Cruise ship overwhelmed after more than a hundred test positive for COVID-19

[Kennywood]

Over 100 people who were on a Carnival cruise ship have tested positive for COVID-19, overwhelming the ship, which docked Tuesday in Seattle.



Passengers infected with the coronavirus have spread out, going to hotels in the Seattle area to wait out the virus and quarantine, according to a report.

An exact number of passengers who tested positive has not been confirmed by Carnival Cruise Line.

"As soon as I got diagnosed with COVID, I did not feel safe," one passenger said.

"They didn't have enough staff to handle the emergency that was happening, period," the passenger continued. "They were overwhelmed, and they didn't have a backup course in how to handle about 200 people affected with COVID. We all suffered."

Another passenger echoed the sentiment that the crew was not ready for the surge in cases.

"I think that they were unprepared. I think they were understaffed. I think that they were overwhelmed," according to the passenger. "I don't think they had clear guidance as to how to handle this."

During the experience, passengers said they waited hours for food, could not get properly isolated, and that it has hard to reach medical staff.

The ship has since left Seattle after deboarding and is on its way to Alaska, the report noted.

The ship managed "a number of COVID cases during its 16-day Panama Canal sailing," Carnival Cruise Line said.

No serious health problems occurred, the company added.

"Our protocols are designed to flex up as needed and additional measures were implemented during the voyage, including mask requirements for guests. In addition, all guests who were scheduled to continue on with the ship's next cruise to Alaska were tested and any guests who tested positive were disembarked," a statement from the company read. "Carnival provided transportation and lodging support for guests who needed to quarantine per CDC guidelines. The ship departed on its next cruise on Tuesday afternoon as scheduled."

"We are committed to protecting the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we visit, including preparing the ship for its next voyage with thorough and effective sanitation measures," the statement read.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/cruise-ship-overwhelmed-after-more-than-a-hundred-test-positive-for-covid-19/ar-AAWX7pj?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=416947d0ab0e485587aa8b32590538b7

 

[CamColt]

***Please Read***

While this story does not pertain to DCL directly we often do allow stories here about other Cruise Lines, when they are in the news. Given that, I am going to let this one stay for now. We know this can be an explosive subject and don't want this thread to go that way. I suggest everyone reread Webmaster Kathy's post on the Covid posting guidelines, here, https://www.disboards.com/threads/policy-on-covid-related-discussions.3840344/ before replying to this post

Thank you!

 

[MillauFr]

The only shocking thing about this incident is that people are shocked that it happened.....

 

[dreamer17555]

Just canceled my DCL fantasy cruise for Saturday due to covid. A bunch of people at work are out sick and it hit my family hard. I hate how stressful this must have been for both passengers and crew- I know my case (double vaccinated and boosted) was still several days of feeling completely miserable.

 

[Disneyland_emily]

it sounds exactly like when Noro would sweep through ships-

it sounds that no one was hospitalized so while it stinks for those ill and hopefully they’ll learn how to deal with outbreaks better whether c or noro or other highly communicable bugs it sounds like business as normal is back…

 

[CaptainAmerica]

No serious health problems occurred, the company added.

11th paragraph.

 

[Donna M]

Agree with a pp people will get sick on cruise ships, hopefully no one was hospitalized.

 

[cvjw]

I would be surprised if there was no covid on a cruise ship. It is everywhere and you can catch it anywhere. Tests don’t always catch it. You can be negative when you take your test before boarding and have symptoms show up that night.

Traveling is just risky right now. We are ok with the risk - booked a Disney cruise for July last week.

 

[Happy100]

What are Disney's protocals for handling Covid positive cruisers and their close contacts who are negative? Do you isolate in your purchased stateroom or do they send you to another or do they disembark you or...?
This article mentioned that it was radio silence once postive testing and poor customer service. Does anyone have experience with Disney's customer service in this situation?

 

[Kwami]

What are Disney's protocals for handling Covid positive cruisers and their close contacts who are negative? Do you isolate in your purchased stateroom or do they send you to another or do they disembark you or...?
This article mentioned that it was radio silence once postive testing and poor customer service. Does anyone have experience with Disney's customer service in this situation?

There was a report a couple of weeks ago from a guest whose wife tested positive. He and his kid were allowed to remain in their purchased stateroom, but they had to mask at all indoor locations for the rest of the cruise. His wife was escorted to a room on deck 2 and had to remain there in quarantine. She was able to get food and drinks delivered to her. At the end of the cruise, the family was escorted off and through customs before anyone else. The father and son went down to the meeting place the quarantined woman was escorted there to meet them. That particular blog said that Disney paid for their quarantine expenses after debarking, though, and refunded them for the affected part of the cruise. So at least there's that.

 

[dreamer17555]

There was a report a couple of weeks ago from a guest whose wife tested positive. He and his kid were allowed to remain in their purchased stateroom, but they had to mask at all indoor locations for the rest of the cruise. His wife was escorted to a room on deck 2 and had to remain there in quarantine. She was able to get food and drinks delivered to her. At the end of the cruise, the family was escorted off and through customs before anyone else. The father and son went down to the meeting place the quarantined woman was escorted there to meet them. That particular blog said that Disney paid for their quarantine expenses after debarking, though, and refunded them for the affected part of the cruise. So at least there's that.

I’m actually pretty unhappy about hearing this. I thought they quarantined all close contacts together. If you’re sharing a stateroom the chances are that you have been exposed to Covid within your party. Letting them go out and about and potentially infect people before they test positive is not OK. I understand they wore masks inside but the pools are practically human soup right now. They definitely could’ve infected others.

 

[Kwami]

I’m actually pretty unhappy about hearing this. I thought they quarantined all close contacts together. If you’re sharing a stateroom the chances are that you have been exposed to Covid within your party. Letting them go out and about and potentially infect people before they test positive is not OK. I understand they wore masks inside but the pools are practically human soup right now. They definitely could’ve infected others.

I'm just happy that the passengers went to the medical center to get tested. I would imagine that most symptomatic people don't bother.

Anyway, that's just one report. I don't know if Disney always does things this way. I'd expect them to go back to stricter quarantines if they had a case like the one reported in the original post here!

 

[whatlevelisthis]

There will always be Covid cases onboard, at least for the foreseeable future.

That said, it sounds like Carnival did a poor job of handling the situation and was completely overwhelmed by the cases onboard. Anecdotally, from what I've read on Cruise Critic boards, there have been complaints that Celebrity and Princess haven't been handling it well either (guests quarantined were constantly unable to reach guest services to order dinner, busy signals whenever they call to ask for something, cold food, lack of info on how they would be disembarked, and total chaos on the actual debarkation, etc.).

Considering DCL's reputation and the prices they charge, I would hope Disney would handle it better. It sounds like from Kwami's post that Disney is doing its best. One nice thing I noticed is that Disney gives a refund for the days you're in quarantine, whereas Princess only gives future cruise credits.

 

[Kwami]

There will always be Covid cases onboard, at least for the foreseeable future.

That said, it sounds like Carnival did a poor job of handling the situation and was completely overwhelmed by the cases onboard. Anecdotally, from what I've read on Cruise Critic boards, there have been complaints that Celebrity and Princess haven't been handling it well either (guests quarantined were constantly unable to reach guest services to order dinner, busy signals whenever they call to ask for something, cold food, lack of info on how they would be disembarked, and total chaos on the actual debarkation, etc.).

Considering DCL's reputation and the prices they charge, I would hope Disney would handle it better. It sounds like from Kwami's post that Disney is doing its best. One nice thing I noticed is that Disney gives a refund for the days you're in quarantine, whereas Princess only gives future cruise credits.

I wish I could find the report now. It was on Scott (of DCL Blog fame)'s Twitter on the side of the blog page, if anyone wants to track it down.

They did have trouble getting information about debarking from the crew members, but otherwise, it seems that Disney did a pretty good job. Letting the other family members go out is a bit iffy, though.

 

[dreamer17555]

I'm just happy that the passengers went to the medical center to get tested. I would imagine that most symptomatic people don't bother.

Anyway, that's just one report. I don't know if Disney always does things this way. I'd expect them to go back to stricter quarantines if they had a case like the one reported in the original post here!

I’m happy they went to get tested. I can say it might depend on how sick one is (symptoms) before they seek care. I know for myself I have been running 102.5 fever with COVID so both testing and call to my dr were needed. If someone has sniffles they might assume it’s allergies or a cold.

I can both be happy they got tested and still less than pleased about how DCL handled it. It seems irresponsible but that’s JMO.

 

[Kwami]

I’m happy they went to get tested. I can say it might depend on how sick one is (symptoms) before they seek care. I know for myself I have been running 102.5 fever with COVID so both testing and call to my dr were needed. If someone has sniffles they might assume it’s allergies or a cold.

I can both be happy they got tested and still less than pleased about how DCL handled it. It seems irresponsible but that’s JMO.

Sure can!

I hope that you feel better soon.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

I’m happy they went to get tested. I can say it might depend on how sick one is (symptoms) before they seek care. I know for myself I have been running 102.5 fever with COVID so both testing and call to my dr were needed. If someone has sniffles they might assume it’s allergies or a cold.

I can both be happy they got tested and still less than pleased about how DCL handled it. It seems irresponsible but that’s JMO.

We've got Covid right now too and I have to say the symptoms were not what I expected plus our home tests weren't sensitive enough to pick it up until we were on day 3! Headaches and sore throats, we thought it was strep!

 

[JohnGaston]

still treating a cold like a plague I see, being positive doesn't mean you are sick.

 

[dreamer17555]

still treating a cold like a plague I see, being positive doesn't mean you are sick.

You might not have symptoms but being positive means you can make others sick (and they might have symptoms, some even severe)

 

[JohnGaston]

You might not have symptoms but being positive means you can make others sick (and they might have symptoms, some even severe)

Right- just like a cold, the flu or a gazillion other things.. They should just make a waiver. "I understand that many diseases and viruses are communicable and I may catch one on this trip"