BVI News

Cruise with COVID guests cancels call to USVI hours after leaving BVI

File photo of Disney Fantasy docked at the cruise pier of Tortola.

The Disney Fantasy cruise ship that visited the BVI on Wednesday turned back from St Thomas in the neighbouring US Virgin Islands on Thursday due to COVID-19 cases onboard the vessel.

A statement issued by the cruise line yesterday said: “The Disney Fantasy did not call on St Thomas today due to both an increase in COVID-19 cases on the island and a small number of fully vaccinated crew members and guests — less than one percent of those on board — in isolation for COVID-19”.

“Those affected by these breakthrough cases are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and we are following CDC protocols for managing cases on board. We continue to operate with multiple layers of health and safety protocols in place, such as requiring vaccinations, PCR tests at the port prior to embarkation for all guests, testing of our Crew multiple times per week, enhanced cleaning protocols, and a requirement that masks be worn in all indoor spaces,” the statement further said.

The Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship had docked at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park around 6:15 am on December 29 and guests disembarked to explore the territory.

The ship left the port for sea at 6 pm according to the schedule on the Pier Park’s website.

Meanwhile, the COVID-19 positivity rate in the BVI continues to spiral out of control as the Ministry of Health reported an additional 82 active cases in the territory in a bulletin Wednesday night.

There are currently 357 positive cases in the territory.

The total number of active positive cases on Tortola now stands at 287 while Virgin Gorda is said to have 69 reported cases. One person on board a vessel has also been reported as being COVID-19 positive. The number of persons hospitalised because of COVID remains at eight.

The cruise industry was reopened in October of this year as the government tried to stimulate economic recovery in the territory after the crippling effects of the coronavirus.

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9 Comments

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  1. Math Tutor says:

    Define ‘spiral out of control”.. when 1/25 had Covid last week in the UK.

    Like 5
    Dislike 4
  2. townie says:

    and who didnt see this happening?

  3. Taxi driver says:

    At least we got their money before catch covid

    Like 3
    Dislike 7
    • local says:

      Thats to show you that the cruise line dont have any regards for the bvi people they knew that there were case on board when they arrived here but its a money thing for them but dare not enter usvi knowing that their case load was above the rate.At the end i hope its worth it.

      Like 12
  4. Test on arrival says:

    Spikes totally screw BVI business. Please can we test on arrival….

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  5. Who's the boss says:

    The cruise ships or the individual island states?

    The Queen Mary and Queen Victoria were gracious enough to cancel their BVI visits last weekend when positive cases were aboard. Last Wed. the Disney Fantasy docked in Tortola with positive cases aboard and then cancelled its visit to St. Thomas the following day.

    Cruise ships with positive Covid cases aboard should stay at sea and NOT be allowed to dock/anchor at/near any Caribbean island!

  6. Robert says:

    The actual fact is that the ship did dock at the WICO dock on St. Thomas. Prior to passengers disembarking, a review of the positivity percentage warranted a “No Disembark” of crew and passengers. Disney Fantasy departed the WICO dock 2 & 1/2 hours later.

  7. Well well says:

    Ban Disney Fantasy, simple

    Like 1
    Dislike 4

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