Fever measurement and only every two days on deck: Because of the corona virus, around 2500 passengers have been stuck on the “Diamond Princess” for a week. A German tells how he spends his time.
By Kathrin Erdmann, ARD Studio Tokyo
Martin Lutterjohann is visibly delighted not just to talk to his wife about the situation on the cruise ship. He has been seeing them around the clock for a week in the cabin on the “Diamond Princess”. The 2,500 or so passengers on the cruise ship off Yokohama near Tokyo are not allowed to leave their cabins on their own – for fear that they could infect themselves or others with the corona virus.
“Everyone has got a clinical thermometer in the cabin, we have to measure in the morning and if the temperature is above 37.5 degrees, we have to report this to a specific phone number,” reports Lutterjohann.
No daylight in the interior cabin
The author and psychotherapist, like all other German passengers – a total of ten – is still symptom-free. He and his wife booked an inside cabin and therefore neither daylight nor fresh air. Every two days, the 76-year-old reports, passengers are allowed to go out for about an hour. “We could only get out after we got all the masks and the rule was: only out with a mask.” At first only with rubber gloves, which has since been lifted again. For this purpose, the minimum distance between passengers has been extended to two meters.
Lutterjohann describes the mood in the short exits as good: “People go for a walk, some smokers sit in the smoking corner, others jog a bit.”
Voucher for another cruise
And all of this always under the strict observation of the crew: “The whole thing has something of a prison, albeit a very luxurious one.” Because now you can choose between several dishes when eating. Meals are placed in front of the cabin door.
But not only that: According to the crew, the crew also takes care of the guests on the cruise ship to pass the time. “There was sudoku and origami paper to fold onto the cabin and this and that crossword puzzle.” There is also radio Taiso on board television – an early gymnastics that is common in Japan and lasts six minutes. If you want, you can also do tai chi or qigong in the cabin.
Lutterjohann describes the information policy on board as good. Is that because of the shipping company’s generous offer? This has already promised all passengers a voucher for another cruise – hopefully without the corona virus.
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