MOUNT Gambier-based professional dancer Michaela Pace finally made it to port on Thursday after the cruise liner she had been performing on was not allowed to let crew members off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The talented performer was having an experience of a lifetime aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship the Brilliance of the Seas, where she had secured her first professional dancing contract, before it abruptly ended.
“The prospect of travelling, earning money and dancing made me cry every time I thought about it,” she said.
“I love to entertain and make people smile.
“So to perform to complete strangers nearly every night on my travelling home for 6 months was something that I’ll always remember.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, Ms Pace, along with Penola’s Jayden Prelc, were working as dancers on two Royal Caribbean liners when the fleet was forced into lockdown.
While docked in Cozumel, a Mexican island in the Carribean Sea, Ms Pace was notified of the lockdown, which was followed by what she described as “madness”.
“People were bulk buying stuff at the supermarket, because we had no idea what was going to happen to us, or if the lockdown was going to be extended,” she said.
“We knew coronavirus was a thing, we just never knew it was going to create such a huge disruption in our jobs and in our lives and later affecting us to get home.”
When the ship returned to the US coast, passengers on Ms Pace’s ship were dropped off, but the crew were told to stay on-board in order to quarantine.
QUARANTINED AT SEA
Ms Pace said the start of the company-enforced lockdown was an unforgettable experience, with crew members well looked after by Royal Caribbean.
“We were allowed to be in guest areas, there were crew parties,” she said.
“Everyone was having a great time in the sun.”
Mr Prelc, who was performing on another ship and remains stranded in the port, echoed Ms Pace’s comments, saying the start of quarantine was “fantastic”.
“We had full access to the guest areas, crew parties at discounted prices, the pool was open,” he said.
“You name it – it was fantastic.”
Things quickly took a turn for the pair when their American counterparts had been provided with departure flights, but none had been forthcoming for the young Australians.
While Mr Prelc was forced to remain on his ship since the March 17 lockdown, Ms Pace attempted to disembark the ship she had been performing on in Tampa, Florida, but America’s custom border protection prohibited international arrivals from entering the US.
Despite there being no remaining guests on the liner, Ms Pace was made to enter a 72-hour isolation period before being able to leave the ship.
After being in isolation for three days, Ms Pace was again rejected entry to the US and told the quarantine period would be extended by another two weeks.
While in isolation, Ms Pace was advised she had been given flights to return to Australia on April 7.
HEADING ASHORE, BUT NOT HOME
Donning gloves and a face mask, Ms Pace finally signed off on April 8 and took a bus from Tampa to Miami to start her journey back to Australia.
But overnight, the US Homeland Security and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new restriction banning cruise ship passengers from boarding commercial flights.
America’s largest airlines – United, Delta and America – are currently the only carriers flying out of Miami and are all grounded because of the new law.
Qantas is flying out of Los Angeles to Brisbane, but given Miami is more than 4000km away and states enforcing separate travel bans, transportation options are limited.
“Options are a bus – which would take three days – and maybe a train,” Ms Pace, who is now in isolation in a Miami hotel, said.
“But I do not know if they would let us take public transport.”
Mr Prelc said the Australian cohort had been “praying” for Royal Caribbean to organise a charter flight from Miami.
“This takes time and we do not have time at this stage because we need to get home while Australia is in a stable condition,” he said.
“Royal of course are working extremely hard to make this process fast, except with the amount of logisitcs they are going through to get every nationality a charter light, it is a lot of work,” he said.
“We have proposed to our human resource teams on our ships and to Miami head office that we are given a means of transport to Los Angeles to get on one of the government flights to get us home.
“Whether this means a charter bus or a charter plane to LAX, we just need to get there.”
Mr Prelc acknowledged the importance of isolation, but said being contained to a small space was different than having to quarantine in a home.
“At your house, you have your entire home to walk around in, a kitchen to cook in, a backyard to roam around in,” he said.
“We definitely do not have that.
“We have a bed, a small bathroom, a desk and a couch.”
HIGH SEAS, HIGH SPIRITS
Ms Pace said she had been attempting to stay positive during the challenging experience, but conceded it had been “really physically and mentally straining”.
“I have had a great support network from home and Jayden is a godsend,” she said.
“We have been communicating every day and laughing about how ridiculous some things are.
“We joke about it all, which is keeping my sanity.”
Despite the experience, the pair stressed the safety and professionalism employed by Royal Caribbean.
“As soon as we step on board, we are taught about self hygiene and hand sanitisation,” Mr Prelc said.
“Their cleaning goes as far as making us barrier clean respective areas with disinfectant sprays and wipes once per cruise in order to limit the spread of any virus.
“Ships are getting a horrible wrap at the moment, but they are safe and they need people’s support to get behind them.”
Mr Prelc praised the efforts of the US consulate and Australian Embassy and said Member for Barker Tony Pasin had been “sensational”.
“I cannot stress how fantastic and supportive Tony Pasin his office have been,” he said.
Mr Pasin confirmed the pair had been provided with consular assistance and every effort was being made to ensure their safe return to Australia.
“The safety and wellbeing of my constituents is my first priority irrespective of where in the world they find themselves,” he said.
“Assisting constituents with consular matters is something my office and I are experienced at dealing with albeit we are assisting in an unprecedented number of these matters at this time.
“Anyone in need of similar assistance can contact my office by phone 8724 7730 or by email at tony.pasin.mp@aph.gov.au.”
The US Consulate has been contacted for comment.
