QE Covid Isolation - totally fed up

[lissie]

On 8/6/2022 at 9:31 AM, nightfires said:

I accepted the risk and had no issue with isolation.
 

The point I am making is I can run around the ship breathing on all the surfaces, I can go in the spa, the pool, the theatre etc.  but I cannot sit and eat a meal. 

Wearing a mask is the difference - you cant eat masked hence the  prohibiton 

[Windsurfboy]

I can understand why you are fed up.

 

This will encourage people to only test for Covid when they are feel very poorly, otherwise ignore mild symptoms. 

[elmsliebev]

On 8/6/2022 at 9:31 AM, nightfires said:

I accepted the risk and had no issue with isolation.
 

The point I am making is I can run around the ship breathing on all the surfaces, I can go in the spa, the pool, the theatre etc.  but I cannot sit and eat a meal. 

But you had to wear a mask in those venues. We were also isolated, for 6 days and had to keep our masks on at all times inside for a further 4 days. 

[Westriver]

Question; can you isolate in your own cabin or do you have to. Love out to a special quarantine cabin?

[navybankerteacher]

On 8/6/2022 at 11:18 AM, bluemarble said:

 

 

…

 

"CDC has provided guidance for isolation in community and high-risk congregate settings. If isolation is ended before 10 days are completed, travelers should properly wear a well-fitting mask when outside of cabin (indoors and outdoors) through day 10. During this time, these individuals should have in-cabin dining and also wear a well-fitting mask inside their cabin if any other person (such as a crew member) enters the cabin."

 

I can't really address why the CDC has considered dining venues on ships to be of particularly higher concern compared to other public venues such as theaters.

 

…

It isn’t difficult to see that, since “wearing a well fitting mask” is part of the drill, dining venues must be of higher concerns - you can keep your mask on in theatres, etc.

[elmsliebev]

4 hours ago, Westriver said:

Question; can you isolate in your own cabin or do you have to. Love out to a special quarantine cabin?

We moved from an inside to a balcony for the duration, but I’m pretty sure some people stayed in their own cabins, judging by the number of room service type trays in the corridors, eg for several days, 3 times a day. 

[bluemarble]

4 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

It isn’t difficult to see that, since “wearing a well fitting mask” is part of the drill, dining venues must be of higher concerns - you can keep your mask on in theatres, etc.

 

Yes, all rather obvious isn't it? I'll have to plead I was having a brain cramp! I was focused on aspects of the venues themselves that might be different (such as allowances for social distancing) and entirely missed the obvious point that mask wearing isn't possible while eating. I did eventually pick up on that with my later reply about why it wouldn't be possible to help yourself to a meal at the buffet or take a drink to one of the bars. Just call me slow on that one! 😉

Edited August 13, 2022 by bluemarble

[fabnfortysomething]

we got off QM2 Friday morning

husband woke up disembarkaction day with sore throat-tested with kits we brought along-positive

I was ans so far still negative

I rang pursers office from our cabin and we were escorted by white boiler suited and masked staff 2 of which had disinfectant tanks on back who sprayed in our wake

this was via separate exit after rest of passengers had disembarked about 10.45

becaus this was last day we werent moved to deck 5 which talking to others in the socially distanced queue was where they were moved to

we were "lucky" in that he didnt catch it earlier but it made me think how many people on board feeling unwell chose to board regardless as no proof was asked of negative status 

[Canuker]

On 8/8/2022 at 4:23 AM, bluemarble said:

 

" ...masks are not to be removed at any time when outside the cabin..."

Even out on deck? It may be different rules for ex-quarantines, but non-quarantines were spared masks while out on the decks.

 

[bluemarble]

1 hour ago, Canuker said:

" ...masks are not to be removed at any time when outside the cabin..."

Even out on deck? It may be different rules for ex-quarantines, but non-quarantines were spared masks while out on the decks.

 

My interpretation of the CDC guidance is that it specifies mask wearing both indoors and outdoors even for close contacts who are not quarantined.

 

Here is an excerpt from the CDC "Guidance for Cruise Ships on the Mitigation and Management of COVID-19" stating the option which allows close contacts to be tested daily instead of being quarantined (emphasis mine). Other options which involve a 5-day quarantine period also include similar wording about in-cabin dining and mask wearing both indoors and outdoors until a full 10 days are up.

 

"Close Contacts: ...

 

Travelers who Are Up to Date with their COVID-19 Vaccines:

 

Option 1: Test these close contacts with a viral test daily until 5 days after their last exposure in lieu of a 5-day quarantine.

 

For a full 10-day period after their last exposure, these individuals should have in-cabin dining and properly wear a well-fitting mask at all times when outside of their cabin (indoors and outdoors). They should also wear a well-fitting mask inside their cabin if any other person (e.g., a crew member) enters the cabin."

[LymingtonLad]

On 8/6/2022 at 2:00 PM, nightfires said:

As the title says I’m in Covid isolation

 

My sincere commiserations.

 

On our very first cruise, a short trip to Hamburg earlier this year, I caught covid and was moved to an isolation cabin. My wife continued to test negative, so she remained in our original cabin, but even though she could roam the ship as long as she tested negative, she was restricted to room service meals.I believe the reason was that she'd have to remove her mask while dining.

 

Still, the little bit of the cruise that we did experience impressed us so much that we re-booked and we're off to Scandinavia on the Queen Victoria departing Sunday.

 

I hope you aren't put off and will also cruise again. Good luck!

 

Incidentally, here's my wife and I in Hamburg, just before I tested positive.

 

 

If anyone spots us next week on Queen Victoria do come and say hello, we're both well so there's no risk!

[Windsurfboy]

On 8/14/2022 at 5:00 AM, bluemarble said:

 

My interpretation of the CDC guidance is that it specifies mask wearing both indoors and outdoors even for close contacts who are not quarantined.

 

Here is an excerpt from the CDC "Guidance for Cruise Ships on the Mitigation and Management of COVID-19" stating the option which allows close contacts to be tested daily instead of being quarantined (emphasis mine). Other options which involve a 5-day quarantine period also include similar wording about in-cabin dining and mask wearing both indoors and outdoors until a full 10 days are up.

 

"Close Contacts: ...

 

Travelers who Are Up to Date with their COVID-19 Vaccines:

 

Option 1: Test these close contacts with a viral test daily until 5 days after their last exposure in lieu of a 5-day quarantine.

 

For a full 10-day period after their last exposure, these individuals should have in-cabin dining and properly wear a well-fitting mask at all times when outside of their cabin (indoors and outdoors). They should also wear a well-fitting mask inside their cabin if any other person (e.g., a crew member) enters the cabin."

 

Clearly  CDC guidelines for cruise ships are way out of line with guidelines for land. It makes one wonder if they'd really like to impose these strict guidelines on land but know that they just wouldn't get away with it. 

[nightfires]

Finally got to Europe so I’ve now got 5G and can update.

 

After the 2 days eating in my room I was allowed to rejoin my table. Since then it’s been fine for me. 

 

Im on a B2B with about half of the passengers. After we left Fort Lauderdale we were not allowed into Bermuda then we had another round of increasing Covid infections. So throughout the full cruise masks have been worn, laundrettes shut for the last few days, lifts were restricted to 4 people for a few days but this has now been lifted. 

This is my fourth cruise post Covid and I will definitely be cruising again (already got 2 booked and planning a further 2). Overall I have had a good holiday and it was only really the unusual decision to allow me out and about but not to eat in MDR that left me fed up for a day. QE has been about half full which makes cruising so nice, no queues, always able to get a seat, even the buffet (a place I avoid) has been quiet with no problems taking your time and getting a table. 

 

My view is that Covid is here to stay and, like norovirus and flu, there will be times on board that stricter measures are put in place. If you are not planning to cruise until the potential of face masks and all measures cease I think you may already have had your last cruise. If you are happy to wear face masks and accept that you may have some restrictions and, like norovirus, may catch Covid then go for it. 

[Host Hattie]

Thanks for coming back with an update and it's good to hear that overall you've had a good time.