Princess Cruises cancels all trips worldwide amid coronavirus pandemic

Princess Cruises — the owner of the coronavirus-plagued ship held in quarantine in Japan, and another infected vessel docked in California — ♏will suspend all trips worldwide d♛ue to the pandemic, the firm said Thursday.

The cruise line will halt allꦕ voyages that were scheduled to depart between March 12 and May 10, of𝓀ficials .

“By taking this bold action of voluntarily pausing the operations of our ships, it is our intention to reassure our loyal guests, team members and global stakehꦦolders of our commitment to the health, safety and well-being of all who sail with us,” said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

The cancellations come a day after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a “pandemic” — and amid travel restrictions imposed due to the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 127,0🌃00 people and killed ♚4,718 globally.

Last month, the firm’s Diamond Princess cruise ship was held off the port of Yokohama after passengers tested positive for the virus, known as COVID-19. The pathogen spread and at least four passengers later died.

On Monday, its Grand Princess ship docked in Oakland and began a mass evacuation after at least 21 people were infected.

A couple aboard that vessel has already sued over the ordeal, alleging that Princess Cruises “chose to place profits over the safety of its passengers, crew and general public” by not doing more to protect people from the oubreaks.

The cruise line, which is part of Carnival Corp., faced criticism for the blundered quarantine in which 23 passengers𝓡 disembarked despite not undergoing tests required to leave the locked-down vessel.

With Post wires