GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Greensboro woman returns home after her 16-day cruise turned into a ship in lockdown.
Passengers on a Carnival Cruise Ship that docked last Tuesday in Seattle said more than 100 people aboard the ship tested positive for COVID-19, and the ship was overwhelmed.
Kimberly Miles set sail on Carnival's Spirit cruise ship hoping to see the Central American Coast.
Instead, she was stuck in isolation at a Seattle hotel after catching COVID-19 during an outbreak onboard.
“My tests show that I was positive, and I couldn't believe it. You know, I said well, let me make sure. So, I waited another 30 minutes, and I had a second COVID test,” Miles said. “They told me to remain in the room, you know, I would need to be on the isolation, they will be coming to the room to test me to be sure. They gave me another test…and it didn't even take maybe two minutes, she said that you're definitely positive.”
She said she was in isolation on the ship for five days, but for others, it was longer.
Some passengers said they waited hours for food, weren’t properly isolated, and couldn’t get a hold of medical staff.
“We couldn't call anybody…you call, and it would ring, ring, ring, and ring all day long,” Miles said.
“All health and safety protocols were closely followed including vaccination requirements and pre-cruise testing of all guests,” a statement from a Carnival Cruise Line spokesperson said in part. “Additional measures were implemented during the voyage, including mask requirements for guests.”
Miles said she believes the Carnival staff did their best.
“I knew the risks in going. So, I don't blame Carnival for any of that. I made that choice, you know, to go,” she said.
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