Sunny AZ Girl

2 hours ago, sfaaa said:

Lost wages?  They haven't been terminated, by the cruise line.

As I understand it from another thread they are contracted worker, not employees.  And they will not be paid while they are not working.

My horrible eyesight! I can't read it at all.

32 minutes ago, cruiserchuck said:

Sacramento County in California indicated today they no longer plan to quarantine people who might have been exposed to the virus.  

 

https://www.kcra.com/article/14-day-covid-19-quarantine-no-longer-necessary-sacramento-county-officials-say/31334725

Finally!  A reasonable policy.  All of these quarantines are just contributing to the general panic.  Treat it like a cold or flu unless symptoms become severe.  ALL people with the cold or flu need to self quarantine anyway.   I have seen co-workers come to work sick and I am in healthcare.  Ridiculous!  Maybe this will make everyone all more aware of what proper behavior should be when sick.  Stay away from other people, cover your nose or mouth with tissue or you sleeve when sneezing and coughing, manage the symptoms, get medical help if you don't improve in a few days or your symptoms become severe, protect the more vulnerable (in this case - the elderly & those with co-morbidities).  

55 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

Which additional port will be skiped besides Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is still on the itinerary.  We are missing two ports in Japan - Okinawa & Hiroshima.

1 hour ago, LXA350 said:

 

The dry dock is in Singapore for Ovation, only other place the dry dock could happen would be on the West Coast, they had dry docks of Radiance there but no clue if a Quantum Class ship would fit. Anyway it's more then one year away and the virus will likely be under control by end of april. Nevertheless as it seems currently Singapore is handling it the most efficient by now, hence I do not see any reason that the cruise from Singapore should not happen especially so far out.

In the last few days things seem to have been sorted out for this B2B. Our Singapore to Tokyo cruise has been shortened by one day and is arriving in Tokyo May 7th now instead of the 8th.  Unfortunately, we are losing two ports.  But it is still a good itinerary.  The TP from Tokyo to Seattle is now leaving May 7th and is gaining a port in Japan.  Losing Skagway in Alaska as the ship cannot be cleared by the Coast Guard or whoever needs to clear it after arriving in the US from Asia.  Instead, we are overnighting in Settle when we arrive there. So for those of us who were planning to get a hotel room and seeing some more of the area, that is a plus.   Not so good for those  who live in the area.  Overall, we are adding a day to the Trans-Pacific.

The final result is that the start and end date of the two cruises combined are the same.  We have been able to retain our same cabin for both cruises.  Some itinerary changes.  $200 OBC given to us for each cruise.  We are still planning to go on this cruise even though there have been some hiccups with the process. Some have cancelled.   Hopefully all will be sorted out by April 2021!

Royal seems to be in the middle of a lot of changes, especially with the Asia cruises.  Our booked B2B Singapore to Toyko/Tokyo to Seattle in April/May 2021 is showing  lot of changes on our planners.  Some does not seem to make any sense.  No word from Royal to those of us booked on those cruises yet.  The first cruise has been "red flagged" and not showing up on searches at all for the last few months, way before Covid19.  Supposedly it is sold out, but now changes are happening on our planners and not at all consistent with TA sites.  We are just waiting it out since we are still over a year away.

17 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

The ones who got on the plane who were positive did not yet have their results at the point they disembarked the ship.  Unfortunately one other couple got bad news just as they were getting ready to disembark when the wife learned that she was positive.  The husband was the one who reportedly had been lobbying a local congressman to have the US send a plane for them.  Both husband and wife are still in Japan, and their luggage was found abandoned in a parking lot in San Antonio.  https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/elizabethton-couple-quarantined-separated-in-japan-hopeful-to-return-in-next-few-days/

I did not know that! Thanks for the update 

We did MTD in October. I hope they are not eliminating that!

After seeing how everything was handled on the ship I would not be surprised if the majority of the people (both guests and crew) end up testing positive.  It is being treated as airborne, yet I have not seen that confirmed. Please let me know if I am wrong about that.    Even if it is just droplet the procedures on the ship would allow it to spread easily.  Also, the isolation of the passengers on the plane, combined with better isolation procedures implemented by the US personal on the plane was more than likely more effective in keeping the other people safe than they were on the ship.  But treating everyone as positive when they first arrive back in the US is probably a wise move.

As far as people saying that they lied about their test results is concerned - whether they tested positive or not, reporting it to the US officials would not have been on the "honor system".  The fact is, due to language barriers I believe many passengers never really knew what their results were, if they were told anything at all.  People may not have felt well and did not report that. However, the actual test results were given to the US authorities by the Japanese after the US had taken over the care of these people and  the decision was made to isolate on the plane and bring them home.  Personally, I am glad that they came home where they could recover properly. 

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

off topic but I recall you were a very active member of the Arizona group here on CC.  I went over to check and didn't see any new posts for quite some time.  Was it disbanded?

Not disbanded, but since CC changed the format they lost so many of our regular members that the forum as kind of gone away.  Sad, I think.  Most of the original group and more active members stay in touch offline and via e-mail.  Some of us ladies get together for lunch on a regular basis and we still have parties about 3X a year.

Back to our regular program.......

42 minutes ago, bluesea321 said:

I recommend watching this video by Professor Iwata, it is eye opening!!! <<

12 minutes long but well worth your time (skip the first 4 minutes if pressed for time).

Iwata has impeccable credentials (worked on Ebola, SARS, MERS, etc), 20 years experience on infectious diseases.

 

I hope for the sake of Japan and the world that a new and effective quarantine for passengers is implemented away from the ship much like the US, Australia, Canada, etc. are now doing. Roaming free in Japan would be a disaster.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtHYZkLuKcI&feature=youtu.be

 

Wow!  Thank you for posting that.  Now I am really scared for the people on the ship and the people of Japan.  I never dreamed that there are so few precautions being implemented onboard and now it is obvious why the disease has spread the way it has.  I am not an infectious disease specialist by any means, but in my career I have worked with many patients with infectious diseases and I have never felt at risk due to the stringent controls put in place and enforced by our Infectious Disease experts at any hospital I have worked.  I guess I just assumed similar precautions were put in place onboard the Diamond Princess. And I know better to assume anything.    Silly me.  I am glad the US government got the US citizens off that ship who wanted to go.  Hopefully Infection Control will be better implemented in our home country.  Same for the other nations who have rescued their citizens.  

10 minutes ago, dog said:

Did this change recently? The last update I saw was he said it was to a hostel no wifi no phone. Couple stays together 

The hostel is a newer update since I posted.  That is where they are going now.  He is convinced it is a set up to quiet him.  No way to know what is really going on.  Not being able to communicate with the outside world seems cruel.  At least they will be together as long as they are symptom free.  Being separated was his biggest fear. 

David Abel made a short post on FB that both he and Sally have tested positive and were leaving soon for the hospital.  I hope that his son will post an update soon.  Prayers for all of the affected passengers  still on the ship and for those who are now fulfilling their quarantines off the ship in their home lands or in hospitals in Japan. 

If you don't NEED a balcony (we cruise mostly with balconies, but not always) the Panoramic Ocean View cabin on Deck 12 forward we stayed in was one of our all time favorite cabins.  Floor to ceiling window for a great view and if you are in one of the more aft cabins you are only steps away from the open deck for those times you want to feel the fresh air and sunshine. We wish all classes of ships had these cabins!  This was especially useful on our October cruise out of Quebec City down to Fort Lauderdale.  The weather was cold and we would not have used the balcony for anything other than pictures.  When we wanted pictures that were not through a window we just stepped out on deck. The room in the cabin was very spacious - much larger than most balcony cabins we have cruised in.  We liked that.

1 hour ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

Thanks... a helpful explanation.

 

Do you (or anyone) know which type COVID-19 is?

Is it correct that any virus/etc., that is aerosol is the type where the smaller particles do get through?  But would there still be *some* protection from droplets (coughing/sneezing/etc.) that contained the virus/smaller particles?

 

Thanks again.

 

GC

I think that is the million dollar question. I think once they how this virus is really spread it will be easier to contain. Most viruses are droplet, but some are saying that it is airborne. TB is a bacilli.  

Edit to add:  the above explanations of droplet is excellent.  Most people do not wash their hands properly.  Also, if this virus happens to be different then other viruses and is airborne I have seen very few pictures, if any, of people wearing their masks properly, so they are likely not effective. 

44 minutes ago, Diamond lover said:

i think the problem lies in the fact that, as you stated, most of the masks are meant to protect “your patients”, as opposed to protecting YOU from your patients.  Same with this scenario...people are wearing masks that protect others from them, not protecting them from others, as they believe is the case?

To clarify, a regular surgical mask does a pretty good job in protecting those of us in health care in a droplet isolation case, as long as we are still careful to wash our hands and not touch our faces upon leaving the patient's room. Those masks also do a better job of protecting others from droplets that may be coughed or sneezed into the environment. Surgical masks do no good for either party in the case of an airborne infection, such as TB. 

In the case of an airborne infection a properly fit and properly worn N-95 mask does an excellent job of protecting the wearer.  We are fit tested every year to make sure that we are wearing the proper size.  Also, we are reinstructed in how to properly put them on.  They are not reused, one time wear.  They are used to protect us and have worked well for years for me. 

1 hour ago, caribill said:

 

Have you read anywhere that those who will be quarantined in the USA will have access to phones and Internet? Especially those who do not have there own cell phones.

No, you are right there.  I just assumed they would have access.  Even without internet access (I just heard they may not have internet) I would think cell phones would work and these days most people have them.  I am sure there are some elderly (like my 90 year old mother) who don't, but they are in the minority.  Apparently there is none in the Japanese facilities either.  Given the choice, I would prefer to be on home soil, still.  But I am sure others may have different feelings, and that is ok.   My choice at this point would be to go home if able.  I did just hear Dave Abel say that the quarantine may be extended for an indefinite time.  If I were on the fence about going home, that would cinch it for me!

29 minutes ago, hal2008 said:

 

Apologies.

Meant to say "new occurrences of person contracting disease"

English is 7th language I learnt much later in the life. So I am afraid I am not good at it.

Apologies.

 

I must admit, I was a little puzzled by your post at first!  But no worries, we perfectly understand.

From what I understand there will be no getting around an extended quarantine for anyone who had been on the ship when re-entering the US.  Do it now, do it later, or stay in Japan for an undetermined amount of time. Personally, I think I would prefer to return to the US, where I speak the language, am familiar with the medical system, eat American food, and have more reliable phone and internet access to the people who I know will fight for me if needed.  

2 minutes ago, MichellePerth said:

Back in 2019, people on your roll call were concerned about the violence at a port of call in May 2021? 

Yep.

7 minutes ago, mayleeman said:

@Sunny AZ Girl Good luck with your surgeries. I fully expect your cruise in April 2021 will not be affected by the current virus.  Only the Spanish flu of 1918-19 lasted that long. If it is still affecting cruises, I suspect we are in a lot more trouble than we can imagine,  and if so cruising won't even be an option anywhere!

Very true!  I am really looking forward to it.  After this year, I will be very much in need of a cruise - and I expect that one to be very special.  Full of wonderful friends and my retirement cruise!

We are booked on the Singapore to Tokyo (April 25, 2021) cruise with a call in Hong Kong.  I fully expect that port to be replaced by either another port or a day at sea at this point.  Many on the Roll Call were saying this might be the case even before the virus due to the political unrest.  Hopefully, all of the fears of the virus and the unrest will be history by then, not just for the benefit of the cruise but especially for the poor people who live in that part of the world.

I cancelled a cruise for medical reasons (I am going to have to have 2 major surgeries this year and I am still working.  I will not be able to take any more time off).  the cruise isn't until this September, but I cancelled it in December.  The FCC I got in my e-mail stated that the cruise must be taken by DEC 6 of this year.  I called the C&A department and they transferred me to Resolutions, I believe.  We already had another cruise booked for April of next year (2021) to which I wanted to apply the FCC.  When I told him the circumstances it was applied with no problem.  I let my TA know and he sent me a new invoice.  Yes, the price of the cruise was reduced and it was not applied as a payment or credit.  That cruise is in Asia.  I hope that the circumstances going on in Asia this year will not affect the cruises there this year as I would hate to lose out on that FCC if the cruise is changed in any way!  

FYI - I have booked 4 more cruises after that and NONE are booked with a NRF deposit!  Learned the hard way...

5 hours ago, mayleeman said:

 

Good idea. I am getting so exhausted trying just to keep up with notifications on crnv (my own abbreviation) threads that I am losing track of dress code and tipping threads! "Unfollow" here I come!

I am still following here just to keep up with any new developments.  However, trying to not to jump to any conclusions when something new is posted unless it came from several reputable sources.  Too easy to get caught up in the panic!  I did Unfollow the other long thread that was saying much of the same thing.  I think some of these threads should be merged.

2 hours ago, dides said:

 

The early reports from David Abel said that alchohol had been banned.

As a medical professional who has worked critical care for over 40 years I can see a problem with that.  With over 3,000 people there is a pretty high chance that at least of few of the confined passengers are bona fide alcoholics.  Within a few days DT's would likely set in.  In our hospital known alcoholics are given (dosed by Pharmacy) airline size "adult beverages" to keep everyone healthy and happy!