Coronavirus Update: Disney Cruise Line Expands Embarkation Health Questionnaire - Inside the Magic

As the Coronavirus threat persists and continues to grow, Disney Cruise Line continues to update its health standards and restrictions. Now, when guests go to board a Disney Cruise Ship for their Bahamian cruise, they will be greeted with a questionnaire expanded. Instead of just asking if you’ve been to Mainland China in the last 14 days, it now asks about any visits to neighboring Hong Kong and Macau.

Related: Disney World Tells Some Employees to Stay Home to Avoid Spread of Coronavirus

Here are the questions (questions in bold are newly added):

1. Have you or any occupant of your stateroom travels from or through China, including Hong Kong or Macau, in the past 14 days?
2. Have you or any occupant of your stateroom had close contact with, or helped care for, anyone suspected or diagnosed as having Novel Coronavirus, or who is currently subject to health monitory for possible exposure to Novel Coronavirus?
3. The Bahamas will not allow anyone who has been in China in the past 20 days to disembark at any Bahamian port of call. Have you or any occupant of your stateroom been to China, including Hong Kong or Macau, in the past 20 days?
4. Do you or any occupant of your stateroom have a fever (100.4ºF / 38ºC or higher), feel feverish, or have chills, a cough or difficulty breathing?
5. Within the last 3 days, have you or any occupant of your stateroom developed symptoms of volition or diarrhea?

Bahamas Deny Disembarkation

While Disney Cruise Line precautions extend only to 14 days after a trip to China, Hong Kong, or Macau, the Bahamas are taking their precautions a step further. No one who has been to China in 20 days or less prior to their arrival in the Bahamas will not be allowed off the ship. This rule applies not just to disembarking in the nation’s capital, Nassau, but also Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Emails to Scheduled Passengers

Disney Cruise Line then notified all passengers scheduled to board their ship in the imminent future. The email reads:

Dear (Passenger),

An email was sent to your attention last week explaining the steps Disney Cruise Line, along with the other members of the Cruise Lines International Association, is taking to further enhance the screening process for guests and crew members due to the novel coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China.

We previously asked guests who had traveled through mainland China within the 14 days prior to their arrival to contact us. In an abundance of caution, we are expanding this measure to include guests that have traveled through Hong Kong and Macau. Given the unique environment of a cruise ship, guests and crew members who indicate they have traveled from or through China, including Hong Kong and Macau, in the 14 days prior to embarkation will not be able to board. In addition, The Bahamas will not allow anyone to disembark in any Bahamian port of call if they have been to China in the past 20 days prior to their arrival.

If you or a member of your stateroom party have traveled from or through China, including Hong Kong and Macau; have been in direct physical contact (having cared for, lived with, or had direct contact) with someone who has a confirmed or suspected case of novel coronavirus; or is currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to novel coronavirus within 20 days prior to the start of your cruise vacation, please contact us at 1-866-325-2112 or 407-566-3510.

As a reminder, Disney Cruise Line employs rigorous sanitation standards and consistently receives among the highest scores on public health inspections. We also have a comprehensive plan that outlines protocols for managing this type of situation and closely follow the guidance of public health officials. For the most up-to-date information and a list of everyday preventive actions you can take to avoid the spread of germs, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, www.cdc.gov.

Again, we look forward to your arrival and appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

Sincerely,

The Cast and Crew
Disney Cruise Line

So, to recap, if it has been 14 days since you were in China, Hong Kong and/or Macau, and you are not showing any symptoms of the coronavirus, then Disney Cruise Lines will permit you to board your vessel. However, if you arrived in the Bahamas less than 20 days after visiting China–whether or not you are showing any symptoms–then you will be required to stay aboard your Disney Cruise Ship. But, in all honestly, there are far worse examples of quarantines active around the world right now.

Related: Disney Could Lose $280 Million Because Coronavirus Led to Park Closures

Are you planning on taking a Disney Cruise to the Bahamas any time soon? Do you think Disney Cruise Line is doing enough to prevent the spread of the coronavirus? Let us know in the comments!

Source: Disney Cruise Line Blog