Code Red on Mariner

[NJBelle]

Yes, it is too serious to blow off the protocol as stupid. It has to be nipped in the bud. None of the people I am talking are wingeing about the protocol at all (the laundry folks were kind of chuckling about it, not complaining). It it’s not that intrusive, and we will be done soon.

 

On a very positive note, we have the Blue Moon down here right as I type. We are on the port side so see it in all it’s glory. Beautiful!!

[Johnthesailor]

Well, good luck. When we cruised there about two years ago, the code red went off and on from Lima I believe to close to the end of the cruise. Most of the time it was on. Inconvenient but not a spoiler. I think the laundry went to half price. Most folks still had a good time although it would have been better if no sickness.

[ellbon]

Library is. Loved. Not sure if internet room is. Laundry room is. Gee, wash by hand,

 

AZ never had free internet on it. For most us we get free laundry as we worked for it.

 

Towels.. always leave bathroom. But the hand cream I found in another bzthroom today.

 

Everything is wiped down but heard anorher guest case a week into cruise.

 

Feeling great

[Gilly]

The issue is, when it's announced that "unless anyone else reports within x hours, we're clear of Code Red", doesn't it put a little pressure on someone developing symptoms to stay quiet and not report it? I know how frustrating it is to be so near and yet so far from clearance, but it's so important for people to report their symptoms to the medical centre and act sensibly.

[mrlevin]

I was probably a little harsh in my previous post; I know they are working hard to get ship healthy. It just seems to me a little bit of forensic analysis of who is getting sick and why now (instead of when we boarded in Lima) might limit impact on passengers as a whole. I sure do miss canapés before dinner. :(

 

Marc

[BBfromCA]

Marc,

I don't understand why you are not getting canapés before dinner. We are onboard with you and we are getting them delivered to our cabin.

[DeepFreeze63]

I was probably a little harsh in my previous post; I know they are working hard to get ship healthy. It just seems to me a little bit of forensic analysis of who is getting sick and why now (instead of when we boarded in Lima) might limit impact on passengers as a whole. I sure do miss canapés before dinner. :(

 

Marc

 

I agree with you. Containment is important but finding out the cause is too. What is different about a cruise ship environment?

I go about my life with lots of contact with people who are surely carrying "germs" Newspaper at breakfast, Metro train, museums, food truck meals, theaters, food shopping, local restaurants, and tours of the Zoo (with tons of young ones who are probably incubators of germs). Yet, I've only gotten "flu-like" symptoms on a river-boat cruise in Holland and a Voyager cruise in French waters!

 

OK lovers of mysteries and of uninterrupted cruising, let's try to solve this.

[Travelcat2]

People also get sick on airplanes frequently. Could it be breathing the same air as those that are sick in an enclosed environment? We also breathe the same air on a cruise ship but for longer periods of time. Another factor is the age of passengers on a cruise ship. OTOH, not everyone on a cruise ship or airplane becomes ill.

 

Another thing that is different on cruise ships is shaking hands. We don't typically shake hands frequently in our daily lives (thinking stores, restaurants, etc.)

 

Keep in mind that only a dozen or so people need to be ill in order for a Code Red to be implemented. If you look at the flu issues in the U.S. right now, thousands are sick and hundreds are dying but the majority of us do not have the flu.

 

It is an interesting topic but if there was an easy solution the problem wouldn't exist. What puzzles me the most is the consistency of "Code Red" in South America - particularly when a ship visits Lima.

[pvgal]

We did the entire 72 days around South America twice. The first time in 2012 and then again in 2015. The 2015 trip was Code Red most of the time since we left Lima. In Buenos Aires they told all of the continuing passengers to either go on tour or stay in Horizon Lounge while they did a deep cleaning of the entire ship. Still did not get us out of Code Red. One lady broke quarantine and was escorted off the ship. The ship does everything it can to make a pleasant trip, but these things happen. We finally bought our own salt and pepper to use. An interesting experience. But we all survived.

 

Eileen

[CBWIR]

We did the entire 72 days around South America twice. The first time in 2012 and then again in 2015. The 2015 trip was Code Red most of the time since we left Lima. In Buenos Aires they told all of the continuing passengers to either go on tour or stay in Horizon Lounge while they did a deep cleaning of the entire ship. Still did not get us out of Code Red. One lady broke quarantine and was escorted off the ship. The ship does everything it can to make a pleasant trip, but these things happen. We finally bought our own salt and pepperto use. An interesting experience. But we all survived.

 

Eileen

We were also on in 2015. You didn't mention the generator problem in Santos. But as you said -- we all survived. Always keep the glass half full.

[Gilly]

We too have the 2015 campaign medal (and lived to tell the tale!) I wonder, has the ship ever done the circle South America in a clockwise direction? If so, so, I wonder if the southern half of the journey was code-red-free?

[UUNetBill]

Couldn’t resist...

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mom0f3]

We too have the 2015 campaign medal (and lived to tell the tale!) I wonder, has the ship ever done the circle South America in a clockwise direction? If so, so, I wonder if the southern half of the journey was code-red-free?

 

 

 

Gilly, we were originally booked on this cruise, but cancelled and opted instead for the 2019 Explorer cruise from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso in the hopes that starting in BA rather than Lima might decrease the chances of GI illness/code red. We will let you know next year how it worked out. The down side is that it doesn’t look like they have Terry Breen booked as the lecturer on that trip. A real shame—she is great.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Gilly]

Thanks for answering my wondering momof3. I hope your cruise is code-red-free (as indeed, I wish every cruise would be) I'll be interested to read how it goes! Shame that you'll miss out on Terry Breen's expertise - she is a remarkable speaker and yes, her presentations have enriched our experience considerably. Maybe Regent will show feature her on one of the TV channels?

[mrlevin]

Another case reported yesterday; 48 hour clock has restarted. :(

[DeepFreeze63]

I agree with you. Containment is important but finding out the cause is too. What is different about a cruise ship environment?

I go about my life with lots of contact with people who are surely carrying "germs" Newspaper at breakfast, Metro train, museums, food truck meals, theaters, food shopping, local restaurants, and tours of the Zoo (with tons of young ones who are probably incubators of germs). Yet, I've only gotten "flu-like" symptoms on a river-boat cruise in Holland and a Voyager cruise in French waters!

 

OK lovers of mysteries and of uninterrupted cruising, let's try to solve this.

 

I'm still noodling over this (full disclosure: I have this cruise booked in 11/19). For what it's worth:

For each of my 2 "confined-to-cabin" events:

• I started the cruises in very good health (was during my workout-zealot years)
  
• I got very tired after the "port-intensive" activities. If its to be seen, I'm there.
  
• The weather had been unusually rainy and cold for several days before I felt ill. I normally am chilled in the ship venues as well.
  
• Several passengers were "confined" before me (my confinement was voluntary; I had no interest in leaving the cabin).
  
• I'm meticulous about washing and sanitizing my hands when on a cruise but probably shake hands a lot.
  
• I drink a lot of water (probably could challenge Tom Brady)! Anyone know how Regent ships treat their water?
  
• Both episodes lasted about 2 days during which I slept under several blankets and enjoyed very, hot chicken broth delivered to the cabin (once by the Viking boat's Captain).
  

Any other amateur sleuths?

[Travelcat2]

DeepFreeze63 - interesting post!

 

I'm kind of over trying to figure it out but the fact that you shake hands a lot is interesting. I've also been sick several times onboard when I started out healthy (and I'm always hot on the ship - keep the temperature in the suite at the lowest possible setting).

 

My mind goes more towards what I did onboard our last cruise that may have prevented me from getting sick.

 

1. Disinfected door handles, telephone, remote control with wipes used in hospitals and kill/prevent norovirus (also did the disinfectant thing on the plane food trays, arm rests and any other non-cloth items at the seat).

 

2. No hand shaking

 

3. Lots of hand washing and not touching handrails (used knuckles for the elevator buttons).

 

What I don't understand is why people (including myself) don't wear masks like people in Asia do. I have the masks and take them with us on all trips. I tell myself that if someone on the plane/bus coughs, I'll wear it but it doesn't happen. Guess we are just to vain!

[NJBelle]

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Yesterday, I overheard the Captain talking to another passenger and he said that it is his hope that after our tours today, there may be some good news. No new cases were reported yesterday (as far as I know) so that would match with the 48 hours since the last one. He also added that it is kind of like the stock market - you think you know what is going to happen, but you don’t always get it right. We are due to sail from Punta Arenas at 5 pm today, so wish us good winds and good luck.

[mrlevin]

Another case this morning; the clock has restarted. :(

[PaulaJK]

Is there no entry/ lower level to star the clock? It seems to me that with hundreds of people there is always going to be one person w a cold, bronchitis, GI disorder, flu,etc.

[RustyRollock]

And there are also stubborn, selfish, inconsiderate fools who don't report their illness (whatever it may be) and continue to mingle and contaminate other guests.

[Travelcat2]

Agree that non-reporting can be an issue but people can be contagious before they show symptoms. IMO, this is a bigger issue.

[phillipahain]

Above all of that Travelcat etc

 

We continue to be sick if seeing people deliberately walking past hand sanitisers and failing to take their little hand sanitiser bottles on tours and actually use them

 

The comllacency, ignorance and downright lack of consideration amongst passengers is utterly appalling and is more in tune with those who sail on 3 star lines than would be expected on Regent

[fizzy]

Above all of that Travelcat etc

 

The comllacency, ignorance and downright lack of consideration amongst passengers is utterly appalling and is more in tune with those who sail on 3 star lines than would be expected on Regent

 

This would be the perfect time for Reggie to enter the discussion for an official statement on policy and what is actually going on. Long time contributors will probably remember the hacked up, edited, deleted and finally locked down or deleted EBOLA thread which blasted off the rails but didn't have to if someone from the company,(not counting the lawyers) would have come on board here and clarified things. What I find more appalling is the elitist comments that I often notice on this Regent forum about the types of people who sail on Regent They certainly seem to have backfired here. It doesn't measure up to the wonderful, entertaining and ongoing love story that is Wes and Ida and their travels. It probably is a less than stellar experience for some on board. How can things be made better, effective immediately?

[wanderlustsea]

I have a question, what happens with the Code Red once the ship has docked in Buenos Aires and one leg of the cruise is over? Does the clock get reset? Or does the ship stay in Code Red if there are passengers staying on through Rio who are sick? I hope this clears up and no one else gets ill! I can't imagine how horrible it would be to look forward to your trip for a long time, just to fall ill and not leave your cabin (KNOCKING ON ALL THE WOOD AROUND ME).

 

Thank you!