Which Cruise Lines Are Adjusting Ports As Ebola Precaution?

While the Ebola virus outbreak continues to build in West Africa, several cruise lines have changed their upcoming itineraries in what they describe as “an abundance of caution.”

Liberia, Guinea and Sierre Leone, the three countries with the most cases of Ebola, aren't on any of the itineraries. But the lines have cancelled calls, in general, to the region, particularly for countries bordering the main outbreak areas or for countries like Senegal, which has had at least one confirmed case of Ebola.

An Abundance of Caution

Holland America Line (www.hollandamerica.com) has adjusted it 35-day “African Explorer” cruise on Rotterdam, which departs from Cape Town, South Africa to Southampton, United Kingdom on Nov. 15.

Three ports of call originally planned in Ghana, Gambia and Senegal will be replaced with the following

  • An additional overnight in Cape Town
  • An additional overnight in Mindelo, Ilha de Sao Vicente, Cape Verde
  • A port call in Tangier, Morocco.

In addition, Regent Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com) has cancelled a port call at Dakar, Senegal for Seven Seas Mariner’s transatlantic Lisbon to Miami itinerary on Oct. 13. Dakar is being replaced with an overnight stay in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands, plus the line is shifting a scheduled port call in Lanzarote, Canary Islands to Oct. 19.

While Senegal has had only one confirmed case of Ebola and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced the virus is contained in in that country, “we always place the safety and comfort of our guests as our top priority and adjusted the itinerary to alleviate any concerns,” Regent said in a statement.

Also, Seabourn Sojourn was slated to visit both Senegal and the Gambia as part of a 39-Day “La Condamine to the Cape” voyage from Monte Carlo, Monaco to Cape Town South Africa on Nov. 12. But Seabourn Cruise Line (www.seabourn.com) has removed both ports from the schedule and replaced them with Malaga, Spain and Cadiz (Seville), Spain.

See the newest schedule for that Seabourn cruise here. 

Stay tuned for updates here if any other itineraries frequented by North Americans are adjusted. Typically, though, most contemporary and premium lines, including Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line do not typically sail in western Africa.