Celebrity Eclipse. 14 Night Argentina and Chile Cruise. This becomes the longest ever Celebrity Cruise due to Covid 19. March 2020
15th March 2020
The bed in our cabin on the Celebrity Eclipse was one of the best beds I have slept in. Having slept well on each night of this cruise I couldn't understand why, on this last night I had a really bad night.............I think the ship was going in circles as you could hear the sea slapping against the side, and the ship rocking. In the early hours of the morning I wondered why we were still sailing and had not docked yet. Although the ship was scheduled to dock at 5.00 am it had always docked earlier that its scheduled time up to this point. The answer came soon- At 06.00, Captain Leo made an announcement, it was through the speaker in our cabin. He announced that the authorities in Chile were refusing to let any cruise ships dock. He said that Celebrity were negotiating with the Chilean port authority hoping to get permission to dock as the ship was Covid 19 free and there were no reported cases on board. We were told we could use our cabins and all the ships facilities whilst we waited.
At 17.00 we were still waiting, there was an announcement that the WiFi would now be free - to enable us to update relatives and travel plans and our cases were returned to our cabins.
16th March 2020
Today we should be exploring The Andes by driving up to the ski resort of La Parva, doing a hike and wallowing in some hot pools.
Instead we are still at sea, on the ship, just outside the port of San Antonio, Chile. Captain Leo is still hoping to get permission for us to dock.
We took time to sort out some finances on line, spoke to our family, went to the gym, drank lots of tea from Cafe Al Bacio - they were running out of tea bags, but luckily we had a supply of our own. Dinner was served as usual in the restaurant. It was obvious that the food was running out as the choice was limited, but still delicious. The crew did not know any more than we did, we were in a sort of limbo land.
At midnight Captain Leo spoke through our in room speakers, informing us that the authorities were still not allowing us to dock, but had given permission for us to sail to Valparaiso, four hours North, to restock and refuel the ship. once done the ship would sail on to San Diego, USA.
He also told us that the WiFi would remain free, our laundry would be done for free and all alcohol would be free.
So that was the end of our South American adventure and the start of a new one!
17th March 2020
Today we should have been doing a coastal walk to Zapella, visiting Isla Los Pinguinos and sliding down sand dunes in Concon.
Instead we were at sea looking at the dunes from the ship.
The ship has was keeping moving and manoeuvring in circles, we had a good view of the town of Valpariso. The worst thing is the Chile coastguard circling the ship- as if we would jump off and swim to shore! We waved at them but they just held up their guns.
Every crew member is involved in the restocking of the ship, the stores have to be brought by road from San Antonio, then transported by barge to the ship. The fuel vessel is involved in refuelling the ship. A big problem is that many of the passengers had not planned for a long stay, so have run out of medication. Customer services have asked all passengers who require medication to go to them to order what will be needed- especially insulin.
At some point in the day it was announced that Chilean nationals could disembark. We waved then goodbye.
This was a great success, as no one had anywhere to go, or any need to get up the next day, almost all of the passengers were at the party and a great time was had by all. It was the first night of many memorable party on this unplanned journey.
18th March 2020
Today we should have flown on Latam Airlines from Santiago, Chile to Quito, Ecuador at 05.30.
Instead, we woke to thick fog. When it cleared at about 11.00, we could see The Azamara Cruise ship had joined us. Still outside Valparaiso, supplies and fuel still being loaded.
We sorted out our exercise/ daily routine.
First off brisk walking of laps around the ship for one hour, then my husband goes to the gym whilst I joined Alehandros Latin inspired exercise class on the pool deck. Following this, Carlos started to teach Latin dances. We were willing but not very good! DJ Miguel said we looked like we were stamping on Cockroaches😁.
In the afternoon there were quizzes in the sky lounge. Then dinner and dancing (mostly Latin inspired) in late into the night.
The band the Raveons were also 'trapped' on the ship along with us and did a grand job of keeping us entertained and active.
19th March 2020
Today we should have flown to the Galapagos Islands. Galapagos until 28th March 2020.
Still in Valpariso, supplies and fuel being loaded. routine as above.
At about 0400 on the morning of the 20th March 2020 we hard the engines start up and we were underway heading to San Diego. USA.
20 / 21/ 22/ 23 March 2020.
At sea, sailing. Our routine is as above. The crew are magnificent working hard to make every thing feel normal. The Ravons play on and we progress with our Latin dance lessons.
On the evening of the 23rd we try the Italian restaurant, The Tuscan Grill. the food was fabulous, and we ate far to much.
24th March 2020.
A big celebration today as we cross the Equator at 09.50. We kiss a fish and receive our certificates to say that we are now Shellbacks. We join in the tradition of drinking rum punch-at 10.00 in the morning.
During the middle of the night we dock at Mantra, and a patient is evacuated for medical reasons and medical supplies are picked up, mainly insulin.
25th March 2020.
Saw a massive Whale right next to the ship.
26th March 2020
There is a technical issue with the ship and it has to slow down whilst the engineers see to the engines. We dance on, getting quite good at our Latin steps by now.
27th March 2020
Today we should have been arriving to tour Costa Rica.
We hear the tannoy announce our name and have to go to customer services. we are given our air tickets. Right through, from LAX to Manchester. Celebrity are paying for us to be taken home. We also have to do the USA immigration forms on line.
28th and 29th March
The ship is transformed with a Mexican theme. There is a Mexican night, with the best Margaritas I have ever tasted. Just the thought of the hangover stopped me from consuming to many. Dancing till dawn. Then for lunch the next day the buffet area is transformed into a Mexican Cantina, with Mexican food, lobster, fish, steaks ...amazing!
The Crew = outstanding!
We pack our suitcases- again! and wonder if we will be allowed off the ship this time. The ship has no confirmed cases of Covid 19. We feel safe on the ship.
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| Celebrity Eclipse Crew March 2020 |
30th March 2020
Very early in the morning, the ship has sailed into San Diego port and docked.
There are news crews waiting at the gates.
We have to line up and US customs officials stamp our passports on board. In the que one man is complaining that he had booked BA first class to go home and it looks like we will be flying economy. Only people who booked through Celebrity Flights will be flying the class they booked. I am just happy to be getting a flight home.
We are given instructions from the CDC that we are to quarantine for 14 days once home.
An ambulance arrived to take a woman passenger off the ship. It is a person I have seen whilst walking round the ship, I have seen her with her partner near the bar at the back of the ship. She was coughing a lot when I saw her, I did not realise she had been admitted to the medical ward on board.
We disembark and get onto coaches that are waiting. The Celebrity staff give us a packet with a mask and gloves in it, as well as a packed lunch.
The coach drives us to LAX where we check in at a deserted airport for a charted flight to London Heathrow.
It is a Virgin plane and the food is horrid- as are the crew. The seat in front of me is empty, and I am just about to move when a very tall French man sits in the seat. He then reclined the seat so far that he was almost in my lap. As I was trying to eat my inedible pasta dish, I asked him to move but he would not- just said something rude in French. I later heard he had Covid and was unwell, Karma.
At Heathrow we did not fly to Manchester as we were unsure of the Covid situation and didn't want to be on a plane with new people and risk getting this new illness. As no one on the ship had had Covid we felt very safe up to now. So we went to Avis, hired a car and drove up empty motorways home to a new normal!
Our 14 day quarantine starts now.
1st April 2020
Logged onto my emails to see an email from Celebrity informing us that the woman who had been taken to hospital was Covid positive. So there was Covid on the ship- to be honest I was not surprised, about 6 days after we left Puerto Montt there were a lot of people coughing on the ship and a lot of Crew off sick with various illness.
This was not the South American adventure I had planned, in fact we were not due home until the 13th April 2020. That was to be in time for my Nephews wedding. But everything in the world had changed due to Covid 19. The wedding was cancelled twice and did not happen until 2021. And we did not travel outside of the UK until 2022.
And to think, I was worried about 6 Sea Days!!!!
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