The first Caribbean cruise since the start of the coronavirus pandemic set sail last week, hailed as a watershed for the cruise industry, an example of seagoing perfection and precaution aboard the ultra-luxury small ship SeaDream I – until Wednesday, when Covid-19 broke out aboard.
The ship was reported to be quarantining off the coast of Barbados after at least five passengers had tested positive.
Fox News in the US reported at the weekend seven passengers had tested positive and one had been hospitalised for observation. The report quoted Sue Bryant, cruise editor for The Times and The Sunday Times, who it said was a passenger on the ship.
There were just 53 passengers and 66 crew aboard SeaDream I and all precautions had been taken. The ship can carry up to 112 passengers.
A cruise reporter on the ship, Gene Sloan, described the line’s careful Covid precautions, saying earlier that the voyage represented a “watershed” moment for the cruise industry.
The fact that Covid-19 broke out, despite all the care the line had taken, illustrates the challenges faced by ships and airlines trying to keep the notoriously tricky and highly infectious coronavirus at bay.
As a small ship operating with just half its listed maximum number of passengers, SeaDream I had everything in its favour. It’s not often on a cruise that the crew-to-passenger ratio sees the crew in the majority.
Good morning from the port of @Barbados, where we have been docked since late yesterday evening. I am, unfortunately, on the side of the ship facing away from the dock, so I don’t have a view of what’s going on pierside. We have been told … pic.twitter.com/6qrivrsVty
— Gene Sloan (@CruiseLog) November 12, 2020
On Wednesday, ship’s captain Torbjorn Lund delivered the shock news that a passenger had tested positive, sending the ship into quarantine.
A good account of the situation by Ars Technica’s health reporter Beth Mole (who has a PhD in microbiology) can be read here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/11/passengers-locked-down-at-sea-as-covid-hits-first-caribbean-cruise/
Mole noted that the cruise employed testing and temperature checks to create a “Covid-free ‘bubble’” at sea. Passengers were required to test negative several days before boarding, on the day of boarding, and a few days after boarding. Mole said it appeared that the cruise was using a rapid Covid test by Abbott (the same test used by certain airlines). She pointed out that experts had “raised questions about the accuracy of these tests at detecting asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic infections and thus their use for general screenings”.
In September, SeaDream announced: “Starting November 7th, SeaDream will offer its guests 22 roundtrip sailings from Barbados. The season is comprised of eight different types of six–to-eight-night voyages.”
SeaDream issued the following statement last Thursday (Friday 13 November in Australia):
SeaDream I has paused its current Caribbean voyage and returned to Barbados after guests’ tests for Covid-19 returned assumptive positive results. Immediately after performing the preliminary rapid Covid test onboard and receiving the assumptive positive results, SeaDream advised local health authorities and set in motion its Covid response protocols to protect guests and crew. The ship’s medical staff has tested all crew members and all tests have come back negative. SeaDream is currently re-testing all guests.
Every crew member is certified for the WHO’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for novel coronavirus course and Covid-19 Contact tracing course from Johns Hopkins University. SeaDream is familiar with responding rapidly thanks to the crew’s professionalism and preparedness. SeaDream operated successfully earlier this year in Norway, completing 21 voyages during the summer season as the first luxury line to resume sailing.
“After completing a successful summer season in Norway, we implemented even stricter health and safety protocols for our Barbados winter season. All guests were tested twice prior to embarkation and we are in the process of re-testing guests.” said SeaDream’s Andreas Brynestad. “We are working closely with local health and government authorities to resolve this situation in the best possible way. Our main priority is the health and safety of our crew, guests, and the communities we visit.”
All guests and non-essential crew members are in quarantine in their staterooms in an abundance of caution. SeaDream is awaiting authorization from the Barbados government to disembark guests safely. SeaDream is following all protocols recommended by the health authorities.
Written by Peter Needham
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