Outbreak Onboard: How fear and disease spread on the Ruby Princess | Four Corners

The Ruby Princess cruise ship is the single largest source of COVID-19 infections in Australia.

Owned by the world’s largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation, the Ruby Princess was one of a fleet of cruise ships operating as the pandemic gathered speed. The company was well aware of the risks. Only five weeks earlier its sister ship, the Diamond Princess, created world headlines when its passengers were trapped on board as the virus spread.

On March 19, thousands of its passengers disembarked from the Ruby Princess in Sydney before dispersing around the country and overseas.

Far from protecting people, the release of its passengers triggered a public health emergency.

Four Corners investigates how the Ruby Princess became an incubator for infection, leaving its passengers and staff dangerously exposed.

We also examine the actions of Australian authorities who allowed the ship to dock and the passengers to disembark, taking the virus with them.

_________

_____________

[theeshannons]

I can’t get over the one lady that was a double transplant, still got on the cruise, then wants to blame everyone else and hopes the ship sinks? Come on, you knew what was going on, and still boarded the ship, then started feeling unwell, but refused to go to the doctor, and still didn’t quarantine yourself. Who’s acting stupid now? Then say I will never get on another cruise? Well good, now you won’t infect others with your stupidity!

[donot]

In January I was making plans to fly to New Zealand from Canada to visit my son. I was watching the COVID-19 situation closely. It became clear to me that international flights were a bad idea and in late January, I cancelled the trip.
It amazes me, when I hear of people with the same access to the news that I had, chose to travel. True the airlines, cruise companies, travel companies and politicians should carry responsibility for continuing to operate business as usual. But, unless they were blind and deaf, these travelers are equally responsible for their own choices to travel during a public health crisis.
It was a willfully blind decision.

[alexxela]

So 5 weeks later the Princess authorities and ceo learned NOTHING and let the same thing happen in Sydney with the Ruby? They didn’t stop their fleets after the Diamond in Japan? If that’s not criminal negligence I don’t know what is

[nelsoncong]

The passengers knew about the Diamond Princess a month before. Having 700+ infected passengers and 13 deaths should have been a wake up call to all cruisers and yet they went ahead with the trip. These passengers should only blame themselves. I have little sympathy.

[jaylockwood]

Lady with complicated medical condition goes and asks anonymous low ranking cruise ship employee to assess risk for her. SMH. Darwinism at its finest!

[aliceballagh]

I went on a Carnival Cruise in 1991. There was a water leak in our room damaging suitcases and shoes. The ship's management claimed it was an isolated incident. However, the rug outside of the room showed significant water damage. After indicating the significant water damage outside of the room, corporate decided to refund our money for the entire cruise. I wouldn't trust Carnival as far as I could through anyone in corporate management.

[philomathstudies]

God....this feels like it happened years ago, not 5 months ago

[Starfish]

It was insane to go on a cruise after that first ship got so infected.

[Mememeep]

the lady in the end keep on blaming the company, but wtf did you go on a cruise when there's an outbreak of a disease which has no I'm already scared to take the train to work, (the cases were around 20 in my country), because I have no idea who are carrying the virus. smh!

[IvetaUpeniece]

People like to play “blame game” but they forgot to look at themselves in the first place.

[StaceyLovesBettyBoop]

The lady that lost her husband literally broke my heart. I could tell they were one heck of a couple. They seem just lovely. My heart and prays go out to her!!!

[Heather_T]

People board a ship during a global pandemic, what could go wrong?

[jessayjones]

I’m a little confused about that one lady looking for someone to blame.. sure the staff said you were safe but they didn’t force you to get on the boat.

[Dallas-Nyberg]

Going on a cruise is now permanently erased from my bucket

[sonyabu]

You know you had a double transplant and you trusted a cruise line with your

[astrosmurfgirl]

"My husband and i only and i ate at club class which only has people that um have suites" omg tbought she was Rose's mother on titanic. 😂😂😂

[swf]

I love how Ros managed to let us know she was suite class.

[alexcarter]

Fun fact: the word "quarantine" literally means 40 days.

[lilfloridaprepper]

I’ve been on 2 cruises in my life, way before the pandemic....I came home sick both times so decided nope! Never again! I’ve always been shocked that so many people go on cruises....1 person gets sick, potentially everyone on board can get sick....it will be interesting to see if any of them can stay in business after this crisis

[samanthagolper]

Whoever gets on a cruise ship DURING A PANDEMIC, cannot complain about the following events. I’m sorry, but I knew about the virus in December.