OzKiwiJJ

Thanks. I think a lot of people have been caught by the mandatory tests yesterday and this morning. Room service appears to be swamped today. I'm definitely keeping up the fluids - lots of tea, cocktails, wine, 🤣🤣🤣, and also lots and lots of water.

That would suit be just fine as long as I'm out of iso. I'd happily have some more of that lovely warm weather!

Yes, that's what I think will happen. We got a paper copy of the Captain's announcement as well as hearing it.

I don't think we'll miss either of those ports. The idea is to delay crossing the Bight by a day so we miss some nasty weather. I guess they'll drop one of the other ports but they haven't announced which one yet.

I think Hong Kong had something similar - a free shuttle to a shopping mall attached to a MTR station.

How is Frank today? I'm feeling a bit better but not completely over it yet. Being in iso does force you to rest a lot which is the best thing.

Essentially that's what Darwin does. Not free but not expensive either.

I don't mind paying AU $20 for a shuttle but when the cruise line charges more than that and in USD it can get expensive so has to be budgeted for like any other shore excursion. The problem is that sometimes you don't know the costs before the cruise so it can screw up your budget.

Thanks for the update, Les. We've been thinking of you. I hope the specialists can come up with some treatments for you. Stay strong. {{{{{Hugs}}}}}

That's another very good and factual article by the the ABC. I did like this comment: "Yesterday we undertook testing of all guests on board and we did see an increased number," I'll bet they did! All those people who have been wandering around the ship even though they had symptoms, claiming it is only a cold! Busted!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

No, I met a few of them at the Meet & Greet but we didn't exchange cabin numbers. And actually I'd rather chat to people online than on the phone - that way I can pace myself and not get stressed.

I used to always have problems with chest infections even before I quit smoking around 35 years ago, but my GP insisted I have the pneumonia vaccine a few years ago and I haven't had a problem since that, including with Covid at the moment. I had some coughing yesterday but it seems to have eased today.

I'm not sure. They did check what my genereal health was like and what meds I was on in case of contra-indications. I had to stop taking one while on the anti-virals. I think most of the passengers on this cruise are seniors anyway.

That's been a problem in Port Chalmers for years, and it sounds like it will be the same in Lyttleton. Unfortunately Celebrity charges everything in USD so the exchange rate makes it very expensive. What we've found in Australia so far: Brisbane was a mess the two times we stopped there. One stop had no shuttles, the other had limited shuttles at $40 return. I'm not sure if you booked those through Princess or what. Airlie Beach had shuttles $5 pp return paid to the driver. Darwin had shuttles, $20 pp return, tickets bought in the cruise terminal. Broome had free shuttles.

Thank you. Apart from the food and drinks you get free medical treatment including expensive antivirals if appropriate. I really can't think of a better place to come down with Covid, and good timing too. By the time we get back to Sydney I should be fully recovered and hopefully Rolf will have avoided it altogether.

The Cruise Passenger article is up online. They've been very accurate in quoting me. https://cruisepassenger.com.au/news/id-rather-be-here-than-at-home-a-pandemic-passengers-story-from-the-coral-princess/

The Medical Centre initially said five days to me when I was first tested but after I tested positive the next day they said they'd retest me on the 30th which was seven days. Tomorrow is Day 5 from developing symptoms.

It shouldn't have. This was in the letter I got when I first went into isolation.

We haven't got cruise-specific travel insurance. We just reactivated our annual policy which covers basic things like medical cost on a cruise but not the rest. And I'm really not bothered about those extras. So we miss a port, so what, we'll get there another day. So we're isolation, so what, we're getting fed great food all day, unlimited drinks, we can still enjoy the sea views from our balcony and, apart from some cold-like symptoms on my part, we're very comfortable. Plus Rolf can go for a walk around the ship when he wants to.

We've moved on to Remy Martin XO cognac since all drinks are free while isolating.😊😊😊

They just said they'd retest me on the 30th. I started to feel a bit better this afternoon but who knows how long I'll test positive for. I've heard of people who test positive for weeks even though they have fully recovered. Covid is a weird beastie! I'm not sure what the Princess protocols are in that case.

Yes, I agree. It will be so frustrating if Rolf tests positive just as I test negative.

Thanks, Heather. Good to hear your husband is enjoying Cruise Critic. We have such a lovely group of people on our forum here. My immune system was stuffed up years ago. 🤣 I think we were pushing our luck with this cruise. The demographic has been quite different to the earlier cruises. Not unexpected though as it's usually us retired people, with weaker immune systems and (sometimes) bad habits, that can do these longer cruises. At least I managed to wait until antivirals were available before catching Covid. I'm sure they are helping. My symptoms are quite mild and easily manageable. I'm sure my evening cocktail, a caipirinha with lots of fresh lime for vitamin C, is also helping! 🤣

I suspect that is why it has spread so quickly over the past few days. Even before we stopped in Darwin I heard a few people coughing heavily, very chesty sounding coughs, not the "oops, I breathed in a crumb" type. Then add in the fact that newly infected people would have been shedding before they developed symptoms and if they were people who refused to wear masks properly the virus would spread everywhere very quickly.

We will miss Busselton and Albany due to isolation. As far as I know the ship is still going there, weather permitting.