This is what we are hoping. 😊
We did a Sydney-NZ return cruise with Celebrity in November. We were meticulous about wearing our N25s at all times except eating & drinking, even though there was no mask requirement aboard. Captain announced ship was covid-free on Day 4. First port was Day 5. Day 11(of 13nts) hubby was symptomatic & tested positive. I was negative. He was confined to our balcony cabin, I could go out & was tested by celebrity on Day 12 & Day 13 still negative & symptom free. Captain mandated masks in the Theatre & Casino, but nowhere else, due to rising cases. I was told that people were not reporting their illness so they wouldn't have to isolate, & the place I felt least safe was in elevators which coughing people continued to cram into without masks. I actually got out from the back of lifts twice after being squeezed in by others, & was ridiculed by them for doing so, as I said, "there are too many people in this lift". 🤷♀️
I was symptomatic on departure day and Celebrity waited until all who had reported our "plague" status were the only ones left onboard, sneaked us out onto the Pier by way of a crew gangway on level 2, avoiding border security & quarantine, & let us loose into the crowds thronging around the cruise terminal. We decided that our undoing had been due to dining at a table for 4 in the MDR nightly with a couple of lovely elderly ladies from Qld. Apparently at the time we were in NZ there was a covid surge but no hygiene restrictions were imposed. On Day 7 the ladies had coffee & cake onshore & one of them tested positive a few days later. The other lady caught it from her & so did hubby. It was the only time we were unmasked & in close proximity to others.
We cruise from Perth to Sydney in March on Majestic & are resigned to eat alone in the MDR despite meeting others at dinner being one of our favourite cruising benefits