EK only offering a waiver of change fees and rules through Feb 29. My cruise that was supposed to end in Hong Kong now going to Japan. Need to change my F return from HND now on March 14 but phone agent said she couldn’t call back in a few weeks! What? Come on Emirates expand your change waivers at least through March already.

And hope there are no Chinese in your first cabin? Don't think that would work unless Chinese don't fly first that often.

How should this be any different from BAU flights? I never should expect people sneezing on bar food or an unsanitary plane to board.

Maybe bring your own tank of air as well to avoid the air circulation that is pumped from economy to first.

I think the point is the nearest passenger is further away in F than J and further away in J than Y. F isn’t going to protect you from infection absolutely, but I’d definitely put money on it being less likely to spread in F if someone is a carrier.

Since Emirates is still flying regularly to/from Mainland China, what are people's opinions regarding flying with them to MLE transiting via DXB? Classes of service are as follows: JFK-DXB-MLE both flights in J. Return is MLE-DXB in Y and DXB-JFK in F.

I'm personally not that concerned and will just take along some Purell and make sure to wash hands frequently with soap and water. However, the spouse is freaking out and I need to allay his fears.

I'm trying to figure out why you have included all the details about non-China route and class of travel? Do you believe it will affect your risk in a significant way?

Sorry, was just following directions from my better half who as I said is not taking this lightly and is making me not think so straight 😬.

But to somewhat clarify, because Emirates has no issue flying to and from China, who is to say that Chinese citizens will not be joining on any of these flights (besides JFK-DXB) and will not be in DXB airport which we are spending time in during our layover both ways?

I realize that my reaction may be overkill and my fears have already been allayed in another thread that I posted in after this one, so never mind. Ignore me .

Maldives bans travellers from China over virus fears, minister says
https://www.reuters.com/article/chin...-idUSL4N2A31LM

Reduced capacity on China flights throughout February 2020.

https://www.thenational.ae/business/...ights-1.973408

UAE suspends all China flights - except Beijing

https://www.thenational.ae/world/asi...ights-1.968797

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said the suspension will come into effect on February 5 until further notice.

The GCAA said the decision is part of precautionary measures undertaken by the UAE to confront the outbreak of the new coronavirus, WAM reported.

"We continue to put our confidence in the Chinese Government’s efforts to control and contain the situation," GCAA said in a statement.

Beijing passengers to undergo 'comprehensive medical screening'

The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said all passengers travelling from Beijing International into the UAE will be required to undergo a six to eight hour comprehensive medical screening at the airport to ensure the safety of passengers before boarding, WAM reports.

It also urged airlines to communicate the new procedures with passengers to avoid flight delays.

The GCAA said the decision to suspend flights came after studying and analysing the current conditions on the spread of the virus, adding it is working closely with national agencies such as the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) Etihad Airways and Emirates.

The NCEMA and other relevant authorities are "continuously evaluating the situation in China and will make decisions accordingly," GCAA said.

GCAA noted that all incoming and outgoing flights to Wuhan - the city at the centre of the crisis - have been cancelled since 23rd January, 2020.

EK making it public:

Passengers must report to PEK 8 hours before flight time wow. But I agree better safe than sorry

Unless you are flying F then you can turn up when you want. F passengers can’t catch coronavirus

An update on my above thread. Got an email from Celebrity Cruise saying anyone who’s been to China recently or has a Chinese passport will not be allowed to board. Furthermore, even if you change planes in China or Hong Kong you will be banned. My return flight was from HKG in F. Now I’m waiting to rebook from HND where the cruise now ends instead. So far EK is not allowing free changes after Feb 29. My return is March 14th.
Dear Guest,


We look forward to welcoming you aboard for your upcoming Celebrity Cruises vacation. Before you embark on this exciting journey, we would like to provide some important information regarding your upcoming travel plans.


As you may be aware, China is currently experiencing an outbreak of coronavirus. Due to the potential spread of coronavirus, the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern – this allows governments to proactively dedicate resources intended to ensure the safety of citizens and travelers around the world.


After further consultation with public health authorities and medical experts, we have decided that any guest, or crewmember, who has traveled to, from, or through China or Hong Kong within 15 days of departure will be unable to board our ships – this includes guests who had connecting flights in China or Hong Kong.


As a result, it is imperative that you check your air travel itinerary closely to ensure you do not transit through any gateway in China or Hong Kong. Guests who have air travel booked through Flights by Celebrity will be re-accommodated on alternate routes and receive new flight information automatically. Guests with independent air travel arrangements need to contact their air carriers directly to make all required adjustments and changes to their air travel.


We have elected to take this precautionary step due to the recent increase in coronavirus cases around the world, to help avoid the spread of the virus and to ensure the continued safety of our guests and crew. While vacations are our passion, our primary responsibility is to maintain a safe and healthy environment onboard our ships, as well as in the ports we visit.


We have also increased secondary health screening requirements. The following guests will need to undergo extra screenings at the cruise terminal:

• Guests or crewmembers who have been in contact with individuals who have traveled to, from, or through mainland China or Hong Kong in the last 15 days.
• Anyone that holds a Chinese or Hong Kong passport – regardless of when they were there last.
• Anyone that feels unwell or demonstrates flu-like symptoms.

We’ve also taken numerous proactive steps to maintain high health standards onboard our ships:

• Thoroughly sanitizing the cruise ship terminal before and after every sailing.
• Special sanitizing of high traffic areas onboard multiple times a day.
• Adding extra medical staff on each sailing.
• Providing complimentary consultations with medical experts for all guests and crew.
• Plus, the Captain will make two daily announcements during your cruise reminding everyone of how to stay healthy onboard.

Finally, you can contribute to a healthy onboard environment by taking a few simple steps that will help prevent colds, flus and stomach viruses – both onboard and on land.

• Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds after using the restroom and before any meal or snack.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue (or with your upper sleeve) if you happen to sneeze. Avoid sneezing or coughing into your hands or without covering your nose and mouth.
• Use hand sanitizer as often as possible. Rub the gel thoroughly, and in-between your fingers, until your hands are dry.

If you don’t feel well while onboard, it’s imperative that you visit our onboard medical facility immediately for a complimentary checkup. Our onboard doctors and nurses are always available and ready to assist.



If you or someone in your stateroom has traveled to, from, or through, mainland China or Hong Kong, please contact your Travel Advisor immediately, or contact us at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961worldwide. You can also visit www.celebritycruises.com/contact-us for a complete list of global contact information.


We look forward to welcoming you aboard for a truly incredible vacation.

Sincerely,

Celebrity Cruises