Virus Fear Casts Shadow Over Cruise Ships Adrift at Sea

Malaysia and Thailand refused to accept Carnival Corp.’s Costa Fortuna cruise ship due to the concern passengers may be infected with the coronavirus, highlighting a risk for more than 220 cruise ships sailing around every continent including Antarctica. In March, the Caribbean is most popular as Americans flock to the crystal blue waters of Mexico; in spring season, the Mediterranean becomes the hot-spot; and during the northern summer, passengers sail to Alaska and Norway. Even at half capacity, those cruises can be ferrying hundreds of thousands of passengers at any given time.