Kamloops couple on anniversary cruise among Canadians quarantined

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA (NEWS 1130) — A Kamloops couple who spent more than six days in isolation on the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California are saying that their 30th wedding anniversary was one to remember.

Couple from #Kamloops on Grand Princess cruise ship in Oakland, California now waiting to fly to Trenton, Ontario on flight chartered by #Ottawa. Wray McClelland tells @NEWS1130 this trip celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary is definitely one to remember. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/xfrg0LaiwC

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) March 9, 2020

Wray McClelland spoke to NEWS 1130 from Oakland where he and his wife were waiting to board a flight to a military base in Trenton, Ontario.

“It’s weird. You know, you just got to go with the punches and see where it ends up,” says McClelland.

“It will be another strain –14 days. At least the room looks almost double the size as our cabin, so we’ll have some room to actually move or stretch or do something, so we’ll be able to get outside and do some walking which is huge for us.”

He and his wife (who doesn’t want her name released) were among the 237 Canadians expecting to board a 9 p.m. PDT flight chartered by the federal government.

He says this trip was supposed to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

“It’s been tough. It’s been a marriage counselling thing all in one –test and counselling. The cruise ship people have been fantastic. They’ve dropped off craft kits, different things. They loaded up like 100 movies, probably another 90 television shows, you know, different series, Everybody Loves Raymond or Big Bang or Modern Family.”

The couple, both in their 50s, were never tested for the COVID-19 virus during their time on the ship.

Wray McClelland has shared new images of #Canadians and some #Americans getting screened as they leave the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in #Oakland. He wonders why they spent more than 6 days confined to cabins if they are all gathered “shoulder to shoulder” now? #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/ThdN89KSTO

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) March 10, 2020

McClelland says they both feel fine now, but they’re worried about sharing a flight with others who might be infected.

“We’re getting on a plane with 235 other people that might be positive to the test and all we’re doing is a temperature test and asking them a few questions, so that’s my biggest fear,” says McClelland.

“We brought three of those massive Purell bottles and we have one and a half left.”

As for whether they ever want to go another cruise, McClelland says they need some time to think about it because other passengers haven’t been as careful as they have been.

RELATED: Surrey couple from COVID-19 stricken cruise ship returning home after 30 days in quarantine

“Every time we went into the buffet, we washed our hands diligently, but we got amazed at how many people walked by the crew member that was standing there saying, ‘Please wash your hands’ and they just aren’t even listening!”

He adds the staff had been great and they never ran out of food, even though the portions have gotten smaller over the past couple days.

McClelland says screening process involved temperature test and 4 medical questions, then given wristbands containing your seat # before boarding bus.
Police escort each bus to plane where blankets, food and snacks placed on each seat.
No overhead storage/limited aisle space. pic.twitter.com/Mc88u8uzcn

— Marcella Bernardo (@Bernardo1130) March 10, 2020

McClelland admits it’s been frustrating because the only news they’ve been able to watch on TV is the US-based Fox and MSNBC.

They have been told the 21 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 on the ship are 19 crew members and two passengers.

The couple flew to San Francisco on February 8th, started their cruise to Mexico on the 11th and returned on the 21st.

McClelland says their second cruise was to Hawaii and they had been confined to their cabin since early Wednesday, March 3rd.