Le-Jacques-Cartier Vessel Reviews and Specifications

An outbreak of COVID-19 has emerged on the cruise ship Jacques-Cartier, which has been docked in Syracuse since October 26, 2020. Authorities confirmed that 11 individuals on board have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Initially, two crew members were reported as infected, but later reports disclosed that a couple aboard began to exhibit symptoms during dinner, prompting them to seek medical attention. Currently, the vessel is home to approximately 93 crew members and 60 stranded passengers. Among the confirmed cases, three involve passengers while eight are crew members. Despite the positive cases, the Italian authorities have indicated that the ship is permitted to depart, pending a final decision from the prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region. In response to the outbreak, the onboard spa has been temporarily closed, and interactions between crew and passengers have been significantly curtailed to prevent further transmission. Passengers have voiced their frustrations, claiming that Compagnie du Ponant, the owner of the ship and a subsidiary of billionaire François-Henri Pinault's holding company Artémis, has not effectively managed health protocols among their staff.