GKTV32162

5 minutes ago, Kamfish642 said:

Unfortunately, according to CDC, you can be contagious for days prior to showing symptoms.  Cruise ship is like a petri dish; you ae bound to get exposed.  Just need to be fully vaccinated and take whatever precautions you personally feel is needed to minimize health effects if/when you get exposed.

To be fair, quarantine happens on Viking as soon as you show positive and for most, that is well before they show symptoms. That's the point of daily testing. And, with daily testing, we are sure the folks we are with are clean. The recent variable was the embarkation of 570 new passengers that travels under unknown conditions. That's what did it.

7 hours ago, Jim Avery said:

Garry, what about a negative test for the flight home?  

Documentation of recovery is also acceptable. The ten days will satisfy that and Viking will provide the document.

11 minutes ago, Insanityx4 said:

I could definitely visualize you and Arlona posing together as a few of those statues, clothed of course! Glad to hear she is not terribly ill. Great painting! At least she has a few things to help pass the time while in quarantine. Sorry you can't experience your upcoming ports together!

Yeah, we certainly would have posed.  😀

Thanks!

3 hours ago, Rabbit27 said:

Hi Garry I am pleased she is feeling well and your are negative!

I have a question, with 25 cases that’s 25 cabins taken on deck 3 how many cabins do the have for quarantine cases? 
 

We are booked in a DV6 cabin on deck 3 🙈🙈

I am not sure. I was given the option to go into quarantine with her, so perhaps couples might go together. I don't know how many cabins they have set aside. On the World Cruise, some folks on 3 were relocated when they developed the COVID ward concept. The rooms are 3 forward and I believe all port side (even numbers).

1 hour ago, Jim Avery said:

Very sorry Arlona is experiencing the isolation.  Three/four shots and people still test positive?  Something wrong with this picture.  Not sure what but it seems the vax is working about as well as an annual flu shot.  Last year my PCP said the flu shot was about 15% effective. At least most positives are not sick.  I sure have a large collection of chemicals in me for all the vaccines over the years.  Hope they are all good things.  Anyway hope y'all get home without any further difficulties.  

The vaccine was *never* advertised to prevent COVID.  What it was designed to do was minimize your chance of getting it, and if you do, reduce the impacts to that of a cold or perhaps the flu.  Arlona's 92-year-old dad, fully vaxed, got it, and it was essentially a cold to him.  Arlona is in the same situation now.  So, we're hoping for a quick recovery and negative test results.  Fingers crossed.

14 minutes ago, Redwarrior68 said:

Garry:  Add my good wishes for Alona's rapid recovery.  Seven cases expanding to 21 cases is not good.  Transmission likely from your room steward but who knows.

We are adjusting well to being home and get Pfizer shot #4 this afternoon.

There is absolutely no chance it came from our room steward.  We was quarantined way back on 5/3.  Incubation doesn't last for 11 days.  Arlona is doing well and Viking is treated her well, delivering whatever she needs.

Thanks for the good wishes and we'll be getting Moderna #4 when we get home.

21 minutes ago, Jammy Bun said:

But not quite immediately?  Arlona's test sample was early in the morning, but they were able to mix throughout the day, went on a tour, and only told in the evening.  Don't get me wrong, I no longer feel that close contacts should be isolated, but we all have to be aware that Covid will spread fairly easily unless extremely tight precautions are taken.  

I have fingers crossed that Arlona will be quarantined for only a few days, and that she can then enjoy the rest of the cruise.  

(And also glad that we postponed our June cruise!  This was the one fear we had - spending most of our holiday in a quarantine hotel or cabin).

To be clear, we were notified as soon as the results were available. Tests are not instant and they are testing 1000 people daily. The test catches cases early before the patient is in the heavy contagious phase port their testing, so she was isolated properly.

Viking has been and continues to take this very seriously and we feel takes appropriate safety measures to protect its guests.

6 hours ago, stretchcruz said:

I'm so sorry. I hope that she has a mild case. I'm glad to hear that you don't have to isolate. Didn't they used to make the partner stay isolated in the original stateroom for 5 days?

Yes, but with their daily testing, they catch cases immediately so they no longer isolate close contacts. 

7 hours ago, BQEC said:

So very sorry to hear this bad news! Been following this all along. You and Arlona are such a great team! Maybe Viking will supply her with art supplies ..... that might be nice for her. Boo, hoo.  

That was her thought too. We will look into it. It is a way to pass the time.  Thanks.

3 hours ago, Rabbit27 said:

Hi to both 😀 thinking of getting some clothes together for our up coming cruise, was wondering what the aircon is like at night in the restaurant? Long sleeve and a scarf? 
I am trying not to look at your fabulous photos so I don’t spoil what I will be seeing 😂

Generally, it is plenty warm and comfy on the ship. The Explorers' Bar is chilly for some reason. If you get cool easily, long sleeves is probably a good idea. I can only really address the World Cafe as we didn't eat in The Restaurant often.

3 minutes ago, Jim Avery said:

And you would think the new cases of covid contracted it during their travels to the ship.  Yes, I know, airplanes are the "safest" places there are.....🥃

Nope. That's cruise ships. 😉

2 minutes ago, Jjg34219 said:

Interesting update on Covid

Quite different vs River

we embark in 2 weeks for the Rhine and were notified that masking will be required on and off the boat thru 5/29

That is interesting.  We were 100% masks on the ship in public areas indoors as well as on tour buses and indoor venues.  Outdoors, generally no masks were required.  A few weeks ago, we dropped the mask requirement on the ship, but kept it on tour buses and indoor venue while off the ship.  Today, we're all masked as so many new people got onboard.  They were all tested as soon as they got on, so by tomorrow morning, we'll be mask-free again as any contagious will have been isolated my then.

23 minutes ago, Redwarrior68 said:

Garry:  Adding my thanks to you publicly for your blog and excellent observations.  Glad Lorraine and I were on the London bus tour with you and Arlona.  Impressed by the Winston Churchill statue.

See you on a future Viking cruise.  Best Wishes!

Thanks! It was a pleasure meeting you. All the best! Until we cruise again...

3 minutes ago, PeabodyMa said:

Is Hâmed onboard until May 25? 

Yup

6 hours ago, stretchcruz said:

I've so enjoyed following your adventures. Thank you so much!!!

Two more weeks are coming. We're not done yet! 😀

6 hours ago, Liz Masterson said:

Every night before bed I read this thread and 3 Blogs on the WC. So now what will sustain my wanderlust?  Sigh....

Well, you've got two more weeks worth of my ramblings coming as we are continuing on the Viking Homelands to Stockholm until May 25.😀