Will QM2 still call at Hong Kong in Feb

[Host Hattie]

10 hours ago, lissie said:

There's a polictical element to the US and UK reaction. I note that neither NZ nor Australia (and we are much closer) have followed suit. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/novel-coronavirus-outbreak 

 

Its clearly a bad idea to go to live animal markets - but most tourists wouldn't go to those anyways. Here's a sensible article about the real risks https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/27/what-is-coronavirus-symptoms-sars-china-wuhan 

I see that Australia and New Zealand have now updated their advice and that Christmas Island will be used for quarantine for returning Australians.

 

https://safetravel.govt.nz/china

[cruiseluvva]

2 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

I see that Australia and New Zealand have now updated their advice and that Christmas Island will be used for quarantine for returning Australians.

 

https://safetravel.govt.nz/china

Very wise move.

 

[frantic36]

2 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

I see that Australia and New Zealand have now updated their advice and that Christmas Island will be used for quarantine for returning Australians.

 

https://safetravel.govt.nz/china

 

 

Sorry Hattie can you help me out? I have scrolled through the NZ link and Australian government smart traveller and can't see the mention of using Christmas Island. 

 

Also the advice for Hong Kong in Australia says to use high degree of  caution and use face masks they actually state they haven't changed it. For China the do advice not to go if not essential.

 

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/hong-kong

 

Julie

[Host Hattie]

2 minutes ago, frantic36 said:

Sorry Hattie can you help me out? I have scrolled through the NZ link and Australian government smart traveller and can't see the mention of using Christmas Island. 

 

It's being reported widely, here's one source

 

BBC News - Coronavirus: Australia plans island quarantine as foreigners leave Wuhan
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51290312

[Windsurfboy]

The Christmas island story is on the BBC news website.

 

My worry is if this is typical of a possible reaction. Then a ship with even one case of this virus, will be come a pariah ship. Certainly  Australia wouldn't want it.

[frantic36]

Okay. So my husband just informed me as I hadn't heard the news. So Christmas Island is for foreign nationals stuck in Wuhan at the moment not for Hong Kong. Thanks for clarifying.

[Windsurfboy]

So the question is why even take the risk, Honk Kong must be the most exposed to mainland China of any other place.

[Host Hattie]

All the advice has been for mainland China for the moment.

[cruiseluvva]

1 hour ago, Windsurfboy said:

So the question is why even take the risk, Honk Kong must be the most exposed to mainland China of any other place.

Definitely, since Kowloon is actually on mainland.

[Chelsea1]

Based on the current situation I would not travel to Hong Kong either, or take a cruise in the region, even from Singapore. 

 

Cruiseluvva, I asked my husband, who enjoys cruising in the region and the local food etc,  the question last night "would you still take that Royal Caribbean cruise we were had booked for mid Feb from Singapore to Hong Kong"?

 

Answer "Are you crazy? No way! I'm not travelling anyway the region for at least 6 months"

[cruiseluvva]

Hong Kong and Shanghai cancelled for next month at least. Replaced with Singapore.

[Underwatr]

Facebook from Cunard:

 

We are currently looking at the impact of travel restrictions due to Coronavirus and our imminent ports of call in China and Hong Kong for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth world voyages.

We have made the decision to cancel Queen Mary 2's call to Hong Kong on February 18/19 and replace it with Singapore on the same dates. We will continue to monitor the situation for future Cunard calls to Shanghai and Hong Kong and amend itineraries as necessary.

Any guests now joining or leaving Queen Mary 2 in Singapore will be contacted and will be supported with amending travel arrangements.

Although the risk to our guests and crew is very low, we are closely monitoring the situation. Our medical experts are coordinating closely with the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to implement control measures for our ships.

 

https://www.facebook.com/117505241652157/posts/2656370434432279/

 

Edited January 29, 2020 by Underwatr
Added link.

[Windsurfboy]

Seems to be a sensible  decision,  

[rafinmd]

Nha Trang to Singapore looks like a long run, even for QM2 at high speed.  I hope when Safaraigal boards 30 January she will have an update on whether there are any other changes to the itinerary.

 

Roy

[bluemarble]

Looks like the QM2 world voyagers will be getting to spend a lot of time in Singapore. She's already scheduled to call at Singapore for an overnight on February 12-13. Now she'll be making a second overnight call on there on February 18-19. I wonder, has this happened before where a Cunard world voyage has ended up calling at the same port twice, especially for overnight calls?

[cruiseluvva]

Singapore is such a great port we will be very happy if our March voyage is changed as this one.

[durante]

The other port change which was announced by Captain Hashmi  is that Bitung will be replaced by Bali.

[canoncruiser]

WHEN IN DOUBT DON’T !😒

[lissie]

10 hours ago, Host Hattie said:

 

It's being reported widely, here's one source

 

BBC News - Coronavirus: Australia plans island quarantine as foreigners leave Wuhan
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51290312

New Zealanders will be  quarantined in NZ not Christmas Island. For those who don't know Christmas Island is a remote Australian Isl with NO facilities which was a notorious detention camp for refugees until it was closed and the refugees were moved to PNG.  That gives you an idea about how bad it is. If I was in Wuhan I'd be refusing to leave  if I was Australian - they have hospitals https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/408447/coronavirus-evacuees-to-be-quarantined-in-nz-but-location-yet-to-be-confirmed

Edited January 29, 2020 by lissie

[T5LHR]

Well, my own personal opinion is that, it was the only option that could be sensibly made. 

 

I imagine there are going to be some people who will be annoyed at not getting to go to a destination they wanted to go to, but at the risk of firstly their own health, and that of others on the ship and, all be it a very small chance of taking it somewhere else as a carrier, its the best course forward. 

[frantic36]

On a positive note, having ended a cruise in Hong Kong in late January 2018 it was bitterly cold weather. The ship had an overnight and one lady bought a coat the first day as she hadn't bought clothes for such cold weather. 

 

Singapore will be warm and there is a lot to see there. One overnight wouldn't have scratched the surface.

 

Julie

[cruiseluvva]

It was very cold when arrived in HKG in March a few years ago.

[ace2542]

I know this post will probably get deleted and I don't mean it like it sounds but it wouldn't be simple for Cunard/other lines just to ban and refund customers from China from cruising during the outbreak. Because they don't care they will just travel if they can and I can't think of anything worse than 2 weeks in a cruise ship cabin. Such a ban plus avoiding the area effected would really increase the chances of the virus not getting onboard the ships.

[cruiseluvva]

But it may not be just Chinese passengers since it can be transmitted from person to person.

[ace2542]

Just now, cruiseluvva said:

But it may not be just Chinese passengers since it can be transmitted from person to person.

 

Of course but since the outbreak is in China that might have been prudent perhaps and still could be. What is going on the Cost Smerelda however you spell is that 2 chinese passengers appeared symptomatic onboard and now the entire ship appears to be in quarantine as in 6000 people in cabins? (there are 6000 passenger/crew). Or is it quarantine similar to the outbreak of norovirus were only the sick passengers are in the cabin with others still free to move around using enhanced cleaning procedures such as hand sprayers and buffet food served by staff and regular deep cleaning of the ship?