Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[Quickstatus]

Let's hope nobody gets the idea of starting a fire onboard to try to force disembarkation that way

There are easy ways to set off a smoke alarm without starting a fire
.......
Being stuck in one room with your significant other is a sure way to stress test the relationship

 

[sjk]

Not everyone has the funds to stay I suspect, or may have relatives that need looking after etc.
Tough choice for some.

Exactly. Now substitute Japan for Bali, and the choice becomes even tougher.

 

[amaroo]

OP, danger, Will Robinson !!!!

 

[Pushka]

There are easy ways to set off a smoke alarm without starting a fire
.......
Being stuck in one room with your significant other is a sure way to stress test the relationship

As they are saying on Cruise Critic, in 9 months time there will be lots of babies and lots of dIvorces

 

[get me outta here]

Let’s hope it doesn’t come to blows.

There are easy ways to set off a smoke alarm without starting a fire
.......
Being stuck in one room with your significant other is a sure way to stress test the relationship

 

[DC3]

Let's hope nobody gets the idea of starting a fire onboard to try to force disembarkation that way

... a result of cabin fever?

 

[Anna]

I've been trying to keep up with facts rather than speculation but who knows what's true on the internet. As far as I can tell re cruise ships and novel coronavirus -

World Dream has been cleared in HK and pax have been allowed to disembark after 4 days onboard quarantine, with no further quarantine requirements.

Diamond Princess continues to have new infections, somewhere between 64-71 in all now depending which source you read. Princess appears to be getting better at making people comfortable while confined to their cabins, eg free phone and internet, better tv choices including exercise videos, nicotine gum for smokers (onboard smoking is banned including on balconies) and making telephone counselling available for people who feel their mental health is suffering while confined in a cabin. One concern is that if novel coronavirus can be spread through air conditioning, enforced quarantine on a ship is like putting people into a disease incubator especially if they have no access to fresh air, eg people with inside cabins or window cabins.

Anthem of the Seas is docked in New Jersey USA, empty apart from crew, while it is cleaned and while reports of a case of a pax with novel coronavirus previously onboard are investigated. Pax who were supposed to be cruising on it to the Caribbean are stranded and complaining of little assistance from RCCL.

Westerdam is still at sea for about a fourth day in a row, apparently trying to find a port that will accept it although as far as I can tell there aren't any confirmed cases onboard of novel coronavirus.

No guarantee the above is correct!

 

[drron]

The Westerdam should head to Bangkok.
The Silver Spirit was cruising Bangkok to Taiwan.Wasn't allowed to dock in Taiwan or Japan as had docked in Hong Kong.The next cruise was meant to go to the Phillipines-it is closed.Then headed to Vietnam who originally said OK but then refused so went back to Bangkok.Had to wait for 1-2 days as port was full but has now docked and everyone off.No one on board with the corona virus.

 

[Pushka]

From what I read, Diamond did expect more people to turn positive results based on their symptoms at the time of the isolation. They originally tested just over 260 based on symptoms and contact with the 80 year old on a bus trip. Princess have not stated whether any of those testing positive were amongst the group of 260+. Everyone is taking their temps and high temps are being further investigated. They’ve also removed another 10 people for different health reasons. That would be me if there and in an inside cabin. I would have gone stark raving mad as my claustrophobia and anxiety would have well and truly kicked in by now. The latest batch of 6 overnight - five were crew I read. Heaven help them if so.

Westerdam has been the Asian cruise in Asian waters yet I don’t think anyone has the virus.

And all of the above could well not be true.

 

[Anna]

Also in the spirit of factual accuracy, the outbreak of novel coronavirus has not technically been declared to be a 'pandemic' - although that may yet happen if cases occur around the world that cannot in some way be traced back to Wuhan.

 

[Pushka]

Also in the spirit of factual accuracy, the outbreak of novel coronavirus has not technically been declared to be a 'pandemic' - although that may yet happen if cases occur around the world that cannot in some way be traced back to Wuhan.

Ah, so that’s the trigger for being called a pandemic?

 

[VPS]

This whole thing makes me firm that I would never choose an inside cabin even though it's a lot cheaper (I don't think I would have ever done that anyway) and in fact after just cruising with a balcony it's going to make it very hard to go back to just a window

 

[Pushka]

This whole thing makes me firm that I would never choose an inside cabin even though it's a lot cheaper (I don't think I would have ever done that anyway) and in fact after just cruising with a balcony it's going to make it very hard to go back to just a window

It changes that saying that all you do is shower, dress and sleep in it. If I can’t afford a balcony or at least a window that opens, I wouldn’t cruise. We spend a lot of time on the balcony even in Alaska.

 

[tgh]

Westerdam has been offered two port options (rumoured to be with support from the Netherlands) but has not yet decided.
S_Spirit was going back to Manila empty to reload but hard to see that happening

It's all quite amazing chaos, but just imagine the thoughts of all the thousands of prospective passengers spread around the world..to go or not to go….

I guess it's all about Singapore, if there is minimal escalation they will stay open for business and some semblance of order will return.
3 New cases yesterday making 43 positives with 6 in IC.
All three new cases have no traceable link to infected carriers….

 

[tgh]

We try to have a balcony , but it's not really cost sensible on little ships like the Silver Discoverer which does have quite large fixed windows in the mid range cabins
I recently had a cabin with just a porthole on the Coral adventurer and found it a bit claustrophobic with insufficient natural light.

anyway.. back to the bug….

 

[lovetravellingoz]

One concern is that if novel coronavirus can be spread through air conditioning, enforced quarantine on a ship is like putting people into a disease incubator especially if they have no access to fresh air, eg people with inside cabins or window cabins.

I realise people are fearful, but I think it best not to spread concerns that do not seem to match the current advice.

People are advised to not wear masks, and avoid contact by 8ft with anyone who is infected.
How is it prevented?
It’s likely that general prevention measures used for other coronavirus infections will also prevent infection with 2019-nCoV.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends measures to reduce the general risk of acute respiratory infections while travelling in or from affected areas by:

• avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections;
• frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment;
• avoiding close contact with live or dead farm or wild animals;
• people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (keep away from other people, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds).

Travellers to China should not visit live bird and animal markets, including ‘wet’ markets. There is currently no vaccine to prevent 2019-nCoV infections.



The infected and those being tested have been held in buildings with AC, and transported in aircraft etc.

All of which suggests to me that transmission through AC is not considered to be a risk factor

 

[zenyattamondatta]

I guess it's all about Singapore, if there is minimal escalation they will stay open for business and some semblance of order will return.

Again, which is more likely? That Singapore is in fact a bigger problem than Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and many other nations, or that Singapore is making their problems more visible due to greater medical sophistication and better information disclosure?

I'd rather be in Singapore than many other places right now.

 

[offshore171]

Now confirmed as airborne.

Also, probably not the time for shared hotpot style dishes:

Family gets coronavirus after sharing hotpot

A family of nine who shared a meal at a Hong Kong restaurant have all tested positive for the coronavirus.

www.news.com.au

 

[tgh]

Maybe it is time to review our Port access arrangements

Currently docked in coughet, Thailand, the Queen Mary 2 will sail directly from South East Asia to Fremantle, docking in the Port City on February 18.

Luxury cruise ship diverted to Fremantle from Singapore amid coronavirus fears

A luxury around-the-world cruise scheduled to dock in Singapore next week has been diverted to Western Australia amid coronavirus fears.

www.smh.com.au

 

[get me outta here]

I would draw @Cruiser Elite to this and that it is confirmed 'airborne', and his potential trip to China.

Now confirmed as airborne.

Also, probably not the time for shared hotpot style dishes:

Family gets coronavirus after sharing hotpot

A family of nine who shared a meal at a Hong Kong restaurant have all tested positive for the coronavirus.

www.news.com.au