Cruise Ship Passengers Held Overnight Waiting Coronavirus Test While Docked in Long Beach

Carnival cruise ship passengers are not allowed to disembark in Long Beach while a female is tested for coronavirus.

Photo by Charles H.

Carnival Cruise Lines gave LBLN an update at 8:08pm with the following statement.

Carnival Cruise Line continues to await the test results from a guest on Carnival Panorama who was taken to a hospital in Long Beach, Calif., for evaluation and a COVID-19 test ordered by public health authorities out of an abundance of caution. We have advised our onboard guests that their debarkation will be delayed until we have approval from the authorities.  While we hope the results will still come this evening, we have no control over the timing.  As soon as we hear, we will give guests the opportunity to depart the ship if Customs and Border Patrol agents are still available.   Over the course of the day and evening, we have given guests access to their staterooms, opened up dining venues and provided complimentary internet service to make the extra time on the ship as enjoyable as possible.  

Guests on the cruise that was scheduled to depart on Saturday have been advised that embarkation will not take place this evening and that we intend to operate their sailing as soon as we have clearance from the authorities. We will notify our guests as soon as we have more information. Our intent is to embark on Sunday for a modified six-day cruise. We are providing those guests hotel and meal reimbursement or the option to cancel with a full refund. 

We thank our guests for their tremendous patience, cooperation and understanding.

Long Beach Local News will update as soon as we get more information.