41 days after disembarkation
Our life now has been isolation as our world is trying to stop the spread of this Covid-19 World Pandemic. Restaurants, hotels, playgrounds, libraries, every part of our life which is not considered essential has been closed down. People have lost their jobs, and there has been a run on some grocery items, (toilet paper, tissues, hand sanitizers, flour, bread mixes, seedlings, egg-laying chickens). We have all been told to isolate and only essential travel.
All the cruise ships have had issues with entering some country borders. Some have had passengers and crews displaying flu-like symptoms which has complicated disembarkation of crew and passengers. Today most ships are heading to countries where most of the crew members live. when not working on the ships. Most crew seem to originate from the Philippines and cruise companies are sending their ships there to allow their return home. Today there are 9 cruise ships at anchor of Manila, waiting for permission to dock.
View from
Sapphire Princess. The Majestic Princess
on left, Voyager of Seas directly in front. In the distance behind the Voyager
of Seas is Sun Princess. The fourth ship from left is the Sea Princess, the
fifth from left on the horizon is Queen Elizabeth, then there are two ships on
the right. The one visible is Pacific Dawn and the ship behind is Pacific
Explorer.
These ships
have brought their Philippine National Crew members home and are awaiting
clearance to disembark.
I am not
sure how many on board have Covid-19.
The Ruby
Princess left Australian waters on 23rd April. When it disembarked
its 2,700 passengers in Sydney on the 19th March, 21 have since died
and more than 600 confirmed positive with the virus. 190 crew members have
tested positive and 1100 crew member have been in varying lengths of quarantine
on board for weeks. The ship is presently sailing to Manila to allow some of
its crew members to return home.
