Milestone for Queensland cruise industry plagued with Covid concerns

One of the world’s largest cruise ships has docked in Brisbane with reports of a Covid outbreak onboard and complaints from isolating passengers about being denied fresh air.

One of the largest cruise ships in the world is set to make a milestone arrival in Brisbane today, but there are reports of a major Covid outbreak onboard affecting hundreds of passengers.

The Royal Caribbean International cruise line makes its highly anticipated return to Queensland, with the Quantum of the Seas, the largest ship to ever dock in Brisbane, due to berth today.

Aerial photograph of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. Picture: Supplied

But with its arrival comes concern of a major Covid outbreak, with reports that up to 400 out of the 4400 passengers on-board the Quantum of the Seas travelling from Hawaii to Queensland have tested positive for Covid.

Royal Caribbean has denied the reports, claiming it’s a much smaller number of passengers who have contracted the virus.

“Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas is currently sailing a 18-night transpacific cruise to Brisbane, Australia. 0.35 per cent of the on-board community have currently tested positive for COVID-19, below the threshold set by Australian federal and state health authorities” the statement read.

Coral Princess infected with over 100 #cruise #COVID19 guests, Ovation of the Seas over 130 #COVID cases & now Quantum of the Seas with 400 pax estimated to be COVID positive. Neither @CarnivalPLC/@PrincessCruises nor @RoyalCaribbean will reveal actual number. Business as usual.

— James (Jim) Walker (@CruiseLaw) October 26, 2022

“They are fully vaccinated and mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic, and we are continually monitoring their health.

“The proven layers of health and safety measures practised on every Royal Caribbean cruise far exceed other holiday experiences, these include the routine monitoring and vaccination of all crew members and keeping them up to date with boosters when they are eligible, enhanced testing and treatment capabilities in our on-board medical facilities, and more.”

Quantum of the Seas passenger Mark Weston told A Current Affair the reports of Covid numbers have been exaggerated, further substantiating Royal Caribbean’s claims.

“I was speaking with guests services – at the peak it was about 100 cases which is probably quite a lot but overall, with 4400 people on-board, a hundred cases is not very much” he told ACA.

“I don’t understand why they’re always targeting cruise lines, and the cruising industry which is struggling to get back on their feet, when the airlines can fly tens of thousands of people in everyday with no testing and no mention of Covid”.

Passengers who tested positive on-board were required to isolate for five days on deck three of the ship, which was blocked off from all other guests.

While many passengers said they thoroughly enjoyed their time on-board, commending the crew on their professionalism despite the covid related issues, those who were required to isolate compared their time on the ship to being in a ‘dungeon’.

“Two hour wait for a coke, no fresh air, even prisoners get fresh air and daylight. I had paid for my internet. Zero medical checks in 6 days” a quarantined passenger said.

Another passenger revealed that “many ill passengers decided not to be tested for Covid to avoid the possibility of going there (deck three)”.

“They weren’t allowed to self isolate in their own cabin because of an apparent cross ventilation issue between cabins, seems this ship has not made changes to ventilation to stop it” they said.

A woman who claimed her husband contracted Covid-19 onboard the cruise ship said they were directed to self-isolate at home after disembarking the ship.

Queensland Health has told the Courier-Mail Covid positive passengers disembarking a cruise ship are not required to self-isolate or quarantine as per Queensland regulations.

Although self-isolation is no longer mandatory, Queensland Health recommends those experiencing symptoms or have tested positive to COVID-19, stay home until they no longer have acute respiratory symptoms.

Originally published as Milestone for Queensland cruise industry plagued with Covid concerns