SAN DIEGO _ Even though the cruise industry is shut down for now, several vessels this week and next are headed for San Diego, including two _ the Holland America Maasdam and Celebrity Eclipse _ that together will be carrying more than 3,300 passengers.
The ships are completing voyages that started before all the major cruise lines decided in mid-March to temporarily halt future sailings amid the global coronavirus pandemic. Still others have docked or will be stopping in San Diego, with only crew members aboard, to fuel up and load the ships with needed supplies, according to the Port of San Diego.
While the plan is to have passengers disembark from both the Maasdam and Eclipse, port officials say they have set up strict protocols, including requiring the lines to inform them and other governmental agencies if any passengers or crew members display symptoms of any illness, including COVID-19. They must also let the port know how many crew members will be disembarking because their contracts are ending. Those members of the crew who are still under contract will not be allowed shore leave, port spokeswoman Brianne Page said Monday.
Scheduled to arrive this Thursday is the Maasdam with 843 passengers aboard following a cruise that originated in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 1 and was to end in San Diego on April 3. As cruise suspensions started occurring in March and various ports began denying entry, Holland America had asked authorities in Hawaii if passengers could disembark there and fly home early. While initially granted permission, it was revoked after Hawaii closed all its ports to cruise ships with arriving passengers, said Holland America spokesman Erik Elvejord.
So the ship picked up provisions in Hawaii and made its way to San Diego where it was originally scheduled to end its voyage anyway, Elvejord said. After it arrives Thursday, passengers will be allowed to disembark on Friday and Saturday, port officials said.
Also making its way to San Diego is the Celebrity Eclipse, with 2,500 passengers on board. It started out in Chile and is due to arrive next Monday, when the passengers will begin disembarking.
To minimize exposure to the coronavirus, the port is thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the B Street cruise terminal before and after the ships' arrivals and departures, officials said.
Meanwhile, several other cruise ships without passengers are either already docked here or coming to San Diego, largely to pick up supplies after completing recent voyages. Those include the Regent Seven Seas Splendor, now docked at the National City Marine Terminal until April 11; the Disney Wonder, which will remain at the B Street cruise terminal until April 19; and the Celebrity Millenium, currently anchored just outside of San Diego Bay and scheduled to dock at B Street Pier on April 2 for supplies.
The Holland America Oosterdam is scheduled to arrive Wednesday and the Westerdam on Thursday, when both will pick up supplies and leave for Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
