WHO declare Swine flu a Pandemic.

[ejeffo]

WHO cares?

[ASeaPrincess1]

You DO lose the great ease of reboarding immediately, no lines, no re-check in...if you don't go home, but if you live relatively close to the pier, it's a weekend so there's no traffic, and you can check your mail, wash your undies, water your plants, feed your starving dog...it's well worth it! And totally cool.

 

If I could afford the cRaZy prices to cruise out of NY, I'd certainly consider a B2B here. But not at like $1100 a cruise for an inside cabin. Blech.

However, it WOULD kinda cut into your vacation time to have to go back to reality....washing, mail, animals...hmmmm..........oh...I know....I could pack for both itineraries, keep one set of luggage in my car, and just switch it out. Yeah, that's the ticket...

Oh, like I am going on a B2B anytime soon! Nice to dream, though. :D

 

Wow, $1100 for an inside cabin? Yikes.:eek: That IS a lot! Is that for one cruise? Per person, or per cabin?

[IBookHePays]

You DO lose the great ease of reboarding immediately, no lines, no re-check in...if you don't go home, but if you live relatively close to the pier, it's a weekend so there's no traffic, and you can check your mail, wash your undies, water your plants, feed your starving dog...it's well worth it! And totally cool.

 

Do you usually cruise without having someone feed your dog?! You swine, you!:eek::rolleyes:;)

[amybeth4]

However, it WOULD kinda cut into your vacation time to have to go back to reality....washing, mail, animals...hmmmm..........oh...I know....I could pack for both itineraries, keep one set of luggage in my car, and just switch it out. Yeah, that's the ticket...

Oh, like I am going on a B2B anytime soon! Nice to dream, though. :D

 

Wow, $1100 for an inside cabin? Yikes.:eek: That IS a lot! Is that for one cruise? Per person, or per cabin?

 

Well right now, all that's listed (besides two 9-nighters to Bermuda in July) is Nov and Dec (traditionally cheaper) ranging from $721 - $949 ($949 is for 9 nights) so that's quite good. (Before tax of course.) That's per person, lowest level inside cabin, which I wouldn't do...I'd do inside, but a higher category.

 

 

The 9-nighter in JULY, however, which is when I WOULD cruise out of NJ because i have no interest in losing 3-4 days due to cold weather, starts at $1049, lowest level, before tax.

 

I've found Princess out of Bklyn in the summer months to be just as bad. :(

[amybeth4]

Do you usually cruise without having someone feed your dog?! You swine, you!:eek::rolleyes:;)

 

I leave him ground beef, gravy and a genuine authentic Rachael Ray frying pan and tell him to have at it.

[MaskedTurtle]

Getting back to the Swine Flu issue, which is what the thread is technically about, people simply need to take the appropriate precautions, such as the obvious handwashing. Perhaps, instead of giving out lame prizes like pens & key chains, RCI can give out hand sanitizers & face masks. Also, it might be a good idea to spend the money and get a balcony room. That way, you can open the doors and adequately ventilate the room, instead of having the same old air circulating throughout the interior along with who knows how many different airborne diseases.

[WooWooGirl]

I just got back three days ago from my cruise on the Enchantment and we sailed to Cozumel. There were hardly any tourists in Cozumel and the stores were all but empty. Was I/Am I worried about the flu? No, was anyone on the cruise? Not that I saw. I did everything I normally do on the cruise, carried my hand sanitizer and used it like always. It does no good to worry about something that COULD happen...sail and have fun! :)

[IBookHePays]

Getting back to the Swine Flu issue, which is what the thread is technically about, people simply need to take the appropriate precautions, such as the obvious handwashing. Perhaps, instead of giving out lame prizes like pens & key chains, RCI can give out hand sanitizers & face masks. Also, it might be a good idea to spend the money and get a balcony room. That way, you can open the doors and adequately ventilate the room, instead of having the same old air circulating throughout the interior along with who knows how many different airborne diseases.

 

Nothing says "I'm having fun on a cruise!" like hand sanitizers and face masks! I know I want to win that trivia game!

 

Seriously, I know what you are saying. Common sense, but unfortunately, even balcony cabins can harbor flu bugs

[MAZANDSTEVE]

Anybody worried about travelling because of this:confused:

 

 

I Must admit a little bit,but only as worried as I would be with normal flu. I get asthma and a bout of flu would really make me ill, normally this time of year most the flu's are not around as much.

[Iron-Maiden's-No1-Fan]

No I am not worried about my cruise next week at all....

 

As long as every1 takes precautions..hand washing, sneezing into tissues etc then what else can we do?

 

I personally think there is more risk of getting the norvovirus which spreads thru a ship like wildfire...

 

If you look on the WHO website 5 and 6 levels are on the same par with 6 only being more wide spread reports of the virus..

 

I am packing and will be raring to go next week. :D

[SamFritz]

Maybe the new loyalty gifts could be hand sanatizers and facemasks with the Crown and Anchor log and of course that awesome new advertising slogan, "Why Not?" :D

[BND]

Pandemic as someone else has said only means it is worldwide. So what? There are a lot more deadly diseases out there than the H1N1. Also, if one more person says "if" it mutates... This virus hasn't mutated and the panic this has caused has pretty much only disrupted people's vacations with travelers being isolated only because another person on their flight was sick. The people who have died had a variety of underlying issues and would be just as likely to die from any other virus. More people die every year from the regular old flu (btw, there are a lot of different strains that we don't get vaccinated against every year) than have even had the H1N1. I also have read that hand sanitizers do very little to prevent the spread of viruses. They're intended to kill bacteria and give little protection against viruses. Soap and water work better. What hand sanitizers do is reduce the number of virus on your skin by making it inhospitable but does not KILL the virus. Bottom line, we are surrounded by germs everyday and hand sanitizers and face masks can only do so much. Face masks have also been shown to be useless.

[Nebr.cruiser]

In a word, no, it wouldn't change my travel plans unless it gets a lot worse than it is now.

 

As always, take sensible precautions and remember that a ship is really no more likely to have an outbreak than any other crowded environment--it just seems that way because ships are required to report illness levels, while malls, ball parks, etc. aren't.

 

I'd be worried if millions were dying, not before.

[RetireeWannabee]

In a word.....NO!!!!!:D

 

Ditto.

 

I am not cancelling my trip to Ireland. Altho, I might be taking Tamiflu along.

[beachchick]

I Must admit a little bit,but only as worried as I would be with normal flu. I get asthma and a bout of flu would really make me ill, normally this time of year most the flu's are not around as much.

 

That's really the concern for us too. This is usually the time of year when we don't worry about flu/winter colds as much. My DH has asthma, so we rarely travel during peak flu/cold seasons. But we're not really worrying any more than usual. We always take the precautions of hand washing, avoiding being around people who are obviously ill (even leaving stores if necessary), and so on. We don't panic and we don't stay home 365 days a year with the door locked; we just use common sense.

 

Perhaps it would help if more people considered that the regular flu strains are normally pandemic--as is the common cold. They are wide-spread, sustained illnesses, which is what pandemics are.

 

What we do need to consider is that the Spanish flu winter pandemic that killed so many millions had appeared in a milder form the previous spring. It's possible the current strain will go away, it's possible that it will remain a relatively mild strain, and it's possible that it will mutate into a more dangerous strain. What we've got going for us now is that vaccines are already in development and there are anti-viral drugs available; they didn't have that "luxury" in 1918.

 

Will this pandemic declaration keep us from traveling? Unlikely considering that there are already a bunch of cases in our county. We likely will not fly for a while and we'll be vigilant with our hand washing, et al. That's about it.

 

beachchick

[BruceMuzz]

One of the little-known (and under-reported) side effects of the H1N1 Virus is the inability to recognize that this subject has already been posted and discussed to death on Cruisecritic.

[beachchick]

One of the little-known (and under-reported) side effects of the H1N1 Virus is the inability to recognize that this subject has already been posted and discussed to death on Cruisecritic.

 

Well, gosh, so have attire/dress codes, smoking/non-smoking, food, kids, bingo/casino costs, alcohol policies and prices, fare reductions/when to book, booking air or hotels through the cruise lines, noro virus and other illnesses, entertainment, ports/excursions, and just about every cruise-related and travel-related subject. If we're not going to have threads or posts about subjects that have been "discussed to death," then the forums are going to get very, very quiet.

 

Don't want to read another thread about the same subject? Then don't open and read the darn thing!

 

beachchick

[amybeth4]

One of the little-known (and under-reported) side effects of the H1N1 Virus is the inability to recognize that this subject has already been posted and discussed to death on Cruisecritic.

 

lol...I love it.

 

"F" the d*mn flu...go on your cruises!!! :)

[BruceMuzz]

Well, gosh, so have attire/dress codes, smoking/non-smoking, food, kids, bingo/casino costs, alcohol policies and prices, fare reductions/when to book, booking air or hotels through the cruise lines, noro virus and other illnesses, entertainment, ports/excursions, and just about every cruise-related and travel-related subject. If we're not going to have threads or posts about subjects that have been "discussed to death," then the forums are going to get very, very quiet.

 

Don't want to read another thread about the same subject? Then don't open and read the darn thing!

 

beachchick

 

The latest research this week by the CDC also uncovered another unfortunate symptom of H1N1 Virus. It completely wipes out one's sense of humor.

But there is good news. The effect is not fatal and only temporary.

[amybeth4]

The latest research this week by the CDC also uncovered another unfortunate symptom of H1N1 Virus. It completely wipes out one's sense of humor.

But there is good news. The effect is not fatal and only temporary.

 

lol again.

[coxswain]

A patient suffering from swine flu has died, a Scottish government spokesman has confirmed.

 

The swine flu virus has infected almost 500 people in Scotland alone - with 35 new cases confirmed on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

jj....

[beachchick]

The latest research this week by the CDC also uncovered another unfortunate symptom of H1N1 Virus. It completely wipes out one's sense of humor.

But there is good news. The effect is not fatal and only temporary.

 

Hm. "One" has a good sense of humor and is not suffering from H1N1 (that one knows of), but one wonders how one is supposed to determine that previous posts were in jest. Kind of hard to "see" that sort of entertaining joke in online writing unless said writer uses a visual cue (see "smilies" et al) or words a post to be obviously amusing. One is certainly willing to assume all of said writers posts are in jest.;)

 

One is now signing off the subject in case H1N1 is contagious via internet discussion.:D

 

beachchick

[AZPam]

Okay, just have to add my two cents since my 22 year old daughter is a confirmed case of swine flu. Do I think everybody went totally overboard with this? YES, but I also think there is something to be concerned about too. She ran a very high fever for over 5 days, plus all the other wonderful side effects that come with the flu. If you come down with it, there is no way you are going to want to be cruising, let me tell ya. We had to do a midnight run to urgent care to get her pumped full of IV's, she got dehydrated that fast. It really isn't anything to snicker over or push to the side. The medical types do think it's going to come back this fall much harder and faster, so we do need to be prepared.

[seacrcsvz]

As AmyBeth pointed out, this flu is really no different than the rest. Thousands of people die every year from the flu, and we don't get it all hyped up in the news. This flu is just like all the others - this year it is the flu that we are all hearing about, as opposed to some other strain that hits just as many people. And if you had a flu shot, like every other year, you are somehwat protected from this flu. Of course there is no such thing as protection, and there is no cure for the flu, all you can do is work at eliminating the germs and frequently washing your hands. The best protection, like always, is to keep yourself as healthy as possible (diet, sleep, exercise), and wash your hands. Keep in mind that the vast majority of the deaths associated with this flu are just like with any other flu - these individuals are already immune-compromised, the elderly, or very young. Also, the higher percentage of deaths are occuring in areas where there is a high level of poverty (poor general health, poor diet, poor/no sanitation, limited/no access to healthcare) -- again, no surprise that these countries also suffer a greater percentage of deaths each and every year from whatever the flu-of-the-year happens to be. I know we will continue to see deaths from this flu, like every other year, and I also know that the reported numbers are much lower than the actual incidences; many cases are never reported since people aren't sick enough to need medical care and many countries don't report because they don't want to instill fear in the population, or simply because they don't want to be dubbed as a "swine flu country". But the reality is, I work in healthcare and I am not the least worried about this flu affecting my family. I have three kids, all in school every day with hundreds of other kids, and I am still not worried. I live in a country with very high levels of poverty, extremely poor sanitation, low general health, rampant malnutrition, etc. but I am still not worried because we don't fall into those categories. Think of this flu like any other becauses chances are it won't affect you any differently than normal.

[househunter]

A patient suffering from swine flu has died, a Scottish government spokesman has confirmed.

 

The swine flu virus has infected almost 500 people in Scotland alone - with 35 new cases confirmed on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

 

jj....

 

 

That may be but how many cases of the regular flu are in there and how many have died from it? Probably way more but you won't hear that in the news.