Travelers on a Norwegian Cruise Line ship in the Caribbean have been stranded at sea after the company canceled the trip mid-term due to COVID-19 concerns, according to a report.
Aimee Focaraccio said she boarded the Norwegian Gem from New York for a 10-day trip last Sunday for her birthday, but the vacation became a ‘nightmare’ when the cruise line canceled the trip four days later. late and provided no time frame for the ship to return. , USA today reported.
“Without the islands and the ports to break up the days at sea, it turns into a nightmare. I really can’t imagine four more consecutive days at sea without much to do,” Focaraccio told the outlet.
She said the prospect of being stuck on the boat was “extremely unsettling”.
“Tomorrow will really be the only good day to enjoy the outdoors and after that we will be stuck indoors. With limited shows, small crowds and nothing to do. I am upset,” Focaraccio told the outlet.
Others, however, were taking last-minute changes in stride.
“We all knew when we booked during such difficult times due to COVID that there would most likely be changes to our itinerary,” Anthony Bivona told the outlet. “It wasn’t the exact itinerary we signed up for, but it was an absolutely amazing cruise nonetheless.”
No details were provided on the COVID-19 issues that led to the cancellation.
Christine Da Silva, senior vice president of brand and communications for Norwegian Cruise Line, didn’t say exactly when the cruise would return to New York, but said it would be “soon.”
“As we continue to navigate in a fluid public health environment, while focusing on providing a safe experience for all on board, today we have made the difficult decision to cancel the current navigation in Norwegian Gem’s Caribbean, due to COVID-related circumstances,” Da Silva said. .
All Gem passengers will receive a full refund, Cruise Industry News reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that cruise passengers are at risk of contracting and spreading the virus, regardless of their vaccination status.
