Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[get me outta here]

Almost as much as the USD250 I paid a NYC doc to tell him I had sinusitis and had forgotten my anti biotics, took about 3 mins.

I was on the Seabourn Quest last month and one of the passengers was complaining a visit to the ships doctor for a non emergency was US$200

 

[sanne]

Two of my medico friends have in the past worked as cruise ship doctors. It’s the most lucrative department on the ship. They said they resigned once corporate got involved as to how they should run the practice ie over service etc.

 

[Anna]

Washington Post reports Japan’s health ministry said Wednesday that 39 new cases of a virus have been confirmed on a cruise ship quarantined at a Japanese port. The update brings the total found on the Diamond Princess to 174 cases.

An ABC interview with an Australian in hospital with the virus in Japan reported that she's not feeling very sick, in fact if she was at home she said she would take Panadol and get on with things as normal.

 

[Pushka]

Oh dear, and a Quarantine Officer inspecting Diamond has now been diagnosed which suggests something is not going well with their isolation procedures as they would not have been part of the 250+ group initially suspected. Four people are in intensive care and/or on a ventilator. No other details known. All this from just one infected passenger.

 

[I love to travel]

Oh dear, and a Quarantine Officer inspecting Diamond has now been diagnosed which suggests something is not going well with their isolation procedures as they would not have been part of the 250+ group initially suspected. Four people are in intensive care and/or on a ventilator. No other details known. All this from just one infected passenger.

Noting that the Japanese are very cautious as a rule and would have employed the highest if standards for the officer it does make you wonder how this thing really does spread. A bit unnerving to be honest.

 

[Pushka]

Noting that the Japanese are very cautious as a rule and would have employed the highest if standards for the officer it does make you wonder how this thing really does spread. A bit unnerving to be honest.

Indeed, especially as it wasnt done as a precautionary measure, but with the full knowledge that the virus was active onboard at the time!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Oh dear, and a Quarantine Officer inspecting Diamond has now been diagnosed which suggests something is not going well with their isolation procedures as they would not have been part of the 250+ group initially suspected.

Do you have link to this?

The articles I have read only indicated that the Quarantine Officer has been infected with no reference as to when or how he was exposed.

 

[ozrick33]

I am leaving Sydney tomorrow in my first ever cruise. 9 days in the South Pacific. Initially Royal Caribbean were banning everyone with a Hong Kong or Chinese passport. They have just rescinded that policy but anyone who has been in Hong Kong or China recently wont be allowed to travel. I am not too concerned about the situation. I am more concerned about seasickness and my wife not liking the cruising experience. I think it’s minimal risk and not worth canceling a much needed holiday.

 

[trevella]

All this from just one infected passenger.

That's suspected by many, but not known for sure.

 

[trevella]

the 250+ group initially suspected

That went out the window a few days ago. It's clear they were wrong to limit the number of tests in that way, and a number of subsequent cases have emerged from outside that group.

Government excuses for not testing everyone on the ship have ranged from "too expensive" to "could use up resources we might need elsewhere", but in reality there's a lot of "what we don't know won't hurt us" and "please, IOC, don't take the Olympics away from us".

They've done a total of 492 tests now, which includes multiple tests for some individuals. So still over 3,200 people who haven't been tested.

 

[Pushka]

That went out the window a few days ago. It's clear they were wrong to limit the number of tests in that way, and a number of subsequent cases have emerged from outside that group.

Government excuses for not testing everyone on the ship have ranged from "too expensive" to "could use up resources we might need elsewhere", but in reality there's a lot of "what we don't know won't hurt us" and "please, IOC, don't take the Olympics away from us".

They've done a total of 492 tests now, which includes multiple tests for some individuals. So still over 3,200 people who haven't been tested.

I haven’t read that those testing positive are not part of the original cohort of suspected cases. Do you have a source? It would have been impossible to test over 4000 people multiple times.

 

[trevella]

I haven’t read that those testing positive are not part of the original cohort of suspected cases. Do you have a source? It would have been impossible to test over 4000 people multiple times.

It’s been all over the Japanese media. I can’t quote our own in-house stuff, and I don’t have time to chase down a better online source than this:

Redirect Notice

 

[Pushka]

It’s been all over the Japanese media. I can’t quote our own in-house stuff, and I don’t have time to chase down a better online source than this:

Redirect Notice

That doesnt say that those testing positive are separate from the original cohort that were suspicious for it.

 

[trevella]

That doesnt say that those testing positive are separate from the original cohort that were suspicious for it.

You're welcome to follow up if you like. I have no doubt as to the accuracy of the information.

 

[Pushka]

You're welcome to follow up if you like. I have no doubt as to the accuracy of the information.

I have been following lots of sources as I was interested to know this too but while there are theories, I haven’t seen it stated from a reliable source, direct from the Japanese Health Department, that other than the Officer testing positive today, (but that source could be form the hospital for instance,) that any of the positive passengers are not from the first group.

 

[tgh]

Currently on Sapphire Princess 21 day Grand Asia which departed Singapore 2 February. This was also sold as an 11 day and 10 day cruise. Due back in Singapore tomorrow and Captain has just announced the 10 day has been completely cancelled. No Corona virus on board though. Now have to find a flight home earlier than planned.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Currently on Sapphire Princess 21 day Grand Asia which departed Singapore 2 February. This was also sold as an 11 day and 10 day cruise. Due back in Singapore tomorrow and Captain has just announced the 10 day has been completely cancelled. No Corona virus on board though. Now have to find a flight home earlier than planned.

Good grief - did you get a full refund and your airfare home?

 

[tgh]

Good grief - did you get a full refund and your airfare home?

Sorry.. this was a " hot off the press" cut and paste from another site.. so I don't know but will look for further info...

 

[tgh]

Just a few minutes ago….

ms Westerdam will be escorted to a military base near Laem Chabang to allow for refuelling and re-provisioning of the vessel only, and while negotiations between authorities including Canada, US, Netherlands and WHO continue with Thailand. This has been announced onboard to all guests and the ship is expected to arrive at the base tomorrow morning.

 

[gecko24]

I can't begin to imagine how being trapped on the Westerdam would feel (cruising in general gives me the heeby jeebies, sorry, as you are "stuck" on a ship at sea) but I have no doubt an enterprising passenger will write a best-seller about the experience in due course. I am just surprised the Olympics haven't come up more frequently in discussions - not that many months away. Will they? can they? postpone or cancel if the epidemic ramps up.