Transferred to another ship, the Norwegian Epic, the combined crews headed off to Nassau, the Bahamas, where the seafarers – about 1,500 in all – sat tied up to a pier, not permitted off by authorities. There had been no reports of crew ill with flu symptoms on either ship, he said.
It’s been no pleasure cruise. James said the Sun crew were given cabins with roommates, but later were assigned private cabins in the name of social distancing. He passed the time conducting band rehearsals, though much of the ship became off-limits. The gym, which was available early on, closed. Access to the main pool was shut as well.
Norwegian Cruise Lines did not respond to requests for comment.
James said the wandering passenger-free cruise is finally coming to an end. On Tuesday, James said by phone that the ship was nearing Miami where he expected to disembark and be able to catch a chartered flight home to Seattle.
“We’re super stoked,” he said.