Coronavirus Wreaking Havoc on Your Travel Plans?

[billymach4]

We are feeling lucky that we had no particular difficulty in November with cruise stops in Taiwan, and China or with our departure from Hong Kong. Then for next week, my DW had signed up for a painting class. She;s a watercolorist and this instructor has some notoriety. She felt lucky to be able to block out a week and travel to the class. She was busily packing and putting together the needed supplies to depart Super Bowl Sunday, when she was notified that the class was canceled due to Coronavirus fear by the instructor. This was a nearby, local venue- not an international excursion. She was told that her entrance fee would be refunded, though the organizer would still be on the hook for the rental of the facility.

Jim

Sorry Paula will miss out on the class. Hmmm I tend to think the instructor is way paranoid. Just shaking my head at this level of caution. Really more of a risk at catching a cold. To each their own.

 

[geist1223]

Last Thursday we left Portland Oregon for Hobart Tasmania. Saw many people wearing those masks that look like for surgery. These are pretty useless. They are designed to prevent doctors and nurses from breathing on patients not to protect the Doctors or Nurses. We did bring N95 Masks with us in case things got bad and in case of smoke particulates. Saw a whole family wearing N95's. But incorrectly. They were not wearing them to cover their noses only their mouths. This is our second trip to Tasmania in 4 years.

People worry about things that have such a low probability. Driving is much more dangerous.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Here is a likely statistic : Overall deaths in China are probably down this month.
Every day (X) number of people die from vehicle accidents and hit bicyclist & pedestrians etc With travel reduced and people in China afraid to go to public places - it is likely that deaths from these types of incidents have been reduced significantly compared to the average daily total .
******
Visits to hospitals in the Wuhan area are obviously way up .

bump
*****
And - if we all wash our hands more etc / overall deaths in North America etc .from “ seasonal flu “ will likely decline in Feb & March 2020 - because more folk are following the protocols that we should all follow - but don’t.

 

["Roger"]

Last Thursday we left Portland Oregon for Hobart Tasmania. Saw many people wearing those masks that look like for surgery. These are pretty useless. They are designed to prevent doctors and nurses from breathing on patients not to protect the Doctors or Nurses. We did bring N95 Masks with us in case things got bad and in case of smoke particulates. Saw a whole family wearing N95's. But incorrectly. They were not wearing them to cover their noses only their mouths. This is our second trip to Tasmania in 4 years.

People worry about things that have such a low probability. Driving is much more dangerous.

Were they wearing masks because of the coronavirus or because of the smoke?

Somewhat off topic, but since Australia came up and in line with cancelling trips, my wife and I cancelled a trip to Australia. While many parts of the trip would have been okay, the major attraction for us was a three day stop on Kangaroo Island. The attraction there was the diverse wildlife, much of which is not seen elsewhere in Australia. Half the island has been burned down including the lodge where we were scheduled to stay. It was a major repository for koala bears. The estimate is that half of them died in the fires and there are many that are in tough shape. All very sad.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Does Travel Insurance Cover The Coronavirus?.

Does Travel Insurance Cover The Coronavirus?

How will the coronavirus outbreak affect your next trip? Travelers want to know after airlines have canceled flights and the U.S. has imposed a quarantine. More importantly, does travel insurance cover the coronavirus oubreak?

www.forbes.com

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Richard

 

[easyrider]

Bloomberg reports that on top of corona virus, there is a bird flu out break happening in Woohoo .
Bill

China Culls 18,000 Chickens After H5N1 Bird Flu Cases in Hunan

A city in China’s central Hunan province reported that it had culled almost 18,000 chickens after an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in statement on its website Saturday.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[geist1223]

Were they wearing masks because of the coronavirus or because of the smoke?

We have not experienced any smoke issues. Does it matter which. Wearing it wrong will not help with either.

 

[Cornell]

For those of you interested in this topic, check out "Pandemic" on Netflix. Super interesting . It's not a drama - it's a docuseries.

 

[geist1223]

Population of China about 1.4 Billion. Confirmed cases of Coronavirus 17,000 = 0.0000121428%.
361 confirmed deaths. Confirmed cases of Coronavirus 17,000 = 0.0211764706 of the confirmed cases have died from the virus.

The CDC estimates that during 2018 - 2019 flu season that 42.9 million people got the flu, 647,000 people were hospitalized due to the flu, and 61,200 died from the flu.

 

[Panina]

Population of China about 1.4 Billion. Confirmed cases of Coronavirus 17,000 = 0.0000121428%.
361 confirmed deaths. Confirmed cases of Coronavirus 17,000 = 0.0211764706 of the confirmed cases have died from the virus.

The CDC estimates that during 2018 - 2019 flu season that 42.9 million people got the flu, 647,000 people were hospitalized due to the flu, and 61,200 died from the flu.

Right now I am much more afraid of the flu, in time that could change.

I also believe many more people get the flu that aren’t diagnosed. My mom, cousin and sister all are sick now with the same symptoms I had when I had the flu and none of their doctors gave them the flu test as they didn’t have it. I got the test so I was a confirmed case.

 

[MULTIZ321]

Royal Caribbean Cancels 8 Cruises Out of China Through March 4.

Royal Caribbean Cancels 8 Cruises Out of China Through March 4

Royal Caribbean will take a charge on the cruises being canceled because of the coronavirus.

www.thestreet.com

.


Richard

 

[MULTIZ321]

China's coronavirus outbreak hits global travel industry for billions

China's coronavirus outbreak hits global travel industry for billions

The viral outbreak in China has thrown the travel industry into chaos, threatening billions in losses and keeping millions of would-be travelers at home.

www.foxbusiness.com

Richard

 

[CPNY]

A friend of mine just changed his trip from China to Thailand and is getting amazing rates.

 

[Snazzylass]

Were they wearing masks because of the coronavirus or because of the smoke?

Somewhat off topic, but since Australia came up and in line with cancelling trips, my wife and I cancelled a trip to Australia. While many parts of the trip would have been okay, the major attraction for us was a three day stop on Kangaroo Island. The attraction there was the diverse wildlife, much of which is not seen elsewhere in Australia. Half the island has been burned down including the lodge where we were scheduled to stay. It was a major repository for koala bears. The estimate is that half of them died in the fires and there are many that are in tough shape. All very sad.

Sorry about your trip. Son1, my DDIL and many family members are in Sidney now. It's a return trip for my son. He was there 20 years ago. I'm super happy he gets to share this experience with his beloved.

 

[easyrider]

A friend of mine just changed his trip from China to Thailand and is getting amazing rates.

It's crazy deals . My brother in law was able to last minute book a live aboard dive trip in the Philippines for about 1/3 of the usual price. Probably because of Corona virus. The dive pics he has been taking are fantastic.
Bill

 

[IngridN]

We've been inundated with spam from Celebrity offering tons of free perks and free room upgrades for travel through 2022. We were on one of their cruises last fall so are on their email list. Have already received 3, count 'em 3 emails from them this morning. Usually only one a day or every other day and none of those offered the perks they are offering now.

Ingrid

It's crazy deals . My brother in law was able to last minute book a live aboard dive trip in the Philippines for about 1/3 of the usual price. Probably because of Corona virus. The dive pics he has been taking are fantastic.
Bill

 

[Passepartout]

We've been inundated with spam from Celebrity offering tons of free perks and free room upgrades for travel through 2022.. . . . .Have already received 3, count 'em 3 emails from them this morning. Usually only one a day or every other day and none of those offered the perks they are offering now.

We booked a (Celebrity) back-to-back in Italy for this coming summer. Our usual balcony cabin. Then the discounts started rolling in. First they upgraded us to Aqua 1, then the price dropped again and we went to a Sky Suite. Then they added all 4 perks ( premium drinks, internet, gratuities, and OBC) Then they added more OBC. I don't know if they're done yet, but OBC is up to $600 + another $150 after we board. Plus at least 2 specialty dinners. We haven't even paid more than the basic deposit yet.

Jim

 

[Panina]

We booked a (Celebrity) back-to-back in Italy for this coming summer. Our usual balcony cabin. Then the discounts started rolling in. First they upgraded us to Aqua 1, then the price dropped again and we went to a Sky Suite. Then they added all 4 perks ( premium drinks, internet, gratuities, and OBC) Then they added more OBC. I don't know if they're done yet, but OBC is up to $600 + another $150 after we board. Plus at least 2 specialty dinners. We haven't even paid more than the basic deposit yet.

Jim

Wow, they probably believe this new Virus will scare customers from traveling and are trying to make deals that are too good to pass up. If the outbreak is contained, then they will have sailings with very happy passengers who got great deals. Otherwise if it continues to spread many cruises will be cancelled.

This makes me wonder, how many passengers caught the flu from others on their cruise who had it? My guess many.

 

[VacationForever]

I have cancelled 2 upcoming cruises and I am not planning to get on one anytime soon.

 

[Luanne]

I have cancelled 2 upcoming cruises and I am not planning to get on one anytime soon.

Where were those cruises going?

 

[VacationForever]

Where were those cruises going?

Transpacific: Sydney Australia-New Zealand-Polynesian Islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Morea)-Honolulu, HI. Hawaii cruise around the islands ending in Vancouver Canada.

We don't want to get on a plane. We don't want to get on a port in Sydney. We don't want to be in confined space in a plane or cruise ship. The coronavirus spread is no longer confined to just from China.

 

[IngridN]

We booked a (Celebrity) back-to-back in Italy for this coming summer. Our usual balcony cabin. Then the discounts started rolling in. First they upgraded us to Aqua 1, then the price dropped again and we went to a Sky Suite. Then they added all 4 perks ( premium drinks, internet, gratuities, and OBC) Then they added more OBC. I don't know if they're done yet, but OBC is up to $600 + another $150 after we board. Plus at least 2 specialty dinners. We haven't even paid more than the basic deposit yet.

Jim

Wow! We have an Alaska land and cruise pkg booked for later this year on Princess. I was complaining to DH that we weren't getting these kinds of offers... ...he reminded me that the cruise has been sold out for at least a month!!! We did receive free beverage, wifi and gratuities perks though as we booked a suite.

Ingrid

 

[MULTIZ321]

The U.S. Government is Quarantining More Than
800 Americans. Here's Why That Very Rarely Happens.

Hundreds of Americans Are in Quarantine. Here's Why That's Rare

The U.S. in imposing mandatory quarantines for the first in more than 50 years

time.com

Richard

 

[PamMo]

Right now, I'm not worried about getting the Coronavirus (BTW, it will get a new name soon - https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-china-51371770), but it doesn't mean I'm ignoring the warnings and the spread of the virus.

A flu pandemic happens about 3X every 100 years. The 1918 Spanish flu killed 50-100 million people. Those of us in good health with access to excellent medical care, are in a pretty good position to get through an infection OK, but we could pass the virus on to someone who is much more vulnerable. Novel viruses are scary if you understand how devastating they can be. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_pandemic I would feel horrible if I passed on a virus that killed others.

 

[mdurette]

I have been watching a cruise from CA we are on next month. Yesterday, no insides left and balcony was around $6,400. Today...there are insides available and balcony dropped to $5,700. If they continue to drop I will try to reprice my inside for a balcony. At this point, I'm not changing anything. Disneyland and cruise.....talk about potential for germs. I will monitor over the next month if it gets very bad, the I will reconsider. At this point my concern is not getting coronavirus…..it is about quarantined in my room on a cruise ship for 14 days. If there is a high potential for THAT, then I'm making other plans.