Cruise with COVID guests cancels call to USVI hours after leaving BVI
The Disney Fantasy cruise ship that visited the BVI on Wednesday turned back from St Thomas in the neighbouring US Virgin Islands on Thursday due to COVID-19 cases onboard the vessel.
A statement issued by the cruise line yesterday said: “The Disney Fantasy did not call on St Thomas today due to both an increase in COVID-19 cases on the island and a small number of fully vaccinated crew members and guests — less than one percent of those on board — in isolation for COVID-19”.
“Those affected by these breakthrough cases are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and we are following CDC protocols for managing cases on board. We continue to operate with multiple layers of health and safety protocols in place, such as requiring vaccinations, PCR tests at the port prior to embarkation for all guests, testing of our Crew multiple times per week, enhanced cleaning protocols, and a requirement that masks be worn in all indoor spaces,” the statement further said.
The Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship had docked at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park around 6:15 am on December 29 and guests disembarked to explore the territory.
The ship left the port for sea at 6 pm according to the schedule on the Pier Park’s website.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 positivity rate in the BVI continues to spiral out of control as the Ministry of Health reported an additional 82 active cases in the territory in a bulletin Wednesday night.
There are currently 357 positive cases in the territory.
The total number of active positive cases on Tortola now stands at 287 while Virgin Gorda is said to have 69 reported cases. One person on board a vessel has also been reported as being COVID-19 positive. The number of persons hospitalised because of COVID remains at eight.
The cruise industry was reopened in October of this year as the government tried to stimulate economic recovery in the territory after the crippling effects of the coronavirus.
“Those affected by these breakthrough cases are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and we are following CDC protocols for managing cases on board. We continue to operate with multiple layers of health and safety protocols in place, such as requiring vaccinations, PCR tests at the port prior to embarkation for all guests, testing of our Crew multiple times per week, enhanced cleaning protocols, and a requirement that masks be worn in all indoor spaces,” the statement further said.
The Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship had docked at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park around 6:15 am on December 29 and guests disembarked to explore the territory.
The ship left the port for sea at 6 pm according to the schedule on the Pier Park’s website.
Meanwhile, the COVID-19 positivity rate in the BVI continues to spiral out of control as the Ministry of Health reported an additional 82 active cases in the territory in a bulletin Wednesday night.
There are currently 357 positive cases in the territory.
The total number of active positive cases on Tortola now stands at 287 while Virgin Gorda is said to have 69 reported cases. One person on board a vessel has also been reported as being COVID-19 positive. The number of persons hospitalised because of COVID remains at eight.
The cruise industry was reopened in October of this year as the government tried to stimulate economic recovery in the territory after the crippling effects of the coronavirus.
