Covid While on Board and Isolation

[NRFBQN]

My husband and I both got Covid on our cruise in Dec '21-Jan '23.  Thankfully we never felt very bad, took Sudafed, and were finished with symptoms in about 3 days.  We did receive  FCC after about two months.  It just appeared in our accounts one day when I happened to be checking on another cruise.

 

Read on if you want to read more about our Covid experience on the Nieuw Statendam.

 

DH started getting congested and had a slightly sore throat about day 9.  I felt fine.  He self-tested and was positive, so we called the infirmary and they came up and tested us both in our room.  He was positive and I was negative.  He was told to self-quarantine for at least 5 days and I was told I could go about normal life on ship, just wear a mask.  I wore a mask, minimized any trips outside the room, and didn't take the elevator anymore, just in case I was  going to get it, too.  

 

Two days later, I had the same symptoms and tested positive.  Same routine - called infirmary, they tested me, confirmed I was positive and said they would retest me on day 5.  DH was tested on his day 5 and was negative.  He got to go back to normal life.  On my day 5, it was St. Thomas and it's my favorite port.  They came and tested me and I was still positive.  I was told I could not leave the room until the end of the cruise.  I was  crushed, to say the least.  I felt perfectly fine, would have been very happy to wear a mask (we were wearing them in public areas before we were sick), but I was stuck in the room.  They came every day after that and kept testing me, but I kept testing positive, so I ended up missing the entire 7-day second portion of our back-to-back cruise.

 

The ship staff was wonderful.  We had terrific room service food, even from Pinnacle and Tamarind.  They gave us free wifi and the front desk manager checked on us daily to see if we needed anything.  Our room stewards kept our room clean and didn't fear us (they said they were vaxed and not worried.) 

 

Getting off the ship was interesting.  I self-tested negative the night before disembarkation.  Disembarkation Day way day 10 and I had no symptoms, so we planned to fly home (and did). But, we were escorted to a holding area near the forward door of the ship, along with three other Covid passengers and their significant others.  Once we were allowed to disembark, we were turned over to the ground staff and then were stuck standing outside in very chilly, windy weather for at least a half hour.  We dressed for it, but the others with us were wearing typical light cotton Florida clothes and they were freezing.  We weren't allowed to go through the terminal and the gate in the fence was locked and no one could be found with a key.  Finally, they decided to walk us to the driveway entrance of the fence.  Once on the other other side of the fence, we were pointed toward the taxis and that was it.  We truly felt like lepers and that they couldn't get rid of us fast enough.  Not a great end to a cruise, but at least we could fly home that day.

 

[ebtrip]

1 hour ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

I don't believe it is in anyone's best interest to offer a complimentary covid insurance policy (in the form of FCC). I suspect that those who will quarantine would do so with or without the FCC carrot.

 

I also suspect that the majority of people who feel ill never report it to the medical center. 

 

And then we also have all the people who are carriers but feel fine. It's an endless cycle.

 

At this point, I see no difference between offering FCC for covid or Noro. If I'm not mistaken, isn't Noro more contagious? 

 

 

[ebtrip]

3 minutes ago, ebtrip said:

 

I was on Transatlantic cruise on Viking Sea. My husband came down with Covid 3 days before the end of cruise. I tested negative. I had to INSIST they give my husband Paxlovid. Yes it was $800.00. We were given a letter from the medical department that we were confined for 3 days.  Viking does not give FCC, but my travel insurance paid all medical expenses and the trip interruption portion of our insurance reimbursed for the days we missed due to confinement for both of us. It was a pretty hefty check. 

[walnut99]

4 hours ago, syesmar said:

Hi, sincere question here (not trying to start any debates, I genuinely want to know HAL’s policy). Did HAL keep to the CDC guidance regarding continuing to mask until Day 10? Outlined here . I know their guidance says under “Regardless of when you end Isolation - Until at least Day 11: …Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask until you are able to discontinue masking (see below)….”

Did the ship provide any further guidance after being released from isolation? 

Thanks!

Once released after the five days, there were no restrictions.  It was recommended that we both mask but that was it.  Basically, the same recommendation that is given to all passengers.

[Native Floridian 26]

5 hours ago, NRFBQN said:

My husband and I both got Covid on our cruise in Dec '21-Jan '23.  Thankfully we never felt very bad, took Sudafed, and were finished with symptoms in about 3 days.  We did receive  FCC after about two months.  It just appeared in our accounts one day when I happened to be checking on another cruise.

 

Read on if you want to read more about our Covid experience on the Nieuw Statendam.

 

DH started getting congested and had a slightly sore throat about day 9.  I felt fine.  He self-tested and was positive, so we called the infirmary and they came up and tested us both in our room.  He was positive and I was negative.  He was told to self-quarantine for at least 5 days and I was told I could go about normal life on ship, just wear a mask.  I wore a mask, minimized any trips outside the room, and didn't take the elevator anymore, just in case I was  going to get it, too.  

 

Two days later, I had the same symptoms and tested positive.  Same routine - called infirmary, they tested me, confirmed I was positive and said they would retest me on day 5.  DH was tested on his day 5 and was negative.  He got to go back to normal life.  On my day 5, it was St. Thomas and it's my favorite port.  They came and tested me and I was still positive.  I was told I could not leave the room until the end of the cruise.  I was  crushed, to say the least.  I felt perfectly fine, would have been very happy to wear a mask (we were wearing them in public areas before we were sick), but I was stuck in the room.  They came every day after that and kept testing me, but I kept testing positive, so I ended up missing the entire 7-day second portion of our back-to-back cruise.

 

The ship staff was wonderful.  We had terrific room service food, even from Pinnacle and Tamarind.  They gave us free wifi and the front desk manager checked on us daily to see if we needed anything.  Our room stewards kept our room clean and didn't fear us (they said they were vaxed and not worried.) 

 

Getting off the ship was interesting.  I self-tested negative the night before disembarkation.  Disembarkation Day way day 10 and I had no symptoms, so we planned to fly home (and did). But, we were escorted to a holding area near the forward door of the ship, along with three other Covid passengers and their significant others.  Once we were allowed to disembark, we were turned over to the ground staff and then were stuck standing outside in very chilly, windy weather for at least a half hour.  We dressed for it, but the others with us were wearing typical light cotton Florida clothes and they were freezing.  We weren't allowed to go through the terminal and the gate in the fence was locked and no one could be found with a key.  Finally, they decided to walk us to the driveway entrance of the fence.  Once on the other other side of the fence, we were pointed toward the taxis and that was it.  We truly felt like lepers and that they couldn't get rid of us fast enough.  Not a great end to a cruise, but at least we could fly home that day.

 

How quickly I forgot.  Things have changed immensely since your cruise.  There is no more retesting and as long as one feels fine when they call at end of isolation, you're free to go as normal.  One thing I had forgotten was there was no cabin service other than meal delivery.  You had to call for delivery of anything needed in the cabin because only "specially equipped" crew members could come to an "isolation" cabin.  No new towels, no cleaning of cabin the whole time.  

[Native Floridian 26]

14 hours ago, Florida_gal_50 said:

I was a little surprised about the crew coming into the cabin to clean but from what I hear they are getting vaccinated more than anyone I've heard of and I've gotten vaccinated a lot.

They would not clean ours in April.  We were however in an "isolation" cabin, not our original cabin.  We asked to be moved from our inside to a verandah for hubby's isolation so he'd at least have some daylight and fresh air in isolation.

Edited June 16, 2023 by Native Floridian 26

[kazu]

On 6/15/2023 at 12:30 PM, PACD_JG said:

And unless required to cruise, only a hypochondriac would take a Covid test if they don't feel sick...

 

Really?  When my DD DH was in the hospital I tested on a regular basis (during covid times last year when I was gowned, gloved, goggled, shielded and of course masked to visit ) to make sure I was safe for him, the hospital workers and the people in my bubble.  

 

There are times it is wise to test - even before going on a cruise if you want to protect others.

 

I am fully vaccinated and boosted several times but there is no 100% protection and my goal was to make sure I protected others and I am NOT a hypochondriac.

 

[lavictoria]

On 6/15/2023 at 7:12 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

At this point, I see no difference between offering FCC for covid or Noro. If I'm not mistaken, isn't Noro more contagious? 

 

Originally the idea was to encourage people to return to cruising after the shut-down by assuring them that their cruise would not be wasted if they did contract COVID on board. They'll probably try to phase it out if there are fewer cases/outbreaks being reported. So far that hasn't happened.

 

Noro is more contagious but much more easily avoided by good hygiene practices. Unless someone vomits in your elevator you can avoid it by keeping your hands clean and not touching your face.

[BermudaBound2014]

29 minutes ago, lavictoria said:

Originally the idea was to encourage people to return to cruising after the shut-down by assuring them that their cruise would not be wasted if they did contract COVID on board. They'll probably try to phase it out if there are fewer cases/outbreaks being reported. So far that hasn't happened.

 

Noro is more contagious but much more easily avoided by good hygiene practices. Unless someone vomits in your elevator you can avoid it by keeping your hands clean and not touching your face.

Of course.

I thought HAL stopped offering covid FCC when the covid emergency was declared over last May.

 

That might be another cruise line since I have three different cruise lines booked in the next 8 months so I’m following a lot of info. 

 

My point is that if cruise lines haven’t phased out the FCC, they should. It’s obvious that cruise lines have relaxed all covid protocols. Some lines are even covertly discouraging people from testing. It’s time to un-clutch the pearls. Of course, this is just my opinion. 
 

Regarding noro- I used this example tongue in cheek. I’m aware of how noro is transferred, I’m aware that noro is more contagious due to the viruses stability, and i am also am aware that the effects of covid (primarily on those with comorbidities) are much more dangerous.
 

 

[lissie]

On 6/17/2023 at 4:30 AM, kazu said:

 

Really?  When my DD DH was in the hospital I tested on a regular basis (during covid times last year when I was gowned, gloved, goggled, shielded and of course masked to visit ) to make sure I was safe for him, the hospital workers and the people in my bubble.  

 

There are times it is wise to test - even before going on a cruise if you want to protect others.

 

I am fully vaccinated and boosted several times but there is no 100% protection and my goal was to make sure I protected others and I am NOT a hypochondriac.

 

I agree - we bring self-tests with us when we travel now.  If I have symptoms I want to know BEFORE I seek medical attention to minimize risk to health staff. In fact my dr won't let you into the practice (its a repurposed residential house) until you confirm you have no symptoms and are wearing a mask via the intercom. 

 

And yes visiting vulnerable people in care facilities require a self-test on a regular basis.  We ae fully vaccinated, boosted and had covid last year. 

[SteelMagnolia9]

I was on the Grand South America and Antarctica cruise Jan. 3rd to March 18th. The friend I was traveling with contracted Covid and was placed in a quarantine cabin as I tested negative. She received a FCC for the days (7) she was quarantined. I was required to be tested every day for 6 consecutive days and was free to go about my plans as long as I continued to test negative. 

[jabcruiser]

Just on Noordam cruise 5/28 - 6/4 to Alaska.  DH got cold like symptoms as disembarking and got worse as day progressed.  We were spending 10 days in AK post cruise for a wedding and some sight seeing.  He tested positive next day, I tested positive next day. 60 miles from closest pharmacy and medical clinic.  Spent all day getting some anti viral didn't work.  Not Paxlovid.  Not available this part of AK.  Contacted HAL - no help at all even though return flight later thru flight ease.  DH tested negative after 5 days.  I continue get worse and go to small medical clinic now in Seward for wedding(which i missed).  Admitted with COVID and Flu.  And A-fib and rhythm disorder.  Spent 3 days IP tiny clinic not even an ultrasound available see if any clots.  Long saga finally made it home and have real doctors visiting today.  Miracle I am alive.  HALs lack of cleaning, masking appalling. Self service utensils only spread disease obviously.  Won't be cruising in foreseeable future.

Jane

[loveandpeas]

On 6/15/2023 at 8:17 AM, seaoma said:

 

Norovirus is actually less contagious on a cruise ship than any other place it is found. You have approximately a 1 in 5500 chance of catching it if there is an outbreak onboard. On land you chances are 1 in 15. 

 

Covid is a lot more contagious and it is significantly more deadly and disabling.

 

Help me understand the math here - if this is the case how is there ever an outbreak on, say, the Koningsdam with 2650 people?

[CurlerRob]

On 6/15/2023 at 11:17 AM, seaoma said:

 

Norovirus is actually less contagious on a cruise ship than any other place it is found. You have approximately a 1 in 5500 chance of catching it if there is an outbreak onboard. On land you chances are 1 in 15. 

 

Covid is a lot more contagious and it is significantly more deadly and disabling.

 

 

I'd be very interested in your sources for your claims regarding contagion levels. Frankly, they fly in the face of both logic and CDC reporting. You state a 1 in 5500 chance of noro contagion if there is an outbreak on board - consider the report below, which illustrates just one of 13 documented outbreaks thus far in 2023. 🍺🥌

 

Investigation Update on the Nieuw Amsterdam

Print

Cruise Line: Holland America

Cruise Ship: Nieuw Amsterdam

Voyage Dates: May 6–May 21, 2023

Voyage number: 539

Number of passengers who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of passengers onboard: 246 of 1,971 (12.4%)

Number of crew who reported being ill during the voyage out of total number of crew onboard: 38 of 826 (4.60%)

Predominant symptoms: vomiting and diarrhea

Causative agents: norovirus

Actions: In response to the outbreak, Holland America and the crew aboard the ship reported the following actions:

• Increased cleaning and disinfection procedures according to the ship’s outbreak prevention and response plan.
• Collecting stool specimens from gastrointestinal illness cases to send to the CDC lab for pathogenic identification.

VSP is monitoring the situation and the ship’s outbreak response and sanitation procedures.

Note: The gastrointestinal illness cases reported are totals for the entire voyage and do not represent the number of active (symptomatic) gastrointestinal cases at any given port of call or at disembarkation.

 

 

[Haljo1935]

Was on a Princess ship that had an active Noro outbreak, which neither of us caught.

Immediate change in protocols: nothing on tables or counters anywhere - had to ask for salt/pepper/sugar/etc which crew would apply for you, no self serve anything including tea bags/cereal/etc, hand sanitizing stations put up throughout ship, signs on every public restroom to only use if necessary and to wash hands, very frequent announcements reminding passengers to use restrooms in their cabins when possible and only use public restrooms if absolutely necessary, stay in cabin if feel unwell and call Medical, no public gathering/all shows canceled. There were noticeably less passengers moving about the ship as the days went by.

It was taken very seriously and the ship seemed to take immediate swift action to mitigate the outbreak.

[terrydtx]

On 6/14/2023 at 1:44 PM, Florida_gal_50 said:

It's good that these covid pay backs are being processed a lot faster than they used to be.

Yes a lot has changed since last year. It took 5 months to get our FCC from my wife's Covid isolation on the Oosterdam last August.

[seaoma]

12 hours ago, loveandpeas said:

Help me understand the math here - if this is the case how is there ever an outbreak on, say, the Koningsdam with 2650 people?

 

Here's the information from the CLIA. You will have to do you own math.

 

https://cruising.org/en/about-the-industry/policy-priorities/health/nororvirus-on-cruise-ships

 

 

[loveandpeas]

14 minutes ago, seaoma said:

 

Here's the information from the CLIA. You will have to do you own math.

 

https://cruising.org/en/about-the-industry/policy-priorities/health/nororvirus-on-cruise-ships

 

 

I'll have to bring in my math teacher dad, this makes no sense to me. 😂

[seaoma]

13 minutes ago, loveandpeas said:

I'll have to bring in my math teacher dad, this makes no sense to me. 😂

 

I think the point is that norovirus is more prevalent in places other than cruise ships. I think cruises have just 1% of the cases. You are much more likely to get it from health care settings, like long term care and hospitals, and restaurants and catered events.  Another huge spreading event, if you think about it, is school and childcare centers.

 

Cruising gets a bad rap because they are required to report it when it hits a certain threshold.

 

Can it spread quickly on a cruise ship, yes. Is it on every cruise ship, no.

 

Years ago we were on a cruise that had a newsworthy outbreak. The TV station met our ship as we were disembarking in FLL. All of our tablemates got it and we found out the cabins on either side of us did too. We did not get it despite eating dinner with our table mates and even spending several nights drinking with them in the bars.

[Haljo1935]

On 6/15/2023 at 11:50 AM, seaoma said:

 

Yes, it's a fine line to walk.

 

A Norovirus outbreak on cruise ships is very rare though. Even if there is an outbreak the CDC says your chance of catching it is low. Only about 900 people a year die from it...

Respectfully, there's a lot of room for discomfort (especially when it can be prevented by something as simple as had washing) before dying of Noro. Just because it may not kill me, doesn't mean I want to catch it.

 

28 minutes ago, loveandpeas said:

I'll have to bring in my math teacher dad, this makes no sense to me. 😂

I'm busy doing the math to see if HIA is a good bargain, someone else will have to do the math on infectious ailments. Have your dad me when he's done, lol.

[loveandpeas]

2 minutes ago, seaoma said:

 

I think the point is that norovirus is more prevalent in places other than cruise ships. I think cruises have just 1% of the cases. You are much more likely to get it from health care settings, like long term care and hospitals, and restaurants and catered events.  Another huge spreading event, if you think about it, is school and childcare centers.

 

Oh I work in a hospital and my husband is a teacher... I DEFINITELY agree with this! 

[seaoma]

1 minute ago, Haljo1935 said:

Respectfully, there's a lot of room for discomfort (especially when it can be prevented by something as simple as had washing) before dying of Noro. Just because it may not kill me, doesn't mean I want to catch it.

 

 

Absolutely, I don't want it either. And, knock on wood, I've never gotten it, but then I take very good precautions just like I do for the other infectious disease that is currently circulating.

[Haljo1935]

4 minutes ago, loveandpeas said:

Oh I work in a hospital and my husband is a teacher... I DEFINITELY agree with this! 

And the lesson is WASH YOUR HANDS, PEOPLE! Geez, how hard is that to learn and do? 

And, ew gross, no I don't want to shake your hand, thank you.

And, no, please don't hug me, either.

And, no, heavens, I'm not European and don't need you to kiss my cheek, either cheek!

🙄

Edited July 3, 2023 by Haljo1935
Typo

[CanuckMumof2girls]

I witnessed 3 different people on a past cruise

leave lido washroom without washing hands GROSS!

[Haljo1935]

51 minutes ago, CanuckMumof2girls said:

I witnessed 3 different people on a past cruise

leave lido washroom without washing hands GROSS!

Ditto! Exactly why we all need to pack a tissue in our sleeves like dear Aunt Ethel so we can use them to open restroom doors after "those" people come out.

Oh, wait, you said they were leaving the washrooms - who would ever think to WASH their hands in a WASHROOM? Now if it wss a Restroom...

But seriously, GROSS!