SAN DIEGO (KGTV)-- Coronavirus continues to be on many people's minds, but it isn't stopping cruise ship passengers at the Port of San Diego from enjoying life.
Bob and Joyce Fellows, from Fullerton, board the M.S. Rotterdam set for 16 days of smooth travels through the Panama Canal. The couple said it's one of their favorite destinations.
"The Panama Canal is just an engineering marvel," Bob Fellows said. "Plus, we just enjoy cruising, so even though we've been to some of the ports, it's just fun on the ship."
For Canadians, Barb and Gaetan Rodrigue, it's a long-awaited trip away from their snowy home.
"We are looking forward to the nice weather, the hot weather," Barb Rodrigue said.
The couples say they received an email from the company of the cruise, Holland America, before setting off on the high seas. They say the email warned them about the coronavirus outbreak.
"They're on high alert," Rodrigue said.
"They said if you've been to China the last 14 days, you can't get on," Fellows said. "And they can apparently check your passport and tell that you have been there."
According to Holland America, crew members also have to be screened. Members from mainland China will also be delayed from going on the ship until further notice.
In a statement to 10News, they announced that all passengers would be required to report any illness or health problems. If anyone shows respiratory or feverish symptoms, they may have to go through "pre-boarding medical evaluations, including temperature checks."
Fellows said he and his wife did not have to get their temperatures checked. They told 10News they were not worried about contracting the virus.
"Not really for this cruise," Fellows said. "This is not a cruise that you have a lot of people from China on, like other cruises may."
Fellows said he is hoping to take a cruise to China someday, just not now.
"We've never been to Asia," Fellows said.
"That's on our bucket list, but not now," Joyce said.
