Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[moa999]

Typical Ch. 7 hatchet job on their special, including that infectious diseases expert Kevin Rudd who was crossed to multiple times.

Basically just rehashed info already in the press.

 

[Pushka]

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Post automatically merged: Apr 5, 2020

Typical Ch. 7 hatchet job on their special, including that infectious diseases expert Kevin Rudd who was crossed to multiple times.

Basically just rehashed info already in the press.

Kevin Bluddy Rudd. The “journalist” reminded me of Mike Munro at his very worst.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It seems that what has happened on Ruby has been a particularly virulent virus - so many deaths and many more than Diamond. Are you in a position to comment?

South Australia had many positives from Ruby, over 80. We haven't had any deaths at all but there are 8 in ICU and I wonder if these too, are Ruby Princess victims. Just so tragic.

I’m not sorry. I don’t think the virulence of the virus on Ruby Princess is the issue, it will most likely be the same as the other circulating strains. Will be lots more to come out regarding infection control practices, reporting etc onboard not just this ship but cruise ships in general.

 

[SydneySwan]

Kevin Bluddy Rudd. The “journalist” reminded me of Mike Munro at his very worst.

This program reminded me why I never watch Ch 7. Too many ads, meandering story, unsatisfactory conclusion, very questionable expert (K Rudd), no interviews with Princess / Carnival, etc. Need to wait for 4 Corners to do a proper investigation unless Mick Fuller gets to the truth first.

 

[odysseus]

This program reminded me why I never watch Ch 7. Too many ads, meandering story, unsatisfactory conclusion, very questionable expert (K Rudd), no interviews with Princess / Carnival, etc. Need to wait for 4 Corners to do a proper investigation unless Mick Fuller gets to the truth first.

The latter isn't promising as he started by focusing blame on the ship, and disregarding the government departments involved.

And given the time so far it looks like a witch hunt to avoid blame on government departments rather than there being a legitimate case.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I’m not sorry. I don’t think the virulence of the virus on Ruby Princess is the issue, it will most likely be the same as the other circulating strains. Will be lots more to come out regarding infection control practices, reporting etc onboard not just this ship but cruise ships in general.

From what I have read so far CV 19 seems to be quite stable and that differences in mortality rates gets back to things like the age and health of people (ie comorbidities) as well as factors such as the health system not being overwhelmed where aspects such as enough staff and equipment, as well as viral load can also be at play.

The Ruby Princess fatalities do seem to have been mainly amongst the elderly. I am not sure how many had comorbidities.

I did see one interview from a crew member who remarked that the passengers were particularly old on this cruise. But many cruise ships are of course and his comments may not have been accurate.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

3 patients in their 30’s in ICU on ventilators

It's a pity that the youngsters appear less disciplined than us oldies ( who really don't want to cark it right now)
I was young and bulletproof once.. so I sorta understand.. but it's disappointing allasame

They may not be there due to themselves not being disciplined though. They may be there for all sorts of reasons including others being not disciplined, and/or various health issues which make them more susceptible.

A cluster of cases in Vic for example were all being treated for cancer at the one facility.

 

[Pushka]

From what I have read so far CV 19 seems to be quite stable and that differences in mortality rates gets back to things like the age and health of people (ie comorbidities) as well as factors such as the health system not being overwhelmed where aspects such as enough staff and equipment, as well as viral load can also be at play.

The Ruby Princess fatalities do seem to have been mainly amongst the elderly. I am not sure how many had comorbidities.

I did see one interview from a crew member who remarked that the passengers were particularly old on this cruise. But many cruise ships are of course and his comments may not have been accurate.

Agree re the elderly comments but the crew?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Agree re the elderly comments but the crew?

I dont know what the %s of each crew is.

But the first ship went into lockdown. The second has not. From the helicopter pics ypu see the crew in groups on deck chatting.

 

[tgh]

Another floating petri dish , cooking it up and keeping it quiet

I opine that cruising will never be the same again and may take a generation or more to recover


Crew members employed on the Disney Wonder reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, according to several employees on the ship who wish to remain anonymous.

Yesterday around 6:30 P.M. the captain of the Disney Wonder announced over the ship’s intercom that 38 crew members on the cruise ship are positive for the virus.

Previously, the Disney Wonder sailed from New Orleans to the Port of San Diego, arriving on March 19th, where the passengers all disembarked. According to a local news station in San Diego, none of the 1,980 passengers or crew members, except for one crew member who had influenza, showed COVID-19 symptoms at the time.

Passengers disembarked after health screenings and were given recommendations to self-quarantine for 14 days, according to the medical director of the San Diego County’s epidemiology department, Dr. Eric McDonald. It was during this time at their respective homes that multiple passengers reported testing positive, Disney Cruise Line told the local media in San Diego.

By the end of March one passenger and one crew member had both tested positive for COVID-19. The Port of San Diego later confirmed that multiple passengers and two crew members had tested positive. Another local newspaper reported that one crew member had been taken ashore for emergency medical treatment due to COVID-19.

Dr. McDonald was quoted as saying a week ago that several of the ships crew, who remain aboard, have required medical attention for suspected COVID infections.

According to crew members on the Disney Wonder, five crew members with COVID-19 have been sent to shore-side hospitals for medical treatment.

I first mentioned coronavirus on the Disney Wonder on March 28th when I posted a article from a local NBC station in San Diego. All of the crew members who subsequently contacted me complain that they are under strict instructions from Disney not to speak to the media or post information like this on social media.

 

[Fifa]

Kevin Bluddy Rudd. The “journalist” reminded me of Mike Munro at his very worst.

Sunrise presenters interviewed Rudd this morning too! Since when did he become an expert on Covid-19???
I switched over to the ABC straight away.

 

[get me outta here]

I have a friend who is a retired US Navy ship commander. His view is that the only mistake made by the Teddy Rooseveldt now docked in Guam with many infected sailors on board and in hospitals including the captain, was that they made a stop in Vietnam during the active virus warning.

 

[Pushka]

Sunrise presenters interviewed Rudd this morning too! Since when did he become an expert on Covid-19???
I switched over to the ABC straight away.

Do you think he's being um, influenced to deflect from China?

 

[Tiki]

How stable will the cruise industry be after this is all over (vaccine and/or cure)?

We have around $450 AUD deposit on Princess cruise to PNG Oct 2021. I am reasonably sure the health issues will be resolved by then. But I am worried that the fallout from Diamond/Ruby will cause the collapse of Princess. And not sure how quickly the ports will want to have ships coming back in. The ports in PNG are probably very dependant on tourists from the ship. I don't know if I should try to get my deposit back now and rebook next year if things have stabilized? Would I get the refund on my credit card? Or just vouchers?

 

[drron]

Do you think he's being um, influenced to deflect from China?

Absolutely Pushka.He always played the Chinese card hard.
An an expert on Border Security.Give me a break.

 

[Pushka]

Absolutely Pushka.He always played the Chinese card hard.
An an expert on Border Security.Give me a break.

You forgot to add - an expert in Covid19.

 

[tgh]

Carnival Sells 8 Percent Stake to Saudis After Dire Financial Warning

Carnival Corp. stealthily filed its first quarter earnings on Friday, giving insight into a company on its knees as it faces an unprecedented crisis, and disclosing a long list of risk factors to its business going forward.

The world’s largest cruise company — which has found itself at the epicenter of the Covid-19 crisis with incidents across its fleet — paused sailings on Mar. 13 after both the U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control advised against cruising. It has approximately 6,000 passengers on vessels still at sea, which it is struggling to find ports for, creating a PR nightmare as well as a genuine risk of life to crew and passengers on board.

The company’s share price has been down 80 percent since the beginning of the year. On Monday, shares jumped 25 percent when Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund took a 8.2 percent stake in the company.

Carnival Sells 8 Percent Stake to Saudis After Dire Financial Warning

Carnival Corp. stealthily filed its first quarter earnings on Friday, giving insight into a company on its knees as it faces an unprecedented crisis, and disclosing a long list of risk factors to its business going forward. The world's largest cruise company — which has found itself at the...

finance.yahoo.com

 

[Anna]

Cruise bookings are on the rise for 2021 despite coronavirus

It seems travelers are prepared to batten down the hatches and sail close to the wind, as cruise bookings for 2021 are on the rise. Analysts at UBS say booking volume for 2021 cruises has “go…

nypost.com

Probably a combination of people using up their FCC and also "The analysis doesn’t show how much of the reported increase is actually people just optimistically re-booking their canceled cruise for next year". Still a surprising result though!

 

[odysseus]

Cruise bookings are on the rise for 2021 despite coronavirus

It seems travelers are prepared to batten down the hatches and sail close to the wind, as cruise bookings for 2021 are on the rise. Analysts at UBS say booking volume for 2021 cruises has “go…

nypost.com

Probably a combination of people using up their FCC and also "The analysis doesn’t show how much of the reported increase is actually people just optimistically re-booking their canceled cruise for next year". Still a surprising result though!

I wouldn't pay credence to that report.

The statement is vague, in that it doesn't describe the basis of the assessment. And it's clearly at odds with what both major groups have stated. e.g. Even from the article before it explicitly state the opposite. "The company said that not only were forward bookings for the remainder of 2020 “significantly behind the prior year,” but that even bookings for the first half of 2021 are down." And, no I wouldn't use that to suggest that bookings for the latter half of CY 2021 have increased more than the decrease for H1.

Further, it can be readily seen by the collapse/closures of travel agents that booking volume is not there.

It's likely an analysis of a niche cruise line, or some other aspect but isn't representative of the overall situation.

 

[get me outta here]

So, the criminal investigation into the Ruby P debacle starts with info getting out, but only from "Sources of knowledge of official enquires". Still to be verified, but Border Farce may have egg on it's face after all :

Border Force allowed Ruby Princess to dock
By Nick McKenzie and Alexandra Smith
An Australian Border Force officer instructed a Sydney harbour master to allow the troubled Ruby Princess to dock despite as many as 140 passengers in isolation on board, official sources said.
Sources with knowledge of official inquiries into the debacle revealed a conversation took place with the Port Authority of NSW employee and a female Border Force officer in the hours before the ship was due to dock.

The Border Force officer expressed concern about passengers disembarking as she had been made aware that as many as 140 passengers on board were in isolation due to health concerns.
So serious were the concerns she flagged, the harbour master offered to stop the ship at Bradley’s Head to prevent it docking at Sydney Harbour.
The crucial development is understood to be a key part of a NSW Police criminal investigation examining the fiasco.

"When the Herald on Monday spoke to Anthony Londero, the man who was taken from the cruiseship to Royal Prince Alfred hospital in an ambulance upon arrival in Sydney, he said he had not been contacted by police".