Anyone on Apex now?

[TheDougOut]

10 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

Actually, as of Jan 1, our hometown of  Houston has 22.1% positivity rate, 303442 of 1371880 tested.  Safer to be on 1% cruise ship where 100% of crew & 100% of passengers 12 & up are vaccinated , & tested negative as of 2 days prior to embarkation...

I believe the 1% on board rate isn’t limited to those being tested.  I suspect that number is much greater.

[wgwalker]

22 hours ago, WhiteSoxFan said:

Does anyone who just disembarked have any totals on the number of cases from their sailing?  We depart on the 15th and so far plan to go as it sees the Apex doesn't seem to have a very large number of cases.  Based on reports of many keys still in their slots it sounds like a lot  of people are cancelling which should make for an emptier ship.  All the better to make it safe. 

 

Same conversation we are having. We are on this sailing as well. Have come to the conclusion that we will just forgo some of the things that we typically enjoy, like the casino tournaments, and stay outdoors drinking by the pool. Never have been much of a show person on ships so not going to the theatre won't be too big of an issue, although I will miss just sitting around the bar listening to the live music.  Was really looking forward to hanging out at Craft Social at night but may just opt for a cigar and bourbon instead. 

[WhiteSoxFan]

44 minutes ago, wgwalker said:

 

Same conversation we are having. We are on this sailing as well. Have come to the conclusion that we will just forgo some of the things that we typically enjoy, like the casino tournaments, and stay outdoors drinking by the pool. Never have been much of a show person on ships so not going to the theatre won't be too big of an issue, although I will miss just sitting around the bar listening to the live music.  Was really looking forward to hanging out at Craft Social at night but may just opt for a cigar and bourbon instead. 

I'm actually more worried about the trip to the port.  If I lived where you did it would be easy to drive down.  We are coming from Chicago and my daughter from the west coast.  With easily close to 1 in 100 people infected going thru the airport with thousands of people and a highly contagious virus seems like the greater risk.

[Julma]

6 hours ago, UniPac said:

 

Whilst I was on a cruise myself in December and had a fabalous time, that is just numbers.If you decide to eat at home, wear a FFP2/KN95... mask during supermarket time and don't mingle with others you will be safer than on a ship - except if you stay in your cabin all time 🙂 Just because lots of people share the same places every day and night on a ship.

Another point is that if you test positive on a cruise ship, you will be moved to a cabin in the red zone (quarantine), often without balcony and maybe to a shaby hotel afterwards. What I have read here and on facebook doesn't sound like something I want to experience. Self-isolation at home sounds better to me. So whilst I am not too concerend about a positive (omicron) test during cruising, I fear being quarantined instead in a tiny cabin. If cruise lines would do some marketing on that (e.g. guarantee a balcony, a 4+ star hotel etc.) I bet there would be less cancellations as I think it has much to do with the fear raised by the stories of quarantined people.

However, this is just my 2 cents 🙂

 

 

 

I couldn't agree with your 2 cents more.  

[wgwalker]

45 minutes ago, WhiteSoxFan said:

I'm actually more worried about the trip to the port.  If I lived where you did it would be easy to drive down.  We are coming from Chicago and my daughter from the west coast.  With easily close to 1 in 100 people infected going thru the airport with thousands of people and a highly contagious virus seems like the greater risk.

 

Yeah. We have been debating that too. Driving is about 15 hrs for us to FLL. We have small kids so the plan has been to drop them off at grandparents a couple hours south and fly out of their smaller airport. Only problem is that it connects through ATL, but the layover is only an hour. Hope is that midday flights on Friday won't be too crowded. We just flew back from Christmas and wore N95s the whole time. 

[Cruisegoer]

On 1/2/2022 at 12:25 PM, Penny7777 said:

I'm on Apex on the last day of the Apex NYE cruise. The first few days were nice, but we were anxious that most passengers were not wearing masks. We let down our guard, too. On NYE, I was feeling tired and had congestion. I self tested in my cabin, and it was positive. Being responsible, I contacted Medical. They sent a team in hazmat suits to do an in-room PCR test. Results in an hour and it was positive. They informed me I'd have to relocate to a special pressurized cabin on deck 3 and that I'd be in isolation for the remainder of the cruise. Surreal to be led down the hall by 3 crew members in full hazmat gear. I moved from an Aqua Class cabin to a cabin that can only be described as Spartan. I feel like I'm being punished for being responsible and doing the right thing. Little to no information on board regarding COVID status of guests and crew. An occasional captain's announcement couched in the most positive terms. If you happen to be in a public area to hear it, you'll hear that a few more guests have reported to Medical and are in quarantine. But no mention of how many guests (or crew) have tested positive. I now know that my location is called the "Red Zone" and that there seems to be a large team of crew dedicated to this area, based on the number of different people I've encountered as they drop off food, towels, etc. I have no idea how many of us are down here. It's scary, and I can't wait to get off the ship. I feel like I'm being held captive.

May I ask if you recall what room #? We're booked in an OV cabin on Deck 3 for our Feb 5 sailing and I'd prefer not to be sharing ventilation with those in quarantine for obvious reasons.

[CalTexCruiser]

4 minutes ago, Cruisegoer said:

May I ask if you recall what room #? We're booked in an OV cabin on Deck 3 for our Feb 5 sailing and I'd prefer not to be sharing ventilation with those in quarantine for obvious reasons.

 

LOL...I guess you'll get the Red Zone experience without the requirement of a positive Covid test.

 

Servers/room attendants in haz mat suits, room service in to-go containers, red-colored trash bags, plastic covered hallways, and at the end of the cruise, a Covid infection as a souvenir.

[BennyBrun]

1 hour ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

LOL...I guess you'll get the Red Zone experience without the requirement of a positive Covid test.

 

Servers/room attendants in haz mat suits, room service in to-go containers, red-colored trash bags, plastic covered hallways, and at the end of the cruise, a Covid infection as a souvenir.

On the Summit in November we were in OV on deck three and didn’t know anything but when we checked in at the terminal the port agent says please see guest services on the ship there is a room change.  We went to guest services and they told us they need deck three OV for quarantine etc and upgraded us to a balcony plus extras no charge.  That was a surprise upgrade.  Which is weird because on the Summit in order for you to get to Tuscan Grille you have to use that hallway with the OV rooms to get to the restaurant so it made no sense to us but we sat on the balcony and enjoyed our beverages and didn’t think about it too much.

[amomx5]

We were on the Apex for New Years.  We wore masks and at the beginning and were in small minority. By the end still a minority but more started to wear them.  We were in an Aqua room on deck 10 and on Deck six (we only did stairs) the door was closed to the hallway aft and stated Out Of Bounds, restricted, I know some were in quarantine on that floor as the door was just closing one day we went by and red bags of trash were outside of rooms.  Also our room was deck 10 on the same side as those rooms and one day we had our window open. I heard people loudly talking.  I looked out, some of the (looked like entertainment type) crew on the deck outside of Eden were  talking to a young woman with her head out her window (balcony) on deck 6.  She was saying that she did not think she had any neighbors.  In Blu one of the waitresses had to isolate as her husband was positive, and a large extended family was missing the last few days as a few tested positive.  This morning I woke up to a Covid alert from the state of Colorado (no I was not there!) stating my phone had been in contact with a person that tested positive and my exposure was 5 days ago, so New Year's eve or day.  We were up on deck 14 at midnight  more that 6 feet away from anyone.  My DH and I tested yesterday as we work with our pregnant daughter-in-law.  We were both negative but now have to assess any symptoms  in case!  So there are people that had Covid from the cruise but did not know until they got home.

[Oxo]

4 hours ago, TheDougOut said:

I believe the 1% on board rate isn’t limited to those being tested.  I suspect that number is much greater.

Isn't it amazing that we know what the rates of positives are in our towns, but no one can find out the true number on a ship? Crew and guests.

Yes, many passengers are not tested and some will not test even when sick.

They don't want to go to the Red Zone.

If anyone posts a number, regardless of source, it's BS.

Cruises are being canceled now. Regardless of which line, it's getting serious.

If you have a cruise booked, it's your decision and only yours to decide to go or not. You decided to book it with what you knew at that time. No one told you to book.

Now with changed conditions, you read what they are, no one should tell you to go or cancel.

Just make the right decision that will keep you safe!

Stay Safe! 

[fsr44]

4 hours ago, amomx5 said:

We were on the Apex for New Years.  We wore masks and at the beginning and were in small minority. By the end still a minority but more started to wear them.  We were in an Aqua room on deck 10 and on Deck six (we only did stairs) the door was closed to the hallway aft and stated Out Of Bounds, restricted, I know some were in quarantine on that floor as the door was just closing one day we went by and red bags of trash were outside of rooms.  Also our room was deck 10 on the same side as those rooms and one day we had our window open. I heard people loudly talking.  I looked out, some of the (looked like entertainment type) crew on the deck outside of Eden were  talking to a young woman with her head out her window (balcony) on deck 6.  She was saying that she did not think she had any neighbors.  In Blu one of the waitresses had to isolate as her husband was positive, and a large extended family was missing the last few days as a few tested positive.  This morning I woke up to a Covid alert from the state of Colorado (no I was not there!) stating my phone had been in contact with a person that tested positive and my exposure was 5 days ago, so New Year's eve or day.  We were up on deck 14 at midnight  more that 6 feet away from anyone.  My DH and I tested yesterday as we work with our pregnant daughter-in-law.  We were both negative but now have to assess any symptoms  in case!  So there are people that had Covid from the cruise but did not know until they got home.

Hi.  We were on that cruise with you.  Based on what I saw, I'm convinced there were far more cases that weren't reported.  We masked indoors and generally avoided people.  Fell asleep by 10:30 on NYE.  Our cabin was on 15, and when the ship's horn blew at midnight, you had to peel my husband off the ceiling.  I, on the other hand, slept through it.  🙂 So we weren't on deck for the party, but we tested as soon as we got home.  Negative, but we'll test again in a couple days to be sure.  The airport experience was horrendous, so if we picked up the bug anywhere, that would be my bet.  

[Birdnutty]

7 hours ago, amomx5 said:

 We were in an Aqua room on deck 10 and on Deck six (we only did stairs) the door was closed to the hallway aft and stated Out Of Bounds, restricted, I know some were in quarantine on that floor as the door was just closing one day we went by and red bags of trash were outside of rooms.  Also our room was deck 10 on the same side as those rooms...

We'll be on Apex in a few weeks, and have a balcony on deck 6, port side.  Was the quarantine contained on both sides of the ship and in the Aft only?  A little nervous about being close to that area.

 

So many things are unknown, yet much to plan in case this trip really does happen.  Don't want to cancel - it's a great opportunity, good room, great prices - hate to give it up.  Hoping the case numbers seriously decrease in the near future.  Fingers crossed....

[AllAboardatSea]

43 minutes ago, Birdnutty said:

We'll be on Apex in a few weeks, and have a balcony on deck 6, port side.  Was the quarantine contained on both sides of the ship and in the Aft only?  A little nervous about being close to that area.

 

So many things are unknown, yet much to plan in case this trip really does happen.  Don't want to cancel - it's a great opportunity, good room, great prices - hate to give it up.  Hoping the case numbers seriously decrease in the near future.  Fingers crossed....

We were also on the NYE cruise. The quarantine cabins (at least some of them anyways) were on deck 3, with a window but no balcony. The last day Sunday was really bad, people were disappearing left and right. Because of Celebrity’s poor communication, transparency and overall handling of passengers in ‘the red zone’ I’m sure many people avoided being tested. If X is going to force people into lockdown conditions, they need to provide a minimum level of service and medical support above what one would receive in a prison. Just look at that other thread regarding Equinox, good grief.

[randomcruise]

We had a block of 6 cabins together on deck six, aft, starboard side reserved on the Apex for the cruise that leave this Saturday (1/8/22).  Celebrity reassigned all 6 cabins this morning to cabins that are spread out, forward on deck 6. When I called Celebrity, they alluded to health protocols, so I strongly suspect the cabins we had originally reserved are now on hold for potential quarantines.  

 

BTW, no email or notice from Celebrity letting us know that our cabins had been changed and that our luggage tags no longer showed the correct cabins.  I happened to check my reservation this morning and by chance noticed that the cabin number was different.  

[BennyBrun]

9 minutes ago, randomcruise said:

We had a block of 6 cabins together on deck six, aft, starboard side reserved on the Apex for the cruise that leave this Saturday (1/8/22).  Celebrity reassigned all 6 cabins this morning to cabins that are spread out, forward on deck 6. When I called Celebrity, they alluded to health protocols, so I strongly suspect the cabins we had originally reserved are now on hold for potential quarantines.  

 

BTW, no email or notice from Celebrity letting us know that our cabins had been changed and that our luggage tags no longer showed the correct cabins.  I happened to check my reservation this morning and by chance noticed that the cabin number was different.  

We are on the same cruise and had a room on deck 6 and had an issue accessing eDOC so we called and got some very general explanation and then was moved to higher decks away from 6.

[happy cruzer]

24 minutes ago, AllAboardatSea said:

We were also on the NYE cruise. The quarantine cabins (at least some of them anyways) were on deck 3, with a window but no balcony. The last day Sunday was really bad, people were disappearing left and right. Because of Celebrity’s poor communication, transparency and overall handling of passengers in ‘the red zone’ I’m sure many people avoided being tested. If X is going to force people into lockdown conditions, they need to provide a minimum level of service and medical support above what one would receive in a prison. Just look at that other thread regarding Equinox, good grief.

 

So people disappeared?  treated worse than if they were in prison?  On a land vacation, if you tested positive what would you expect from the hotel?  Cruise lines are facing demands that other venues do not.  Plus if people avoid the protocols, any enforcement becomes heavy handed.  Bottom line, not sure that there is much more to be accomplished once cases happen.  We sail in inside cabins, a window cabin is an upgrade - to as usual it all depends....

[NavyCruiser]

All 4 closed doors from elevators & stairs leading into all 4 forward, aft, Port, & starboard sides on Deck 6, for this entire week's cruise.   So entire 6th Deck are off limits...

[Penny7777]

10 hours ago, Cruisegoer said:

May I ask if you recall what room #? We're booked in an OV cabin on Deck 3 for our Feb 5 sailing and I'd prefer not to be sharing ventilation with those in quarantine for obvious reasons.

It was the row of cabins parallel with the Martini Bar. On the odd numbered side. I don't recall the actual number. Maybe 151 or 153? I think the reason they used those cabins is because they have special negative pressure ventilation.

[BennyBrun]

Wow!  The things you learn on CC before you get on the ship!  I think SNJCruiser is supposed to be on the ship now.  Have not seen any posts from SNJCruiser, hopefully he is enjoying the cruise!

[TourDeCruise]

12 hours ago, Cruisegoer said:

May I ask if you recall what room #? We're booked in an OV cabin on Deck 3 for our Feb 5 sailing and I'd prefer not to be sharing ventilation with those in quarantine for obvious reasons.

Call Celebrity or travel agent and express your concern. They should give you an upgrade; at least I would hope so.

[amomx5]

That’s funny NavyCruiser I took that very same picture. That was the only closed door on our cruise deck 6 Aft odd side. The even side door was open. So it seems that they have put aside more quarantine rooms.  So how do they decide who goes to deck 3 (porthole) and Deck 6 (balcony)?

[verizon]

Posted by mistake.

Edited January 6, 2022 by verizon

[WhiteSoxFan]

11 hours ago, NavyCruiser said:

All 4 closed doors from elevators & stairs leading into all 4 forward, aft, Port, & starboard sides on Deck 6, for this entire week's cruise.   So entire 6th Deck are off limits...

This tells me that either they know there is a possible tsunami of cases coming or they are going start quarantining pax in balcony rooms (much preferred).  Perhaps they need the deck three rooms for what has to be the increased crew cases?

[NavyCruiser]

Nassau port cancelled today.  So another sea day...

Only one port call on this 5 night cruise.

[Julma]

On 1/5/2022 at 9:20 PM, NavyCruiser said:

All 4 closed doors from elevators & stairs leading into all 4 forward, aft, Port, & starboard sides on Deck 6, for this entire week's cruise.   So entire 6th Deck are off limits...

We cruised in Aug, Oct and Nov and this was the case then as well.  We were told these rooms are being used for crew who come onto the ship and have to quarantine for 2 weeks.  We were told these were not isolation rooms, just quarantine.  Isolation is for someone who has tested positive.  Quarantine is for some in the testing process.