FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Thousands of passengers were stuck on the Regal Princess cruise ship for an extra day because of coronavirus fears.
The ship was barred from returning to Port Everglades until coronavirus tests were completed for two crew members. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control sounded the all-clear about 6:30 p.m. EDT. When the tests were negative, the Regal Princess was allowed to return.
The ship pulled into the port after 10 p.m. Sunday. Passengers stood on their balconies, still waiting for their turn as the lengthy process of disembarking began.
The ship was originally scheduled to come in Sunday morning at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and leave on another cruise Sunday evening. But two crew members had recently worked on the Grand Princess, the same ship in California that had 21 passengers and crew members test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.
Until officials could be sure those two crew members were healthy, the Regal Princess was kept offshore.
"The federal government has the lead on that," Glenn Wiltshire, acting chief executive and director at Port Everglades, said Sunday afternoon. "The samples were collected and brought ashore earlier today. The test is carried out at a state health department lab. The turnaround times are usually 24 to 48 hours. But they recognize the urgency of turning these tests around and doing them as fast as they can."
Princess Cruises had already canceled another cruise that was set to leave port Sunday evening on the same ship. The cruise line said guests on the canceled cruise would receive a full refund and offered $300 reimbursement for one night's hotel costs.
New Yorker Alicia Hilty and her boyfriend were making the best of things on board the somber ship Sunday afternoon.
"I feel like we are in the dark," said Hilty, 26, of Oswego, N.Y. "They woke us up in our cabin at 5:30 a.m. to say two crew needed to be tested. Me and my boyfriend are feeling anxious. It's 3 p.m. and we have no update. Last time we heard anything was 11 a.m."
The ship was quiet, the pool deserted. Passengers were not being ordered to stay in their rooms, but most elderly passengers were staying in their cabins, Hilty said.
Live music and game show activities were still being held, but attracted a sparse crowd.
A few passengers complained about the lack of information.
Neither crew member on the Regal Princess showed symptoms of the virus, according to a letter Capt. Tim Stringer sent to passengers Saturday.
"The crew members are past the understood maximum incubation of COVID-19 and are asymptomatic," the captain wrote in a letter dated March 7.
Both were screened by medical staff upon boarding the Regal Princess and were tested for respiratory symptoms, including fever.
"We sincerely regret any inconvenience this has caused and appreciate your understanding and patience given the circumstances," Stringer wrote. "My officers and crew look forward to serving you for the remainder of our time together, and wish you safe homeward travels."
The Regal Princess set sail for the Caribbean out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale a week ago.
Princess Cruises is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.
On Sunday night, the U.S. State Department warned citizens against taking cruises. "U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship," the travel advisory said.
It said passengers should contact the cruise lines for more information.
