Well....I was going to post a "funny" about how some of my guests are worrying about the pirate's taking over the ship...the one in the Indian Ocean....and worrying about swine flu. Actually, it was funny watching the posts from these 18 year olds. All they heard was "pirates" and their brains started whirling.
As to flu...currently there are NO cases reported in the areas we will be traveling. I'm sure it will spread over the next month. As to what
DCL might do about ports, etc. people are just speculating. As far as I know, DCL has made no announcements of any changes. They have contracts with the planned ports, and would probably incur serious financial penalties for unjustified changes...but I'm speculating. I have no idea what their contracts with the ports really say.
I don know that they re-route cruises for weather related issues. I've had that happen at least twice (cruise went somewhere other than where planned), and had ports missed at least 3 other times.
IF DCL felt there was a danger, they would take appropriate precautions.
The ship has a small but well stocked pharmacy. Since they are aware of this issue, they are probably stocking up on tamiflu and other anti-viral drugs. They don't have "everything" in the sense of what your local pharmacy will have, but they have a couple of choices in each of the major categories. For instance, they may not have a choice of 50 antibiotics, but they'll have 5...and they're never more than 2 days from a port during the normal cruises.
Many years ago, I was invited to visit the medical facility (I'm a doc and I met the ship's doc at the Captain's Gala....this was pre 9/11...I don't think they'd allow anyone to do this now). This is NOT a normal tour available to people. Sorry, I posted about this once and people started asking how they could get this tour--you can't. In any event, I was VERY impressed with the facility They basically have a one bed ICU. It has everything you'd find in a well equipped hospital, and a lot more than I've seen in some small, rural hospitals. There are other areas for more "normal" stuff. After all, they are basically THE medical care for the 1000 CMs; granted, these are relatively young, relatively healthy people or they wouldn't be in that job. THey maintain regular records, etc. on the crew. In addition, they are the emergency care for the 2700 guests each week....some of whom are not relatively young or relatively healthy. They do not want to get "stuck" with a long term, serious situation--what they don't have is a doc from every medical specialty that might be needed or the staff needed to cover a critically ill patient 24/7. Thus, the goal is to stabilize and evacuate a critically ill person.
SO....I'll say basically the same thing to this group that I said to my "kids." Take a deep breath and chill out--we don't know anything yet. We all have to wait and see what happens with this flu thing.
I don't think we have any worries from the pirates who are active in the Indian Ocean. However, the Disney Magic is regularly taken over by pirates; at least once a week, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee and their gang cause all sorts of commotion on the ship until the main mouse appears to put things to rights.
. I don't plan on us being far apart. I booked the beach break at Playa Mia which is the same place as the cooking school. We could just walk in and say hi if we wanted. After the school, there is beach time so she could just come out and join us then. I'm hoping all works out well with that. I'm glad there will be someone else that is going on the same excursion.
