Covid Lockdown
It’s been many months now since our last cruise, with travel unfairly banned during the Covid-19 pandemic, even for ships like the Gamalia, with the highest standards of cleanliness.
With no revenues, we have had to cut costs to the bone, so sadly we had to say goodbye to all but essential crew, and move the ship to our home port in the island of Gamalia.
It was an emotional time, not helped by troublemakers among the redundant crew, trying to enforce their employment contracts or get compensation or severance pay. Fortunately the ship is registered in the island of Gamalia, and a special law was swiftly brought in, nullifying any employment terms relating to notice periods or severance payment. That sorted out those troublemakers!
Once in port, on the positive side, it gave us a chance to rectify some medium and low priority maintenance tasks, not least replacing the lifeboat that sank mysteriously on our Baltic cruise. We’ve just had the lifeboat delivered and installed. As with all our lifeboats, we use a trusted contractor, owned by a cousin of the President’s wife, Mrs Negibi, so we have complete confidence that the replacement will float safely if the need arises.
Now finally there is the prospect of ocean travel again, with infection rates decreasing in the Caribbean, Europe and America.
We are most fortunate that the island of Gamalia has not had a single reported case of Covid-19. That’s due to the diligence of our health authorities under the wise leadership of President Negibi. Anyone who thinks they have symptoms is required to take a test, and if positive will then be accommodated with their family in quarantine for three months in the old converted jail in the jungle area, away from population. So far, no one has reported the slightest symptom.
Media reports that our government is concealing the truth are therefore clearly lies and another example of “fake news”, that unfortunately even honest and successful governments like ours are subjected to.
In preparation for resumption of cruising, I’ve introduced some strict procedures for infection control. One example is the installation of cameras in the crew toilets, so we can be sure they are washing their hands afterwards.
We’ve taken an idea from the airline industry too. At meal times, a crew member will walk around spraying the air with sanitizer, throughout the restaurant. And before anyone out there spreads rumors, we have been assured by the Gamalia Chemical & Poisons Company, that the spray is not at all toxic to people, at least in the quantities likely to be inhaled.
So I am now about to start planning our next cruise, and recruiting a new crew. Although the island has many charms (not least female!), I’ll be glad to be back on the open seas.
