Carnival Cruise Ship Passenger Tests Negative For Coronavirus; Disembarkation Set For Sunday
LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — A medical situation aboard the Carnival Panorama cruise ship Saturday morning forced passengers to stay on the ship, Carnival Cruise Line officials said.
Late Saturday night, the cruise line sent a statement that said the passenger tested negative for coronavirus.
"Because of the late hour in receiving the results, the current guests will stay on board overnight and debark on Sunday morning," the cruise line said in a statement.
The next Carnival Panorama cruise to the Mexican Riviera will now operate as a six-day cruise, departing on Sunday and those guests have also been notified, the cruise line said Saturday night.
"We are determined not to leave," Karen Murphy, a traveler said. "It's my 50th wedding anniversary, and by God I'm going on that cruise. Fifty years with one man, come on!"
Passengers on that cruise will be offered a partial refund due to the reduced schedule. They will also be given the chance to cancel the trip.
The ship arrived in Long Beach Saturday morning from a 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise. A guest on Carnival Panorama was subsequently 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.
