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US advises against taking an Asia cruise

FILE PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES Diamond Princess.jpeg
Diamond Princess was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan
The United States said Americans should reconsider travel by cruise ship to or within Asia due to the risk of coronavirus.

The Department of State said travelers on ships may be impacted by restrictions affecting their itineraries or ability to disembark and may be subject to quarantine by local authorities.

'Increased risk of person-to-person spread'

Separately, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautioned all travelers that ‘cruise ship passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases, such as the disease caused by novel coronavirus.’

Don't count on government repatriation

Both the State Department and CDC added that despite the US government’s evacuation of hundreds of citizens in prevous weeks, repatriation flights should not be relied upon as an option for US citizens under the potential risk of quarantine by local authorities.

Most lines — US and European — that market cruises to US passengers have already redeployed ships away from Asian ports. And cruises from China, which carry mostly Chinese citizens, have been suspended for a while, starting in late January.