ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — A rapidly spreading variant and close, indoor quarters are likely factors that have led to cruise ship passengers testing positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks, according to the CDC.
A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said most cases have not been severe.
“The vast majority of cases did not have severe outcomes, with only one COVID-19 hospitalization reported” in the outbreak on the Ruby Princess, which is still under investigation, said CDC spokesman Nick Spinelli.
And avid cruisers aren’t likely to give up the ocean-going travel freedom they lost for so many months during the pandemic.
A robust 2022 cruise schedule remains unchanged at the Port of Los Angeles, a port spokesman said.
Dr. Anissa Davis, Long Beach’s city health officer, said that while she’s keeping a close eye on cases, protocols regarding cruise ships don’t appear set to change.
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“Right now cases continue to be relatively low but are rising,” Davis said in a written statement. “We are concerned about every COVID-19 case in the city, including those on area cruise ships. As of now, no protocols regarding cruise ships are set to change, but we continue to watch the situation closely.”
She urged people to practice prevention strategies, including getting vaccinated and boosted when eligible, wearing well-fitting masks where crowds gather indoors, and staying home and getting tested if having symptoms.
CBS News reported on Wednesday, April 26, that the Ruby Princess docked at the Port of San Francisco after a trip to Hawaii with 143 passengers who had tested positive, according to information provided by that city’s health department to the news outlet.
Earlier this month, the Grand Princess returned to the Port of Los Angeles from a Hawaii trip with passengers who also tested positive.
The two ships are among 53 cruise ships currently sailing under the CDC’s “orange” category — which means 0.3% of passengers and/or crew members have tested positive.
The news follows the much-anticipated resumption of cruising after the industry was shut down for 15 months during the pandemic.
At the Port of Los Angeles, an expected 200 sailings are scheduled throughout 2022, the most since 2008.
The industry is seen as one that will be increasingly important locally, with each ship call bringing in more than $1 million in economic activity, according to the Port of L.A.
Cruises out of the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach resumed last summer with a set of protocols and vaccine requirements.
The CDC dropped its COVID-19 risk advisory for cruise ship travel in March, but still urges passengers to determine their own health risks before taking a cruise.
“Cruise travel is not a zero-risk activity,” said the CDC’s Spinelli in a written comment. “COVID-19, like other illnesses, can spread quickly in group settings like cruise ships because of close indoor proximity and extensive social interactions among passengers on board.”
Most of the cruises are categorized as “highly vaccinated” by the CDC’s classification, meaning more than 95% of the passengers are vaccinated, with crew vaccination rates at 100%.
Kathy Julian of Ventura, one of the passengers on board the Grand Princess for the trip to Hawaii, said she and her travel mates only learned later that the ship had already been put into the liner’s orange category.
“We hadn’t checked the CDC Dashboard before our cruise or we probably would have canceled,” she said.
She tested positive after she returned home.
“It’s certainly my choice to go cruising and I realize the risk involved, but it still seemed like there was a blatant lack of concern,” she said, adding that masking on board was practiced loosely. “All the way down the chain, things should have been done.”
A spokeswoman for Princess Cruises said ships continue operating in accordance with the CDC guidelines and were not at liberty to disclose case counts.
Long Beach resident Tina Tessina and her husband, Richard, were also on the Grand Princess Hawaii voyage and tested positive. But, she said, the Princess crew was prompt in arranging a well-appointed quarantine cabin with a balcony on the 12th deck, where others were also separately quarantined.
As for how the virus could have spread onboard, Tessina said there were stops along the way where groups disembarked to enjoy dinner out and other land-based activities before getting back on the ship. She also said someone may have tested negative when they got onboard initially but still may have already been exposed.
“It’s never going to be perfect,” Tessina, 78, a psychotherapist and writer, said, adding she and her husband, 79, were careful about masking. Both had their fourth shots before the trip.
Still, she said, they were out and about during the trip. And masking onboard the ship wasn’t strictly practiced.
“People aren’t necessarily smart about it,” Tessina said. “They don’t think of the consequences.”
But, she added, even when being careful, the virus can spread, especially in a social atmosphere like a cruise ship.
Her case was mild, she said. Her husband took a little longer to rebound, but both recovered without complications.
There were some minor things that could have been executed better, she said.
“We had very nice (quarantine) accommodations,” Tessina said. “The only problem was there was no information (provided) on what to do.”
Tessina, a seasoned cruiser, said she asked for instructions and those were then provided. But, she added, others on the deck weren’t apparently offered the instructions automatically.
Passengers had to make their own beds and change out their own towels while in quarantine.
The meal ordering app on the TVs in the rooms, Tessina said, also could be hard for some passengers to navigate.
Princess, she said, didn’t handle everything perfectly, but they “did a pretty good job.”
It was the first time she and her husband, a ballroom dance instructor, were able to take a cruise since 2020, Tessina said — and they’re game for more. They usually take four cruises a year and have been around the world.
“I’m not happy I got COVID, but I’m not blaming the ship,” Tessina said. “I could have gotten it on shore. I think if I’d needed a lot of care I would have gotten it — and sometimes you get better medical care on a ship than on land.”
Still, it all comes as a reminder that some risk remains.
“There’s always a risk,” Tessina said. “But I feel like I’m in more danger in the grocery store where there are a lot of people not wearing masks.”
Got time for a stop in Key West? Here are 12 spots to quickly explore
1. Duval Street
World famous Duval Street is where the party starts. Duval awaits visitors with plenty of bars, live music, restaurants, art galleries, hotels and guesthouses and shops selling clothing —from high-end island attire to $5 T-shirts — along with cigars and souvenirs.
The 1.25-mile-long Duval Street stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
2. The Southernmost Point buoy
This waterfront spot downtown is possibly Key West’s most photographed attraction, claiming the southernmost point in the continental United States and a landmark “90 miles to Cuba.” You will likely have to wait in line for a turn to stand before the giant marker located where Whitehead and South streets meet. Enjoy the view.
3. Conch Tour Train
The famous Conch Tour Train, which dates back to 1958, is an easy way to see the major sights in Key West and learn the island’s history.
The ride starts at the “depot” on Front Street and ends right behind it in Mallory Square. It’s a 75-minute trip that makes a loop through Old Town.
Tours run daily and the first starts at 10:15 a.m.
4. Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, named for one of the most famous treasure hunters, lets you step back into the martime history of Florida and the Caribbean.
While the museum at 200 Greene St. isn’t involved in the ongoing searches at sea, its collections feature artifacts recovered from the Spanish galleons Nuestra Señora de Atocha and Santa Margarita of 1622.
The museum’s staff also takes deep dives into maritime archaeology and has created exhibits on slave ships and the 1860 African Cemetery at Higgs Beach.
Admission is $17.50 for adults and $8.50 for children.
5. The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
Looking for a peaceful spot? The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, 1316 Duval St., is just the place on the quieter, upper end of Duval.
The attraction is centered around a lush, glass-enclosed space filled with butterflies, birds and two pink flamingos named Rhett and Scarlet.
Among the flowering plants, trees and waterfalls are 50 to 60 butterfly species from around the world plus more than 20 exotic bird species. The flamingos are known for their friendly personalities.
6. Rent a bike
You can easily rent a bicycle in Key West to tour the island.
Daily rentals range from $10 to $20 a day for a beach cruiser. Some shops will even bring them to you and pick them up when you’re through. Some streets in Key West’s Old Town have dedicated bike lanes. Helmets and locks are also available.
But remember to use caution on the busy island where traffic also includes delivery trucks, cars, scooters, stand-up electric scooters and skateboards.
7. Key West Cemetery
The Key West Cemetery was created in 1847 after a disastrous hurricane unearthed the beachside cemetery, according to the city’s website. Between 80,000 to 100,000 souls rest inside the fenced 19 acres. From simple markers to elaborate mausoleums with statues, the centrally located cemetery displays the history and diversity of the island’s residents.
There are also several well-known wry epitaphs. The grave of B.P. “Pearl” Roberts famously reads, “I Told You I Was Sick.” Another states, “If You’re Reading This, You Desperately Need A Hobby.” And one says, “I Always Dreamed Of Owning A Small Place In Key West.”
The main entrance and sexton’s office are at the intersection of Angela and Margaret streets.
8. The Hemingway Home and Museum
Ernest Hemingway’s old estate, with luxurious grounds and dozens of six-toed cats, is at 907 Whitehead St.
The National Historic Landmark is open daily, 365 days a year, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours of what was the legendary author’s home in the 1930s take about 20 to 30 minutes and also include his writing studio beside the house.
Then there’s the tale of the in-ground pool, which the museum says was a first in Key West, costing $20,000 to build between 1937 to 1938. There is a penny lodged in the cement by the pool, memorializing the claim that Hemingway shouted to his wife Pauline that she had spent all but his last cent.
Admission is $17 for adults and $7 for children 6 to 12. Take note: the museum only takes cash.
9. Key West Historic Seaport
Key West’s old seaport is a gem: a waterfront harborwalk with shopping and dining in the middle of a marina that features fishing charters, sunset-sailing catamarans and tall ships. The 20-acre complex is a place to mix with locals and visitors and take in exceptional dockside views.
10. Get out on the water
Sure, Key West has an astounding number of things to see on land. But the ocean access is its most prized feature. Even if you’re only on the island for a few hours, you can still squeeze in time to spend on the stunning waters surrounding Key West.
Take a two-hour kayak tour or go parasailing for amazing views from the sky. Parasailing will take about an hour. Some watersports companies have snorkel trips that may fit into your schedule.
11. Key West Lighthouse
You can walk up 88 steps to the top of the Key West Lighthouse, which opened in 1848 and was decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1969.
Today, it’s a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage, honoring those who kept the light shining through trying times. In addition to the view, the museum includes belongings, photos and memories of the lighthouse keepers and their families.
General admission is $14 but there are discounts for those 62 and older, retired military and children.
12. Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
This state park on the southern edge of Key West boasts some of the best ocean views in Key West. Fort Taylor predates the Civil War and is a National Historic Monument.
It’s also home to the best beach on the island. You’ll have to pay admission fees, but in addition to the beach, you can check out the red-brick corridors of Fort Zachary Taylor, past cannon and gun ports, or roam the grounds, where tree names are marked and butterflies are known to visit.
