Balboa1978

1 hour ago, aaaaa said:

Are guests isolated in their original cabin or in a different cabin?  I've read both that there's an isolation "wing" on the ships but also that some guests have been isolated in their original cabin. 

No isolation wing, this cruise is sold out, 14 days in now and they seem to be dealing with  a major breakout. Many crew members missing from the dining room last night and now the entire crew is masked up.

3 hours ago, syesmar said:

This is on the CDC’s website under COVID-19 Maritime Guidance, subsection Discontinuation of Isolation for Travelers (Crew and Passengers), “Although a minimum of 5 days of isolation is recommended for most people with COVID-19 in community settings, cruise ships should consider 10 days of isolation due to their congregate nature and potential for limited access to higher levels of medical care.[6]”

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/maritime/covid-19-ship-guidance.html#quarantine-considerations

 

When CDC’s general isolation guidance was changed to 5 days due to various pressures, though nothing had changed with how long most are contagious, it caused confusion on many fronts. If someone is still testing positive on an antigen test, they should continue isolating (PCR is different).

 

@Balboa1978 best wishes to you and your wife. Hope she tests negative soon and the remainder of your cruise goes well. Agree that protocols should be available for travelers to review prior to booking and boarding.

I wonder why they have chosen not to follow the first 2 bullets. Could it be profit over health.

• Isolating travelers in single-occupancy cabins, with private bathrooms, with the door closed.
• Designating isolation cabins in areas separate from other cabins.

30 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

That is good that you no longer test positive .You are correct the CDC has "no cruise guidelines any longer " .You are also correct that HAL's web site should have clear definitions about quarantine . Not having clear guidelines  gives the cruise line a great deal of latitude & nothing for the infected passengers .imo this is wrong .Best of Luck going forward

Thanks. The following is the exact wording provided by the office of president at HAL regarding the isolation protocol for the 35 day cruise we are on;

“ABG Protocol: isolate 5 full days. Antigen test daily starting on the morning of day 6. Release on the first negative test”.

Thats the exact wording.

 
I know people who tested positive for a month after having COVID. They were no longer contagious but continued to test positive. Based on the HAL protocol we could have tested positive on day one and quarantined though day 35. 
 

They told us onboard the duration limit was 10 days and they were following CDC guidelines. Neither is true based in their actual protocol. We thought the limit was 5 days when we purchased the cruise. The honest thing to do is publish the protocol for all to see.

7 minutes ago, mcrcruiser said:

So what  protocols should HAL  post on their WEB site  because of covid breakouts on their ships ?

What I’m been looking for is a published HAL document which clearly states their isolation protocols. How many days if you’re not testing negative, 5 days, 10 days or forever. Get it now? I have found nothing on their web site. They say on board they are following CDC guidelines which is not true. It took contact with the president of the company to get an answer and a document.

We are both now out of isolation.

Just now, Balboa1978 said:

 

We did get the FCC letter. We have no intention of sailing HAL again and asked to have it applied the the crew appreciation fund. After numerous follow ups the president of HAL has agreed. We have become buddies… lol. The FCC paid to the crew will be at least $1500.00 more then what we would normally paid and will be more until my wife tests negative.

Hey, thanks for your help and input.

26 minutes ago, HappyInVan said:

 

You did the right thing. You're not infecting others. And, the clock started ticking after the first positive test. 

 

Should the ship impose a mandatory test before disembarkation, some people are going to get caught. And, spend the full isolation period in a hotel; missing their flight.

16 minutes ago, REOVA said:

I haven't been able to find any updated protocol in any of their websites. Most of the information is from summer of 2022 where tests are no longer required for entry and random quarantine is no longer required. However I'm sure they have different protocols when a known positive test arises. Guest Services manager (or Medical) may have current current info. 

 

Did you get a letter stating you will get FCC for days in quarantine? If HAL is still offering that you will need to get a letter from medical outlining the days in quarantine to keep in case there is "confusion" on HALs calculations. 

But also if the ratio of passengers is too high, then the next ports may not allow any disembarkment. Be careful what you hope for. 😉

We did get the FCC letter. We have no intention of sailing HAL again and asked to have it applied the the crew appreciation fund. After numerous follow ups the president of HAL has agreed. We have become buddies… lol. The FCC paid to the crew will be at least $1500.00 more then what we would normally paid and will be more until my wife tests negative. I have a letter from the president.

We will be arriving in French Polynesia over the next several days with a number of ports, I’m hopeful HAL does test the entire ship, if they do there will be many unhappy, dishonest cruises who could miss all of French Polynesia. Just like my wife missed all of Hawaii.

I will add this cruise had a vaccination (including one booster) required protocol. I’m told by many their vaccination status was not checked at embarkation. There was also a testing required to board protocol. We were all suppose to have a negative test before being allowed to board. There was a lineup of people side by side who did not follow the protocol with those who did. There was a 3 day masking requirement for the passengers and crew sent to us 3 days before embarkation by HAL. The protocol was not implemented. We were not notified the protocol was rescinded. It seemed the rule made sense, the prior cruise had a large Covid breakout . My wife and I both wore KN95 masks traveling to the port city, while boarding and while on ship. We successfully avoided Covid for 3 years. Sadly we couldn’t on a HAL ship and my wife finds herself quarantined with no fever and no symptoms. The reward for self reporting. Prior to boarding we expected the possibility of a 5 day quarantine which is CDC guideline and we were ok with that. Hence the self reporting to protect others,  We are now told it could be up to 10 days if she continues to test positive. Today will be day 8 if she does. I’ve yet to find a posting on HAL’s web site which defines their isolation policy, I think their overriding policy is get the bodies on-board.

The protocols for this cruise had been different then most current cruises. It’s 35 days with 2 long sea day periods far from port.

We self tested to begin. We had minor symptoms and self reported. HAL quarantined us, then began testing 5 days later. I tested negative. My wife continues to test positive. She has not had a fever nor symptoms for 3 days. We regret self reporting. I’m sure their are many passengers who are not self testing, so far there has been no required testing by the cruise line unless you self tested and reported. 

We are stopping at Tabuaeran, Uturoa Raiatea, Papeete, Moorea, Fakarava, Nuku Hiva

We are on the HAL 35 day trip to Hawaii and French Polynesia. We missed all of Hawaii. I was in isolation for 5 days, now my wife is on day 7. Even though she’s had no temperature or symptoms for 3 days she still tests positive so they won’t release her from our cell.

We arrive in French Polynesia in a few days with multiple ports of call. Does anyone know the entry requirements for French Polynesia as it relates to prior positive tests?

We are on the 35 day trip to Hawaii and French Polynesia. We missed all of Hawaii. I was in isolation for 5 days, now my wife is on day 7. Even though she’s had no temperature or symptoms for 3 days she still tests positive so they won’t release her from our cell.

We arrive in French Polynesia in a few days with multiple ports of call. Does anyone know the entry requirements for French Polynesia as it relates to prior positive tests?

Thanks for the kind words. Yes, we do have a balcony cabin. I believe there are many more cases then have been reported on cruise critic. We can hear the coughing from our balcony and it’s coming from many places.

Florence Italy is one of favorite places on earth. We will be back in May this time on the Amalfi coast.

Beware HAl’s isolation policy is if you continue to test positive regardless of a lack of symptoms and a lack of fever they will isolate you for up to 10 days.