Skip to content

The first US cruise company to resume sailings is having a COVID crisis — just 3 days after restarting service

Aug. 05, 2020
8 min read
The first US cruise company to resume sailings is having a COVID crisis — just 3 days after restarting service
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

The first cruise out of a U.S. port since the COVID crisis began is being cut short after a passenger tested positive for the illness.

UnCruise Adventures late Tuesday said its 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer was heading back to Juneau, Alaska, four days ahead of schedule, and passengers would be transferred to a local hotel upon arrival to undergo a state-mandated quarantine.

The company has canceled all remaining sailings of the ship for the year.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's new cruise newsletter.

“We are focusing all efforts on care of the guests, crew and the local community.” UnCruise Adventures owner and CEO Dan Blanchard said in a statement. “This is very discouraging news and not what we had hoped for, but we’ll deal with it professionally. The guests are taking the news well, and the crew has executed our contingency plan quickly.”

Wilderness Adventurer was just three days into a seven-night, adventure-focused cruise around Southeast Alaska when UnCruise Adventures got the word that a passenger had tested positive for COVID-19.

Related: How to book a cruise with points and miles

UnCruise Adventures operates adventure-focused trips in Alaska on small vessels such as the Wilderness Adventurer. (Photo courtesy of UnCruise Adventures)
UnCruise Adventures operates adventure-focused trips in Alaska on small vessels such as the Wilderness Adventurer. (Photo courtesy of UnCruise Adventures)

The line said the passenger received a phone call Tuesday with notification of a positive COVID-19 test that he had taken before boarding the ship on Saturday. At the time the call came in, the  Wilderness Adventurer was anchored in a secluded harbor while offboard activities were underway.

All travelers heading to Alaska are required to show a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival in the state, and the passenger had produced such a negative test result. He had taken the test within five days of traveling to the state.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

It was a second test administered after the passenger arrived in Juneau to board the Wilderness Adventurer that came back positive.

UnCruise said passengers on Wilderness Adventurer have been restricted to their cabins while the vessel travels back to Juneau.

Related: Alaska faces an entire year with almost no tourists

No passengers or crew members are showing symptoms of illness, the company said.

UnCruise Adventures was the first U.S. cruise operator to attempt a return to operations since cruise lines worldwide halted departures in March. The company operates very small, adventure-focused vessels that carry fewer than 100 passengers. This made it exempt from a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "no-sail" order that currently is keeping larger vessels from sailing in U.S. waters.

The CDC "no-sail" order only applies to vessels designed to carry more than 250 passengers and crew.

UnCruise Adventures is the fourth cruise company around the world to attempt a restart to cruising in recent weeks only to be caught up in a COVID-related crisis.

The situation on Wilderness Adventurer is unfolding just five days after one of the first cruise ships in Europe to resume operations experienced a significant coronavirus outbreak.

Norwegian expedition cruise company Hurtigruten’s 535-passenger Roald Amundsen arrived in Tromsø, Norway, on Friday with four sick crew members who later tested positive for COVID-19. Another 32 crew members and at least nine passengers have since tested positive.

The four sick crew members have been hospitalized.

The Roald Amundsen had just finished its second sailing since resuming operations, a seven-night trip out of Tromsø to the Arctic’s wildlife-filled Svalbard archipelago.

Hurtigruten has canceled all upcoming sailings of the vessel and two others that it had brought back into service through at least the end of September.

Over the weekend, a second cruise vessel — the French Polynesia-based Paul Gauguin — experienced a COVID scare after a passenger on board tested positive.

Related: Did cruise lines try to return to service too soon?

The 332-passenger ship, operated by Tahiti-based Paul Gauguin Cruises, was just three days into its first sailing with international passengers since the line stopped departures four months ago.

After the COVID-19 case was discovered, the Paul Gauguin returned early to its home port of Papeete, Tahiti, and passengers on the vessel were confined to their cabins while they underwent testing. The cruise was canceled.

A third cruise ship, SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream I, is in the midst of a COVID crisis that began on Tuesday after a passenger tested positive. The 112-passenger vessel was sailing along the coast of Norway and quickly returned to the port of Bodø, Norway. Passengers have been quarantined in their cabins.

SeaDream, Hurtigruten and Paul Gauguin Cruises have been at the forefront of efforts to bring back cruising in Europe and the South Pacific, where coronavirus cases are relatively low.

Hurtigruten in June became the first line to resume ocean cruises anywhere in the world when it began offering voyages to Norway out of Hamburg, Germany. It added cruises to Svalbard on the Roald Amundsen and the 335-passenger Spitsbergen in July.

Paul Gauguin Cruises was the first line to offer cruises in the South Pacific and also the first line in the world to welcome back Americans on trips.

Related: French Polynesia to be at the vanguard of cruising’s return

SeaDream has offered some of the first cruises along the coast of Norway.

The three lines are relative outliers in the cruise industry when it comes to resuming service. Most major cruise brands, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, have canceled all sailings well into the fall. Some lines such as Crystal Cruises don’t plan to resume operations until January at the earliest.

UnCruise Adventures was thought to be in a relatively solid position to restart at least some operations. Unlike most other North American cruise companies, it doesn’t make port visits with interactions with other people a big part of its itineraries. Instead, its focus is on the Great Outdoors. The company is known for outdoorsy trips into wilderness areas where days are spent doing things like hiking, kayaking and wildlife-watching.

On an UnCruise Adventures trip, the vessel essentially serves as a floating adventure platform that can get you into the most remote areas — in a very small-group setting. The vessels carry skiffs for exploring and landings, kayaks, paddleboards and other toys.

UnCruise Adventures had implemented a wide range of health and safety measures on Wilderness Adventurer for this week's sailing that included enhancing cleaning of the vessel, a mask-wearing requirement in many circumstances, health screenings for passengers and crew, and an end to buffet meals. The ship was operating at a significantly reduced capacity to allow for social distancing. Just 37 passengers were on board.

Related: Coronavirus claims another cruise line -- the third in a month

UnCruise Adventures had set up a contingency plan for just such an event as happened Tuesday that includes quarantining passengers in a hotel in Juneau and crew on the ship. The company will pay all costs associated with the hotel and meals for passengers during the quarantine.

“With the spotlight on the cruise and small boat industry, we understand there are risks in operating and travel in general. With months of preparation, we were still able to pivot quickly in response to this event,” Blanchard said. “We wish to thank those that have worked rapidly to isolate and implement the appropriate processes as we determine the next steps.”

Additional resources for cruisers during the coronavirus outbreak:

Featured image by The 60-passenger Wilderness Adventurer. (Photo courtesy of UnCruise Adventures)

TPG featured card

NEW BENEFIT! TAKEOFF15!
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
3 / 5
Go to review

Rewards

1 - 3X points
3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2XEarn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

Intro offer

Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus Miles
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

Annual Fee

$250

Recommended Credit

670-850
Excellent/Good
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees
Apply for Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
3 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

3XEarn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
2XEarn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
1XEarn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer
    Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

    Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles
    50,000 Bonus Miles
  • Annual Fee

    $250
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    670-850
    Excellent/Good

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees