Day 308: August 02, 2025 – At Sea
Code alpha, code alpha, code alpha, cabin x, the PA system announces, and ship medics go into alert mode.
Code alpha is used to summon staff to a medical emergency on board. We’ve had a number of medical incidents on this trip, though not all of them required a code alpha alert. Some happened on the ship (heart attack, seizures, a nasty fall off a barstool, several trip and falls). Others while on shore (cracked ribs from a fall down a cliff on an excursion, trip & fall while walking through town, a nasty spider bite, broken wrist, broken ankle). One recent code alpha occurred in Hawaii, just as we were about to pull away from shore. The captain was able to delay departure so the person could be transferred to an ambulance.
I am often asked what medical services are available on the ship. We do have a medical center on board that can deal with routine and some emergency things, such as COVID testing, burn care, cardiac monitoring and intubation. For incidents that require more serious intervention, we may need to do a rescue at sea (we’ve only had one of those so far).
Over the last 10 months, I’ve used the medical center twice, though neither required a code alpha alert. A couple days ago I woke up with a 103°F fever and cough. Covid and flu tests were negative, and I was eventually diagnosed with pneumonia. The doctor said I’m not contagious, but I’ve been spending the last few days mostly in my cabin. The doctor and nurses were very attentive; they helped me manage both the fever and the cough. I was especially impressed that they were able to get test results (CBC, glucose, CRP, electrolytes, and lots of other routine tests) on the spot. I don’t think I ever got immediate results with my land doctor! I’m also happy that it happened while we have a long stretch at sea, so I won’t have to miss visiting any ports.
My previous experience with the medical center was in our last Mexico port, Cabo San Lucas. I was on a tender, a small boat that transports us from the Odyssey to shore. I still don’t know why, but I blacked out and threw up all over the tender. When I came to, there were half a dozen hands handing me Kleenex and wash clothes to clean up with. The medical center did a bunch of routine tests, including EKG, blood work, glucose, electrolytes, and everything looked normal, so I still have no idea what brought it on. I fancy myself being sturdier than that. Or is that what starts to happen as you enter your 70th 8th decade? The scary part was that I had no recollection of what happened. I didn’t even realize I had thrown up all over everyone else until someone told me. I’m afraid my legacy is going to be the woman who projectile-vomited on everybody on a tender.
There is a whole alphabet of emergency codes in place. Code Oscar is man overboard. Code Bravo means fire on board. Code Zulu means a fight on board. (We’ve had verbal scuffles on board, but fortunately none that required security intervention.) And there is a code custom-made for our ship: code Meow, which means one of our feline residents has escaped their cabin. Unlike most cruise ships, we have 10 cats on board, and they’re supposed to remain in their cabins or in one designated walking area, but crew is prepared in the event one makes a run for it!
19 responses to “Code Alpha”
I am Jane Anne’s sister & she suggested your fun travel blog. I hope you’ll allow me to follow along on your most interesting journey.
Welcome Rosemary, love having you here.
You’re looking good for 700 years old!
You are in cahoots with my sister. You were in cahoots with my niece when she was here. I see your playbook… 🙂 🙂
Oh no, about the pneumonia. Is such high fever typically associted with pneumonia? What did the doctor say brough it on? Zycze bardzo bardzo szybkiego powrotu do zdrowia. Now about turing 70. Let’s just say that every decade has its features and markers. And let me just point out a small math wording issue. When you turn 70, you are not entering the 7th decade, but are exiting it. You are entering the 8th decade! Someone correctly pointed this out to me on a birthday card. Do you think you were just dehydraded in Mexico? Was this similar to the incident in Santa Monica Pier some years back? Do you have a tracker that can provide you with continues information about your vital signs and provide a warning? Trzymaj sie Basiu!
Yes high fever is one of the symptoms of pneumonia. Another one indicating that it was bacterial pneumonia (rather than viral) was an excessively high CRP level. Normal is about 6, mine was over 60. Not sure what brought it on. I don’t know anyone who has reported it here, although several people have had other respiratory problems. I still haven’t figured out the Mexico incident. And I totally forgot about the Santa Monica pier! That’s probably because I’m entering my 80th decade… 🙂
OK good. So now I looked all this up, and I see that if you must have pn, bactarial is easier to treat than viral, so that’s good. Just ease into your recovery slowly. Both kind can take up to 2 weeks to recover fully. Good Luck.
OK good. So now I looked all this up, and I see that if you must have pn, bactarial is easier to treat than viral, so that’s good. Just ease into your recovery slowly. Both kind can take up to 2 weeks to recover fully. Good Luck.
I’m not sure why they would think your pneumonia isn’t contagious, unless you aspirated? Keeping to yourself sounds smart!
Wow. Thanks for not barfing all over my car a couple of weeks ago. 🙂 Sorry you’re under the weather right now, but as you point out, timing is good. Hope you’re back in action soon.
You’re welcome. Though it was such a pleasure to see you, I was never tempted. 🙂
So nice to hear from you. Was a bit worried with the tsunami and all. So sorry to hear you’ve been ill but nice that is while your at sea .
Your trip is a whole other world! What an experience!
Thanks for all the info.. always nice to know what the experience is like.
We did weather the tsunami and earthquake, with basically no impact, so that was good.
I hope you are recovering well from your pneumonia! Greetings from Fairlea Dr – we had a little neighborhood gathering for the new neighbors in June’s house last week. Nice young family, 3 kids, 2 dogs and 5 cats:-)
Yikes – 2 dogs and 5 cats – if I was still there, I would probably be selling my house right now. 🙂 But the Fazars might be happy to have playmates.
I thought of you and wondered about your location and effect of the tsunami. So good to hear from you and know that you are still kicking. Sorry about your scares and hope good health continues.
Yeah we didn’t feel much at all of the tsunami or earthquake. Hope it stays that way as we get closer to shore.
Take good care of yourself, Basia.
We all wish you good health, first and foremost!
Thanks Elaine. Things are looking better. The fever is gone, which is what really kicked my butt.