Denied boarding for Harmony of the Seas from Barcelona- due to Covid positive result at the terminal

[Sunshine3601]

On 9/5/2021 at 3:38 PM, sugarny123 said:

Yes my husband was asymptomatic until the night we were put in a hotel. He started having fever the night we got to the hotel, for 3 days. So we believe we arrived at Spain as negative and he contracted the virus within 2 days we were at barcelona, possibly from taxi rides as he always sat next to the driver multiple times. 

I guess you would never know if you got covid or not until you test at the cruise terminal like us. It's rare but it happens as you can see. 

I continue to hear it takes a couple of days before one tests positive.  With being in barcelona for only 2 days before testing positive it could be possible he contracted virus at home/at airport or on plane.  Unfortunately, there is no way yo really know.     

Glad to hear your entire family feels ok now.   

Hope you have a nice view out hotel window.  Safe travels home😊

[Jimbo]

30 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

 

Hope you have a nice view out hotel window.  Safe travels home😊

😎  Let's hope it isn't like this

Edited September 7, 2021 by Jimbo

[Joseph2017China]

On 9/5/2021 at 12:03 PM, Sunshine3601 said:

what is interesting is the OP's family member had tested positive at the cruise terminal before boarding the ship and Royal is still covering their hotel/food quarantine expense.       Is that rules for Europe?

 

Curious if a US child under 12 tests positive at pre-cruise test in any US port, will royal pay for that family to stay at a hotel near cruise port if they flew from another state?

 

If yes, this is probably another big reason why Royal is not offering testing for everyone at cruise terminal before embarkment 

If you are a USA citizen and test positive at the cruise port, than you simply go home.  (but you will need to drive).  Not trying to be funny, but you are not being sent to a hotel, you are just being told you can't go.  

 

The rules are for international travelers that will be stranded......whether in the USA for guests, or for USA stranded in Europe.  

[Babr]

On 9/5/2021 at 11:03 AM, Sunshine3601 said:

what is interesting is the OP's family member had tested positive at the cruise terminal before boarding the ship and Royal is still covering their hotel/food quarantine expense.       Is that rules for Europe?

 

Curious if a US child under 12 tests positive at pre-cruise test in any US port, will royal pay for that family to stay at a hotel near cruise port if they flew from another state?

 

If yes, this is probably another big reason why Royal is not offering testing for everyone at cruise terminal before embarkment 

I have read of at least one instance in the US like this, except that it was a child who tested positive at the end of the cruise. It was on another cruise line that did not offer any assistance except transportation to the contracted quarantine hotel since the family could not fly home.

 

If it had been Royal, they would have been entitled to full benefits because the positive test occurred during the cruise. If it had happened at the beginning, they would be entitled to a refund only.

 

The question here is what would happen to someone who tests positive at embarkation in the US if that person did not drive to the port. Unfortunately the written policy itself does not answer the question, and we have seen Royal deviate from it in several instances.

[sugarny123]

5 hours ago, Gracie115 said:

Was he wearing an N95 or KN95 mask?

yes, we all did!

[Gracie115]

12 minutes ago, sugarny123 said:

yes, we all did!

 

Thanks, we are due to be in Barcelona just for one day before the cruise....will be extra vigilant...

 

 

[lazydayz]

13 minutes ago, sugarny123 said:

yes, we all did!

 

OP, have you all had your follow up tests done?  I sincerely hope all of you test negative this time around!  

[sugarny123]

2 hours ago, Babr said:

I have read of at least one instance in the US like this, except that it was a child who tested positive at the end of the cruise. It was on another cruise line that did not offer any assistance except transportation to the contracted quarantine hotel since the family could not fly home.

 

If it had been Royal, they would have been entitled to full benefits because the positive test occurred during the cruise. If it had happened at the beginning, they would be entitled to a refund only.

 

The question here is what would happen to someone who tests positive at embarkation in the US if that person did not drive to the port. Unfortunately the written policy itself does not answer the question, and we have seen Royal deviate from it in several instances.

I know.., Policy for US is different than Spain and it seems like RC is more generous for European cruises.

We would have to do our due diligence for US cruises. 

[sugarny123]

33 minutes ago, Gracie115 said:

 

Thanks, we are due to be in Barcelona just for one day before the cruise....will be extra vigilant...

 

 

Yes, Good luck to you and wish you the best!

[TheMastodon]

On 9/5/2021 at 5:04 AM, sugarny123 said:

We're family of four traveling from NY to Barcelona to get on the Harmony of the seas on 8/29.

Sadly, my husband tested positive at the terminal and we were immediately placed in a hotel for 10 day quarantine.

Today is our 7th day and Harmony of the seas returned to Barcelona today.

At the terminal, RC booked this hotel for us, Fira Congress. Upon arrival, hotel front desk had 2 keys ready for us without the usual check-in process of giving my credit card info. I asked and the hotel staff told me they only deal with the agency and does not bill customers.

I contacted the RC with the given tel number and wanted to make sure that the hotel stay is covered by RC. The agent personally told me he would be upset if it wasn't covered by RC and he transferred me to the "Care team".

RC has a specific "Care Team" that handles Covid related cases. Care team was very helpful and they are available to reach 24/7.

Care Team also confirmed that the hotel stay and food would be covered by RC and also arranged pre-flight testing a day before our flight back home on the 8th. Although we're in a terrible situation, I felt that RC is on our side and helping us in this misery.

But this morning, I got a call from the front desk that all charges would have to be paid by us and that is about 3098 Euros.

I emailed the Care Team and waiting for their response but I wonder if anyone else was in our shoes?

 

 

 

 

Unfortunate that you missed the cruise, but sounds like great customer service from Royal.  

 

 

[TheMastodon]

On 9/5/2021 at 1:37 PM, Auntiemomo said:

Was your husband asymptomatic through this whole ordeal?  If so, how would one who is vaccinated  know at the time of embarkation that they caught covid.

 

They wouldn't.  

[SeaHunt]

I'm sorry this happened to your family, and am glad your husband is doing OK. I'm also very glad RCI is taking care of you. JMO but all the different cruise lines efforts seem to be paying off, with no ships with big outbreaks (shown as "red") - knock on (teak) wood ☺️

 

I know it probably doesn't seem like it could be any worse, but there was a Harmony passenger from that same sailing who was taken from the ship and hospitalized who would probably disagree. I don't know who is taking care of his situation - hopefully he had good insurance 😉

 

You'll have to use google translate to read the article (it's in Italian):

 

*edited to add the translation:

 

Covid-19 positive cruise passenger who landed at the first light of dawn from Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, which docked at 3.27 yesterday morning. An ambulance was already waiting for the patient on the quayside and transported the man to the Sant'Andrea hospital. He is a 74-year-old American, with an Italian surname, who boarded last Sunday in Barcelona. The tourist was admitted to the Infectious Diseases ward and immediately began treatment.

 

Apparently the American had been sick for a couple of days . High fever and pain that prompted Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas medical team to subject him to an antigenic swab which immediately gave a positive result. At that point, as required by the protocols, the man was isolated in his cabin waiting to arrive at the first docking port of the cruise ship. It wasn't a walk in the park. The ship that departed from Barcelona had made a stopover in Palma de Mallorca on Monday. Presumably that evening the American tourist began to feel ill.

 

On Tuesday 31 August, the maritime health service was contacted from the ship, which was sailing directly to the port of La Spezia. At that point it was arranged to get the ship to the port of La Spezia as soon as possible given the tourist conditions. The Harmony Seas, whose arrival was scheduled for 8 am yesterday, arrived in the night. For the vaccinated American who, before embarking in Barcelona, had undergone two swabs with negative results and had a Green pass, were difficult times despite the presence of the ship's medical and nursing staff who guaranteed patient care. Hospitalized at Sant'Andrea, the tourist, who does not speak Italian, was immediately taken in charge by the Infectious Diseases staff where the doctors adequately informed him both about his condition and about the therapy to which he was immediately subjected.

 

"We activated the protocols provided for in these cases and everything went well," explains Dr. Antonella Mofferdin, head of La Spezia's maritime health -. Disembarkation was scheduled and the patient was taken to the hospital. There is no other case of Covid on the ship ». Apparently the tourist also suffered from other important pathologies. Positive result at Covid, with the fever rising, the ship's doctors decided, together with the maritime health care, to have him landed as soon as possible to be treated in a hospital. With the patient remained his wife, who landed with him. Last night Harmony of the Seas resumed sailing with two fewer guests.

 

«A guest aboard Harmony of the Seas was disembarked yesterday morning in La Spezia, Italy, due to an underlying health condition - explains Lucy Radford senior manager of Royal Caribben -. The guest was disembarked in La Spezia and was taken to hospital for medical treatment. As part of our standard procedure, the host was tested for Covid-19 and tested positive. All close contacts were traced and tested negative. To sail aboard the Harmony, which departed Barcelona on 29 August, guests aged 18 and over must be vaccinated and tested negative before boarding. Children not eligible for the vaccine must also test negative. All the crew is vaccinated

 

https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/la-spezia/2021/09/02/news/la-spezia-ricoverato-crocierista-positivo-al-covid-1.40659016?fbclid=IwAR2WMFMzQVBjcL1DQN2xSQJu8_XEfqN0kB6e53pM6dhc_KSGU5KQPon2I2E

 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2021 by SeaHunt

[Jimbo]

24 minutes ago, SeaHunt said:

I'm sorry this happened to your family, and am glad your husband is doing OK. I'm also very glad RCI is taking care of you. JMO but all the different cruise lines efforts seem to be paying off, with no ships with big outbreaks (shown as "red") - knock on (teak) wood ☺️

 

I know it probably doesn't seem like it could be any worse, but there was a Harmony passenger from that same sailing who was taken from the ship and hospitalized who would probably disagree. I don't know who is taking care of his situation - hopefully he had good insurance 😉

 

You'll have to use google translate to read the article (it's in Italian):

 

*edited to add the translation:

 

Covid-19 positive cruise passenger who landed at the first light of dawn from Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, which docked at 3.27 yesterday morning. An ambulance was already waiting for the patient on the quayside and transported the man to the Sant'Andrea hospital. He is a 74-year-old American, with an Italian surname, who boarded last Sunday in Barcelona. The tourist was admitted to the Infectious Diseases ward and immediately began treatment.

 

Apparently the American had been sick for a couple of days . High fever and pain that prompted Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas medical team to subject him to an antigenic swab which immediately gave a positive result. At that point, as required by the protocols, the man was isolated in his cabin waiting to arrive at the first docking port of the cruise ship. It wasn't a walk in the park. The ship that departed from Barcelona had made a stopover in Palma de Mallorca on Monday. Presumably that evening the American tourist began to feel ill.

 

On Tuesday 31 August, the maritime health service was contacted from the ship, which was sailing directly to the port of La Spezia. At that point it was arranged to get the ship to the port of La Spezia as soon as possible given the tourist conditions. The Harmony Seas, whose arrival was scheduled for 8 am yesterday, arrived in the night. For the vaccinated American who, before embarking in Barcelona, had undergone two swabs with negative results and had a Green pass, were difficult times despite the presence of the ship's medical and nursing staff who guaranteed patient care. Hospitalized at Sant'Andrea, the tourist, who does not speak Italian, was immediately taken in charge by the Infectious Diseases staff where the doctors adequately informed him both about his condition and about the therapy to which he was immediately subjected.

 

"We activated the protocols provided for in these cases and everything went well," explains Dr. Antonella Mofferdin, head of La Spezia's maritime health -. Disembarkation was scheduled and the patient was taken to the hospital. There is no other case of Covid on the ship ». Apparently the tourist also suffered from other important pathologies. Positive result at Covid, with the fever rising, the ship's doctors decided, together with the maritime health care, to have him landed as soon as possible to be treated in a hospital. With the patient remained his wife, who landed with him. Last night Harmony of the Seas resumed sailing with two fewer guests.

 

«A guest aboard Harmony of the Seas was disembarked yesterday morning in La Spezia, Italy, due to an underlying health condition - explains Lucy Radford senior manager of Royal Caribben -. The guest was disembarked in La Spezia and was taken to hospital for medical treatment. As part of our standard procedure, the host was tested for Covid-19 and tested positive. All close contacts were traced and tested negative. To sail aboard the Harmony, which departed Barcelona on 29 August, guests aged 18 and over must be vaccinated and tested negative before boarding. Children not eligible for the vaccine must also test negative. All the crew is vaccinated

 

https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/la-spezia/2021/09/02/news/la-spezia-ricoverato-crocierista-positivo-al-covid-1.40659016?fbclid=IwAR2WMFMzQVBjcL1DQN2xSQJu8_XEfqN0kB6e53pM6dhc_KSGU5KQPon2I2E

 

 

 

Thanks for the translation. Be interesting how the next cruise makes out, some of the crew must have been near the passenger. Wonder if a bunch of crew is quarantined now?

Edited September 7, 2021 by Jimbo

[sugarny123]

28 minutes ago, SeaHunt said:

I'm sorry this happened to your family, and am glad your husband is doing OK. I'm also very glad RCI is taking care of you. JMO but all the different cruise lines efforts seem to be paying off, with no ships with big outbreaks (shown as "red") - knock on (teak) wood ☺️

 

I know it probably doesn't seem like it could be any worse, but there was a Harmony passenger from that same sailing who was taken from the ship and hospitalized who would probably disagree. I don't know who is taking care of his situation - hopefully he had good insurance 😉

 

You'll have to use google translate to read the article (it's in Italian):

 

*edited to add the translation:

 

Covid-19 positive cruise passenger who landed at the first light of dawn from Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, which docked at 3.27 yesterday morning. An ambulance was already waiting for the patient on the quayside and transported the man to the Sant'Andrea hospital. He is a 74-year-old American, with an Italian surname, who boarded last Sunday in Barcelona. The tourist was admitted to the Infectious Diseases ward and immediately began treatment.

 

Apparently the American had been sick for a couple of days . High fever and pain that prompted Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas medical team to subject him to an antigenic swab which immediately gave a positive result. At that point, as required by the protocols, the man was isolated in his cabin waiting to arrive at the first docking port of the cruise ship. It wasn't a walk in the park. The ship that departed from Barcelona had made a stopover in Palma de Mallorca on Monday. Presumably that evening the American tourist began to feel ill.

 

On Tuesday 31 August, the maritime health service was contacted from the ship, which was sailing directly to the port of La Spezia. At that point it was arranged to get the ship to the port of La Spezia as soon as possible given the tourist conditions. The Harmony Seas, whose arrival was scheduled for 8 am yesterday, arrived in the night. For the vaccinated American who, before embarking in Barcelona, had undergone two swabs with negative results and had a Green pass, were difficult times despite the presence of the ship's medical and nursing staff who guaranteed patient care. Hospitalized at Sant'Andrea, the tourist, who does not speak Italian, was immediately taken in charge by the Infectious Diseases staff where the doctors adequately informed him both about his condition and about the therapy to which he was immediately subjected.

 

"We activated the protocols provided for in these cases and everything went well," explains Dr. Antonella Mofferdin, head of La Spezia's maritime health -. Disembarkation was scheduled and the patient was taken to the hospital. There is no other case of Covid on the ship ». Apparently the tourist also suffered from other important pathologies. Positive result at Covid, with the fever rising, the ship's doctors decided, together with the maritime health care, to have him landed as soon as possible to be treated in a hospital. With the patient remained his wife, who landed with him. Last night Harmony of the Seas resumed sailing with two fewer guests.

 

«A guest aboard Harmony of the Seas was disembarked yesterday morning in La Spezia, Italy, due to an underlying health condition - explains Lucy Radford senior manager of Royal Caribben -. The guest was disembarked in La Spezia and was taken to hospital for medical treatment. As part of our standard procedure, the host was tested for Covid-19 and tested positive. All close contacts were traced and tested negative. To sail aboard the Harmony, which departed Barcelona on 29 August, guests aged 18 and over must be vaccinated and tested negative before boarding. Children not eligible for the vaccine must also test negative. All the crew is vaccinated

 

https://www.ilsecoloxix.it/la-spezia/2021/09/02/news/la-spezia-ricoverato-crocierista-positivo-al-covid-1.40659016?fbclid=IwAR2WMFMzQVBjcL1DQN2xSQJu8_XEfqN0kB6e53pM6dhc_KSGU5KQPon2I2E

 

 

 

oh wow. so he was in the ship what we missed. I hope for his fully recovery in Italy.

Thanks for sharing the article and your warm wishes.