Turks and Caicos cancels cruise ship visit amid illness outbreak on board

Just 30 minutes before its scheduled arrival at Grand Turk, the Enchanted Princess cruise ship was denied entry by the Turks and Caicos government. Officials had reviewed the ship’s Maritime Health Declaration (MDH), which reported more than 50 cases of illness on board.

According to the Islands’ Ministry of Health, the reported illnesses included “acute respiratory illness, influenza, and acute gastroenteritis”.

Following a public health risk assessment, the Ministry made the decision to prevent the ship from docking. “The health and safety of our residents and visitors remain the top priority,” said Minister of Health and Human Services Kyle Knowles. “While we welcome cruise tourism, we must act decisively when public health is at risk. This decision was made following a careful risk assessment and is in line with International Health Regulations.”

Grand Turk was the final stop on the Enchanted Princess’ scheduled itinerary. The ship returned to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Saturday morning, for a comprehensive deep cleaning.

Passengers booked on the next cruise were notified of a slight delay in embarkation.

“During the previous voyage, a small number of guests reported gastrointestinal illness. As an extra precaution, the ship will undergo additional disinfection in Fort Lauderdale,” Princess Cruises explained in an emailed letter to guests.

Meanwhile, Dr Arthur Diskin, Global Medical Strategy Director at AP Companies, recently raised concerns about the challenges posed when cruise passengers are disembarked at ports without adequate healthcare infrastructure.