Cruise ships arrive in Costa Rica to return citizens

Residents near Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast will see Friday a strange but familiar sight.

Two cruise ships — the Oceania Marina and the Caribbean Princess — will dock in Limón carrying 59 Costa Ricans who hadn’t been able to return to the country previously due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Marina brings 17 Costa Rican nationals, while the Caribbean Princess has 42 Tico passengers.

The 59 total Costa Ricans will meet Immigration Police, be tested for SARS-CoV-2 and receive a mandatory 14-day home quarantine order, the Health Ministry explained.

“A team of 14 officials from the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) made up of doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, networks, laboratory workers, computer scientists and brigadiers are prepared to attend to Costa Rican crew,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Both ships will “leave the country the moment the process at Puerto Limón is finished.”

Until the coronavirus crisis paralyzed international travel, Costa Rica had expected to receive at least 220 cruise ships during the 2019-20 season.

Due to the coronavirus, Costa Rica has banned tourists and non-resident foreigners from entering the country until at least June 30. Citizens, and residents who departed Costa Rica prior to March 24, are among the only people who can legally enter the country.