Viking Cruises suspend all ocean and river trips, citing ‘significant risks’ caused by coronavirus

• Viking Cruises has confirmed a suspension of voyages from today until April 30
• Founder Torstein Hagen said decision came amid ‘significant risk of quarantine’
• Three British passengers on Viking Cruise in Cambodia tested positive this week

Viking Cruises has suspended all ocean and river voyages until May due to ‘significant risks’ caused by the outbreak of coronavirus.

The company confirmed the cancellations last night after three Britons tested positive for COVID-19 after travelling in a Viking River Cruises vessel to Kampong Cham, southeastern Cambodia this week.  

All 70 of the firm’s river and ocean ships will be suspended from operations from today until April 30 amid a rapid global spread of the virus. 

‘I am writing today because the situation has now become such that operating as a travel company involves significant risks of quarantines or medical detentions, which could diminish the travel experiences for which our guests have been planning,’ Viking Cruises founder Torstein Hagen said in a letter posted online.

 Viking Cruises has suspended all ocean and river voyages until May due to ‘significant risks’ caused by the outbreak of coronavirus (Pictured: A docked Viking Cruises vessel in Kampong Cham, southeastern Cambodia)

‘In recent days we have had an experience where a river cruise guest in Southeast Asia was exposed to COVID-19 while in transit on an international airline. 

‘While this guest is not exhibiting symptoms, she has been placed in quarantine. Separately, the remaining 28 guests will also be quarantined.’

It was later confirmed by the Cambodian Health Ministry that two further Britons aboard the vessel had tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. 

Hagen added that a number of ports, including Venice, Monte Carlo and Bergen, have temporarily closed to cruise ships with other major attractions across the globe shut.

‘We have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend operations of our river and ocean vessels embarking from March 12 to April 30 – at which time we believe Viking will be in a better place to provide the experiences our guests expect and deserve,’ he said.

All 70 of the firm’s river and ocean ships will be suspended from operation from today until April 30 amid a rapid global spread of the virus

Tourists watch on as the vessel was placed under police guard after it was moored on the Mekong River near Kampong Cham, southeastern Cambodia, on Tuesday

‘This is a decision we made with a heavy heart, but with present circumstances what they are, we are unable to deliver the high-quality Viking experience for which we are known.’  

The firm added it will issue the choice of a voucher for a future cruise or a full refund for any trips which fall within this suspension period. 

The decision came as it was confirmed three Britons had tested positive for coronavirus after travelling on a Viking River Cruises vessel on the Mekong River.

The Ministry of Health had previously revealed a British woman, 65, had contracted the virus ‘from a Vietnamese national who sat beside her’ on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54 from London to Hanoi, Vietnam on March 2.

It has now been reported that a British man, 73, and his wife, 69, tested positive for the virus on Wednesday after travelling from Ho Chi Mihn City in Vietnam aboard the Viking Cruise Journey.

The cruise, which lasts eight days, began in Ho Chi Mihn City in Vietnam and travelled to Cambodian capital Phnom Penh before arriving in Kampong Cham.

The three infections take the total number of COVID-19 cases in Cambodia to five, after a Cambodian and a Chinese man also tested positive for the infection.   

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