We tested positive for Covid at the port and here's what happened

[ForMyBoys2015]

I'm writing this to give information to all of you considering cruising DCL during pandemic times. We had a cruise booked Jan 2-8th. We had two connecting staterooms and are a family of 5. All of us are vaccinated and had no symptoms. We used Disney transfers and boarded a bus to the port at approx 9am. The bus was full. We arrived at port at 10ish and were led to a testing site where we each tested then were assigned a tent to wait for results.

To get results you log into the safepassage website. Effectively we found out on the website that our 18yo (who is vaccinated and had no symptoms) tested positive and we weren't clear to sail. Everyone around us were high fiving and making thier way to the port and my kids were devestated. There were no instructions on what to do if you weren't clear to sail. We told the woman at the front of the tent that we were not clear to sail and she must have misheard us and asked us to walk to the cruise port but there were big signs saying not to unless you are clear to sail. My husband wanted to ignore the sign because we were told to walk to the port. I went back and told the lady the signs say we shouldn't walk to the port because we weren't clear to sail. I then told her we had a positive test and she directed us to stay still and someone would get us.

They brought us to a waiting room in a mobile home and a Dr came to talk to us. They could clearly see my son who tested positive was doing well. Then they officially told us we couldn't sail and they offered a full refund OR credit. I chose credit but after reading the letter (non transferable etc) asked to switch to refund because I wasn't sure if my college age son could sail with us again. They switched it no problem. And did put both connecting reservations on the form. I am working on rebooking and found out I am no longer eligible for the 10% discount due to getting a refund. I plan to call tomorrow to see if I can get a refund for one room and credit for the other but I'm not holding out hope. They made us decide there in the moment which option we wanted and gave us very little info.

Then they asked us to describe our luggage and said they would provide free transport back to the airport once luggage was collected. We arrived a bit before 10am and all this happened before 11am.

2 hours later she came into check on us and provided a letter showing the refund for both staterooms. We asked on status of our luggage and she wasn't sure. I mentioned we hadn't had breakfast (we expected a big lunch on board) and she brought us each one little bags of chips and bottles of water. I finally got my 11yo calmed down.

Then another 2 hours passed. So it was then 3pm. No one had given us an update or checked on us. We were in a sterile room with just chairs. I posted a photo. My husband went looking for someone and mentioned it is 3pm and we have 3 kids and we're hungry. Seems they don't really have anything simple like boxed lunches nor anywhere to purchase food. My 11yo was very upset and we finally had him feeling better a couple hours later, but then he was crying again. Being put alone in a sterile room for 4 hours after the devastation of not being on the cruise was about the most unDisney like thing that could happen. He could also see the ship and people having fun on the ship deck outside the window.

At 3:30 I took my 11yo son for a walk to calm him down even though I don't think we were supposed to leave that room for anything but going to the restroom. The lady who gave us chips/water earlier in the day saw us and asked why we were still there. I told her we'd been left alone and no luggage and she called someone on her walkie talkie. Finally at 4:15pm someone came to get us. They put us on a Disney bus with our luggage and drove us back to the airport. We arrived back at the airport at 5:30pm. 8 and half hour ordeal.

No one helped us arrange for lodging or rental cars or anything. We of course had our phones and figured it out. The internet at the port wasn't very good so booking everything was a pain.

We bought insurance through the Disney Cruise Line which was closed on Sundays. I called the next day and while I haven't filled out the report seems likely our rental car and lodging won't be covered since it wasn't an official Trip interruption if we never boarded the cruise and we're being told only the cruise fare itself us eligible for trip Cancellation coverage. Note: I would not buy Disney trip insurance...look elsewhere.

All in all it was a horrible day and experience. You'd think they'd at least have something little for the kids stuck in this. Maybe a coloring kit and micky bars?? Small lunches or something???

I'm happy to answer any questions you have, just wanted to share our experience.

[nascarcruiser]

Sorry you had to deal with this.  Sounds like they didn't have their s@#t together 

[ArthurUSCG]

This is why we chose to drive to the port and keep our luggage with us until we received the Clear to Sail. That wait for the luggageto be returned had to be horrible.

[genmasjoy]

Sorry you went through this experience.  I'm sure it was very disappointing for you and your family.

 

[TPgal]

Like the other's I'm sorry this happened to you, and thank you for sharing so that other's know what can happen.

Did your son test again at home?  If so, was that test positive too?  (Also, how is he doing?)

[iceman93]

That's HORRIBLE.  Disney should be ashamed for treating guests like that.

 

And I hate to say it, but I'm with your husband on this one--you guys should have just proceeded on board as you were directed to do by that cast member.

[chipmaster]

On 1/15/2022 at 7:28 PM, iceman93 said:

That's HORRIBLE.  Disney should be ashamed for treating guests like that.

 

And I hate to say it, but I'm with your husband on this one--you guys should have just proceeded on board as you were directed to do by that cast member.

 

Being positive and going on board is really the wrong thing to do for the consideration of everyone else.  We just go off a Disney, we are positive on +2 days after cruise and now stuck in a hotel self quarantine with our next 5 days of valuable vacation never going to happen.   

 

Be safe and considerate, these are terrible times and need to bring out the best of people not the worst.

[JupiterTwo]

On 1/22/2022 at 1:00 PM, chipmaster said:

 

Being positive and going on board is really the wrong thing to do for the consideration of everyone else.  We just go off a Disney, we are positive on +2 days after cruise and now stuck in a hotel self quarantine with our next 5 days of valuable vacation never going to happen.   

 

Be safe and considerate, these are terrible times and need to bring out the best of people not the worst.

I'm struck by how the OP said that the Disney transfer bus was full and traveled for an hour in close contact with someone who tested positive at the port, and yet they were all allowed on the ship to possibly spread who knows what?

 

I'd think if they were really serious about it, they would keep the whole bus at the tent until each person was tested, and then the whole lot either boards or is denied as a group. After all, if OP's son had been tested on the ship, contact tracing would have sought out all the other riders on the bus, right?

[mikehoncho]

I'm really sorry this happened to you and your family.  I guess the reality of sailing during COVID is the possibility things can go horribly wrong with a positive test result.  I felt really sorry for your boys after reading your story.  I can't imagine how devastated they both were (especially the 11 year old).  I hope that your future cruise is much smoother and stress free.

[ChutChut]

Sorry this happened to you but this is the reality in these times. Your husband wanting to board the ship and potentially infecting many others was ABSOLUTELY WRONG - no excuse for him wanting to do that. Hope your were refunded your fare and you can travel on another cruise in the future.

[Tapi]

On 1/15/2022 at 10:28 PM, iceman93 said:

And I hate to say it, but I'm with your husband on this one--you guys should have just proceeded on board as you were directed to do by that cast member.

Have you watched the video of the two ladies on Royal Caribbean who were erroneously told to proceed? Made for a lot of aggravation (and a great viral video) when they were finally tracked down and forced to get off the ship.