UnCruise Adventures set sail on the very first cruise of the 2020 Alaskan season this month, but the sailing was quickly canceled after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. However, the same passenger retested as negative for COVID-19 just days later.
The guest in question was tested a total of three times. Before flying into Alaska, the guest tested negative for COVID-19, thus permitting embarkation. Only when the guest was retested in Juneau did results come back as positive; by then, the cruise had already set sail with the guest onboard. But, after the guest took a third test in quarantine, the results came back as negative.
What’s more, all remaining passengers and crew have been tested as negative, and zero transmission occurred onboard. Following the quick implementation of a contingency plan, guests were held in quarantine before being cleared to return home.
Here’s the detailed timeline, as provided by UnCruise:
- July 28: Identified guest received a negative test prior to departure from home city.
- Aug. 1: UnCruise returns to sail, and all guests with a gap of more than the 72-hour requirement were retested at the Juneau airport.
- Aug. 4: A guest onboard received communication from the State of Alaska of a positive COVID-19 test retaken at the Juneau airport.
- Aug. 4: Contact tracing was immediately implemented by the state.
- Aug. 4: The identified guest and four traveling companions were retested onboard the vessel by trained staff.
- Aug. 5: The 60-person Wilderness Adventurer returned to Juneau. It was operating at a 60% occupancy cap.
- Aug. 5: All guests were securely quarantined at a local hotel in Juneau, with costs covered by UnCruise. The ship’s crew quarantined onboard the vessel.
- Aug. 6: All guests and crew were retested.
- Aug. 7: UnCruise received negative results back on all tests to date.
- Aug. 7: Thirty of the 36 guests were greenlit by the State of Alaska to be released.
- Aug. 8: Guests began flying home.
Unfortunately, UnCruise’s Alaskan season will not be resumed, according to the line. Following the initial news of a positive COVID-19 test, its four remaining sailings were canceled.
We were able to act quickly, but that doesn’t mean this event has not been painful to our company and guests. Our policies held up and may be a footprint for future sailings and the industry.
“Strict planning paid off,” said Dan Blanchard, owner and CEO of UnCruise, in a press release. “We were able to act quickly, but that doesn’t mean this event has not been painful to our company and guests. Our policies held up and may be a footprint for future sailings and the industry.”
UnCruise believes its case study in part validates the effectiveness of safe sailing protocols and now advocates for improved testing to ensure the healthy return of the travel industry at large.
“We've been lobbying Congress for rapid testing that would change the game,” Blanchard said. “We can all do better, and [we] are asking national leaders to work with us.”
RELATED: The Travel Industry’s Message for Congress: The Time to Act Is Now
While UnCruise looks to restart its upcoming seasons safely, it continues to focus on healthy travel overall. The company, along with other industry associates, had previously spearheaded a small boat coalition to ultimately achieve this goal, as well as to educate the public and government on the differences between small vessels and larger cruise ships.
“Small businesses like ours have taken a considerable hit during COVID-19, and this was a big one,” Blanchard said. “We have taken proactive steps and understand our responsibility to our guests, crew, communities and the industry. Safety remains our focus, and we will continue to accelerate protocol standards.”
The Details
UnCruise Adventures
www.uncruise.com
