Bloomington couple details experience while on cruise ship with numerous cases of coronavirus

Posted on March 9, 2020
The ship is expected to dock in Oakland on Monday. (Photo courtesy: HOI/ABC)

By Heart of Illinois and Blake Haas

CALIFORNIA – As the world continues to monitor the spread of the coronavirus , a Bloomington couple is still on a cruise ship with over 20 confirmed cases.

That couple is from Bloomington and they are on The Grand Princess, which is now finally set to dock in the port of Oakland on Monday.

Barbara May and her husband Jordan are among the 3,500 people stuck aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship after 21 people on board tested positive for the coronavirus.

It was originally scheduled for a two-week journey from San Francisco to Hawaii, but the trip was interrupted when officials learned that a 71-year old man who had traveled on the ship last month, died from the disease last week.

Listen: Barbra May speaks with WJBC’s Susan Saunders about the scene aboard the ship: 

According to our news partner Heart of Illinois ABC, the couple has been on the ship for two weeks now. May said when they learned that people aboard the ship were infected, they were immediately forced to live in their rooms and have no contact with anyone.

May said her husband said Princess Cruises are doing their best to keep people comfortable. Food is being delivered by employees with masks and gloves, dropped off at their doors on a tray and without any interaction.

They also have wifi so they can communicate with their families.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]. 

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