Corona virus RCI policy

[mochuck]

1 minute ago, B767drvr said:

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3871594

While China is most likely underreporting the cases of coronavirus and there are people being misdiagnosed this is probably a fake screenshot.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7971401/Have-real-coronavirus-death-figures-leaked-Chinese-conglomerate-lists-death-toll-24-589.html

[LoveTheSoul]

If you are on twitter, check out the hashtag #Coronavirus. There’s some questionable things going on and not being explained. I think they are trying to prevent a global panic

[Sail n Snow]

5 hours ago, Jzx1103 said:

 

It is discriminatory and unfounded, as I said earlier there's really no difference between potential risk of a Chinese passport holder with a U.S. greencard vs US passport holders who happens to be Chinese. It only matters if you had any connection to China in the recent month. Their previous policy was on target, this new one jumps the gun.

Actually it’s mostly just business (with cruisers health a 2nd priority) and has to do with countries banning Chinese passports.  RCI has already had to change ports of call and this possible outbreak issue on Anthem helps to make their case.  It’s unfortunate but fear is taking over and by making this move they are trying to show that a cruise ship is safe to be on at the expense of one group.  Think about when a norovirus outbreak occurs on a ship it cause a small disruption.  A Coronavirus outbreak is a possible 2 week quarantine sitting in the middle of a bay (Princess in Japan).
 

https://www.solomontimes.com/news/solomon-islands-joins-growing-list-of-countries-imposing-travel-restrictions/9557

[ccsclean21]

1 hour ago, LoveTheSoul said:

If you are on twitter, check out the hashtag #Coronavirus. There’s some questionable things going on and not being explained. I think they are trying to prevent a global panic

I was in Asia in April last year and the Chinese had temperature monitoring at the airports with officials wearing masks and gloves and a hell of lot of Chinese wearing masks as well and there was no mention of any viruses back then so why the monitoring stations and masks. It really makes you wonder.

[LoveTheSoul]

Btw, first US citizen to die from Corona Virus reported.
 

 

Edited February 8, 2020 by LoveTheSoul

[ace2542]

12 hours ago, xxHadleyxx said:

I'm so sorry this is happening to you.  It's unfounded discrimination which doesn't have a thing to do with safety.  I hope RCI comes to their senses ASAP

Fwiw would lying to board a cruise ship whilst infected with this coronavirus  constitute a "depraved indifference to human life"? And therefore be tantamount to 2nd degree murder under the law in state of new york for instance? (I watch law and order I love the word depraved indifference we need that in english law)

 

I don't think discrimination is unfounded after all the virus came from chinese standards of food preparation and hygiene did it not? So it is not reasonable to assume we may see other outbreaks in chinese communities worldwide? Outbreaks which are not connected to Whuan/Hong Kong?

[The_Big_M]

14 hours ago, Jzx1103 said:

Well Royals new policy is really screwing me over, I have 2 comp'ed cruises from casino royale booked next month, will also hit Diamond status after that. Now my trips in jeopardy just because of my  chinese passport. I'm a U.S. resident and haven't stepped foot in China in 13 years. Btw your not any more likely to associate with someone with the Coronavirus whether you're a chinese passport holder that's a US resident vs a US passport holder who happens to be Chinese, like my wife, kids, and rest of my family. So Royals new policy doesn't even make any sense in terms of safety measures. Might as well just be racist and ban all Asians. 

 

Don't worry. That's tomorrow's email update.

[Bobal]

Really not sure where to post this as so many other threads on this subject but just reporting on Sky News in UK that 5 UK nationals currently on holiday in a French Ski resort diagnosed with Coronavirus having been in contact with someone recently returned from Singapore!!

[The_Big_M]

12 hours ago, Jmulks said:

It’s an abundance of caution. You people need to chill with the social justice this is life and death. 

 

If it were an abundance of caution they'd stop everyone sailing alltogether.

 

Given how many people travel, and how many people are in contact with others who travelled in shopping centres, on commutes, and at their place of work, it's likely you've been in contact with someone who's been in China within the past 14 days at some time.

 

No, this is just plain bogus blunt selectivity, discriminating against many while favouring others inequitably.

[kernow]

Just seen that the Celebrity Millennium is returning to Singapore early as they have been refused entry at several ports of call. Someone on the Celebrity board is on the ship. I can't see any of the cruise lines staying in Asia for much longer the way things are going.

[iceberg1116]

They might as well say "you can't board if you are Asian, know any Asian, walk by any Asian, or serve by any Asian. You should hole up for 2 weeks and drive to Port yourself."

[marci22]

1 hour ago, The_Big_M said:

If it were an abundance of caution they'd stop everyone sailing alltogether.

 

Maybe they will.

[CanonGraceCruiser]

Although I am not THAT worried, I don't entirely trust the Chinese government. A few things that have me mildly uneasy:
 

1. The Wuhan Institute of Virology was reportedly studying the novel bat coronavirus and was cited for safety concerns in 2017. The rumors are that it started there. 

2. Here in the US, in the last few weeks, we have seen an uptick of flu and reportedly many hospitals have long lines as a result. Here. In the US. If there are long lines of people with respiratory symptoms (as reported in the NYT) then how do we know for sure it's the flu? How can they know FOR SURE that it's the flu when people are not yet tested?

3. I ask #2, because a mere year ago my father almost died from a form of Coronavirus. (Different strains) Still, for a week, they thought it was the flu and went down that route for a few weeks until the flu test results came back. Rapid had come back negative but they didn't buy it. Took them a while to name the coronavirus. My point is flu and coronavirus can present very similarly.

4. As recently as a week ago, a friend's cousins newly back from China became ill. He went to the doctor and the doc had no means with which to test him (at that time). Sent him to self quarantine in a hotel. I believe they can test now but begs the question as to what is being reported as fact relative to # of cases.

5. I read elsewhere that there is an estimated 1.5M cases in China and not what they are reporting. This makes sense if you are tracking the chaos in Wuhan right now. Of course, not verified and possibly a rumor. But if you read the stories coming out of Wuhan or the Diamond, it's concerning how quickly it spreads.

6. I have a few Chinese friends and many Chinese acquaintances as we live in a neighborhood with many Chinese nationals. They, more than me, are alarmed beyond belief. They believe this was unleashed by the Chinese government and they essentially sealed off the city and now the country because of this as much as anything else. The thing I keep hearing about is how easily it spreads from people who are asymptomatic.  They have cancelled all kinds of activities in town--from Lunar NY to other events. Some have pulled kids from school.

Why do I mention all this?

Because I think the next week or so will be very telling. If it is going to spread to the States, we will hear of it in the coming week based on the timing. People from China are still arriving but much less so than before, and screened. Two weeks ago that was not the case. If it is going to hit here, we should know soon.

But we should not be so smug to think that we know so much better than the people who got sick the first time around. We are sitting ducks just like them and it's up to all of us to protect ourselves and our families. Take precautions. Reasonable ones. No need to be paranoid, but an ounce of vigilance is not so bad. WASH YOUR HANDS!

 

Glad the cruise lines are taking precautions and think we are sticking to our cruise regardless. But my eyes and ears are open in the meantime.

Just to close this out. I was initially worried about being quarantined more than getting sick. The way things are going, we are probably safer on a screened cruise than in the NYC area. However, after they did not quarantine the Anthem, I feel a little safer. I was much more fearful of being quarantined than being sick. 

 

But we will continue to monitor the situation. 

 

Edited February 8, 2020 by CanonGraceCruiser

[marci22]

13 hours ago, mochuck said:

Yes it is a shame but I think Chinese citizens are paying the price for their Government not being completely open and honest. 

 

 

 

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/wuhan-doctor-02072020134453.html

Chen said Li was likely denied testing, diagnosis and treatment after he first got sick, and was left to fend for himself by buying globulins at his own expense.

"His diagnosis wasn't confirmed until Feb. 1, indicating that he didn't get much attention," he said. "We think now that this was a form of retaliation."

"Last night they didn't start administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation until after his vital signs were gone," Chen said. "There was a delay."

 

[cekim]

On 2/7/2020 at 12:45 PM, kernow said:

Just cancelled our Quantum cruise from Singapore next week. With the ever changing situation we just decided it was too risky, not so much of us getting the virus but being put in quarantine and getting stuck somewhere. We booked the whole thing with a UK ta who is refunding us in full, we might all moan about the inflated UK prices but grateful for all the protection when something goes wrong.  At the same time we booked to fly out to Dubai next Wednesday and board Jewel the following Monday so not all bad news!

Were you B2B or 9 nights. Just been told if i cancel i would get cruise credit but lose flight money as the cruise is not cancelled.

[LoveTheSoul]

20 minutes ago, marci22 said:

 

 

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/wuhan-doctor-02072020134453.html

Chen said Li was likely denied testing, diagnosis and treatment after he first got sick, and was left to fend for himself by buying globulins at his own expense.

"His diagnosis wasn't confirmed until Feb. 1, indicating that he didn't get much attention," he said. "We think now that this was a form of retaliation."

"Last night they didn't start administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation until after his vital signs were gone," Chen said. "There was a delay."

 

This is so sad. 

[kernow]

22 minutes ago, cekim said:

Were you B2B or 9 nights. Just been told if i cancel i would get cruise credit but lose flight money as the cruise is not cancelled.

Just the 9 nights with a 3 night stay in Singapore. I don't really understand why they are telling some people a full cash refund and others just the cruise credit. There are many on the group on the other site that cancelled and some are getting refund, some not. I don't know if it's something to do with booking a package, do you have hotels booked too? 

[cekim]

I'm B2B 3 nights in Singapore with all transfers included. I cannot understand this too. They say different people have different packages. Also said it is changing from day to day so might get to cancel with a full refund tomorrow. Depends if RC cancel the cruise which i can't see them doing as it would cost them too much. TA kept saying their hands are tied nothing they can do. Very frustrating as it seems to be getting worse. Asked the question what if the cruise is cancelled when we are in Singapore how do we get home. Was told it would be 1st come for the flights, very reassuring.

[kernow]

1 minute ago, cekim said:

I'm B2B 3 nights in Singapore with all transfers included. I cannot understand this too. They say different people have different packages. Also said it is changing from day to day so might get to cancel with a full refund tomorrow. Depends if RC cancel the cruise which i can't see them doing as it would cost them too much. TA kept saying their hands are tied nothing they can do. Very frustrating as it seems to be getting worse. Asked the question what if the cruise is cancelled when we are in Singapore how do we get home. Was told it would be 1st come for the flights, very reassuring.

TBH that was my fear, that we would get stuck out there with no cruise. I really can't see them cruising from Singapore much longer, too risky with the virus seemingly increasing in Singapore itself. 

Maybe it has something to do with who you are flying with, we were BA. When we changed cruises the agent tried to change the flights with BA but was told they couldn't do it as it was a different IATA area, they would refund them though. We were told the refund will take 7-10 working days so just hope all this is correct!

[cekim]

We are Emirates.

[kernow]

3 minutes ago, cekim said:

We are Emirates.

I believe some people in the other group were Emirates and were told no refunds.

 

We have switched to Emirates flights for Dubai so hope there are no problems there!

[alfaeric]

1 hour ago, iceberg1116 said:

They might as well say "you can't board if you are Asian, know any Asian, walk by any Asian, or serve by any Asian. You should hole up for 2 weeks and drive to Port yourself."

Honest question- if you saw people that were Asian, would you walk up to them or walk around them right now?

 

I'm betting that most people, including fellow Asians, will be cautious and keep their distance.  

 

Fear of getting sick when the largest segment of people who have been exposed are from China is kind of a hard problem to balance between being fair and not getting sick.

 

Same thing would happen if this came out if Ireland- I would keep my distance from any other European.

[iceberg1116]

24 minutes ago, alfaeric said:

Honest question- if you saw people that were Asian, would you walk up to them or walk around them right now?

 

I'm betting that most people, including fellow Asians, will be cautious and keep their distance.  

 

Fear of getting sick when the largest segment of people who have been exposed are from China is kind of a hard problem to balance between being fair and not getting sick.

 

Same thing would happen if this came out if Ireland- I would keep my distance from any other European.

Walk around them? Seriously? Good luck trying that. 

[pink845]

These are times of crisis.   I feel sorry for anyone who is denied boarding because of their nationality.  Yesterday, I was watching one of the US networks and the interview Richard Fain, CEO of RCCL gave on Jan 30 prior to the new policy implementation (denying boarding to passport holders of China, HK and Macau, etc.).   He mentioned that RCCL are " a long term business" and that they are prepared for the ups and downs that come with that business and went on the say that people want memories and are willing to pay for them.   I think RCCL have made the right decision with respect to the denial policy as they want to protect those future cruisers and sometimes one has to make the tough choices.  Most of us who have sailed RCCL and are happy with the product will continue to sail with them once the dust settles.   We all have short memories unless of course we were personally affected, but even then, we go back to what we are most familiar with in terms of cruising and most will be back on ships enjoying ourselves soon enough.    One further issue, and I cannot stress it more, travel insurance, all encompassing insurance, the pay through your nose type of insurance, is so very critical.   I do not leave home without it.    We are waiting to hear whether our New Zealand cruise will be cancelled in March and, if it is, well, we know we will get every last penny back (either through the cruise line or through our insurance) and that is the same for our airlines, hotel reservations and the like.  

[pink845]

For those people complaining about RCCL and their travel restrictions, Norwegian has also imposed very rigid restrictions.  Note the 30 days while RCCL is 14 days.

 

Guests who have traveled from, visited or transited via airports in China, including Hong Kong and Macau, within 30 days of their voyage embarkation, regardless of nationality, will not be allowed to board any of our vessels. The standard incubation period recognized by the WHO and U.S. CDC for this virus is 14 days.