Thirty-seven ships dropped Mexican ports from their itineraries last month after health authorities advised against any nonessential travel to Mexico over concerns about H1N1 flu.
There were many complaints when cruisers found themselves on other itineraries. This included sailings up the California coast and as far north as Victoria and Vancouver instead of the Mexican trips they had booked.
"We thank those guests who were impacted by the modified schedules in recent weeks for their understanding and patience," said Gerry Cahill, president and chief executive of Carnival Cruise Lines.
Mexico is one of the top cruise destinations and the cases of the flu have been concentrated inland "rather than in the coastal resort areas where our ships visit," he added.
Now that the advisory has been lifted, there won't be as many ships returning to Mexican ports since it's the time of year when they have repositioned to do for Alaska cruises over the summer and fall.
Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, however, have started returning to Cozumel on Western Caribbean sailings.
Mariner of the Seas continues a modified Pacific Coastal cruise from Los Angeles to Victoria and return after which it will begin seven-night Mexican Riviera cruises on June 21.
Carnival returned to Mexico this week when the Carnival Holiday visited Cozumel while the line's other ships with Mexican itineraries return as of mid-June.
Disney Magic replaced its Cozumel visits this month with Nassau, but will return to that exotic Mexican island starting next Wednesday.
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Cruise lines have perfected ways of keeping disease outbreaks under control among their "captive" collection of sometimes thousands of passengers at sea.
This is especially true when norovirus -- a nasty gastrointestinal illness -- rears its ugly head.
Ships go into "red alert" with extensive sanitation and disinfection procedures and isolating those affected to stop its spread.
Now Cruise Lines International Association (www.cruising.org) has announced its 24 member lines have an "enhanced screening procedure" to help prevent the introduction or spread of Influenza A (H1N1) on board cruise ships.
All passengers are required to fill out a health questionnaire prior to boarding. Medical personnel can refuse to allow someone to board if they are showing flu-like symptoms.
Terry Dale, association president, said the enhanced screening protocols are designed to protect passengers, crew and ports of call.
Once underway, medical staff will isolate and treat passengers and crew showing flu symptoms.
Most ships have modern medical facilities, a doctor and nurses on board and are equipped with anti-viral medications effective in treating the flu.
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With the onset of higher gas prices again, can a return to fuel surcharges at sea be far behind?
Cruise lines dropped their surcharges last fall once the world price for oil settled down to a fraction of what it was a year ago.
But, the lines have included in their passenger contracts a clause giving them the "right" to reinstate the dreaded fees -- that ranged generally from about $9 to $15 US a passenger a day -- if prices move up again.
Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, along with its Celebrity and Azamara lines, say they can bring back the fuel supplement when oil tops $65 US a barrel. In the past week it has been around $61.
Carnival Corp. and its lines Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Seabourn set its oil-price threshold at $70 a barrel.
The lines say they are "monitoring" the situation and hoped that it wouldn't be necessary to bring back the supplements, for now.
Wavelets
- Carnival is offering anyone who has sailed previously on its ships or those of its member lines savings of up to 30%.
Fares for as little as $159 US are available in the "Early Saver" program for booking three months in advance for a cruise of three or four days or $349 for seven days if booked five months out.
For this summer, fares of $249 are offered for the short cruises and $179 in the fall. Seven-day fall cruises are $349. (www.carnival.com; 1-888-CARNIVAL)
- Disney Channel stars are sailing this summer aboard the Disney Wonder.
There will be eight special sailings with popular stars from shows including Hannah Montana, Sonny with a Chance, Wizards of Waverly Place, Suite Life on Deck, JONAS, Camp Rock, High School Musical and Hatching Pete.
These are three- and four-night Bahamian cruises from July 9 through Aug. 2. (www.disneycruise.com/summeratsea)
