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Cruise ship visits suspended over Covid-19

A tugboat escorts the Royal Caribbean cruise liner 'Anthem of the Seas' to Heritage Wharf in Dockyard last month after the ship got the all-clear for suspected coronavirus cases (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

A total of three cruise lines have suspended visits to Bermuda in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was revealed tonight.The Ministry of Tourism and Transport said that Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, and Ponant Cruises for the ship have suspended cruises. Following the announcement that NCL has voluntarily suspended all cruise voyages between March 13 and April 11, a spokesman for the tourism ministry said that seven cruises scheduled to travel to Bermuda have effectively been suspended. Ponant Cruises also suspended its April 29 visit.Although Bermuda is not scheduled to receive Royal Caribbean ships until April 22, the line has suspended service for 30 days.The Azamara Pursuit, part of a Royal Caribbean affiliate brand, was cancelled for April 8. Zane DeSilva, the tourism minister, said: “In light of the monumental impact of Covid-19, the suspension of cruise ship travel was inevitable.“Such decisions are among the many that governments and organizations will make as we continue working toward containing the global spread of Covid-19.Unfortunately, this will have an impact on a number of businesses that would normally service the cruise lines and cruise passengers.“I would urge residents to support our local community during these difficult times. ” The cruise ship schedule will be updated on a regular basis and can be viewed at www.marops.bm/shipping_button_link.aspx