Need some Mardi Gras answers

[jimbo5544]

31 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

While I don't personally need to know the exact numbers, I think if you are assuming the cruises should be 100% Covid free you simply should not be sailing right now.  No one can guarantee you that.  We can see the mitigating measures the lines have in place, and you have to decide if that reduces the risk enough for you to move forward. It only is a reduction in risk, not an elimination of risk. 

 

The likelihood is someone will bring it onboard every sailing and that could lead to spread onboard so to me that was the default assumption. We were not 100% safe on board a cruise ship.

 

 

Bingo.  The real point is we were probably safer on the cruise then we were at MCO waiting to fly.

[csm5986142]

On 8/19/2021 at 11:15 AM, shibby sails said:

is anyone following the new rules. ie, wearing masks while walking around inside. Are there vaccinated areas and areas for both marked and are they being monitored. Don't want an argument about this just want to know what to expect in two weeks. Also have you heard of any positive covid cases onboard and are they even telling you if there are. Thanks

 

We just got off Mardi Gras yesterday.  Although signs specified masks to be worn indoors, the only place I saw them actively watching/handing out masks was upon entering the buffet area.  They also constantly made announcements in the Casino that masks were required, and needed to be replaced between sips of drinks. 

Every now and then I'd see people walking around inside without masks, or they'd remove them once they sat down (like in Grand Central).  But I think most people were pretty good about following the rules.

Our balcony happened to be just above the gangway, so I did notice that an ambulance met the ship at Costa Maya (of course that could have been any medical emergency, not necessarily Covid).  But when we returned to Port Canaveral, a fire truck and ambulance were parked below our balcony and we watched a paramedic in full PPE bring a stretcher on board (so that made us assume Covid (or something communicable) but we don't know for sure - never did hear anything). 

[dalenjen]

We got off the Mardi Gras on Saturday 8/28 ( i woke up with a cough on friday 8/27 so self isolated just to be safe) tested positive for covid yesterday (8/29). My Wife luckily tested negative and has no symptoms (I have ALL the symptoms and it Sucks) There was little to no enforcement of Mask mandates (signs and reminders are not enforcement) and since the ship has a traffic flow problem with lots of bottle-necks, Social Distancing was hard. We didnt attend the shows or Comedy Club because people were packed in like sardines with no Social Distancing at all. 

 

From Embarkation to Disembarkation it was a cluster and not well done. And we have cruised twice this year before this on Celebrity so we know how cruising in the age of Covid is but Carnival didnt report any numbers of cases nor provide adequate masking/hand sanitizers. They didnt even provide masks in the staterooms. We saw SO MANY staff pulling their masks down to take Selfies with Guests and to talk to other staff members and in every restaurant (including Chi-Bang and Cucina) there were two-top tables with 6 inches of space between the next two-top so even if you didnt want to sit next to others you had to unless you made a stink about it, and this was when the restaurant wasnt even busy.

 

Just my opinion of course but then again im allowed to have an opinion since im sitting isolated in a room with Covid due to our Mardi Gras Cruise

 

BTW:I did report my positive test to Carnival the moment I got the results because I want them to make sure our steward Yosephine is OK since she had the most contact with us. Carnival called yesterday and stated "they would look into it" 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

On 8/19/2021 at 10:07 PM, ScottsSweetie said:

The first thing to know is that it was reported as 14 additional people at disembark - not 14 additional cases. Let me find the post here and I'll get back to you (search function still not working).

They got off with  the crew. Wife was not feeling well for a few days and was tested. They were quarantined and moved to a different cabin one day before they got off. He has a site on the internet. He is a TA and does many reports on cruises. Gave a complete review of the ship and what happened. Because he is a TA I do not think I am allowed to give his information on CC.

[jimbo5544]

1 hour ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

They got off with  the crew. Wife was not feeling well for a few days and was tested. They were quarantined and moved to a different cabin one day before they got off. He has a site on the internet. He is a TA and does many reports on cruises. Gave a complete review of the ship and what happened. Because he is a TA I do not think I am allowed to give his information on CC.

Are TA’s exempt from getting sick?  

[dalenjen]

38 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Are TA’s exempt from getting sick?  

yeah i would be interested to read anyone else (besides me) who got Covid on the Mardi Gras TA or not..Carnival is keeping their numbers hidden and its getting people sick

[crewsweeper]

5 hours ago, dalenjen said:

We got off the Mardi Gras on Saturday 8/28 ( i woke up with a cough on friday 8/27 so self isolated just to be safe) tested positive for covid yesterday (8/29). My Wife luckily tested negative and has no symptoms (I have ALL the symptoms and it Sucks) There was little to no enforcement of Mask mandates (signs and reminders are not enforcement) and since the ship has a traffic flow problem with lots of bottle-necks, Social Distancing was hard. We didnt attend the shows or Comedy Club because people were packed in like sardines with no Social Distancing at all. 

 

From Embarkation to Disembarkation it was a cluster and not well done. And we have cruised twice this year before this on Celebrity so we know how cruising in the age of Covid is but Carnival didnt report any numbers of cases nor provide adequate masking/hand sanitizers. They didnt even provide masks in the staterooms. We saw SO MANY staff pulling their masks down to take Selfies with Guests and to talk to other staff members and in every restaurant (including Chi-Bang and Cucina) there were two-top tables with 6 inches of space between the next two-top so even if you didnt want to sit next to others you had to unless you made a stink about it, and this was when the restaurant wasnt even busy.

 

Just my opinion of course but then again im allowed to have an opinion since im sitting isolated in a room with Covid due to our Mardi Gras Cruise

 

BTW:I did report my positive test to Carnival the moment I got the results because I want them to make sure our steward Yosephine is OK since she had the most contact with us. Carnival called yesterday and stated "they would look into it" 

Sorry the Covid nabbed you.  Were you vaccinated?  How long ago?

 

Based on the pictures I've seen from others on your cruise and the one before and now one after, I don't see the crowding on the ship anywhere near 1/3 of what it normally would be if at full capacity. .  Maybe  you did different things than others.  Not judging,.  Piano bar?  Excursions?

Hope you get over it quickly and indeed your cabin steward doesn't catch it.

[dalenjen]

22 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

Sorry the Covid nabbed you.  Were you vaccinated?  How long ago?

 

Based on the pictures I've seen from others on your cruise and the one before and now one after, I don't see the crowding on the ship anywhere near 1/3 of what it normally would be if at full capacity. .  Maybe  you did different things than others.  Not judging,.  Piano bar?  Excursions?

Hope you get over it quickly and indeed your cabin steward doesn't catch it.

Fully vaccinated since End of March (I was in the J&J Clinical Trial and support science) did not do any excursions, no bars and no shows because they were packed in like sardines. I can assure you that Social Distancing was not able to be done in restaurants, bars, clubs etc. We were at 55% capacity and it was still crowded. Its a poorly designed ship for traffic flow of people including the 2.5 hours standing in line (also with no distancing) in order to get on the ship and bottleneck in customs to get off the ship

 

[audcc77]

5 hours ago, dalenjen said:

We didnt attend the shows or Comedy Club because people were packed in like sardines with no Social Distancing at all. 

Wow. I don’t like hearing this.  
 

Sorry to hear you are now sick.  That stinks.  
 

Carnival better get its head in the game.  

[ScottsSweetie]

59 minutes ago, dalenjen said:

yeah i would be interested to read anyone else (besides me) who got Covid on the Mardi Gras TA or not..Carnival is keeping their numbers hidden and its getting people sick

What would you do differently if Carnival had given you numbers? You already said that you were taking extra precautions in social distancing, so I am curious as to what you would have done. And would that change if Carnival said "we have 2 covid cases" or if they said "we have 10 covid cases"? 

 

If everyone has negative tests before boarding, and only 5% of the population is unvaccinated (and that's mostly children), and people are masked, and you are social distancing - please explain to me what else can be done?

[crewsweeper]

3 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

 

 

If everyone has negative tests before boarding, and only 5% of the population is unvaccinated (and that's mostly children), and people are masked, and you are social distancing - please explain to me what else can be done?

By 5% of the population I assume you mean supposedly 5% of the ship passengers.  Not crew. Be aware that mask are NOT 100% effective.  Only N95 masks protect against you transmitting 95% of the virus and other respiratory germs you may have. Possibly less to those wearing without any viruses, and then only when not wet from breathing.  Wet masks of all types can allow viruses to cling to the masks.  Plus negative test today doesn't equate to negative test tomorrow.  Vaccines in and of themselves do not prevent people from getting the virus.  They do help in reducing the severity of symptoms and need for hospitalization.  Key word here is REDUCE/ not ELIMINATE!

 

But without adequate tracing, dalajen will never know whether he contracted his from hanging around the ship venues, his cabin steward, his spouse, a bar tender who sneezed, someone in the elevator, etc..

 

Let's just hope he continues to improve.

[ScottsSweetie]

Just now, crewsweeper said:

By 5% of the population I assume you mean supposedly 5% of the ship passengers.  Not crew. Be aware that mask are NOT 100% effective.  Only N95 masks protect against you transmitting 95% of the virus and other respiratory germs you may have. Possibly less to those wearing without any viruses, and then only when not wet from breathing.  Wet masks of all types can allow viruses to cling to the masks.  Plus negative test today doesn't equate to negative test tomorrow.  Vaccines in and of themselves do not prevent people from getting the virus.  They do help in reducing the severity of symptoms and need for hospitalization.  Key word here is REDUCE/ not ELIMINATE!

 

But without adequate tracing, dalajen will never know whether he contracted his from hanging around the ship venues, his cabin steward, his spouse, a bar tender who sneezed, someone in the elevator, etc..

 

Let's just hope he continues to improve.

Yes, I know all of those things. But in regards to the crew, I do believe that they are required to be somewhere above 90% vaccinated per the CSO recommendations that the cruiselines are operating under.

 

And he also won't know if he got it before he got on the ship, either. MY DH tested positive 10 days before I did and of course we're told people can be contagious before that positive test. Most people will never know where they got it from, so it's not verifiable to blame it on Carnival.

[crewsweeper]

8 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

Yes, I know all of those things. But in regards to the crew, I do believe that they are required to be somewhere above 90% vaccinated per the CSO recommendations that the cruiselines are operating under.

 

And he also won't know if he got it before he got on the ship, either. MY DH tested positive 10 days before I did and of course we're told people can be contagious before that positive test. Most people will never know where they got it from, so it's not verifiable to blame it on Carnival.

Don't necessarily disagreed.

[dalenjen]

30 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

What would you do differently if Carnival had given you numbers? You already said that you were taking extra precautions in social distancing, so I am curious as to what you would have done. And would that change if Carnival said "we have 2 covid cases" or if they said "we have 10 covid cases"? 

 

If everyone has negative tests before boarding, and only 5% of the population is unvaccinated (and that's mostly children), and people are masked, and you are social distancing - please explain to me what else can be done?

here is a list based off the two other cruises we have taken this year with Celebrity:

1.mandate social distancing, block off every other chair

2. provide masks so you can switch yours out. We brought extra but none were provided

3. Contact tracing. On Celebrity (and Royal also) they make you wear a Tracelet to quickly identify everyone you came into contact with, test them and isolate those infected. Carnival has no contact tracing at all

4.More hand sanitizers. they were few and far between

5. Decrease bottlenecks and crowding. there were many times that social distancing COULD NOT be done due to the set-up of seating and the structure of the lines Carnival created (if you havent been on the Mardi Gras yet you do not realize that pretty much everything is on 3 decks that are all inside with no open spaces except on top or in the smoking section on the side)

 

So yes that is what I would say is just a few things they COULD HAVE done but did not.

 

Its all i will have to say on this because I feel I am having to explain why I got Covid instead of just being able to feel crappy because I GOT COVID ON THIS CRUISE (our 32nd cruise to be exact with 9 more booked) we will cruise again very soon but I can only say that Carnival is not handling the Cruising During Covid well at all

 

[ScottsSweetie]

1 hour ago, dalenjen said:

here is a list based off the two other cruises we have taken this year with Celebrity:

1.mandate social distancing, block off every other chair

2. provide masks so you can switch yours out. We brought extra but none were provided

3. Contact tracing. On Celebrity (and Royal also) they make you wear a Tracelet to quickly identify everyone you came into contact with, test them and isolate those infected. Carnival has no contact tracing at all

4.More hand sanitizers. they were few and far between

5. Decrease bottlenecks and crowding. there were many times that social distancing COULD NOT be done due to the set-up of seating and the structure of the lines Carnival created (if you havent been on the Mardi Gras yet you do not realize that pretty much everything is on 3 decks that are all inside with no open spaces except on top or in the smoking section on the side)

 

So yes that is what I would say is just a few things they COULD HAVE done but did not.

 

Its all i will have to say on this because I feel I am having to explain why I got Covid instead of just being able to feel crappy because I GOT COVID ON THIS CRUISE (our 32nd cruise to be exact with 9 more booked) we will cruise again very soon but I can only say that Carnival is not handling the Cruising During Covid well at all

 

I'm sorry that you have covid. I've had it also - it's no fun. I hope that your wife continues to be negative. 

 

No one here is asking you to explain why you got Covid. But you cannot be sure that you got it on the ship.

[ngrund]

22 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

 

No one here is asking you to explain why you got Covid. But you cannot be sure that you got it on the ship.

 the point is that Carnival could and should have taken steps that would greatly reduce the chances of passengers being exposed-

 

For me, the most egregious thing Carnival is doing is not eliminating the self service buffet and  as reported not allowing space between seated parties while dining

 

[ScottsSweetie]

7 minutes ago, ngrund said:

 the point is that Carnival could and should have taken steps that would greatly reduce the chances of passengers being exposed-

 

For me, the most egregious thing Carnival is doing is not eliminating the self service buffet and  as reported not allowing space between seated parties while dining

 

Yes, it would appear that Carnival's protocols could be improved. But the poster seems to want Carnival to be Celebrity. And if one believes that Carnival's protocols are not adequate - and everyone here at CC has had access to all of that info since the restart - then one should not cruise Carnival.

[rs45thompson]

3 hours ago, ScottsSweetie said:

What would you do differently if Carnival had given you numbers? You already said that you were taking extra precautions in social distancing, so I am curious as to what you would have done. And would that change if Carnival said "we have 2 covid cases" or if they said "we have 10 covid cases"? 

 

If everyone has negative tests before boarding, and only 5% of the population is unvaccinated (and that's mostly children), and people are masked, and you are social distancing - please explain to me what else can be done?

Just my opinion but I think they need to get rid of the doors that you have to push the button, they need to have the crew serve at the buffet, they need to enforce mask wearing except outside, they need to ask passengers to washy washy as they enter the restaurant or buffet, they need to implement social distancing in the restaurants and shows.  I think if they do these things they will see their numbers (whatever they are) go down.  Again, just my opinion.

[TNcruising02]

24 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

Yes, it would appear that Carnival's protocols could be improved. But the poster seems to want Carnival to be Celebrity. And if one believes that Carnival's protocols are not adequate - and everyone here at CC has had access to all of that info since the restart - then one should not cruise Carnival.

I agree.  If people don't like the way Carnival is doing things, they can cruise on a different line.    Even with masks and social distancing, people can still get covid. Traveling of any kind increases the risk.   I think some people expect perfect scenarios where they have zero risk.  That isn't reality.  If they like the way another line handles things, they should cruise on that line.  From what I have read, I think Carnival is doing a decent job with their protocols.

I can't think of any form of transportation where people have to test negative for covid and be vaccinated in order to board.  Yet, people don't seem to bat an eye when they have to hang out at an airport or fly in a plane with untested people.  But it's cruises with tested and vaccinated people that send them over the edge of paranoia.  

Edited August 30, 2021 by TNcruising02

[ScottsSweetie]

5 minutes ago, rs45thompson said:

Just my opinion but I think they need to get rid of the doors that you have to push the button, they need to have the crew serve at the buffet, they need to enforce mask wearing except outside, they need to ask passengers to washy washy as they enter the restaurant or buffet, they need to implement social distancing in the restaurants and shows.  I think if they do these things they will see their numbers (whatever they are) go down.  Again, just my opinion.

And if they don't do all of these things - are you still going to sail in October (as is listed in your signature below)?

[rs45thompson]

3 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

I agree.  If people don't like the way Carnival is doing things, they can cruise on a different line.    Even with masks and social distancing, people can still get covid. Traveling of any kind increases the risk.   I think some people expect perfect scenarios where they have zero risk.  That isn't reality.  If they like the way another line handles things, they should cruise on that line.  From what I have read, I think Carnival is doing a decent job with their protocols.

I love Carnival, love the vibe.  Carnival was always my first choice.  I also realize that there is no way to have zero risk.  I get it.  That does not mean that Carnival can't improve on their protocols to keep their passengers as safe as possible and to reduce the risk.  I appreciate their desire to keep the cruising experience as close to normal as they can  but that may not be the best decision at this time.  You are correct that we can choose to go on a different line and I have done that.  I just hate that I had to. Symphony in November and  Independence of the Seas in April.  My decision now is if I keep my Mardi Gras cruise or change it.  The more I read the more uncomfortable I am with Carnival's protocols.  

[rs45thompson]

9 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

And if they don't do all of these things - are you still going to sail in October (as is listed in your signature below)?

That is what I am wrestling with at the moment.  I don't know.

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

5 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Are TA’s exempt from getting sick?  

I doubt it. His wife got sick. He was lucky. For those who think that Carnival is hiding anything. Right now every cruise has a CDC representative on board watching everything. Want a free cruise. Become a CDC spy.

[TNcruising02]

7 minutes ago, rs45thompson said:

I love Carnival, love the vibe.  Carnival was always my first choice.  I also realize that there is no way to have zero risk.  I get it.  That does not mean that Carnival can't improve on their protocols to keep their passengers as safe as possible and to reduce the risk.  I appreciate their desire to keep the cruising experience as close to normal as they can  but that may not be the best decision at this time.  You are correct that we can choose to go on a different line and I have done that.  I just hate that I had to. Symphony in November and  Independence of the Seas in April.  My decision now is if I keep my Mardi Gras cruise or change it.  The more I read the more uncomfortable I am with Carnival's protocols.  

If you are worried about tested and vaccinated people being close to you on a cruise and possibly having their mask off, then maybe another line would be better.  

As far as the buffet, I would like Carnival to have the crew serve the food just because I think it's more sanitary, not because I fear getting covid from the utensils.  I wash my hands.  I did like it on my last Royal cruise when the crew members served the buffet.  However, this won't stop me from cruising Carnival.  I've never gotten sick on a cruise and have eaten at the buffets at least once a day. I'm kind of OCD about cleanliness, so I always wash my hands before eating.  I even did it on my Royal cruise.

I guess I look at the risk of each situation.  I flew on a plane with untested and unvaccinated people for two hours, and that was after sitting in the airport for two hours.  To me, that was the highest risk thing I have done all year.  Being on a cruise with tested people who may have their masks off and may not socially distance 100% of the time just isn't something I consider high risk.  I mean, going to the grocery store is higher risk than being on a cruise ship because nobody gets tested before entering a grocery store.  

Anyway, I guess I don't see the high risk situation that others see with the masks and social distancing on cruise ships.

 

[ScottsSweetie]

14 minutes ago, rs45thompson said:

That is what I am wrestling with at the moment.  I don't know.

That's reasonable. Everyone should make the decision that makes the most sense for their family and their situation - best of luck.

 

It's just so very frustrating to read all the posters here who knew what the protocols were before getting on the ship, decided to get on the ship anyway, and then they come here and complain about everything that they knew about ahead of time.

Edited August 30, 2021 by ScottsSweetie