In Covid isolation on the Nieuw Amsterdam

[Tampa Girl]

2 minutes ago, Banditswife said:

Just like others have said- Covid, the flu & other viruses are here to stay.  Do we stop living for fear of getting sick?  Not me.  But each of us has to decide for ourselves.

 

For many of us, however, it is not the fear of getting sick.  It is the inconvenience of testing, masking, and possibly having to isolate separately with spouse/friend.  For those of us who have been vaccinated, the threat of Covid probably has less discomfort than a case of the flu. Or at least I prefer to think of it in those terms. 

[dwc13]

On 11/17/2022 at 1:28 PM, WriterOnDeck said:

I've been on the Westerdam since Oct. 2. We had an "outbreak" a week or so into the cruise. The captain announced the exact numbers in isolation daily. It was around 50 something at its highest. Once it got perhaps below 20 he stopped. Then in Sydney we picked up a bunch more people (others left), very very few of whom masked. Two days later the Majestic Princess arrived in Sydney from NZ with 800 covid cases, and we went to masks required. We went from 4 to 30 something yesterday (the captain started giving the numbers daily) and EVERYONE is masking. I was on a shorex bus with 100% compliance.

 

I think hearing the numbers, and especially when they go up daily, makes people take it more seriously.

 

I was among those who got it earlier in the cruise and was in isolation 8 days. The first day is Day 0 (not 1) and then they don't test you till Day 6. Then daily until you test negative, or they let you out on Day 11 regardless. I read that NZ requires 7 days before the earliest release. So those who caught it on this segment probably missed every port.

 

I did mask at all times except for eating and drinking and while outside. Who knows how I caught it?

 

 

I hope you are well and have completely recovered from your Covid experience. 

 

We missed out on Milford Sound aboard Maasdam in 2019. After departing Eden, a passenger had a medical emergency during the night and the ship turned around and returned to Eden. Glad you were able to enjoy that stop -- and had great weather that day.

 

Any plans for Tauranga? We hired a tour company who took us to/from Hobbiton. Very cool movie set -- and I'm not really a big fan of Lord of the Rings. Had some great fish & chips in town, too. Earlier that year, we had taken a road trip to several US national parks, including Yellowstone and saw countless thermal features while there. So we decided to pass on Rotorua.

 

Very nice blog you have. Stay healthy and enjoy the rest of your cruise. 

[Sir PMP]

4 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

Both of my flu cases were before Covid was diagnosed - one in 2018 and one in late 2019.  I was diagnosed with the flu and isolated because it.    Covid did not become a household word until some weeks later.  Since I was the one isolated, I believe that I have a firmer knowledge of the circumstances.

Isolated in another cabin?

[Tampa Girl]

1 hour ago, Sir PMP said:

Isolated in another cabin?

No.  Isolated in the same cabin but notice of isolation was sent to every department on the ship.  I have no problems with that; it is the threat of testing positive and being isolated in a cabin separated from Dh that bothers me.  Hopefully, all that will change before July.

[seaoma]

6 hours ago, Hlitner said:

I want to pose some questions?.  You say, "wait a little longer to cruise."  How long?  1 month, 6 months, 6 years, forever?  Do you think that COVID is going to disappear?  What about flu and other viruses?  Will they disappear?

 

Many folks (and health authorities) have come to the conclusion that we must live with COVID just like we live with Flu, RSV, and other viruses.  There is nothing new about folks boarding cruise ships when they are sick.  I am not sure what the medical staff can do?  When we were on the Seabourn Ovation (last March-April) the cruise line still had mandatory pre-cruise testing and also required vaccinations.  If anyone tested positive during our cruise (27 days long) they were immediately quarantined for 7 days.  Despite all the precautions we still had a major COVID problem aboard (Seabourn would not tell us now many cases but it was substantial).  

 

We do not have the answers other than it seems that in order to "live" we must learn to live with this nasty bug.  

 

Hank

 

How does "learning to live" with a virus that slammed the world in 2020, mean living like it's 2019? 

 

We have the tools to live with the virus, there are just too many people that aren't willing to put in the work.

 

 

 

Edited November 19, 2022 by seaoma

[dwc13]

17 hours ago, LocoLoco1 said:

I am STILL puzzled how being on a Cruiseship is worse than walking the aisles and being in line etc at a WalMart. (Or maybe it isn’t)…

 

I have yet to pay more than $600 while shopping at Walmart, so from a financial standpoint being on a cruise ship is often much worse.  😜

Edited November 19, 2022 by dwc13

[Bruinboy]

Had first two initial doses (Moderna) and two boosters and four days after being released from the hospital for spinal surgery (three days in hospital) came down with covid. I'm convinced I got it while hospitalized. Anyway, three months later received the omicron variant booster. So that's five covid pokes for those who are counting.

 

We have delayed cruising simply because I don't mind isolating at home, but I do mind paying big bucks and having to isolate on a ship. Our next cruise will not be until Feb 2024. I hope things have calmed down by then, but maybe not. It's no fun getting sick at any time, but for me it feels worse getting sick on a cruise ship. If it happens, at least I may be able to isolate in my aft cabin and watch the beautiful wake help to heal my malady.

[birdie16]

We are back in Fort Lauderdale, waiting for our special Covid protocol escort off the ship and moving to a hotel. I will write a more detailed list of observations and suggestions from our experience when I am home and feeling better. For now, let me just say, calling medical if you are feeling symptoms, per the cruise lines directives, is NOT something I would ever do again. Be aware, the cruise lines can’t force you to test for Covid, at least at this writing. You are much better off convalescing in you cabin until you feel better. 

We have been disgusted by the lack of communication on this ship. The medical department mixed up my records with my husbands and submitted incorrect information to the CDC. They falsely said my husband had symptoms on a date before he was tested, which is blatantly false. This could have potential legal ramifications. My husband was asymptomatic and only discovered to have Covid when I was tested.

 

Will we cruise again? Maybe. But we will be armed with drugs to treat ourselves and NEVER contact the ships medical department. 

Edited November 20, 2022 by birdie16

[Ipeeinthepools]

11 minutes ago, birdie16 said:

We are back in Fort Lauderdale, waiting for our special Covid protocol escort off the ship and moving to a hotel. I will write a more detailed list of observations and suggestions from our experience when I am home and feeling better. For now, let me just say, calling medical if you are feeling symptoms, per the cruise lines directives, is NOT something I would ever do again. Be aware, the cruise lines can’t force you to test for Covid, at least at this writing. You are much better off convalescing in you cabin until you feel better. 

We have been disgusted by the lack of communication on this ship. The medical department mixed up my records with my husbands and submitted incorrect information to the CDC. They falsely said my husband had symptoms on a date before he was tested, which is blatantly false. This could have potential legal ramifications. My husband was asymptomatic and only discovered to have Covid when I was tested.

 

Will we cruise again? Maybe. But we will be armed with drugs to treat ourselves and NEVER contact the ships medical department. 

 

Maybe I missed it, but how long are you staying in Fort Lauderdale and is HAL providing the hotel?  I caught Covid last month on another cruise line and there wasn't any post cruise help.  All they offered was a ride in a nice SUV anywhere I wanted to go.  I think they just wanted me gone, they took pictures of our passports and we bypassed Customs and Immigration.

[rodndonna]

20 minutes ago, birdie16 said:

 For now, let me just say, calling medical if you are feeling symptoms, per the cruise lines directives, is NOT something I would ever do again. Be aware, the cruise lines can’t force you to test for Covid, at least at this writing. You are much better off convalescing in you cabin until you feel better. 

 

 

I really think that this what many (most) cruisers have been doing for quite a while now. The only problem is that like with any contagious illness, there are the always some people who then don't self-isolate,  but of course those are also the folks that would never have informed medical in the first place.

 

I think the people who self-report, by nature, would self-isolate, so not sure why reporting to medical  would be beneficial (assuming symptoms are mild). 

 

 

[birdie16]

16 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

Maybe I missed it, but how long are you staying in Fort Lauderdale and is HAL providing the hotel?  I caught Covid last month on another cruise line and there wasn't any post cruise help.  All they offered was a ride in a nice SUV anywhere I wanted to go.  I think they just wanted me gone, they took pictures of our passports and we bypassed Customs and Immigration.

Well, don’t get me started.🤣They told us we had to stay one night in a hotel to fulfill our Covid isolation. Told us to make a reservation and they would reimburse us. They also said to change our flights, which we did. THEN medical changed my husbands date of “onset of symptoms” so they could avoid paying our hotel, which we booked as they requested and paid for the room. We will see if they still reimburse us. This experience with them has been horrible at every turn. 

Edited November 20, 2022 by birdie16

[birdie16]

1 minute ago, rodndonna said:

 

I really think that this what many (most) cruisers have been doing for quite a while now. The only problem is that like with any contagious illness, there are the always some people who then don't self-isolate,  but of course those are also the folks that would never have informed medical in the first place.

 

I think the people who self-report, by nature, would self-isolate, so not sure why reporting to medical  would be beneficial (assuming symptoms are mild). 

 

 

Yes, lesson learned the hard way.

[Ipeeinthepools]

5 minutes ago, birdie16 said:

Well, don’t get me started.🤣They told us we had to stay one night in a hotel to fulfill our Covid isolation. Told us to make a reservation and they would reimburse us. They also said to change our flights, which we did. THEN medical changed my husbands date of “onset of symptoms” so they could avoid paying our hotel, which we booked as they requested and paid for the room. We will see if they still reimburse us. This experience with them has been horrible at every turn. 

 

Good Luck.  The only good part of our hotel reservation was that I was able to book early arrival so we were able to get into our room at 9 instead of waiting until 3 pm

[Mary229]

36 minutes ago, birdie16 said:

cruise lines directives, is NOT something I would ever do again. Be aware, the cruise lines can’t force you to test for Covid, at least at this writing. You are much better off convalescing in you cabin until you feel better. 

Exactly. You are an adult in charge of your own fate.    Adults don’t need a higher authority to do the right thing.  I hope you are somewhat rested and give cruising another try. 

[birdie16]

40 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

Good Luck.  The only good part of our hotel reservation was that I was able to book early arrival so we were able to get into our room at 9 instead of waiting until 3 pm

I hadn’t thought of that. Hopefully our hotel can get us in our room early. I don’t want to tell them they shouldn’t let the lepers sit in their lobby.

[rodndonna]

41 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Exactly. You are an adult in charge of your own fate.    Adults don’t need a higher authority to do the right thing.  I hope you are somewhat rested and give cruising another try. 

 

I am still surprised when I see threads where someone says "It's like they (cruiseline) don't want to know or have us report" -

 

I really believe they would prefer we stop telling them and deal with it ourselves unless it really requires there intervention medically.

[waiting2retire]

I do hope anyone choosing the self-isolation route tells their stewards and room service not to enter their cabin. Otherwise, there is the risk of them contracting it and spreading it around the ship. I feel that reporting Covid symptoms to medical as requested will kick in the ship’s protocols that are designed to keep their staff and customers as safe as possible. 

[seaoma]

52 minutes ago, rodndonna said:

 

I am still surprised when I see threads where someone says "It's like they (cruiseline) don't want to know or have us report" -

 

I really believe they would prefer we stop telling them and deal with it ourselves unless it really requires there intervention medically.

 

Absolutely, they won't have to reimburse you for your destroyed vacation. 

 

All the covid protections for a ruined vacation ends soon anyway.

 

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by seaoma

[rodndonna]

25 minutes ago, waiting2retire said:

I do hope anyone choosing the self-isolation route tells their stewards and room service not to enter their cabin. Otherwise, there is the risk of them contracting it and spreading it around the ship. I feel that reporting Covid symptoms to medical as requested will kick in the ship’s protocols that are designed to keep their staff and customers as safe as possible. 

 

When a person knows enough to self-isolate (we've been at this for almost 3 years) , I can't imagine that they need to be told that staff are also people, so they need isolate from as well.  That is my point, we all know what we should be doing. 

 

What is sadly ironic, is that the people that are most worried about keeping the cruise ships protocols in place, are the people I am 99% confident would do the right thing. The people who wouldn't do the right thing (risking others including staff) would not and will not report or isolate.

 

I think  the protocals are now just providing a false sense of security to people who assume the cruiseline can keep them safe from other passengers.

[Ipeeinthepools]

47 minutes ago, waiting2retire said:

I do hope anyone choosing the self-isolation route tells their stewards and room service not to enter their cabin. Otherwise, there is the risk of them contracting it and spreading it around the ship. I feel that reporting Covid symptoms to medical as requested will kick in the ship’s protocols that are designed to keep their staff and customers as safe as possible. 

 

Just as a point of reference, when I was isolated with Covid last month the staff didn't seem to care.  I didn't ask them but they came into the cabin to deliver meals and replace towels.  Having Covid didn't seem like a big deal to the staff

Edited November 20, 2022 by Ipeeinthepools

[seaoma]

All of HAL's behavior makes what is happening to @birdie16 all the more ludicrous.

 

They don't care whether you wear a mask or not. They don't test anymore. They don't care if you've been vaccinated. They don't care if anyone is sitting around the ship coughing their head off or blowing their nose and leaving dirty tissues on the table.  They don't advise you when covid is spreading on the ship, yet they hold this lady and her husband hostage, on and off the ship, for which they most likely will never receive reimbursement.

 

 

Edited November 20, 2022 by seaoma

[Wakepatrol]

On 11/18/2022 at 8:22 AM, LocoLoco1 said:

I am STILL puzzled how being on a Cruiseship is worse than walking the aisles and being in line etc at a WalMart. (Or maybe it isn’t)…

Covid is the least of your worries when visiting Walmart 

[Catlover54]

5 minutes ago, seaoma said:

All of HAL's behavior makes what is happening to @birdie16 all the more ludicrous.

 

They don't care whether you wear a mask or not. They don't test anymore. They don't care if you've been vaccinated. They don't care if anyone is sitting around the ship coughing their head off or blowing their nose and leaving dirty tissues on the table.  They don't advise you when covid is spreading on the ship, yet they hold this lady and her husband hostage, on and off the ship, for which they most likely will never receive reimbursement.

 

 

 

I'm confused (I usually do not cruise HAL, but other lines like Seabourn, but that line is also in the Carnival domain).  Doesn't HAL have a policy for pax that if they report their illness, and are then confined to their cabins, they receive FCC based on the number of days they were confined?  

 

Or are you just talking about getting reimbursement for the post-cruise hotel?

 

[seaoma]

Just now, Catlover54 said:

 

I'm confused (I usually do not cruise HAL, but other lines like Seabourn, but that line is also in the Carnival domain).  Doesn't HAL have a policy for pax that if they report their illness, and are then confined to their cabins, they receive FCC based on the number of days they were confined?  

 

Or are you just talking about getting reimbursement for the post-cruise hotel?

 

 

I thought the reimbursement ended Dec. 31st, but after your post, I checked the website. It has been extended to March 31, 2023.

 

My cynicism is exacerbated by the fact that I have not received any FCC for cruises I canceled in September.

 

Here's the link to the policy, at the moment.

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/COVID-19-protection-program.html

[Mary229]

1 hour ago, seaoma said:

Absolutely, they won't have to reimburse you for your destroyed vacation. 

They don’t have to now.  That is just a marketing scheme and requires patience and fortitude to claim