Anderson South America Adventure Day 8 – At Sea “Yes, we are Alive.” March 11, 2020

This was a day that not much worth mentioning happened so I will update you on the Covid-19 virus and how it is affecting us. Holland America always has had Purell stations all over the ship, including outside of any dining area and at the gangplank when we go ashore. I do not know where they came up with more of them but they did. When we went to the Mariner “Welcome Aboard” gathering we had to “Purell up” before we could enter. The captain and the 1st officer were there to greet us, but no handshaking. I see crew members all over the ship cleaning the handrails in the halls and on the stairs. I have now gotten very adept at operating the elevator with my elbow. We even use disinfecting wipes when we return to our cabin just to be safe. We ate dinner with the people the other day who told us about a couple from Australia they met in the hotel the night before we boarded. They saw them the first night and again the second day when the couple from Australia was getting off of the ship. The woman was having nightmares about being trapped on the ship so they were getting off and flying home. Wow! The other day when we were at knitting the captain came on to give an announcement in regards to the virus. Oh please do not tell me that we will be confined to our cabins. No, just that the company has issued new regulations for serving food on the Lido. On Holland America they generally served you all of your food but they were some things that you could get for yourself such as plated desserts, cookies, milk, juice and a few other things. Yup, no longer. You have to ask for everything. I get it. If I use the tongs to get a muffin do I know that the person ahead of me had washed their hands? It is frustrating to be behind the people who cannot communicate which muffin they want and have the poor guy hovering over the muffins forever. At dinner last night there were no longer baskets of bread on the table. They come around with a basket and give you what you want, then come back with butter. This morning at breakfast I used Purell before I sat down. Rob and I team up to get our juice and milk then get what else we want. Going down to the main section I put my hand on the rail. Bad, bad, Andrea, you have to Purell up again. We are on a cruise that is made up of two different cruises. One is from Buenos Aires to Santiago and the other is Santiago to Fort Lauderdale. There are people who were planning to get off after 14 days and the rest are on for 31 days. A woman heard the people at the table next to her discussing that they are going to get off at Santiago and fly home while they can. I hope that they make the flight arrangements before they get off. I would not want to be stuck in a foreign city not knowing how to get home. Today they announced that Princess Cruises has ceased operations for 60 days - wow. You might not know but Princess and Holland America are owned by the same parent corporation. I am going to assume that they will not cease operations and dump us at the next port. If we get to Ft. Lauderdale and cannot fly home I really hope that I can convince cousin Marci to come pick us up. We had to fill out a health form and turn it in so that the ship can dock in Chile. One of the questions was do you have any joint pain. Um, have you seen the average Holland America passenger? Joint pain is normal for at least 80% of the passengers. Yes, I feel safe, but we are careful. If I were home, would I be cowering in the basement? Probably not. I do not know if my community still has activities going on. Tomorrow we will be on wifi so that I can upload my posts and check email. If I can get my phone to cooperate I may attempt a wifi call to see how people are. I am also wondering if the people who were going to join the cruise in Santiago will be getting on. I am looking forward to seeing Carol and Tony, I hope that they can make it, but only if it is safe. Remember, we are on the MS Zaandam so if you hear about a cruise ship having problems you will know if that is us.

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