Health Protocols OPT Sydney

[bonox55]

Hi,

Looking for information about current health protocols at the OPT.  Cruising with Princess in November and their health protocols state that masks are to be worn on embarkation. But read on CC recently that masks were not mandatory in the OPT and also

[bonox55]

Hi again,

Cut me off prematurely there!!

 

Just wanted to ask anyone who has cruised from OPT recently if masks were required inside the terminal. I know arxcards has posted that it was not necessary, but wanted to confirm that this is the norm. My DW has some breathing difficulties and finds mask wearing a pain, but still wears one if mandatory.

Thanks.

Paul

[Snowgums]

I disembarked on Sept 30th and they were still mandatory in OPT then.

 

[arxcards]

Disembarked on 11th October - still required. Embarked Thursday, no masks required, and no government requirement.

 

This may change ship to ship, cruise to cruise. Just bring a mask with you. If the terminal staff aren't wearing masks, they are not required.

 

Thursday was Princess' first mask free departure here. Carnival dropped masks a week or so back, the same day governments no longer required them.

 

Read the Eastern Seaboard Protocols. Someone here can link it - I have limited resources at sea.

[aussiecruiser66]

We disembarked on Wednesday 19th October off Carnival Splendor and we wore our masks from the time we left our cabin, through the Terminal and until we reached home. I think I counted 4 other passengers doing the same!!!!!! but this didn't surprise us as practically no one wore masks or used hand sanitizers for the whole cruise. We are 4x vaxxed, did all the right things and we still tested positive for Covid on the day before we docked- and they say "Germs can't live in a healthy body"

[timtam2]

I did the 1 night Pacific Adventure activation cruise from White Bay on Thursday. Masks were compulsory on both embarkation & disembarkation

[By The Bay]

1 hour ago, aussiecruiser66 said:

We are 4x vaxxed, did all the right things and we still tested positive for Covid on the day before we docked- and they say "Germs can't live in a healthy body"

That's very sad. I hope you are not suffering.

[aussiecruiser66]

Thank you for enquiring. It is now 5 days since we tested positive and I am still positive as per my RAT this morning. Symptoms were severe in the first 2 days, but seem to be subsiding a bit today. We still have no taste and the worst symptoms have been the raking cough, congested head and absolutely no energy. There is no way I could drive the car or shop. Luckily we had a stash of Lite N Easy dinners in the freezer and have been having those at night, but since we have no taste at all, my husband said that maybe we should just throw the dinner in the bin and just eat the cardboard- there is no real difference in the taste 🤣🤣 Lucky we can laugh!!!

As I said we are both 4x vaxxed and have been Covid free, until now. We were practically hermits for two and a half years, trying to do the right thing to protect ourselves. I am sort of wondering if maybe we should have got out a bit more and mixed with the general population more and we might have picked up a passive (milder) dose, then maybe we might not have been affected so badly. I suppose we will never know.

We have not been put off cruising because of our symptoms, as we have realised just how much we love cruising and how much we have missed it. We are cruising again in 35 days time and have another 6 booked for next year- you have to live life in the moment. While we are fit enough and young enough to enjoy it - then we will do it. (Just not quite feeling like that at the moment 😱)

Thank you again for your thoughts.

Jenny

[Aus Traveller]

10 minutes ago, aussiecruiser66 said:

Thank you for enquiring. It is now 5 days since we tested positive and I am still positive as per my RAT this morning. Symptoms were severe in the first 2 days, but seem to be subsiding a bit today. We still have no taste and the worst symptoms have been the raking cough, congested head and absolutely no energy. There is no way I could drive the car or shop. Luckily we had a stash of Lite N Easy dinners in the freezer and have been having those at night, but since we have no taste at all, my husband said that maybe we should just throw the dinner in the bin and just eat the cardboard- there is no real difference in the taste 🤣🤣 Lucky we can laugh!!!

As I said we are both 4x vaxxed and have been Covid free, until now. We were practically hermits for two and a half years, trying to do the right thing to protect ourselves. I am sort of wondering if maybe we should have got out a bit more and mixed with the general population more and we might have picked up a passive (milder) dose, then maybe we might not have been affected so badly. I suppose we will never know.

We have not been put off cruising because of our symptoms, as we have realised just how much we love cruising and how much we have missed it. We are cruising again in 35 days time and have another 6 booked for next year- you have to live life in the moment. While we are fit enough and young enough to enjoy it - then we will do it. (Just not quite feeling like that at the moment 😱)

Thank you again for your thoughts.

Jenny

Sorry to hear that COVID has hit you so hard. From what I have read, the experts say that the current variant is more easily transmissible, but it results in fewer cases of severe illness because it targets the upper respiratory system and not the lungs. However, that doesn't mean you won't feel very sick with it. I hope you both feel well very soon. 🙂

[Chiliburn]

Things may change?

 

https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/international-travel/cruise-travel

[LittleFish1976]

On 10/22/2022 at 12:30 PM, aussiecruiser66 said:

Thank you for enquiring. It is now 5 days since we tested positive and I am still positive as per my RAT this morning. Symptoms were severe in the first 2 days, but seem to be subsiding a bit today. We still have no taste and the worst symptoms have been the raking cough, congested head and absolutely no energy. There is no way I could drive the car or shop. Luckily we had a stash of Lite N Easy dinners in the freezer and have been having those at night, but since we have no taste at all, my husband said that maybe we should just throw the dinner in the bin and just eat the cardboard- there is no real difference in the taste 🤣🤣 Lucky we can laugh!!!

As I said we are both 4x vaxxed and have been Covid free, until now. We were practically hermits for two and a half years, trying to do the right thing to protect ourselves. I am sort of wondering if maybe we should have got out a bit more and mixed with the general population more and we might have picked up a passive (milder) dose, then maybe we might not have been affected so badly. I suppose we will never know.

We have not been put off cruising because of our symptoms, as we have realised just how much we love cruising and how much we have missed it. We are cruising again in 35 days time and have another 6 booked for next year- you have to live life in the moment. While we are fit enough and young enough to enjoy it - then we will do it. (Just not quite feeling like that at the moment 😱)

Thank you again for your thoughts.

Jenny

 

I think you did the right thing protecting yourself for those 2 years. I don't think you can get a 'touch of covid' or a milder dose - I think you've either got it or you haven't. I did the same as you and protected myself totally for ages but succumbed in July when I finally gave in and ate in a restaurant for a family birthday. Got covid that night. Daughter did too and she'd been going to the office and socialising for months, so that regular exposure didn't protect her at all. We were both quite ill. I'm still exhausted and short of breath. It's worth avoiding it but it is difficult to do so. I've just come back from a visit to the Melbourne CBD - pretty sure I was the only one wearing a mask.

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by LittleFish1976

[MMDown Under]

On 10/22/2022 at 9:40 AM, aussiecruiser66 said:

We disembarked on Wednesday 19th October off Carnival Splendor and we wore our masks from the time we left our cabin, through the Terminal and until we reached home. I think I counted 4 other passengers doing the same!!!!!! but this didn't surprise us as practically no one wore masks or used hand sanitizers for the whole cruise. We are 4x vaxxed, did all the right things and we still tested positive for Covid on the day before we docked- and they say "Germs can't live in a healthy body"

That sounds like an old wives tale!  Sorry you tested positive on the day before you docked despite doing all the right things.  Do you know what % of passengers and crew had covid?

[MMDown Under]

On 10/22/2022 at 12:30 PM, aussiecruiser66 said:

Thank you for enquiring. It is now 5 days since we tested positive and I am still positive as per my RAT this morning. Symptoms were severe in the first 2 days, but seem to be subsiding a bit today. We still have no taste and the worst symptoms have been the raking cough, congested head and absolutely no energy. There is no way I could drive the car or shop. Luckily we had a stash of Lite N Easy dinners in the freezer and have been having those at night, but since we have no taste at all, my husband said that maybe we should just throw the dinner in the bin and just eat the cardboard- there is no real difference in the taste 🤣🤣 Lucky we can laugh!!!

As I said we are both 4x vaxxed and have been Covid free, until now. We were practically hermits for two and a half years, trying to do the right thing to protect ourselves. I am sort of wondering if maybe we should have got out a bit more and mixed with the general population more and we might have picked up a passive (milder) dose, then maybe we might not have been affected so badly. I suppose we will never know.

We have not been put off cruising because of our symptoms, as we have realised just how much we love cruising and how much we have missed it. We are cruising again in 35 days time and have another 6 booked for next year- you have to live life in the moment. While we are fit enough and young enough to enjoy it - then we will do it. (Just not quite feeling like that at the moment 😱)

Thank you again for your thoughts.

Jenny

Sorry you are still positive after five days and had a severe dose for 2 days.

[Aussieflyer]

On 10/22/2022 at 12:30 PM, aussiecruiser66 said:

Thank you for enquiring. It is now 5 days since we tested positive and I am still positive as per my RAT this morning. Symptoms were severe in the first 2 days, but seem to be subsiding a bit today. We still have no taste and the worst symptoms have been the raking cough, congested head and absolutely no energy. There is no way I could drive the car or shop. Luckily we had a stash of Lite N Easy dinners in the freezer and have been having those at night, but since we have no taste at all, my husband said that maybe we should just throw the dinner in the bin and just eat the cardboard- there is no real difference in the taste 🤣🤣 Lucky we can laugh!!!

As I said we are both 4x vaxxed and have been Covid free, until now. We were practically hermits for two and a half years, trying to do the right thing to protect ourselves. I am sort of wondering if maybe we should have got out a bit more and mixed with the general population more and we might have picked up a passive (milder) dose, then maybe we might not have been affected so badly. I suppose we will never know.

We have not been put off cruising because of our symptoms, as we have realised just how much we love cruising and how much we have missed it. We are cruising again in 35 days time and have another 6 booked for next year- you have to live life in the moment. While we are fit enough and young enough to enjoy it - then we will do it. (Just not quite feeling like that at the moment 😱)

Thank you again for your thoughts.

Jenny

Sorry to hear you seem to have copped a bad dose. It is a strange disease where some people have no symptoms and others are really laid low - no rhyme or reason often.

Hope you do recover soon.

[aussiecruiser66]

Just an update.

 

We are day 9 and still testing positive. My husband’s symptoms seem to be a little less, but it is the persistent raking cough that is the hardest thing to endure.

I had a Telehealth appointment today. I am now taking antibiotics for an URTI which has developed as a secondary infection to Covid. My cough is also persistent and I have no energy. I am having to have a couple of sleep during the day.

 

To those with mild to no symptoms, I envy you- I do not wish what we are going through on anyone.

 

Jenny

[Aus Traveller]

4 minutes ago, aussiecruiser66 said:

Just an update.

 

We are day 9 and still testing positive. My husband’s symptoms seem to be a little less, but it is the persistent raking cough that is the hardest thing to endure.

I had a Telehealth appointment today. I am now taking antibiotics for an URTI which has developed as a secondary infection to Covid. My cough is also persistent and I have no energy. I am having to have a couple of sleep during the day.

 

To those with mild to no symptoms, I envy you- I do not wish what we are going through on anyone.

 

Jenny

I am so sorry to hear you are so ill. All you can do is rest, drink plenty of fluids and follow the medical advice. Hopefully, you will be feeling much better soon.🙂

[Chiliburn]

@gbenjo

Do you know if they are going to enforce check in times?

 

[MMDown Under]

9 hours ago, aussiecruiser66 said:

Just an update.

 

We are day 9 and still testing positive. My husband’s symptoms seem to be a little less, but it is the persistent raking cough that is the hardest thing to endure.

I had a Telehealth appointment today. I am now taking antibiotics for an URTI which has developed as a secondary infection to Covid. My cough is also persistent and I have no energy. I am having to have a couple of sleep during the day.

 

To those with mild to no symptoms, I envy you- I do not wish what we are going through on anyone.

 

Jenny

Sorry you are still testing positive after 9 days.  Sounds like you have the full dose of Covid.  I hope you and your husband are feeling better soon.  

[gbenjo]

On 10/26/2022 at 7:18 AM, Chiliburn said:

@gbenjo

Do you know if they are going to enforce check in times?

 

Who do you mean by “they “ ?  I can really only speak for Royal and Celebrity. 
Check in times are obviously designed to help the flow of passengers onto the ship to remain smooth and even.  Royal and Celebrity have a new check in system which, in theory , reduces substantially, the time it takes to complete the actual  check in process.  So much so that the need for most priority lines is no longer required.  Other factors however , ie Border Force, security scanning  are out of the control of the cruise line and CAN cause delays . IF one of these delays occurs then obviously the whole embarkation flow is affected.  The “check in times”  are designed to help minimise these delays if they occur. We try to play it by ear and if the lines are flowing smoothly then we can allow all guests to check in but if there is a delay then the check in times will need to be enforced. If everyone arrives at the same time then there may be a problem, so in answer to your question…………I can't really tell you, it could depend on the day, but my advice would be, if you have a boarding time stick to it.

[Chiliburn]

1 hour ago, gbenjo said:

Who do you mean by “they “ ?  I can really only speak for Royal and Celebrity. 
Check in times are obviously designed to help the flow of passengers onto the ship to remain smooth and even.  Royal and Celebrity have a new check in system which, in theory , reduces substantially, the time it takes to complete the actual  check in process.  So much so that the need for most priority lines is no longer required.  Other factors however , ie Border Force, security scanning  are out of the control of the cruise line and CAN cause delays . IF one of these delays occurs then obviously the whole embarkation flow is affected.  The “check in times”  are designed to help minimise these delays if they occur. We try to play it by ear and if the lines are flowing smoothly then we can allow all guests to check in but if there is a delay then the check in times will need to be enforced. If everyone arrives at the same time then there may be a problem, so in answer to your question…………I can't really tell you, it could depend on the day, but my advice would be, if you have a boarding time stick to it.

Yes  ,Royal Caribbean and celebrity .

And what time do they start check in ?

Also what the earliest you can drop you bag?

Edited October 26, 2022 by Chiliburn

[NSWP]

1 hour ago, Chiliburn said:

Yes  ,Royal Caribbean and celebrity .

And what time do they start check in ?

Also what the earliest you can drop you bag?

Chili, I was of the opinion you were/are one of the speshul people at the OPT.

Edited October 27, 2022 by NSWP

[Chiliburn]

6 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Chili, I was of the opinion you were/are one of the speshul people at the OPT.

He only likes me when I talk about waterslides .

[NSWP]

27 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

He only likes me when I talk about waterslides .

Just line up behind the Cougars mate, you will get the red carpet then, lol.

[Chiliburn]

3 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Just line up behind the Cougars mate, you will get the red carpet then, lol.

The problem I have uncle Les ,is I have a 2:00PM check in but I have to be in sydney a 9:00 AM for something and that’s only going to take a half hour.

So I’ll probably be a circular quay at 10.

Maybe I’ll just drop a few names like Graham and BIG GAV ,what do you recon ??

Do you think I will get the ??

[NSWP]

11 minutes ago, Chiliburn said:

The problem I have uncle Les ,is I have a 2:00PM check in but I have to be in sydney a 9:00 AM for something and that’s only going to take a half hour.

So I’ll probably be a circular quay at 10.

Maybe I’ll just drop a few names like Graham and BIG GAV ,what do you recon ??

Do you think I will get the ??

You could be boarding at 4pm if you mention the Gurus. lol.

Why not fill in the time, with a ferry ride and lunch over to Watsons Bay or Manly?  Then return to OPT @ 2pm.

Edited October 27, 2022 by NSWP