Grandeur of the Seas
ST. THOMAS — Royal Caribbean cruise lines' Grandeur of the Seas was denied entry to the Crown Bay Dock in the early morning hours on Thursday because a crew member had traveled to Japan within the past 14 days, according to Government House.
The ship had attempted to make an unscheduled stop on St. Thomas due to a medical emergency unrelated to the coronavirus (COVID-19) scare sweeping the Caribbean. A passenger aboard the ship apparently suffered a broken hip. That passenger, however, was permitted to come ashore for medical treatment of their injuries. The person was evacuated by the U.S. Coast Guard and taken to Schneider Regional Medical Center for the treatment of a broken hip later Thursday morning, said Government House Communications Director Richard Motta.
That passenger had undergone proper screening and displayed no symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), Mr. Motta said. The crew member in question had not tested positive for COVID-19, either, he said.
Mr. Motta sought to assure the public Thursday afternoon that only the one passenger disembarked for treatment. And that passenger has not tested positive for COVID-19. "Screening precautions have been taken and that person is not symptomatic of the coronavirus," Mr. Motta said.
"I want to make this point: No one on the ship has confirmed coronavirus. It is just the precaution that the one crew member has traveled from a region that has been flagged within the 14-day period," he said.
The incubation period for someone infected with the virus is up to 14 days, meaning the patient might not display symptoms for two days to two weeks.
The Grandeur of the Seas had previously been turned away from a port call on Antigua the previous day due to the crew members possible exposure to COVID-19 in Japan.
"I can assure you that between the cruise lines and our local health apparatus, we are taking all the necessary precautions," Mr. Motta said.
Unusual Overnight Call on WICO Dock
The Holland America cruise ship MS Koningsdam pulled into St. Thomas Harbor in the early morning hours on Thursday after a onboard medical emergency unrelated to COVID-19, said Department of Tourism Director Joseph Boschulte.
"The reason the ship came in last night was medical, but not COVID-related," Mr. Boschulte said. Passengers were screened and cleared by the U.S. Coast Guard and local health officials before being allowed to leave the ship, Mr. Boschulte said. The Koningsdam spent Thursday at the WICO Dock.
The Koningsdam has the capacity for 2,600 passengers and 1,000 crew members, according to the Holland America website. The ship arrived from Basseterre, St. Kitts, and was expected to depart at 5 p.m. for Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.
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