Two major cruise lines — Princess and Viking — have shut down

The Grand Princess cruise ship, which docked this week in Oakland, had 19 passengers and two crew members diagnosed with coronavirus. At least two passengers aboard the the Diamond Princess, which docked in Japan last month, have died from the coronavirus, according to health authorities. More than 700 people who were on board tested positive for the virus.

The cancellations make sense, given how much bookings for the cruises have dropped on the news of the virus on board some ships, wrote UBS analyst Robin Farley, who follows the cruise industry.

“We wouldn’t be surprised to see other cruise lines follow Princess decision to suspend operations,” Farley wrote in a note Thursday. “Between the lower occupancy from the ban on European travelers … and the industry’s proposal to temporarily ban passengers over age 70, in addition to passengers making use of generous cruise deferral policies, near term occupancy is likely to be low for all cruise lines.”

Executives from the cruise industry met with Vice President Mike Pence this past Saturday and suggested changes that they said would make their passengers safe, including rigorous screening of passengers before they get on the ship.

“Out of 272 cruise ships that are part of the [cruise industry] fleet, there have been very few ships affected which the industry believes points to the effectiveness of these changing policies and protocols,” said the trade group.

But reports of ships with sick passengers is making many people worried about cruises until this health threat passes.

Princess Cruises said that it will suspend operations within the next five days. It will, however, continue to sail through the end of its ships’ current itineraries so that passengers’ travel arrangements are not disrupted. Current voyages that are underway and extend beyond March 17 will end at what the company determines to be the most convenient location for guests to disembark.