Princess Cruises says its response to recent Covid outbreaks onboard two of its ships and the application of heightened safety guidelines “shows the protocols work”.
The line declined to reveal case numbers on two recent sailings on Island Princess (pictured) and Emerald Princess but confirmed “some” passengers and crew tested positive and were subsequently isolated and monitored by the onboard medical team.
It added that passengers who had not completed their isolation period onboard were provided with accommodation at pre-designated hotels in line with enhanced protocols, and local health authorities were also contacted.
A Princess spokesperson said: “The protocols that have been established work. When cases are identified because of the testing onboard, cruise ship protocols help to maximise onboard containment with rapid response procedures designed to safeguard all other guests and crew as well as the communities that the ships visit.”
Princess confirmed it had reintroduced its mandatory mask policy while indoors for passengers on the ships’ next sailings “out of an abundance of caution”.
Passengers were not required to wear masks when in their stateroom or when eating or drinking, the line added.