Spirit Covid Status

[hsheffield]

57 minutes ago, labrasett said:

I am very sad to read these comments.   I am not there so cant know exactly what has happened but there is plenty of information available in the media to suggest that there are more than a dozen ships in the Florida area with Covid cases on board all of whom need to be quarantined and onward travel will need to be arranged in due course plus testing in the meantime.   This is the middle of the holiday season when hotels will likely be fully booked anyway.   Yes SS have offices in Miami but what you need is the right type of personnel to manage these types of issues and it would seem that several of these individuals would be needed.   It is clear some passengers are pretty much inconsolably irate and therefore very difficult to manage.   Everyone needs to calm down and be realistic in what is a very difficult situation, SS will be doing their best to resolve the problems but it wont be at all easy.   Passengers travelled during a pandemic when there was a known risk and they chose to run it.  I will do so myself in a few weeks time and if I get caught out then so be it, I will suck it up and wait for the support I know will be forthcoming when it becomes possible to provide it.   I have previously quarantined for four days in a very small cabin (no balcony) on the Explorer when the whole ship was shut down in Chile in March 2020.   It wasnt a great experience but we got home when eventually SS negotiated for our disembarkation in Chile and immediate charters flights to many parts of the world at huge cost, we left the ship late at night in the dark via zodiacs, had a ferry ride and a bus ride and waited at airports for aircraft but we got home.  Our bags followed three months later.   Not great, or was it?   I think it was pretty extraordinary and record it in my memory as an adventure albeit not the usual extremely slick comfort orientated arrangements offered by SS.   Come on folks stop knocking it realise there are worse problems around the world at the moment and if you have had a few days of sheer luxury on a beautiful ship hold those memories.   As for "the press should be told", I see this as purely vindictive and the reaction of people with little understanding or sufficient grace to accept that things dont always go right.   Anyway with so many other ships with the same issues the media are on it anyway and the SS issues are shared with many other cruise companies right now.   Is this news?   No probably not.

The passengers in question had rooms onboard in which to quarantine. They were removed by SS with the reasonable expectation (and promise from SS?) that they would be settled into land-based rooms in a reasonable time frame. That did not occur.  It is not too much to ask that if SS removed them from their ship, that they had rooms on land at the ready to receive them. This isn't March 2020. SS entered into an expensive contract to provide for these individuals with full knowledge that there was a risk they might need to quarantine off ship. Shame on you Silversea. 

[bitob]

I was on Silversea pre Omicron this past November.

The protocols were excellent, strict and enforced.

If you can contract Covid on Silversea, no ship is safe at this moment.

[Observer]

I have gained a bit more insight on this matter from a crew member involved.

 

First, everyone was eventually bedded down in 4* accommodation for the night.  Most crew are in the same hotel as passengers.  It is reassuring to know that crew are being treated with respect.

 

Second, the responsibility here apparently is primarily with the port agent, who may have been swamped with two large Silversea ships in port the same day, both with COVID issues.   This does not absolve SS of all responsibility. After all, its offices are around the corner.  They could at the very least have sent someone to explain the situation, to say that they would all have decent rooms by 6 pm, etc., etc.

 

I do not know the property where they were first taken, but I assume it has a banquet room.  The port agent or SS should have booked that room, arranged for modest catering, and invited guests to wait there.

 

I think the lack of communication may have been at the heart of this matter.  It was obviously a very unpleasant experience for the guests affected and presumably the crew as well.  Of course, the crew are paid to “suffer”, the guests paid dearly to be treated well.

 

These are exceptional times.  I hope that this can be fairly described as a COIVID-caused blemish on the otherwise attractive SS face. (There will doubtless be more in this time of COVID.)

 

I feel for the passengers who had their trips interrupted and ended like this.  I hope others will join me (I assume I will be flamed by a few) in expressing  happiness that the off-boarded crew have apparently been treated with care and respect.

[Silver Spectre]

You make reasonable points @Observer, however SS is responsible for their Port Agent in Ft Lauderdale and there is a recent history of a major gap in guest care once they actually leave the ship. We experienced this is spades when departing the Moon in early December. No one available, no care, no responsibility. This was repeated when friends left the Spirit a week or so later. SS management in the UK recognise there is a major problem in Florida, which has caused the current distress, why can’t the US office in Miami get on top of the problem.

[CJANDH]

On 1/3/2022 at 10:03 AM, Straughn said:

Do we know how many passengers are onboard?

It was around 470 if I recall.

[CJANDH]

This thread that I started with a very positive post has turned negative quickly as the facts become known. The quoted 60 people from Spirit being quarantined in Florida is high indeed. But it doesn't include all those that were infected on board. Many of those who were disembarking and staying in the US, did not take the optional covid test the day before arrival in FLL. Some of them, unfortunately including me, arrived home and tested positive, albeit with very mild symptoms. Had I taken the test on board, I would also be "locked up" in Florida. The total "infected" number could be well above the quoted 60.

 

This is very worrisome. It appears that it is too easy for the current virus to spread on cruise ships even with all the precautions SS has implemented. Some of this is due to passengers not following protocols. But I fear that even with full masking and attempts at social distancing, the risk for cruisers has now become too high. This not because the risk of catching covid is any higher than on shore, but because the repercussions of testing positive are so much more extreme (move to a small cabin and isolate until tested negative, or disembarked and locked in an hotel.  I will not be cruising again for a while until the numbers drop significantly.

[FauxNom]

22 minutes ago, CJANDH said:

But it doesn't include all those that were infected on board. Many of those who were disembarking and staying in the US, did not take the optional covid test the day before arrival in FLL.

Interesting point. I am really sorry to hear you contracted COVID too, but glad you are comfortable at home!

 

46 minutes ago, jratkin said:

I am personally more concerned about the number of individuals who came down with Covid on the SS sailing.

Not that it helps much, but there were also people from the Moon in this group. Still, a large enough number to cause concern. I'm not completely surprised after watching Facebook  videos of unmasked cruisers dancing on deck, having a great time. This was a New Year's Eve cruise, after all! People have varying levels of comfort with risk; many will be cautious up to a point but then endure the consequences for whatever risk they chose to take. I don't think a cruise is going to guaranty "care-free living" any more than would going to restaurants and bars in your local community. Perhaps the FCC is your best option if this is causing angst.

 

Nobody's posting links to the FB threads because you have to join the private "Silversea Passengers" group in order to access it.

[bitob]

Anyone who goes maskless (even outdoors) in the face of this highly contagious Omicron variant is putting themselves at risk.  Outdoors/indoors -- same thing now.

[Iguanabrain]

The Facebook post said there were 30 passengers and 18 crew positive on Silver Spirit. The rest were from Silver Moon.

[Iguanabrain]

I suspect the massive amount of Covid positive passengers exiting ships on January 3 were due to the unnecessary large social gatherings held on all of the ships- New Years Ever parties. Silverseas was held outdoors unlike the larger cruise lines, but being in other peoples faces is UNSAFE outdoors too. The lines need to hear that they need to stop encouraging large social gathering like these and sailaway parties to keep people safe. If you are cruising soon you need to be fanatical about social distancing. We just got off a cruise 2 weeks ago and we are joining Silver Spirit 2/5/22 for a 20 day B2B cruise and feel safe because we are willing to social distance. Skip the big parties, shows, and gatherings unless you want to meet a few Covids... 

[Straughn]

10 minutes ago, Iguanabrain said:

I suspect the massive amount of Covid positive passengers exiting ships on January 3 were due to the unnecessary large social gatherings held on all of the ships- New Years Ever parties. Silverseas was held outdoors unlike the larger cruise lines, but being in other peoples faces is UNSAFE outdoors too. The lines need to hear that they need to stop encouraging large social gathering like these and sailaway parties to keep people safe.

My thoughts exactly. I am new to SS, but have been cruising for many years. I was on Celebrity in October and, at  all the events that appeal to folks, especially after  some adult beverages, there was no social distancing.  I am waiting to see what happens this week on Spirit. From what I have learned about SS, there tends to be fewer issues with hard partying crowds and the passengers are more respectful of others.

[Iguanabrain]

1 minute ago, Straughn said:

My thoughts exactly. I am new to SS, but have been cruising for many years. I was on Celebrity in October and, at  all the events that appeal to folks, especially after  some adult beverages, there was no social distancing.  I am waiting to see what happens this week on Spirit. From what I have learned about SS, there tends to be fewer issues with hard partying crowds and the passengers are more respectful of others.

We were on Apex for a month this October on a B3B and we learned to make our own social distancing. We avoided sailaways, parties, the casino, and only went to shows with prereserved front seating for retreat guests ( in a mask). We pretipped the maitre'd at all of the restaurants we were planning to eat at and picked out our choice of socially distanced table. We told them their end of cruise tip would be determined by whether they sat people at a nearby table. Worked like a charm. Worked in December on Flora also.

[Lois R]

1 hour ago, CJANDH said:

This thread that I started with a very positive post has turned negative quickly as the facts become known. The quoted 60 people from Spirit being quarantined in Florida is high indeed. But it doesn't include all those that were infected on board. Many of those who were disembarking and staying in the US, did not take the optional covid test the day before arrival in FLL. Some of them, unfortunately including me, arrived home and tested positive, albeit with very mild symptoms. Had I taken the test on board, I would also be "locked up" in Florida. The total "infected" number could be well above the quoted 60.

 

This is very worrisome. It appears that it is too easy for the current virus to spread on cruise ships even with all the precautions SS has implemented. Some of this is due to passengers not following protocols. But I fear that even with full masking and attempts at social distancing, the risk for cruisers has now become too high. This not because the risk of catching covid is any higher than on shore, but because the repercussions of testing positive are so much more extreme (move to a small cabin and isolate until tested negative, or disembarked and locked in an hotel.  I will not be cruising again for a while until the numbers drop significantly.

Welcome home🙂 thanks for all of your updates. So sorry you caught the virus but glad your symptoms are mild. 

[sfvoyage]

2 hours ago, Ehops19 said:

I want to know how it’s handled with US citizens.  I see you live in/near Chicago.  Same here.  Could always drive home if one could find a rental car.   Or self test and return when negative.  If we go on the 14th bringing a lot of self tests.

 

2 hours ago, CJANDH said:

... The quoted 60 people from Spirit being quarantined in Florida is high indeed. But it doesn't include all those that were infected on board. Many of those who were disembarking and staying in the US, did not take the optional covid test the day before arrival in FLL. Some of them, unfortunately including me, arrived home and tested positive, albeit with very mild symptoms. Had I taken the test on board, I would also be "locked up" in Florida. The total "infected" number could be well above the quoted 60.

 

This is very worrisome. It appears that it is too easy for the current virus to spread on cruise ships even with all the precautions SS has implemented. Some of this is due to passengers not following protocols. But I fear that even with full masking and attempts at social distancing, the risk for cruisers has now become too high. This not because the risk of catching covid is any higher than on shore, but because the repercussions of testing positive are so much more extreme (move to a small cabin and isolate until tested negative, or disembarked and locked in an hotel.  I will not be cruising again for a while until the numbers drop significantly.

 

I totally agree, this variant is just too easily transmissible.  I was on Seabourn in Oct & Nov for 33 days, and only 1 or 2 couples were tested positive and offloaded at the end of each segment.  The picture now is vastly different, unfortunately.

 

I just disembarked from another Seabourn voyage 2 weeks ago with some relatives, and one has since tested positive (with very mild symptoms, fortunately).  For sure he had caught the virus on board, but because only in-transit passengers were tested on board 2 days prior to disembarkation in Miami, we didn't know our status until he developed the mild symptoms a few days later at home in Florida and got himself tested.  (The rest of us have since tested negative.)

 

It sounds like the protocol when disembarking in Florida remains that US citizens do not need to get tested prior to disembarkation, which means that they can drive or fly home without any risk of quarantine, even though they can inadvertently infect others passengers on their flights home.

 

I have a question:  is it true that those who are currently quarantined in Florida hotels are in fact all non-US citizens?

[spinnaker2]

4 hours ago, CJANDH said:

This thread that I started with a very positive post has turned negative quickly as the facts become known. The quoted 60 people from Spirit being quarantined in Florida is high indeed. But it doesn't include all those that were infected on board. Many of those who were disembarking and staying in the US, did not take the optional covid test the day before arrival in FLL. Some of them, unfortunately including me, arrived home and tested positive, albeit with very mild symptoms. Had I taken the test on board, I would also be "locked up" in Florida. The total "infected" number could be well above the quoted 60.

 

This is very worrisome. It appears that it is too easy for the current virus to spread on cruise ships even with all the precautions SS has implemented. Some of this is due to passengers not following protocols. But I fear that even with full masking and attempts at social distancing, the risk for cruisers has now become too high. This not because the risk of catching covid is any higher than on shore, but because the repercussions of testing positive are so much more extreme (move to a small cabin and isolate until tested negative, or disembarked and locked in an hotel.  I will not be cruising again for a while until the numbers drop significantly.

Why didn’t you take the test before disembarking?

You said you arrived home and tested positive. Do you think that you caught Covid aboard or do you think you caught it on your way home?

 

You mentioned the repercussions of testing positive are more extreme on a ship, but when you test positive at home you are supposed to isolate/quarantine until negative as well, aren’t you?

[jollyjones]

11 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

Why didn’t you take the test before disembarking?

You said you arrived home and tested positive. Do you think that you caught Covid aboard or do you think you caught it on your way home?

 

You mentioned the repercussions of testing positive are more extreme on a ship, but when you test positive at home you are supposed to isolate/quarantine until negative as well, aren’t you?

But Spins, massive difference between staying indoors at home or being trapped in a cabin or hotel room (maybe in a foreign country and worrying about flying home) without friends or support systems nearby. 

Edited January 4, 2022 by jollyjones

[spinnaker2]

Jolly i get that. 

 

[CJANDH]

23 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

Why didn’t you take the test before disembarking?

You said you arrived home and tested positive. Do you think that you caught Covid aboard or do you think you caught it on your way home?

 

You mentioned the repercussions of testing positive are more extreme on a ship, but when you test positive at home you are supposed to isolate/quarantine until negative as well, aren’t you?

There is no requirement to take a disembarkation test to return to the US. So I didn't take one. I certainly caught the virus on the cruise. I disembarked and got straight into my car and drove home with no stops. The next day I took a test as recommended by the CDC for returning travelers and tested positive. I am quarantining at home as required and will take another test in a week or so before rejoining society. All above board and responsible.

[spinnaker2]

I asked because when we were on the Whisper December 2 thru December 19, we had to take the test to disembark. It was mandatory. Not a choice.

We also had to take a test in Bridgetown, mandatory by Barbados  we were on a B2B.

 

I live in the US too.

 

Hard to determine when one is positive/infected especially if asymptomatic, most particularly without a test.

 

Hope you test negative soonest.

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by spinnaker2

[geekgirl23]

19 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

I asked because when we were on the Whisper December 2 thru December 19, we had to take the test to disembark. It was mandatory. Not a choice.

I was also under the impression that the test the day before arrival to the US was mandatory. We just disembarked the Moon yesterday and are surprised to read there were passengers/crew from the Moon included in the hotel debacle. I didn't hear anything about cases onboard. 

 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery (both from COVID and from the hotel issues) to all involved. 

[Silver Spectre]

32 minutes ago, geekgirl23 said:

I was also under the impression that the test the day before arrival to the US was mandatory. We just disembarked the Moon yesterday and are surprised to read there were passengers/crew from the Moon included in the hotel debacle. I didn't hear anything about cases onboard. 

 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery (both from COVID and from the hotel issues) to all involved. 

That’s the way that Silversea would like to keep it. If you don’t get told it then nothing happened.

[CJANDH]

Here is the best explanation of the rules that I could find. The same info is in the CDC rules but not as clearly stated.

 

Will I need to take a COVID-19 test to enter the US by cruise ship?

No. Since the testing requirement announced on Thursday  only will apply to travelers arriving in the U.S. by airplane, travelers arriving in the U.S. by cruise ship will not need a negative result on a COVID-19 test to enter the country.

In other words, if you cruise out of a U.S. port such as PortMiami to such international ports as Cozumel in Mexico or Nassau, in the Bahamas, you won’t need a COVID-19 test before disembarking at the end of the voyage.

But that doesn’t mean cruisers won’t have to take any COVID-19 tests in connection with such a sailing.

In keeping with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, cruise lines operating out of U.S. ports currently are requiring passengers to test negative for COVID-19 before boarding ships. Passengers typically have to test negative for COVID-19 within two or three days of arriving at a ship.

[Silver Spectre]

Unfortunately those who were not allocated rooms at the Provident Doral in Miami were shunted off to a Sheraton, I believe in Ft Lauderdale, and as yet haven’t seen anyone from SS. They have had some help from the UK office but none from Miami, and they are still pretty p****d off.

 

Channel 7 news are the only locals who have been in touch with them.

 

Current quote ‘This has turned into a 3* holiday’

Edited January 4, 2022 by Silver Spectre

[Host Jazzbeau]

@bohaiboy you can't link to (or even refer to) the place you are mentioning.

[PaulMCO]

On 1/4/2022 at 9:11 AM, Silver Spectre said:

It’s quite simple, you book the rooms for the night before so they are available for immediate checkin on arrival. It may cost a little more but it avoids the sort of situation that has arisen. BTW it was on a local TV station this morning, with no comment available from Silversea. We should remember these people have already been quarantined on the ships and needed to be treated with a bit of humanity and care.

Yes and SS did a decent job, considering what other cruise lines would have done.  As noted in subsequent FB posts, those effected are satisfied.  But do consider the hotel situation in Florida at the moment.  Fully booked is fully booked.