TUI announces cancellation of restart date

[Speedbird01]

Kbonner, thank you

That has brought a smile to my face on a rainy Monday morning. There is actual hope! hurray!

[steamboats]

11 hours ago, twins_to_alaska said:

Miami Herald...

 

Ten crew members on German-based ships slated to begin cruises in August have tested positive for COVID-19.

The AIDA-brand cruise ships are owned by Miami-based Carnival Corporation.

The crew members had recently flown to Germany from their home countries in Asia to begin working on the ships, local media reported. After testing negative in their home countries, they then tested negative again in Germany. Shortly after boarding the ships, docked in Rostock, Germany, they tested positive.

 

 

Not totally correct... The crew (it was a flight from Manila) was tested in Manila prior to the flight and spent a couple of days in a hotel there. The second test was prior to boarding the two ships (AIDAmar and AIDAblu) in Rostock. And this test turned out positive. There was no negative test in Germany. All new crew was tested when boarding and had to stay in their cabins in isolation until the result of the test returned - this is the health protocol. The 10 positives have been tested once more (nothing about those results). Also the rest of the crew who was on that flight is now tested frequently. All crew was supposed to stay in a 14 day quarantine anyway prior to the start of the cruise. The two affected ships are supposed to restart Aug 12th and 16th out of Warnemünde and Kiel. Not affected is the third ship AIDAperla which is supposed to start Aug 5th out of Hamburg.

 

steamboats

[Biker19]

Mein Schiff 2 is having a leisurely sea day back to Hamburg, while Mein Schiff 1 seems in no hurry to get to Kiel for her first sailing on Monday (still hanging out with the rest of the Mein Schiff ships off the north German coast).

 

 In addition to 1 & 2 through August (7 day Norway fjord sailings), some of the other Mein Schiff ships have sailings listed for Sept - not sure those will happen.

Edited July 30, 2020 by Biker19

[steamboats]

TUI Cruises yesterday did confirm that there are 5 positive tests amongst the arriving crew of Mein Schiff 1. All 5 are quarantined on land in a hotel. They did not say anything about further delays (which doesn´t mean a thing).

 

steamboats

[Saab4444]

Mein Schiff 1 is expected in Kiel on Saturday at 6.30 am. 

[livingonthebeach]

4 hours ago, steamboats said:

TUI Cruises yesterday did confirm that there are 5 positive tests amongst the arriving crew of Mein Schiff 1. All 5 are quarantined on land in a hotel. They did not say anything about further delays (which doesn´t mean a thing).

 

steamboats

 

Are they testing passengers beyond the temperature checks?  If not, there's the possibility some asymptomatic passengers could pass the temperature check and still infect others onboard.  Not very reassuring if they are not testing passengers for Covid-19 as well.   

[steamboats]

4 hours ago, livingonthebeach said:

  Not very reassuring if they are not testing passengers for Covid-19 as well.   

 

You can have a negative test in the first days of your infection and then be asymptomatic and infect others. So even a test prior to boarding doesn´t give you a 100% safety.

 

steamboats

[livingonthebeach]

5 minutes ago, steamboats said:

 

You can have a negative test in the first days of your infection and then be asymptomatic and infect others. So even a test prior to boarding doesn´t give you a 100% safety.

 

steamboats

 

True -- it doesn't eliminate 100% of those with CV19 but it does offer one more layer of safety by weeding out asymptomatic people that test positive. 

[Sunshine3601]

I got this from another cc thread.   I thought others may like to read.     Overall sounds like the first sailing is going very well.    

[Biker19]

More folks should ask the CC admins to add Tui as a cruise line. It might be the biggest cruise line without a dedicated section.

[little britain]

MSC are getting ready to go...
 

The Mauritius national public broadcaster MBC, reports that 230 Mauritian crew members, called to resume service on cruise ships at the port of Genova in Italy, left Mauritius on a charter flight on Wednesday, July 29. MBC reports that among these Mauritian crew, a good number are made up of new recruits who will be in training before joining different cruise ships. They boarded Alitalia aircraft which repatriated 153 cruise ship crew back to Mauritius on Wednesday, July 29. According to our source, the new joiners are MSC crew, ready to board cruise ships docked in Genova. Most of them will join MSC Grandiosa.

[steamboats]

@little britain I saw that the Costa Deliziosa is staffing too. She´s currently in Civitavecchia.

 

It seems like Italy finally gave the permission for cruises.

 

steamboats

[steamboats]

14 hours ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

True -- it doesn't eliminate 100% of those with CV19 but it does offer one more layer of safety by weeding out asymptomatic people that test positive. 

 

The major problem is that a swab test for active virus does take quite a time. Onboard they have machines which are able to get a result after 70 min. Here on land you have to wait for 2 or 3 days (in Germany) depending on the capacities of the labaratories.

 

So what should they do... a 2 or 3 day old test is technically worthless. A test onboard would take up too much time.

 

On the river cruises they do an antibody test which shows a result 10 to 15 min later. But that´s worthless too and doesn´t show whether a person can still spread the virus.

 

BTW, yes, I did an antibody test on my river cruise in Portugal in the first week of July. It was voluntary and I gave it a try.

 

Here in Germany (especially in Bavaria) you can get a free test at all airports when you return since last week. They also build up test stations at two major train stations and yesterday they started at three major autobahns close to the border to Austria.

 

But they tell you that you won´t have a result until 2 or 3 days later. So you can go into self quarantine and wait for the result.

 

steamboats

[Biker19]

 

[livingonthebeach]

3 hours ago, steamboats said:

 

The major problem is that a swab test for active virus does take quite a time. Onboard they have machines which are able to get a result after 70 min. Here on land you have to wait for 2 or 3 days (in Germany) depending on the capacities of the labaratories.

 

So what should they do... a 2 or 3 day old test is technically worthless. A test onboard would take up too much time.

 

On the river cruises they do an antibody test which shows a result 10 to 15 min later. But that´s worthless too and doesn´t show whether a person can still spread the virus.

 

BTW, yes, I did an antibody test on my river cruise in Portugal in the first week of July. It was voluntary and I gave it a try.

 

Here in Germany (especially in Bavaria) you can get a free test at all airports when you return since last week. They also build up test stations at two major train stations and yesterday they started at three major autobahns close to the border to Austria.

 

But they tell you that you won´t have a result until 2 or 3 days later. So you can go into self quarantine and wait for the result.

 

steamboats

 

Thanks for the thorough explanation and report on how the testing is being done in Germany -- in comparison to this part of the world, it seems you are way ahead of us.  Hopefully the testing will get better and results quicker.  It seems that a test even if it's a few days old prior to boarding, together with temperature and health checks, would be better than no test at all.  Psychologically speaking, it might ease people's minds more but like you pointed out nothing is 100%.  There is also the problem of false positive and negatives.  Let's hope for more accurate and quicker turn around times in testing and safe and effective treatments and / or vaccines so we can go back to the cruising we all love. 

[Biker19]

 

[Biker19]

 

[livingonthebeach]

A popular German blogger by the name of Pam writes about her experience onboard the Mein Schiff 2 - run a Google translate (button on Chrome browser) to get the English version.  Lots of photos and interesting write-up.

https://www.nordlichtshimmelundmeer.de/post/blaue-reise-mit-der-mein-schiff-2

 

[little britain]

Another MSC update:

 

MSC GRANDIOSA will start sailing on the 16th August for 7 night cruises from Genoa. These will visit Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo and Valletta

MSC MAGNIFICA will start sailing on the 22nd August for 7 night cruises from Bari or Trieste. These will visit Corfu, Katakolon and Piraeus
 

Irish / UK guests are not currently allowed to board as these cruises are open to Schengen country residents only

 

SAFE EXPERIENCE: 

Some of the early reveals about these cruises are: 

🔹 You MUST take MSC Cruises only excursions but you’ll receive some for joining and you can buy 3 more for €100! You’ll only be able to disembark on Covid safe MSC excursions! 

🔹 All guests and crew will be tested prior to embarkation. Guests will undergo a swab test, a temperature check and an in person check of health questionnaire with further medical checks if needed! 

🔹 Covid Insurance is required - MSC can provide for €18pp 

🔹 MSC states that they have worked with “the relevant EU-Level, national health and other authorities that Grandiosa and Magnifica will call along their Mediterranean itineraries to develop a comprehensive set of guidelines designed to protect the health and safety of all passengers on board our ships as well as ensure that local communities as ports of call and ashore destinations feel comfortable welcoming our guests”

🔹 A contactless experience - all guests will receive a free MSC for ME wristband in order to to move around the ship in a contactless manner which will also help with contact tracing. 

🔹 Elsewhere social distancing will take place, less crowds with activities taking place in smaller groups and pre booking is required. Buffets will be assisted serving.

[SeaHunt]

On 7/25/2020 at 2:25 AM, Saab4444 said:

Hurtigruten has done two 14 day Norway sailings from Hamburg already without bad news.

 

Some bad Hurtigruten news today though (sad) 😢

 

OSLO (Reuters) - Four crew members on a Norwegian cruise vessel were diagnosed with COVID-19 after it arrived at the Arctic port of Tromsoe early on Friday, said the University Hospital of North Norway where they are being treated.

 

All 160 crew members on the Roald Amundsen have been quarantined on the ship, while the 177 passengers - all of whom have already disembarked - are being contacted by telephone and are being told to self-isolate, operator Hurtigruten said.

 

“By the time we were notified, the passengers had left the ship,” Tromsoe municipality chief doctor Kathrine Kristoffersen told a news conference. “All passengers will, for the time being, be asked to quarantine.”

 

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-norway-cruiseship/four-crew-members-on-norway-cruise-ship-hospitalised-with-covid-19-idUKKCN24W2C5

Edited July 31, 2020 by SeaHunt

[livingonthebeach]

On 7/31/2020 at 4:28 PM, SeaHunt said:

 

Some bad Hurtigruten news today though (sad) 😢

 

OSLO (Reuters) - Four crew members on a Norwegian cruise vessel were diagnosed with COVID-19 after it arrived at the Arctic port of Tromsoe early on Friday, said the University Hospital of North Norway where they are being treated.

 

All 160 crew members on the Roald Amundsen have been quarantined on the ship, while the 177 passengers - all of whom have already disembarked - are being contacted by telephone and are being told to self-isolate, operator Hurtigruten said.

 

“By the time we were notified, the passengers had left the ship,” Tromsoe municipality chief doctor Kathrine Kristoffersen told a news conference. “All passengers will, for the time being, be asked to quarantine.”

 

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-norway-cruiseship/four-crew-members-on-norway-cruise-ship-hospitalised-with-covid-19-idUKKCN24W2C5

 

The number is now up to 36 crew and 1 passenger infected.  Roald Amundsen's next scheduled sailing has been cancelled.  Sad indeed. 

[toad455]

really surprised Cruise Critic doesn't have its own forum for TUI Cruises?

[Biker19]

5 hours ago, toad455 said:

really surprised Cruise Critic doesn't have its own forum for TUI Cruises?

I've asked three times so far to have it created. Others should as well.

[Biker19]

 

[Biker19]

On 7/27/2020 at 12:14 PM, steamboats said:

Not affected is the third ship AIDAperla which is supposed to start Aug 5th out of Hamburg.

Here's a wrinkle that I didn't see mentioned yet - all's well at the home port/country but the sailing gets denied by the flag state? Would Bahamas do that to RCI?

 

AIDA Cruises won't be sailing in early August as Carnival Corporation's German brand announced it had cancelled departures on the AIDAperla on August 5, August 8 and 12, as well as the August 12 sailing aboard the AIDAmar. 

 

AIDA said that despite intensive prep work and the support of national and international authorities and health experts, it did not receive approval from its flag state of Italy, which it said was still pending. 

 

The comapny said it was fully ready to welcome guests onboard on August 5, adding that it expects to receive the last formal approval by the flag state of Italy in a timely manner.