What happens if you test positive mid-cruise

[europeantechnic]

Hi all

 

I've got a one-way transatlantic cruise coming up, from UK to USA.  There is a call at Bermuda just before arriving in USA and the cruise line state that all passengers must be tested 2 days before arrival there (as well as the usual pre-boarding test).  Although Bermuda policy is only those going ashore need testing, the cruiseline are suggesting that all passengers require this test. 

 

My concern is that after 8 days on a cruise ship with around 2000 other people, there is a rather high chance of testing positive.  If you do test positive I presume the cruise line are obliged to inform the CDC, and it seems from my research that in the USA it is still a legal requirement to isolated after testing positive, for at least 5 days after the test.  The ship arrives in the US 2 days after Bermuda, which would be Day 4 since the test. 

 

So what happens then?  I'm sure they can't keep everyone who has tested positive on the ship, it has to set sail elsewhere that same day.  So do you get escorted to a quarintine site in the arrival port?  Do you get denied entry to the US ?  

 

Flight home is booked for the evening of arrival.  Would it still be possible to take this if wearing face mask all the time?

 

Grateful for any thoughts.

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, europeantechnic said:

Flight home is booked for the evening of arrival.  Would it still be possible to take this if wearing face mask all the time?

No restrictions for entering the UK, so you could fly back and not even need to wear a mask, although that would be rather anti-social ! 

[europeantechnic]

Thanks for that, however my main concern is being allowed off the vessel and being able to get to the airport.  I am quite au fait with the UK law, it's the American side that I need the guidance on.  The chances are any infection would have been picked up earlier in the cruise so although arriving only 4 days post test, it could be longer since initial infection and thus no longer infectious on arrival.  
 

[d9704011]

There are all kinds of CDC websites that address this 'kind' of thing but much of it boils down to SHOULD do this, that or the other thing related to isolation and travel.  If you test positive prior to arrival in Bermuda (let's not debate whether this is strictly required by Bermuda... that's a different topic), you'll likely be put in isolation immediately and will probably spend enough time there that the ship's medical team can give you, hopefully, a clean bill of health prior to disembarking in the US.  If you're not cleared (and don't need additional medical assistance) by the time you get to the US, the guidance is for you to isolate further.  Now, this is where it comes down to your own personal convictions on travel... you can isolate for a few more days or you can spin a little story to get on the airplane without knowing your exact status.  Whether your passport is flagged by US CBP upon arrival in the US, I don't know.... that would be a complicated administrative matter.  Have a look at this and keep clicking on links until you get an answer you like, then stop looking.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html#can-i-travel

[europeantechnic]

That is very helpful - many thanks.

[Hlitner]

In April-May we took a transatlantic cruise (Seabourn Ovation) where we had numerous cases of COVID during the crossing.  When a passenger was confirmed as having COVID they were quarantined in a suite (on Deck 5) for 7 days.  During the quarantine they had unlimited room service (including booze) and the suites all had a balcony.  After 7 days, they were released back into the cruise population.  When the ship reached Lisbon, a few folks who had yet to serve out their quarantine were disembarked from the ship and taken to the Intercontinental Hotel where they finished their quarantine period.  A few of those folks (including some friends) had been scheduled to continue on the next cruise (which ended in Monte Carlo) and they did miss that part of their cruise vacation.

 

I do not think the CDC had much to do with how all this was handled.  Seabourn utilized their own policy and then had to comply with the requirements of the next port (which happened to be in Portugal).  Despite having numerous COVID cases aboard, the ship maintained their original itinerary which included stops in the Azores.  According to rumors (which we never confirmed) the forced debarkation of some passengers in Lisbon was because the next port was in Spain (Canary Islands) and those who were not able to finish their 7 day quarantine prior to arriving in Spain (2 days later) had to be removed from the ship.   I mention this to stress that none of this had anything to do with the CDC since they had no power over the ship once we had departed US waters.

 

As to what rules will exist at the time of the OP's cruise is anybody's guess.  Rules regarding quarantine and various ports can change at any time.

 

Hank

[Mary229]

Get a booster about a month before you go then you will have maximum immunity. I have never tested positive and I roam the world at will without a mask, unless required 

[navybankerteacher]

It seems to me that the prospect, however slim, of having to leave the ship mid-cruise in (the admittedly unlikely) event of testing positive is still a reason to consider travel alternatives.

[Essiesmom]

Which ship are you on?  I am only seeing two ships doing TAs from the UK, Disney Magic, and Celebrity Silhouette.  The Bermuda call has been cancelled for Silhouette.  I can’t find any info on the board about Disney.  EM

[wowzz]

1 hour ago, Mary229 said:

Get a booster about a month before you go

That very much depends on your country of residence. In the UK where the OP is from, you can only decide when to have a booster if you are in the relevant population grouping. For example,  currently the second booster is only available  to those at risk and the over 65s.

[Mary229]

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

That very much depends on your country of residence. In the UK where the OP is from, you can only decide when to have a booster if you are in the relevant population grouping. For example,  currently the second booster is only available  to those at risk and the over 65s.

That is true and it is the same here.  We scheduled our boosters to coincide with our travel schedule. 

[europeantechnic]

2 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Which ship are you on?  I am only seeing two ships doing TAs from the UK, Disney Magic, and Celebrity Silhouette.  The Bermuda call has been cancelled for Silhouette.  I can’t find any info on the board about Disney.  EM

Good detective work - it is Disney Magic!  It was only a day or two ago they stated that everyone would need testing 2 days before Bermuda - I guess many people are wishing they just cancel the port instead!

[Essiesmom]

Disney might be wishing the same thing.  EM

[ontheweb]

25 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

Disney might be wishing the same thing.  EM

They could still do that.

[Toofarfromthesea]

12 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

It seems to me that the prospect, however slim, of having to leave the ship mid-cruise in (the admittedly unlikely) event of testing positive is still a reason to consider travel alternatives.

 

For a change, you and I are in complete agreement, which is why I expect my sailing days are over.

[sanger727]

You should probably ask this in the disney forum. I have seen a handful of posters post about their experience on Celebrity lately. Many were given the choice to be taken off at debarkation and checked into an isolation hotel; OR stay on the ship until their quarantine was up and arrange a flight home at the next port. Either way, if you test positive you shouldn't get on a flight within 5 days, although they can't stop you. 

[navybankerteacher]

19 hours ago, Mary229 said:

That is true and it is the same here.  We scheduled our boosters to coincide with our travel schedule. 

We have just received out third booster,

[Mary229]

10 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

We have just received out third booster,

I will schedule mine for 30 days before my next travel period which is January.   For us next up is flu

[Hlitner]

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

I will schedule mine for 30 days before my next travel period which is January.   For us next up is flu

We agree with your thinking.  Just (yesterday) got the new bivalent booster because we have two upcoming cruises.   We delayed getting that 2nd booster for many months because we wanted to have it about 3 weeks before a trip and also wanted the new vaccine that is somewhat effective aginst the current variants.

 

Hank

[europeantechnic]

4 hours ago, sanger727 said:

You should probably ask this in the disney forum. 

I did consider that, but decided to post here generally instead, for the simple reason that Disney don't generally do transatlantic, they just have two a year as the ship repositions from USA to Europe and back again.  I thought it would be more useful here where transatlantic cruising is more common.

[europeantechnic]

4 hours ago, sanger727 said:

Many were given the choice to be taken off at debarkation and checked into an isolation hotel; OR stay on the ship until their quarantine was up and arrange a flight home at the next port. Either way, if you test positive you shouldn't get on a flight within 5 days, although they can't stop you. 

And there is the rub - the ship docks in USA before the 5 days are up - so the only choice would to be checked into an isolation hotel (presumably at great expense) and miss the booked flight home so have to pay through the nose for a new one at short notice.  It is for these reasons we are seriously considering not doing it at all.

[LHT28]

40 minutes ago, europeantechnic said:

And there is the rub - the ship docks in USA before the 5 days are up - so the only choice would to be checked into an isolation hotel (presumably at great expense) and miss the booked flight home so have to pay through the nose for a new one at short notice.  It is for these reasons we are seriously considering not doing it at all.

Do you have insurance that will cover trip interruption   & hotels  due to covid?

Then again all could go well & you are stressing over the "what if's "

[sanger727]

1 hour ago, europeantechnic said:

And there is the rub - the ship docks in USA before the 5 days are up - so the only choice would to be checked into an isolation hotel (presumably at great expense) and miss the booked flight home so have to pay through the nose for a new one at short notice.  It is for these reasons we are seriously considering not doing it at all.

 

The reason I suggest posting on the disney forum is because, whether or not tests are required for ports, people are testing positive when they get sick. So you are more likely to get Disney specific information on what they do with a positive test in terms of kicking off the ship, keeping you on the ship, hotels and what not. And who pays for all of that

 

If you want to take the trip and this is your largest hang up, why not just get travel insurance that covers covid quarantines. This has unfortunately been a way of life for traveling for the last couple years; people have either (1) cancelled their trips, (2) took the risk and hoped for the best, or (3) got trip insurance to protect against it. 

[europeantechnic]

fair point, thanks. 

[sanger727]

Another note that may be worthwhile if you are considering cancelling. Celebrity has started dropped Bermuda from their transatlantic sailings to avoid the testing requirements. You could consider if you want to switch to one of their sailings.