Coronavirus has stranded thousands of cruise line workers offshore after no sail order went into effect
NewsColony Coronavirus has stranded thousands of cruise line workers offshore after no sail order went into effect CHICAGO (WLS) — The number of cruise line employees still stranded aboard ships off the coasts of the U.S. would populate the Chicago suburb of Cicero: about 80,000 people. They are all caught in COVID-19 limbo, in places most people save their pennies to enjoy. In the case of these cruise line workers, it’s no vacation. They don’t have a choice. There are more than 100 ships being held at sea by government order. Most cruise line employees are unable to come ashore after a federal “no sail order” was put into effect on March 14. Among them is Belvidere native Julia Whitcomb who spoke to the I-Team Wednesday and gave a video tour of her COVID captivity on board the Infinity, a Celebrity cruise vessel currently docked in Miami. Whitcomb says she does not have coronavirus. She and most of the other 950 crew members have to stay in their cabins except for during social...