utilize our Influenza Prevention and Response Plans. That plan was developed by our office of Medical and Public Health in coordination with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health experts. The plan is based on three pillars: Preparedness and Communication; Surveillance and Detection; and Response and Containment.

Some of the proactive measures we are taking include:

• Providing guests with Swine Flu information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Screening all ship visitors, including guests and crew members to identify any flu-like symptoms
• Conducting enhanced sanitizing of all high-touch areas onboard
• Providing hand sanitizers throughout all ships
• Asking guests to follow the advice of medical experts regarding the best ways to help prevent the spread of flu and other illnesses - via proper and frequent hand washing, and covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• And, if necessary, onboard medical staff can isolate and treat guests or crew members who display flu-like symptoms, using the supply of anti-viral medications kept onboard all ships.

We'll continue to closely follow developments regarding the H1N1 flu. Additional information regarding the H1N1 flu is available at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Every day at 1 p.m., this notice will be reviewed and updated with any significant new developments.

We received in our cabin an alert just stressing preventive measures from Canada govt.

Reggie