The Mauritius Ports Authority announced on Sunday that a ship belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has been prohibited from docking at the country's ports due to what it described as health risks. The authority took samples from about 15 passengers who were in isolation on board.
In a statement, the authority noted that the ship, Norwegian Dawn, was scheduled to dock in Port Louis today, but since it did not proceed to Reunion Island, it arrived in Port Louis yesterday. The authority stated, "The decision was made not to allow the cruise ship to come to the dock to avoid any health risks."
It added, "The health and safety of passengers, as well as public health and safety in general, are of utmost importance to the authorities," without providing further details about the nature of the health risks.
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line, based in the United States, stated that while the ship was on its way to South Africa on February 13, some passengers experienced mild gastrointestinal symptoms. The spokesperson noted that upon the ship's arrival in Port Louis, the ship's management team cooperated with the authorities in Mauritius to ensure necessary precautions were taken and that everyone on board was in good health.
The ports authority indicated that test results would be available within 48 hours. Officials from the Mauritius Ministry of Health have not yet been reached for comment. The ship carries 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members. The ports authority mentioned that about 2,000 passengers were scheduled to disembark in Port Louis after completing their cruise, while 2,279 new passengers were set to board.
