luv2cruise0611

Has anyone stayed at Hotel Barrett?  It’s in close proximity to the Piazza Navona, The Pantheon and Trevi Fountain so thats a plus.  We are seniors and my only concern is that it doesn’t have elevators.  But I understand that many hotels don’t have elevators.  
 

if anyone has any other recommendations for a good hotel in that location, I would appreciate to hear from you.   But I would like to hear if anyone has stayed at Hotel Barrett.  
 

Thanks in advance.

On 1/9/2022 at 6:50 PM, K_e_short said:

i just got back from a NYE cruise. There were a few Canadians on my cruise and two families tested positive.

 

One family took it well, flew to Washingston State, drove across the border, and got home to isoloate.

 

The second family reacted very badly, including blaming everyone. I do not think they expected what happened to have happened.

 

So as others have said - are you willing to test positive for a highly contagious variant of a virus that could give you mild symptoms or make you very sick.. and be sick in another country.

 

That’s the problem right there and it’s happening all across the US.  People who test Positive and take flights.  That’s why the spread will never end.  This Canadian family may have taken the news well that they got Covid but flying and exposing everyone at the airport and on the flight … you think that’s good?  If they would have driven straight home to quarantine, that would be good …. but going on a plane when your Positive … that’s selfish.   
 

The difference is …. Canadian airlines will not let you board a flight without a Negative PCR test … American airlines don’t require any testing.  Hence, Americans are able to fly anywhere domestic, even if they’re Positive … albeit, many are unaware …. but many are aware and fly anyway. 

I’ve seen the Celebrity notice that says they will cover the quarantine hotel for up to $150/night (previously $350/night) and meals for $100.00/night pp.  Where does it say that they will only cover it for 5 days?  I’ve never seen that.  If it’s in print, can you please copy it here … or attach a link?  Please & thank you. 

8 hours ago, Froufie said:

Not sure what province Mojo is from but here in Ontario, along with a few other provinces, the isolation is now down to 5 days and not 10?  Are those working the borders unaware of this change?

 

She is from Ontario … and it’s only 5 days if you get Covid while you are in the province.  Currently, when travelling to Canada by air or land, if you were Positive while away, you must quarantine for 14 days before being allowed back into the country.  As of Jan. 15th, it’s going down to 10 days.   But  Froufie, it’s not 5 days for travel.    At least they gave her 10 days and not the 14 days.  Had she stayed in Florida for just 2 more days, her combined quarantine (ship & hotel) would have been 10 days, and she would have been OK.   

It’s too bad the American Care Team and/or Celebrity did not know the rules of re-entry to Canada. She did say she told the Care Team she was checking out … and they were fine with it.  They need to be versed on all Covid travel restrictions … at least for their neighbour Canada.  Knowledge goes a long way.  Could have helped her avoid these extra 10 days of quarantine. 
 

So you see how many more restrictions and hurdles Canadians have than Americans.  Sure makes travelling during Covid very challenging. 

I have to update you on our Mojo65 … my fellow Canadian.  Well, you know she quarantined on the ship for 4 days … and then she quarantined another 4 days at the 4 Points Sheraton.  She she figured she’d be OK to take a domestic flight to Detroit after quarantining for 8 days.  Well, from Detroit, she took a car service across the border to Canada … and they told her she had to quarantine for another 10 days at home.  She said had she just stayed 2 more days in Florida, she would have been OK … but because she was 2 days short … she now needs to quarantine for 10 more days.  That will make a total of 18 days quarantining. How ridiculous is Canada.

Well … if I had any doubts about whether I should go on my upcoming February B2B … this might just be the nail on the coffin.  There are just too many hurdles and ‘what if’s’ right now, if you’re a Canadian travelling.   I can deal with missed ports, wearing masks, and cancelled shows … but the possibility of testing Positive on the ship or worse yet … at disembarkation … and needing to quarantine for 14 days before you’re allowed to even take a flight straight back to Canada … hmmm … that might be too much.   What do you think?   

It’s amazing how different cruise lines treat their Quarantined passengers.  Here’s a better experience from P & O.   
 

On 1/6/2022 at 5:21 PM, weluvtravel said:

Hi, we are booked in a balcony cabin on the Panorama for the end of February.  We all have the vaccine and the booster as well.  My daughter is HIGHLY claustrophobic.  She can't even go camping in a tent due to the claustrophobia.  I have read that if you get sick onboard with Covid that they move you to a cabin in a "quarantine area".  She would be ok with a window or a balcony but not an inside cabin.  She would have panic attacks and it would not be good.  Does anyone know what kind of a cabin you get in the quarantine area?  Am considering canceling or moving the trip because she is very worried about it.  Thank you.

From reading recent threads … it seems to be dependent on the ship and possibly the number of cases.  On the Equinox…  there was a whole section on deck 6 for quarantined passengers … all with balconies.   But they also had Deck 2 & 3 … which is inside & ocean view.  I believe the Constellation also had the combination of all 3, balcony, inside & ocean view.   
Perhaps you can ask your TA if she could find out what decks and cabins your ship has set aside for quarantining.  Or if you booked directly with the cruise line, call them.  Explain your concern.

Good luck!

OMG … If we think the Equinox handled the quarantine badly … and there was a lack of communication … you have to read this.   NCL’s handling of quarantined passengers.

And here’s another …

If you want to read a great thread about being in Quarantine … this is the link to the Cruise Critic thread … 

12 minutes ago, canderson said:

Hmmm... good point.  I distinctly recall that this is how the airlines used to manage it.  Got stuck in Seattle (not quarantine, just mechanical issues) when our flight for Tokyo was cancelled.  Some of us were put up at the Hilton, but most were sent to the local Red Lion or something along those lines.  The difference was 1st/business vs. economy.

 

We know Parkerson was in a suite.  Do we know the cabin class for the passenger who received the $150 rather than $350 offer?  I think @LGW59 posted the FB $150 offer.  Wonder if the cabin class of the FB passenger is also known?

Good point.  I don’t know what cabin class that passenger was.  it could be class dependant.  
 

But MoJo65, from this thread, also posted on FB that she was told she could go to a hotel for up to $350./night … and she ended up in the 4 Points Sheraton.  She did mention that she didn’t want to have to search for a hotel on her own so she decided to go where Celebrity was sending most everybody.  I have no idea what class cabin she was in.
 

Which hotel $ amount they alot for you could be cabin class dependant … but if it is … that’s just wrong.   This is not just one night before a flight … this could be up to 14 days, if you’re returning to Canada … and for that period of time … a possibly sick person should get better treatment and be put up in a fine establishment. 
 

But my guess is … perhaps with the rapidly growing numbers, they just reduced the daily hotel allowance. I’m giving them the benefit of doubt.  I personally think they should have met it somewhere in between … maybe $200-$250./night.   But I guess they found a hotel that fits their bill.   MoJo65 said the 4 Points is only $140. 

6 hours ago, Parkerson said:

I didn’t do that last reply correctly. The memo I received is on my post #323. 
 

Here it is again. 

Thanks for sharing.  

2 hours ago, LGW59 said:

I wish we could see the date of this notice.  Most recent reimbursements I have seen, from very recent cruisers are what you state, per day, $350/hotel  and $100/meals.

The lady who posted it just got off the Millenium on Thursday, Jan. 6th … so I imagine she got it just before disembarkation.

@Parkerson … do you, by any chance, have a notice from Celebrity about their post cruise coverage for Positive passengers?  I remember reading that Celebrity will cover $350./night for hotel and $100./day for meals.  Today on FB, someone posted this notice … $150./day for hotel and $100./day pp for meals.   I know most passengers were sent to the 4 Points Sheraton.  I’m curious how much Celebrity  actually allotted for hotels.  
 

11 hours ago, Parkerson said:

I saw that. His experience is quite different from ours. They never took my temperature or blood ox levels. Not even in medical. 

@Parkerson  Yes … he seems to be getting much better treatment on the Constellation.  Either Celebrity learned from your thread and the email that was sent to them … or they just have way fewer passengers and are not as overwhelmed as the Equinox was.  It’s just too bad that you and your neighbours on the 6th deck had to go through what you did. 
 

Whatever the reason … I’m happy … & hoping that Celebrity will be treating their Positive passengers way better going forward.  

@Quarantined … After reading how the quarantined passengers were treated on the Equinox (on the ‘In Quarantine’ thread) it does seem that they are definitely treating you better on the Constellation.   Glad your symptoms are mild and that your wife is Negative.   
 

I have to be honest … after reading all these quarantine stories … I have my doubts about my upcoming B2B cruises.  It’s already paid in full so I may just take another few weeks to decide.

Cancelling would be sad enough but I realize that even if we get an FCC for the two cruises combined (21 days) … it probably won’t even cover one future 12 day cruise with the new, much higher prices.  We do have another 10 day cruise already booked for June but the FCC we would get would more than cover the balance for that one and we would have left over.  
 

Does anyone know if you use an FCC and there’s still a balance left on it … do they issue you another FCC for that balance? 
 

Please keep us updated on your progress.  And let us know if you hear that your floor is getting full with more Positive passengers.  I imagine there will be way less than what was on the Equinox?  That ship had so many passengers because it was a Christmas/New Years cruise.  The Equinox just got overwhelmed with cases.  I’m sure the Constellation will fare much better. 
 

6 hours ago, jimmybean said:

I'm not sure I understand...  Only 600 passengers on which ship?   The Equinox?    On the current cruise?   Thanks for clarifying.

Yes … a passenger currently on the Equinox said they were told during the first evening show that there were 600 passengers on board.  

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

Can you post a link to the FB page?  When I search for that topic it brings me to a page run by a travel agency, but the last user post was 9/2021

I don't believe I can actually share a FB link here ... but I just took a screenshot.  Maybe that will help you.  Just do a search for ... Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club. The picture might help.  You have to join the group to see the posts.

A post on this FB group said that at the show last night, they were told there are only 600 PAX on this sailing.  That must be a lot less people than you had on your New Year's sailing.  Hopefully, they'll be a lot less Covid cases and better handling of it ... plus masks are now mandatory indoors.

5 hours ago, Parkerson said:

Exactly. I don’t recall ever being asked where we were going until we were taken down by the debarkation crew. Maybe I had covid-fog, but I truly don’t recall that. When we got downstairs to check our names off the list, they asked where we were going. 
 

Not sure what the process would have been if we had not driven. I hope Mojo65 will check in and let us know what happened with them. 
 

The letter indicated that rental car reimbursement was available. Was there an option to just rent a car and then drive to a nicer $350/night hotel, or was everyone at their mercy of hotel choices. 
 

I haven’t been digging too deep in other threads. Anything like that posted?  

@Parkerson ... Mojo65 is the passenger that a poster earlier referred to, who was put up in the 4 Points Sheraton.  She wrote a wonderful post on FB describing her whole ordeal.  It can be found on FB's -  Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club.  (Hope I'm allowed to say that.) There were other quarantined passengers who also piped in on her post.  It's a good read and very informative.  If you're looking for that post ... it will not be under the name of Mojo65 ... it's under her real name.  This is the post ...

5 hours ago, Rayhorn said:

@luv2cruise0611

 

Since CC doesn’t require a login to read the forums, web bots called crawlers can pick up email addresses that are posted and spam them, often in bulk. You may want to edit your post and change LLPs email to the following and also make sure it removes the link. 

 

llutoff-perlo (at) celebritycruises (dot) com

 

This way honest CC members can still send an email to her office but bots won’t pick up her address. 

Good idea ... but at this point, I'm unable to do any edits.  You only have about 15 minutes immediately after posting to do an edit.  I did try, but as I suspected, I couldn't.

2 hours ago, canderson said:

Pleased that you followed up for us.  It would be interesting if you would be willing to copy your email here as well to see what spurred them to take the time to read this thread.  I wonder if a comparison between what was happening aboard and "standard of care" got the legal beagles' attention there.  It was very fortunate that none of the involved pax (that we know of) suffered a real medical emergency, and perhaps in the future, X will be better prepared to monitor for such events should they occur.  If nothing else, the psychological hit of being held incommunicado for extended periods, especially when medical attention is actually needed as it was in one case, just isn't right.

 

@canderson  As requested, I will attach my email here.  Believe me, I don't write as well as you ... but I am glad that they took the time to read it and better yet ... call me to discuss it.  I hope they continue to read this thread and see the additional suggestions that have been made here.  I will include LLP's email address, in case anyone else wishes to send her office an email.

lLutoff-Perlo@celebritycruises.com
 

To Whom it May Concern: 

I would like to start by saying Celebrity is our cruise line of choice.  We have several cruises booked in 2022 ... one of which is a B2B in February 2022.  We are Elite Captain's Club members and will continue to cruise Celebrity. 

On 1/2/2022 at 10:49 PM, canderson said:

I don't imagine that LLP reads Cruise Critic, but this is one thread that her staff needs to bring to her attention.

 

As TeaRick pointed out, a UTI is nothing to screw around with.  Left untreated, it can put you in a hospital a lot faster than omicron.

 

I'm astounded that no one ... just one ... person wasn't TASKED with communications with quarantined passengers on a ongoing basis. There should be someone in Medical (to avoid HIPAA issues and to provide necessary expertise) to triage actual emergent situations and to handle periodic virtual wellness checks.  Leaving COVID positive patients without any communication for extended periods of time isn't acceptable.  From a patient perspective, it seems that X has completely dropped the ball with their COVID-positive patient management procedures.  And from what you good pax have been describing to us, that's exactly what has happened here.

 

Moreover, as you're at the mercy of the phone response, one small team of 2 or 3 should also have been TASKED with managing the incoming food and drink issues using a separately provided phone number.  Being unable to reach a live body under these circumstances isn't acceptable.

 

 

 

@canderson Your suggestion is absolutely right ... a person or a team plus a telephone line needs to be designated just for the quarantined passengers and I felt it needed to be heard from the 'powers that be'. 

Just want to let you know that I sent an email to LLP (Lisa Lutoff-Perlo) just yesterday (with the link to this thread) ... and this afternoon, I received a phone call from her office.  Her assistant thanked me for the email and bringing it to their attention.  She said they always look for ways to improve and assured me that they are looking into the matter.  She also told me that my email was immediately sent to the Equinox ... and they will be looking into the situations that came up in this thread.  They also like the suggestion and will look into that more as well.  

WOW ... was I surprised to get a response so quickly.  To be honest, I didn't think I would get any response.  I commend LLP's office.

Just thought I would report back to you all.  Wouldn't it be nice if changes are made?  Your voices needed to be heard.

@Parkerson ... Thank you again for creating this thread, for being so invaluable to so many and for your positive, upbeat attitude.  I'm sure you got a lot of people through this difficult time.

41 minutes ago, canderson said:

You should really start from page 1...

I have read it all from page 1.  This is an excellent and informative thread.  And I very much appreciate & thank Parkerson for starting this thread and answering everyone’s questions as to what happens on the ship when quarantined. My question was directed to Parkerson’s Canadian neighbour, Mojo65 … who early on in this thread, did not know how her trip home would be handled. She has since shared her experience.  Thank you Mojo65. And thank you Parkerson.  Wishing everyone a safe trip home and a speedy recovery.

4 hours ago, Mojo65 said:

Hi all, I am Parkesons Canadian neighbour, I will try and answer some questions also, I am trying to read through it all, I am on page 4….but I will let u know my story as my husband who is negative is with me….I’ll post this to make sure it works as cruise critic can be a pain and I will do another post….feel free to ask anything !!!

Hi fellow Canadian.  I hope you also have a mild case and that your husband can remain negative.  When did you test positive?   Were you feeling sick or was it contact tracing?   I am definitely interested to learn how they will handle your flight home.  Have they told you yet?  Wishing  you and your husband a safe trip home.

On their website, they say … “If you test positive for COVID-19 onboard during your cruise, Celebrity Cruises will cover the cost of your onboard COVID-19 medical treatment, land-based isolation, and private air transfer home for you and your traveling party, if required.”  
 

5 hours ago, RealBatman said:

Great job Parkerson! Thanks for this thread. I think this is the first time I've read EVERY post from beginning to the end on a 6+ page thread! LOL!  I appreciate your positive, upbeat, direct responses and your sense of humour. 

We are struggling with a go/no go decision for our January 30th sailing on Equinox. This is helping me in the decision process. 

 

Best wishes to you and your wife as you convalesce! 

From one fellow Canadian to another … Have you made a decision?  😆