Cruising toward a viral uncertainity: Cruise ships quarantined in Japan and across the world Coronavirus

Map of the Coronavirus infected cases in Janaury. The map above is not an exhaustive list by any means. China's place in the world. Bordered by Japan and Phillipines to its East, various countries in Southeast Asia includin Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Central Asian countries to its West, China is the world's newest Superpower even if the U.S. and Western countries refuse to recognize as such. The world has since recognized China as Superpower and economic powerhouse.

With the ongoing global panic over the Coronavirus not only affecting cities and airplanes but popular cruiseships, its easy to forget that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will begin in another six months.  No doubt visitors to the Olympic Games, atheletes, experienced travelers and tourists will be anxious due to the Coronavirus if it's still going by the time the Games start in July. With the Coronavirus and Tokyo Olympics not far from each other many people will be reminded of the Zika virus that panicked many visitors and athletes during the Rio 2016 Olympics even though the fear ebbed as Zika only appeared to affect a small amount of people and didn't jump from person to person. So far, the olympics will still be hosted in Tokyo despite the ongoing virus. The IOC is monitoring the outbreak. There are thousands of experienced travelers and tourists who are also panicking over the spread of the virus. China and its trading partners have been economically squeezed by the Coronavirus. The financial markets originally dropped last week as investors worried the virus' spread would be worst than it currently is.



Above Sam Chui, an aviation blogger and traveler based in Dubai breaks down the recent aviation impact of the Coronavirus to China and other countries. Chui who regulary posts interior aircraft tours for his audience and curious travelers, analyzes the recent evacuaion of citizens from Wuhan.




More quaratines by sea and land

The Coronavirus continues to rise its death toll and infected hundreds of thousands despite attempts by Chinese goverment and local medical officials in Wuhan and other Chinese cities to keep the world calm. Foreign nationals from Russia, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Europe, Canada and elsewhere have all been quarantined with each evacuation flight that lands in the evacuees' home country. In the U.S. state California, Americans arriving from Wuhan and other Chinese cities via Kalitta Air have been quarantined at Travis Airbase in Southern California. The U.S. military and CDC (equivalent to the health ministry) are monitoring the evacuaees for the next 2 weeks even for minor flu like symptoms. The U.S. government quarantine does remind many Americans in other parts of the country of many fictional diaster movies and series about pandemics come to life.



Meanwhile cruise ships that are currently sailing and crisscrossing Asia on 12 day to month long  cruises, have slowed and have been denied entry to passenger terminals over the justified fear of rising infected and cruisers showing symptoms of the Coronavirus. Since the virus has flu type symptoms, many countries are not taking any risks in allowing the cruise ship passengers to disembark at any port of calls. Just as Subic Bay government prevented a smaller cruise ship filled with Chinese passengers from disembarking at the Port of call in the Phillipines. Also keep in mind many Asian cruises have five or more ports of calls combined for the 12 to two week long cruises that take passengers through multiple countries ie United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Phillipines, Japan, Fiji, ANZAC. Some 61 passengers have been confirmed to have viral symptoms. These two week cruises are quite popular with older international travelers. Diamond Princess ship that sails around Japan has been parked in the Port of Yokohoma, the second largest city in Japan after Tokyo and one of the main cruise ports. The ship had just ended the cruise and the passengers were about to disembark having enjoyed what is normally a relaxed, winter vacation. Japanese health officials are inspecting passengers for the faint signs of the virus and the Japanese government are not allowing the passengers off the ship not even to stretch their legs on land to avoid causing panick among Yokohama's residents and across the country. Holland America was slammed a few days ago for picking up 800 Chinese passengers in Hong Kong while sailing to various ports of Calls around the autonomos region and neighboring countries. Also remember, the passengers are confined mostly to their rooms and aren't allowed to move about freely on the ship since food, electricity and help from staff is limited. Keep in mind that passengers have various medical and health issues ie high blood pressure, diabetes that could affect them further on as the quarantine continues for the next 14 days. The ship crews have been helping the passengers with conditions. Many passengers describe their confinement as a floating prison. The passengers have to wear facial masks and are monitored by ship crew when they go up on the deck. The Canadian and UK embassies in Japan have kept a communication line between their nationals on the ship open.

Backlash against Chinese travelers 

The Beijing government and Chinese travelers both on cruiseships, evacuees and visitors have condemned the growing anti-Chinese xenophobio, racism and fear across the world as many Chinese visitors have been barred from entering countries, quarantined and condemned for eatin certain animals. Everyone remembers the hundreds of jokes from childhood and even now where people often joke that Chinese eat everything weird including cats and dogs. As been said many times, the media fear, demonization and negative stereotypes all play a role in how a country is not only percieved but also treated abroad. Often affected by the treatment from insulting to outright abusive are the ordinary citizens of China. Many cruise companies Norwegian Cruise Lines, Carnival, Holland America, etc have tried to offer future travelers cheaper cruises to Asia in hopes of saving face as many cruisers have second thoughts about cruising near the Coronavirus' hot zone. Some companies are refusing to compensate passengers for canceled cruises that were already scheduled to commence prior to the Coronavirus. An Anthem of the Seas cruise ship that returned to its departure in New York City has had its departure delayed for its 12 day cruise as the CDC is currently inspecting passengers on board the ship. Anthem of the Seas occassionally sails to China and other ports of call in Asia.