The health and safety of our crew remains a top priority. Prior to the crew quarantine, testing was done on any crew member who showed symptoms of COVID-19. Crew with symptoms were medically disembarked, or isolated on board until they met the CDC definition for recovery. All crew were quarantined for 14 days to monitor symptoms and to reduce the possibility of transmission if they became symptomatic. This quarantine plan was developed and implemented under the guidelines of the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program. Since the quarantine period ended Saturday, we have one crew member still in isolation for COVID-19. They will remain in isolation until April 9 when they are anticipated to meet the CDC definition of recovery. Currently there are 614 crewmembers on board.
Princess Cruises did work with numerous governments on the repatriation of guests and crew members prior to the quarantine including the Philippines. The government of the Philippines repatriated 438 crew members and six guests on a chartered flight prior to the crew quarantine, some crew members remained as they had symptoms and were not fit to travel.
Currently, Princess Cruises is working on a crew repatriation plan across the fleet that is still being finalized. In the interim, all crew fleetwide will remain onboard in the care of Princess until which time a plan of repatriation can be successfully executed.
Updated March 24, 2020
Princess Cruises has been notified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that they have rescinded the quarantine order for all Grand Princess guests who are asymptomatic, allowing them to depart quarantine locations in Georgia, Texas and California, subject to some limitations.
The CDC continues to define and oversee this process and we appreciate their partnership in supporting the needs and care of our Grand Princess guests.
Our team will continue to support the CDC’s quarantine efforts for any guests who choose to complete the 14-day quarantine period at their current locations.
Princess Cruises confirms that all guests and more than half of its crew members have disembarked Grand Princess. The ship has left the port of Oakland and is now anchored in San Francisco Bay.
Once the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began the guest disembark process, Princess Cruises activated its Care Team operations to provide support services and family assistance as guests transitioned to shoreside care and quarantine facilities.
Quarantine operations, including the maintenance and cleaning of facilities, at U.S. bases are under the direction of the HHS, and we greatly appreciate their efforts to provide care to our guests. Princess Cruises, along with various non-profit organizations, is working to support and supplement these efforts within the protocols that have been established by HHS and the local base commanders.
In this support role, the primary focus of the Princess Care Team is to assist guests during their quarantine at the military bases and associated facilities. Princess Care Team members are in regular contact with HHS case managers to ascertain and fulfill specific guest needs outside HHS and contractor services. Below is a summary of the types of support Princess Cruises Care Team members provide (or will provide in coming days) to Grand Princess guests at the quarantine facilities:
About Princess Cruises – Care Team
For more than 10 years, our Princess Care Teams have served as a group of specially trained employees who are activated to care for guests and crew anywhere in the world once they are off the ship. Their role is to serve as a primary point of contact for the company and provide important information, comfort and support services to guests, crew and their families. They also help in coordinating needs with travel insurance, hospitals, embassies, and our port agents.
The U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State of California, the City of Oakland, and the Port of San Francisco have coordinated on a plan to disembark and repatriate Grand Princess crew members via charter flights. This humanitarian effort is applauded by Princess for its intent to assist crew members, not required for the safe operation of the ship, allowing them to return to their home countries. Princess Cruises has committed to pay for the ground transportation and charter flight costs.
The crew members disembarking undergo the same health screenings as guests from the ship, which continues to be managed by HHS and CDC health authorities. Crew members who are ill (for any reason) or symptomatic will not be allowed to fly via charter aircraft. Crew members who are not symptomatic but for whom no charter flight is currently available will stay under quarantine on the ship. Those requiring elevated care will be moved to land-based medical facilities or HHS alternate care sites, depending upon their condition.
This repatriation process has been extremely challenging due to the dynamic nature of the expanding and evolving air travel restrictions throughout the world. Princess Cruises appreciates the cooperation of the federal agencies along with state and local resources who have helped facilitate the disembarkation of crew members for humanitarian reasons and provide appropriate care under HHS and CDC health authority guidelines.
Grand Princess Update
As of 07:00 today, Princess Cruises can confirm that a total of approximately 2,450 people disembarked Grand Princess. There are 14 international guests remaining on the ship who are awaiting transportation to their home countries. Once those guests disembark, the guest disembarkation process for the Grand Princess will be complete.
Plans for a crew quarantine are still being finalized.
As of 11:40am PT hours today, Princess Cruises can confirm that a total of 2,042 people disembarked Grand Princess.
As noted in earlier communications, disembarkation is in order of priority, as defined, directed and managed by both federal and state authorities. Princess Cruises is working with federal, state and local authorities to ensure all guests depart the ship safely.
As part of the beginning of the disembarkation process, Health & Human Services teams went onboard the Grand Princess to assist with medical screenings and interviews and to prioritize those who required the most medical attention and care.
Plans for a crew quarantine are still being determined.
Princess Cruises will continue to provide updates on disembarkation details as they are available.
Princess Cruises confirms that disembarkation of guests onboard Grand Princess continued today in Oakland, CA. Disembarkation is in order of priority, as defined, directed and managed by both federal and state authorities. As noted in earlier communications, this will be a multiple day process. Princess Cruises is working with federal, state and local health authorities to ensure all guests depart the ship safely.
As of 19:00 hours today, March 10, Princess Cruises can confirm that a total of 1,406 people have disembarked Grand Princess.
As part of the disembarkation process, Health & Human Services teams have been on board the Grand Princess to assist with medical screenings and interviews and have prioritized those who require the most medical attention and care.
Princess Cruises will continue to provide updates on disembarkation details as they are available.
For our guests and crew remaining onboard, Princess Cruises has partnered with World Central Kitchen (WCK), an organization founded by chef José Andrés, which uses the power of food to heal and strengthen communities in times of crisis and beyond. Beginning Sunday, March 8, Princess Cruises began integrating WCK meals into food service options. Meals will continue to include breakfast, lunch and dinner, which will be delivered to staterooms and will accommodate all dietary requirements.
Princess Cruises confirmed that disembarkation of guests onboard Grand Princess commenced yesterday in the Port of Oakland and is continuing today. Disembarkation is in order of priority, as defined, directed and managed by both state and local authorities. It will be a multiple day process.
As part of the disembarkation process, California Health & Human Services teams are on board the Grand Princess to assist with medical screening and interviews, and have prioritized those who require the most medical attention and care. To avoid delays in the disembarkation process, COVID-19 testing will be conducted when guests arrive at their onward destinations.
As of 22:00 last night, 407 people had disembarked, including two guests who tested positive for COVID-19 on March 6. They, as well as their travel companions, have been transferred to local hospitals.
Nineteen (19) crew members who tested positive for COVID-19 have been deemed asymptomatic and were not disembarked from the ship. These crew members are currently in isolation in their individual cabins.
Once disembarkation of the guests is completed, remaining crew members will remain onboard and Grand Princess will depart from San Francisco Bay. Plans for a crew quarantine are still being determined.
In consideration of the extraordinary circumstances onboard Grand Princess, Princess Cruises will refund the full cruise fare for all guests including air travel, hotel, ground transportation, pre-paid shore excursions, gratuities and other items (exclusion jewelry and fine art). In addition, guests will not be charged for any onboard incidental charges during the additional time onboard.
Princess Cruises will also provide guests with a future cruise credit equal to the cruise fare paid for the voyage.
Princess Cruises also confirmed that although all gratuities will be refunded back to guests the company will ensure crew members will receive their designated gratuities for the work performed.
Guests have been provided a letter delivered to their stateroom with details on how to process this refund.
Regular updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Princess Cruises can confirm that disembarkation of guests onboard Grand Princess is expected to begin tomorrow in the Port of Oakland, Monday, March 9 – official timing to be determined. We received official confirmation prior to a press conference held by California Governor Gavin Newsom and others.
Disembarkation will commence in order of priority, as defined and directed by both state and local authorities. It is expected to be a multiple day process. The U.S. Coast Guard will be sending California Health & Human Services teams to assist with medical triage, screening and interviews, and prioritizing those who require the most acute care. To avoid delays, testing will be conducted when guests arrive at their onward destination.
"All of us at Princess Cruises offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the federal, state and local authorities who are coordinating, collaborating and activating resources and personnel in support of this response to provide care and attend to the health and well-being of our guests and crew," said Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.
Once disembarkation of the guests is completed, the crew will remain onboard and Grand Princess will depart from San Francisco bay. Plans for a crew quarantine are still being determined.
The safety, health and well-being of our guests and crew is always our top priority, and we continue to make every effort to ensure they are safe and comfortable while they remain onboard. Taking learnings from our recent experience in Japan, this includes, but is not limited to:
Princess Cruises can also confirm that one guest was disembarked for medical reasons this morning for treatment unrelated to COVID-19.
Grand Princess remains about ten miles off the coast of San Francisco.
Princess Cruises can confirm we have received word from state and local response operations that Grand Princess will proceed to the Port of Oakland on Monday to begin disembarking guests who require acute medical treatment and hospitalization. Exact timing is still being determined in a coordinated manner with all operations resources. These guests will be transported to medical facilities in California.
Disembarkation will continue Monday for other guests. According to Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, following health screenings, guests who are California residents will go to a federally operated facility within California for testing and isolation, while non-Californians will be transported by the federal government to facilities in other states. Crew will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship.
We will provide additional information as we receive it.
Princess Cruises can confirm personal protective equipment (PPE), which included gloves and face masks, was delivered to Grand Princess by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter yesterday evening (March 6). The PPE will supplement the supply already onboard.
Separately, a critically ill U.S. guest and their travel companion were medically disembarked from Grand Princess earlier this morning by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter. They are being transported to a shoreside medical facility for treatment unrelated to COVID-19.
Grand Princess is at sea currently approximately 50 miles off the coast of San Francisco. The Captain of Grand Princess and the Princess Cruises port operations team continue to await specific directives from state and local response operations about where the ship will proceed and will continue to closely follow the guidance of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC), California Department of Public Health and other authorities.
The safety, health and well-being of our guests and crew is always our top priority, and we continue to make every effort to ensure they are safe and comfortable while they remain onboard.
Princess Cruises can confirm that the results from the first phase of health screenings of 45 guests and crew onboard Grand Princess were completed. We were notified by Vice President Pence while he was conducting a press conference and simultaneously by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) speaking to our shipboard doctor that among the samples tested, 21 people have tested positive for COVID-19 which includes two (2) guests and 19 crew.
The ship’s doctor is in the process of informing the guests and crew of their individual results. All guests and affected crew will remain isolated in their rooms.
We are awaiting official specific plans for future positioning of the ship from relevant authorities. Princess Cruises will continue to closely follow the guidance of the CDC and other federal and state government authorities.
Guests will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone to stay in contact with their families and loved ones, and the ship’s company is working to keep all guests comfortable.
The ship has quickly transitioned food & beverage service to provide Room Service for all staterooms.
We are working with CDC to determine what additional precautionary measures, if any, will be required.
Princess Cruises medical team is collecting information from guests regarding any medication prescription refills needs.
Princess Cruises can confirm there are 3,533 people currently onboard Grand Princess, including 2,422 guests and 1,111 teammates. In total, they represent 54 nationalities.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Carnival Corporation and Princess Cruises will be hosting a media call on Saturday, March 7, 2020 with details to be provided separately.
Princess Cruises continues to work closely with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and as soon as official results from the COVID-19 testing are completed we will collaborate with them on an announcement.
Guests will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone to use in order to stay in contact with their families and loved ones, and the ship’s company is working to keep all guests comfortable.
Princess Cruises medical team will begin outreach to guests regarding all medication needs. A form will be distributed to guests onboard to request prescription refills.
The ship has quickly transitioned food & beverage service to provide Room Service for all staterooms.
More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Updated March 5, 2020
In collaboration with the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and local authorities, samples were collected today from 45 people on Grand Princess (which includes a mix of guests and team members). The samples were delivered to the California Department of Public Health in Richmond for processing. The results of these tests are expected by tomorrow.
Princess Cruises can confirm there are 3,533 people currently onboard Grand Princess, including 2,422 guests and 1,111 teammates. In total, they represent 54 nationalities.
Following guidelines received today from the CDC, all guests have been asked to stay in their staterooms while test results are pending. Guests are receiving meal deliveries in their staterooms by room service, and additional television and movie options have been added to in-room programming. Guests have also been provided complimentary internet service to stay in contact with their family and loved ones, and the ship’s internet bandwidth has been increased.
Immediate family members of guests onboard Grand Princess may call the appropriate number in their region to speak with Family Assistance representatives: US and Canada: +1 888-358-8055, International: +1 872-201-6779.
Updated March 4, 2020
After collaboration with and guidance from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and local authorities, Princess Cruises can confirm the following proactive measures to ensure the continued safety and well-being of our guests on board Grand Princess.
While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 currently on board, the CDC has identified groups of guests and crew who will be tested before arrival into San Francisco.
There are fewer than 100 guests and crew identified for testing, including all in-transit guests (guests who sailed the previous Mexico voyage and remained on board for the current Hawaii voyage), those guests and crew who have experienced influenza-like illness symptoms on this voyage, and guests currently under care for respiratory illness.
To facilitate this testing, the U.S. Coast Guard will deliver sampling kits to the ship the morning of March 5 via helicopter. Our onboard medical team will administer the test and the samples will be sent in batches by helicopter to a lab in Richmond, California, across the bay from San Francisco.
Public health officials have advised that no guests will be permitted to disembark until all results have been received. Out of an abundance of caution, all guests who have been identified for testing have been asked to remain in their staterooms. We will continue to proceed under the guidance of the U.S. CDC and local authorities.
Princess Cruises can also confirm the cancellation of the upcoming Grand Princess Hawaii cruise departing on March 7. All guests will receive a full refund of their cruise fare, Princess Air, Princess Cruise Plus pre- and post-cruise hotel packages, prepaid shore excursions and other prepaid items purchased through Princess. Unexpected expenses, such as air change fees, reimbursement of reasonable non-refundable out-of-pocket expenses will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Guests will also receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 100% of the cruise fare paid on this voyage.
Last night / early this morning, our chief medical officer Dr. Grant Tarling issued this Health Advisory Letter to guests and crew currently sailing onboard Grand Princess. A similar notification has been emailed to guests who sailed on the previous voyage. For guests who sailed on the previous Grand Princess voyage (Feb 11-21), if you have experienced any symptoms of acute respiratory illness with fever, chills, or cough since your return home, please immediately contact your medical provider. You can also view the COVID-19 information card (PDF) provided by the CDC.
Dear Princess Guest:
I wish to advise you that today we have been notified by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that they are investigating a small cluster of COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Northern California connected to our previous Grand Princess voyage that sailed roundtrip San Francisco from February 11 to February 21. We are working closely with our CDC partners and are following their recommendations.
For those guests who sailed with us on our previous voyage and may have been exposed, in an abundance of caution, the CDC requires you to remain in your stateroom until you have been contacted and cleared by our medical staff. A member of our medical team will be calling you between the hours of 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM this morning. You may order room service while you wait for the medical screening to be completed, and we apologize for any inconvenience.
Please be assured that the health, safety, and well-being of all guests and crew are our absolute priority. The CDC is continuing to actively collect information and has set up a meeting with us this morning to determine what, if any, actions need to be taken during this cruise and on arrival in San Francisco. We have shared essential travel and health data with the CDC to facilitate their standard notification to the State and County health authorities to follow up with individuals who may have been exposed to people who became ill.
As we anticipate that further review of the situation will be necessary on arrival in San Francisco, we will be cancelling the call to Ensenada on Thursday, March 5, in order to sail directly to San Francisco — exact date and time for arrival to be determined. We will keep you updated with information as we finalize plans. To assist you in contacting your family, we are providing free internet and phone service. We will advise you if the need arises to make changes to your onward travel plans post-cruise.
COVID-19 causes mild illness in about 80% of cases, typically with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, like the common cold or flu. About 20% of people develop more severe symptoms. The more severe symptoms typically occur in more susceptible individuals that have higher risk factors, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions, as it does with regular flu. The illness is mainly spread by droplets from close person-to-person contact. It is possible for the virus to spread by hand touch surfaces, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Updated information on the illness can be found at the CDC website.
As with all respiratory illnesses, particularly during cold and flu season, you can take steps to reduce your risk of illness:
We are closely recording and monitoring all persons who have reported to the medical center with cold and flu symptoms during the voyage. As a precaution, we are also conducting additional enhanced environmental disinfection onboard in addition to our regular stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols.
If you have experienced any symptoms of acute respiratory illness with fever, chills, or cough at any time during this cruise, and you have not already consulted with the medical staff, please immediately contact the Medical Center to report your illness. There will not be a charge for this service.
Thank you for taking the time to read this important information.
To access complimentary internet, turn on your Wi-Fi and access the “ocean” network for connection.
Yours in health,
Grant Tarling, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer
If you are the immediate family of a guest onboard Grand Princess you may call the appropriate number for your region for assistance:
US and Canada: +1 888-358-8055
International Number: +1 872-201-6779