Saturday, February 25. Still chugging along at 17 knots. 20 C. Light overcast, easy ocean.
Another quiet day for us, spending much time in our room and balcony now that the temperature has come up a bit. Walking is a bit easier for me so we did a bit more today, not power walking but no foot pain so that is encouraging. Mind you, I have have been mollycoddling my toes and feet somewhat lately.
Today I would like to comment on 'Wheelchairs, Walkers and Scooters'
I am NOT doing a rant on the subject, I am just giving my view on them.
We have never been on a ship that has had so many people using these devices. That is a fact. We are not sure why, but I have a thought or two...
In 2020, the Holland America World Cruise 18 Week Voyage was stopped, suspended, cancelled or whatever you want to call it, after about 8 weeks. [about March 16, 2020.] While heading for Darwin in North Australia: The Port of Darwin refused entry to the ship, [even though there was no Covid reported on the ship]. It was not yet declared a Pandemic by the WHO.
Holland America appraised the situation on all their ships around the world and made a corporate decision. All passengers, and crew not needed on the empty ship were to be sent home from Fremantle! Passengers' luggage was then loaded into Ocean Shipping Containers and shipped to North America, then distributed to the passengers homes from there. It took until fall 2020, to get the luggage delivered to their homes.
Later, Holland America was reasonably generous when they finally settled with those people who were affected by this once in a lifetime experience of being put off a World Cruise half way around the world in the middle of what was soon to be declared a Pandemic.
As a result of these comparatively generous financial options offered, many/most people got their money back and a credit for future cruises of some sort. There are reportedly 453 such passengers on the this ship who were unceremoniously dumped in Frematle three years ago.
One thought as to why the high number of wheelchairs, etc., is that those in 2020 who were on 'Their Last World Cruise’, never completed that ‘Last' cruise and three years later, [older, and more frail] and had all those credits said, “What about it Kiddo, want to have another kick at the cat and go on our last cruise?
That theory is certainly possibly responsible for some of these Wheelchairs, Walkers and Scooters on the ship.
Another thought is that seeing that Holland America certainly goes out of the way to accommodate wheelchairs, that may attract more people who need a wheelchair or walker to spend time at sea rather than coping by themselves at home. It certainly can put a bit of a bright spot into the life of the person in the wheelchair, and, a bit of a break to their spouse/caregiver.
I will not offer other thoughts on this situation. I understand all people are different and make their decisions based on their own life experiences. You just never know what goes on in peoples heads!
That is my ramble for the day…
Common sight in a corridor...
Here.
And here. This in no way conveys the amount of vehicles nor the number of seriously crippled walkers on board.
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