In light of the coronavirus outbreak and imposed travel restrictions in Asia, Celebrity Cruises has announced that it has cancelled one of its ship’s seasons in Asia and altered another’s itinerary.

Celebrity Millennium was due to sail out on 15 February from Hong Kong after arriving in port from another sailing that day, but the cruise line has made the decision to cancel the remainder of the ship’s season in Asia.

The line has also changed Celebrity Constellation’s current itinerary and the next sailings on 16 February and on 2 and 17 of March. The ship will instead disembark in Dubai and passengers will embark on the next cruise from the same port.

This change has been done in order to avoid Singapore and Thailand, where authorities are denying entry to any ships carrying Chinese passport holders.

A Celebrity Cruises spokesperson said: “In light of the current regional travel conditions, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of Celebrity Millennium’s season in Asia and reposition her to the West Coast of the United States earlier than originally planned. Guests will receive a full refund.

“We are also adjusting our 2 and 17 March itineraries for Celebrity Constellation, replacing both debarkation and embarkation in Singapore on 17 March with Dubai, UAE. We are working directly with our guests to assist with re-accommodation of flights and hotels. The Asia market remains of great importance to us, and we look forward to returning there very soon.”

Other cruise lines to have altered sailings in light of the coronavirus outbreak include Royal Caribbean, which has cancelled two Quantum of the Seas sailings departing from Singapore on 15 February and 24 February.

The cruise announced earlier this week that it had lifted its ban on Chinese passport holders.

Cunard has also announced that its ship Queen Mary 2 will be avoiding several ports in southeast Asia, including Singapore, during its current world cruise and will instead sail to Fremantle, Australia, on 18 February.

Visit celebritycruises.co.uk for more information.