Captain Ricky

8 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Does HAL have a fully trained "Care Team"?  I have read of these teams flying in to assist in times of emergencies in the past.  For many people who do WC, the attraction is they don't need to fly. These people are not going to be skilled on arranging flights - working the system.   To compound matters, Perth is not a major international flight hub.  

A "Care Team" is what I was referring to when I said there were companies that specialize in repatriations and evacuations.  I worked for several aid agencies that contracted with USAID or State and they either had contracts with these companies or had one of these companies come in, help the agency develop a massive repatriation plan and provide training to home office staff in how to do this.  

8 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Was the $59 pp US ?

Yes, it was.

12 hours ago, Hygge! said:

Very nicely worded!  But one thought on flights home - many of us can tolerate short flights in economy but it is a different story completely when it comes to long international flights.  The limited reimbursement from HAL to get home from half way around the world kept us from booking a business flight but we will be “eating” the cost of a premium economy flight over the pacific.  Having just finished our flights coming home and paying a significant fare to get a premium economy seat for the flight over the Pacific I am now slowly recovering from painful back spasms (6th day) due to the stress and cramped space.  I am grateful that it did not spasm during the flight in that we would have been stuck somewhere from home. And we are very grateful to be home!  Will we cruise again? Definitely yes! Will we book through HAL for air - maybe? Will we book business class through HAL on a short flight - that’s the question I can’t answer right now.  We pray for all to be safe and healthy.  We pray for those who are still at sea.  We pray for those who have lost loved ones.  And on a final note - thanks to the MS Amsterdam crew and captain for an enjoyable and memorable half world cruise.  Day 6 of our 14 day self quarantine.  

I understand the back issue.  Forty Four hours and my back was shot.  Because of Alaska's strict (and correct) quarantine rules I cannot do the PT in the pool that I usually do after long flights and I am not permitted off my property so i can't really walk it out.  That is why I was so frustrated with the Platinum Protection Package.  As I read the policy it would have covered business return because my flight from FLL to Alaska was first class.  But they said this was not covered by "Trip Interruption."  I wish I could get a refund on the Platinum Protection plan. -- Rich McClear

This is my next to the last post of this cruise blog.  In it I am critical of HAL, I hope in a constructive way.  I would be interested in your thoughts.  My final post will be a positive one reflecting 10 weeks of great cruising seeing parts of the world most people never see.  I have to end on a positive note because that's the way I feel.  That will come in a few days, now this.

https://www.rich.mcclear.net/2020/03/28/penultimate-thoughts/

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

If you aren't on CC a lot, I can understand that it's strange to navigate. For the current "hot" threads, just scroll down the first page and read the titles. Threads are ordered by most recent post. Since there probably are posts being added as I type this, the flu thread is high on the page. 

Thank you, I want to keep up on this. 

1 hour ago, Tampa Girl said:

 

 

I don't envy you those last few days -  it sounds like total pandemonium.  I can only attribute it to HAL not having properly mapped out an efficient evacuation plan.  If so, it was unfortunate and perhaps inexcusable.  Princess, OTOH, by that point had considerably more evacuation experience under these circumstances. 

 

I hope that having gotten home safely, assuming you are following the dire straits that the Zaandam passengers are now in, that you feel somewhat better that HAL did not let you sail straight west to FLL.  Had any illness emerged during that sailing, it is quite likely, given the response on the Zaandam flu thread, that FLL might not have accepted you.  As bad as your circumstances were, the Amsterdam passengers are home and alive.  Nonetheless, I completely understand your disappointment with HAL and am sympathetic with your experience.   I hope that you will sign up for another WC on some line and that the next one will make up for this disastrous cruise.

What is the URL for the Zaandam Fly thread.  I am terrible at navigating this site.  Thanks, Rich

I find the Jump box a good investment.  I use one when traveling the Alcan in the winter to start my car every morning of the trip, and when I got up to shoot Northern Lights and have the car idle for several days it helps me start it.  

Addressing a few of the concerns raised here.  Fourteen day quarantine varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  Sitka passed a resolution calling for it, Alaska has an executive order mandating it.  We arrived 5 hours before the XO went into effect.  That means I can at least walk in my yard.  But we agreed to self quarantine to protect the town.

As far as HAL taking passengers back to FLL.  If you read the Captain's blog, not in the main body but answering some of the comments the ship hopes to rebunker in Durban.  To make that on the fuel they have to run in economy mode, that means as few lights as possible and low air conditioning.  The more people on board the more electricity for lights, making water, AC etc.  I would rather have taken the ship home but having gotten here I am glad we got here before everything locked down.

44 hours and we are home, slept for 15 hours and now are finishing day 2 of 14 in quarantine.  Here is the blog post from our trip home.

https://www.rich.mcclear.net/2020/03/26/take-off-your-mask-for-the-border-guard/

We were onboard Amsterdam when our World Cruise ended.  Offered 50% refund and 50% FCC or 125% FCC.  We are taking the cash for several reasons.

1) While in good health now who knows what will happen, at my age any thing can happen.  Plus with a pandemic targeting folks my age, I am going with the money.

2) The refund will mean that I can live a few months off the money rather than withdrawing from my retirement fund, which is based on investments.  Don't want to sell anything now to realize cash.

3) What is the future of cruising right now?  I suspect the lines will still be going although some brands may go away.  But what itineraries will there be in 18 months?  I like ones that are more arcane.  Will they still be around?  Will small ships go in favor of more efficient ones (I like small ships) or will the small ships be the only ones they fill as they rebuild?

So I will go for the cash and be happy if I can use the FCC part of it.

Working on some final thoughts, probably two or three more posts for this cruise.  

Dolly last night, March 20, 2020 on the Amsterdam,  She joked that she was going to hide out in crew quarters as we left the ship, terminating the grand world voyage in Fremantle. 

This is interesting to read, we got off the QV South America voyage in March and had a significant delay getting our luggage from FedEx .

 

It was in a fort Lauderdale warehouse for a while. I had to call Cunard about the hold up. I got them just fine but it was about a week later then expected .

Thanks for the advice. I called Holland and they said they would try to shake the bag loose from "Olive Branch, Mississippi" where it has been sitting for several days after having left Olive Branch to visit many other states.

Is anyone else having trouble getting their baggage from FedEx. Ours is currently in Olive Branch MS, again after detours to LA, OH and CT. We live in Alaska.

This is my final blog post from the cruise. If you are interested you can read down for more. We had a great trip and will do it again, if we can swing it. On the way home Suzi broke her leg in Seattle but thanks to the cooperation of Marriott, and UW Medicine we actually made our flight home on schedule.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=56014654#post56014654

I will be keeping links to all the 2018 World Cruise Blogs on the front page of www.theinsidecabin.com

Thank You!

I live in Sitka, but have also lived in Juneau and Anchorage. In SE Alaska Xtra Tuffs are the footwear of choice, waterproof. I personally wear Merrell Waterproof hiking boots for most day to day wear here. I also wear the crocs that do not have holes in the bottom for a change in pace. Hope this helps.