Princess Cruises is grappling with another coronavirus nightmare as a former passenger died and it’s unclear how many more are infected.
The Grand Princess was traveling to Ensenada, Mexico, but instead headed Wednesday to San Francisco following news that a 71-year-old passenger died from the virus after returning home, the company said.
The cruise line attributed the travel change to health officials investigating a “small cluster” of recent passengers with the virus in Northern California.
“In an abundance of caution, we will be canceling the call to Ensenada, allowing the ship to arrive back in San Francisco early, exact day and timing being determined,” the company said in a statement.
Princess Cruises previously made headlines over a quarantined Diamond Princess cruise in Japan that had more than 700 passengers infected with the virus.
The latest cruise ship with infected passengers departed Feb. 10 from San Francisco before sailing to Mexico and returning Feb. 21.
Sixty-two of the passengers stayed on for another voyage, which is currently at sea in Hawaii, the cruise operator said.
The ship was set to sail to Ensenada, Mexico, but nixed that part of the journey as it works with health officials on how to respond to the latest outbreak.
“The CDC is continuing to actively collect information and is collaborating with us to determine what, if any, actions need to be taken during the current Hawaii cruise and upon the ship’s return to San Francisco,” the cruise line said.
The group that was possibly contaminated by the virus was ordered Wednesday to stay in their rooms until they are screened by the on-board medical team.
“You may order room service while you wait for the medical screening to be completed, and we apologize for any inconvenience,” an advisory to passengers said.
Meanwhile, the other passengers are free to roam aboard the vessel and the food buffets will stay open, though the crew will serve them.
“The safety, health and well-being of our guests and crew is always our top priority,” the cruise said. “The ship has activated these proactive and precautionary measures out of an abundance of caution.”
California health officials announced on Wednesday that the former passenger was the state’s first coronavirus-related death.
The elderly man, who was from Placer County, tested positive Tuesday for the virus after returning home from the cruise, health officials said.
His case brought the number of fatalities stateside from the coronavirus to 11 since the outbreak emerged in Wuhan, China, in December.
With Post wires