Cruise companies are altering their itineraries to avoid docking at Mexican destinations in a bid to protect passengers and crew from swine flu.

Royal Caribbean cruises have temporarily suspended its Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruise liners from calling at ports in Mexico.

All of the effected ships will either call at alternative ports or spend longer at sea.

Fred Olsen has also stopped its liner Balmoral from calling at Acapulco next week; instead it will have an extended stay in San Diego and new stop off at Puntarenas in Costa Rica.

The temporary changes will be reviewed on a regular basis.