Princess Cruises has canceled the March 7 sailing on Grand Princess and is giving all passengers a full refund and a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of their cruise fare.
The reason for the canceled cruise is due to a passenger having COVID-19 on the previous sailing (February 11-21). While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 currently on board the cruise ship, the CDC has identified groups of guests and crew who will be tested before arrival into San Francisco.
There are fewer than 100 guests and crew identified for testing, including all in-transit guests (guests who sailed the previous Mexico voyage and remained on board for the current Hawaii voyage), those guests and crew who have experienced influenza-like illness symptoms on this voyage, and guests currently under care for respiratory illness.
To facilitate this testing, the U.S. Coast Guard will deliver sampling kits to the cruise ship the morning of March 5 via helicopter. The onboard medical team will administer the test and the samples will be sent in batches by helicopter to a lab in Richmond, California, across the bay from San Francisco.
Public health officials have advised that no guests will be permitted to disembark until all results have been received. Out of an abundance of caution, all guests who have been identified for testing have been asked to remain in their cabins. Princess Cruises will continue to proceed under the guidance of the U.S. CDC and local authorities.
The cruise line confirmed the cancellation of the upcoming Grand Princess Hawaii cruise departing on March 7. All guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, Princess Air, Princess Cruise Plus pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items purchased through the cruise line.
Unexpected expenses, such as air change fees, reimbursement of reasonable non-refundable out-of-pocket expenses will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid on this voyage.
