SOA Covid

[Kohima]

We are currently aboard on the Northern Lights cruise in Norway. Although it is not being mentioned officially there is Covid on the ship. We are among quite a number of passengers who have had to isolate in our cabins, in varying circumstances (even though testing negative), due to the track and trace procedures onboard. To avoid this, it seems advisable not to share a table with anyone anywhere or to visit the theatre. Fortunately we are now freed and still negative.

[Harry Peterson]

Saga seems to be rather better at concealing the existence of Covid on its ships than preventing it.

 

As a potential customer switching from P&O that doesn’t impress me a lot!

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, Harry Peterson said:

Saga seems to be rather better at concealing the existence of Covid on its ships than preventing it.

 

As a potential customer switching from P&O that doesn’t impress me a lot!

To be fair Harry, Saga seem to be keeping their passengers better informed than P&O. 

[Vivaldi]

2 hours ago, Kohima said:

We are among quite a number of passengers who have had to isolate in our cabins

That's very discouraging news. For how long were you confined to your cabin?

[kruzgal]

Track and trace is over. Why are Saga still using it? Absolute joke.

[Kohima]

We were confined to our cabin for 2 days, some for 3, others for 4. Some could not allow staff inside, others could. There seems to be no consistency about what is happening, no written explanation or rules and nothing has been said by the captain. Needless to say, passengers are discussing their individual experiences and it seems to have affected more people than we at first thought. Some only missed sea days, of which there have been more than planned, others missed key excursions.

 

[wowzz]

3 hours ago, kruzgal said:

Track and trace is over. Why are Saga still using it? Absolute joke.

Track and trace is still in force in the UK, although the  quarantine period has been reduced.

The fact that Saga have a similar system in place seems eminently sensible.

[twotravellersLondon]

4 hours ago, kruzgal said:

Track and trace is over. Why are Saga still using it? Absolute joke.

 

The responsibilities of cruise companies are laid out in detail in the UK Chamber of Shipping's Framework for UK Operations during Covid-19 for operators. You can find a copy and all the updates at  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-cruise-ship-travel#ukcos

 

If any cruise company didn't follow the guidance... lots of people would take issue if they caught covid.

 

Some people prefer that cruise lines follow the guidance because it gives them more confidence to cruise.

 

Anyone who's not happy about a cruise line's protocols and procedures can choose not to book with that company.

 

[kruzgal]

5 hours ago, wowzz said:

Track and trace is still in force in the UK, although the  quarantine period has been reduced.

The fact that Saga have a similar system in place seems eminently sensible.

You are not required to isolate, even if contacted by track and trace, if you are fully vaccinated. All passengers on SAGA are fully vaccinated. Daily lateral flow tests are recommended, which would be fine and a more sensible approach.

[NorbertsNiece]

Am also on board SoA.

We had a code Quebec on the 9th Feb and we were confined to our room for 75 minutes. That was clear enough to me that there was Covid on board.

 

Track and Trace UK had contacted us on the 8th to say we had tested positive on the 5th and to isolate. This is all documented in my blog. Search for 'glitch'.

 

If I need to know I ask. Am aware of cases of Covid amongst guests and crew. Would be helpful to know the numbers and this was requested last night.

 

Have been asked to self isolate for 4 days along with other B2B staying on to the Caribbean. May not like the idea but que será será.

[wowzz]

4 hours ago, kruzgal said:

You are not required to isolate, even if contacted by track and trace, if you are fully vaccinated. All passengers on SAGA are fully vaccinated. Daily lateral flow tests are recommended, which would be fine and a more sensible approach.

From the government web site.

"You must self-isolate if you are identified as a contact and told by NHS Test and Trace. Failure to self-isolate for the full time-period can result in a fine, starting from £1,000."

[twotravellersLondon]

5 hours ago, kruzgal said:

ou are not required to isolate, even if contacted by track and trace, if you are fully vaccinated. All passengers on SAGA are fully vaccinated. Daily lateral flow tests are recommended, which would be fine and a more sensible approach.

 

We would self-isolate because we care about other people and wouldn't like to endanger them or to diminish their enjoyment of their holiday.

 

We're on the Spirit of Discovery soon and we will be self-isolating for a couple of weeks before we join the ship.

 

We feel that we have a moral responsibility of care towards others and that we should be careful, cautious and considerate.

[Kohima]

We had isoIated at home prior to the cruise, never visited the ship’s theatre and always wore masks onboard.

I completely agree that we had a duty of care to others and understood the need to isolate on the ship when asked to do so. The problem was that different rules, time frames and circumstances of isolation were being applied with no written or verbal instructions other than to stay in the cabin until released. Some people had calls from Guest Services to check on their welfare, others didn’t. We did.

The upside was that we were blissfully unaware of the heating and leakage problems elsewhere on the ship and we didn’t have Covid!

[John182]

My sympathies to everybody on board both Saga ships at present. It would seem there have been some significant Covid related issues including offloading and extended isolation, the impacts of which appear to have been exacerbated by inconsistency in the way in which there were handled. We are to embark on the SofD in just over a week. I must confess to be more than a little nervous having read the various threads on here. Covid, ships systems not being able to cope with the Arctic conditions and an unruly North Sea are not the best appetiser for our cruise. To make matters worse the golf simulator is going to be off limits isn't it ? I knew my plan B for a golf break in the sun was the better one but I was overruled as usual. 

[ozscotart]

57 minutes ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

We would self-isolate because we care about other people and wouldn't like to endanger them or to diminish their enjoyment of their holiday.

 

We're on the Spirit of Discovery soon and we will be self-isolating for a couple of weeks before we join the ship.

 

We feel that we have a moral responsibility of care towards others and that we should be careful, cautious and considerate.

Screenshot from nhsinform you do not need to isolate if fully vaccinated and a close contact, you do need to do daily lfts:

 

[Kohima]

Different rules from Uk NHS apply onboard cruise ships.

[twotravellersLondon]

 

 

2 hours ago, ozscotart said:

Screenshot from nhsinform you do not need to isolate if fully vaccinated and a close contact, you do need to do daily lfts:

 

That's perfectly true for someone in Scotland and, of course, there's similar guidance that applies in other parts of the UK.

 
It's preceded by the statement that "Self-isolating when you are asked to is the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It’s very important that you stay at home (self-isolate) if... you've been told to self-isolate because you're a close contact of a positive case" And, of course, there are exceptions listed.

Cruising is one of the most heavily regulated industries on earth. with robust, clearly defined standards. The average ship undergoes dozens of announced and unannounced safety inspections per year, and the implementation of thousands of specific requirements set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other authorities. 

Individual cruise companies adopt policies in line with the legal and regulatory framework of the Cruise Line International Association and those policies may be different from  the guidance that applies in passengers' home countries.

When we buy a cruise, we enter into a legal contract and we're bound by it... even if the onboard arrangements change between booking and the ship sailing.

So, if we don't particularly like a policy... sadly the only alternative seems to be not to book cruises with CLIA members.
 

 

 

 

[ozscotart]

3 hours ago, twotravellersLondon said:

 

 

 

That's perfectly true for someone in Scotland and, of course, there's similar guidance that applies in other parts of the UK.

 
It's preceded by the statement that "Self-isolating when you are asked to is the best way to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). It’s very important that you stay at home (self-isolate) if... you've been told to self-isolate because you're a close contact of a positive case" And, of course, there are exceptions listed.

Cruising is one of the most heavily regulated industries on earth. with robust, clearly defined standards. The average ship undergoes dozens of announced and unannounced safety inspections per year, and the implementation of thousands of specific requirements set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other authorities. 

Individual cruise companies adopt policies in line with the legal and regulatory framework of the Cruise Line International Association and those policies may be different from  the guidance that applies in passengers' home countries.

When we buy a cruise, we enter into a legal contract and we're bound by it... even if the onboard arrangements change between booking and the ship sailing.

So, if we don't particularly like a policy... sadly the only alternative seems to be not to book cruises with CLIA members.
 

 

 

 

I totally agree, and certainly the large numbers here are due in part to school children bringing the virus into their families and the families now not being required to isolate.  As people who are officially vulnerable to this particular virus, we are happy to agree to any measures that get us safely out of the house frankly. 

[Kohima]

The captain has remained silent on the Covid outbreak. Meanwhile, although the waiters are now wearing different higher grade protection masks and more people are being asked to isolate including one of the officers, there has been no ship wide testing since Feb 13th.

[NorbertsNiece]

5 hours ago, Kohima said:

The captain has remained silent on the Covid outbreak. Meanwhile, although the waiters are now wearing different higher grade protection masks and more people are being asked to isolate including one of the officers, there has been no ship wide testing since Feb 13th.

 

We were all tested after Alta before Narvik, no?

[Kohima]

No. Perhaps we were unaware as we were in isolation. There have been around 5 announcements today telling people in various cabins to return there until further notice, just as we were. This does not sound good.

I am now concerned for the taxi drivers taking us all home.

[Kohima]

The cabin isolation announcements have continued today. Despite this, there has been no further ship wide testing since Alta, over a week ago. We will disembark tomorrow after spending several hours cooped up in the public rooms (the ship is running late) and be ferried home in taxis as a posse of potential superspreaders. As a duty of care to our taxi driver we will do our own tests in the morning.

[david05]

14 hours ago, Kohima said:

The cabin isolation announcements have continued today. Despite this, there has been no further ship wide testing since Alta, over a week ago. We will disembark tomorrow after spending several hours cooped up in the public rooms (the ship is running late) and be ferried home in taxis as a posse of potential superspreaders. As a duty of care to our taxi driver we will do our own tests in the morning.

Saga should allow those who are isolating to remain in their cabins until they can disembark.

[Kohima]

Done own tests this morning…..negative. Won’t need to worry about our driver’s welfare now thank goodness.

 

[Kohima]

47 minutes ago, david05 said:

Saga should allow those who are isolating to remain in their cabins until they can disembark.

This sounds a good idea in the circumstances. We are lucky enough to have been allocated a fairly quiet area but have just been for a walk around and the Britannia Lounge is packed.

Calls are still going out for people to return to their cabins. Gossip says that those in isolation/with Covid are going off last.