Coronavirus: Vietnam ‘blocks two cruise ships from docking to keep out infection’

The AIDAvita, a German-owned cruise liner, had made stops in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, state media said

The Norwegian Jade was also denied permission to dock, passengers on board said in social media messages citing a letter from the captain

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The AIDAvita cruise ship. Photo: Twitter

Published: 10:04pm, 14 Feb 2020Updated: 1:04am, 15 Feb 2020

Vietnam has blocked two cruise ships from docking amid fears of coronavirus infections on board, according to state media, ship tracking websites and messages posted to social media by passengers.

Authorities in Quang Ninh province, home to the Unesco World Heritage Site Ha Long Bay, decided on Tuesday not to allow passengers of the German-owned AIDAvita cruise ship to disembark on Thursday, the state Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

“The vessel has docked in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, which have all reported coronavirus cases,” VNA said.

“Not allowing AIDIvita’s passengers to disembark [in Vietnam] is just a temporary solution to prevent the intrusion of diseases,” VNA cited a local official as saying.

AIDA Cruises, the German owner of the AIDAvita, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. AIDA Cruises is a subsidiary of Miami-based Carnival Corp.

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