Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[tgh]

Singapore view by a Crystal Symphony passenger ( just now )

Just returned to the ship from a day ashore. I’d estimate maybe 2-in-10 are wearing face masks. There are electronic virus advisory signs everywhere. There are body temperature scanners upon entering most hotels and shopping malls. We have never seen Singapore this uncrowded. Gardens by the Bay practically deserted. Marina Sands mall practically deserted. The MRT with many less riders than we have ever seen. Informal chats with some shop owners and restaurant managers seem to all be the same: they are anticipating 4-6 months of this visitor downturn before things improve.

Some representative photos from today are attached below. We had lunch at one of our favorites, Din Tai Fung, with no waiting! Never happened on our previous visits.

Tonight’s dinner menu attached. We have some additional plans ashore tomorrow before spending our final night onboard. The message board at the gangway still shows Symphony departing on schedule for the next cruise to Hanoi/Halong Bay.

 

[tgh]

Closer to home

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

A passenger aboard a cruise ship docked in Sydney Harbour is being tested for possible coronavirus.
The Australian understands that NSW Health are assessing a Singaporean man who fell ill with a respiratory complaint.

The cruise ship arrived in Sydney this morning having believed to be at other Australian ports after travelling from New Zealand.

The Norwegian Jewel arrived in Sydney this morning at 6am and is docked at the international passenger terminal at Circular Quay.

The 294m ship has a guest capacity of 2376 people and 1060 crew.

A source said the man was being tested as a precaution and had not yet been confirmed to have the virus.

 

[Pushka]

Closer to home

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

A passenger aboard a cruise ship docked in Sydney Harbour is being tested for possible coronavirus.
The Australian understands that NSW Health are assessing a Singaporean man who fell ill with a respiratory complaint.

The cruise ship arrived in Sydney this morning having believed to be at other Australian ports after travelling from New Zealand.

The Norwegian Jewel arrived in Sydney this morning at 6am and is docked at the international passenger terminal at Circular Quay.

The 294m ship has a guest capacity of 2376 people and 1060 crew.

A source said the man was being tested as a precaution and had not yet been confirmed to have the virus.

SIL works in Casualty. Currently they are testing many patients a day with suspected Coronavirus that end up negative.
On another forum the Crystal cancellation clause - when Crystal cancels the cruise - is abominable. No refund at all, just a FCC - not even sure if it’s for 100% - that is for a cruise that must be taken (not just booked) with 18 - maybe 12 - months. So bad that someone I know who loves Crystal will never book another cruise with them again after her cruise in May which is in Europe so should be ok.

 

[tgh]

I guess if the testing is suspect, the whole shebang is back to the dark ages

 

[Tamerton]

It may not be the tests fault. If a person is not sick but has contracted the virus it may not show up for a number of days until they show symptoms.

 

[RB]

SIL works in Casualty. Currently they are testing many patients a day with suspected Coronavirus that end up negative.
On another forum the Crystal cancellation clause - when Crystal cancels the cruise - is abominable. No refund at all, just a FCC - not even sure if it’s for 100% - that is for a cruise that must be taken (not just booked) with 18 - maybe 12 - months. So bad that someone I know who loves Crystal will never book another cruise with them again after her cruise in May which is in Europe so should be ok.

This seems to be pretty clear that it is 100%
Coronavirus Update

 

[p--and--t]

It may not be the tests fault. If a person is not sick but has contracted the virus it may not show up for a number of days until they show symptoms.

That has been confirmed and published.

No currently available test (that includes many different illnesses) is sensitive enough to pick up the very early signs of infection. The virus has to have replicated enough within the host to create enough of the signs for the test to pick it up.

 

[Pushka]

There is someone posting on CC who is currently onboard Princess Diamond. This was their comment today:

“The information we have been given is most of the primary cases were most likely infected by patient zero or his close contacts from his date of embarkation until he disembarked the ship. Secondary cases were most likely infected by the primary cases prior to the ship going into isolation.”

The information about the land accommodation being provided to those able to dismbark early would likely rule out most non Japanese citizens in terms of familiarity. There are no medical facilities, the staff most likely won’t speak English, there is no wifi for communications and all the food from breakfast through dinner will be Japanese cuisine.

 

[odysseus]

SIL works in Casualty. Currently they are testing many patients a day with suspected Coronavirus that end up negative.
On another forum the Crystal cancellation clause - when Crystal cancels the cruise - is abominable. No refund at all, just a FCC - not even sure if it’s for 100% - that is for a cruise that must be taken (not just booked) with 18 - maybe 12 - months. So bad that someone I know who loves Crystal will never book another cruise with them again after her cruise in May which is in Europe so should be ok.

That doesn't comply with ACL.

Though the situation of denied boarding due to passport is different from a cancellation.

 

[Tamerton]

ACL only applies in Australia, if the company is overseas ACL doesn't apply .

 

[Pushka]

ACL only applies in Australia, if the company is overseas ACL doesn't apply .

If you’ve booked on the Aussie website for that company even though American or elsewhere based then they do come into play. I think Crystal May be different.

 

[get me outta here]

Friends just got off Seabourn back in SYD after an Asian cruise. They missed out on a number of their stops but had some subs which were unexciting apparently. They did make it into coughet. Seaborne is returning 100% of their cost.
EDIT, and in coughet, she hit her head on a branch and required 6 stitches when back on the ship which cost USD$750.

 

[Anna]

she hit her head on a branch and required 6 stitches when back on the ship which cost USD$750.

Did they rub in some free salt with each $125 stitch?

 

[VPS]

Someone just posted this on the Seabourn Sailors FB group

Unbelievable.

With less than 24 hours notice, Seabourn have cancelled our cruise leaving tomorrow from Singapore. We have been here since Tuesday as we did not want to be jet-lagged on the ship. We are beyond disappointed.

 

[I love to travel]

A

Someone just posted this on the Seabourn Sailors FB group

Unbelievable.

With less than 24 hours notice, Seabourn have cancelled our cruise leaving tomorrow from Singapore. We have been here since Tuesday as we did not want to be jet-lagged on the ship. We are beyond disappointed.

Any info on how helpful/generous Seaborn have been with flights etc. The cruising industry is very lucky that people book so far out and that with the exception of Asia cruises life is going on as usual.

 

[VPS]

There's lots of discussion but it looks like they have offered as below plus someone else is saying refund of this cruise and 100% credit on another cruise but no compensation for airfares and hotels and some people hadn't received the notification yet. Someone else posted that Qatar and Marriott have come up trumps

 

[Pushka]

There's lots of discussion but it looks like they have offered as below plus someone else is saying refund of this cruise and 100% credit on another cruise but no compensation for airfares and hotels and some people hadn't received the notification yet. Someone else posted that Qatar and Marriott have come up trumps

View attachment 205925

The cruise lines always forget or deliberately so, that their Package airfares aren’t available to book for Australians. Have never managed to purchase an airfare with Celebrity.

Im wondering if this puts many cruise lines at financial risk, especially those who are undergoing significant capital expansion like Viking who have cancelled all their Chinese River cruises for the season.

 

[Anna]

So there was covid 19 on Westerdam after all. Global News reports:

KUALA LUMPUR/SIHANOUKVILLE- An 83-year-old American passenger from a cruise ship that docked in Cambodia after being shunned by other countries has tested positive for the new coronavirus after being tested in Malaysia, health authorities said on Saturday.

The woman was the first passenger from the MS Westerdam, operated by Carnival Corp unit Holland America Inc, to test positive for the virus.

 

[Pushka]

So there was covid 19 on Westerdam after all. Global News reports:

KUALA LUMPUR/SIHANOUKVILLE- An 83-year-old American passenger from a cruise ship that docked in Cambodia after being shunned by other countries has tested positive for the new coronavirus after being tested in Malaysia, health authorities said on Saturday.

The woman was the first passenger from the MS Westerdam, operated by Carnival Corp unit Holland America Inc, to test positive for the virus.

And back many come to Australia already. Via Malaysia in the case of one of the Adelaide couples.

Edit - this is of even more relevance re the flight to KL for the Adelaide couple - from CC:

“The woman and her husband, who tested negative, are both being treated at Sungai Buloh hospital.
They were among 145 passengers who had flown to Kuala Lumpur on Friday after the cruise ship Westerdam docked in Cambodia. Some 1,500 passengers had disembarked at Sihanoukville port after the ship had been rebuffed by Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and the US territory of Guam.
The woman is reported to be in stable condition and is being treated at the isolation ward at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.”

 

[Anna]

Princess have just announced a whole lot more cancellations for Sapphire and Majestic Princesses. Looks to me like basically their entire northern spring Asian cruise seasons up to June. Diamond remains cancelled up to 12 March but I suspect it's only a matter of time before more cancellations are announced for it too.

Lots of opportunities for Aussie ports to attract ships I would say. Could be good for Kangaroo Island and other bushfire-affected ports.

I wonder if Aussie pax returning from Westerdam will now be quarantined and if so will they be allowed to self isolate at home?