03.07.2020 first update

Hello everyone,

At 10:20 last night, an orange helicopter took a passenger off the ship for on shore medical treatment.  We do not know if that evacuation was due to the virus or some other cause.

At 6:20 this morning, we started hearing the ship’s side thrusters.  We both got up, thinking that the ship was maneuvering to a dock.  It doesn’t seem that that was true.  We cannot see land from our balcony and can’t go to the other side.  Perhaps we were having supplies brought by another boat.

We started hearing about the virus outbreak at home while well into the trip.  We were thinking that were safer on the ship than at home.  The hospital with all of the deaths is near our home and is where John went to have weekly coffee with his cardiac rehab friends.  And we have been in the nursing home multiple times, visiting sick friends.  No visits recently though.

This morning we packed our formal clothes and shoes into our garment bag.  We will not be needing those any more this cruise.  We figure that once plans are announced, we will be a step ahead by packing some of our things.

At 9:10, the captain came on and told us that a passenger was evacuated by helicopter last night and another this morning by Coast Guard cutter.

 

He was not able to give us any information regarding a port and disembarkation, so the waiting continues.  He promised an announcement at 1PM or earlier if he has anything to share.

Colleen and John