Five of the world's largest cruise lines suspended all stops in Mexico on Tuesday because of the swine flu outbreak, dealing another blow to that country's battered tourism industry.
The situation could mean additional cruise ship business at two Southern California ports of call, San Diego and Santa Catalina Island.
"We hate to benefit from some else's misery, but it's great if we get cruise ships every day for seven days straight," said Donna Harris, marketing director for the visitors bureau on Catalina, where cruise ships ferry passengers to shore in small boats.
"We are happy to welcome the cruise passengers who come," said Kate Buska, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's a great place for cruisers to visit."
Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the world's two largest cruise lines, made the announcement in response to recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid nonessential travel to the country. Princess Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corp., along with Holland America Line Inc., one of the oldest cruise lines in the world, and Norwegian Cruise Line Corp. Ltd. also suspended all stops to Mexico.
To avoid docking in Mexico, the cruise lines either will route ships to alternative ports, such as San Diego or Santa Catalina Island, or will spend additional time at sea. Passengers already on the ships are unlikely to get a refund because of the change in itineraries, but travelers who are scheduled to take a cruise to a Mexican port may be offered a chance to switch to a ship with a different route, such as cruises to Alaska. No cases of swine flu have been reported on any cruise ships that have docked in Mexico.
"We hope people will understand that this is beyond our control," said Karen Candy, a spokeswoman for Princess Cruises. "We understand there will be some disappointment."
The Mexican cruise business has exploded, with the number of passengers more than doubling since 2000. Although destinations like the Caribbean and the Mediterranean draw many more passengers, Mexico is one of the world's top 10 destinations for cruise lines, with nearly 6.5 million passengers in 2008, according to the Cruise Lines International Assn.
A spokesman at Ensenada's party hot spot, Papas & Beer, said business has not dropped significantly in the last few weeks. But he wondered if the decision by the cruise ship lines could sink many ports of call businesses.
