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Jul 3rd - Happily on board Ovation


fudgbug
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First, I'll tell you about the process. 

 

When we arrived at the port, luggage was taken and tagged.  We were then escorted to check in and given a boarding pass.  From there we were escorted into a large tent where our passports and credit card were processed.  Then on to the medical section where Covid vaccination cards were logged and given back to us.  At the next station we were given a number and a tube with that number on it.  We waited our turn, a very short time, to have a nasal swab.  Twenty minutes later a number that matches the one you have in hand is posted on a board.  If negative, you are escorted into the terminal where you go through security and up the gangway you go.  Key cards are in your suite.  It is all easy peasy and you are on board in about a half hour.

 

Second, For the passengers on board it is all as it were pre-covid.  For the crew, all have to be masked until the Greek government gives approval for crew to do away with the masks.

 

For the tours, each port has their own requirements.  Some require masks, social distancing, etc. and some don't.  Some require you to sign a statement under penalty of death (JK), masks, social distancing, etc.  For the moment tour buses are lightly filled, but we expect that to change.

 

What can we say about the crew who are outstanding!  We've seen so many familiar faces and we can see the smiles through the masks and oh! what a welcome on board!  Everyone certainly makes you feel valued!

 

Food, beverage and entertainment has all been above and beyond.  Oh!  The buffet is self serve, but watch out for the hand washing/sanitizing police! :-) :-)  Wash those hands!

 

The ship is about half full with 100 "newbies".

 

No masks, social distancing just heaven.

 

Great job Seabourn!

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Thank you for this, it is so refreshing to read a report from someone who has experienced what is happening. We hopefully join the Ovation in Miami in December, we can’t wait we always enjoy sailing on this ship.

thanks again

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fudgbug - I'm curious.  Did you see any numbers on the Covid results board that said "positive".  Do you know what they did with those passengers who came up with a positive.  Our first cruise is this coming October, and are concerned about false positives as we have both been vaccinated.

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On 7/7/2021 at 4:31 PM, jjs217 said:

fudgbug - I'm curious.  Did you see any numbers on the Covid results board that said "positive".  Do you know what they did with those passengers who came up with a positive.  Our first cruise is this coming October, and are concerned about false positives as we have both been vaccinated.

Everyone on board is vaccinated and all tested negative.  

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On 7/7/2021 at 4:34 PM, tv24 said:

Thanks for the report.  Let us know how it is going if you have a few minutes.

All is well.  On a tour, you have to carry your mask, but for the most part, you don't have to wear it.  It depends on the port.  In Rhodes, we were told to wear the mask on the bus. Yesterday in Mykonos there were 4 ships. Two were completely vaccinated and guests were allowed to move about freely unmasked...mask up going into shops. 

 

The two ships that were not vaccinated, guests had to wear their masks and were not allowed to even purchase a magnet.  They were led to the tour bus masked to go on tour and directly back to the ship once the tour was over.

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On 7/8/2021 at 2:08 AM, HRPro said:

Thanks for the update—keep the information coming.  We are on Ovation September 4-11.  Can wait to hear how things are done in the various ports.

How things are done in a port today may be different tomorrow.  For the most part, vaccinated no mask.  Unvaccinated masked and confined to the herd. :-) :-)

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Are there unvaccinated on board?   We were assured several times that everyone, crew and passengers would be vaccinated.   We re ready to board our 7/10 cruise and there is quite an outbreak of the Delta variant in Greece so we really don’t need to add folks without vaccinations to the mix!

 

 

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27 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Are there unvaccinated on board?   We were assured several times that everyone, crew and passengers would be vaccinated.   We re ready to board our 7/10 cruise and there is quite an outbreak of the Delta variant in Greece so we really don’t need to add folks without vaccinations to the mix!

 

 

There are no unvaccinated on board. We'll be on board for the week of July 10 too.

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28 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

so we really don’t need to add folks without vaccinations to the mix!

I am quite sure as below the idea was that the ships that were unvaccinated had strict control whereas Seabourn ships with full vaccination were okay.

 

7 hours ago, fudgbug said:

The two ships that were not vaccinated, guests had to wear their masks and were not allowed to even purchase a magnet.  They were led to the tour bus masked to go on tour and directly back to the ship once the tour was over.

 

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This is all so helpful.   Would you mind answering a question re:  Santorini port?   When was the last tender back to the ship?   We'd like to have dinner on shore but not at the expense of having to swim to the next port of call.

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11 hours ago, fudgbug said:

Everyone on board is vaccinated and all tested negative.  

 

Just curious if they've indicated whether that includes the crew as well. There was some concern about Seabourn's language regarding this:

 

Q: Will Seabourn team members be vaccinated on the Summer 2021 Greece and Caribbean voyages? 
A: Our intent is for all team members working on board for these voyages to be vaccinated.

 

While all passengers are required to be vaccinated, there was some concern discussed on CC that they said their "intent" was for all crew members to be vaccinated rather than stating that all crew members will be vaccinated. Have they said whether all crew, er, team, members on Ovation are, in fact, vaccinated? Just curious. Thanks.

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1 hour ago, seersucker47 said:

This is all so helpful.   Would you mind answering a question re:  Santorini port?   When was the last tender back to the ship?   We'd like to have dinner on shore but not at the expense of having to swim to the next port of call.

We didn't go to Santorini on this cruise.  Santorini will be on the 15th and I will try to answer your question then.

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37 minutes ago, cruiseej said:

 

Just curious if they've indicated whether that includes the crew as well. There was some concern about Seabourn's language regarding this:

 

Q: Will Seabourn team members be vaccinated on the Summer 2021 Greece and Caribbean voyages? 
A: Our intent is for all team members working on board for these voyages to be vaccinated.

 

While all passengers are required to be vaccinated, there was some concern discussed on CC that they said their "intent" was for all crew members to be vaccinated rather than stating that all crew members will be vaccinated. Have they said whether all crew, er, team, members on Ovation are, in fact, vaccinated? Just curious. Thanks.

All crew are to be vaccinated...Greek government requirement.

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There are no restrictions on Seabourn. I expect that sooner or later Silversea passengers will have the same opportunities provided they get permission to go unmasked on board from the Greek authorities.
 

Seabourn must have established a different practice and policy regarding compliance with Greek regulations so as to allow for these near normal behaviors and opportunities. That said, for now, Seabourn crew are masked. Passengers are not.

 

Happy and healthy sailing!

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11 hours ago, fdnycruiser said:

I have a question regarding sitting at the bar. Silversea is not allowing guests to sit at the bar in the lounges. What’s the policy as of today on the Ovation. We’ll be on for the holiday cruise on 12/21

You can sit at the bars.

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