Rejected by Two Ports on Virus Fears, Cruise Heads to Mexico
A ship operated by MSC Cruises is sailing for Cozumel, Mexico, on Wednesday after authorities in two Caribbean ports effectively denied it disembarkation over coronavirus fears. On Tuesday, Jamaican authorities delayed a disembarkation decision on the MSC Meraviglia for “many hours,” according to a statement from the company. Overnight, Grand Cayman authorities denied the ship disembarkation in Georgetown.
“In both instances, the ship was effectively turned away simply based on fears,” the company said.
MSC Cruises, which says it doesn’t have any evidence of coronavirus on the ship, said it was in touch with local health authorities in Mexico to ensure that their decision on disembarkation is factually based. Cozumel is the MSC Meraviglia’s next scheduled port of call. MSC Cruises said its medical records show one case of seasonal flu in a crew member, who boarded the ship in Miami after traveling from Manila.
The episode is the latest example of a cruise ship seemingly trapped at sea over coronavirus concerns, as governments seek to keep cases away from their shores. The incidents have hit consumer sentiment during peak bookings season, battered cruise stocks and prompted companies to reduce profit estimates for the year.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-26/rejected-by-two-ports-on-virus-fears-cruise-heads-to-mexico
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On one of those days, two huge cruise ships arrived - well the short drive to Ochi took us nearly an hour as there were tourists and taxis everywhere. We Kingston and St Andrew folks were not amused but the Ochi folks were delighted. 
