Cruise lines cancel port calls in Mexico as swine flu worries grow

mercedes · April 28, 2009

(12:05 PM EDT) -- At least three major cruise lines have canceled port calls today in Mexico as worries about a potentially deadly outbreak of swine flu grow.

A spokeswoman for Princess Cruises tells USA TODAY both the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess and 1,970-passenger Coral Princess -- scheduled to call today in Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, respectively -- have remained out to sea, and Holland America also has canceled a call today in Mazatlan planned for the 1,258-passenger Ryndam.

Carnival spokesman Tim Gallagher tells USA TODAY all three Carnival ships scheduled to call in Mexico today also have stayed out to sea. The 2,052-passenger Elation, which sails out of San Diego, had been scheduled to visit Ensenada. The 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration and 1,452-passenger Holiday, sailing out of Tampa and Mobile, Ala., respectively, were expected in Cozumel.

Carnival announced earlier today that it was reviewing its decision to go ahead with cruise ship calls in Mexico this week in the wake of the U.S. government warning that Americans should defer all non-essential travel to the country due to the outbreak of swine flu.

Carnival spokesman Tim Gallagher tells USA TODAY the line still is in the midst of forming a plan for the rest of the week and beyond. "We are actively working on plans for coming days and will advise as soon as possible," Gallagher says.

Among major North American lines, only Royal Caribbean went ahead with a planned call in Mexico today. The 3,114-passenger Mariner of the Seas -- one of the largest cruise ships in the world -- arrived in Cabo San Lucas this morning and is scheduled to remain until 6 PM Pacific Time.

The Princess, Holland America and Carnival ships together are carrying more than 10,000 passengers, mostly North Americans, and set sail over the weekend from U.S. ports.

UPDATE, 1:30 PM EDT: The UK's Fred Olsen Cruises has canceled plans for one of its ships, the Balmoral, to call in Acapulco next week. The ship is on an around-the-world cruise and was scheduled to stop in the Mexican port town on May 6 and 7.

UPDATE, 1:50 PM EDT: Princess Cruises has just announced additional port call cancellations. In addition to a scheduled call today in Puerto Vallarta, the Sapphire Princess will skip port calls later this week in Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. The ship instead will call in San Diego and Catalina Island.

JoeyandDavid · April 28, 2009

UPDATE, 1:50 PM EDT: Princess Cruises has just announced additional port call cancellations. In addition to a scheduled call today in Puerto Vallarta, the Sapphire Princess will skip port calls later this week in Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. The ship instead will call in San Diego and Catalina Island.

That pretty much puts a nail in the Mexican Rivera for a while.....