A luxury cruise ship operated by Monaco-based Silversea has been turned away from a port in Myanmar – formerly Burma – due to concerns that some of the 485 passengers and more than 350 crew members may have become contaminated with the coronavirus at previous port calls.
The ship had previously stopped in Phuket, Thailand, and was due to reach Thilawa Multipurpose International Terminal on Wednesday, March 4 for a four-day stay. Thailand has recorded 43 cases of the disease. So far there have been none in Myanmar, which borders China.
“We have informed the … port authorities that the entry of this ship should not be allowed,” Khin Maung Soe, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, told Reuters by phone. He said he did not know whether any of the passengers were showing symptoms of the virus.
“Even if passengers haven’t shown the symptoms so far, they might when they arrive in Myanmar and it will be difficult for the country to control,’ he said. “If things get worse, our people might get affected.”
Silversea Cruises is a luxury cruise line with its headquarters in Monaco owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Founded in 1994 by the Vlasov Group of Monaco and the Lefebvre family of Rome it pioneered all-inclusive cruising with its first ship, Silver Cloud.
Silversea says: “With one of the highest space to guest ratios in the business and eight superlative luxury dining options, Silver Spirit offers its guests one of the most complete cruise experiences available.”
ORIGINAL SOURCES: KFGO, Ship Technology, Silversea Cruises PHOTO: Luxury experiences are the hallmark of Silversea Cruises
