The bizarre story of the last 8 cruise ship passengers still at sea
At this very moment, as you read this, there are eight people who are in the midst of what may be the most bizarre cruise experience ever.
They are the last passengers on a German cruise ship, Artania, that's been trying to get home to Germany ever since the coronavirus outbreak began exploding around the world in mid-March. Almost overlooked by North American media, the ship's story is one filled with weeks of drama. And it might not be over soon: The passengers may face another five weeks at sea.
A number of media outlets in recent days have run stories on the "last three cruise ships at sea" to finally find a home, referring to MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and Princess Cruises ships with passengers on board that finally were able to dock after weeks of being turned away from ports.
But they overlooked the plight of the Artania, a 1,188-passenger vessel marketed by German cruise seller Phoenix Reisen.
Visit TPG’s guide to all coronavirus news and updates
Artania was in Sydney, Australia in March when ports around the world began shutting down to cruise ships. It was then that what may end up being an 11-week odyssey for the eight passengers still on board the vessel began.
On March 15, with ports closing, Phoenix Reisen gave the ship's mostly German customers the opportunity to fly home from Sydney, and 199 took the company up on the offer. But 832 passengers decided to stay on board as Artania tried to work its way home to Germany.
It turned out to be a bad decision. On March 18, Artania left Sydney for Fremantle, Australia, where it planned to make a quick fuel stop before continuing across the Indian Ocean to Africa, the Suez Canal and Europe. But along the way to Fremantle, passengers began falling ill.
Related: 9 ways cruising will be different when it starts up again
By the time Artania reached Fremantle a week later, seven people on the ship had tested positive for COVID-19, which resulted in the ship being quarantined in the city for two weeks. Testing eventually showed several dozen more with the illness, and they were taken to local hospitals.
Luckily for many of the passengers on board, Australian authorities allowed those who were healthy -- around 800 in all -- to fly home from Fremantle on chartered aircraft. But not everybody could go, as some who had tested positive for COVID-19 remained in quarantine.
The ship finally was allowed to depart Fremantle on Saturday with the eight remaining passengers, all of whom either couldn't or wouldn't fly. Several other passengers who were caught in the quarantine were allowed to fly home Sunday from Fremantle on another chartered flight. A few passengers remain in Fremantle under quarantine.
Artania had become such a fixture in Fremantle that some locals came down to the inlet to the city's harbor to wave it off. Others tweeted photos and video clips.
In an unexpected twist, Artania now plans to return home to Germany via Bali, Indonesia and the Philippine capital, Manila, where it will drop off the majority of the 403 crew members who remain on board. A large portion of the ship's crew are from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Only then will Artania begin the long voyage home to Bremerhaven, Germany, in earnest. Along with the eight passengers, it will sail with a skeleton crew the company says will number around 75.
In a statement on Monday, Phoenix Reisen said it didn't expect Artania to reach Bremerhaven until May 31 -- more than five weeks from today.
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Artania's stopover in Fremantle was controversial, with some locals opposed to letting it dock.
It also was filled with both tragedy and unexpected joy.
The company said two passengers and a crew member died during the ship's quarantine due to COVID-19. And two crew members who found love on board were married along the wharf in Fremantle before the ship departed.
In a video message posted Saturday on Twitter as the ship was about to depart Fremantle, Artania captain Morten Hansen thanked the people of the city for their assistance in caring for the ship's sick passengers and helping to get passengers home.
"Thank you from my heart for all your effort to help me in this very difficult situation," Hansen said, before alluding to fear among some locals that the ship had brought illness to the city. "I cannot say anything else. It was unfortunate. I am sorry that we have been scaring you ... I hope we can be here again in Australia under other circumstances. We love you!"
TPG was unable to reach any of the eight passengers who remain on board Artania. But, given they will be among fewer than 90 people in total on a vessel designed to hold more than 1,700 passengers and crew, we're sure they're in for an unusual experience.
More than 750 feet long and 106 feet wide, Artania has eight passenger decks, meaning each of the eight remaining passengers can have an entire deck to themselves. They also could in theory spread out among dozens of cabins a piece. The ship has nearly 600 cabins.
Princess Cruises fans may recognize Artania. First unveiled in 1984, it originally sailed for many years as the line's Royal Princess. It was transferred in 2005 to the P&O Cruises fleet, where it sailed under the name Artemis. It joined the Phoenix Reisen fleet in 2011.
The ship is known in cruise circles for having one of the most famous original godmothers of the modern era of cruising: Diana, Princess of Wales.
Additional resources for cruisers during the coronavirus outbreak:
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.