Monday 1 February 2010

DAY 21 Feb 2 - Sea Day Pacific Ocean

We could have done with today yesterday, if you get what I mean, so that our recoveries happened while at sea rather than in port, thus making us miss out on exploring Iquique, a town we were looking forward to seeing. However, today will allow us to completely get ourselves right while we cruise further down the Chilean coast.

Iquique looked really splendid in the evening sun-light as we nudged ourselves slowly out of the port at about 5 o'clock yesterday with a redundant tug standing-by.

It was a perfect evening with little breeze and temperatures still quite good in the mid-70s. It will surely begin to feel cooler though during the next week.

We had been lucky that the near by fish processing factory had been shut and the not so pleasant smells associated with that industry were not quite so apparent.

Its rather nice that people do get a bit concerned when you don't show for dinner or don't show up in the Crow's Nest Bar for a few days. Our cabin phone has rung quite a few times. It would also appear that some of the Filipino beverage crew have been discussing our absence from around the ship and it's pleasing to hear of their concerns. But don't worry barman Gil, 'we will return' as General MacArthur said to your fellow country men nearly 70 years ago!

The Captain has now announced that they have been investigating the likely port responsible for the bug coming on board the ship. They suspect that some passengers drank Pisco Sours in various places while away from the ship (how very naughty of them) in the last few days and might even have had ice in their drink. It is believed that since Pisco Sours are made with the whites of eggs as an ingredient, this may have been the cause of the illness. In addition it is possible that local ice in drinks may not have been suitable for our ill-prepared stomachs. Interestingly, Maria and I both had Piscos while away from the ship and I had ice in a glass of bottled water while away on the same trip. It's all making sense now I think.

We saw two seals wallowing around near the ship shortly before sail away yesterday. No sign of Pisco Sour fever with them. They were a delight to watch as they playfully presented themselves at quite frequent intervals in front of our balcony.

One thing we did notice while in dock yesterday was the amount of work going on round the ship with trying to deal with the corrosive rust problem that is prevalent in considerable parts of the outer decks. This will make a difference once a primer (hopefully) and new paint are applied.

There has also been much banging going on in the cabins, just below ours, that were out of com-mission next to the newly installed ones. These are where the contractors have their accommodation. The noise went on well past 10 o'clock on Saturday night and required a phone call from me to the front desk. Generally the workers seems to be working later and a little noisier as their deadline, which I believe is on 4th February, rapidly approaches.

As a matter of interest we did bring with us local currencies for Chile, Argentina and Brazil, in smallish denominations by local standards, to the value of about $200 per country. I think all three countries do take the $ but we thought it handy to take some local currency along as well.

We received a very nice gesture from the Concierge girls that look after us suite passengers with their efficient and useful telephone service. A couple of nights ago we had to inform them that our cabin's a/c could not be adjusted and the room was freezing at night. The next day a couple of engineers arrive and fixed the problem. As a result the two Concierge ladies, Nancy from the Philippines and Lydia from Holland, arrived in their finest at our door with a complementary bottle of red wine and a lovely note apologising for the inconvenience we encountered. Well that really did impress me. Congratulations HAL and especially the Front Office of the Prinsendam. You really still do some things in style!

Well the crunch came this morning and at 8.00 o’clock I spoke to the doctor on the phone to report that I was still not ‘right’ with a continuing upset tummy. I gave some details and she said she had already this morning received four similar phone calls from passengers. Things were not good on the dear old ms Prinsendam it would appear.

My problems began after ordering a steak sandwich from room service about 7.30 last night. It was the first thing I had eaten all day other than a bread roll at breakfast time. Maybe that was a mistake in retrospect. Maria also had something from the room menu but was okay other than she was quite tired still despite staying in bed most of yesterday.

Denise, one of the ship’s two nurses, was soon at our cabin door. After taking all our details she explained that she would return with a special pack containing some liquid, Gatorade by name, that would rehydrate, replenish and refuel. Additionally the pack supplied would contain Imodium, tablets in case of any diarrhea, and a bottle of hand sanitizer. Denise suggested no food today other than some dry toast. Our hard-pressed nurse confirmed that both our blood pressures and temperatures were thankfully normal. She did also confirm that infections were escalating on the ship today and it was all seemingly happening at once.

I understand that our lovely cabin steward Deden is removed from the scene now and a special team of masked stewards will fumigate and generally look after our cabin until the emergency is over! Wow!!

Next door neighbour John just stopped by to enquire as to our well being and tells of the ship looking like a hospital ship. He said teams of masked crew members are everywhere fumigating and cleaning. This is what is called a real CODE RED on the high seas.

So I’m afraid being confined to barracks again today means little opportunity for photos, other than that of the wide expanse of sea we are now cruising through. It is thought that we are over the worsted of the infection but nevertheless should restrict ourselves to the cabin and received no visitors until tomorrow morning unless symptoms reappear when the situation will be reassessed. The ship’s Medical Centre will stay in telephone contact with us over the next 24 hours or so.

3 comments:

  1. Ann and David MasonTue Feb 02, 10:36:00 am 2010

    Do hope you are both feeling better soon. It must be miserable being confined to your cabin - but look on the bright side - the enforced fasting might reduce the waistline a little!! Get well soon. Ann

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  2. That is awful that you are confined to your cabin. At least you have a nice spacious cabin. Seems like they are putting you in the naughty corner for drinking those Pisco Sours. Hope you are both feeling better soon.

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  3. PISCO PISCO

    Paul the clue's in the name

    Stick to whisky

    Get better soon Bill and Jan

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