The Turks and Caicos Government have blocked a cruise ship from docking at Grand Turk due to multiple cases of illness onboard.
The Enchanted Princess was denied just 30 minutes before its scheduled arrival, Princess Cruises said.
Dozens Reported Ill Onboard Ship
The Turks and Caicos said it denied the ship after a review of the Maritime Health Declaration (MDH) submitted by the ship a day earlier.
The declaration reported 50 cases of illness onboard. The TCI Ministry of Health said this included acute respiratory illness, influenza, and acute gastroenteritis.
Health officials said it made a public health risk assessment under the International Health Regulations, and deemed allowing the ship to dock would be risky, due to the highly transmissible nature of the illnesses.
“The health and safety of our residents and visitors remain our top priority. While we welcome cruise tourism and appreciate our partners in the industry, we must act decisively when public health is at risk,” said Turks and Caicos Minister of Health and Human Services, Kyle Knowles.
“This decision was made following a careful risk assessment and is in line with International Health Regulations which allow countries to implement additional health measures in response to credible threats.”
Enchanted Princess departed Fort Lauderdale on 17 May, and Grand Turk was the itinerary’s final scheduled stop.
The ship will receive a deep clean before its next departure on Saturday from Florida.
Due to this, the cruise line has informed booked passengers of a slightly later check-in time and embarkation.
“During the previous voyage, a small number of guests reported gastrointestinal illness. As an extra precaution, the ship will undergo additional disinfection in Fort Lauderdale,” a letter to booked guests said.
Details of the illness outbreak are still not clear as the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program hasn’t posted details online yet.
