The Mauritius Ports Authority has decided not to let passengers off the Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn ship because of health concerns. The ship, which requested to dock at Port Louis, was placed under quarantine due to stomach-related issues affecting some passengers. This decision was made to prevent any health concerns, authorities said. According to reports in Mauritius, stomach-related illness could be caused by GI or cholera.
Early in the morning, health officials from Mauritius' Ministry of Health boarded the ship to test about 15 passengers who were sick and placed in isolation, the Mauritius Ports Authority stated.
“The cruise ship has not received approval to dock at the Port-Louis quay. The arrival was planned for February 25, but after skipping Reunion Island, the vessel arrived in Mauritius earlier, on February 24.
The 'Norwegian Dawn' has 2,184 passengers and 1,026 crew members. Some 2,000 passengers would have completed their cruise by disembarking in Mauritius this morning. 2,228 new passengers were expected to board the ship today in Port Louis.
Since the test results will not be confirmed, passengers had to take into account potential health risks.
The decision not to allow the cruise ship access to the quay was taken to avoid any health risks. The health and safety of passengers and the country as a whole are of utmost importance to the authorities.”
A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said, "During the Feb. 13, 2024, South Africa voyage, a small number of guests experienced mild symptoms of a stomach-related illness. Upon the ship’s return to Port Louis, Mauritius, the vessel’s management team met with local authorities to confirm precautions and actions were being taken to ensure the wellbeing of all on board."
Our source said that the Norwegian Dawn docked in Mauritius' Port Louis on Saturday evening, February 24. The ship was supposed to dock in Reunion Island but was refused docking because of increased isolation cases. The Health Department of Reunion Island asked for its officers to board the ship for tests and investigations, but the ship denied and sailed to Mauritius.
Today, February 25, in Mauritius, the health inspectors asked for tests and investigations; otherwise, there will be no disembarkation. More than 2,000 guests were supposed to disembark today but still remain onboard, waiting for the test results.
In Mauritius, they suspect GI and cholera. The Mauritius health officials is waiting for the tests to make a decision.
Guests currently aboard the Norwegian Dawn received the following letter signed by Captain Ronny Borg: “We are committed to delivering exceptional vacation experiences around the world. As such, it is always our intention to maintain original itineraries. However, at times, unforeseen circumstances require us to make modifications. As a result of a decision made by local government officials, we will not be arriving in Port Louis, Mauritius today, and you will not be disembarking the ship. We are working closely with all relevant parties to try to expedite disembarkation. We sincerely apologize for this unfortunate situation. We have been informed that we will most likely be able to disembark on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. As soon as we have any additional information, we will let you know.
We understand this will impact your travel arrangements home, so we have opened the phone lines at guest services, and a complimentary internet package is available on your internet account, so you may make any necessary arrangements.
GUESTS WHO PURCHASED FLIGHTS DIRECTLY THROUGH NCL: All guests who arranged airfare through Norwegian Cruise Line will be re-accommodated on new flights departing on February 27, 2024. You will receive a confirmation with your new flight itinerary as soon as the new tickets have been confirmed. All transfers to the airport will be adjusted accordingly.
GUESTS WITH INDEPENDENT FLIGHTS: We encourage all guests with independent flights to contact their airline provider and reschedule their flights. Guests who secured flights independently are guided to work directly with the airline and travel insurance provider for reimbursement options. Should any airline-imposed change/cancellation fees not be covered by your insurance provider or the airline, we will reimburse up to $300 USD per person."
