Cruise Cut Short by COVID-19: Santiago – Beautiful City Undergoing Political Unrest (March 2-5)

Yes, when we left on March 2 there was discussion about the impact that the coronavirus might have on cruising, especially with the news of the Diamond Princess. However, all indications were that this was not immediate threat so we decided to embark and enjoy ourselves. We did observe some precautions being taken in our ports of entry, but nothing extraordinary. When we hopped on our flight the evening of March 2 we had no expectations that the world was coming apart.

Preparing for the Trip

Following the news, we were aware of a potential outbreak of the coronavirus.  However, given that we were traveling to southern South America, it did not seem like it would spread to that part of the world while we were cruising.  We decided to take some precautions that included:

• Taking two weeks extra pills and other medical essentials as recommended by Princess Cruises.  For me, this included not only medications, but all my glucose testing supplies.  The only problem was to figure out how to package the extra items since we did not have pill container for the extra two weeks.  I reused large pill bottles and other containers I had sitting around.  I packaged my morning pills in one, evening pills in the other, and oddball pills that I take at other times in the third.
• Purchased Clorox disinfecting wipes to wipe down airplane seats/trays and the cruise cabin, and anything else along the way.  I bought a box of 24 travel packs (9 wipes per pack), of which I took four on the trip.  These are wonderful since you can reseal the containers.  I also took some latex gloves.  These were put into a good Ziploc bag to ensure they did not leak during the trip.  For easy access, I put them in one of the outer pockets of the backpack I use when travelling.  I recommend that putting them in your personal bag so they are easily accessible when traveling.  Note that I cannot provide an Amazon link to these since they are no longer available on Amazon.
• Verified insurance app was installed on iPhone and all contact information readily available.  I always purchase independent cruise insurance that covers pre-existing conditions.  They have an app that provides all the insurance information, as well as access to a concierge desk should we have a problem.  While I did not need to use the insurance for this particular trip, it was good to know that all the information was readily at hand.
• Printed medical summary with all medications, vaccinations, and doctor contacts.  Since I am both a diabetic and have had bypass surgery, I keep a medical summary to track all vital information.  I made sure that I had both a printed copy and a scanned copy on my iPhone (I use Evernnote to store my documents).  Should I have needed it, this information can easily be pulled out to help in any treatment.
• Wore my medical bracelet and keep a medical card in my wallet.  I have a medical ID bracelet that I wear on all my travels so that any first responders will know my medical condition.  I also keep a small card in my wallet with additional details.  The bracelet referenced that there is a card in my wallet.  This is a precaution I recommend for anyone who may have severe medical conditions.

These are good precautions to take for any trip and I will incorporate them into my planning process in the future.

Forms and Temperature Checks at Santiago Airport

We arrived at the Santiago airport the morning of March 3, we notice additional precautions were being taken. We were asked to fill out medical disclosure forms and we underwent a temperature scan upon our entry. Aside from this, everything seemed to be normal. We were picked up by the Princess representative at the airport and taken to the Sheraton Hotel. To our amazement, our room was ready and we had a chance to take a short nap before embarking on a city tour Santiago.

Day 1: Signs of Unrest Apparent in Santiago (March 3)

Santiago is a charming city. Unfortunately, is undergoing a series of protests resulting in widespread graffiti and disorder. Many shops remain shuttered even though they are open to protect against any looting. Even churches have taken measures to protect against graffiti and damage. It is apparent that this city is a mix of modern and historical. At present, there is a lot of homelessness, but at no time did we feel we were in any danger.

We visited the Plaza de Armas after a slow drive through the city.  There was lots of traffic and many backups due to some bad signal timing.  However, we made it and did experience the soul of Santiago.  There was a protester giving a speech to a small group, but otherwise it was a pleasant plaza with some shade and a fountain, and, of course, important buildings surrounding the square.  Our guide provided some history and current events, then we proceeded to visit the Museo Historical National (National Museum of History).

After more traffic negotiation, we arrived at La Moneda Palace, which is the presidential palace.  We found two mounted police.  Both the police and their horses were in riot gear, but they were very cordial and welcomed photographs.  The palace was beautiful, but we could only view it from the street as it was barricaded.

Our final stop was the Parque Metropolitano de Santiago, which has a fantastic overlook of the city.  Although it was a bit hazy, we could see out to the mountains.  I was amazed at the size of the city.

Then, back to the hotel for an evening of relaxation.  We had dinner by the pool – way too much food, but it was very good.  We decided we were not venturing out on our own as the protesting was more intense in the evening and, even though we were probably safe, we were also tired and enjoyed an evening of relaxation with good food and beer.

Day 2: Wine in the Countryside (March 4)

On our second day in Santiago, we went to visit the Santa Rita Winery, the second largest in Chile.  This rather large vineyard is situated just outside the city with a beautiful vistas of grape vines and mountains.  A peaceful setting with historical significance as well as excellent wines.  We even had a wine tasting of their three best premium wines.  I liked the Medella Real Gran Reserva best.  We also sampled the Secret Reserve and 120 wines.  I must say that it was a fun and educational visit. They even let us keep the wine glasses, which, to our disappointment, broke in our luggage.

After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, we returned to the hotel for another relaxing evening with leftovers from the previous night.  We truly enjoyed the two days in Santiago.

No Worrisome News to Deter us from Continuing

Through all this, we watched the news and nothing being reported led us to believe we would have anything but a normal cruise.  The virus was not very active in South America at that time, so it did not appear that we would have any serious problems. There was little talk about it at the hotel and no one seemed to be worried.  We were looking forward to getting on the ship the next day.  As we were to learn, a lot would change during the next two weeks.

Lessons Learned

Arrive in country at least one day early.  This is a recommendation for any international travel.  In this case, we opted for two days early since Princess was offering a pre-cruise package that included hotel, excursions, and transfers.  Took all the stress off the arrival.

Be prepared for for delays at the end of the cruise.  This situation just shows that having extra medications and other supplies is a prudent move.  Many of our fellow passengers are stuck on the Coral Princess for at least an additional 14 days with no port stops to restock medications or supplies.

Enjoy the trip and do not obsess over the news.  Once we had left, there was little we could do about the way events unfolded.  So, we just went about enjoying our trip and keeping an eye on the situation.  Obsessing about the evolving crisis would not have benefited us in any way.  There was no way to know South America would be impacted so quickly.

Purchase good cruise insurance.  Check out the insurance before you purchase. Make sure the coverage is what you want. Don’t be fooled by any sales hype. We heard several passengers complaining that their insurance was not covering any changes and would not help them rebook.  Not a good position to be in when there is already a lot of stress.

What Next?

As you can guess, we did continue on our cruise.  We continued on to Patagonia where we witnessed some of the most beautiful vistas I have ever seen.  Please check out the next chapter in our adventure.

Please let me know in the comments below how you were impacted by the COVID-19 event or whether you have any additional suggestions for precautions to take when traveling.