Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) extended its “No-Sail Order” until October 1st after finding that the cruise lines “continued to allow their crews to attend social gatherings, work out at gyms, and share buffet-style
meals,” according to the New York Times. The CDC concluded that Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
2020
Airborne Virus Transmission: Why Didn’t Cruise Ships Install HEPA Air Filters Long Ago?
Airborne Transmission of Norovirus
In 2015, doctors participated in a study which determined that norovirus can be transmitted in an airborne form. They published their findings in an article titled Detection and Quantification of Airborne Norovirus During Outbreaks in Healthcare Facilities in the highly respected journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
The medical experts concluded…
“We Always Sail With Full Ships” – Cruise CEO’s Del Rio and Fain Show Their True Colors
Reducing the occupancy of ships once the industry is permitted to return to sailing is an integral first step toward combating the spread of COVID-19. But fewer passengers means fewer cruises fares sold. And most significantly, reduced occupancy means reduced onboard revenue from alcohol sales, casinos, gift shops, specialty restaurants and shore excursions. I have…
U.K. Goverment Advises Against Cruise Travel
Today the U.K. government issued advice against cruise ship travel.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) originally issued guidance last March advising those U.K. nationals who are over-70 years of age and those with underlying medical health conditions, such as chronic diseases and diabetes, against taking cruises. A FCO spokeperson state in March:
“Our first…
A Cruise is “Safer than a Major City” – Co-Chair of Cruise Lines’ “Brain Trust” Sings Another Tune
Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line recently announced that they hired a panel of former public health officials to advise the cruise lines regarding how to safely return to cruise operations. Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio announced that they created the “Healthy Sail Panel” to…
Disney Wonder Crew Member Dies – At Least 255 People on Disney Cruise Ship Tested Positive for COVID-19
A Filipino crew member, employed by Disney Cruise Line as a painter aboard the Disney Wonder, died on Tuesday according to the Miami Herald.
Eddie Burgos Ragodon visited the cruise ship’s medical center in recent days with chills, according to another crew member who communicated with the newspaper. It appears that he did…
Is Pullmantur Cruises Ending Operations?
This weekend, several employees of Pullmantur Cruises informed me that employees (or contractors) hired by Royal Caribbean (which has a 49% ownership in Pullmantur) were involved in removing equipment from and dismantling the interiors of two of the companies’ cruise ships.
The Monarch and Sovereign are currently at the cruise port of Naples, Italy (Stazione…
Crew Member Dies on the Island Princess Awaiting Repatriation
A crew member on the Island Princess died on Wednesday according to several crew members wishing to remain anonymous. The crew member’s name is Candido Catambay. There are no facts publicly available regarding the precise circumstances of the crew member’s death.
It appears that the Island Princess is one of many Carnival Corporation-owned cruise ships…
CMV Crew Member Dies Awaiting Repatriation to India
A Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) crew member on the Vasco da Gama cruise ship in the U.K. died early this morning, according to several crew members who wish to remain anonyous.
The crew member was identified as Krishna Kumar Balaji who was employed by CMV as a “1st cook galley.” He reportedly died in…
Harmony of the Seas Crew Member, Waiting to be Repatriated, Dies
A Royal Caribbean ship employee died earlier today on the Harmony of the Seas, according to several crew members who wish to remain anonymous.
Crew member Mariah Jocson, who was described as a “new hire,” was reportedly found in her cabin this afternoon. There was an “Alpha, Alpha, Alpha” medical emergency broadcast on…
Long Term Crystal Cruises Ship Employee, Kiko Payongayong, Dies
A long term employee of Crystal Cruises recently died, according to a Go Fund Me page created yesterday by one of the crew member’s friends.
Kiko Payongayong reportedly worked for Crystal Cruises as a
waiter from 27 years. He was fifty years old at the time of his death. He left behind a wife and…
NCL’s CEO Del Rio: Cruise Restrictions Should Immediately Stop
Yesterday Breaking Travel News published an interview with Frank Del Rio, NCL’s president and CEO. He claimed that a cruise ship can be “safer than anywhere else in the world.”
On March 13th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a “no sail” order which prohibited cruise ships
from sailing from…
Crew Member Dies on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady
A Filipino crew member died on the Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, according to several crew members who wish to remain anonymous. His colleagues on the ship stated that he may have intentionaly ended his life.
The cruise ship sailed into the port of Miami earlier this afternoon following this tragedy. @PTZtv live streaming cameras …
Royal Caribbean CEO Richard Fain: “We’re Not Sure When We’re Coming Back” / “Our Crew Will Be Coming Home Over the Next Several Weeks”
This afternoon CNBC interviewed Royal Caribbean Richard Fain about when his cruise line will re-start operations and when his crew members will finally be repatriated. Here is a portion of the interview:
“CNBC: . . . we know that this is a challenging time. We really appreciate you spending time with us today.…
Crew Member Seriously Injured After falling From Vasco da Gama
A crew member on the Vasco da Gamma cruise ship was seriously injured after falling from deck 12 of the ship. He landed on a cargo container located on the pier below while the ship was moored at the Port of Tilbury. Ambulances and a helicopter arrived on the pier in response to the medical…
A Giant Ponzi Scheme? Carnival Cruise Line President: Cruising on August 1st “Still Very Uncertain”
The president of Carnival Cruise Line, Christine Duffy, stated in a letter to crew members last week “while
we hope to bring back a small number of ships on August 1, that is still very uncertain.” Ms. Duffy continued by stating “what we do know is that whenever we do resume cruising, it will…
Starts and Stops: Disney Magic Sails to England, Then Cancels Repatriation Flights Home
Disney Cruise Line is now in the process of finally repatriating hundreds of its crew members from some of its cruise ships. Disney transferred crew members from the Disney Fantasy and the Disney Dream to the Disney Magic (AIS location yesterday shown bottom right) which arrived today in
Dover. Disney initially informed the crew members…
Around 200 Crew Members on Disney Wonder Reportedly Test Positive for COVID-19
Around 200 crew members employed on the Disney Wonder recently tested positive for COVID-19, according to a half-dozen employees on the ship who wish to remain anonymous.
The Disney Wonder previously sailed from New Orleans on March 6th on a Panama Canal cruise. It arrived at the the Port of San Diego, where all the…