Keeping Cast Members safe
Sadly, those same precautions didn't apply to the cast members on board. When the Disney Wonder arrived in San Diego, Disney informed port authorities that no passengers showed signs of COVID-19.
Health officials have since confirmed that multiple passengers, customers and crew alike, have since developed symptoms. A few days later, the situation looks that much bleaker with the current report about 38 ill cast members.
Interestingly, a member of the city council for Fort Myers, Florida, was a passenger on this cruise. During a March 16th interview, he relayed details of Disney’s tactics for protecting guests on the Disney Wonder. Most of what he describes places the onus on cast members to take all the risks.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the story comes later in the Cruise Law News article. The author states:
“All of the crew members who subsequently contacted me complain that they are under strict instructions from Disney not to speak to the media or post information like this on social media.”
This statement comes on the heels of a Mississippi woman claiming that she had COVID-19 while participating in a different Disney cruise. Disney officials have flatly denied knowing about this woman's illness, though.
To be fair, Disney has handled several aspects of the pandemic well. California governor, Gavin Newsom, personally praised the company for agreeing to close Disneyland. Disney led by example here, empowering other businesses in the theme park industry to follow suit.
Unfortunately, Disney tried to squeeze a few more dollars out of its cruise business. Its loyal employees have apparently suffered because of it.
Comments
We were on this cruise. The Panama Canal Cruise left New Orleans before Covid-19 had began to really take off in the US. We stopped at Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Our stops in Cartagena, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas were all called off. Disney canceled future cruises around the day that we passed through the Panama Canal, not prior the cruise. They chose to cut one day off of the cruise and reach San Diego a day early.
No crew member or passenger reported symptoms while on the cruise. We had 10 days with no contact with the outside world. Most of us dreaded getting back to real world where the virus seemed to be spreading like wildfire. The first reported cases of passengers and crew came about 6 days after we disembarked.
"Disney tried to squeeze a few more dollars out of its cruise business" Really, just stop. No research at all apparently.
This was a 14 day Panama Canal sailing that began while everyone else was still sailing. Yeah, it took the ship 5 days to reach San Diego. I guess you think they should have just run the ship aground on the Mexican coast line and kicked everyone off. Good heavens....
We have family friends who were on this cruise. Both tested positive for COVID-19 When they got home. Sadly, one passed away on Friday night due to complications from the virus. He had been hospitalized and in a ventilator.
I am so sorry to hear this. We are sending all our best wishes to you and your family and friends at this difficult time.