Hi all,
On a cruise over C&NY recently my wife started to present symptoms of COVID and we thought "go to medical centre and get tested". Quite an experience.
Was advised that a consultation with a doctor is required, and the cost would be $219. If you tested positive, that fee would be waived. If negative, it would not. Quite shocked because LFT's cost about £1.50 and are easily administered at home. Nope, the doctor conversation could not be waived. Okay, thanks but no thanks. We walk out.
First I was very surprised that they'd allow that, especially with a new COVID wave underway. We're walking around the ship with a potential COVID carrier and, well, there's the cruise demographic. We go about our usual things for 3 more days. Get home, test, and (at that stage) negative.
On the ship though, I contacted Celebrity over Twitter to ask what the policy on COVID is right now. They reiterated the need for a consultation and the test rules. Was this interaction "normal and expected"? Long thread with them and eventually said, "yes, that is the company policy" including allowing potentially infected customers to leave the medical centre and move normally about the ship.
It struck me later that Celebrity has made a decision to not care about COVID, at least no more than other viral respiratory diseases.
Amazing!
