Princess Cruises emphasizes that the health and well-being of our guests and teammates remains our top priority.
Video links to the latest messages from our executive team supporting the global work being done for Diamond Princess.
An update on Diamond Princess from Jan Swartz, President
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An update on Diamond Princess from Rai Caluori, Executive Vice President
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A message from Dr. Grant Tarling, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer for Princess Cruises
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Updated February 12, 2020 at 11:00PM PT
Voluntary Guest Disembarkation Plan and Additional Cases
Princess Cruises has been informed that over the next several days, Japanese health officials are planning a voluntary disembarkation of guests to complete their quarantine period at a shoreside facility. From the information available it is our understanding that this will be a phased approach, with the most medically vulnerable guests in the first phase, including older adults with pre-existing health conditions.
According to officials, guests in the first group will be tested for the 2019 novel coronavirus. If the test is positive, they will be transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and isolation. If the test is negative, they will be given the option to leave the ship and be transported to a quarantine housing facility.
These are the details provided by health officials about the temporary facilities:
- The housing facility includes individual rooms and individual bathrooms
- There are no clinics at these facilities. Prescription medication will be provided, but medical care will require transport to a hospital or clinic.
- The food available will not accommodate dietary preferences but will accommodate certain medical conditions. The meals provided will be Japanese bento-style boxes. No Western meals will be available.
Princess Cruises confirmed that all guests onboard remain welcome to stay onboard through the end of the quarantine period.
Princess Cruises also confirms the announcement, from Japan health officials, of 44 new positive cases of Coronavirus onboard Diamond Princess.
February 11, 2020 at 11:00PM PT
Additional Cases Confirmed by Ministry of Health
Princess Cruises confirms an announcement, from the Japanese Ministry of Health, of 39 new positive cases of Coronavirus onboard Diamond Princess.
We are following guidance from the Japan Ministry of Health on plans for disembarkation protocols to provide medical care for these new cases.
The Japan Ministry of Health has been the lead public health authority defining the testing protocols for all guests and crew on Diamond Princess. Questions on the timeline, test results and reporting protocols should be directed to them.
Additional information will be shared as soon as it is made available to use by the Ministry of Health.
February 9, 2020 at 11:00PM PT
Additional Cases Confirmed by Ministry of Health
Princess Cruises confirms an additional 66 cases of Coronavirus as tested by the Japanese Ministry of Health on Diamond Princess. These cases are from Australia (four), Canada (one), England (one), Japan (45), Philippines (three), Ukraine (one) and USA (eleven).
We are following guidance from the Japan Ministry of Health on plans for disembarkation protocols to provide medical care for these new cases.
Since it is early in the quarantine period of 14-days, it was not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine.
The Japan Ministry of Health has been the lead public health authority defining the testing protocols for all guests and crew on Diamond Princess. Questions on the timeline, test results and reporting protocols should be directed to them. The quarantine end date remains at February 19, unless there are any unforeseen developments.
Additional information will be shared as soon as it is made available to use by the Ministry of Health.
Read a letter to our Guests & Crew from the Centers for Disease Control (PDF).
February 9, 2020 at 2:30PM PT
Compensation – Full Refund and Future Cruise Credit
Because of the extraordinary circumstances onboard Diamond Princess, Princess Cruises will refund the full cruise fare for all guests including air travel, hotel, ground transportation, pre-paid shore excursions, gratuities and other items. In addition, guests will not be charged for any onboard incidental charges during the additional time onboard.
Princess Cruises will also provide guests with a future cruise credit equal to the cruise fare paid for the voyage which ended on February 4.
Princess Cruises also confirmed that although all gratuities will be refunded back to guests the company will ensure crew members receive their designated gratuities for the work performed.
Guests have been provided a letter delivered to their stateroom with details on how to process this refund.
February 8, 2020 at 8:30 PM PT
Diamond Princess Update from Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz
Our global team is working tirelessly to continue supporting Diamond Princess guests and crew during this challenging time. As onboard needs continue to evolve, here’s an update on our current priorities. We will continue to provide updates as they are available.
An update on Diamond Princess from Jan Swartz, Group President
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Princess Cruises confirming an additional six cases of Coronavirus, tested by the Japanese Ministry of Health on Diamond Princess. Separately, over the past two days, ten guests were disembarked needing other medical (not for Coronavirus) and were transferred to local hospitals. Information on nationalities of these new guests will be forth coming.
“Our guests and crew onboard Diamond Princess are the focus of our entire global organization right now and all of our hearts are with each of them,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. “In this unprecedented situation, the Japanese Ministry of Health authorities are working with us collaboratively on additional enhancements, approving new procedures as we adapt our process to the unique challenges of this situation.”
In partnership with the Japan Ministry of Health the ship has received additional medications which are being sorted and distributed based on medical and urgent priority.
The company continues to look for the most effective ways to help keep guests healthy, which includes mental health. Telephone access has been arranged for guests experiencing mental stress with trained counselors who can provide support. Both English and Japanese-speaking counselors are available, and guests can call directly from their staterooms.
In-stateroom television programming improves by the day and printed newspapers in 30 languages are available. The ship’s entertainment team has added TV satellite stations along with an additional 50+ movies added in various languages and other entertainment. Guests also have access to fitness and exercise videos such as Tai Chi and yoga.
February 7, 2020 at 10:30 PM PT
Rai Caluori, EVP at Princess Cruises Provides Update on Diamond Princess in Yokohama
Although we are facing many limitations and challenges, we are doing our best to deliver the ship’s most critical needs. We are also working to provide as much care and comfort as we can to everyone onboard. We hope these gestures will lift the spirits of those onboard in this difficult time.
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February 6, 2020 at 7:30 PM PT
Guest Experience on Diamond Princess
Our team on board Diamond Princess, supported by our shoreside colleagues, is actively working to care for our guests to ensure their comfort and well-being. These are such unusual circumstances so our team has activated new in-room entertainment offerings which include:
- Eight (8) new satellite TV channels
- More than 80 new video-on-demand releases, including movies in various languages, concerts and in-cabin fitness videos
- Cruise Director Show (The Wake Show) in English and Japanese
- Printed newspapers in 36 languages
- Pre-printed trivia, daily puzzles, games and arts and crafts
- Radio Taiso (popular calisthenics) videos
- Kids’ activity packs
- Food & beverage options offered via room service
- Outdoor time for guests in interior staterooms (under the guidance of Japanese Ministry of Health)
New Cases / Nationalities / Quarantine End Date
Princess Cruises can confirm the nationalities of the 41 people who were tested positive for Coronavirus are from Argentina (one); Australia (five); Canada (five), Japan (21); United Kingdom (one) and United States (eight).
The Japanese Ministry of Health has confirmed this is the last batch to be tested and the quarantine end date will be February 19, unless there are any other unforeseen developments. The Japanese government is also providing our ship and team members additional manpower support.
During the remainder of the time onboard, guests will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone service to stay in contact with their family and loved ones. In addition, we have added additional live TV channels and a large selection of in-room movies available in multiple languages. The cruise activities staff is packaging games, puzzles and trivia and delivering them to guest staterooms.
February 5, 2020 at 9:00 AM PT
If you are the immediate family of a guest onboard Diamond Princess you may call the appropriate number for your region for assistance:
North America: 800-693-7222
Australia: 1-300-026-240
New Zealand: 0800-002141
United Kingdom: 0-800-014-8339
Japan: 0800-170-6282
Immediate family assistance (anyone from any country, including guests onboard can call): 872-201-5236
February 4, 2020 at 6:00 PM PT
Confirmed Cases of Coronavirus on Diamond Princess
Princess Cruises can confirm that the first phase of health screening of all guests and crew onboard Diamond Princess, by the Japanese Ministry of Health, has been completed. We were notified that amongst the samples that have completed testing, 10 people have tested positive for Coronavirus. This includes two Australian guests, three Japanese guests, three guests from Hong Kong, and one guest from the U.S. in addition to one Filipino crewmember.
These 10 persons, who have been notified, will be taken ashore by Japanese Coast Guard watercraft and transported to local hospitals for care by shoreside Japanese medical professionals. It has been confirmed that the ship will remain under quarantine in Yokohama. The length of the quarantine will be at least 14 days as required by the Ministry of Health.
The ship plans to go out to sea to perform normal marine operations including, but not limited to, the production of fresh water and ballast operations before proceeding alongside in Yokohama where food, provisions, and other supplies will be brought onboard.
Guests will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone to use in order to stay in contact with their family and loved ones, and the ship’s crew is working to keep all guests comfortable.
Princess Cruises will continue to fully cooperate with and follow the instructions of global medical authorities and the Japanese government.
We will also be cancelling the next two Diamond Princess cruises departing Yokohama (Feb 4 and Feb 12) and will begin notifying guests today.
Princess Cruises confirms there are 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew currently onboard covering a range of nationalities. Approximately half the guests onboard are from Japan.
Cancellation of Diamond Princess – February 4 Cruise (Yokohama)
Princess Cruises thanks the Japan Ministry of Health for their thorough review of the health status of guests and crew aboard Diamond Princess. The cruise line has decided to cancel the next voyage of Diamond Princess to help facilitate the health screening and records review process.
Diamond Princess was due to depart Yokohama (February 4, 2020) for an eight day round trip cruise. However, the decision was made to cancel the cruise because of the time needed for the authorities to complete their comprehensive review.
All guests will receive a full refund. Each guest will also receive a one hundred percent future cruise credit.
While this decision will be disappointing for our guests, we feel they will understand the commitment to continue to work closely with the health authorities because we share a common goal of looking after the safety and well-being of our guests, crew and the places we visit.
Princess Cruises confirmed there are 2,666 guests currently onboard covering a range of nationalities. About half the guests are from Japan.
We will provide a further update once we have more information.
Yokohama, Japan (Feb 4, 2020 GMT+9)
Princess Cruises has confirmed the turnaround of Diamond Princess has been delayed for approximately 24 hours to allow Japan public health authorities the opportunity to review the health status of all guests and crew on board.
On the previous voyage, a guest from Hong Kong, embarked in Yokohama on January 20, sailed one segment of the itinerary, and disembarked in Hong Kong on January 25. He visited a local Hong Kong hospital, six days after leaving the ship, where he later tested positive for coronavirus on February 1. While on the ship he did not visit the ship’s medical centre to report any symptoms or illness. The hospital reports that he is in stable condition and the family members traveling with him remain symptom-free.
The safety, security and well-being of all guests and crew is our absolute priority. The review of the arriving guests and crew, by Japanese health authorities, is standard practice after a guest tested positive for coronavirus and we are working closely with the local authorities to provide detailed records to facilitate their review.
Diamond Princess arrived in Yokohama early from a 14-day round trip itinerary, which departed from Yokohama (Tokyo) on January 20 and was scheduled to return on February 4. There are 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew on board.
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