One by one, more than 120 crew members from Holland America’s Koningsdam showed up at the B Street terminal on Wednesday morning to receive the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccines administered by Sharp Healthcare staff.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not yet communicated when it will be possible to resume shipping from US ports such as San Diego, cruise companies such as Holland American are preparing to ensure that all members of the crew are fully vaccinated.
The 126 people who received their first vaccines from Pfizer on Wednesday will return on June 18 for their second doses. Until then, the ship will remain off the coast of Baja California, near La Paz.
On Wednesday afternoon, another 151 first doses were to be administered to the crew aboard the Royal Princess, which is docked offshore near Coronado.
Sharp’s staff took a launch to get to the ship. On Thursday, another 175 crew members – aboard the Noordam – will also be vaccinated.
Royal Princess Crew Receives COVID-19 Vaccines From Sharp Healthcare Workers
(Courtesy of Sharp Healthcare)
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“We have waited patiently for the last year to sail again,” said Koningsdam’s captain Henk Draper, as he watched his crew members receive rapid punctures in their arms.
“I myself was vaccinated just before I left the ship and it is great to give our crew the opportunity to do so today … This effort supports our goal of vaccinating the entire crew and our desire to resume operations following the guidelines of the CDC. “
San Diego, which has lost 167 cruise departures so far since last March due to the pandemic, expects to resume its normal cruise season this fall. The Koningsdam is currently scheduled to return to San Diego for voyages beginning October 24, when it will set sail for Mexico on a seven-day voyage.
The CDC currently has a conditional departure order in place that requires a number of actions to be taken prior to resuming cruises, including simulated voyages to test the ships’ ability to manage any COVID-19 outbreaks on board.
However, recently, CDC guidelines have changed to allow cruise lines to avoid test trips if at least 98 percent of their crew and 95 percent of passengers are fully vaccinated.
Holland America has not yet decided whether it will follow CDC vaccination guidelines that would allow it to resume cruises without test sailings.
The crew members vaccinated Wednesday represent various positions on board, including cooks, engineers, housekeepers, electricians and plumbers.
Draper, originally from the Netherlands, said a presentation was made on board to alleviate any concerns the crew might have about vaccinations. Staff, he said, have been kept safe by keeping masks on, sanitizing their hands frequently and performing temperature checks daily. They have also been tested for COVID-19 once a month.
“They are more nervous about COVID than the vaccine,” said Draper, 61. “I told him that I had gotten (the vaccine) and to be an old guy, I’m still here.”
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