Translated, a joint statement from Mexico’s government and the country’s public health secretary says Mexico will receive cruise ships that request to dock and provide medical assistance to ill passengers who require it. Mexico’s Health Department said it will allow passengers who test negative to disembark, as long as ships follow proper World Health Organization protocols, including wearing masks, social distancing, hand-washing and sanitizing.
The ship was also prevented from visiting Mazatlan Tuesday, which The Associated Press says caused the Mexican government to intervene. A cruise map shows Carnival Panorama’s route skipping Mazatlan after it was turned away on Tuesday due to COVID-19 cases onboard. Those onboard say the ship had five ill passengers and about 100 positive crew as of Monday.įor more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter. On Monday, Carnival Panorama, which is currently in the middle of a seven-night Mexican Riviera voyage from Long Beach near Los Angeles, was denied entry at Puerto Vallarta, according to passengers on the sailing. The most recent ports to stop passengers - even ones who weren’t positive - from disembarking were Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, prompting the Mexican government to step in.
As a result, of the hundreds of vessels currently sailing, a handful from several major lines - including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America - were denied entry into Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and other ports. As the omicron COVID-19 variant continues to show its resistance to vaccines, a small number of breakthrough cases have emerged on cruise ships over the past week.