x
Breaking News
More () »

Atlanta woman among many on cruise uncertain if they will be able to touch dry land

Due to the constant changes related to COVID-19, Kimberly Goff and others say they have not been able to dock at any port for the past two weeks

ATLANTA — Kimberly Goff isn't sure when she'll make it back home to Atlanta. 

"Even on the 22nd, we have no idea if we will be able to disembark," she said.

Goff is on a 21-day cruise aboard the Norwegian Spirit. Her journey - along with thousands of others - started on March 2. 

The first week went as planned, but for the past two weeks, she said, they've been at sea, unable to disembark at any port as countries around the world continue to close their borders to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

“We are perfectly healthy, and we have been basically quarantined for the last two weeks out at sea," she said. "There’s not even a cold on the ship."

11Alive has not been able to confirm any cases on the ship. Goff said that Wednesday night was when anxiety around the ship was truly felt. She said passengers all got a note, asking them to turn in their flight details for a Cape Town departure on March 22. 

But that's about all the information she said she and others passengers were given. 

"We would feel better if we got even small little nuggets of information, we would feel like we are on the same team instead of us versus them," she said.

Her concern now is whether they will be able to disembark on Sunday at all now that South Africa implemented travel restrictions for those who have visited eight of the hardest-hit nations - including the U.S. 

"It's a really big concern that literally every country in the world is shutting their borders with a whole lot of us out there without somewhere to go," she said.

A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson told 11Alive in a statement:

“Norwegian Spirit is currently sailing a revised 21-day itinerary from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. We will share an update as it becomes available.”

MORE HEADLINES 

VERIFY: NIH study shows coronavirus can survive hours in the air, days on surfaces

Atlanta Public Schools employee tests positive for coronavirus, Carstarphen confirms

COVID-19 hotline set up by state

As restaurants and businesses close because of coronavirus concerns, chefs adapt

VERIFY: FTC warns against government check scams, other red flags

Before You Leave, Check This Out