Lottie A

I got the email too. 
Yeah right....”book quickly as the cruises are selling out fast!” 🤣

Braemar is currently circling off the coast of Cuba being shadowed by the Cuban Navy. British Airways planes have taken off and are approximately 4 hours away from Cuba. The suspected Covid-19 positive passengers will be flown home in a different plane from the other passengers and presumably then quarantined in the UK. 

Figures being bandied about suggest this rescue operation will cost about 2 million US dollars. I expect Cuba asked for dollar payment rather than in sterling. 

I did say “Coronavirus stricken Braemar” Phil. They presently have 41 crew and passengers displaying Covid-19 symptoms, including the doctor onboard. 
 

Just giving options of how other cruise lines are handling very difficult situations re getting their passengers home. I also think Cuba deserves some praise for helping out in this humanitarian effort,  when every other Caribbean island has denied the Braemar passengers entry. 
 

Let’s hope Pursuit passengers are on their way home very soon.  

Hope it works out for them. 
 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/braemar-cruise-ship-foreign-office-statement?fbclid=IwAR3E5YEIUMqNvGQNZy_zc2X3RNn3RwxNyDUh21UnYNw-_67Y9A4SrQ9nJTE

The U.K. government have said that Coronavirus stricken Fred Olsen’s ship Braemar is now heading towards Cuba where flights are being arranged for passengers to come home. 
 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/braemar-cruise-ship-foreign-office-statement?fbclid=IwAR3E5YEIUMqNvGQNZy_zc2X3RNn3RwxNyDUh21UnYNw-_67Y9A4SrQ9nJTE

Good news for the passengers onboard Braemar. Not so sure about it being good news for the Cuban people. 

https://www.fredolsencruises.com/braemar-update

Yes the doctor onboard  has symptoms of Covid-19.  I should think it is very likely that the nurses have it too. 
The extra doctors and nurses have now apparently been allowed to board Braemar. It is rumoured and I emphasise rumour only, that Braemar May be allowed to berth in Cuba as a humanitarian issue. Whether passengers would be allowed to disembark there is in doubt. 

The internet onboard is “down”. This is said to be because of too many passengers and crew trying to use it but I’m afraid I have a far more cynical idea of why that is. 

So do I hope they survive ...very much so, but every instinct I have right now would be telling me to insist on a cash refund and not take a FCC, despite Fred (and most other cruise companies) offering a sweetener to keep your money. 

 

26 minutes ago, tring said:

 

If you are to work through this I wish you the very best.  Perhaps my recent post seemed OTT to you, but I bet the MP's will not be in the same sorry state as poorer members of society.

I’m quite sure they won’t Barbara. 
 

Take care of yourself and your loved ones. It’s going to be a very tough few months for everyone. 

Just a “heads up” ....medics are expecting a big Government announcement on Tuesday.

I’m pretty sure I know what it’s going to be. ☹️

Some more news about poor Braemar. 
 

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/cruise-transatlantic-coronavirus-gbr-intl/index.html?fbclid=IwAR04sbmwe3vG6mUDRanjxIlgHUjCe4VVSPLGk7ni1MUtWjUT0vygV_c2VAQ

No Barbara I don’t.

I think it’s medically very likely that many more cases onboard will become evident in the next 7 days, given that Fred allowed open access throughout the ship since the previous cruise passengers disembarked. Some may have a slight infection themselves...mostly the younger crew,  but they will carry on infecting the more vulnerable elderly passengers unless everyone is quarantined to their cabin. The doctors and nurses onboard must be totally exhausted and it seems that the doctor has now reported Covid-19 symptoms himself. Goodness knows how many elderly passengers he has been in contact with! 

Fred should have quarantined everyone at least a week ago. They also should have sailed Braemar back to the U.K. They would be home now with access to the NHS if they had done that. Other companies are sailing their ships home from all over the world and it’s patently obvious that Braemar is not going to be allowed to debark passengers anywhere right now. 
 

I’m also very sceptical that we are hearing the true numbers affected anyway. Also to embark these new passengers onto this current cruise after the infection was known to be present on the previous one was just foolish in my opinion.  
 

Wishing all the wonderful crew and the passengers onboard Braemar a safe journey home, however you get here.
 

Maybe they should use the free booze to disinfect their hands rather than drink it! 

 

So sorry to say it’s not looking good on Braemar. Still at least the passengers now have free booze! 
 

https://www.fredolsencruises.com/braemar-update

Further news just out. 

It has been confirmed that 5 people from the St Maarten - Manchester flight of March 2nd and also 3 people from the St Maarten - Gatwick flight have now tested positive for Covid-19. They are now in enforced isolation. Two more passengers from the Gatwick flight have reported symptoms, but since testing has now been stopped by the Government we might never know. 
They are still awaiting a number of previous test results from both flights.
 

These figures have been confirmed by Public Health England. 

There are also more passengers on Braemar who have symptoms now and have been isolated in their cabins awaiting testing. Their relatives must be so worried. 

So glad that Braemar has been allowed to take on essential supplies from 25 miles off the coast of The Bahamas. That’s really “at sea”  though isn’t it and not on land in The Bahamas. Flying out extra medical and nursing staff is a good idea too. The crew on Braemar must be exhausted. 

Still no firm news of how they propose to get the passengers home though. Discussions are all very good but realistically no Caribbean island is going to allow potentially Covid-19 infected passengers to disembark the ship. I’m also beginning to have serious doubts about the accuracy of the infection figures emerging from Fred Olsen too. 
 

I am very sorry for the passengers trapped on Braemar. It could have been me, as I was seriously thinking of booking that cruise. In the end we decided on Black Watch and had a wonderful cruise a few weeks ago. Sadly I don’t think any of us will be cruising in the next 3 months or so. 

So sad to see a company I loved and trusted acting in this underhand and unethical way. 

In the long term Azamara will lose out as their previously loyal customer base will defect to the companies who have shown backbone and regard for their customers during this unprecedented crisis. 
 

NCL have just suspended all Cruising until April 11th, including their brands of Norwegian Cruise line, Oceania, and Regent. All guests currently cruising with them will be disembarked as soon as possible and assisted with travel arrangements home. All guests on impacted cruises can either choose a FCC of 125% or a 100% cash refund. 

Azamara? 

6 minutes ago, Grandpa100 said:

 

Hi Lottie. 

 

Followed your comments for many years. As potentially a beneficiary of your peers I greatly appreciate your help. 

 

Jim

It's a time for everyone to do what they can Jim. We have just cancelled all routine surgery and procedures here to help the pressure on our NHS. It sadly won't be enough but it will help in the short term. 

5 minutes ago, uktog said:

I think basically we are all grounded......

So do I.

I still find it unbelievable that Azamara have not given a reply or guidance on all the legitimate questions asked on here. Is everyone now expected to wait until next week to know whether their cruise is cancelled and what manner of refund they may get? The communication is appalling. 

I have now lost total confidence in them to do the “right thing” and think Larry P and Azamara management in general should be ashamed of themselves. The marvellous crew onboard the ships must be so worried and angry. 

7 minutes ago, pinkpanther52 said:

 A very sensible and brave decision made by Fred.

 

I applaud them now and assuming everything plays out with refunds they now have a loyal customer 

 

Lottie your voice of reason has been great on this forum and I truly hope you get a refund from Azamara 😌

Thanks pinkpanther52 and I have always appreciated your well stated points of view too, even though we do not always agree. 😀

I think Fred have done the right thing and it will be paid back in future loyalty from their passengers. I know I will be booking with them again as soon as this pandemic is under control....but sadly, I think we are talking at least 6 months for that to happen. 

11 minutes ago, Haworth said:

100% correct and I will add not insult their European customers.

Hadn't even thought of that John, but you are correct.

There is so much steam coming out of my ears at the moment I am likely to explode! 

Will probably be seeing you on Viking in the future. 

Just unbelievable! 
This is completely unacceptable. Apart from the fact that most ports are closed to cruise ships now anyway...and most passengers on Med cruises will be transmitting affected countries so would be denied boarding anyway. 

I am just imagining a British GP’s reaction to being asked to complete that medically ridiculous letter on the updated Azamara travel advisory page! We are completely snowed under with the Covid-19 pandemic and Azamara want us to write letters saying people are fit to board one of their ships? Not professionally advisable or ethically reasonable. 

There are two very obvious words that come to mind and I know a few GP’s who are saying them already. 

Azamara must do the decent thing and suspend all cruises until the end of May at least, with a full monetary refund to all affected passengers. Loyalty goes two ways. 

Fred Olsen have just announced the suspension of all its cruises until May. They still have the problem of how to get passengers home from Braemar ship in the Caribbean, as they are denied any passenger disembarkation in ports there due to crew and passengers testing positive for Covid-19. 

About time Fred. Now I hope Azamara will do the same.
 

Not sure how those poor passengers on Braemar are going to get home though when seemingly every port in the Caribbean is closed to them. Oh wait....they are on a big ship that can sail them home. http://media.fredolsencruises.com/news/fred-olsen-cruise-lines-voluntarily-pauses-departures-until-23rd-may-2020-397075?fbclid=IwAR1xJIPSUpGippbSCGT3yk0UjKUcspNlvkwQKKoO758ATjefKCroj1uat9I

7 minutes ago, nordski said:

Thanks for correcting my timeline on the potential recall.

 

And I do admire you for heeding the request for help from your practice.

It’s the very least I can do nordski. 
Happy to help my overburdened colleagues in any way I can. 

For more information Celestyal have just cancelled all cruises until May and we have been told to expect an important announcement from P&O soon. Presumably this announcement would affect all the Carnival companies but no hint of what it is yet.