Cruise Critic is Cruising During Omicron. Have Questions for Us?

[CCAubs]

One of Cruise Critic's editors is currently onboard Carnival Radiance to get a firsthand report of what it's like to sail during omicron — and she wants to address your questions/concerns, too! Wondering how strict the ship is being about safety protocols? Are passengers following the rules? Are some ship activities on hold? Is the ship at capacity? Post your questions here and she'll do her best to make sure she answers as many as possible in her Live From report later this week!

[XBGuy]

It might be helpful to post the itinerary for this cruise.  That would allow interested people to ask port-specific questions in addition to ship-specific questions,

[Justin1111]

Masking??  What is required and what are you seeing?  Are you modifying your normal cruise activities?  Like going to shows and venues with closer contact?  Do you have concerns about bars and food shops?

[Justin1111]

Oh...also I am guessing you had to be tested within 2 days?  Any idea on how many cases during and by the end of the cruise and did you get off in Ensenada? Or have worries about getting quarantined in Mexico?  And if you did not get off the ship but got it would they get you back to LA and then??  They quarantine you and cover it or you pay?

[Honolulu Blue]

19 hours ago, CCAubs said:

Wondering how strict the ship is being about safety protocols? Are passengers following the rules? Are some ship activities on hold? Is the ship at capacity? 

 

Yes, please ask all those questions directly.  Also post a link to the report when it's done.

 

In addition, answer the following IF YOU DARE (evil laugh 😈😞

• Any announcements from the Captain and/or CD about number and/or percentage of COVID cases among passengers and/or crew?
• Did any ports turn you away?  Why?  Did they explain?
• How is life in isolation? (don't go there just because I asked, but you might get there naturally)

Edited January 20, 2022 by Honolulu Blue

[cruisemom42]

Why aren't main dining rooms distancing their tables more, given that capacity remains low?

 

Why does it seem that they (CCL lines in general, actually) are not being transparent about COVID cases onboard?

 

 

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, cruisemom42 said:

Why aren't main dining rooms distancing their tables more, given that capacity remains low?

 

Why does it seem that they (CCL lines in general, actually) are not being transparent about COVID cases onboard?

 

 

I can't answer the first question, but the answer to the second is obvious; they do not want passengers or people looking to book a cruise to know.

Edited January 20, 2022 by ontheweb

[CCAubs]

4 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

Yes, please ask all those questions directly.  Also post a link to the report when it's done.

 

In addition, answer the following IF YOU DARE (evil laugh 😈😞

• Any announcements from the Captain and/or CD about number and/or percentage of COVID cases among passengers and/or crew?
• Did any ports turn you away?  Why?  Did they explain?
• How is life in isolation? (don't go there just because I asked, but you might get there naturally)

Will definitely post the report here when it's up. Thanks for the questions -- they've been recorded!

[CCAubs]

Here's the first report, including answers to some of the questions posted here! https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=6710

[Honolulu Blue]

47 minutes ago, CCAubs said:

Here's the first report, including answers to some of the questions posted here! https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=6710

 

Thanks!  Nice work.  I couldn't ask for anything more.

[whogo]

Did Katherine Alex Beaven pay for her cruise or was this a freebie for a Cruise Critic editor? She has not answered most of the questions above about itinerary, announcements by the captain, percentage of infections or why cruise lines are not publishing numbers of infections.

[Dazzlingred]

What happens when the country you are doing a river cruise is Level  4 - High for covid?  Will (for example) Viking cancel the river cruise?

[jwattle]

On 1/24/2022 at 12:29 PM, Dazzlingred said:

What happens when the country you are doing a river cruise is Level  4 - High for covid?  Will (for example) Viking cancel the river cruise?

That one might be harder to answer as they are on a Carnival cruise.

[CCAubs]

On 1/24/2022 at 3:29 PM, Dazzlingred said:

What happens when the country you are doing a river cruise is Level  4 - High for covid?  Will (for example) Viking cancel the river cruise?

 

Good question. Based on how we're seeing lines handle the situation currently, the sailing wouldn't necessarily be canceled just because of the warning (ex: lines are still visiting Mexico). Guests can, of course, determine their own comfort level with disembarking.

 

The line does reserve the right to alter itineraries, though. So while they might not cancel the entire cruise, certain ports could be altered if they felt necessary (or if the country isn't welcoming guests, as we've seen in some destinations).

 

I hope that helps?

[jan2058567]

I just got off that cruise January 21. It was great. We rented golf cart on  Catalina.  You forgot to mention how easy boarding was. I am planning my next cruise for March!

[CPT Trips]

On 1/21/2022 at 5:35 PM, whogo said:

Did Katherine Alex Beaven pay for her cruise or was this a freebie for a Cruise Critic editor? She has not answered most of the questions above about itinerary, announcements by the captain, percentage of infections or why cruise lines are not publishing numbers of infections.

I think the lack of an answer is the answer. 

[CCAubs]

19 hours ago, CPT Trips said:

I think the lack of an answer is the answer. 

+ @whogo

 

Happy to answer: Cruise Critic paid for this cruise.

[whogo]

2 hours ago, CCAubs said:

+ @whogo

 

Happy to answer: Cruise Critic paid for this cruise.

Thank you, CCAubs.

 

Will there be a second report?

 

 

[SelectSys]

A more general question would be to know whether or not the cruise cancellations due to COVID are coming down again both in terms of cruises themselves or in terms of port visits?

[cruisingguy007]

On 1/21/2022 at 2:35 PM, whogo said:

Did Katherine Alex Beaven pay for her cruise or was this a freebie for a Cruise Critic editor? She has not answered most of the questions above about itinerary, announcements by the captain, percentage of infections or why cruise lines are not publishing numbers of infections.

 

This whole site is filled with travel agents and those in the biz, of course they are going to put their most positive spin on everything. Self preservation is obvious. Why else would they delete so many posts and control the narrative? Good luck getting answer on this lol. This is basically a cruise business insider site that allows the public to post. That's kind of a loaded question too. If you're afraid of catching covid, traveling isn't a good idea in general right now, especially sea of humanity type vacations. Don't kid yourself, it's on every cruise.  

[cruisingguy007]

I have a question. Are any of the lines allowing face mask exemptions for medical reasons or allowing face shields in place of a mask for medical reasons? 

[Nic6318]

10 hours ago, cruisingguy007 said:

I have a question. Are any of the lines allowing face mask exemptions for medical reasons or allowing face shields in place of a mask for medical reasons? 

 

Hi Cruisingguy

 

An answer to that question can quite easily be found on the internet. 

 

Just wondering where you get your ideas of what the make up of this site is, having looked at your earlier comment. Having seen some of your other posts I was also wondering, have you actually been on a cruise since joining Cruise Critic? I realize this is personal and as you suggest it might be deleted by the moderators, but you seem really doom and gloom about the industry as a whole. Do you think you will ever go on another cruise?