Cruises are once again facing disruption because of COVID-19
CTV
At least four ocean cruise ships were turned away from ports of call or were prohibited from letting passengers disembark in the Americas this week because of COVID-19 cases aboard.
Though other cruises have had cases since U.S.-based ships resumed service this summer with vaccine requirements and other measures meant to minimize outbreaks, the rate of cruises forced to alter their itineraries appears to have ticked up.
The disruptions still are a far cry from March 2020, when the pandemic shut down the industry and led to weeks of efforts to get already embarked passengers and crew members home as ports closed to virus-hit vessels.
Still, this week's disruptions came amid global concern about the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant, and as COVID-19 case rates rose in the U.S. and elsewhere.
The recent cruise ship disruptions include:
