Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Enchanted Princess (of Princess Cruises) was denied entry to Grand Turk today (22 May 2025) following a public health risk assessment conducted under the International Health Regulations.
The Turks and Caicos Government made the decision following a review of the Maritime Health Declaration (MDH) submitted yesterday, which reported 50 cases of illness onboard, including acute respiratory illness, influenza, and acute gastroenteritis.
The Ministry of Health, considering the highly transmissible nature of the illnesses, decided that the risk to the Grand Turk population was significant. Unlike in some other Caribbean cruise destinations, visitors to the Grand Turk Cruise Center commonly visit all over the island, due to the relatively small size of the island and the ease of getting around.
Turks and Caicos Minister of Health and Human Services, Kyle Knowles, stated that:
“The health and safety of our residents and visitors remain our top priority. While we welcome cruise tourism and appreciate our partners in the industry, we must act decisively when public health is at risk. This decision was made following a careful risk assessment and is in line with Articles 31 and 43 of the International Health Regulations (2005), which allow countries to implement additional health measures in response to credible threats.”
The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation closely and will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on this issue.