Port Fremantle (Perth) is expected to host at least 4 new cruise liners diverted over the next 4 months due to coronavirus outbreaks on Asian routes. The coronavirus (COVID-19) shut down seaports in Asia and prompted the industry to cancel itineraries, as well as reroute others and even restrict guest and crew boardings.
Cunard's RMS Queen Mary 2 berthed in the port of Fremantle on Tuesday, February 18, carrying 2000 travellers following an unscheduled diversion from the South East Asian leg of her round the world voyage.
Diamond Princess, currently docked off Japan, shelters 454 holidaymakers that contracted COVID-19, the most cases in a single location outside of China.
On Tuesday, the ship's operator, Princess Cruises announced its sistership, Sapphire Princess, would be redeployed from Asia to Australia from May 2020. The new itinerary will see the vessel berthed at Fremantle 12 times throughout winter months, effectively extending Western Australia's cruise season throughout 2020 and potentially bringing thousands of guests to the port town. Sapphire Princess will also make 19 maiden calls along the coast of WA including Exmouth and Geraldton.
Fremantle Ports' cruise schedule reveals 3 more ships that will berth in the port of Fremantle in March due to diversions from Asia, including P&O Arcadia, Costa Deliziosa, and Explorer Dream.
For Coronavirus updates on cruise ship quarantines (infected passengers and crew) and top-pandemic countries (COVID-19 cases and deaths, daily updated statistics) see at CruiseMapper's Norovirus page.