UnCruise announces COVID-19 case onboard; ship returning early to Juneau Wednesday morning

Small cruise ship company UnCruise Adventures confirmed today a guest has tested positive for COVID-19. The passenger received a phone call with notification of a positive test while onboard the Wilderness Adventurer. The vessel is set to return early to Juneau tomorrow morning. All guests will quarantine at a local hotel and the crew will quarantine on the vessel in port at Juneau.

The boat departed Juneau on Saturday, August 1, with 36 guests and 30 crewmembers on board. Besides Juneau, the vessel has not docked in any other Alaskan communities. UnCruise has been communicating with the City and Borough of Juneau Emergency Operations Center, the State of Alaska Emergency Operations Center, Public Health officials, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

“UnCruise has been immediately responsive today and is working with state and local EOCs to make sure they’re protecting guests and the community,” CBJ EOC Incident Commander Mila Cosgrove said.

According to UnCruise, the COVID-19 positive guest took the 5-day testing option prior to their departure from home with a negative result as required to embark on UnCruise Adventures. A second test was taken upon arrival at the Juneau International Airport, which then resulted in a positive. The guest is showing no symptoms and no other guests or crew are showing outward symptoms of any kind. All guests were informed today and asked to restrict themselves to their cabins.

UnCruise Adventures continues to follow its State of Alaska approved contingency plan moving forward. As an additional precaution, UnCruise Adventures has canceled all future departures. This was its first sailing of the season.