Cancelling cruise due to corona

[az_tchr]

1 hour ago, Fouremco said:

Very interesting questions. I'd like to think that Celebrity would be flexible and help customers avoid having to make a wasted trip to the point of embarkation, but at the same time, they don't want to be scammed by passengers who want to cancel for totally unrelated reasons. In some case, coming down with the flu for example, a note from your doctor might suffice as evidence. On the other hand, how do you prove that you've come into contact with someone from a banned country? I'm sure they'd believe you if you showed up at the port, but would be less inclined to do so if you simply telephoned. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the weeks to come.

 

Unfortunately, there are going to be a lot of very unhappy and frustrated passengers no matter what Celebrity does. There is simply no precedent for cruise lines or the travel industry as a whole, so they are having to make decisions on the fly. The nature of Cruise Critic means that these boards are going to focus on cruise lines, and more often than not point a damning finger at them, but stepping back and getting a broader perspective shows that COVID-19 is negatively impacting many, many more sectors of the global economy.  

Fouremco - three things

 

#1 make sure that sock on your snorkel is clean if drinking a martini

 

#2 we are in new territory with cruising. Would give a guess that unless you have visited a country or can show it with a document of some sort too bad. Would also think a doctor's report that you have a fever would work. BUT all of that would need to be within 14 days of your sailing.

 

#3 as for being in contact with a person with Corona. Son in law arrived home Monday from Milan. Masked in flight with nobody in same row. Lots of others wearing masks. Was escorted to daughters car. Baggage delivered. Mask in place. Self quarantined. FWIW he did not visit any of the villages with Corona.

[cruiserchuck]

24 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

Did you see the news this afternoon?  A flight landed at LAX from Korea and one of flight attendants tested positive for Corona.  Have not heard a subsequent report and have not heard if they will have to quarantine all who were on flight.  Also heard on radio and TV today that Delta, United and I believe American are cancelling flights to some countries.

 

Have flight to Amsterdam in June to cruise on Brilliance of the Seas so am carefully monitoring European situation.

 

 

 

I just read about the Korean Air flights.  The article I saw said that the flight attendant worked flights between LAX and Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 19 and 20, according to several South Korean media outlets.

 

Flight attendant is sick in South Korea, and folks on flights with her those days could have been traveling around California/USA and Korea for a week after being exposed.  

[Fouremco]

8 minutes ago, az_tchr said:

Son in law arrived home Monday from Milan. Masked in flight with nobody in same row. Lots of others wearing masks. Was escorted to daughters car. Baggage delivered. Mask in place. Self quarantined. FWIW he did not visit any of the villages with Corona.

One can only hope that the majority of people globally are like your son in law and self quarantine when there's any question of possible contamination.

[NantahalaCruiser]

7 hours ago, Cruizen Susan said:

 

How about the international crew who come from so many different countries?

 

Most of the crew will have been on the Summit sailing in the Caribbean since before the Corona was discovered. And as others have said, Celebrity has instituted a tight policy on prohibiting new crew boarding if they have been in infected areas within the last two weeks.  So there is very little chance of an infected crew.

[NantahalaCruiser]

3 hours ago, DebInAntigua said:

If the cruise ships are denying boarding and granting full refunds to those who have had contact with someone from a banned country...or who feel “ill”... do you have to actually fly into port and present yourself? Or can you call X a few days prior and tell them you’re not eligible to board and not leave home? Seems like I would not want to fly in, go to the terminal, etc if I was going to be denied. But then how do they handle it?

Curious - have you seen reports that those denied boarding are in fact receiving full refunds?

[cruiserchuck]

10 minutes ago, NantahalaCruiser said:

Curious - have you seen reports that those denied boarding are in fact receiving full refunds?

 

The travel advisory posted on Celebrity's website states:  

 

"All guests that are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds."

 

If Celebrity was not giving refunds in accordance with its travel advisory, I believe there would be multiple posts here complaining.

 

 

[az_tchr]

26 minutes ago, cruiserchuck said:

 

The travel advisory posted on Celebrity's website states:  

 

"All guests that are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds."

 

If Celebrity was not giving refunds in accordance with its travel advisory, I believe there would be multiple posts here complaining.

 

 

Has anyone seen information that a passenger was denied boarding only for being near a person from an infected area?  I would think using common sense that a person that acknowledged proximity and is ill would be denied.  

Have heard of zero instances.

[Jim_Iain]

4 hours ago, DebInAntigua said:

If the cruise ships are denying boarding and granting full refunds to those who have had contact with someone from a banned country...or who feel “ill”... do you have to actually fly into port and present yourself? Or can you call X a few days prior and tell them you’re not eligible to board and not leave home? Seems like I would not want to fly in, go to the terminal, etc if I was going to be denied. But then how do they handle it?

Should be able to just call in.  The e-mail I received from Celebrity for our March 15 Cruise says -

 

If you or someone in your stateroom has traveled to, from, or through, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea, or the Italian regions of Lombardy and Veneto please contact your Travel Advisor immediately or contact us at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

29 minutes ago, az_tchr said:

Has anyone seen information that a passenger was denied boarding only for being near a person from an infected area?  I would think using common sense that a person that acknowledged proximity and is ill would be denied.  

Have heard of zero instances.

 

Also at lest for our March 15 Caribbean cruise it doesn't say you will be denied unless you have a temperature or low blood oxygen levels

 

I'm sure all of this is subject to change at any time.

 

We have also increased secondary health screening requirements. The following guests will need to undergo extra screenings at the cruise terminal:

 

• Any guest who has travelled to, from, or through Japan, Singapore, Thailand or Italy (all regions other than Lombardy and Veneto) in the past 15 days.

• Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have traveled to, from, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand or Italy, in the past 15 days.

[az_tchr]

Jim - Any predictions on the changes that will be in effect then?

Trying to monitor crew with cases all over seems impossible. Cannot imagine Phillipines testing all the crew members rotating on board. Again a question - Can Corona be brought under control if a person is contagious before they have symptoms?

Also a question about low blood oxygen levels since those with asthma often have lowered levels. Lots of causes other than a virus. I get it that Celebrity is trying to screen and I have they are successful 

Edited February 27, 2020 by az_tchr
Add. blood saturation question

[Luckiestmanonearth]

Maybe it’s just me but I think people are over reacting by cancelling vacations.

 

But that’s just me

[JuliaMS]

5 hours ago, Snit13 said:

Did you see the news this afternoon?  A flight landed at LAX from Korea and one of flight attendants tested positive for Corona.  Have not heard a subsequent report and have not heard if they will have to quarantine all who were on flight.  Also heard on radio and TV today that Delta, United and I believe American are cancelling flights to some countries.

 

Have flight to Amsterdam in June to cruise on Brilliance of the Seas so am carefully monitoring European situation.

 

 

South Korea is a Level 3 Travel advisory same as China. 

[BEAV]

7 hours ago, airlink diva said:

About ten years ago, there was an outbreak of the Swine flu which had major impact on the cruiselines who sailed to Mexican ports.

I had friends who flee of sail out of San Diego for seven day charter cruise and it was changed to San Francisco,  Seattle  and sea days want to say it was Royal Caribbean.   Those that went were very unhappy on board.

 

Right you are. It was 2009 and RCCL Mariner of the Seas. When they abruptly changed the itinerary from Mexican Riviera to SF and Pacific Northwest, we jumped on a Junior Suite guarantee for $699 and were assigned a Grand Suite. A fun spur-of-the-moment bargain cruise!

[Denny01]

44 minutes ago, JuliaMS said:

South Korea is a Level 3 Travel advisory same as China. 

Yes, S Korea is Level 3 - Reconsider Travel, but China is Level 4 - Do Not Travel. 

 

Den

[Pushka]

2 hours ago, Luckiestmanonearth said:

Maybe it’s just me but I think people are over reacting by cancelling vacations.

 

But that’s just me

I’m reacting not to the virus but to cruise lines and ports, and airlines, reactions to the virus. 

[paphoslady]

8 hours ago, az_tchr said:

Has anyone seen information that a passenger was denied boarding only for being near a person from an infected area?  I would think using common sense that a person that acknowledged proximity and is ill would be denied.  

Have heard of zero instances.

Yes there was a case of a lady who said that she had been in close contact with someone from China (a friend) she was denied boarding!

[verizon]

4 hours ago, Pushka said:

I’m reacting not to the virus but to cruise lines and ports, and airlines, reactions to the virus. 

Yes a lot of people still don't wake up after the Diamond Princess cruise incident.

May be they need to experience once the inconvenient of being stuck on the ship for 14 or more days.

I am not talking about fear of dying.Everybody die once anyway.

If I were them I will cancel and take a little loss of money like losing the money in the stock market.

Edited February 27, 2020 by verizon

[mickey89]

1 hour ago, verizon said:

......If I were them I will cancel and take a little loss of money like losing the money in the stock market.

 

I would only cancel if I received a benefit, otherwise I would hold out and hope the cruise line cancels.  If that does happen then I would just not turn up, the risk of quarantine onboard no matter how small is a definite no no.

Edited February 27, 2020 by mickey89

[cruising sister]

I am starting to have doubts about our cruise March 10th. I am not afraid of going I am afraid I won’t be able to get back. My husband has stage 4 prostate cancer (doing well ) and has frequent doctors appointments and special meds that he can only get a limited amount at a time. He really wants to go but it is not IF it gets here it is WHEN we accept it is already everywhere and what the response will be. We have a 2 month supply of meds but with Japan shutting down schools for a month I am not sure what a response would be here an if Air New Zealand cancels flights to the US we are stuck. 

[Lazz]

9 hours ago, Luckiestmanonearth said:

Maybe it’s just me but I think people are over reacting by cancelling vacations.

 

But that’s just me

For us, it is not the fear of actually getting the virus, but getting stuck in a cabin on the ship for two weeks.  All it takes is one guest or crew member to show symptoms and the entire ship could be on lock down.

[missm]

As of this morning, the virus is now all over Europe. Hard to see how the cruise lines will deal with this for the upcoming summer season. Won't they just be aiding in the spread by moving people around?

[Alakegirl]

No more so than planes, trains, and automobiles

also ferries

also river cruises, barge cruises, cargo ships

subways and buses!

 

 

 

[sayanne]

2 hours ago, cruising sister said:

I am starting to have doubts about our cruise March 10th. I am not afraid of going I am afraid I won’t be able to get back. My husband has stage 4 prostate cancer (doing well ) and has frequent doctors appointments and special meds that he can only get a limited amount at a time. He really wants to go but it is not IF it gets here it is WHEN we accept it is already everywhere and what the response will be. We have a 2 month supply of meds but with Japan shutting down schools for a month I am not sure what a response would be here an if Air New Zealand cancels flights to the US we are stuck. 

Fully understand your situation, when my husband was undergoing treatment for late stage cancer I had the devil of a time figuring out how to get him to visit his  family in Chicago with all the medical arrangements and his health. Let alone overseas. 

Is there a way for you to reach out to anyone who is in one of the quarantine centers, via a cruise network, about how things would be in terms of medical treatments if the US evacuated you and your husband to one of those places? I suspect that Japan would not only prefer but would lobby the US to send a flight over if they had another Diamond Princess situation.

[PTC DAWG]

 

[Oceangoer2]

58 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

 

not sure what this video indicates (didn't open it) but the title says it all....IMO the press should KEEP TALKING and providing information...only way to find out the truth.  Maybe even the CDC is cautious to be open given the pressure they're under from certain sources.  Our health is more important than politics.