Coronavirus cruise ship nightmares: America has abandoned its citizens at sea amid COVID-19

As a result, we were able to keep our ship safe and virus-free throughout the Antarctic season.As we left South Georgia and sailed toward the most remote inhabited island in the world, Tristan da Cunha, we got word that we would be denied entry.However, the trip, which began on Feb. 28, didn't go as planned. But while we were exploring a massive colony of king penguins at St. Andrew's Bay off the island of South Georgia, we were told that several cruise ships had suffered terrible outbreaks and were being denied entry into ports.As we left South Georgia and sailed toward the most remote inhabited island in the world, Tristan da Cunha, we got word that we would be denied entry. Tens of thousands of crew members were finding out that their stays on their ships were about to become indefinite.Our ship refueled one last time, and we left Cape Town, wondering where we could find a port to let us return to our families. According to its website, "As operators of non-U.S. flagged vessels sailing in international waters, it is imperative that the cruise ship industry and cruise lines themselves take responsibility for the care of their crew and do not further tax the limited U.S. resources during a public health emergency." But it feels like the CDC left these vessels out in the open ocean to fend for themselves, without proper medical equipment or training for medical staff. But crew members also can't use rental cars, taxis or ride share services, nor can they stay in hotels or traverse public airport terminals.The majority of cruise ships are virus-free. They deserve to go home to their families.The virus didn't come from a cruise ship.