Live(ish) report: First real cruise this year - Greece with TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 6 - 9/27

[jtwind]

The "no back to back rule" is most likely a liability issue.  We've all heard that folks can become infected up to 10 to 14 days after exposure.  Let's say that, in the future, it is proven that the maximum time between exposure and becoming infected is 10 days.  By limiting a cruise to 7 days, there is no way a person can prove that they got the virus while on a cruise.  On the other hand, if a person was on a cruise for 2 weeks, and tested positive on day 14, you'd be able to say that they definitely became infected during the cruise.

[Miaminice]

1 hour ago, jtwind said:

The "no back to back rule" is most likely a liability issue. 

😉 Keep in mind it’s not an American cruise line…

[jtwind]

There are rules in Germany that say that a person can't file a law suit against a cruise line?

[Miaminice]

19 minutes ago, jtwind said:

There are rules in Germany that say that a person can't file a law suit against a cruise line?

Suing is not such a popular sport in Germany.

 

All humor aside. Passengers are tested 48 hours before the cruise. You could be infected on the way home, a day later, at the airport... you name it. So even if one showed symptoms while on a 7 day cruise there’s no way of saying where he or she was infected.

[Miaminice]

Covid Policy Cruise - Mein Schiff 6 - a regular Sea Day

 

I chose this headline to show you that it’s been just that: a regular day at sea.

 

There are not many photos because we did what we do at any day at sea on any cruise - not much. We just watched the world go by and really enjoyed our day.

 

We woke up with the sun just rising over the horizon. On our TV we could see people already using the pool for some morning laps.

 

 

For breakfast we chose one of the MDRs.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birgit chilled in the sun and went to a Pilates class. I had lunch and enjoyed watching a beautiful sunset from the treadmill at the gym later in the day. In the evening we had dinner and ended the day at their version of the Sunset Bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe telling you about all the things we didn’t do is more informative   We did not go to the arts and painting class, bingo, the wine and cheese tasting, the rum tasting, bread baking class, shuffleboard or the port talk. But I hope mentioning that all of it was available might put some of you at ease... Covid guidelines or not, it’s just another cruise - in the most positive sense!

 

[Fouremco]

Great photos (again!), but two in particular caught my eye. I've seen a lot of towel animals on different cruise lines, but none compare to the serpent in your cabin. Very well done! The length of the swimming pool surprised me, as I'm sure that it is twice the length of pools we've experienced. Great for swimming laps if you can find a quiet time!

[Spif Barwunkel]

I'm liking this cruise and the excellent reporting by miaminice. However, call me a milksop if you must, I would have to get rid of that whale shark lurking on the bed. Between Jonah and Ahab, it conjures up too many thoughts.

Edited October 2, 2020 by Spif Barwunkel

[jtwind]

1 hour ago, Miaminice said:

Suing is not such a popular sport in Germany.

 

All humor aside. Passengers are tested 48 hours before the cruise. You could be infected on the way home, a day later, at the airport... you name it. So even if one showed symptoms while on a 7 day cruise there’s no way of saying where he or she was infected.

 Must be nice with not so much suing.

 

This was exactly my point with limiting being on board to 7 days.  On day 7, if you test positive, you really don't know where you got it.  But if you were on back to backs, and tested positive on day 14, you got it while cruising.

[jtwind]

Just curious.  Have you received word of a very, very famous person in the US testing positive for coronavirus?  I'm curious how word gets around while cruising.  And if you found out, how?

Edited October 2, 2020 by jtwind

[MikeMary4449]

Hi Oliver and Brigit, We have really enjoyed following along with you on your TUI cruise.

Your photos are beautiful and the information you are providing is very helpful.  We

enjoyed our day with the two of you in Palma de Mallorca a few years ago and look

forward to sailing with you again in the near future.  Best regards, Mike and Mary

[zap99]

1 hour ago, jtwind said:

Just curious.  Have you received word of a very, very famous person in the US testing positive for coronavirus?  I'm curious how word gets around while cruising.  And if you found out, how?

I would guess yes. The news channels and internet have spread all the way to Europe.🤣

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

2 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Great photos (again!), but two in particular caught my eye. I've seen a lot of towel animals on different cruise lines, but none compare to the serpent in your cabin. Very well done! The length of the swimming pool surprised me, as I'm sure that it is twice the length of pools we've experienced. Great for swimming laps if you can find a quiet time!

 

I think the towel animal was actually a duvet animal.  😁

[jtwind]

19 minutes ago, zap99 said:

I would guess yes. The news channels and internet have spread all the way to Europe.🤣

 

The cruises I've been on don't have live tv and good internet while at sea.  I hope it's not unusual for folks to avoid tv and internet while on vacation.

[zap99]

Just now, jtwind said:

 

The cruises I've been on don't have live tv and good internet while at sea.  I hope it's not unusual for folks to avoid tv and internet while on vacation.

The poster talked about watching the TV in the morning.

[Miaminice]

2 hours ago, jtwind said:

Just curious.  Have you received word of a very, very famous person in the US testing positive for coronavirus?  I'm curious how word gets around while cruising.  And if you found out, how?

News, Internet... of course we found out.

[bama4cruisin]

45 minutes ago, jtwind said:

 

The cruises I've been on don't have live tv and good internet while at sea.  I hope it's not unusual for folks to avoid tv and internet while on vacation.

 

Two years ago we were on Solstice in Australia/New Zealand.  DH contracted the flu (regular flu) as did several others.  He was quarantined to the cabin for 2 days til fever free.  So thankful for a 15 hour time difference from home and the live broadcast of the NCAA basketball tournament (March Madness).  Probably the only thing that saved his (and thus my) sanity!

Edited October 2, 2020 by bama4cruisin

[Miaminice]

1 hour ago, MikeMary4449 said:

Hi Oliver and Brigit, We have really enjoyed following along with you on your TUI cruise.

Your photos are beautiful and the information you are providing is very helpful.  We

enjoyed our day with the two of you in Palma de Mallorca a few years ago and look

forward to sailing with you again in the near future.  Best regards, Mike and Mary

Thank you! 
I remember we met in Michael‘s Club on Reflection on a Western Med cruise. 
Hope you are well!

Best to you from Greece!

[jtwind]

38 minutes ago, Miaminice said:

News, Internet... of course we found out.

 

You're able to post and get useable internet speeds while at sea?  Nice.  Things must be improving.

[hcat]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

I think the towel animal was actually a duvet animal.  😁

Beats Hopkin pillows any day!

Love the modern decor but not zany.

 

[hcat]

Latest series of photos  are really  amazing..the sunset, the sea and even the most  delicious looking salad.

 

Too bad we are not German citizens, cannot speak German and  live so far out of the TUI realm... would book in a minute!

 

How is the music onboard?

[hcat]

Thinking out loud!

 Just found this itin..obviously not doable right now but very nice itin on Mein Schiff 1..   Is everything in German??  Or would they have some  English based on the itn?

 

Sep	Departing from New York, Cape Liberty Bayonne NJ-NYC hotels
04 Oct 07:30 - 18:30	Norfolk, Virginia
06 Oct 07:00 - 16:00	Charleston, South Carolina
07 Oct 10:00 - 20:00	Port Canaveral, Orlando, Florida
08 Oct 08:30 - 18:30	Miami, Florida
09 Oct 08:00 - 18:00	Nassau, Bahamas, New Providence Island
12 Oct 08:00	Arriving in New York, Cape Liberty Bayonne NJ-NYC hotels

 

[mchell810]

@Miaminice  Just want to say I am loving this thread like so many others.  Your sunrise and sunset photos are lovely.  I long for the day when I can watch the sunrise over the ocean again.  You are making me feel nostalgic but also hopeful. Thank you!

[Shadow9612]

@Miaminice your photos are spectacular!  Post 184 sunrise photo - WOW!  Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us.

 

It must be such a neat feeling to have the ship (almost) to yourselves! 

[Carnevale]

What a wonderful blog!  Thanks so much for all of the terrific info and photos!

 

While everything you have shared has been very interesting, I particularly appreciated the info you posted about daily activities as I wondered how COVID might impact what is offered.  We love ballroom dancing but sadly it’s becoming less common on cruises.  I don’t know if MS typically has dancing but if they do, is it something that is being done during COVID?

[Miaminice]

6 hours ago, jtwind said:

So if they're not a suing culture, then the "no b2b rule" would just be so that they could publicly deny any claims that someone got sick on their cruise, because there would be no way to prove it.

It has been explained. It‘s simply part of the bubble concept and a precaution not to carry an undetected infection from one group of passengers to another.