Cruise Ship Cleared to Dock at Port of San Diego

By Karen Robes Meeks

The cruise ship, Celebrity Eclipse, was able to dock at the Port of San Diego’s B Street terminal last week after precautionary measures were enacted to curb COVID-19 risk exposure.

Before disembarking roughly 2,300 passengers over a two-day period, the port and agency partners made sure passengers and crew completed a CDC COVID-19 survey prior to arrival. Ship staff also conducted temperature monitoring and isolated anyone with symptoms. The cruise ship terminal was cleaned and disinfected and extra hand washing stations were made available.

The decision for the cruise ship to come into port was not taken lightly and involved the US Coast Guard, the Centers for Disease Control, Customs & Border Protection, the California Office of Emergency Services and San Diego County Health and Human Services. According to the port, the Eclipse is the last ship currently scheduled to disembark in San Diego.

The ship is expected to return to San Diego, this week, with only crewmembers onboard after disembarking the remaining 200 passengers to Acapulco, Mexico, as these passengers didn’t have appropriate documentation to enter the US. The crew will remain on board.

“The public may see cruise ships lay berthing (to dock without passengers) or anchoring in and around San Diego Bay until at least mid-April,” the port announced. “Per the cruise lines, crew members still under contract must remain on the ships.”

Cruise ships that are or will be anchored or berthed without passengers in and around San Diego Bay include Regent Seven Seas Splendor, which is set to remain at Broadway Pier until April 11; Disney Wonder, which is docked at the B Street cruise terminal until April 19; and Celebrity Millennium, which docked at B Street Pier on April 2 for supplies.

Visit portofsandiego.org/covid19 for additional information.

By Sarah Spangler