Swine flu slashes Mexico cruises
By: Katrina Archer and Bruce Piper, Cruise Weekly

Cruises to Mexican ports have been cancelled or re-routed, while fares plummet to lowest ever levels as the swine flu pandemic hits the seas.

An American woman who recently returned from a cruise to Mexico has contracted the virus, according to US health officials, raising concerns that other passengers may be infected.

It has not been revealed which ship the woman sailed on, but it is also possible she contracted the illness while in San Diego, where several cases have been reported, after returning from her cruise.

For the past week, cruise lines have cancelled port calls in Mexico as swine flu fears spread worldwide.

A spokesman for Princess Cruises told CW that itineraries involving Mexican ports had been "modified following the travel warning issued by the US Centre for Disease Control recommending against non-essential travel to Mexico".

Royal Caribbean has also suspended all calls in Mexico "for the immediate future". Instead of visiting Cozumel, its ships will will spend more time in other ports, call on alternative ports in the Caribbean, or spend additional days at sea.

The worst affected ship is Mariner of the Seas (pictured), which will visit San Francisco, Seattle and Victoria BC instead of three ports in Mexico, until 14 June.

Passengers booked on the revised sailings are eligible for compensation or rebooking.

Carnival Cruise Lines has also cancelled and replaced Mexican port calls for all cruises departing until 11 May.

Carnival passengers booked on the 16 affected ships have the option of a future cruise credit to use before the end of 2010.

Holland America has cancelled its Mexican ports for in-progress sailings, while NCL's Norwegian Pearl and Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Infinity have also changed routes on their repositioning cruises.

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