When Bradford's Carniello family booked a cruise vaction two years ago with Carnival Cruise Line, they never thought an infectious disease would have kiboshed their plans.
On Friday, the family received a letter from vice-president of guest services for Carnival Cruise Line, Colleen Oliveiro, acknowledging the concerns of future cruisers and providing them with options regarding their upcoming vacation.
The letter explained that anyone who has booked a cruise from March 6 to May 31, 2020 and keeps their reservation will receive free onboard credits to use on the trip, in the amount of $100 to $200 per cabin.
Anyone who booked a trip prior to March 6 would be allowed to rebook another cruise, with a Future Cruise Credit to be used for sailing by March 31, 2021.
The Carniellos are avid cruisers. This would have been their sixth cruise together as a family, travelling from Port Canaveral, Fla., to Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, St. Thomas and San Juan.
They were scheduled to leave April 25 and return May 2.
After much consideration, the family decided it was best to postpone their trip until next March, when they will take an eight-day Carribean cruise.
"(Carnival) applied 50 per cent right to the new booking (and) 50 per cent back on my credit card. We just had to pay the deposit," said Amber Harris-Carniello.
Harris-Carniello said the thought of postponing was upsetting, but the family agreed it was the best solution, due to fears that the cruise ship might end up being placed in quarantine due to coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. She noted that it would cost the family more money, not to mention the stress, if they ended up stuck on a ship.
"That really was the driving force to reschedule," she said.
Her two children — 13-year-old Leah, and Jacob, 10 — were looking forward to the vacation, as it was part of their Christmas present.
"There is a new thing on cruise ships where passengers hide rubber ducks for other people to find called, 'cruising ducks'," explained Harris-Carniello.
She said Jacob was especially disappointed that he wouldn't be getting to find any ducks this year.
"They were super bummed, but understood why. And we explained we moved it, not cancelled," said Harris-Carniello.
The family loves cruising. They say the recent COVID-19 scare and on-board quarantines won't deter them from cruising again.
Harris-Carniello explained why: "The excitement of waking up to a new country each morning, the programs they have for kids, the nightlife they have for both kids and adults."
Even after all the rescheduling, she says that she, husband Gio and their kids are still "cruisers for life."
In a recent report from Ottawa released on Monday, health officials urged Canadians to avoid travelling on all cruise ships to help prevent the spead of the coronavirus.
The letter sent out by Carnival Cruise Line does not specifically mention COVID-19, but refers recipients to the Carnival website, and a 'Travel Healthy Advisory' that states, in part: "Coronavirus is a fluid situation and we continue to work closely with public health officials, including... the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as the Cruise Lines Internatonal Association (CLIA) to monitor, screen and implement best practices to protect the health of our guests and crew as it relates to COVID-19."
