Corona virus RCI policy

[xxHadleyxx]

On 2/8/2020 at 9:02 PM, alfaeric said:

Thinking about it, I should clarify-

For someone you DON'T know-  would you really walk up to someone who looked Asian, or would you try to avoid them?  

I applaud you for not over reacting, but I do suspect that your honesty that it could happen to you to avoid people you don't know is the reality in the world right now.  People are scared.  And it's not as if China is helping.

Ok, honest answer again:

 

No, I'm not avoiding anyone simply because they appear to be of Asian descent.  Like another poster, we ended up at a Chinese restaurant yesterday.  I've only been there once before. I don't know the family who run it. But logically, the people running a restaurant in a small town in Germany aren't particularly likely to have just been in China or with someone who has (funny, in spite of this thread I didn't even think about our lunch in the context of this conversation until today. I sure hope your reaction is not common and bussineses are not losing customers for no valid reason)

 

I figure logically the most at risk group in my area is corporate workers in companies which do bussiness in China. Lots of them regularly travel to China or work with someone who does or who lives there.  And, that's still a mostly very white and very male demographic in Germany (which is a whole other topic). But I'm not going out of my way to avoid white guys either.

 

I cancelled a trip to China which was meant to begin 4 March. Staying away from infected areas is prudent.  Staying away from people with certain skin tones or facial features thousands of kilometers away from infected areas is not.

Edited February 10, 2020 by xxHadleyxx

[iceberg1116]

They might as well say this based on their rule #3.  

[Maverick61]

15 hours ago, The_Big_M said:

 

Yes. Doesn't make fearmongering right.

 

Ummm there is fearmongering and there is being prudent

 

The official numbers being reported by the communist government in China is less than a very small fraction of how widespread this outbreak is in China right now

 

The last leak showed 25,000 deaths and over 150,000 people infected.  Cremetoriums report receiving hundreds of bodies a day

 

This isn't normal behavior:

 

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1225169999884640256?s=20

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1225927124638408708?s=20

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1224659425711067136?s=20

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1225927726160400385?s=20

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1226192467097214976?s=20

https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/1225545188279537665?s=20

 

 

Look at more of the videos this foreign journalist has posted (he has a ton of them) showing what is really going on

 

Edited February 10, 2020 by Maverick61

[cruiselvr04]

I will continue to live my life as I have have been, not in fear.  I do however think this is a VERY serious bug.  I don’t believe the death tolls are as low as stated from China.  Crematoriums indicate it’s virulent nature.  Also 165 people on that cruise ship off Japan have turned up positive for the virus.  FROM 1 PERSON who did not show symptoms for 5? Days after he left the ship.  This means he was contagious long before symptoms.  Either he infected a lot of people or the air handling systems are circulating it.   Either scenario is bad.  

 

I’m not sure we’ve had enough time to see it reach us.  Hopefully we will handle it better here in the United States.  I think we’ll know a lot more in a couple of weeks.  

 

 

 

 

[Gerginator]

According to the RCI website:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates

 

They've now reversed their decision to blanket-ban all Chinese, HK and Macau passports, but are noting that there are multiple countries that their ships travel to that may not allow passengers into the country with those passports.

 

This should hopefully help out a few people in this thread that have been hurt by this decision - hopefully it's not too late.

[Jzx1103]

17 minutes ago, Gerginator said:

According to the RCI website:

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates

 

They've now reversed their decision to blanket-ban all Chinese, HK and Macau passports, but are noting that there are multiple countries that their ships travel to that may not allow passengers into the country with those passports.

 

This should hopefully help out a few people in this thread that have been hurt by this decision - hopefully it's not too late.

 

Yea those countries are mostly all in asia anyways. Its not like Royal is doing any Asian sailings currently. So the ban makes no sense. 

[WaveSplasher]

58 minutes ago, Jzx1103 said:

 

Yea those countries are mostly all in asia anyways. Its not like Royal is doing any Asian sailings currently. So the ban makes no sense. 

Royal only has one ship operating in Asia at the moment and is the Quantum, homeporting from Singapore

[brillohead]

4 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

Also 165 people on that cruise ship off Japan have turned up positive for the virus.  FROM 1 PERSON who did not show symptoms for 5? Days after he left the ship.  This means he was contagious long before symptoms.  Either he infected a lot of people or the air handling systems are circulating it.

 

It means nothing of the sort.

 

All he had to do was infect one crew member, who then was able to pass it along to other crew members and passengers on the following cruise.  


 

[SunNFunCruzer]

We are sailing to the Caribbean on March 15 and have been scanning all of the boards to figure out what to do.  There was just a report on NBC News that the incubation period can be up to 23-24 days.  If you decide to go on your Caribbean cruises between now and early March, can you please, please post live reports if you have time/internet and/or report back on this or another CoronaVirus post so that cruisers after you know what to expect? 

 

Thank you!  ❤️

[b_cruise]

3 minutes ago, SunNFunCruzer said:

We are sailing to the Caribbean on March 15 and have been scanning all of the boards to figure out what to do.  There was just a report on NBC News that the incubation period can be up to 23-24 days.  If you decide to go on your Caribbean cruises between now and early March, can you please, please post live reports if you have time/internet and/or report back on this or another CoronaVirus post so that cruisers after you know what to expect? 

 

Thank you!  ❤️

I am on March 15 too.  Right now the risk is very very low in the Caribbean.  I’ve been researching like crazy.  But I think it will be fine- at least I hope so🤷‍♀️

[SunNFunCruzer]

1 minute ago, b_cruise said:

I am on March 15 too.  Right now the risk is very very low in the Caribbean.  I’ve been researching like crazy.  But I think it will be fine- at least I hope so🤷‍♀️

 

Let's keep in touch!  We can be moral support as needed!  I hope we both have smooth sailing!  I planned this cruise for a year! ❤️❤️❤️

[cruiselvr04]

14 hours ago, brillohead said:

 

It means nothing of the sort.

 

All he had to do was infect one crew member, who then was able to pass it along to other crew members and passengers on the following cruise.  


 

Perhaps my wording was unclear....

 

One man was the vector who started the whole outbreak on Diamond Princess.  It could have been that he first passed it on to a crew member or a passenger who stayed on from the last cruise.  Or I've read now that they think the virus can live for up to 9 days on surfaces.  One man did start the outbreak on that ship.  There are now over 135 cases on board, not all are sick but some are carriers. And it is now known to be both passed by droplet and airborne.

 

My point is not fear but that this is a very nasty bug and everyone should be aware and cautious.  I'm NOT saying avoid people groups.  Wash your hands and sneeze into your elbow.

 

Again here in the US we will know more in a couple of weeks since the incubation period is that long.

 

[seacruiser1]

On ‎2‎/‎6‎/‎2020 at 10:44 PM, kwokpot said:

Agreed,and that's why we cancelled our quantum cruise departing Singapore march 22nd. The issue isn't so much fearing we'll catch the virus but all the unforseen issues that can arise. We have gotten full refunds for our air and Cruise. I'll go next year. 

You may have answered this question already, but did RCCL refund you for the cruise portion or was it your insurance? Thanks!

[kwokpot]

13 minutes ago, seacruiser1 said:

You may have answered this question already, but did RCCL refund you for the cruise portion or was it your insurance? Thanks!

Let me preface that our cruise was booked under the Casino Royale program and we had a cruise certificate that paid for almost all of the cruise fare. We upgraded to a junior suite and the fare differential was $60. We we notified Royal that we wanted to cancel the cruise BECAUSE we would be denied boarding due to our connecting flight in Hong Kong to Singapore. They said that they could refund the taxes and fees portion but not the excess fare of $60 we ask to speak to a supervisor. It took them about 5 days but we received a call back and said the remaining $60 would be refunded. We already received the refunds which was credited back in two credit card refunds; one amount for the taxes and fees and the other for the remaining cabin cost differential. 

An added note is that we waited for American airlines to update their flight policy on flights connecting through Hong Kong. The moment their policy changed to include a FULL REFUND we quickly called American and a full refund was processed and we already have the funds credited.

Edited February 11, 2020 by kwokpot

[seacruiser1]

3 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Let me preface that our cruise was booked under the Casino Royale program and we had a cruise certificate that paid for almost all of the cruise fare. We upgraded to a junior suite and the fare differential was $60. We we notified Royal that we wanted to cancel the cruise BECAUSE we would be denied boarding due to our connecting flight in Hong Kong to Singapore there said that they could refund the taxes and fees portion but not the excess fare of $60 we ask to speak to a supervisor. It took them about 5 days but we received a call back and said the remaining $60 would be refunded. We already received the refunds which was credited back in two credit card refunds; one amount for the taxes and fees and the other for the remaining cabin cost differential. 

An added note is that we waited for American airlines to update their flight policy on flights connecting through Hong Kong. The moment their policy changed to include a FULL REFUND we quickly called American and a full refund was processed and we already have the funds credited.

Thanks for the quick reply! We also have connecting flights in Hong Kong for our March 8th cruise out of Singapore and RCCL has refused to refund us any of the cruise portion. Luckily, the airlines have been accommodating with their refunds and will be refunding us for our flights.

[gilboman]

On 2/8/2020 at 10:35 PM, alfaeric said:

Good for you, but you don't have to be a jerk about my honest question.  Given the fear mongering going on, you really expect people to be like you?  Especially since they are now asking if you are interacting with anyone from China, Hong Kong, or Macau?  

 

Human nature can be pretty nasty.  As can people who pretend that they are better than everyone else....

you should avoid Caucasians as there's a super spreader brit who infected a bunch of others at a french ski resort

 

so you need to avoid anyone who looks white or of british ancestry and french as well.   

[gilboman]

21 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

I will continue to live my life as I have have been, not in fear.  I do however think this is a VERY serious bug.  I don’t believe the death tolls are as low as stated from China.  Crematoriums indicate it’s virulent nature.  Also 165 people on that cruise ship off Japan have turned up positive for the virus.  FROM 1 PERSON who did not show symptoms for 5? Days after he left the ship.  This means he was contagious long before symptoms.  Either he infected a lot of people or the air handling systems are circulating it.   Either scenario is bad.  

 

I’m not sure we’ve had enough time to see it reach us.  Hopefully we will handle it better here in the United States.  I think we’ll know a lot more in a couple of weeks.  

 

 

 

 

they don't even know if he was the original infected or spreader or if he caught it after he left the boat. He could've just as easily gotten it from someone who remained on the boat, one of the crew, or after he disembarked.

 

there's no linking the man who caught it 5 days after he left the Diamond princess to the outbreak on the boat now. He MAY be the original spreader or he could've been just like those stuck on board and gotten it from one of the other pax who remained on board or a crew or someone else who got off but didn't get sick (many people don't even get sick with the virus)

 

 

[mugtech]

Quantum 2/24/20 out of Hong Kong, last week rescheduled to Roundtrip Singapore, has been cancelled.  Email says full refund by 2/19/20, airfare also if booked by RCI.  Other airfare compensated up to $400/ per person for international flights, got to send in receipts.  Guessing 2/15/20 Quantum out of Singapore also gone.

[kernow]

27 minutes ago, mugtech said:

Quantum 2/24/20 out of Hong Kong, last week rescheduled to Roundtrip Singapore, has been cancelled.  Email says full refund by 2/19/20, airfare also if booked by RCI.  Other airfare compensated up to $400/ per person for international flights, got to send in receipts.  Guessing 2/15/20 Quantum out of Singapore also gone.

We cancelled 15/02 last Friday otherwise we would now have been on a plane to Singapore just as this cruise was cancelled. Just seen a copy of the email that was sent regarding this cancellation and all they are being offered is a refund for the cruise plus $400 for flight change. How about all the people who have already travelled to Singapore? I don't think this is good enough RCL.

[ARandomTraveler]

8 hours ago, seacruiser1 said:

Thanks for the quick reply! We also have connecting flights in Hong Kong for our March 8th cruise out of Singapore and RCCL has refused to refund us any of the cruise portion. Luckily, the airlines have been accommodating with their refunds and will be refunding us for our flights.

I’m confused because I was starting to see posts from people saying RC finally relented and started giving full refunds. Why are some people getting refunds and some aren’t? Are the refunds only going to certain sail dates or just to people who’ve been in china? 

[Jzx1103]

6 hours ago, gilboman said:

you should avoid Caucasians as there's a super spreader brit who infected a bunch of others at a french ski resort

 

so you need to avoid anyone who looks white or of british ancestry and french as well.   

 

And this isn't without merit either. So far it looks like many caucasians who caught the Coronavirus have developed little or no symptoms despite already having the Coronavirus for awhile. Those are actually the most likely candidates to become super spreaders and are harder to catch. I actually feel like at this point with all the bans in place already. If a U.S. based ship were to have a Coronavirus problem, its not any less likely that a Caucasian super spreaders be the reason vs an Asian whose not been to asia recently. I also think RCL should start considering Singapore and Thailand as well when it comes to countries you shouldn't have been to prior to boarding.  They are starting to lose track of how their new patients are getting the infection. 

Edited February 12, 2020 by Jzx1103

[BecAus]

I've been reading all these threads with interest.  We are due to sail on a 5 night Quantum cruise in mid April.

Too early at this stage to say what might happen but just keeping an eye on all the current events transpiring daily.

Sorry to everyone whose plans have been upended : (

 

Is there any word on what Quantum is going to do for those 18days of cruises that are now cancelled?  Is it just going to hang around or has there been no word yet? I know things are changing constantly at the moment.

Spectrum is still just hanging at the moment isn't it - on it's way to Manilla I think was the last update I saw.

 

Nothing I can do but just watch and wait and see.  I don't think our insurance will cover anything - seems to have a 'epidemic / pandemic' clause for cancellation which I assume means nothing related to this will be covered.  We will only be covered somewhat if RC cancels then assumably I get the cruise fare back which I don't mind applying to our TP cruise from Hawaii in September this year.

$400 for airfares (I'm assuming that's p/p?) wouldn't cover my airfare.  I paid $1,120 for myself and son.

 

Very much depending on the circumstances we may still go up to Singapore, depending of course on the current situation and advisories.  Unfortunately all our hotels in Singapore are non-refundable, and expensive as it's a special trip for my friends 50th!

 

Nothing to do but wait and see .......

[Biker19]

9 hours ago, BecAus said:

Is it just going to hang around or has there been no word yet?

I very slow sailing to somewhere, kinda like Spectrum taking a full week to get to Manila (which could have been done in 1/2 the time). 

[The Grumpus]

On 2/11/2020 at 12:30 PM, gilboman said:

they don't even know if he was the original infected or spreader or if he caught it after he left the boat. He could've just as easily gotten it from someone who remained on the boat, one of the crew, or after he disembarked.

 

there's no linking the man who caught it 5 days after he left the Diamond princess to the outbreak on the boat now. He MAY be the original spreader or he could've been just like those stuck on board and gotten it from one of the other pax who remained on board or a crew or someone else who got off but didn't get sick (many people don't even get sick with the virus)

 

 

Another 39 cases on Diamond confirmed today.  It appears there is a missing variable which the health officials have yet to figure out.  Either the crew, the food aboard ship and/or the air.  It would be interesting to know if there is a correlation of where the newly infected people are located on the ship. Possibly inside cabins or on a certain deck or region of the ship.  I would hope they must be looking at all of these factors to try and figure out why "isolation" doesn't appear to be working to stop the spread.

[marci22]

23 minutes ago, The Grumpus said:

Another 39 cases on Diamond confirmed today.  It appears there is a missing variable which the health officials have yet to figure out.  Either the crew, the food aboard ship and/or the air.  It would be interesting to know if there is a correlation of where the newly infected people are located on the ship. Possibly inside cabins or on a certain deck or region of the ship.  I would hope they must be looking at all of these factors to try and figure out why "isolation" doesn't appear to be working to stop the spread.

What a nightmare.