Over 3,500 people quarantined on Diamond Princess cruise

[Kennywood]

Quite often. I’m a teacher.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I would think that being a good citizen of the world you would tell them that you have been in China recently and shouldn't board and would like a refund. Or call before your cruise and sort it out instead of potentially infecting everyone on the ship and in the cruise terminal. If you have been in the last 20 days or been around anyone that has then you are not supposed to board.

You would think that if a person wasn't feeling well, came from an area where a pandemic virus was rapidly spreading, you wouldn't fly to another country to board a cruise line, but that's what the guy from Hong Kong did on the Diamond Princess.

My point was that there are many people who go on the closed-loop cruises on only their birth certificates. Any of them could have returned from China. And yes, you'd think that people would stay away from possibly spreading something, but that doesn't mean they will, particularly if, as someone else mentioned, you might lose the cost of your cruise. Why not take a chance, if you think you "probably are fine".

 

[Dreams&wishes]

Here is Celebrity’s response:
View attachment 471732

I know I know I'm being pedantic, but as I said before the third UK case contracted it in Singapore where now they have wide spread person to person cases.
I just cannon believe that they are not including Singapore or Thailand in the warnings!!

 

[Adventurelawyer]

You would think that if a person wasn't feeling well, came from an area where a pandemic virus was rapidly spreading, you wouldn't fly to another country to board a cruise line, but that's what the guy from Hong Kong did on the Diamond Princess.

My point was that there are many people who go on the closed-loop cruises on only their birth certificates. Any of them could have returned from China. And yes, you'd think that people would stay away from possibly spreading something, but that doesn't mean they will, particularly if, as someone else mentioned, you might lose the cost of your cruise. Why not take a chance, if you think you "probably are fine".

This is also a cultural issue. Do not admit to illness or mistakes. Do not ask friends and relatives if they are ill and do not admit to them if you are ill. Thats why I wondered earlier how that would be handled since DCL is so culturally sensitive. That has to end if you want to stop the spread.

 

[Lisa F]

That happened to me on my last Disney cruise. I was in the elevator and someone sneezed right in my face, was horrible and I ended up getting sick later on. My next cruise isn't until NYE, I'm hoping that this is gone by then.

I'm going on the Feb 22nd Fantasy and I think there will be no elevators (and buttons) for me and no public restrooms if possible. It will also help burn some extra calories with the walking.

I think the cruiselines need to be proactive about offering to rebook (maybe not refund but rebook with zero fees) anyone affected. They need to take the money pressure out of the decision making process for people. I have been saving for 2 years for my cruise, and while I would still do the right thing (esp who wants to be on a cruise if you're going to go into respiratory distress?) it makes it a lot more stressful. Take the financial pressure off of people who are already under a lot of stress as it is.

They should realize that avoiding a widespread outbreak linked to their brand could be way more costly than having to rebook people on a later cruise. I mean - how much is princess losing keeping that ship in port for 2 weeks? certainly way more than the cost of rebooking a handful of people on it.

 

[Gentry2004]

I’ve also read that sometimes cruise ships will stop the self-serve at the buffet. I wonder if that will happen?

Has anyone heard if those denied boarding are being refunded/rebooked? I think that will help towards getting people to confess.

 

[Mommb]

I'm going on the Feb 22nd Fantasy and I think there will be no elevators (and buttons) for me and no public restrooms if possible. It will also help burn some extra calories with the walking.

Avoiding elevators seems prudent, especially the midship elevators that tend to be very crowded.

I'm not sure if avoiding public restrooms is necessary (although, of course, it won't hurt). It seems that more often than not when I enter a public restroom on a Disney cruise, there's a castmember in it cleaning.

I think the cruiselines need to be proactive about offering to rebook (maybe not refund but rebook with zero fees) anyone affected. They need to take the money pressure out of the decision making process for people. I have been saving for 2 years for my cruise, and while I would still do the right thing (esp who wants to be on a cruise if you're going to go into respiratory distress?) it makes it a lot more stressful. Take the financial pressure off of people who are already under a lot of stress as it is.

I would be very surprised if Disney Cruise is not offering a free rebooking for people who can't travel because of recent trips to China and other areas. That is an unforseeable issue out of the passenger's control that wouldn't be covered by (most) travel insurance.

However, it doesn't surprise me that they're not advertising this. People who have not travelled to affected areas but simply want to rebook might claim they're unable to travel to avoid losing the cost of their cruise. I have no idea if that's actually the reasoning DCL is using.

 

[MomOTwins]

Avoiding elevators seems prudent, especially the midship elevators that tend to be very crowded.

I'm not sure if avoiding public restrooms is necessary (although, of course, it won't hurt). It seems that more often than not when I enter a public restroom on a Disney cruise, there's a castmember in it cleaning.


I would be very surprised if Disney Cruise is not offering a free rebooking for people who can't travel because of recent trips to China and other areas. That is an unforseeable issue out of the passenger's control that wouldn't be covered by (most) travel insurance.

However, it doesn't surprise me that they're not advertising this. People who have not travelled to affected areas but simply want to rebook might claim they're unable to travel to avoid losing the cost of their cruise. I have no idea if that's actually the reasoning DCL is using.

I didn’t think about that but I think you are spot on there-plus I bet more people than usual would want to rebook now out of panic over the virus.

 

[MrMichaelJames]

I didn’t think about that but I think you are spot on there-plus I bet more people than usual would want to rebook now out of panic over the virus.

I would say let them. If anyone wants to rebook during this time I think these carriers should let them rebook. If rebooking due to fear to another time results in a price increase charge them the difference. If they want to cancel give them a refund. If rebooking due to where they have traveled then let them rebook without charge.

 

[Lisa F]

offering a free rebooking for people who can't travel because of recent trips to China and other areas. That is an unforseeable issue out of the passenger's control that wouldn't be covered by (most) travel insurance.

However, it doesn't surprise me that they're not advertising this. People who have not travelled to affected areas but simply want to rebook might claim they're unable to travel to avoid losing the cost of their cruise. I have no idea if that's actually the reasoning DCL is using.

I think you have to assume that some number of people will lie about it depending on the scenario and it seems like a lower risk for PR and actual $$ cost to deal with people who lie about exposure and use it as an excuse to rebook or cancel entirely without penalty than to have people worry they are going to lose thousands of dollars on a cruise and lie about possible exposure because the cruiselines are not being forthcoming about the policy.

The potential liability of people who lie to protect their sizeable investment is much higher if there is an outbreak because of it than the people who lie about their risk of exposure to try to rebook at a later date without paying penalty. Both scenarios may encourage some people to lie - one lie results in danger to others which could have much more serious financial consequences vs. the other.

 

[mmmears]

What if you were in China, but, as an American, you don't need your passport? Why would you take it if you don't think there's a medical problem, but you want to board the ship?

Just one more reason to support my unpopular opinion that nobody should be leaving the country on these cruises without a passport. There are plenty of people who have traveled on these cruises sick, and then they don't want to report a sickness and get quarantined. Even though so far it hasn't been this new virus, we know that there are people out there who do this.

 

[gotomu212]

They’re now saying one of these people tested positive for flu a. So that seems to be the likely cause of illness

Here‘s where I get annoyed with the transparency from companies. RCLs official statement is that no one showed symptoms while onboard, but were tested for flu. CDCs officials said when they boarded 2 members of the family were ill and were removed by stretchers.

So one of them are not being honest. It also seems odd they gave a flu test to someone who had no symptoms (and flu and corona have the same symptoms so I don’t seem how they can say there were no symptoms). I absolutely understand calming people- and any threat is still very small and shouldn’t be exaggerated. However, it seems so irresponsible to not be as forthcoming As possible. I agree with the PP that Italy’s approach to clearly suspected cases before disembarking sounds smarter.

(cnbc has the article with CDC and RCL comments but it’s not letting me link).

 

[Starwind]

3 more cases on the Princess Diamond, bringing total to 64.

Source: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...n-yokohama-test-positive-for-coronavirus.html and numerous Japanese language media reporting.

"In Japan, meanwhile, three more people on a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama have tested positive for a new coronavirus, the health ministry said Saturday, bringing the total number of people from the vessel infected to 64.

The three passengers -- an American man in his 70s, an American woman in her 60s and a Chinese woman in her 30s -- were taken from the Diamond Princess and hospitalized in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. The number of infections confirmed in Japan has now risen to 89.

The vessel, carrying around 3,700 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries and regions, has been kept in quarantine at a pier in Yokohama after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong was found to be infected with the virus."

See also https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...es-on-cruise-liner-total-now-64-idUSKCN20203Q and https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...alth/coronavirus-infection-toll/#.Xj5a-SN7mUk

 

[Gentry2004]

So all of these new cases on Princess were exposed before the quarantine and just took longer to develop symptoms? Or are they somehow new exposures?

 

[Brett Wyman]

So all of these new cases on Princess were exposed before the quarantine and just took longer to develop symptoms? Or are they somehow new exposures?

Its just spreading as a virus normally would. Not everyone will get sick in exactly 14 days. Different people are infected and different people are spreading it at different times. But yes I’m sure tons were exposed prior to quarantine.

 

[Gentry2004]

Its just spreading as a virus normally would. Not everyone will get sick in exactly 14 days. Different people are infected and different people are spreading it at different times. But yes I’m sure tons were exposed prior to quarantine.

But isn’t the point that they should have ALL been exposed prior to quarantine? Isn’t that the purpose of quarantine? No new exposures?

 

[KMack]

This is also a cultural issue. Do not admit to illness or mistakes. Do not ask friends and relatives if they are ill and do not admit to them if you are ill. Thats why I wondered earlier how that would be handled since DCL is so culturally sensitive. That has to end if you want to stop the spread.
[/QUOTE

Cultural issue? Have your never flown in the US with people who are coughing and sniffling the whole flight??? It s a function of people feeling that their need to get someplace is more important than the health and safety of their fellow passengers. And before anyone misinterprets what I am saying, this is a UNIVERSAL problem which is exacerbated by illness cancellation policies of travel providers.

 

[Brett Wyman]

But isn’t the point that they should have ALL been exposed prior to quarantine? Isn’t that the purpose of quarantine? No new exposures?

Viruses don't work like that. Not everyone was near a sick person. Not everyone who was will get the virus. And some may not get it even with direct exposure. Of course not everyone was exposed at one time. But as more people do become infected who were exposed, they don't want them causing new exposures. They are trying to prevent any further exposure as theres no way to know who was exposed and when. Especially since they believe you may spread the virus when you aren't showing symptoms.

 

[Gentry2004]

Viruses don't work like that. Not everyone was near a sick person. Not everyone who was will get the virus. And some may not get it even with direct exposure. Of course not everyone was exposed at one time. But as more people do become infected who were exposed, they don't want them causing new exposures. They are trying to prevent any further exposure as theres no way to know who was exposed and when. Especially since they believe you may spread the virus when you aren't showing symptoms.

How do you catch it if confined to your room, unless your family member is contagious?

 

[monkeydawn]

How do you catch it if confined to your room, unless your family member is contagious?

That's the hope. Of course since we dont yet know exactly whats going on with this virus, we dont know how it is spread. The likely modes are via droplets (sneezes, etc), via air or via food. The first is most likely. I'd discount the second although the Diamond Princess and what happens over the next week will be an invaluable case study. I still hear some talk about it possibly being in a food source but I dont put much credibility in that.

Then there is also the fact that people are making the food for the quarantined passengers. If the food preparer is sick, there is some possibility that it could be spread to those in quarantine.