Random Things Tours: Cabin Fever : Trapped on board a cruise ship when the pandemic hit. A True Story by Michael Smith & Jonathan Franklin

 

Imagine being trapped for weeks and even months, during a strange pandemic, surrounded by people as helpless as you. With a pandemic unfolding, the world set to close while you are wandering aimlessly in the middle of the ocean, with no safe harbor.

Cabin Fever : Trapped on board a cruise ship when the pandemic hit. A True Story by Michael Smith & Jonathan Franklin is the story of Zandaam cruise that set to leave Buenos Aires, Argentina, for a couple of entertaining days at the beginning of 2020 and ended up being caught in the chaos that took over the world. 

There are many interesting aspects that make Cabin Fever a story worth reading. First there is a first hand insight into how the pandemic affected tourism and the cruise industry. Obviously, there are many controversial things about this specific way of travel, but all common prejudices put aside, it is important to acknowledge that there are people who fancy this kind of travel and Covid19 brought to people working in this industry and their depending families a lot of economic problems. 

In addition, this book is an important account and contribution to the literature, especially non-fiction, documenting the pandemic times. Written in an easy journalistic style, this book is a testimony that adds to various other testimonies about the world changes that upside-down the world at a speed faster than a cruise´s.

Last but not least, the story shared in Cabin Fever is a story of human kindness and solidarity under crisis. With only two doctors on board, unable to update to the latest medical changes ongoing in the outside world, and a Covid outbreak on board, those trapped on the cruise rediscovered basic solidarity and the need to act together, no matter the language, background or social status, in order to stay alive and get back to the shores.

Cabin Fever is a recommeded read to anyone interested to understand the challenges brought by Covid 19 from the human perspective, but also for those looking for lessons of crisis management in times of big distress.

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own