Coronavirus-hit Ruby Princess cruise ship crew partied after passengers disembarked in Sydney

Coronavirus-hit Ruby Princess cruise ship crew partied after passengers disembarked in Sydney
Jason Om and Alex McDonald 6 May 2020

Scores of crew members on the Ruby Princess celebrated with a party on the day it docked in Sydney unaware of the public health disaster that was about to happen.

It was March 19 — about a week after the World Health Organisation had declared a global coronavirus pandemic — and on the ship, dancers and musicians put on a show for everyone from the galley hands to the uniformed officers.

Sydney turned on a spectacular afternoon, and while the cruise had been cut short because international borders were closing, the impression among some crew members was that the ship was free of COVID-19 after NSW Health allowed the nearly 2,700 passengers to disembark that morning.

Two former crew members who attended the party have told 7.30 the mood on board was ecstatic.

New Zealander Chris Harris had been a trumpet player in the ship's orchestra since December last year. Formerly a musician in the New Zealand Army, he had worked on cruise ships for many years.

more...https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-06/ruby-princess-crew-partied-passen...