Some initial shock, a honeymoon cut short, but passengers largely unfussed at being onboard cruise ship with Covid-19 case

• Some passengers were initially alarmed when they were first informed of a Covid-19 case onboard their cruise ship
• However, most were not too concerned later because safety measures were strictly enforced
• They were disappointed though, that their holiday had been cut short

SINGAPORE — Mr Maxi Kaye and new wife Mary were on their honeymoon when they were jolted awake at 2.40am on Wednesday (Dec 9) by the captain’s announcement. The Royal Caribbean cruise they were on was returning to port a day early because a passenger had tested positive for Covid-19.

The couple, who were married just four days ago, were initially shocked when they heard the announcement over the intercom system that the Quantum of the Seas ship — on a “cruise to nowhere” — would be turning back to Singapore.

“My wife panicked a little, her eyes opened so big,” Mr Kaye, 30, who works in the information technology line, said.

Overall though, he said that the whole incident was very well-managed. The crew had quickly identified the case, who was an 83-year-old man, and quarantined his close contacts.

Since the ship returned to Singapore at 8am on Wednesday, 24 hours ahead of schedule, the couple have been told to remain in their room until contract tracing by the authorities has been completed.

Breakfast and lunch have been served to their room and in the latest announcement by the captain at 3pm, they were told that dinner will be served as well.

A room onboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship. Photo: Raymond Tan

Another passenger, who wanted to be known only as Mr Quek, said that he was initially alarmed when he first heard the ship captain’s announcement in the wee hours of Wednesday.

“We were not sure how serious the case was or whether it had already spread. There were a lot of question marks,” the 42-year-old, who is self-employed, said.

But he felt assured after he woke up a few hours later and heard that it had been contained.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced on Wednesday that the 83-year-old man tested positive for Covid-19 after reporting to the ship’s onboard medical centre with diarrhoea.

STB and Royal Caribbean had earlier said that the man was immediately isolated and all his close contacts had tested negative.

In an update at 4pm, STB said that the Covid-19 patient has been taken to the hospital for further testing. Contact tracing is still ongoing.

TODAY observed that an ambulance left the Marina Bay Cruise Centre at about 2.20pm.

Mr Quek said he was surprised that a passenger on board the cruise ship was diagnosed with Covid-19 because there had been single-digit or even zero transmission of the coronavirus in the community at large here over the past few days.

“That gave us the confidence that local community transmission was not dangerous,” he said.

However, other passengers interviewed by TODAY were mostly not too concerned about being infected because the safety protocols on the ship were strictly enforced.

Mr Kaye said that they did not even allow his wife to stand behind him while in the casino onboard and made sure they stood 1m apart.

Mr Muhammad Rezal Ramli, 40, said that he believes the chances of being infected are rather low. He also recognised that he and his family of four took a risk when they decided to go on this cruise. They have a habit of travelling during the school holidays.

“There wasn’t any panic or concern, just a little bit of disappointment. Because it means our kids cannot take part in the activities,” the student development officer at Singapore Polytechnic said.

Instead, his two children, who are aged two and five, have been jumping on the bed and watching television.

Mr Raymond Tan, 41, who works in the social service sector, said that he and his wife had planned to go to the gym and try indoor skydiving on Wednesday but that has now been cancelled.

While disappointed that the experience has been cut short, Mr Tan said that he was pleased overall with how the situation was handled.

Updates were prompt and Royal Caribbean has also informed passengers that they will be refunded for the last day of activities and given cruise credits.