Planning for the worst: Day 2 Contact Quarantine - what do you pack?

[xfer]

I just read @fivecatzk review of an October Breakaway sailing, where they had to be contact quarantined alone on Day 2 of their 30th anniversary cruise. It's a sad story, but not enough to deter me from my obvious cruise addiction. So the pessimist in me would like to plan for being stuck alone in a small room for 5 days on the ship, with possible mild COVID symptoms. How would you plan for this so it's less stressful? What would you pack that you normally don't? 

 

 

 

 

 

[CruizinKittie40]

I wouldn't pack anything different but I would download a lot more movies/TV series/Games on my laptop

Edited November 3, 2021 by CruizinKittie40

[Turtles06]

OP: you know best what you enjoy and how you like to pass the time.  Is it reading, listening to music, doing crosswords, watching TV, knitting, etc.?   Decide and plan accordingly, and hope you don't need the extra books or yarn or whatever.  Enjoy your cruise.   

[dobiemom]

34 minutes ago, xfer said:

I just read @fivecatzk review of an October Breakaway sailing, where they had to be contact quarantined alone on Day 2 of their 30th anniversary cruise. It's a sad story, but not enough to deter me from my obvious cruise addiction. So the pessimist in me would like to plan for being stuck alone in a small room for 5 days on the ship, with possible mild COVID symptoms. How would you plan for this so it's less stressful? What would you pack that you normally don't? 

Could you post the link to the review? Thanks!

[xfer]

I'm thinking of packing a "new hobby" kit, like knitting or cross-stitch. Maybe I'll download some yoga workout videos too. 

 

I'm worried room service won't deliver booze, so maybe a couple bottles of wine...

[xfer]

1 minute ago, dobiemom said:

Could you post the link to the review? Thanks!

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=683173

[marktwothousand]

Sorry but that review doesn’t seem consistent with Any COVID management protocols I’ve ever heard of, especially among a vaccinated population. You don’t get isolated for being a “close contact”, especially vaccinated. A positive test or symptoms are what warrants isolation 

[BermudaBound2014]

26 minutes ago, marktwothousand said:

Sorry but that review doesn’t seem consistent with Any COVID management protocols I’ve ever heard of, especially among a vaccinated population. You don’t get isolated for being a “close contact”, especially vaccinated. A positive test or symptoms are what warrants isolation 

 

There have been multiple reports across all cruise lines of people being quarantined for close contact. Granted it doesn't appear to happen often, but it does happen. It seems most are only quarantined overnight while awaiting PCR tests. This is the most recent I have seen, although there was never a follow up published. 

 

 

 

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, xfer said:

I just read @fivecatzk review of an October Breakaway sailing, where they had to be contact quarantined alone on Day 2 of their 30th anniversary cruise. It's a sad story, but not enough to deter me from my obvious cruise addiction. So the pessimist in me would like to plan for being stuck alone in a small room for 5 days on the ship, with possible mild COVID symptoms. How would you plan for this so it's less stressful? What would you pack that you normally don't? 

For those of us who carry a medicine chest in pill minders, for our 3 post-restart cruises, we carry meds assuming worst case of going into quarantine in the departure port city for 10 days post cruise. Along with some OTC meds to treat mild symptoms. 
 

We assume that we can get

basic bread-and-water on the ship and on shore. 

Edited November 3, 2021 by BirdTravels

[GeezerCouple]

I have trouble understanding the couple being separated even if they preferred to remain together.  I mean, they'd been fairly close together after whatever "exposure" may have taken place, etc., anyway.

 

Also, were they/the one person at least given the same size accommodation (or better) than what they had paid for?

 

We ALWAYS carry about a 2 week extra supply of any important meds, no matter where we go or when we go.  I'd probably up the amount just in case in Covid days... a 2 week quarantine (seems to occur in places?) plus then needing new arrangements to continue on or to home... better safe than sorry.

 

However, IF someone is forced to remain in an interior cabin with no way to get fresh air or sunlight at all... that's pretty grim.

 

Strange times!

 

GC

 

[CruizinKittie40]

54 minutes ago, xfer said:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=683173

This makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever and I'm wondering if this is a fake review.  Why would they isolate her because of some mystery close contact but not her husband? 

[xfer]

25 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

For those of us who carry a medicine chest in pill minders, for our 3 post-restart cruises, we carry meds assuming worst case of going into quarantine in the departure port city for 10 days post cruise. Along with some OTC meds to treat mild symptoms. 
 

We assume that we can get

basic bread-and-water on the ship and on shore. 

Good suggestion to bring extra meds, and the OTC meds. I'll add that to the cruise packing list. 

[MeHeartCruising]

If the person testing positive definitely wasn't an acquaintance of the person who wrote this review, my guess is that the ship personnel are using the ship's many cameras to look for close contacts after someone tests positive.  They could even be using facial identification technology to help.  So perhaps the wife was seen sitting next to the positive passenger in the casino, or in the theatre, or something like that.

 

It wouldn't be difficult once they asked the positive passenger where they had recently gone on the ship and around what time.  

Edited November 3, 2021 by MeHeartCruising

[xfer]

30 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

I have trouble understanding the couple being separated even if they preferred to remain together.  I mean, they'd been fairly close together after whatever "exposure" may have taken place, etc., anyway.

 

Also, were they/the one person at least given the same size accommodation (or better) than what they had paid for?

 

We ALWAYS carry about a 2 week extra supply of any important meds, no matter where we go or when we go.  I'd probably up the amount just in case in Covid days... a 2 week quarantine (seems to occur in places?) plus then needing new arrangements to continue on or to home... better safe than sorry.

 

However, IF someone is forced to remain in an interior cabin with no way to get fresh air or sunlight at all... that's pretty grim.

 

Strange times!

 

GC

 

I always assumed that I'd be quarantined to the room I booked. And that my cabin mate would be quarantined with me. I'd be willing to suck it up in an tiny inside room so my co-traveler didn't have to suffer quarantine too. But I bet if NCL told them they'd be separated all week and given them a choice, they would have chosen to stay together. 

 

[BermudaBound2014]

3 minutes ago, xfer said:

I always assumed that I'd be quarantined to the room I booked. And that my cabin mate would be quarantined with me. 

 

 

This has not been the case based on the reports I have read. The ships have a specific area (deck) where all quarantined passengers are moved to. I have not read any case where passengers stayed in the cabin they booked. I have also read where cabin mates were separated so while this doesn't make sense (what does?), it has been reported. Some cruise lines are using contact tracing bracelets to identify close contact (I thought NCL was also, but I maybe wrong on that).

 

Again, it doesn't appear that this happens often, but it happens enough that I am personally waiting to cruise. I'm not at all afraid of covid, but it would suck to be quarantined just because I sat next to the wrong person in the comedy show. 

[GeezerCouple]

2 minutes ago, xfer said:

I always assumed that I'd be quarantined to the room I booked. And that my cabin mate would be quarantined with me. I'd be willing to suck it up in an tiny inside room so my co-traveler didn't have to suffer quarantine too. But I bet if NCL told them they'd be separated all week and given them a choice, they would have chosen to stay together. 

 

 

I had read somewhere (yeah, "if it's on the Internet, it must be true", eh?) that at least some ships had specific areas or even full decks (given they are sailing partly full for now) blocked off in case of need for quarantine needs.  Perhaps they don't want things like room service frequently going between a quarantined cabin and the others right next door?  Keep them all together, and minimize any type of cross-contamination?

 

However, now that we know it's mostly airborne contamination that matters (and especially the finer aerosolized rather than regular droplets; the tiny particles stay airborne much, much longer and also spread much, much further), that doesn't seem as critical as when we were all scrubbing everything that arrived from the grocery store with bleach or alcohol or whatever we could find on the empty shelves! 😱

 

But to separate a couple who prefer to remain together!??

I would have assumed they would *prefer* to quarantine the "room-mate", perhaps even if room-mate wasn't so eager.  I wonder how "much" and what types of "contact" trigger the quarantine of someone who doesn't even have a clue about it?

 

Back when that first ship was quarantined near Tokyo, I thought they allowed shifts for passengers to stroll on a deck in fresh air for a short time each day.  Or was that another unfortunate ship?

 

GC

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, CruizinKittie40 said:

This makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever and I'm wondering if this is a fake review.  Why would they isolate her because of some mystery close contact but not her husband? 

Yeah.  I smell B 💩 here. Probably somebody who hates NCL because their steak wasn't perfect or they didn't get a towel animal.

[Paphillyguy]

This review is garbage if you ask me.  The first and mainly glaring item is that she was in close contact but her husband was not.  Ok, let's say her massage therapist tested positive, I get that.  But she was now in close contact with her husband.  So he gets to travel the ship freely yet she must remain locked down.  Something is not quite right here. 

[RRSeeker]

Regardless if it is true or made up If wanting to plan for a possible quarantine with mild Covid symptoms, I would bring: Sudafed, mucinex, Tylenol/ ibuprofen, nasal saline spray, Benadryl and a box of Kleenex with lotion or any other preferred meds you use for a cold. I would also have a sleep aid or anti anxiety med. I use melatonin but Benadryl or Dramamine can work too as far what is available over the counter.

 

 Everyone experiences different symptoms in a mild case but these are the items I needed. 
 

Also books or tablet for reading or whatever you like to do to keep your mind busy. 

[trivimp]

Dunno about y'all but I'm with @Turtles06 : I'm bringing my knitting, along with an extra skein of yarn, just in case 

[milolii]

This was a Bermuda cruise.   So who knows.  Around  the first of October  about 13-18 passengers on a Crystal cruise were removed from the ship, escorted by local authorities and placed in quarantine at a hotel on Bermuda.  A few were close contacts as identified by Crystal  who was using tracking brackets.  A few were positive cases.  At least two of the people affected were regular CC members.  One of them has been a frequent poster and member since 2006 or so.  I think the close contacts were allowed to return to the ship or fly home after a subsequent negative test the next day. Someone was posting a live thread that suddenly derailed into that mess. 
 

The Princess forum has frequent postings about passengers loosing their reserved cabins, usually before their cruise, as the cabins are requisition for isolation areas.  This has caused quite a stir as some of them are prime aft cabins, including suites.  
 

Not saying it makes sense, but who knows?  

[kylenyc]

8 hours ago, xfer said:

I just read @fivecatzk review of an October Breakaway sailing, where they had to be contact quarantined alone on Day 2 of their 30th anniversary cruise. It's a sad story, but not enough to deter me from my obvious cruise addiction. So the pessimist in me would like to plan for being stuck alone in a small room for 5 days on the ship, with possible mild COVID symptoms. How would you plan for this so it's less stressful? What would you pack that you normally don't?

In addition to what @CruizinKittie40 said, I'd have facetime/duo/whatsapp set up and working ahead of time on your phone and computer so you can have face to face interaction with family and friends.

 

If that's not enough social interaction, there are social apps and MMO games. Many of these should work if I presume NCL will be kind enough to at least give you free streaming wifi should you get quarantined.

 

If you need to access any apps/accounts using two-factor authentication that sends a code to your phone but your phone won't roam on the ship or at the destinations, you need an alternative way to authenticate i.e. set-up your accounts to the send code to an email account you have access to.

 

Finally, there are other activities that long distance couples can do to keep themselves entertained over whatsapp/facetime/duo. *wink wink nudge nudge*.

Edited November 4, 2021 by kylenyc

[xfer]

2 hours ago, RRSeeker said:

Regardless if it is true or made up If wanting to plan for a possible quarantine with mild Covid symptoms, I would bring: Sudafed, mucinex, Tylenol/ ibuprofen, nasal saline spray, Benadryl and a box of Kleenex with lotion or any other preferred meds you use for a cold. I would also have a sleep aid or anti anxiety med. I use melatonin but Benadryl or Dramamine can work too as far what is available over the counter.

 

 Everyone experiences different symptoms in a mild case but these are the items I needed. 
 

Also books or tablet for reading or whatever you like to do to keep your mind busy. 

Thank you. I hadn't considered what it would be like without a drug store nearby. It's hard to imagine needing a sleep aid on the ship, when I'm usually all worn out from the sun and partying. I updated my list. 

[xfer]

4 minutes ago, kylenyc said:

In addition to what @CruizinKittie40 said, I'd have facetime/duo/whatsapp set up and working ahead of time on your phone and computer so you can have face to face interaction with family and friends.

 

If that's not enough social interaction, there are social apps and MMO games. Many of these should work if I presume NCL will be kind enough to at least give you free streaming wifi should you get quarantined.

 

If you need to access any apps/accounts using two-factor authentication that sends a code to your phone but your phone won't roam on the ship or at the destinations, you need an alternative way to authenticate i.e. set-up your accounts to the send code to an email account you have access to.

 

Finally, there are other activities that long distance couples can do to keep themselves entertained over whatsapp/facetime/duo. *wink wink nudge nudge*.

I hadn't considered the two factor authentication issue. That's a good point. I won't be able to get text messages at sea. I'll check my logins. 

[tinkr2]

13 hours ago, CruizinKittie40 said:

This makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever and I'm wondering if this is a fake review.  Why would they isolate her because of some mystery close contact but not her husband? 

There has got to be a major piece of the story missing. I assumed they were them both but she seems to imply her husband could leave his cabin. And there was no mention of testing either.