Cruise Ship Wars | Mayday | 4

25:48Cruise company executives scramble to figure out ways to make cruising safe and to convince the government to allow them to keep sailing.

26:02It's early March 2020 in Washington, D.C. Olivia Troy sits at her desk in the West Wing of the White House. She clicks through a spreadsheet tracking suspected outbreaks of COVID-19 on cruise ships around the world. Troy is exhausted. She is an advisor to Vice President Mike Pence. President Donald Trump recently named Pence the leader of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Ever since, the days have been long and complicated, as she and her colleagues have to navigate keeping Americans safe, balanced with the devastating effect on the economy of shutting whole industries down. The phone rings, and Troy answers.

26:41Olivia Troy speaking. Ms. Troy, I'm calling from the Cruise Lines International Association. Troy sighs. The Cruise Lines International Association is the industry's lobbying group. Look, I know you're concerned that the government is going to order all cruises suspended. All I can tell you is that the vice president and the experts at the CDC are still weighing the best way forward. No decision has been made at this time. I understand that. I'm just calling to make sure you have all the relevant information about what our industry is doing to keep people safe. We've already had robust disinfecting procedures in place, and we are increasing the frequency of those.

27:22Many of our ships are also installing plexiglass guards around the buffet tables. And we are in the process of developing testing and evacuation procedures should anyone get sick. I appreciate the information, and I will make sure to pass it along to the Vice President. If cruising is suspended, this would be financially devastating to all of our businesses. And I don't think I need to remind you how important cruising is to the economy, especially in Florida. The Vice President is very aware of the financial implications that suspension of cruising would cause. I know the Vice President is scheduled to come to Florida and meet with our industry leaders.

28:02Ma 'am, if you could please urge him and the CDC to hold off on making any decisions until he has that meeting, I would greatly appreciate it. I think if he can speak to our chief executives and see just how seriously they're taking this, he'll see that there's no need to suspend cruising altogether. I will pass that message along. And as I'm sure you know, Carnival Chairman Mickey Arison is a longtime acquaintance of the president, if that affects anything. Yes, we are aware of that. We will let you know when any decision has been made. Troy hangs up the phone and gets back to work. She will suggest actions for the vice president, but ultimately it will be his decision alone whether to suspend cruising.

28:47Troy doesn't envy him. Vice President Pence does agree to meet with cruise executives in Florida before making a decision about suspending cruising. After the meeting, Pence gives a press conference. He suggests that people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions that make them high risk for COVID-19 refrain from taking cruises. Cruise ships start implementing health and safety protocols designed to prevent COVID from spreading on board. And with those safeguards in place, many passengers still feel comfortable cruising. For now.

29:27It's March 6th, 2020, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Donna Mann stands in a long line of people in the Holland America Terminal. They're all waiting to check in and board the Zandam, which is about to embark on a 14-day cruise along the coast of South America. The passenger behind Donna shuffles forward, his bag nudging against her leg. Donna looks back. Sorry. Donna nods. She's not upset about the bag bumping into her, but she's disturbed by what it says about how close the man is standing next to her. She's been following the news about COVID-19 and knows that experts are recommending people keep their distance.

30:08But everyone in here is bunched up as usual. Next to Donna, her husband Jorge Hill gives her a reassuring smile. Man does her best to smile back. She and Hill have flown all the way from California to take this cruise, and she wants to enjoy it. Hill is 79. Man doesn't know how many more trips like this they have in their future. Someone in line coughs. Man winces. Hill takes her hand and squeezes it. It's going to be okay. Remember that email Holland America sent the other day? They're doing all sorts of health and safety checks. They won't let anyone with COVID on the boat, I'm sure. Man nods.

30:49And there's only been a handful of COVID cases reported in all of South America. We're probably in one of the safest places on Earth right now. You're right. I'm just feeling paranoid. I'll feel better once we get checked in and go through all the safety protocols. The couple reaches the front of the line, and a Holland America employee beckons him forward. Next. Hill and Mann make their way to the desk. The employee smiles at them brightly. Welcome to the Zandam. May I see your passports, please? Hill and Mann hand them over. The employee checks the expiration date. Great. Everything looks in order.

31:27Welcome aboard. Mann looks at Hill with a frown. The email they received from Holland America says that employees would be checking passports to see if passengers had traveled to China and Italy, where COVID-19 was spreading rapidly. Passengers who had were warned that they would be subject to a more intensive medical screening. Neither Mann nor Hill had been to those countries recently, but it bothers Mann that her passport wasn't checked. The employee spins a tablet around, so it faces Hill and Mann. This is our health questionnaire. If you could please go through it and answer the questions.

32:02Mann skims through it. It's exactly the same as other cruise questionnaires she's filled out in the past. She doesn't notice any additional questions related to COVID. Behind man, another person coughs. Man closes her eyes for a second, calming her nerves, then goes about answering questions about gastric distress, fever, and chronic conditions. When they're done answering the questions, the employee quickly reviews it. You're all set. I hope you have an incredible voyage. But don't you need to check our temperatures? Nope. You're free to board. Mann nods uneasily. She looks back toward the terminal door.

32:41It's not too late. She and Hill could leave, go back home. Hill takes her hand. Come on. Mann nods and follows him up toward the gangway. She tells herself she's just being a worrywart. Everything's going to be fine. Although cruise ships are allowed to continue to sail, government officials increasingly urge people to stay at home. Major events like South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference cancel their in-person gatherings. On March 11th, the NBA shuts down. And people increasingly become nervous about cruising, especially passengers over 60, who make up the core demographic of cruisers.

33:26As more and more people cancel their passages, cruise ship companies scramble to cut prices and offer other incentives to entice people to come on board. But COVID continues to spread. On March 14th, the government steps in. The Centers for Disease Control issues a 30-day no-sail order, shutting down all cruises departing from the United States. Other countries issue their own no-sail orders, closing their ports. The entire cruise industry has just been grounded.

34:06It's March 14th, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Carnival executives gather via video conference to discuss the catastrophe. Carnival CEO Arnold Donald kicks off the meeting. Um, first, whoever's dog is barking, can you go on mute? Thanks for that. All right. So I hope everyone is healthy and getting through this unprecedented event. Obviously, we're in a crisis. There's no-sale orders for 30 days, but I think we can all agree, given the pace at which this virus seems to be spreading, that it will be extended. We just don't know for how long. John, I know you've done some calculations about how much money we're burning through every day we can't sail.

34:47Yes, based on my preliminary analysis, we're set to lose$650 million every month that the no-sale order is in effect. I want to reassure everyone that we're doing everything we can to soften the blow. We'll borrow money, we'll sell older ships. Any government assistance that is offered, we'll take. But we need to brace for hard times. It's likely there will be furloughs and layoffs. Around the screen, executives nod their heads. Okay, Kelsey, where are we on the ships that are still out there? We're in touch with the captains on all our ships and working with the State Department and Homeland Security to try to find them ports and to get those who need more advanced medical care to hospitals.

35:28But no country wants to take in a boat full of sick passengers. I need everyone working on this. If we can't take care of these people, the reputation of the cruising business could be destroyed for years. The executives log off and get to work. The future has never seemed so tenuous. It feels to many like the entire industry is going to sink into the abyss.

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38:09It's the night of March 24th, 2020, off the coast of Peru. Donna Mann stumbles down the corridor of the Zandam. She's dressed in her pajamas and the complimentary bathrobe provided by Holland America. The hallway swims in front of her, and her left arm drags along the wall, helping to support her. In her right hand, she clutches a bag containing her husband Jorge Hill's asthma medication. The hallways are deserted. More and more people on board have been getting sick. And two days ago, the captain ordered all passengers into quarantine, confined to their room to try to stop the spread. Their room, which is about the size of a single-car garage with one small window, feels more like a prison cell than a cabin.

38:57But soon, it doesn't matter. Earlier today, Mann and Hill began to feel seriously ill. Mann is exhausted, and every muscle in her body aches. Hill seemed worse, though, coughing and struggling to breathe. Neither could get out of bed. Mann called the infirmary and asked for painkillers and cough medicine, but the staff member who answered said the ship was out of both. Mann implored the medical staff to please send a doctor to their room. She was especially worried about Hill, who is almost 80 and suffers from asthma and high blood pressure. Finally, in the evening, a doctor came by. She measured Hill's blood oxygen levels and announced that he needed to be moved to the medical ward immediately.

39:45He was transferred there with the help of crew members. A few hours later, Mann got a call asking her to bring Hill's medications to the medical ward. She's on her way there now. She's so weak, she's not sure she's going to make it. She knows part of the exhaustion is physical. Her body is worn down from fighting off this virus. But part of it is the mental stress. No nearby port will allow the Zendam to dock. There are people on board who desperately need to be transferred to a hospital, and Mann fears her husband is one of them. And for everyone, there's concern that they will run out of supplies.

40:25The captain and carnival executives are working to try to find somewhere for the ship to dock and a way to get more supplies on board. But Mann has no idea how long this will take. This was supposed to be a dream vacation, but it's turned into a nightmare. her. At last, Mann reaches the medical ward. She knocks on the door, but no one answers. She tries again, but even to her own ears, the knock sounds faint. Mann takes a deep breath and gathers her strength, pounding on the door as loud as she can. Her muscles scream at the exertion, and she feels like she might faint, but the door opens. A man wearing a surgical mask, his eyes bloodshot and his hair damp with sweat opens the door.

41:11Man holds up the bag of Hill's medications. I have Jorge Hill's medicine. The man doesn't say a word. He just points toward a bed in the back. Man makes her way to her husband, passing by beds of other sick patients. Hill is asleep, a tube through his nose, providing him oxygen. Bright lights shine down on him. He looks pale and he strains as he breathes. Mann sets the medication down on the bedside table and takes her husband's hand. Felt like such a blessing when we met. A second chance at happiness in my widowhood. We deserve more than eight years together. We have so much more life to experience.

41:54Mann stops. She's out of breath and bone tired. She just hopes Hill heard her, and that eventually they will get off this ship and be safe and happy at home again. After extensive work by the State Department, as well as Carnival, the Zandam finally arrives off the coast of Florida at the end of March. Four people have already died on board, and over 130 passengers are sick. Crew members have worked to the bone to care for their scared and sick passengers as the illness spreads among their ranks as well. It takes several more days of negotiation before Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and local officials allow the ship to dock.

42:42Fourteen critically ill patients, including Jorge Hill, are transferred to local hospitals and placed in the ICU. Those without COVID symptoms are put on flights home. Due to the restrictions, Donna Mann is not allowed to stay in Florida with Hill. She returns home to Southern California, while her husband fights for his life in his hospital room. Crew members are forced to remain on board the ship as Carnival works out how to repatriate them to their home countries. For many crew members, cruise companies that are at sea during the no-sail order decide the best way to get crew members home is to transport them by boat.

43:20The cruise ships essentially become like the ocean liners of old, as they begin the months-long process of sailing the globe, dropping crew members off as they go. At 7.31 p.m. on April 23, 2020, the lights in Mann's home suddenly go out for a few seconds. Later, she learns that it's the exact moment Hill died, 3 ,000 miles away. Three other Zendam passengers and one crew member died in Florida hospitals as well. With the dangers of cruising during the pandemic impossible to ignore, the no-sale order continues for seven months. More than 12 cruise companies close or file bankruptcy as a result of the shutdown.

44:09They're mostly smaller companies. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line all make it through. but they have to go to extreme measures to survive roughly a year without revenue. They max out their credit lines, sell off stock, and sell off their ships as scrap parts. In October 2020, the CDC lifts the no-sail order and allows cruise ships to embark on test runs with only crew members to see how well they can enact the strict health and safety protocols necessary to permit passengers on board. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line start booking passengers for sailings again starting in 2021.

44:54They begin with cruises in Europe and Asia, and by summer have started sailing out of the United States again. Some of the protocols include requiring vaccination for passengers and crew, testing all passengers for COVID-19, requiring masks in public places, and reserving certain cabins to isolate any sick passengers. But even with new health and safety procedures in place, it's a rocky restart for the cruise industry. Not long after sailings out of the United States resume, the Delta variant spreads, causing another roundabout breaks on ships. The companies scramble to adjust their protocols to mitigate Delta's spread.

45:37Many passengers are still wary of returning to cruising, and many ships remain out of service, causing the cruise companies to lose even more money. But finally, in 2022, business seems to look up.

45:57It's May 2022 in the Port Everglades Cruise Terminal, Florida. Holland America President Gus Antorcha stands in front of a dark ribbon being held by two crew members. Behind them are a gathering of crew members of the Zandam. The ship made headlines in early 2020 as it struggled to find a port to land in as COVID spread among its crew and passengers. And Torcho wears a mask covering his nose and mouth. It's been a long two years for the world with lots of pain and suffering, but slowly life is resuming and nothing feels like a symbol of normalcy than bringing the Zandam back into service. From here, the ship will head up the Atlantic coast for nine days until it reaches Montreal.

46:43He turns behind him, where a blind couple stands with their service dog. The husband holds an oversized pair of scissors. And now, I'd like to introduce Cornelis and Connie Maranusson, devoted Holland America cruisers. With their dog, Joska, they've spent nearly 700 days at sea. Cornelis, Connie, it's a pleasure to welcome you back on board a Holland America ship. Will you please do the honors? Cornelis feels for the ribbon and snips it with his scissors. The crowd cheers. And with that, all of Holland America's ships are back in service. Happy cruising. And Torcha steps aside and members of the maritime crew prepare to welcome guests on board.

47:26And Torcha watches them go. After so much turmoil, things are finally returning to normal. The cruise companies faced dozens of lawsuits accusing them of being negligent in their reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many were from passengers who got caught on cruises where outbreaks occurred, including the family members of passengers who died from contracting COVID on board. There are also lawsuits from crew members who were stranded on board ships as the companies worked to repatriate them to their home countries. They claimed that at times they were only fed bread and butter for a meal. Despite the tragic outcomes of cruising during the early days of the pandemic, the cruise industry has rebounded.

48:11In 2024, the number of passengers cruising is expected to surpass that of 2019, the first time the industry has exceeded its free pandemic business. After all the tumult and backstabbing and thievery, the industry has settled into a status quo. Far from a niche vacation for retired Floridians, cruising is a well-established way of vacationing, ferrying passengers to ports around the world. But the major players, well, they're the same. Carnival remains the master of the high seas, carrying 43 % of all cruise passengers each year, while Royal Caribbean is in a distant second, carrying 25 % of passengers.

48:56with Norwegian Cruise Line in third place with 10 % of passengers. Next time on Business Wars, we're setting sail with journalist Daniel Klein, founder of the online publication Come Cruise With Me to find out what's behind the industry's miraculous rebound and whether they can keep it up.

49:26From Wondery, this is Episode 4 of Cruise Ship Wars for Business Wars. A quick note about recreations you've been hearing. In most cases, we can't know exactly what was said. Those scenes are dramatizations, but they're based on historical research. If you'd like to read more, we recommend Devils on the Deep Blue Sea by Christopher A. Guerin and Cabin Fever by Michael Smith and Jonathan Franklin. I'm your host, David Brown. Austin Rackless wrote this story. Our senior producers are Karen Lowe and Dave Schilling. Our producers are Emily Frost and Grant Rutter. Sound design by Josh Morales. Fact-checking by Gabrielle Drolet.

50:01Voice acting by Zeke Alton, Bobby Foley, Michelle Phillippe, and Kieran Regan. Our managing producer is Matt Gant. Our senior managing producer is Ryan Lohr. Our executive producers are Jenny Lauer-Beckman and Marshall Louis for Wondery.

50:23In the fall of 1620, a battered merchant ship called the Mayflower set sail across the Atlantic. It carried 102 men, women, and children, risking it all to start again in the New World. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of American History Tellers. Every week we take you through the moments that shaped America, and in our latest season, we explore the untold story of the Pilgrims, one that goes far beyond the familiar tale of the first Thanksgiving. After landing at Cape Cod, the Pilgrims forged an unlikely alliance with the Wappanog people who helped the Pilgrims survive the most brutal winter they'd ever known, laying the foundation for a powerful national myth.

50:59But behind that story lies another, one of conflict, betrayal, and brutal violence against the very people who helped the Pilgrims survive. Follow American History Tellers on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of American History Tellers The Mayflower early and ad-free right right now on Wondery+.