In the early months of 2020, news of cruise ships stranded at sea due to the COVID-19 pandemic dominated headlines. Many passengers were left in limbo, unsure of when they would be able to disembark and return home. As we approach the end of the year, one question remains: are any passengers still stuck on cruise ships?
The short answer is yes, there are still some passengers who have not been able to leave their cruise ships. However, the situation has improved significantly since the early days of the pandemic.
Why were passengers stuck on cruise ships?
When COVID-19 began spreading rapidly around the world earlier this year, many countries closed their borders and implemented strict travel restrictions in an effort to slow down the spread of the virus. This left many cruise ships unable to dock at ports and allow their passengers to disembark.
In addition, many countries were hesitant to allow cruise ship passengers to enter due to fears that they could be carrying the virus. This led to several high-profile cases where entire ships were quarantined for weeks on end while authorities decided what to do with them.
What has changed?
Since those early days, many countries have developed protocols for handling cruise ship arrivals during a pandemic. Some ports have been designated as “safe havens” where ships can dock and passengers can disembark while undergoing health screenings.
Cruise lines have also implemented new health and safety measures onboard their ships in an effort to prevent outbreaks from occurring in the first place. This includes increased cleaning and disinfecting procedures, mandatory mask-wearing policies, and reduced capacity onboard.
- Current situation:
As of December 2020, there are still some passengers who are stuck on cruise ships due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, these cases are becoming increasingly rare as more countries open up their borders and develop protocols for handling cruise ship arrivals.
What is being done to help?
Cruise lines and governments around the world are working together to repatriate passengers who have been stuck on ships for extended periods of time. This includes arranging flights home for passengers and providing them with food, lodging, and medical care while they wait to disembark.
In addition, some countries have implemented new policies that allow cruise ships to dock at their ports under certain conditions. For example, Singapore recently announced that it will allow “cruises to nowhere” where ships can sail in and out of port without stopping anywhere else.
The bottom line
While there are still some passengers stuck on cruise ships due to COVID-19 restrictions, the situation has improved significantly since earlier this year. Cruise lines and governments are working together to ensure that passengers can safely disembark and return home as soon as possible. As we continue to navigate the pandemic, it’s likely that we’ll see more changes in the way that cruise ships operate in order to prevent outbreaks from occurring onboard.