The Love Boat Doesn't Love Me Anymore

Our excellent travel agent, Teresa Skeim of Cruise Specialists, called me this afternoon and from the tone of her voice, I knew it was not going to be a happy call. Princess is cancelling our booking for the Alaskan cruise, and not just the DH's and mine. Our entire family, a party of 8 in four side-by-side veranda cabins, is being cancelled. 

They are blaming the CDC, but I see nothing on the CDC website that specifically banns O2 users and dialysis patients from cruise travel. Instead, it's a creeping policy throughout the Carnival corporation's lines. Beginning with Cunard, people who use supplemental oxygen and those who are dialysis patients have been quietly uninvited to sail. Now Princess is following suit. 

It's not as if I am not fully vaccinated. I've had both my Moderna shots, and feel grateful beyond words that I'm not one of the unfortunate few who, because of allergies or other health risks, can't take the shots. And I don't haul around a bunch of oxygen tanks or bulky equipment. I only bring a couple of oxygen concentrators (one as backup in case the other stops working). They are FAA approved for air travel. They take up no more space than a purse and a carry-on.  

The DH chatted online with a Princess representative who said the concern is that I wouldn't be able to wear a mask as required in common areas and on excursions. We're only a few days away from being "Elites" on Princess, their highest loyalty ranking, with 127 days afloat with them. We've spent a literal boatload of money with this brand, but the bottom line, the representative said, is Princess can deny boarding to anyone for any reason.

This stems from the CDC's exemption from mask wearing for people who have conditions that cause difficulty breathing. However, during the pandemic when I followed their guidance and didn't wear a mask, I was denied entrance to some businesses. So I learned to wear one of those useless pieces of paper over my nose and mouth even when I was using Herkimer (my Portable Oxygen Concentrator). (If you tired of wearing a mask last year, imagine how much fun it is behind your ears when you have glasses, the mask's straps AND a plastic cannula!)

But here's the thing. Unless I'm wearing an N-95 mask, I'm not truly protected nor am I protecting anyone else. The masks we typically wear--simple medical masks and homemade cloth things (I've even seen a few that were crocheted! Don't ask. It's an Ozarks thing.)--don't actually do anything except give the public something to feel virtuous about and keep us from panicking about the pandemic. If I can smell the perfume of the lady I pass by in Walmart, the mask I'm wearing certainly isn't stopping something as small as a virus from making its way into my nostrils. And don't get me started about how people wear the mask incorrectly with noses exposed or wrapped around the wearer's chin like a beard cozy. Why not just drape it over your head like a little paper bonnet?  The efficacy would be the same.

But I digress. 

So now Princess is using the CDC's mask guidance to deny me boarding because, as a POC user, I'm not required by the CDC to wear a mask. But according to the cruise ship's new rules, I must wear a mask. But based on the CDC site, they can't force me to wear a mask. But I must wear a mask...and so it goes.

Frankly, in order to cruise, I'm ok with wearing one if I am required to do so. I certainly expect to for the world cruise next January. When we visit a foreign country. I always go out of my way not to violate the laws of my hosts or offend their cultural sensibilities.

In reality, Princess doesn't want to board anyone they fear may contract the virus and, even though I'm fully vaccinated, my lung condition means I'm still a person at risk. And if I become ill, or even test positive with zero symptoms, I'll hurt their bottom line because of the bad press even one Covid case is sure to generate. 

I am so deeply sad about this, I'm struggling for the right words. My octogenarian parents were so excited about this trip. Dad was looking forward to seeing Alaska again and Mom never turns down a chance for some formal nights. Our kids and my nephew have all arranged to take vacation for the week of the cruise and made arrangements for their pets' care. We've already found a wonderful dog/house sitter to stay with Charlie and Albert (our little furbabies) for the time we expected to be gone. I haven't worked up the courage to tell the kids or my folks that the voyage is off.

And I'm terribly afraid that, even after being assured that my POC's and I will be welcomed on board the Star next January, I half expect their policies will change and I'll be hearing from Viking that they will be regretfully uninviting me from our grand 2022 adventure. 

Our TA is scrambling to try to find us a replacement cruise for Alaska and she promised to touch base with Viking to make sure I will not be banned from the world cruise based on my O2 needs. 

I wish with all my heart I didn't need my portable oxygen concentrators. The reason I have this lung condition I suffer from is a mystery, even to Mayo Clinic. I never smoked. Wasn't exposed to any toxic substance of which I'm aware. I just started coughing in 2008 and after making the rounds to many different doctors and a lung biopsy in 2010, I finally had a diagnosis. NSIP. The least virulent of the progressive fibrotic lung diseases. No cure short of a transplant, just something to be accepted and managed. And praise God, the disease has remained stable for 11 years--a fact that amazes my pulmonologist each time I see him. 

I try to stay upbeat. I try not to ask, "Why me?" I am blessed beyond measure and I know it. Before you begin to scold, I'm completely aware that mine is a first world problem and not worthy of the grief I'm feeling.

But I'm so sorry to be the cause of everyone in our party being denied a place on the Majestic Princess. I feel like a leper. 

Please cross your fingers with me for our TA to pull a rabbit out of her hat with a different cruise line!