Cuba welcomes coronavirus hit cruise ship braemar others rejected

A interesting news story!

On March 27, 2020, the cruise ship Braemar, which was carrying over 700 passengers and crew, arrived in Cuba after being rejected by several other Caribbean ports due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Braemar, operated by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, had been at sea for several days after being turned away by the Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. The ship had reported several cases of COVID-19 on board, and the crew had been working to contain the outbreak.

Cuba, which had not yet reported any cases of COVID-19, agreed to allow the Braemar to dock at the port of Mariel, near Havana. The ship's passengers and crew were screened for symptoms and tested for COVID-19, and those who were infected were taken to a hospital for treatment.

The Cuban government's decision to welcome the Braemar was seen as a humanitarian gesture, as many of the passengers were elderly and vulnerable to the virus. The ship's captain, Stuart Dickinson, praised the Cuban authorities for their kindness and cooperation, saying that they had "gone above and beyond" to help the stranded passengers.

The Braemar's arrival in Cuba marked a rare instance of a country welcoming a cruise ship that had been rejected by others due to COVID-19 concerns. The incident highlighted the challenges faced by the global cruise industry during the pandemic, as well as the importance of international cooperation and humanitarian aid in responding to public health crises.