Since the coronavirus first started shutting down the global economy, and forcing many to stay home, Americans have struggled to get back onto their familiar shores. Many Americans are still trapped aboard on cruise ships, seemingly with no end in sight.”Kind of a comfortable jail,” said MaShawn Morton, a cruise worker from Huntington, WV, when asked what being stuck at sea is like. “I have good days and I have bad days,” said Jamey Grisham, a cruise worker from Tupelo, MS.These Americans and others are working on cruises that seemingly will not end. They’re performers, technicians, and more. All prevented from coming home.”It feels like we’re the ugly stepchild that’s being rejected by everyone right now,” says Alex Adkins, a cruise worker from Lubbock, TX. Adkins describes life at sea as being “stuck in limbo.”The coast guard says it has helped 265,000 passengers disembark in early March, but workers on the ships were ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay onboard. Seven weeks later – far beyond any 14-day quarantine – most are still isolated to their rooms. They’re allowed out only for twice-a-day temperature checks and three daily meals, eaten six feet apart from each other.”The rest of the time, you are sort of on your own.” says Grisham.”It’s really indescribable,” says Ezra Freeman, a cruise worker from Bowie, MD.A CDC no-sail order prevents cruise lines from disembarking crew, unless executives promise — under threat of civil and criminal penalties — to a list of conditions, including no public transportation.”We have decided that the importance of getting you home is so great that we will sign these documents,” Royal Caribbean said in a letter sent to captive workers Sunday.Princess Cruises sent a statement with out-of-date information saying that no more current updates were available, but that that it is “deeply committed to reuniting our shipboard team members with their families safely.”Carnival Cruise Line says it hopes to get its 26,000 worldwide crew members home within “a few weeks.””I’m seeing people protesting in the streets that their freedoms are being taken away because they’re being asked to stay at home. I can’t even GET home,” said Morton.In our interviews over (sometimes spotty) onboard Wi-Fi connections, workers praised their individual cruise lines, but had harsh words for government agencies.”What is the point of having citizenship if they’re going to deny us entry back?” said Freeman.”We are still out here and that we feel forgotten about,” said Adkins.Avery Don, a cruise worker from Stow, MA, agrees with Adkins, describing being stuck at sea as feeling “forgotten.””My family wants me home. And I want to be there with them,” said Don.Now, Congress is investigating. Top leaders from both parties on the House Transportation Committee sent Carnival a letter, accusing it of “Ignoring the public health threat posed by coronavirus to potential future passengers and crew,” and demanding documents. The deadline is next Friday. Carnival says it will “Protect the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve.”
Since the coronavirus first started shutting down the global economy, and forcing many to stay home, Americans have struggled to get back onto their familiar shores. Many Americans are still trapped aboard on cruise ships, seemingly with no end in sight.
“Kind of a comfortable jail,” said MaShawn Morton, a cruise worker from Huntington, WV, when asked what being stuck at sea is like.
“I have good days and I have bad days,” said Jamey Grisham, a cruise worker from Tupelo, MS.
These Americans and others are working on cruises that seemingly will not end. They’re performers, technicians, and more. All prevented from coming home.
“It feels like we’re the ugly stepchild that’s being rejected by everyone right now,” says Alex Adkins, a cruise worker from Lubbock, TX.
Adkins describes life at sea as being “stuck in limbo.”
The coast guard says it has helped 265,000 passengers disembark in early March, but workers on the ships were ordered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stay onboard.
Seven weeks later – far beyond any 14-day quarantine – most are still isolated to their rooms. They’re allowed out only for twice-a-day temperature checks and three daily meals, eaten six feet apart from each other.
“The rest of the time, you are sort of on your own.” says Grisham.
“It’s really indescribable,” says Ezra Freeman, a cruise worker from Bowie, MD.
A CDC no-sail order prevents cruise lines from disembarking crew, unless executives promise — under threat of civil and criminal penalties — to a list of conditions, including no public transportation.
“We have decided that the importance of getting you home is so great that we will sign these documents,” Royal Caribbean said in a letter sent to captive workers Sunday.
Princess Cruises sent a statement with out-of-date information saying that no more current updates were available, but that that it is “deeply committed to reuniting our shipboard team members with their families safely.”
Carnival Cruise Line says it hopes to get its 26,000 worldwide crew members home within “a few weeks.”
“I’m seeing people protesting in the streets that their freedoms are being taken away because they’re being asked to stay at home. I can’t even GET home,” said Morton.
In our interviews over (sometimes spotty) onboard Wi-Fi connections, workers praised their individual cruise lines, but had harsh words for government agencies.
“What is the point of having citizenship if they’re going to deny us entry back?” said Freeman.
“We are still out here and that we feel forgotten about,” said Adkins.
Avery Don, a cruise worker from Stow, MA, agrees with Adkins, describing being stuck at sea as feeling “forgotten.”
“My family wants me home. And I want to be there with them,” said Don.
Now, Congress is investigating. Top leaders from both parties on the House Transportation Committee sent Carnival a letter, accusing it of “Ignoring the public health threat posed by coronavirus to potential future passengers and crew,” and demanding documents.
The deadline is next Friday.
Carnival says it will “Protect the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve.”
