Following the devastating eruption on White Island in New Zealand last week which killed at least 16 people and injured others Royal Caribbean announced that it will no longer sell shore excursions to active volcanoes. Credit will be issued to passengers who have existing bookings.
A reported 47 tourists were visiting the island at the time, many were passengers on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas.
Two people are still missing, and presumed dead and authorities are trying to address that, but the risk of another eruption is still a possibility.
It is not clear how many excursions will no longer be offered, but the cruise line said it is in the dozens.
Earthsky.org reports that volcano at White Island is one of a long chain of volcanos in what’s called the Ring of Fire surrounding the Pacific Ocean. The chain runs up along the western coast of South and North America, crosses over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, runs down the eastern coast of Asia past New Zealand and into the northern coast of Antarctica. The Ring of Fire is one of the most geologically active areas on Earth, and is a site for frequent earthquakes and powerful volcanic eruptions.