Covid Alive And Well

[pamps2801]

We were on the Majestic Princess for a back 2 back starting July 22nd. First week was great, then the first day of the second week, was when symptoms for my brother and his wife started. They both isolated themselves in their room for the remainder of the cruise. My brothers case wasn't good, he barely made it, walking off the ship in Vancouver. We drove him immediately to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a Covid Pneumonia, he had a lot of difficulty breathing at this point. He has had 5 covid inoculations, the last one being a month prior to the cruise. He stayed in the hospital for 5 days, having antibiotics pumped into him before his release. After his release, he was and is very weak. The Dr has given him the ok to fly back home, and wrote a letter to this, for the airline, if required. His memory is at times forgetful. Lost his sense of smell and taste, which hasn't come back. His coughing is harsh. Now taking 7 pills daily. His wifes condition was very mild. As for my wife and I, we did not catch Covid.

    My point here is, always take the proper precautions, or you may encounter the same consequence. Don't fool yourselves in thinking it won't happen to you. I personally feel, that the worst place to catch Covid on a ship, is the elevator. In such tight quarters I wear a mask, and I do not start any conversation. I never touch any elevator buttons with my fingers. I use my knuckle, elbow, or even my knee. I also feel that its absolutely ridiculous for cruise lines to have a serve yourself philosophy in the buffet. Many passengers never sanitize, or wash their hands, and then use the serving utensils, of which you use right after them. Honestly, I feel this is disgusting. We carry a small bottle of Purell and sanitize our hands before eating at the table, if we're in the buffet....... Cruise Safely.

Edited August 12, 2023 by pamps2801

[PacnGoNow]

6 minutes ago, pamps2801 said:

We were on the Majestic Princess for a back 2 back starting July 22nd. First week was great, then the first day of the second week, was when symptoms for my brother and his wife started. They both isolated themselves in their room for the remainder of the cruise. My brothers case wasn't good, he barely made it, walking off the ship in Vancouver. We drove him immediately to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a Covid Pneumonia, he had a lot of difficulty breathing at this point. He has had 5 covid inoculations, the last one being a month prior to the cruise. He stayed in the hospital for 5 days, having antibiotics pumped into him before his release. After his release, he was and is very weak. The Dr has given him the ok to fly back home, and wrote a letter to this, for the airline, if required. His memory is at times forgetful. Lost his sense of smell and taste, which hasn't come back. His coughing is harsh. Now taking 7 pills daily. His wifes condition was very mild. As for my wife and I, we did not catch Covid.

    My point here is, always take the proper precautions, or you may encounter the same consequence. Don't fool yourselves in thinking it won't happen to you. I personally feel, that the worst place to catch Covid on a ship, is the elevator. In such tight quarters I wear a mask, and I do not start any conversation. I never touch any elevator buttons with my fingers. I use my knuckle, elbow, or even my knee. I also feel that its absolutely ridiculous for cruise lines to have a serve yourself philosophy in the buffet. Many passengers never sanitize, or wash their hands, and then use the serving utensils, of which you use right after them. Honestly, I feel this is disgusting. We carry a small bottle of Purell and sanitize our hands before eating at the table, if we're in the buffet....... Cruise Safely.

So sorry to hear about your brother.  Hoping he heals quickly and gets rid of those covid symptoms. That’s really scary for him.

 It’s not over yet, no matter how much we want it to be.

Take care.

[gottagocit]

I feel for you and your family for dealing with something so serious (for your brother) while traveling away from home. It’s a good thing you were able to get him to a hospital when you did. Do you know whether the ships crew took any precautions against spreading the virus after they contracted it? 
Could I ask whether they know if either of them had contracted Covid prior to this incident? 

[pamps2801]

1 minute ago, gottagocit said:

I feel for you and your family for dealing with something so serious (for your brother) while traveling away from home. It’s a good thing you were able to get him to a hospital when you did. Do you know whether the ships crew took any precautions against spreading the virus after they contracted it? 
Could I ask whether they know if either of them had contracted Covid prior to this incident? 

As for precautions, none that I knew of, also they had not contracted covid before.

[gottagocit]

okay thanks. 

[trin880]

Speedy recovery to your brother and his wife! Can happen to anyone, vaccinated or not. It is a risk we all are living with now and Covid is alive and well, like you said. People are still dying from it daily. Flu season is coming too and it will be challenging to recognize one from another since the symptoms are very similar.  

[cr8tiv1]

22 minutes ago, gottagocit said:

I feel for you and your family for dealing with something so serious (for your brother) while traveling away from home. It’s a good thing you were able to get him to a hospital when you did. Do you know whether the ships crew took any precautions against spreading the virus after they contracted it? 
Could I ask whether they know if either of them had contracted Covid prior to this incident? 

 

I caught covid while on the Caribbean.  My case was very mild, but I was coughing and having a little trouble breathing.  I went to the Medical Center and was tested for the flu and Covid.  I had my own supply of Paxlovid.

 

The medical center did everything after that.  I was allowed to return to my cabin to pack essentials needed for a couple of days.  I took the stairs up a couple of flights.  I was escorted from my cabin through crew passageways.  I was placed in an isolation cabin on Aloha Deck.  All meals and anything else I needed was delivered promptly.

 

Everything I could have touched was sanitized on the way up to the new cabin.  My cabin was sanitized by the same crew member.  When I left isolation, the same crew member sanitized the cabin I was in.  Rudi and Andy were my escorts both times.  

 

I was taken very good care of both in the medical center and by the crew.  

 

Wishing your family a complete recovery.  Glad you did not come down with Covid.

Edited August 13, 2023 by cr8tiv1

[startedwithamouse]

1 hour ago, pamps2801 said:

We were on the Majestic Princess for a back 2 back starting July 22nd. First week was great, then the first day of the second week, was when symptoms for my brother and his wife started. They both isolated themselves in their room for the remainder of the cruise. My brothers case wasn't good, he barely made it, walking off the ship in Vancouver. We drove him immediately to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a Covid Pneumonia, he had a lot of difficulty breathing at this point. He has had 5 covid inoculations, the last one being a month prior to the cruise. He stayed in the hospital for 5 days, having antibiotics pumped into him before his release. After his release, he was and is very weak. The Dr has given him the ok to fly back home, and wrote a letter to this, for the airline, if required. His memory is at times forgetful. Lost his sense of smell and taste, which hasn't come back. His coughing is harsh. Now taking 7 pills daily. His wifes condition was very mild. As for my wife and I, we did not catch Covid.

    My point here is, always take the proper precautions, or you may encounter the same consequence. Don't fool yourselves in thinking it won't happen to you. I personally feel, that the worst place to catch Covid on a ship, is the elevator. In such tight quarters I wear a mask, and I do not start any conversation. I never touch any elevator buttons with my fingers. I use my knuckle, elbow, or even my knee. I also feel that its absolutely ridiculous for cruise lines to have a serve yourself philosophy in the buffet. Many passengers never sanitize, or wash their hands, and then use the serving utensils, of which you use right after them. Honestly, I feel this is disgusting. We carry a small bottle of Purell and sanitize our hands before eating at the table, if we're in the buffet....... Cruise Safely.

Wishing him a full recovery. Did your traveling party get off the ship in any ports of call? 

[memoak]

1 hour ago, pamps2801 said:

We were on the Majestic Princess for a back 2 back starting July 22nd. First week was great, then the first day of the second week, was when symptoms for my brother and his wife started. They both isolated themselves in their room for the remainder of the cruise. My brothers case wasn't good, he barely made it, walking off the ship in Vancouver. We drove him immediately to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a Covid Pneumonia, he had a lot of difficulty breathing at this point. He has had 5 covid inoculations, the last one being a month prior to the cruise. He stayed in the hospital for 5 days, having antibiotics pumped into him before his release. After his release, he was and is very weak. The Dr has given him the ok to fly back home, and wrote a letter to this, for the airline, if required. His memory is at times forgetful. Lost his sense of smell and taste, which hasn't come back. His coughing is harsh. Now taking 7 pills daily. His wifes condition was very mild. As for my wife and I, we did not catch Covid.

    My point here is, always take the proper precautions, or you may encounter the same consequence. Don't fool yourselves in thinking it won't happen to you. I personally feel, that the worst place to catch Covid on a ship, is the elevator. In such tight quarters I wear a mask, and I do not start any conversation. I never touch any elevator buttons with my fingers. I use my knuckle, elbow, or even my knee. I also feel that its absolutely ridiculous for cruise lines to have a serve yourself philosophy in the buffet. Many passengers never sanitize, or wash their hands, and then use the serving utensils, of which you use right after them. Honestly, I feel this is disgusting. We carry a small bottle of Purell and sanitize our hands before eating at the table, if we're in the buffet....... Cruise Safely.

Why didn’t they go to the infirmary for treatment ?  

[Mike07]

2 hours ago, pamps2801 said:

 Don't fool yourselves in thinking it won't happen to you. I personally feel, that the worst place to catch Covid on a ship, is the elevator. In such tight quarters I wear a mask, and I do not start any conversation. I never touch any elevator buttons with my fingers. I use my knuckle, elbow, or even my knee. I also feel that its absolutely ridiculous for cruise lines to have a serve yourself philosophy in the buffet. Many passengers never sanitize, or wash their hands, and then use the serving utensils, of which you use right after them. Honestly, I feel this is disgusting. We carry a small bottle of Purell and sanitize our hands before eating at the table, if we're in the buffet....... Cruise Safely.

 

 

Completely agree regardless of what happened to your brother.

 

This is not a political statement, but some people get lax about communicable disease precautions. There is a certain community element to a cruise ship, and I've seen more than a handful of old men not wash their hands after using the restrooms likely out of laziness. So, does anybody here think they're washing their hands prior to going to the buffet or elevator? Isn't there some statement about character or integrity being what you do when nobody is looking?

 

Regardless, getting sick on a cruise ship means you're going to suffer a likely worse vacation and experience while paying handsomely for it.

 

 

[dickinson]

@pamps2801 So sorry about your brother.  I hope he continues to improve.  One thing you did not make clear.  Did they contact Medical or just isolate on their own?  I am concerned that if they contacted medical why medical never took a chest X-ray when he was having trouble breathing.  

[stevenr597]

So so sorry to hear about your brother.  I do hope that he makes a speedy and complete recover.

Sad to say that Covid, like Norovirus, Influenza, Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus and a host of other illnesses will continue to be with us.  In addition, a cruise ship is a “closed circuit” in that if one becomes ill, he or she cannot ‘check out’ and go home.  

Make sure that you wash your hands.  Make sure that you are up to date with all necessary vaccinations.  Take an N 95 or KN 95 makes and make sure that you now how to wear it properly.

Hopefully, the Captain will be on top of any problems and inform the passengers of what measures to take.  Make sure that you follow them. 

[Coral]

2 minutes ago, stevenr597 said:

Hopefully, the Captain will be on top of any problems and inform the passengers of what measures to take.  Make sure that you follow them. 

I know we had several COVID cases on my last 2 cruises just within our roll call (small sampling but I can't imagine how many on the ship but it did seem to be a sickly ship on at least one and the other was getting that way). I can't say the Captain did anything. Of course there were letters in our cabin indicating if we get sick, to call the infirmary. Otherwise, COVID was not discussed.

[stevenr597]

1 minute ago, Coral said:

I know we had several COVID cases on my last 2 cruises just within our roll call (small sampling but I can't imagine how many on the ship but it did seem to be a sickly ship on at least one and the other was getting that way). I can't say the Captain did anything. Of course there were letters in our cabin indicating if we get sick, to call the infirmary. Otherwise, COVID was not discussed.

To tell or not to tell.

That could indeed be a problem with Covid.

I would hope that the Captain would suggest “wearing masks in croweded conditions” without actually going into the specifics of Covid.

I do know that on several cruises, because of Norovirus, the Captain reinforced the importance of washing hands.  

[Mike07]

2 minutes ago, stevenr597 said:

I do know that on several cruises, because of Norovirus, the Captain reinforced the importance of washing hands.  

 

 

Noro isn't in the news enough for the casual cruisers of the world to be educated that it's the OG of cruise ship bugs. At least I think it is....

[ebeluga]

I do plan to bring and wear rubber gloves when using those utensils in the buffet.  Those utensils are a bit disgusting!

[startedwithamouse]

18 hours ago, pamps2801 said:

We were on the Majestic Princess for a back 2 back starting July 22nd. First week was great, then the first day of the second week, was when symptoms for my brother and his wife started. They both isolated themselves in their room for the remainder of the cruise. My brothers case wasn't good, he barely made it, walking off the ship in Vancouver. We drove him immediately to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a Covid Pneumonia, he had a lot of difficulty breathing at this point. He has had 5 covid inoculations, the last one being a month prior to the cruise. He stayed in the hospital for 5 days, having antibiotics pumped into him before his release. After his release, he was and is very weak. The Dr has given him the ok to fly back home, and wrote a letter to this, for the airline, if required. His memory is at times forgetful. Lost his sense of smell and taste, which hasn't come back. His coughing is harsh. Now taking 7 pills daily. His wifes condition was very mild. As for my wife and I, we did not catch Covid.

 

Why didn't medical staff take him off in a wheelchair?  COVID positive is always isolated through a separate area when disembarking.

 

How did the medical center treat him? Paxlovid?  "He barely made it", and they did nothing?

 

When I have a minor outpatient surgery, they're wheeling me to the parking lot in a wheelchair, even when I could make a short walk. 

 

Something isn't adding up here. 

 

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by startedwithamouse

[memoak]

2 hours ago, stevenr597 said:

So so sorry to hear about your brother.  I do hope that he makes a speedy and complete recover.

Sad to say that Covid, like Norovirus, Influenza, Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus and a host of other illnesses will continue to be with us.  In addition, a cruise ship is a “closed circuit” in that if one becomes ill, he or she cannot ‘check out’ and go home.  

Make sure that you wash your hands.  Make sure that you are up to date with all necessary vaccinations.  Take an N 95 or KN 95 makes and make sure that you now how to wear it properly.

Hopefully, the Captain will be on top of any problems and inform the passengers of what measures to take.  Make sure that you follow them. 

We wore masks a lot on the Royal in 2022 and both got Covid. Rarely wore them on the Emerald this year and I got Covid. Just seems to be the luck of the draw. The only place we usually wear them are public restrooms and that is more for general health rather than Covid 

[Roberto256]

I appreciate the reminder that this is still an ongoing problem.

[memoak]

24 minutes ago, stevenr597 said:

Masks if of the proper type and properly warn at of benefit, but nothing is 100%.  

We will be doing a cruise on the Regal Princess.  We will take masks and wear them when in very crowded conditions.  We will make sure that we are up to date, with all vaccinations, especially those effective against Covid.  Hopefully Pfizer will have the new updated vaccine out by then. 

If you are on a Royal class ship these days sailing at 100% capacity you will be in crowded surroundings pretty much anywhere outside of your own cabin

[wrongwaywatson]

There was an outbreak of Noro this spring on our Caribbean Princess cruise and they tightened up the protocols for that.  I didn't really see anyone coughing and hacking, though.  

 

It does sound to me like the OP's family self-isolated and didn't go to medical?  

[dickinson]

55 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

Why didn't medical staff take him off in a wheelchair?  COVID positive is always isolated through a separate area when disembarking.

 

How did the medical center treat him? Paxlovid?  "He barely made it", and they did nothing?

 

When I have a minor outpatient surgery, they're wheeling me to the parking lot in a wheelchair, even when I could make a short walk. 

 

Something isn't adding up here. 

 

 

I'm guessing they didn't go to the medical center because they "self isolated".  OP has not come back to answer.

[dockman]

was on emerald two years ago...four friends in single rooms...3 of us got covid...1 did not...the did not never got into the elevator ever...walked stairs for exercise and apparently also provided him with some protection...we were all vaxxed and only mild symptons but 3 of us ended up on the isolation floor for several days...no fun at all

[memoak]

1 hour ago, dickinson said:

I'm guessing they didn't go to the medical center because they "self isolated".  OP has not come back to answer.

It seems like they are upset with Princess for ending up in the hospital. If they had gone to the infirmary the could have gotten treatment and FCC’s for every day the were isolated. 

[cr8tiv1]

Me:  Many, many, many, lots of cruises but I was reluctant to ever use Medical Center services up until this last cruise.

 

I was pleasantly surprised:

 

Not that expensive / reimbursement from insurance...that will be the most painful

Well equipped "hospital"

Fabulous Staff (Dr. Kristof Lim was a hoot)

Credit for isolation

Princess really showed support for my issue

 

Hope @pamps2801 chimes back in.