As you plan spring break, here's what you should know about coronavirus and cruises

As many Hoosiers plan their spring break or summer vacations, some might be wondering if they should worry about coronavirus. 

The virus has resulted in 2,236 deaths and tens of thousands of cases in China, where it originated, and has infected individuals in at least two dozen other countries, including the United States. The U.S. Department of State issued a level 4 travel advisory to China, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to the country. The CDC recommends all travelers reconsider cruise trips to the East Asia and Asia-Pacific region. 

A cruise ship was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, where 634 confirmed cases of coronavirus and two deaths have been reported. Another cruise ship in Hong Kong kept passengers and crews on board for four days to be tested for the virus, before they were finally allowed to disembark on Monday. 

Cruise ships can be more susceptible to some infectious diseases, as they often have a large number of people from different parts of the world sharing limited spaces. Crews, in particular, work very closely with each other, which can increase the risk for transmission. Cruise ship operators and crew members generally take precautions to screen passengers before boarding and keep operations as sanitary as possible. 

Some tour operators in Central Indiana have been fielding questions about the coronavirus. Alex Kutin, owner of the Indianapolis branch of Travel Leaders, said one couple canceled their 17-day Viking Cruises trip in April to Indonesia, Bali and Bangkok. 

"There really hasn't been any outbreak in those particular areas, but they decided they don't want to go," he said. 

Out of all the trips his office books, Kutin said about 30 to 35 percent are cruises. He said some other clients have called with concerns about the virus, asking for advice. 

"We tell them the best thing to do is to look at it from a daily basis, and see what is happening," he said. "Of course the World Health Organization and cruise lines are taking every precaution they can really take in order to minimize people that will get sick or affected by the coronavirus." 

Kutin said their most popular cruises are to the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe, and no clients have canceled trips to those destinations so far. 

Brownsburg resident Zachary Hunt, 29, is planning a cruise on Royal Caribbean with his wife and two young children to the Bahamas in May. He booked the tickets at the end of January, shortly after news of the coronavirus broke.

"We've never been on a cruise before," he said. "We were concerned, but had more anxiety for norovirus, which is an issue on cruises. My wife is a nurse so we are both aware that flu season is a much bigger risk here in the U.S."

Hunt said he and his wife also considered Zika virus when planning the trip, which had previously been an issue in the Bahamas, but they have no plans to cancel the trip. Hunt said they'll monitor the news and take precautions.

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"We’re going to use hand sanitizer and wash our hands, and be careful about what we touch before we eat," he said. "We’re pretty confident especially over a short four-day cruise that we’ll probably be fine." 

Will Gott is the owner of CruiseOne in Avon, and said about 65 percent of their travel is cruises to Europe, Hawaii and Alaska. He said some clients have reached out about the coronavirus. 

"We've had some questions about it," he said. "They ask how is this going to impact my cruise. And not just cruises, but any vacation." 

He said worries about coronavirus right now are minimal. He said the issue still seems too far from home for most people. 

"Most people are taking the let's wait and see what happens approach," he said. "I have not seen at this point in time any mass exodus regarding cruises."

Gott suggests if travelers are worried about the virus, to reach out to a travel protection company and find out what coverage is available. If it makes sense, consider purchasing travel insurance. He said to contact the cruise lines and travel agents and gather as much information as possible. 

You're more likely to get flu than coronavirus. So why are health officials worried?

"Go to the right places to get the facts," he said. "Try not to freak out and go too overboard. Cruising is safe. If a cruise line didn't feel safe about a trip, they would be the first one to say it." 

Gott urges anyone going on a cruise be accurate when filling out pre-screening questionnaires, which ask passengers if they have any symptoms or illnesses. 

"It's really important for people to be truthful," he said. "It might mean some changes to a vacation schedule, but people go on vacation and want to have a good time. One person or a couple people can really impact others." 

Contact IndyStar reporter Kellie Hwang at 317-444-6032 or kellie.hwang@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @KellieHwang.