Poor Communication and Treatment related to COVID+ Test on Alaska Cruise
I tested positive for COVID on the Majestic Princess June 28, 2022. We had been on a 6-day Princess tour to Denali followed by a cruise. We boarded the ship June 25th. We had a very unpleasant cruise through unnecessarily poor COVID handling of by the ship’s administrative department. Princess did a fantastic job of most everything up until the first positive test. Some of what transpired after that was atrocious.
Here’s a summary of the details. (Skip to the bottom for a summary of what was learned from the experience):
June 28th I tested positive for COVID (Day 3 of Cruise). I was asked to quickly pack and move to the ship’s quarantine ward.
On June 28th I requested to disembark in Juneau the following day, which the ship said I could do. I found a hotel who would take me and made flight changes for departing after a 5 day quarantine. The hotel’s deposit was non-refundable.
Requested Paxlovid medication to reduce symptoms since I have a co-morbidity. (Alaska’s COVID hotline said the ship should provide it). Was told by the ship’s doctor the cost for Paxlovid was $700. He said I could try to claim the charge with insurance when I got home.
Told on morning of June 29th I could not disembark. The Administrative Officer said, “CBP (Customs and Border Protection) will not allow it.”
Called CBP and I was told that I could disembark. They knew no reason why I could not. They said it was not uncommon for ship’s to blame them like this.
Ship’s Admin Officer then accused my of “changing my story” because I was unsure if I spoke to a CBP officer or just a CBP clerk. He then added that the City of Juneau would not let me disembark.
I immediately called CBP, the City of Juneau and the Cruise Line Agents of Alaska (the go-between for Ship to CPB) I spoke to to Robert B at the City, Jamie, a Juneau CBP agent and Jeana with the Cruise Line Agents of Alaska. No one could back up the Admin Officer’s claim that I could not disembark. I then told the ship’s Admin Officer I wanted off the ship and provided him the names of everyone I spoke to.
The ship then demanded of my wife (unbeknownst to me until she called) that we immediately pay a fine of $873 dollars. I verified that there is a US law (the Jones Act) that makes foreign registered ships pay $762 if a passenger travels from one US City to another without touching a foreign port. But the ship added another $111 to the charge, which was outrageous given the circumstances. We’ve requested a refund of the $111.
Ultimately I was trying to avoid a mandatory 10 day quarantine imposed on arrival by the Canadians. Subsequently my wife (who stayed on the ship with our family) contracted COVID. She was driven to Seattle by the ship, an option given to several passengers but NEVER once mentioned to me. Had it been offered, I would never have disembarked.
The Canadians will allow you to travel by private vehicle out of Canada during the imposed 10-day quarantine. This is nearly impossible since there are no rental cars. The ship (to their credit) arranged a transfer by accepted transportation for my wife and others.
What I learned. The ship had very many quarantined passengers, some for the majority of the cruise. They have NO transparency on how many. The rate could be quite high. On whole side of the ship on the deck I was quarantined on was block off with quarantine rooms. This was only mid-week.
Avoid ending a cruise in Canada, to avoid possibly getting a 10-day quarantine. If you are positive and in Canada, ask the ship to provide transport to Seattle as soon as you test positive. Quarantine in the US is recommended at 5 days after any fever or severe symptoms. It’s a self imposed quarantine. If you book travel and hotels through Princess, they pay for quarantine. If you book your own travel, they say they will consider paying expenses.
Princess claims they required masks on all Alaska cruise ships and tours. About 50-60% of our ship’s passengers wore masks but almost no-one wore them on the land tour, which was not in compliance with Princess policy during the time of our cruise. We wore them but that did not protect us. COVID rates are reportedly high in Alaska and it’s likely you will be exposed on the land tour or the ship, since the ship is carrying many who were on the land tour you’re essentially traveling at-risk, especially given the high transmission rates of BA-5.
We’d had a family cruise to Alaska about 10 years ago and it was wonderful. We tried to repeat the great trip but could not. Had I known before departing what I know now, I would have done things very differently. I probably would have postponed the cruise. I would have asked for transport to Seattle. Sadly, I learned not to trust what they say on the ship. They were wrong and obviously tried to protect their own interests in their communication and actions. This is what was most aggravating.
I have reached out to Princess but so far they have not responded by my request for expenses in my Juneau quarantine, my wife’s Seattle quarantine, cruise credit, the $111 Jones Act find surcharge and other expenses.
I’ll report back with how they handle this.
