FORT LAUDERDALE – Passengers on board another Princess cruise ship are remaining at sea until crew members are tested for coronavirus.
Located off the coast of South Florida the Regal Princess Regal was supposed to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Sunday morning. However, concerns over two crew members contacting coronavirus has kept them out at sea. In related development Senator Rick Scott met with Port of Tampa officials on Sunday to discuss the safest way to allow passengers to disembark.
“The decisions whether to ground cruise ships and things like that is made by the CDC,” said Sen. Scott. “They are the ones making the decision on what happened to these cruise ships and when they come in and things like that. It’s not border protection.”
WPLG TV in South Florida reports passengers aboard the Regal Princes were informed the Center for Disease Control & Prevention had requested information on two crew members who previously served on the Grand Princess, which had several confirmed cases of coronavirus on board. Those 3,500 passengers and crew aboard the Grand Princess is still floating off the coast of California.
“Look I think everybody is learning about this, you know I’m never going to point fingers at anybody,” said Sen. Scott. “I think at all levels we’re all learning about the coronavirus and how to deal with it.”
Senator Scott says everyone at all levels are learning which ways are the best to keep the public informed and safe. Scott adds those most vulnerable to the disease are the elderly. The state department tweeted out on Sunday any U.S. citizens with underline conditions should not travel by cruise ship as many countries are denying port entry.
“If you have a chronic issue and your immune system is compromised you [got to] stop and think about, should you be going on a cruise ship? Should you be flying? Where should you be?” said Sen. Scott.
According WFLA the U.S. Coastguard is developing testing kits on to the ship for the two employees aboard the Regal Princess be tested before passengers are let off. Senator Scott says companies like Lab Corp are working on developing effective coronavirus testing
“The believe yesterday and the discussion with the cruise industry, they’re going to be able to do a lot of these testing while they are out on sea.” said Sen. Scott. “They’re working on being very transparent about testing, about quarantining , about exactly what happens if they have a patients with this, and the commitment they made to the vice president was by Tuesday they’re going to come up with a unenvied plan. “
Passengers aboard the Regal Princess were told they would be reimbursed for some of the costs, and passengers that were meant to board the ship on Sunday have been told their cruise has been canceled. And if you had any plans of taking a cruise in the upcoming weeks, or if you’ve canceled your plans, we’d like to hear from you, reach out to us on Facebook.
