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I tested positive for Covid on Adventure 7/24 Sailing

Coconut Crew
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Coconut Crew

Coconut Crew

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I’ve been seeing some posts about what it is like testing positive for Covid on Royal so I thought I’d share my experience.  Not looking for judgement but hoping to put at ease people who are wondering about the process.   I was on the Adventure of the Seas July 24th sailing out of Nassau. I was traveling with several families in which all of us had been fully vaccinated including one minor.   I had a negative pcr taken before the cruise as required.  On Day 6, Thursday Sea Day/Formal Night, I had my rapid Covid test in the afternoon which is needed for reentry into the United States.  I received a text saying I would be contacted about my results.  I went to my cabin and immediately received a call in the room from Infection Control. They stated I was positive and they would be coming right away to the room to retake the test but this time do a pcr and not a rapid test to make sure it is accurate.  The ship doctor came and administered the  test and gave me contact tracing papers to fill out.  Security came and took my immediate family’s passports and Covid vaccination cards.  I was told to stay in the cabin until the results came back. The phone and visits from multiple departments continued.  About an hour later, my  pcr came back positive and they said they wanted to retest my spouse and our whole traveling party.  Everyone in the group had tested negative on their rapid and later that night negative on their pcr.  They were all still required to quarantine until another pcr would be given 24 hours later.  Everyone was given free in-room movies, free internet if they didn’t have it, free room service, and free delivery of beverages that were part of our beverage package.  I was told I would be getting off the ship the next day in Freeport and they would fly me home.  It was a CDC requirement to fly me directly to my home and not allow me to go back to Florida where our vehicle was.   They said I could only take two  with me on the flight since the medical transport plane is small. That was a complex issue for us.  I didn’t want to leave my spouse behind especially with 4 large suitcases because they couldn’t fit on the transport. We petitioned to have all four go at once knowing it was likely my spouse could end up Covid positive after sharing a room together.  They said they couldn’t fit us all.  So that night, I was taken down to the medical center by special escort for testing.  They close off the hall on both ends, had crew in hazmat gear guiding me and sprayed everywhere I went.  The entire crew area is vacated and hazmat suited crew pointed the way to the medical center….felt like I was in a movie.  The medical staff was great.  They did an X-ray, took blood, urine, strep test and vitals.  Then I was escorted to my cabin repeating the same protocol.  After I went into my cabin they disinfected the whole hall before reopening it.   I packed up that night and waited for flight info.  Day 7, Friday I was told we would get picked up at noon for the flight.  The doctor came a did a temperature check and made sure I was ok for travel.  We put our backpacks in the hall so they could spray them down and then were escorted in the same fashion through the crew area to exit the ship.  It was a well oiled machine and they handed me necessary documents at different times.   We left a crew gangway and was greeted by guest services explaining the travel arrangements.  They took us to a limo that would take us to the airport.  The airport was a bit sketchy….an old landing strip with destroyed buildings that they were using because of recent hurricane damage.  We were walked over to our private charter jet….yes a jet.  Did I mention that Royal said they would pay for any onboard medical testing,  the transportation from the ship to my front door? We definitely felt like a VIP going from a limo to jet.  A nurse greeted us and monitored my health along the flight home.  When we arrived at our home airport, a black Suburban was waiting with my name on it and ready to drive us home.  It was a huge relief to get home so quickly.  Royal did an amazing job making that happen.  However, my spouse and the families we traveled with were still back on the ship awaiting their third Covid test.  At 24 hours after the Day 6 pcr they were are rested doing a pcr again.  They ended up being quarantined for the remainder of the cruise by the time the results came back late on Friday Day 7.  Everyone tested negative….except my spouse.  So it all started over…..getting tested in the medical center, finding a charter, doctor visits…..everything we tried to avoid when we asked for all four to leave at the same time.   My spouse waited and waited for news and on Saturday as passengers were disembarking, my spouse was still in the cabin.  Then my spouse was moved  to a red zone near the medical center probably to start disinfecting the room.  We started to hear that they couldn’t find a charter for today and might have to go to a hotel and fly out that night or the next day.  This was worst case scenario for us because at this point all family had left the ship and I worried about my spouse getting stuck in quarantine in a Bahamas hotel for 2 weeks alone.  Royal assured that my spouse wouldn’t be left behind.  Then all the sudden they said they found a charter and would do pick up in an hour!  My spouse was taken to the airport, and onto a roomy jet along with our four large suitcases, and met with a black Suburban for the drive home.  So we are all home despite our vehicle still being in Florida!   We are beyond thankful for Royal making this happen. We fully respected the protocols used and their need to protect crew and passengers.  There were things that were not ideal but with the situation and some things to still sort out.  This was not the way we planned to end an absolutely AMAZING cruise.  The ship was at 1200 capacity (today’s 7/31 sailing will be at 998) and wow could you feel the difference .  It was like having the ship to yourself.  Coco Cay was empty also.  No lines. No crowds.  We don’t know where I could’ve picked up Covid and I am very careful with hand washing and distancing but this is the era we live in.  I am writing this to let others know that Royals protocols worked.  They caught my case and by holding my spouse in quarantine…caught his case along with 5 others that tested positive on our sailing as you have probably seen on the news.   I did have travel insurance but am going to have to wait and see if some sort of bill appears.  Royal has a VERY detailed plan in place and we saw it executed twice….we just wish we could’ve left at the same time.  The med transport team said they have been very busy doing these transports because of the deal that the cruise lines have with the CDC for repatriating Covid patients directly to their home.  Hope this has been helpful.  

Edited by Coconut Crew
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Moltar

Moltar

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I was in room 7650 were you also on that floor a few doors down?

 

We sawa lot of security and such we think at around room 7658 after the MDR free test.

 

Thank you for such an in-depth telling of how the protocols work when one tests positive.

Edited by Moltar
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daninwi

daninwi

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thank you for being transparent and sharing the story.  can't imagine being in that scenario, but knowing there is a plan and that the plan WORKS, although not perfect is a relief.  hope all goes well for you and your family.  

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Docbizarro

Docbizarro

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Once you were delivered home, were you required to not leave your residence? Or at that point were you free to do what you wanted? I’m curious because of the test being required for return to the US, what kind of restrictions does the country put on you upon returning?

Edited by Docbizarro
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dswallow

dswallow

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Thanks for that interesting story!

 

I'm curious... where exactly are you? You say your car is in Florida. How far do you need to go to get back to it now, and presuming you'll have to somehow get to it, is Royal Caribbean offering to pay for that part, too, or do you have leftover credit from your unused return flight that'll cover it? 

 

And how are you and your spouse feeling? Any symptoms? If you hadn't been tested would you even have considered that you might be sick with something right now?

 

 

Edited by dswallow
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nah31

nah31

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1 hour ago, Coconut Crew said:

Thanks for sharing!

 

How did RC determine that all the other families were traveling with you? Were you all booked under the same reservation?

 

Also, do you know if they were going to wait another day to get you off the ship if that day 6 was a sea day?

 

 

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soremekun

soremekun

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They gave you contact tracing papers to fill out?

 

This is requested to supplement the contact tracing data they (should) already have?

 

Will your cruise be refunded?  If so, do you still keep your double points for the entire cruise?

Edited by soremekun
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FamilyCruiserUK

FamilyCruiserUK

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Thanks for sharing..

Firstly i hope you and your family are all ok.

Seems a bit daft that your close contacts were not all flown home at same time. I expect the rules will ne different depending on the make up of the party..for example those with small children or older adults.

 

But most importantly your home and safe and made the best out of the situation

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Ourusualbeach

Ourusualbeach

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6 hours ago, Coconut Crew said:

 It was a CDC requirement to fly me directly to my home and not allow me to go back to Florida where our vehicle was.   They said I could only take two  with me on the flight since the medical transport plane is small.

Thanks for the detailed post.  As a family who has always driven to the port (25 hours from Canada) I am glad that our next cruise is from Los Angeles and we have flights booked for this one.  I can't imagine having to leave our car don in Florida and then having to make arrangements to get it back

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Jimbo

Jimbo

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Any idea just how long Royal will pay for these services before the cost is paid by the passenger who got covid. Can't think Royal will continue to pay for service like this.

 

 Can't even imagine what the cost would be for something like this would be if you were on a cruise in Europe and lived in the United States?

Edited by Jimbo
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LuCruise

LuCruise

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Am really sorry you and your spouse went through that, especially after you were both vaccinated.  Sounds like Royal handled it really well considering (aside from jet limitation).  Hope you are both ok now. Thank you for sharing.  I do wonder how long they will privately fly people home in this situation. And if it pertains to only US citizens or to Canadians and others too.

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syesmar

syesmar

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28 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Any idea just how long Royal will pay for these services before the cost is paid by the passenger who got covid. Can't think Royal will continue to pay for service like this.

 

 Can't even imagine what the cost would be for something like this would be if you were on a cruise in Europe and lived in the United States?

See this: 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/if-i-test-positive-for-sars-cov-2-what-is-your-refund-policy-and-costs-covered

 

”Vaccinated guests and children not yet eligible to be vaccinated who book a Royal Caribbean International cruise that’s sailing on or before October 31, 2021 will have the following COVID-19 Assistance at no extra charge....”

 

Edited by syesmar
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Ocean Boy

Ocean Boy

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6 hours ago, dswallow said:

 

I'm curious... where exactly are you? You say your car is in Florida. How far do you need to go to get back to it now, and presuming you'll have to somehow get to it, is Royal Caribbean offering to pay for that part, too, or do you have leftover credit from your unused return flight that'll cover it? 

 

 

If the car is in Florida (they drove) I suspect there was no return flight to have credit from.

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