UPDATE: The CDC has said in a series of tweets that live, infectious virus was not found on Diamond Princess. A previous study has shown that the infectious virus can only survive for 72 hours on plastic and up to 25 hours on cardboard.

Coronavirus survived in cabins on cruise ship Diamond Princess for up to 17 days after passengers disembarked, a report has found.

The report by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) analysed how long the virus remained on surfaces in the cabins after the passengers left but before disinfection procedures began.

Diamond Princess was carrying 3,711 passengers and crew in January when it had to be quarantined in the Japanese port of Yokohama.

The CDC said 712 of the passengers and crew tested positive and 46.5 per cent did not have any symptoms at the time of testing.

Among 381 symptomatic patients, 37 required intensive care, and nine died, including the first Briton to die in the pandemic.

The report said: “A high proportion of asymptomatic infections could partially explain the high attack rate among cruise ship passengers and crew.

“Cruise ships are often settings for outbreaks of infectious diseases because of their closed environment, contact between travellers from many countries, and crew transfers between ships.”

The report also looked at the outbreak on sister ship the Grand Princess, which sailed on a round-trip from California, making four stops in Mexico in February.

Most of the 1,111 crew and 68 passengers from that voyage remained on board for a second sailing that departed from San Francisco on February 21.

Passengers were confined to their cabins following the death of a guest from coronavirus after the previous cruise.

The CDC said more than 800 cases of covid-19 cases occurred during outbreaks on Grand Princess and Diamond Princess, and there have been 10 deaths.

The report also found that by 17 March, confirmed cases of the virus had been associated with at least 25 additional cruise ship voyages and as the average age of passengers was over 65, placing them at a “greater risk for severe consequences.”

The report concluded that “outbreaks of covid-19 on cruise ships pose a risk for rapid spread of disease beyond the voyage. Aggressive efforts are required to contain spread”.

Efforts by the cruise lines have included suspending sailings. 

Our view:

The cruise industry is facing an unprecedented and ever-changing situation, and we are committed to keeping you informed with the most up-to-date news. However, we firmly believe that the cruise industry will bounce back. When it does, we’ll be on hand to help you get back to selling the cruises that people love.