Local Musician Returns Home After Being Stuck On Cruise Ship During Coronavirus Pandemic

An Oklahoma City musician, who was struck on a cruise ship in the Middle East, has arrived home.

Logan Gorrell, 23, spent 30 hours traveling from Dubai to Oklahoma. He was greeted by his parents on Saturday at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City.  

“It was definitely a long haul,” Gorrell said.

Even though he never got sick or even had COVID-19 symptoms, Gorrell will be in quarantine at his home for 14 days.

“Our ship never had a single case since this whole pandemic started,” said Gorrell.

Gorrell boarded the Norwegian Jade Cruise Line in January to entertain passengers. However, not long after setting sail the pandemic forced passengers off the ship.

“So we ended up basically kind of stranded off the coast of Malaysia for almost a month,” said Gorrell. “Just in the open ocean.”

They were finally allowed to dock in Dubai where all of the crew members and musicians were furloughed and spent weeks in isolation. 

“I think the hardest part was just not knowing when I will be able to come home,” said Gorrell. “Because once they shut down the country in the United Arab Emirates, we didn’t really have a set date when they were going to open the airport back again.”

Meanwhile, back at home his parents and local musicians were raising money to buy Gorrell a plane ticket when the airport reopened. He said the U.S. Embassy also played a big role in bringing him home.

Gorrell added that his experience is one he will never forget.

“It was definitely a big change of pace and it was such an unprecedented event,” said Gorrell. “Especially in the cruise industry, nothing like this has every happened. Obviously, where the whole industry is completely shut down.”

Gorrell does not know when his next gig will be but he plans to board another cruise ship for work.