‘Vacation of a Lifetime’ finally comes to an end for couple quarantined after Grand Princess Cruise

It was Feb. 21 that Teresa Johnson and her husband, John, set off on a cruise to Hawaii aboard the Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess to celebrate their 27th Wedding Anniversary. It was to be the trip of a lifetime – and that it certainly was for the two former Walton County residents who have since moved to Augusta.  Johnson is a former parent mentor with Walton County Public Schools and was the founder of Walton County Families of Autism/Asperger’s Care, Educate and Support (F.A.C.E.S.).

The trip was supposed to end on March 6 and they were scheduled to fly back to Georgia on March 8, but that did not happen. The couple eventually arrived at their home on March 15, a full week later – and it was the time between that made it a trip they will never forget.

While still on the cruise, Johnson had been sharing photos of the trip and the port visits in Hawaii with Facebook friends but that all came to an end more than 10 days ago. The trip was cut short and the ship headed back to San Francisco after the first California death as a result of COVID-19 was reported on March 4. The 71-year-old man had been on the previous trip on the Grand Princess that ended the same day the Johnsons’ cruise began. Sixty-two passengers from that cruise continued on the cruise the Johnsons were on and 21 of them subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Beginning March 4, everyone on board was confined to their cabin as the Grand Princess languished offshore waiting to be allowed to dock in San Francisco. But Johnson did not let that ruin her vacation. She spent her time sharing photos taken from the balcony of her cabin, of the food that was served to them and the games and gifts that they were given by Princess Cruise Lines. She also began live vlogging her experience and gave lots of interviews – with CNN, Fox News, C-Span and many more. While some people complained and others filed lawsuits, Johnson had only good things to say about how Princess Cruise Lines had handled their quarantine on board. The passengers were refunded their full cruise, including shore excursions and onboard purchases (except for art and jewelry) and given another cruise free of charge.

“That will be our trip to Alaska. I mean what more could they do,” Johnson said.

Eventually, the ship docked in Oakland and passengers were able to get off, had temperatures taken, were checked for symptoms and then transported to different locations around the country. As Georgia residents, the Johnsons were flown to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta with other Georgians and fellow passengers from the eastern USA, arriving there in the early morning hours of March 11. Things there were not quite up to the same standard as they were on the Grand Princess.

“Many do not like our situation or the mandatory quarantine. Some have not seen their luggage. Medications that have been submitted requests for in the last week since ship quarantine in our cabins, have yet to show up,” Johnson said the first morning they woke up. They were in the hotel on the base and while not luxurious, Johnson made the best of her new digs, but not everybody was as accommodating. “I’m totally ok but there are some really angry folks going like they are being held as criminals.

“We had new passengers arrive to our area today so those who arrived first learned we have to start over. Today is Day 1! We arrived yesterday but were told Day 1 was Tuesday after we left the ship. That information really upset a lot of people.”

Johnson continued her live vlogging, sharing pictures of what looked at times like scenes out of a science fiction movie. She continued to look on the bright side, as best she could, sharing small successes as major triumphs – like when her husband’s diabetes medicine finally arrived, and when the Amazon package put together by Emily Goldstein, of Loganville, and collectively contributed to by the community, arrived with… shampoo.

“Out this morning and UPS delivered….. AMAZON BOXES!! The driver has communicated with his coworkers so all Dobbins shipments get delivered here,” she posted. “Yay! PRAISE GOD FOR THE SMALL THINGS!!”

Johnson shared information constantly with her viewers, and the various news channels that continued to schedule her for telephone, skype and any other way they could interview her.

“Breakfast of champions lol. And temps are normal for the AM reading. All is well,” she wrote on day 2. But as the time dragged on, Johnson was not quite as complimentary about the way things were being handled by Health and Human Services.

“They don’t have many answers. There were many questions,” she said, going on to add. “Will someone please explain to me how everyone else is being tested EXCEPT for the thousands of Grand Princess passengers who have been in quarantine for 8 days and have in many cases 14 more to go? Asking for a friend!”

Then Saturday came the good news – they were getting to go home on Sunday. The National Guard was mobilized by Gov. Brian Kemp and guardsman would be picking them up Sunday evening.

“Just received the call! Be ready at 4:45. Our rides can arrive by 5 pm. I hope all the remaining GA residents will be able to go home,” she said Sunday afternoon. Their freedom was guaranteed. They were going home!

At the end of it, Johnson had this to say about her ordeal while on the base at Dobbins Air Reserve.

“First and foremost, the men and women that were sent to take care of our needs at the ‘compound’ worked tirelessly to do whatever they could. They took a lot of heat from many prisoners, myself included (although I always tried to apologize after I went off on them). NEVER, did any of them get upset or angry with us! They are true professionals who are just doing their jobs, with almost no direction or communication from the leadership of HHS.”

Always the optimist, Johnson added, “On a positive note, I appear to have lost 7 pounds since this debacle began. .”

She thanked everyone who wished them well and all the Facebook friends who had stayed in communication with them during their isolation. She is proof positive that even when the going gets tough, positivity helps carry the day.