Swine flu: Mexico flights, package holidays and cruises cancelled

As swine flu claims the life of a 23 month old child in Texas, USA, more Mexico flights, package holidays and crusies are cancelled.

Mexico flights and package holidays

TUI, owner of Thomson and First Choice has cancelled all flights to Cancun and Cozumel to 8th May.

Thomas Cook has cancelled Thomas Cook and Airtours flights to Cancun for the next week.

Kuoini has cancelled packaged holidays to Mexico until 3rd May and Virgin has cancelled their holidays there until 5th May.

All these package holiday providers are offering to rebook customers to another destination, delay their holiday or get a full refund.

Cruise holidays stopping at Mexico ports

Cruises operated by Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises have stopped visits to all Mexican ports until 4th May at least.

This affects a number of Royal Caribbean cruise ships – the Enchantment of the Seas, the Liberty, the Freedom of the Seas and the Mariner of the Seas, the Serenade and the Radiance of the Seas.

A Fred Olsen cruise involving the Balmoral which is already underway will not be making a scheduled stop in Acapulco.

Princess Cruises have cancelled all stops to Mexico throughout May. They will be replacing these stops with additional ports or extra days at sea.

So far there have been no reports of swine flu amongst cruise holiday passengers. Cruise operators are screening passengers and using hand sanitisers around ships.

As the foreign office has advised against all but essential travel to Mexico, your travel insurance will normally cover you if you have to cancel your trip. You need though to check the specific details in your own insurance policy wording.

As advised by BIBA, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, before claiming on your travel insurance policy you should first seek a refund or alternative trip your airline or tour operator.