From Dream Trip to Quarantine: Jake Rosmarin’s Experience
A five-week transatlantic cruise started off as what Jake Rosmarin called “one of the most amazing trips of my life.” Unfortunately, it took a turn for the worse, leaving him feeling scared, traumatized, and ultimately quarantined for six weeks in a medical facility in Nebraska.
“I think over time I’m going to learn to love to travel again, it’s just going to be a little hard,” he expressed during a conversation with HuffPost from his sealed room at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
This specialized facility has previously housed Ebola patients and even some of the earliest COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Right now, it’s accommodating 15 former passengers from the ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak, which has claimed three lives.
Yet, Rosmarin, who is one of more than 140 passengers and crew members, insists that it’s not all doom and gloom.
“I’m in good spirits. I feel good; I have no symptoms. I have my daily temperature checked,” he noted about his current care and improving morale after disembarking the ship, which got stranded off the African coast as fears of the virus loomed.
Reflecting on those tense seven days on board, he mentioned he was in a really dark place. During that time, he even shared an emotional video on Instagram, reaching out for “kindness and understanding.”
Symptoms of the hantavirus can take up to six weeks to appear, which is why the 42-day quarantine was deemed necessary at this federal unit. Health officials pointed out that staying in quarantine is voluntary; former passengers can opt to self-monitor at home if they choose.
Rosmarin has decided to stick it out. “I knew before we even got here that we would have the opportunity to stay the whole time if we wanted, and that’s the decision I made from day one,” he explained. “It’s about being safe for my family and friends, and knowing that, in the worst-case scenario, I’m in the best medical hands possible.”
When asked about his worries regarding infection, he replied, “I’m honestly trying not to think about it.” Instead, he’s focusing on staying positive, sharing that sulking would only worsen his situation.
In lighthearted moments, he’s posted cheerful videos showcasing his private bathroom, an exercise bike, and some tasty meals waiting for him, including Starbucks coffee delivered by nurses.
“I think we’re being treated very well here,” he mentioned about his accommodations while keeping his window closed due to media presence outside.
While he chats with nurses when they pass by, he hasn’t reached out to the other quarantined individuals yet. He chose not to disclose whether he knows them or if they also plan to stay the full six weeks. When pressed about contact with anyone infected, he remained tight-lipped.
“It’s a small ship; we all at least knew each other’s faces,” was all he had to say, preferring to respect others’ privacy.
For now, Rosmarin is concentrating on staying optimistic. The moment he’s released, he looks forward to embracing his family in Boston and New York—that first hug will be everything to him.
“Because that first hug that I get to give is going to be the best thing in the world,” he said, with a mix of hope and anticipation.
He has travel plans already in place for after his quarantine, just not on a cruise ship.
Rosmarin noted that just before the outbreak, he was acting as an unpaid brand ambassador for the cruise line, a role he took up after leaving his TV advertising job in 2022 to travel full-time.
“Travel’s going to be hard,” he admitted, “and I’ll need to push myself quickly to confront the trauma associated with this experience, especially since it’s something I’ve always loved.”
