Covid now a non issue?

[drakes2]

46 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Drakes - DW and I traveled last year from April to October.   Saw few masks and never wore one.  Cruised over the holidays LA to FLL on a packed Princess ship.  Home then on January 2nd.  3 weeks later DW who is asthmatic felt "off" and tested positive.  Used her nebulizer and inhalers and felt OK (not great) in a week.  Tested negative after 8 days.

Thus we traveled the World for 6 months.  No masks.  Only avoiding people who looked ill or were hacking.  Got home and somewhere got covid.  And yes we are fully vaccinated.  Mixed and mingled.  Staying to ourselves on our TA.  No thank you.  Meeting people is one of the reasons to cruise.

 

See you on board in April.

I love meeting new people also but not if it means I'm going to get sick on the ship and have to quarantine.  I really thought I was out of the woods as when  returned home Saturday evening after a long day of flying, changing terminals and getting shuttles at the airport which was a nightmare I might add,  I was fine until Monday evening  had a bit of a scratchy throat and tested positive.  Feeling much better today but have been housebound since. I did take note of packed elevators and crowded spaces but I definitely got it on the ship.  Anything can change between now and April but at least I'm more aware and prepared. 

[TeeRick]

It is nice to see that people are taking it as their own responsibility, and precautions as appropriate to themselves, while traveling and on cruises.  That is all we can do after three years!  It is a bit of a different world now but we adapt to changes and move on.  That seems to be the case with cruising now.   No matter what we feel about the cruise line cutbacks, the cruising experience is more normal now than any time since the pandemic started (IMHO).

[Crazy planning mom]

Exactly, people should decide what they are comfortable with   I am glad the restrictions are gone but if I should decide to put a mask on in a crowded space, dont ridicule me or tell me to stay home..

[phoenix_dream]

On 2/8/2023 at 11:05 AM, WonderMan3 said:

The cruise policy for noro virus or flu positive cases onboard has always been to quarantine in your cabin so why would a Covid positive case be treated any differently?

Because for most people fully vaxxed and boosted it is like a bad cold. They don't quarantine for colds. 

[d9704011]

5 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

Because for most people fully vaxxed and boosted it is like a bad cold. They don't quarantine for colds. 

Maybe 'like a bad cold' for those people, but it's not and they're sharing ship space with others.

[lexmiller]

Please just allow me to whine and moan one last time, that until B2B monitored testing ends, then cruising is NOT back to "normal".  The passengers who are B2B on the Eclipse, since the Aussie/New Zealand/South Pacific cruise season opened this past Fall of 2022, have had to endure monitored B2B testing, and still are and will presumably continue to be until the Aussie/New Zealand/South Pacific cruise season ends this May.  Cruise ships appear to be an anathema to the Aussie/New Zealand governments. To board, only a home test is needed but if you are B2B, you must submit to the crew doing a test to you for the second (third, fourth etc) cruise.  Many passengers are B2B on the Eclipse due to the extreme distance you have to fly to get there, (unless you live locally, obvie) you want to make the most of the flight and make the most of what is for many folks, a once-in-a-lifetime cruise/travel experience.  Countless passengers have been caught in the monitored B2B testing dragnet and have had to be in covid jail for 5-7 days.  I personally care since we are heading down under next month.  Until ALL monitored testing stops, cruising will not be "normal".  

[twentyknots]

My wife and I along with our son and his wife were on the Reflection 1/29-2/5.  We flew from NC to FL the day before.  Very few masks seen in the airport or plane.  We stayed in the Riverside hotel in FLL the day before and were out and about most of the day and evening.  Again, almost no masks.

On the ship, same thing: very, very few masks, even in crowded elevators, casino, shows, bars.  Few seem to care anymore whether they get covid or give it.  They see it like the flu or a cold and no one wore masks before covid to stop that spread so why now?  My wife and I wore masks in every crowded area.  We ate outside for breakfast and lunch, and we had dinner in the MDR with just the 4 of us at the table.  Our son and DIL never wore masks and have had covid twice, but arent afraid of getting it again.  We know that masking is no guarantee of avoiding covid but we believe it helps and it's not burdensome. We're in our 70's; they in their 50's.  Maybe thats why we see it differently.

 

[Cruzinforpeace***]

On 2/7/2023 at 4:24 PM, mom says said:

Covid is still around. 3 in my family have it at present. Covid still exists on the ships. It just isnt publicized. On our last cruise, people would suddenly disappear for 5 days, and then reappear. It's up to you to take whatever precautions you deem necessary.

I feel your pain!  I have Covid too right now for the 3rd time.  It’s so much fun!🤪

[Cruzinforpeace***]

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

Because for most people fully vaxxed and boosted it is like a bad cold. They don't quarantine for colds. 

Coming from someone who currently has a pretty intense case of Covid…I wish people would be considerate and stay home or self quarantine when they’re sick with Covid.  Not everyone has a mild case.  My husband almost died last year from it. This time and last time we had it I’m pretty sure it was from the same family at my Church that refuses to stay home when they’re sick.  They cough in the air and wipe their noses with their hands and then put their hands on the railings.  Yuck!  And these are highly educated (doctorates from Princeton University) people.  I just don’t get it.

Edited February 9, 2023 by Cruzinforpeace***

[WonderMan3]

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

Because for most people fully vaxxed and boosted it is like a bad cold. They don't quarantine for colds. 

But not for everyone. Some people also have mild flu symptoms but if you were to be diagnosed with it onboard you would be quarantined because of the threat it could pose to other cruisers if it were to spread throughout the ship.

[Cruzinforpeace***]

2 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

But not for everyone. Some people also have mild flu symptoms but if you were to be diagnosed with it onboard you would be quarantined because of the threat it could pose to other cruisers if it were to spread throughout the ship.

Since the beginning of contagious diseases the sick were always quarantined to protect the vulnerable.  If Covid was truly a mild flu for

most people no quarantine would be necessary but unfortunately it can be very serious for many people.

[drakes2]

33 minutes ago, Cruzinforpeace*** said:

I feel your pain!  I have Covid too right now for the 3rd time.  It’s so much fun!🤪

I'm on the mend thank goodness. Will take another test tomorrow or Saturday 

[cangelmd]

Im a little confused by some of the responses to B2B questions-

Are monitored Covid tests required for B2Bs in the Caribbean or any other locations outside of Australia, NZ, and maybe Singapore?

If you test positive on your B2B can you continue on in quarantine or do you have to disembark and fly home or quarantine on land?

[mauimary]

18 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

Im a little confused by some of the responses to B2B questions-

Are monitored Covid tests required for B2Bs in the Caribbean or any other locations outside of Australia, NZ, and maybe Singapore?

If you test positive on your B2B can you continue on in quarantine or do you have to disembark and fly home or quarantine on land?

Take a look on Celebrity website.   It all depends.  Transatlantic sand Transpacific yes on test but not necessarily monitored. 

[cangelmd]

2 minutes ago, mauimary said:

Take a look on Celebrity website.   It all depends.  Transatlantic sand Transpacific yes on test but not necessarily monitored. 

Right, I’m talking about B2Bs not connected to a TA or TP. I did a fall TA and I know it was one of the few remaining cruises to required a monitored test then.

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, drakes2 said:

I'm on the mend thank goodness. Will take another test tomorrow or Saturday 

Hope your are feeling better quickly.   

 

We were pretty much asymptomatic but continued to test positive and isolated for 11 days.   We didn't want to get near our unvaxed grand nieces and nephews for fear of infecting them.   

[mauimary]

14 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

Right, I’m talking about B2Bs not connected to a TA or TP. I did a fall TA and I know it was one of the few remaining cruises to required a monitored test then.

We have a b2b after our TA.  It is only 8 days so we do not need to test for that second cruise. Our TA does not need to be a monitored one. 

[Jim_Iain]

16 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

Right, I’m talking about B2Bs not connected to a TA or TP. I did a fall TA and I know it was one of the few remaining cruises to required a monitored test then.

 

The protocols are being updated but Australia / New Zealand have been requiring testing and testing for B2B. 

 

TA's and TP's are requiring testing.    We are on a B2B for a TA and are being advised we will be tested on-board between the Caribbean cruise and the TA.    Personally I would prefer to self test.   They seem to dig for the brains on my onboard tests.

[cangelmd]

23 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

The protocols are being updated but Australia / New Zealand have been requiring testing and testing for B2B. 

 

TA's and TP's are requiring testing.    We are on a B2B for a TA and are being advised we will be tested on-board between the Caribbean cruise and the TA.    Personally I would prefer to self test.   They seem to dig for the brains on my onboard tests.

LOL, I feel your pain, literally. Early on, the PCR test required an NP swab, that’s the mining for brains one, I thought we had moved to nasal for all tests, but the person doing the swab has to be trained properly.

We have a B3B this summer in Europe and while we will bring tests and masks, especially for bus trips and the first leg, I really don’t want to worry about getting booted off the entire time we are gone.

Thanks guys

[TeeRick]

16 hours ago, lexmiller said:

Please just allow me to whine and moan one last time, that until B2B monitored testing ends, then cruising is NOT back to "normal".  The passengers who are B2B on the Eclipse, since the Aussie/New Zealand/South Pacific cruise season opened this past Fall of 2022, have had to endure monitored B2B testing, and still are and will presumably continue to be until the Aussie/New Zealand/South Pacific cruise season ends this May.  Cruise ships appear to be an anathema to the Aussie/New Zealand governments. To board, only a home test is needed but if you are B2B, you must submit to the crew doing a test to you for the second (third, fourth etc) cruise.  Many passengers are B2B on the Eclipse due to the extreme distance you have to fly to get there, (unless you live locally, obvie) you want to make the most of the flight and make the most of what is for many folks, a once-in-a-lifetime cruise/travel experience.  Countless passengers have been caught in the monitored B2B testing dragnet and have had to be in covid jail for 5-7 days.  I personally care since we are heading down under next month.  Until ALL monitored testing stops, cruising will not be "normal".  

@lexmiller my earlier comment and observations on our very recent cruise was just meant to say that cruising felt (to me) more "normal" now, and likely for most people on most ships and itineraries.  Of course there are a set of exceptions (like your case) depending on the situation, government, etc.  But personal responsibility and common sense are quickly taking over in many cases.  Yes there will always be people that don't care and do what they want.  Can't avoid that in this world.

[lexmiller]

14 hours ago, mauimary said:

Take a look on Celebrity website.   It all depends.  Transatlantic sand Transpacific yes on test but not necessarily monitored. 

B2B tests in Australia/NZ/South Pacific are most definitely MONITORED.  To board, test is not monitored, home self test is a-ok.  So why the dichotomy, why B2B passengers must submit to a MONITORED test performed by the crew, is beyond me.  The local governments are dictating the rules.  If you call Celebrity, they will tell you that no where in the fleet is B2B testing occurring - that's the party line when you call.  However, that is not the case on the front line 'down under'.  

[lexmiller]

14 hours ago, cangelmd said:

Im a little confused by some of the responses to B2B questions-

Are monitored Covid tests required for B2Bs in the Caribbean or any other locations outside of Australia, NZ, and maybe Singapore?

If you test positive on your B2B can you continue on in quarantine or do you have to disembark and fly home or quarantine on land?

No B2B testing is occurring for Caribbean cruises or any other cruises though I don't know about Singapore, but I can tell you for sure that the Aussie/NZ/SoPacific itineraries are requiring monitored B2B tests - done by the crew to you. You remain on board the Eclipse if you test positive, you do not disembark.  You remain in your cabin in covid jail for 5 days if Aussie ports, 7 days if NZ ports.  If your partner is positive and you are negative, your covid positive partner has to remain in your cabin, but you get to still proceed as usual - move about the ship, get off in ports - but, you are tested daily to make sure you are still negative, before you are allowed your daily adventures to begin.   And many of the testimonials have been that their partner never tested positive and they the actual positive person, didn't feel sick at all or just minimally. 

The B2B test on the Eclipse is (oddly IMHO) occurring on the turn around day - meaning, the last day of the first cruise, the first day of the second cruise.  You are assigned an appointment time to be tested.  All accounts that I have read on the active roll calls on the alternative social site,  have said that the test occurs late in the afternoon on turnaround day, before the ship leaves port.  This is very different from all of us that have experienced B2B testing on other ships in other ports earlier during the pandemic, but, whatever - this is what is happening now, on the Eclipse, down under.  

[RichYak]

8 minutes ago, lexmiller said:

this is what is happening now, on the Eclipse, down under.  

I think by now we're at the point that the main Celebrity board knows everything that it needs to know about this issue. 

[lexmiller]

3 minutes ago, RichYak said:

I think by now we're at the point that the main Celebrity board knows everything that it needs to know about this issue. 

LOL, I know I know, that's why I said above to please let me moan and whine one more time and yet, there I go, I just can't seem to stop!  Haha, @RichYak, ok, heard!  I really need to get over this!  However, if one of us does test positive on our B2B tests on our upcoming multiple Eclipse cruises, I will be back, you won't have heard the last of me, LOL!!  

[RichYak]

1 minute ago, lexmiller said:

LOL, I know I know, that's why I said above to please let me moan and whine one more time and yet, there I go, I just can't seem to stop!  Haha, @RichYak, ok, heard!  I really need to get over this!  However, if one of us does test positive on our B2B tests on our upcoming multiple Eclipse cruises, I will be back, you won't have heard the last of me, LOL!!  

Thanks for reading my comment in the spirit for which it was intended.