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resistk
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French health officials: ‘We are preparing for an epidemic’

Update 6:47 p.m. EST Feb. 29: France confirmed 19 additional cases of coronavirus late Friday, The Washington Post reported. That brings the total in the European country to 57, and health officials cautioned an epidemic was now imminent.

“We are preparing for an epidemic,” French Health Minister Olivier Véran said. He added that “we are now moving to stage two. The virus is circulating in our country and we must stop its spread.”

On Friday, France’s Le Monde newspaper, citing airport security officials, said one airport worker who lives in the Val d’Oise region tested positive for the virus, the Post said.

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Relevant because MSC and Costa line ships have been denied docking, because Italians are on board.  if France falls into the same category as Italy, which seems likely, that could be a problem for French flagged Ponant which carry significant numbers of French passengers.

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19:10 France's health authority has reported a rise in coronavirus infections. The head of the public health service, Jerome Salomon, said Sunday that Paris had 130 confirmed cases, raising the count from 100 a day earlier. The country also reported the first infection in its overseas territories, on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

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Saint-Denis de la Reunion (AFP) - Police used tear gas on protesting residents of France's Indian Ocean territory Reunion Island on Sunday who tried to block passengers of a cruise ship turned away from nearby Madagascar for fear there may be people infected with the coronavirus on board.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/police-clash-french-islanders-fearing-coronavirus-among-tourists-193238500.html

 

Looking doubtful for the April 25 TA from Miami to Lisbon, wonder if we will be welcome in Bahamas, Bermuda, and Azores?

 

Cases now in Florida:

 

https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Gov-2-in-Florida-test-presumptively-positive-for-15097520.php

 

 

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2 hours ago, jonikal said:

Thank you for posting this link.  We are booked on a July 2020 voyage and would have expected to receive this info directly from Ponant.  

 

it was hard to find as their website is still messed up and I can't login to MyPonant.   I had to Google it and then hunt around.

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17 minutes ago, resistk said:

 

it was hard to find as their website is still messed up and I can't login to MyPonant.   I had to Google it and then hunt around.

It behooves Ponant to provide this information to each and every passengers with a booked voyage in the next few months.  Having to dig around the internet for this indicates a lack of communication and having a problematic website is no help.

We received a detailed report from another cruise company we are sailing with in May, outlining exactly what their cancellation policy is as well as onboard credit they are offering those passengers who plan to keep their bookings. 

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Given how quickly information about this disease has been changing, I wonder what Ponant could tell you now about a July trip?  I am booked on a cruise sailing later this month, and they have been very forthcoming with emails about how they are handling it.  The email that I received on Feb. 28 ends with this statement from the CEO:

 

These reinforced guidelines go far beyond the cruise industry’s current procedures. Since the start of the epidemic, PONANT has taken exceptional precautionary measures made possible thanks to the small size of the ships and the extensive and high quality medical facilities aboard: equipment to do clinical analyses, a laboratory for biological and blood analyses, X-rays, etc. 
The company also collaborates with the best world experts in epidemiology, like the Institut-Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection headed by Professor Didier Raoult, international specialist in infectious diseases.

To conclude, I would also like to reassure you that in order to cope with the ever-evolving virus situation, we are ready to implement additional procedures fleetwide if necessary, with just 3 hours’ notice.

Confident about the extreme vigilance of our teams, I wish you an excellent cruise.

 

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Just wondering if you have tried to cancel with Ponant and they will not provide full credit? I read their coronavirus update and it looks like the ability to postpone was limited to those in transit via areas prohibited by CLIA and/or Ponant?  It wasn't clear to me.  I'm calling tomorrow to confirm.  

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6 minutes ago, Seabiscuit68 said:

Just wondering if you have tried to cancel with Ponant and they will not provide full credit? I read their coronavirus update and it looks like the ability to postpone was limited to those in transit via areas prohibited by CLIA and/or Ponant?  It wasn't clear to me.  I'm calling tomorrow to confirm.  

 

I am waiting because the Travel Agent will likely take No for an answer since their commission is on the line.  The situation is in flux, the latest CDC advice is travellers 60 and older should stay at home according to CDC:  https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/06/health/coronavirus-older-people-social-distancing/index.html

 

I have a cruise also with Crystal and they will give future cruise credits and one with Cunard which so far has not altered their pre Covid 19 policies.  I am sick to death with stress over the whole thing as I have tens of thousands tied up in these cruises.

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I know how you feel!    On our March 7th Le Soleal French Polynesia cruise, 5 (Aitutaki, Palmerston, Apia, Matu Utu and  Alofi Island) of the 9 ports of calls are not permitting entry to cruise ships.  I've sent emails to Ponant but have heard nothing.   I've been on many other cruises with Seabourn, Crystal and Windstar and appreciate port changes happen.  I can't believe that we are getting no response from Ponant when over half the ports are cancelled!!     We in our 50s.  At first I was just concerned about the cruise itinerary but now given the rate COVID 19 is spreading we're concerned about getting stuck quarantined somewhere.   Our flights to Tahiti and back from Fiji go through LA which is hot spot.   As everyday goes by, the more and more I want to get out of this cruise. 

 

Good luck on your refunds!!

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2 hours ago, Seabiscuit68 said:

I know how you feel!    On our March 7th Le Soleal French Polynesia cruise, 5 (Aitutaki, Palmerston, Apia, Matu Utu and  Alofi Island) of the 9 ports of calls are not permitting entry to cruise ships.  I've sent emails to Ponant but have heard nothing.   I've been on many other cruises with Seabourn, Crystal and Windstar and appreciate port changes happen.  I can't believe that we are getting no response from Ponant when over half the ports are cancelled!!     We in our 50s.  At first I was just concerned about the cruise itinerary but now given the rate COVID 19 is spreading we're concerned about getting stuck quarantined somewhere.   Our flights to Tahiti and back from Fiji go through LA which is hot spot.   As everyday goes by, the more and more I want to get out of this cruise. 

 

Good luck on your refunds!!

 

If you are flying into Papeete for that cruise, you will need a health certificate signed within 3 days stating you are COVID19 free.  I have no idea where you could get that in the USA.

 

"French Polynesian authorities have implemented new entry measures in response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Before boarding a flight bound for French Polynesia you are required to present a medical certificate stating that your health condition is free of any signs of COVID-19. Further information is available on the website of the Health Department of French Polynesia. Check with your airline, cruise or tour operator to confirm you meet all entry requirements."

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I am also concerned about Ponant's seemingly lack of action on all these matters. we are booked on a Ponant cruise ex-Cape Town on March 17 (a back-to-back cruise which goes to the Seychelles) but are flying to Cape Town on March 10 to spend a week there before the cruise. 

 

i have received an e-mail from Ponant stating they are banning any passengers and crew who have visited China, Macao, Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran or some regions in Italy - Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna - (even a transit airport) within 30 days prior to embarkation. However the Seychelles ban is more extensive. The e-mail suggests but does not clearly state that such passengers will receive a refund.

 

At this late stage we are not planning to cancel or alter our plans unless "forced" to do so as we have pre-paid accommodation in Cape Town, and post-cruise in the Seychelles (8 days) and Mauritius (9 days).

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Ponant lack of action is astounding!!!  I called them yesterday to clarify their COIV-19 cancellation policy and it only relates to the countries you mention above.  They had the gall to tell me that nothing has changed on the cruise. I pointed out that the vast majority of ports on our itinerary are closed.  She had no response other than things are fluid.

 

 I also pointed out that they are one of the few cruise companies that have not softened their cancellation policies (every other cruise line that we have sailed with previously Crystal, Windstar, Seabourn, Silversea have). 

 

It is like they are not even watching the news.  Canada's chief public health officer is advising Canadians to avoid cruises.   The CDC is saying the same thing for individuals over 60.  Everyone needs to decide for themselves based on their health and risk, but Ponant should not be forcing us by refusing to let us post-pone the cruise. 

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What the hell Ponant!!!  Booked in April with a woman who is 81 but there’s no possibility of a refund? I don’t think the cruise industry is going to be very strong after this but I can promise you that I and every single person that I am able to contact will never ever cruise on Pondant unless you get this changed quickly.  You are a luxury line. Please act like it and respect your customers’ well-being.  We should not have to choose between the health of an octogenarian and tens of thousands of dollars.

Edited by Aapreciate
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We are scheduled to board Le Laperouse in Auckland on 30-March and have so far received a letter from Ponant, pretty much stating the obvious about travel from the 'bad' countries and symptoms.  They have added that a questionnaire will be required just before boarding.

At this point in time, we have no intention of cancelling, simply because there is just so much hype, overreaction, dissinformation, media promulgated fear, and I'm sure Ponant has enough toilet paper to go around.

My read of this is that sooner or later we will all be infected, just like everyone gets the common cold sooner or later.  Most of us breeze through it and most of us will probably not even know we are infected.  Our bodies will deal with like it does every day with numerous bugs and viruses.  Yes, some will fall ill, just like many fall very ill from a variety of reasons especially once their immune systems have been stressed.  And some will succumb.  But the risk is vveerrrrrry small - your are more likely to be hit by a bus crossing the street.  If you're really paranoid, then stay in bed - but - oh wait - that's not very good either.

Take a breath and just keep living the life.

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5 hours ago, Wendai said:

  If you're really paranoid, then stay in bed - but - oh wait - that's not very good either.

Take a breath and just keep living the life.

 

I agree that statistically the risk is still low of death but the US State Department has issued a warning against cruising abroad for travellers over age 60; when was the last time something like that happened?  Many of the island nations on the Ponant itineraries are very iffy as far as letting cruise ships clear.  Hawaii is attempting to close its ports to cruise ships.  That sounds like a lot of uncertainty.  Who wants to risk getting quarrantined?  Why not just let people reschedule?  And with Ponant  I wonder if they are giving EU citizens a break?

Edited by samiam1
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11 hours ago, Aapreciate said:

What the hell Ponant!!!  Booked in April with a woman who is 81 but there’s no possibility of a refund? I don’t think the cruise industry is going to be very strong after this but I can promise you that I and every single person that I am able to contact will never ever cruise on Pondant unless you get this changed quickly.  You are a luxury line. Please act like it and respect your customers’ well-being.  We should not have to choose between the health of an octogenarian and tens of thousands of dollars.

I agree perhaps we should start social media comments to warn others not to consider this cruise line. At the very minimum they should be offering future credits if not a refund. We are booked in April also and doctor recommended that my husband not travel.

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10 minutes ago, Teach2618 said:

 

I think the point is that if you are denied boarding they will give you this FCC.  But if you choose to cancel, the regular contract still applies.

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12 hours ago, Wendai said:

We are scheduled to board Le Laperouse in Auckland on 30-March and have so far received a letter from Ponant, pretty much stating the obvious about travel from the 'bad' countries and symptoms.  They have added that a questionnaire will be required just before boarding.

At this point in time, we have no intention of cancelling, simply because there is just so much hype, overreaction, dissinformation, media promulgated fear, and I'm sure Ponant has enough toilet paper to go around.

My read of this is that sooner or later we will all be infected, just like everyone gets the common cold sooner or later.  Most of us breeze through it and most of us will probably not even know we are infected.  Our bodies will deal with like it does every day with numerous bugs and viruses.  Yes, some will fall ill, just like many fall very ill from a variety of reasons especially once their immune systems have been stressed.  And some will succumb.  But the risk is vveerrrrrry small - your are more likely to be hit by a bus crossing the street.  If you're really paranoid, then stay in bed - but - oh wait - that's not very good either.

Take a breath and just keep living the life.

 

We're on the sailing just before yours.  [I hope they can restock the wine supplies for you! :classic_wink:]  We feel the same way.  I asked my doctor yesterday about this trip and his only concern was our transit through LAX.  If New Zealand lets us in, we're good to go!

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