Are Passengers Still Stuck on Cruise Ships?

By Anna Duncan

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cruise industry has been hit hard. In early 2020, multiple cruise ships were quarantined due to outbreaks of the virus onboard. This left thousands of passengers stranded on ships for weeks, unable to disembark and return home.

What Happened

In February 2020, the Diamond Princess cruise ship was quarantined off the coast of Japan after an outbreak of COVID-19 was detected onboard. Passengers were confined to their cabins for weeks as the virus spread rapidly throughout the ship. In total, over 700 passengers and crew members tested positive for COVID-19 and 14 people died.

Another ship, the Grand Princess, was also quarantined in March 2020 after a passenger who had previously disembarked tested positive for COVID-19. Passengers were again confined to their cabins as tests were conducted and arrangements were made for them to disembark and return home safely.

Have Things Changed

The cruise industry has implemented many new safety measures since these early outbreaks occurred. Cruise lines now require proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests before boarding. They have also increased cleaning protocols and reduced capacity on ships to allow for social distancing.

Despite these measures, there have been a few recent incidents where passengers have been stuck on ships due to outbreaks of COVID-19 onboard. In July 2021, multiple passengers aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19 during a seven-day cruise in the Bahamas. The ship returned to port early and all passengers were required to quarantine.

The Future of Cruising

The cruise industry is slowly recovering from the pandemic and many travelers are eager to get back out on the open sea. However, it is clear that safety measures will need to remain in place for the foreseeable future to prevent any further outbreaks onboard ships.

If you are planning a cruise in the near future, it is important to check the policies of your chosen cruise line regarding COVID-19 safety measures. These may include vaccination requirements, mask mandates, and testing protocols. By staying informed and following guidelines, we can all help ensure that passengers are not stuck on cruise ships again.