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We are going on our first Alaskan cruise next week. We will be on Concierge level. Any must do activities or shows? It's 7 days, what night is the dress up dinner? Onboard will I need to wear my parka?

I'm so excited. This is a bucket list trip. Any and all advice will be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

This is an update for anyone interested. We got off our ship on April 15th.  I emailed information requested on April 28th. Got a response today, May 4th, confirming they got my email and let me know it would be at least 14 days to get to it due to all the covid related emails. So I am happy I finally got a response and an estimate timeline. Yay!

5 hours ago, jetblue said:

Alright so wanted to bring this to a close. As many of you suggested, we sent in a very detailed account of our experience onboard the Silhouette to Lisa's email address. We received a phone call today from someone in the executive office to address our concerns, here's what we found out...

 

Firstly, corporate does not set the quarantine policy, they just ask the ships to make sure the passengers are safe. Each individual ship in the fleet makes it's own policy on where to quarantine passengers who test positive for covid. For Silhouette specifically, the policy is deck 3, port side Oceanview rooms. Once all of those rooms fill up, they then move to deck 6 balcony rooms. If all those fill up, they then revert to quarantine in your room which is what @Jim_Iain was fortunate enough to experience.  This also explains why passengers on Apex might report being quarantined to an infinite verandah room while passengers on Millennium report being quarantined to a deck 2 cabin. It's all up to the management of each ship.

 

When questioned if they would consider changing this policy company wide, I was informed once again, it was up to the individual ship.

 

Second, compensation. They are offering me not a penny more than what was promised on their website despite all the issues I encountered in quarantine and the fact that I was lied to by the ship.  They also deactivated the FCC I received on the ship. The FCC was only for $2,500 so I thought it was just goodwill. The refund I'm receiving is much higher than this and I had my choice of keeping the FCC or receiving the higher refund, obviously I chose the refund but am disappointed they automatically thought they could get away with issuing me a lower FCC.

 

So that's that. For us, we have two future cruises on Celebrity we are currently mulling over cancelling. Not a fan of the way corporate seems to be so hands off and not willing to step in and address the ship concerns. We all know without a doubt what Silhouette's quarantine policy is so I have effectively banned myself from ever stepping foot on that ship again for sure.

 

We will be researching other cruise lines to see what their quarantine policies are and see if we can find a way to move forward to comfortably enjoy cruising again.

I'm just waiting for someone to respond t my email. Is it possible to get the info for who you contacted?

8 hours ago, SbbquilterUT said:

We were quarantined on our Jan 24 cruise - took about one month for reimbursement for time as well as refund for second cruise which was cancelled.  It took much longer to be refunded the cost of land side quarantine but did get it 2 weeks ago.  We were in touch through the Engagement Center when we thought it was taking too long.  

Thank you so much for this information!!

1 hour ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Did they say you would get a refund or a FCC?    It’s been 12 days since you left the cruise so it could take more time.    Were you going to fly back to North Carolina before you tested positive for COVID?

On board they said I could choose. We were flying back but I went online and cancelled once we tested positive and then booked the rental car. Delta just gave me a credit for the return flight, no questions. As of now, I have sent all the info I could and a request for my covid results. My travel agent is now also involved in trying to figure out what is needed. It woulda been nice to have some letter or something, even if they said give it "X" number of months, I would know and be ok with that. It's the not having any idea that's hard.

3 hours ago, 2boxers said:

Were you on-board when you tested positive or did you cancel prior to boarding because of covid? I may have misunderstood. I thought you tested positive while onboard and were waiting for reimbursement for hotel and transportation costs as a result of not being able to return home as planned. My husband tested positive on day 5 of our 7 day cruise. He and I had to isolate in separate staterooms for two days then had to remain in Florida for an additional 3 days before he was able to fly commercial. X made and covered our new flights home and covered his hotel room for the three nights (I choose to have a separate room as we felt one of us needed to stay as healthy as possible) they also covered our food expenses for those three days as well as transportation to the hotel from the ship. I had sent my receipts via email twice and had not heard anything. Once I got the correct customer service number (that took about an hour!) I was able to speak with a rep who located my emails and worked out the entire reimbursement and refund for the days of the cruise we were in isolation, they asked for a credit card number for the funds to be sent to and it was done within another hour. Still no explanation as to why there had been no communication. I was satisfied with the results. Good luck to you.

 

We got tested on day 5. I dealt with all on board credit issues, onboard. We only have a rental car for one day because we had no choice, we had to get home due to pet sitting issues. We live in NC so with traffic we were home in 12 hours.

What I was trying to figure out was how the process goes for the partial refund for the isolated days. Thanks to you, I believe, I got a good phone number but they said I need to send them an email and get our test results from the Apex then they can contact the Apex and confirm our test. I have emailed that request..

Here is what I have learned.

If you test positive while on your cruise get as much completed as you can before you get off the boat.

If you have onboard prepaid charges or thermal spa passes, get them to credit your partial refunds you are due to the onboard account. Also get the copies of the covid tests they administered.

I am currently trying to get my partial refund and they want this information. They did not respond to my email so I waited on hold today. They also did not send me any information on how to proceed. It's my belief that it's up to the passengers to be as proactive as possible to get the promised refunds after you are off the boat. This is the number I called 844-418-6824.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet. But if you test positive while on your cruise get as much completed as you can. If you have onboard prepaid charges or thermal spa passes, get them to credit your partial refunds you are due to the onboard account. Also get the copies of the covid tests they administered. I am currently trying to get my partial refund and they want this information. They did not respond to my email so I waited on hold today. They also did not send me any information on how to proceed. It's my belief that it's up to the passengers to be as proactive as possible to get the promised refunds after you are off the boat.

12 hours ago, 2boxers said:

I have CCL on chat.  The dedicated phone number on the letter from Celebrity to handle to Covid reiembursement cases is INCORRECT.  The rep on the online chat have me the number of 844 418 6824.

 

Give this number a call, I hope you get answers.  

I called this number today. The rep told me to send them our positive covid results, which they never gave us, and they would then confirm with the ship. So that.

12 hours ago, 39august said:

What ship were you on, please? If your phone number is not correct, try this number. They should be able to give you the correct number for this situation. 316-554-5608

We were on the Apex.

6 hours ago, mayleeman said:

Well, all those dates are much better than ours...today is 6 months since cancelling 49 hrs before our cruise. Got FCCs after 5 months, but no refunds for fees and planner purchases yet. Called again yesterday: refund never went out because of a transmission error (3rd time this happened), but allegedly now sent by Accounting supervisor personally. By next Friday, supposedly....we will see.

Did they offer you a choice of FCC or refund? I talked to someone today and they said refund only. But I still have to jump thru hoops. They want me to request my covid test from them so they can then confirm we had covid. I did get them on board to remove things I prepaid for on the cruise and refund the part of the thermal spa pass we would not be using. So that's done at least.

4 hours ago, Pennstatedj said:

We cancelled a cruise on April 5 and were told we would here something and nothing to date. We did our upgrade money back in 10 days and then we received the rest on April 24. Still no explanation of anything. I cannot believe there is no communication even when they are doing something good. It would sure relieve the anxiousness that comes with this process. Our cruise was on the 10th. We kept getting info for checkin etc on the 10th, so we were never sure that phone call actually worked. We that sail with X and RCL know their IT and systems are the worst. We also know that most all the time it works out ok. Just have faith. 

Ty for the info. Just to confirm, you cancelled because you tested positive for covid?

Has anyone went through the process of being reimbursed due to getting covid onboard a Celebrity cruise?

We were told we would be contacted but have received no word. Our cruise was April 9th-16th. 

I'm just trying to get some idea of time frame and whether or not I should contact them instead of waiting.

Any insight would be great 🙂

On the April 9-15 Apex buffet was served by staff.

9 hours ago, Ronin23 said:

Why even notify the cruise line if you test positive on board, knowing that effectively ends your cruise?

 

Unless you are seriously sick, which in most cases doesn’t happen now, then there is no upside.

Because it's the right thing to do. You may not be seriously sick but someone might be, even if vaccinated. It spreads too quickly to too many people.

Yes, it's like a head cold but head colds suck. I am on day 10 and I still am not 100%. If I was not retired I would not have been able to return to work yet.

Make good choices, be considerate to others.

On 4/20/2022 at 1:19 PM, cangelmd said:

I think I got it in the thermal suite. 

This makes the most sense. My husband got it first and I followed a day later. I did not go in the steam room, the wet floor creeps me out. He was in the steam a while a few days before he got symptoms. Everything else we did together.

1 hour ago, PKB said:

What over the counter medications are people who have covid using to mitigate symptoms?  I plan on making a covid kit for each of us in case one of us gets isolated.  The spouse would also need a kit if testing positive later.  Also separate toiletry items for each person.  

We were taking Mucinex DM. It seemed to keep cough and mucus at manageable levels. You do need to drink lots and lots of liquids, it really dries you out. Tylenol, cough drops and some nasal spray the ship Dr gave us were taken as well. I wish I had brought my thermometer and that finger oxygen thing as well, just so I could track it for my own curiosity.

1 hour ago, Lastdance said:

That is very interesting, but just so many variables.  I always ask people who have gotten Covid if they have an idea how it may have happened.  Surpriseingly, many have ideas and are willing to share.  Earlier on this was not the case; however, I believe we all keep learning a lot if we are open and care.

I have my suspicions, top of which is the over crowded elevator s or the steam room my husband loves. But it would only be a guess. I can tell you I got complacent and stopped wearing my mask and was many times very close to others but continued to wash and disinfectant my hands. Idk, I would do it again with more mask wearing.😀

21 minutes ago, Dolebludger said:

I have the feeling that the Covid caught by most vaccinated and boosted people is of the Omicron break-through” type, which is little more than a cold. The only reason these people isolate is to prevent transmission to the unvaccinated.

 

I believe the official advice on second boosters is something like that people over 50 with first booster four months or more ago should get a second.

I agree, I think we are seeing an Omicron wave which I guess might or might not be covered under the vaccine... depending on what you read. It honestly has been exactly like a head cold.

21 hours ago, KBAJ said:

Also curious if you had trip insurance and, if so, was it through the cruise line or a private company?

We got trip insurance through celebrity and it was about $150 per person for the 8 day cruise.

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

How long before the cruise did you get your booster shot?

 

Others responding here who got sick- did you receive a booster before cruising?  Same question- how long before?  Anybody get a second booster and still got sick?

 

I am asking because we are eligible for our second booster now but want to get maximum effectiveness for our cruise end of August.

I had my booster in November, my husband in December. Our friend who was traveling with us got her second booster just prior to our sail date. She still got Covid but her symptoms were even more mild than ours and her husbands, who only had the first booster as well.

23 minutes ago, Lilly-Ann said:

I would hate to be the next one in a cabin if a covid positive had just left that morning. I wonder if they just clean it and the next group of passengers get that same room or are the room numbers changed? I would not want a room if a known  covid positive had just left that morning.  

I'm sure they disinfect it. They escorted us out spaying disinfectant behind us. Also I'm sure there are a few rooms where the passengers had covid but didn't get tested till after they were off the boat. Better a known covid positive than an unknown covid positive, I should think. Regardless, they must have procedures in place to disinfect all the rooms regardless.

15 minutes ago, kevers35 said:

I was also on the April 9th Apex cruise with the VTG group.  We had about 4 or 5 known test positive during the cruise, and in the 4 days since we got back about 20 people from the the group, including me, have now tested positive.  

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you all feel better soon. Did the people who got it on the cruise have to change rooms? I'm just curious.

43 minutes ago, judla said:

We also were on the April 2nd Apex and the day we disembarked I began to feel like I had a cold coming on.  The next day (fortunately home by then) I ran a high fever and tested positive.  My husband tested positive 3 days later.  We were in concierge on deck 11.  We used hand sanitizer, but didn't mask.

It's so easy to let your guard down! We started out masking but slowly got comfy.

1 minute ago, Denny01 said:

There is another thread about getting COVID on cruise “Getting COVID…” and they were isolated in their own Concierge Infinite Veranda SR. 

I was on the Apex on April 9th sailing and we were isolated in our stateroom, concierge level, infinity veranda after testing positive on day 5