Bit of a Blog : B2B2B : SoA : embarking 20/01/22

[NorbertsNiece]

There was a Code Alpha in the dining room during afternoon tea. Our LFT will be later. Crew and all guests will be LFT Friday before arrival in Ponta Delgada.

________

 

From the Captain @ 1723. 11 crew have tested positive for Covid, mostly asymptomatically. Contacts isolated. 

___________

 

688 passengers on board

514 crew.... we're on the edge of the 1% line.

[NorbertsNiece]

OMG Saga!!! Thank you so much. Knock on the door, thinking it's dinner.... then this happened!!

 

[NorbertsNiece]

New route map on TV!!! 👏

LFT just done.

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

WiFi has been down so first opportunity to post. Thanks for fixing it Saga tech.

 

Day 36 / 67

Day 3 Caribbean 

Day 3 isolation ..... over ½ way there!

 

Watched Peter Howarth of the Hollies last night.

 

Breakfast arrived at the same time as the nurse for LFT testing.

 

We get surface wipes! Our room steward has returned.... we've missed him... one of the guests he was looking after had tested positive for Covid last cruise so he'd been isolating. He therefore missed saying goodbye to all his guests therefore missing any bonus gratuity they may have felt inclined to give him.

 

Watching the Antigua port talk atm. Saw the Ponta Delgada one yesterday. Excellent presenter : Martin Lee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Link to live video here

 

Notes from Captain Darin's noon address : 

 

Noon update Bay of Biscay.

SW 800 nautical miles to go to Ponta Delgada 

2 sophisticated stabilisers currently deployed and navigational aids

6 metre swell currently on Starboard beam

12⁰C on upper decks

Highs around 16⁰C expected for Saturday 

Arrival into Ponta Delgada late so departure will be 2300

Covid: PCR : 3 B2B guests have Covid 1 new arrival has

16 crew mostly restaurant positive 

Others are in isolation

 

12 Ukrainian crew members on board. Saga assisting with communication home for them during these days of unprecedented aggression of Russian troops. Our thoughts are with them.

[NorbertsNiece]

Captain Darin just updated us again.

 

My notes : 

Epicentre of swell

Azores weather favourable 

Pilot on board 12pm

Covid : 12 positive guests .... 11 B2B

Crew : 3 more cases = 25 altogether

Almost 50 in total isolating including contacts... mostly from the restaurant

[Kohima]

Looks like it was the right decision to quarantine the B2Bs. Well done to the new captain for being honest about what is happening and keeping everyone informed. This never happened on the Norway cruise. Hopefully once passengers are able to spend much more time outside in better weather the virus will not be able to spread so easily.

[NorbertsNiece]

1755

Reception just called. Always nervous about the phone ringing. It's about my friend's passport. Again. This time it's Portuguese authorities querying its authenticity. They asked him to bring it to reception. He declined and gently explained why he couldn't. So someone has been dispatched to come and get it. They weren't aware that he'd had a similar issue with Norway.

 

What I don't understand is why they didn't flag it when we went to Lisbon 🤷‍♀️🧐

[NorbertsNiece]

Isolation lunch

Watched a talk about sea weather forecasts

 

 

 

1755

Reception just called. Always nervous about the phone ringing. It's about my friend's passport. Again. This time it's Portuguese authorities querying its authenticity. They asked him to bring it to reception. He declined and gently explained why he couldn't. So someone has been dispatched to come and get it. They weren't aware that he'd had a similar issue with Norway.

 

What I don't understand is why they didn't flag it when we went to Lisbon 🤷‍♀️🧐

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 37 / 67

Day 4 Caribbean 

Day 4 isolation yayyy!!

 

Good morning and thanks for following. 

 

Last night there was an excellent and extremely emotional recital by the Excelsior Piano Quartet from Ukraine. I cannot imagine how difficult yet poignant it was for them to play so evocatively.

 

LFT for today done and dusted.

 

 

 

[paulatsea]

4 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Day 37 / 67

Day 4 Caribbean 

Day 4 isolation yayyy!!

 

Good morning and thanks for following. 

 

Last night there was an excellent and extremely emotional recital by the Excelsior Piano Quartet from Ukraine. I cannot imagine how difficult yet poignant it was for them to play so evocatively.

 

LFT for today done and dusted.

 

 

 

So you will be out for the Azores hopefully ?

[NorbertsNiece]

I've been asked for Guest Speakers' autobiographies.

 

These two have appeared on the TV. They don't match the pics 🤷‍♀️

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Just now, paulatsea said:

So you will be out for the Azores hopefully ?

Ssssshhhhh 🤞

[NorbertsNiece]

WE'RE FREE!!!

Tested negative and released from captivity!!!

 

"O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

[paulatsea]

35 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

WE'RE FREE!!!

Tested negative and released from captivity!!!

 

"O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

Great news !

[NorbertsNiece]

I want to put a rumour to rest. And also to say that I will always challenge 3rd party information.

 

There was a rumour posted that there had been a number of covid related deaths on board. Let me categorically state that in the past two months there hasn't been one death on board, Covid related or otherwise. And Jan Novak, Hotel General Manager, has said I can quote him on that.

 

Covid cases on board are symptomatically mild where symptoms exist. The Captain's noon announcement will describe further actions they will be taking to try and reduce infections. 

 

Not planning on a live broadcast today. Will eat lunch sat at a table. Have been walking outside, legs need a whole lot of stretching. Good to see people again and exchange pleasantries. And to hear, "Welcome back!"

[Astrajet]

2 hours ago, NorbertsNiece said:

Good to see people again and exchange pleasantries. And to hear, "Welcome back!"

Delighted that you have been given back your freedom!  Hopefully you can now look forward to the rest of your cruise and enjoy it to the full. 

[NorbertsNiece]

As per the Captain's noon announcement there are no new Covid cases today.

 

-----

From me :

 

Arrangements are being made to support the restaurant staff from being further impacted. Their bubbles will be further bubbled and the Supper Club (specialty restaurant) will be closed and the staff distributed elsewhere. Some on board activities may be curtailed.

 

There may be cases to advise. Waiting for all guests to be tested.

[NorbertsNiece]

Just announced 1535

Due to staff shortages as a result of Covid afternoon tea in the Main Dining Room has also been cancelled until further notice. The Living Room has always had food and beverage availability.

[NorbertsNiece]

ORCA are now producing a daily report on the TV of sightings from deck 14 🐋 🐳 🐬 

 

I have popped the dates on in order to get the full info in shot

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Captain just announced 1640

 

All passengers Covid tested negative today. 

Most B2B have been released.

29 crew infected

20 crew isolated

 

All passengers Covid tested negative today. 

Most B2B have been released.

29 crew infected

20 crew isolated

Source identified 

 

Importance of masking up when not actually eating or drinking stressed.

[NorbertsNiece]

We are the dark blue speck on the map. Have been up to deck 14. Because I could. Met Jan from Orca.

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

We watched the Captain introduce his senior officers in the Playhouse pre show, on the TV. He also introduced the ship's Godmother : Commodore Inga Kennedy CBE.

 

This letter was awaiting us on our return. Our tour tomorrow.

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Day 38 / 67

Day 5 Caribbean 

Ponta Delgada 

 

Good morning and thanks for following.

 

 

 

 

[Windsurfboy]

Very interesting  to see if more sun and fresh air results in a quick drop in covid. Fingers crossed.