COVID quarantine on Sky Princess

[muchofamuchness]

Hi all,

 

Interesting dilemma here.

 

We're in quarantine on Sky Princess at the moment. My partner started feeling ill on Monday night. By Tuesday morning he was feeling dreadful - new, continuous cough, blocked nose, etc., so we each did a COVID test (we'd brought some Flowflex tests with us): his came back positive, mine negative. So we stayed in our cabin and called the medical centre. They organised tests for the both of us, which both came back negative, but said we would be put into isolation for 24 hours and tested again the following day - if we then tested positive then we would have to quarantine for the remainder of the cruise.

 

So we got escorted to quarantine. My partner's condition got worse (fever etc) during the night. I have also developed a cough.

 

He was tested this morning (they didn't want to test me) and their test came back negative. Considering his symptoms, he did another Flowflex test and it came back clearly positive again. 

 

However, as the medical centre's test came up negative, we are free to go back to our cabin and continue the cruise. If we continue to isolate it would apparently be on a totally voluntary basis (with, presumably, no further FCC and no enhanced in-room dining). 

 

Much as I'd love to go out and enjoy our last three sea days, a) my partner is not well and b) with the combination of very clear symptoms and two positive tests using a recognised brand of antigen test, it feels morally wrong to go out into the ship almost certainly spreading COVID as we go. I spoke to Guest Services and they say they can't help because it's a medical matter. We have considered booking a doctor's appointment so they can tell us what it is if their COVID tests are saying it's negative, but since they discharged us we can't ring the medical centre - when we try and call them now it just says 'Access Denied' on the phone.

 

Is there anyone you would recommend we speak to on this on board who can address our concerns or at least give us some reassurance?

[TwoBadKnees]

I'd worry that my phone is not allowed to contact the medical centre. I hope 911 works.

 

I'm also wondering about the different test results. Is your test kit still in code date?

 

The cynical part of me wonders if Princess has found a 'way' to keep their positive numbers down. I'd like to hear what the future Princess tests reveal on the the both of you.

 

Hope you both get over whatever it is you have very quickly and can resume the fun.

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, muchofamuchness said:

Hi all,

 

Interesting dilemma here.

 

We're in quarantine on Sky Princess at the moment. My partner started feeling ill on Monday night. By Tuesday morning he was feeling dreadful - new, continuous cough, blocked nose, etc., so we each did a COVID test (we'd brought some Flowflex tests with us): his came back positive, mine negative. So we stayed in our cabin and called the medical centre. They organised tests for the both of us, which both came back negative, but said we would be put into isolation for 24 hours and tested again the following day - if we then tested positive then we would have to quarantine for the remainder of the cruise.

 

So we got escorted to quarantine. My partner's condition got worse (fever etc) during the night. I have also developed a cough.

 

He was tested this morning (they didn't want to test me) and their test came back negative. Considering his symptoms, he did another Flowflex test and it came back clearly positive again. 

 

However, as the medical centre's test came up negative, we are free to go back to our cabin and continue the cruise. If we continue to isolate it would apparently be on a totally voluntary basis (with, presumably, no further FCC and no enhanced in-room dining). 

 

Much as I'd love to go out and enjoy our last three sea days, a) my partner is not well and b) with the combination of very clear symptoms and two positive tests using a recognised brand of antigen test, it feels morally wrong to go out into the ship almost certainly spreading COVID as we go. I spoke to Guest Services and they say they can't help because it's a medical matter. We have considered booking a doctor's appointment so they can tell us what it is if their COVID tests are saying it's negative, but since they discharged us we can't ring the medical centre - when we try and call them now it just says 'Access Denied' on the phone.

 

Is there anyone you would recommend we speak to on this on board who can address our concerns or at least give us some reassurance?

Do you have proctored tests with you?  You could do that over the internet and if you get a positive for him, you could use that as proof? 
I would elevate this to the HGM, guest services dept and insist a rapid PCR test from medical.  This would be more accurate than an antigen.  
I really hope they are not trying to cover this up.

 

You should be able to get through to medical…that’s ridiculous!  Tell them

how sick he is and needs medical attention.  They can’t deny you medical care.  
I know the Captain on the Sky and he would be appalled.  Capt Marco Fortezze.  
Please update us.

[KikiKruiser]

7 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

I know the Captain on the Sky and he would be appalled.  Capt Marco Fortezze.  
Please update us.

I believe he's been replaced.  He was Capt on our June 11th (ill-fated) cruise, and I read here on CC from those on the following sailing that he was "relieved of his duties" (whatever that means!) and a new Capt is in place.

[PacnGoNow]

1 minute ago, KikiKruiser said:

I believe he's been replaced.  He was Capt on our June 11th (ill-fated) cruise, and I read here on CC from those on the following sailing that he was "relieved of his duties" (whatever that means!) and a new Capt is in place.

Really? Wow.  He was on the CB before that.

Interesting…

[antsp]

The more you read about Princess, the worse they get, to have your cabin phone blocked from the medical centre is almost criminal 

[WNcruiser]

Do people not get regular colds and flu anymore? Why does it HAVE to be covid? I would think Princess is using a PCR which is far more accurate than a rapid antigen. 

 

I commend you for voluntarily staying in your cabin, I know others may not. I hope your partner gets better soon. 

[LACruiser88]

Was the test they conducted on your husband a PCR test?  PCR tests are much more accurate than the Antigen tests. 

[antsp]

42 minutes ago, WNcruiser said:

Do people not get regular colds and flu anymore? Why does it HAVE to be covid? I would think Princess is using a PCR which is far more accurate than a rapid antigen. 

 

I commend you for voluntarily staying in your cabin, I know others may not. I hope your partner gets better soon. 

I wouldn't tell them, and I would carry on as usual, I would wear a mask if going somewhere crowded

[kiwimum]

Use a phone in the hallway. 

Edited July 7, 2022 by kiwimum

[ebeluga]

I hope you run into the medical center staff and give them a hug, prolonged handshake or something...see if they run away.  You would know whether you are (+)...

[PacnGoNow]

This is an interesting dilemma. I hope @muchofamuchnesslets us know how

it worked out. 

[PMGS247]

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

Was the test they conducted on your husband a PCR test?  PCR tests are much more accurate than the Antigen tests. 

They are more accurate but the odds of two back to back antigen false positives is extremely remote.  definitely curious that the ship's test is not picking it up, but I don't think there's any reasonable doubt this guy's got covid.

[Luckiestmanonearth]

Kudos to you for recognizing that the Princess test is likely a false negative and not wanting to expose the ship to your illness .

 

Very confusing why Princess guest services isn’t also giving you kudos and chooses to turn a blind eye.  Very disappointed 

[DrivesLikeMario]

My sister had a terrible cold onboard the Regal a couple weeks ago.  It was super bad and turned into bronchitis.  She spread it to her cabin mate and my other sister and a couple other people in their group.  Princess did the same thing - tested her & her cabin mate once, then again at 24 hrs.  Both were negative.  She's had this "thing" for over 4 weeks.  Nice of you not to potentially infect others.

[Crystabel]

1 hour ago, PMGS247 said:

They are more accurate but the odds of two back to back antigen false positives is extremely remote.  definitely curious that the ship's test is not picking it up, but I don't think there's any reasonable doubt this guy's got covid.

Not necessarily. A relative of mine was sure he had COVID on Monday but tested negative every day until today, and finally had a positive test. They were all the same brand of antigen tests.

[PMGS247]

14 hours ago, Crystabel said:

Not necessarily. A relative of mine was sure he had COVID on Monday but tested negative every day until today, and finally had a positive test. They were all the same brand of antigen tests.

False negatives yes - very common, false positives are a different story - not common at all. Something like 0.5%.  Not impossible, but back to back....that's a positive.

Edited July 8, 2022 by PMGS247