We are out in the Indian Ocean heading east for the second day in a row. The Indian Ocean is the third-largest body of water in the world, and it covers about 20% of the earth’s surface. It is huge, as we are beginning to understand. Another world geography lesson for Steve and Cathy.
The weather is beautiful. The seas are quite tranquil, for which we are very grateful. We are anxious to gain as many experiences as possible on this trip, but sailing through a severe storm is something we would be glad to avoid. So far, so good, but we are still in the first third of our cruise.
As we have mentioned in previous posts, the ship has deployed a formal response to the existence of thirteen passengers having contracted acute gastroenteritis. This response is evident everywhere formulated by protocols developed at the Centers for Disease Control. We first saw a heightened concern for the spread of this virus when we returned from the Rovos Rail journey and General Manager Damien Lacroix mentioned that three people had AG. One guest had noticed increased cleaning of the handrails on the gangway as well as having all returning guests having to walk through a mat soaked with soapy solution to clean off their shoes. Then the salt and paper shakers in the restaurants were replaced with paper packets of salt and pepper.
The next night we found out that there was a formal program the ship staff was calling Code Red, as our friend Karen had been told she could not have a bowl of loose potato chips. The following day, further evidence was observed. Now all the silverware was wrapped up in the napkins rather than having the tables set.
The following day the protocols were really ramped up. The tables had nothing on them at all; no silverware, plates, glassware, napkins, nothing. The buttons on the elevator were covered in plastic, the launderette for the passengers was closed, the library was closed, mahjongg games and card games were canceled, towels, water and Gatorade were no longer available in the fitness room or spa, the stewards began wearing gloves (not for protection from germs but protection from the harsh cleaning chemicals they were now using), ice was no longer automatically put in the room ice buckets, menus that had previously been placed in covers were now just handed out as a loose sheet of paper. In the Waves Grill, they would not allow guests to handle the ketchup and mustard squeeze bottles themselves; crew members had to apply those condiments to a guest’s plate. The public bathrooms have their doors left open, the message being “You can use these if you have no modesty, but we would rather you didn’t.”
In other words, every effort was made to eliminate situations where one person would handle an item and then that item could be handled by another passenger. Crew members were constantly scrubbing handrails throughout the ship. The burden for all this fell on the crew and dining facilities staff.
Today we were advised that the number of cases was still at thirteen, but if twenty-four hours passed without any new cases, then the protocols would begun to be ramped down. Cruise Director Leslie Jon continued to gently but adamantly nag us to wash our hands constantly and to use the hand sanitizer that is available everywhere on the ship.
We have been impressed with the proactive stance that the cruise line has taken to deal with this. They initiated procedurals changes as needed. They thoroughly trained the staff to deal with the additional headaches that resulted from all the extra work, and that training especially included maintaining a positive attitude about their work. No whining allowed. Everyone has been calmly kept informed, and the result has been a minimum of bellyaching from the passengers, even those who seem to make a career out of nitpicking every infinitesimal detail of ship’s operation.
So this Sea day goes forward without much excitement. We do enjoy a nice dinner with Tim and Karen from Vancouver, BC. Karen has a delightful personality, as does Tim. We take advantage of Tim’s South African upbringing to discuss that country’s very tumultuous recent past and the prospects for its future. It is truly an enlightening evening.
The day ends with Steve and Cathy wandering up to their stateroom as their dinner companions heading off for the evening’s entertainment. Maybe tomorrow we will turn the corner on the fight to quell the Aztec Two-Step outbreak.
