2 possible EBOLA patients on MAGIC

[KatieCharlotte]

This hysteria is needless. But if you all must continue to freak out, perhaps it will reduce the number of people in St. Thomas during November. I like it when the beaches aren't very crowded.

 

Not to mention cheap cruises. I'd love a price drop on my winter cruise, and I have my eye on an Easter cruise that is current out of our price range. My kids are also dying to go back on the Magic. :D

 

People who have been exposed to Ebola should not fly on airplanes or go on cruises, mostly because of the great inconvenience and anxiety they create. And the hospital clearly made mistakes in identifying the first case and protecting its nurses. But I am not worried about traveling, and I don't think anything should be done regarding the thousands disembarking from that ship and returning to their normal lives, all of whom are much more likely to die on the drive home.

[texast518]

I agree with you. Carnival isn't going to want to pay docking fees if they don't need to. They might keep the ship in Galveston Bay, but I can't imagine why they would dock early.

 

Just called CCL, due in regular time Sun, taking their time saving fuel.

[jimbo5544]

Agreed. That said, I think they'd be best off destroying all soft goods and fully sanitizing the cabin, if only to reassure passengers that they have taken the potential for threat seriously. The cost would be minimal compared to the positive press.

 

 

I would agree they will take needed precautions and more to make their customers vacation the best that they can.

 

 

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[RuthlessBoss]

I think you make a lot of assumptions. The woman that flew asked the CDC not once but twice if she was cleared to fly, and reported having a low grade fever. She was cleared to do so. If she was cleared, certainly an asymptomatic lab worker who might not have ever even been within 25 feet of a vial containing Ebola would have been told to go and enjoy herself.

 

When her family member was interviewed, he said she called someone else (can't remember who) but it was not CDC!

[ScottsSweetie]

So, I've read about 1/2 of the pages here, and wanted to share a couple of things I heard / read.

 

1. Yesterday morning, I saw an interview with a doctor who is an Infectious Disease Specialist. She was asked, among other questions, about the cruise ship, and her comment was along the lines of - that is the one I am the least worried about. When the interviewer looked puzzled and asked why, her reply was (again, paraphrasing), - they already have some of the best cleaning procedures in place because of dealing with with the norovirus, so I am not worried about their practices.

 

2. There happens to be a television reporter on board the Magic who is tweeting from the ship. You can see his tweets at

 

http://twitchy.com/2014/10/17/mood-on-the-ship-is-good-tv-reporter-recounts-vacation-aboard-ebola-cruise/

 

Again, the reality on the ship doesn't match the hysteria that might be reported in the media.

Edited October 18, 2014 by ScottsSweetie

[jimbo5544]

 

Again, the reality on the ship doesn't match the hysteria that might be reported in the media.

 

As is always the case. But that makes for poor TV coverage.

 

 

 

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[ScottsSweetie]

Another interesting article concerning "Ebola Cruise" (speaking of television coverage & ratings):

 

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/10/17/if-you-liked-poop-cruise-youll-love-ebola-cruise/?utm_source=hafbp&utm_medium=fbpage&utm_campaign=haupdate

[andy.capitan]

Just called CCL, due in regular time Sun, taking their time saving fuel.

 

They are cruising at about 20 knots. I guess their warp drive has malfunctioned.

[jimbo5544]

Another interesting article concerning "Ebola Cruise" (speaking of television coverage & ratings):

 

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/10/17/if-you-liked-poop-cruise-youll-love-ebola-cruise/?utm_source=hafbp&utm_medium=fbpage&utm_campaign=haupdate

 

 

I rest my case.

 

 

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[andy.capitan]

Less than 24 hours until the passengers start leaving the ship and a lot of the hot air with them.

[luvtheships]

It would b tough to come in day early, flights, dock personnel, etc. Unless they just parked there & did nothing until tomorrow, no reason to get 2 passengers off if no symptoms.

 

Yes it would be however it was posted here that they were coming in early therefore that is why I asked. Ok

 

 

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[flacousa]

Just called CCL, due in regular time Sun, taking their time saving fuel.

 

Not only the fuel but the passengers who had schedule flights back home would have to be put up in hotels overnight so why not just keep them in the ship.

[happy cruzin]

I think you make a lot of assumptions. The woman that flew asked the CDC not once but twice if she was cleared to fly, and reported having a low grade fever. She was cleared to do so. If she was cleared, certainly an asymptomatic lab worker who might not have ever even been within 25 feet of a vial containing Ebola would have been told to go and enjoy herself.

 

 

Exactly!

 

 

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[happy cruzin]

As is always the case. But that makes for poor TV coverage.

 

 

 

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Sad...but true!

 

 

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[bobar]

i truly believe everything will go great with debarkation tomorrow and we will safely embark 4000 people for for the next cruise and there will be an extra clean disinfected ship waiting to show them a great vacation. There is no ebola onboard and the lab worker should not feel guilty at all. This is what lab workers do and they are around infectious and deadly diseases every day but they have a protocol they follow it and they stay healthy and have long healthy careers. Or we would see them dropping like flies all over the country and world every day and no one would want to be a lab worker. Think about it folks.

Please lets not repeat the mistakes and lack of human compassion that we had for AIDS victims with ebola.

Hope tomorrow goes smoothly. The cruiseline and the lady involved and her husband do not deserve this. and just last month the Magic got a perfect score for its sanitation so they are always on top of things on that ship not just because of this .

have a great Saturday everyone..will let everyone know how work went when i get home tomorrow afternoon

[ducklite]

Less than 24 hours until the passengers start leaving the ship and a lot of the hot air with them.

 

In less than 24 hours is will be 21 days since the lab worker last had any potential contact with Ebola, so it's a moot point if they continue to be asymptomatic.

[redtogo]

I know this is a scary situation for people like me who love to travel, but I feel like I have to either isolate myself from the world, or try to live cautiously while enjoying life and this beautiful world that we live in.

 

On another note, I find it ironic that some Americans have thought that the US government should heavy restrict entry at our Mexican border, and now.......Lo and behold, a part of Mexico has restricted entry to a group of our citizens traveling on the Magic.

[ducklite]

Please lets not repeat the mistakes and lack of human compassion that we had for AIDS victims with ebola.

 

I agree with most of your post, and I do think we need to have compassion for those with Ebola, however they are very different diseases. HIV can't be passed with casual contact. Doctors no longer wear protective gear when treating HIV patients unless that would be protocol for that particular treatment with any patient. If John Smith was HIV positive and saw his doctor because he had pulled a muscle in his back, his doctor wouldn't wear a mask and probably not even gloves unless there was an abrasion or cut on Mr. Smith's back.

[happy cruzin]

In less than 24 hours is will be 21 days since the lab worker last had any potential contact with Ebola, so it's a moot point if they continue to be asymptomatic.

 

 

Yes!

 

 

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[andy.capitan]

I know this is a scary situation for people like me who love to travel, but I feel like I have to either isolate myself from the world, or try to live cautiously while enjoying life and this beautiful world that we live in.

 

On another note, I find it ironic that some Americans have thought that the US government should heavy restrict entry at our Mexican border, and now.......Lo and behold, a part of Mexico has restricted entry to a group of our citizens traveling on the Magic.

 

I think it is payback from when US cruises boycotted Mexico over H1N1. ;)

[Cindy]

I don't blame Carnival, I blame the woman for boarding knowing that she should not have boarded the ship. What should happen to her? She ruined a lot of people's vacation, she put Carnival in a bad light. I have a sneaking suspicion that she boarded the ship because she didn't have trip insurance. She felt as though she was entitled to a vacation because of her stressful situation at work. I believe she should be banned from Carnival for life. I see her getting sued not Carnival.

 

Wow! Pass judgment much? The truth is, you made a lot of assumptions about the actions of the lab worker when none of us know what her possible disease exposure was, what she was told, or when she understood that she should probably stay home.

 

I think Carnival's response to something out of their control has been incredible. As for the rest of it, let's not condemn someone before all the facts have come to light. IMO, the CDC and the folks at Texas Presbyterian are AT LEAST as much at fault as the passenger. While I question the thought process of the lab worker moving forward with her plans, I have grave concerns about the people charged with the health and safety of our country. If they hadn't made numerous missteps since the latest outbreak started, this thread wouldn't exist.

[Carnival Beerleader]

I would bet that Carnival will have lots of extra staff at the pier tomorrow to take care of the passengers. JH will keep us informed for sure.

[gunner13]

Well.. The Magic has returned a day early. It is almost back to TX now. Check out the tracker. http://ships.carnivalentertainment.com/#ship/carnival-magic

 

The below is a post John Heald (or someone with access to his account) put up yesterday (Friday.)

 

>> John Heald

Yesterday

Here is the latest news for you.

 

The Carnival Magic, which was waiting off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico this morning to dock there for a scheduled port visit, had not received clearance from Mexican authorities to do so by 12 noon eastern time today and therefore the decision was made to proceed to Galveston to ensure the ship arrives there on time on Sunday morning.

We greatly regret that this situation, which was completely beyond our control, precluded the ship from making its scheduled visit to Cozumel and the resulting disappointment it has caused our guests.

 

The Texas healthcare worker on board continues to show no symptoms of illness and poses no risk to the guests or crew on board.

 

The individual remains in voluntary isolation. Guests on the ship are being provided a $200 per person credit to their shipboard accounts and a 50 percent discount on a future cruise based on the missed visit to Cozumel.

 

Off to the airport but will check in with you all before I fly <<

 

Since I can't find anywhere Carnival has issued a contradictory statement I'm considering that as "official" as I'm apt to get.

 

I'll also mention that this seems pretty generous on Carnival's behalf. In January we were on the Dream and couldn't make 2 of the 4 ports due to really rough seas. Like this possibly exposed/infected hospital employee on the Magic that is totally out of Carnival's control. Yet, they gave us 25% off a future cruise.

[cruisejess]

I would bet that Carnival will have lots of extra staff at the pier tomorrow to take care of the passengers. JH will keep us informed for sure.

 

Just wondering if they have announced that they are changing the turn around procedure tomorrow. Are they taking any extra steps to clean the ship? Have they assured the oncoming passengers that they will dock as scheduled in the ports of call?

[ducklite]

I would bet that Carnival will have lots of extra staff at the pier tomorrow to take care of the passengers. JH will keep us informed for sure.

 

Why? As far as everything being reported, the ship is coming in on schedule and there are no changes to the departure later that day. It's business as usual. Unless it turns out that the lab worker does have Ebola antibodies in her blood, there would be absolutely no reason for extra workers. If she is infected, it's not going to be Carnival workers at the dock, it's going to be DHS/CDC and the USCG.