Jim_Iain – Silhouette Live Post April 8, 21, 30 - B3B - TransAtlantic, Portugal Spain, France and the Norwegian Fjords

[nunuc2000]

Oh my goodness, Jim!!  I'm sitting in front of my computer, jaw resting on my desk... I'm in utter shock at this most unfortunate news of your positive test result!!  For the last couple of weeks, I've been updated my husband daily with great news of how you and Iain have managed to avoid covid due to your smart actions, everything from avoiding crowded areas, wearing the best masks at all times outside of your cabin (I even tracked down the 3M 9205 masks here in Canada for hubby and I to take on our B2B next month based on your recommendations and great success at remaining healthy!), and we've been so buoyed by your experiences, thinking we'd emulate everything you do and we'll be just fine... but if YOU can end up with a positive result, ANYONE can! I'm so very sorry that this has happened to you... what a disappointment for you both! 😞 

 

I'm going to refill my coffee cup and break this bad news to my husband now... and for sure this will cause us to reconsider our plans for next month... just shocking, truly!  We really want to travel, and thought we could almost assure ourselves we could avoid covid, but now I'm not so sure. 

 

Hope you both remain asymptomatic and are able to salvage the rest of your trip in a happy way.  

[Josie201]

1 minute ago, nunuc2000 said:

Oh my goodness, Jim!!  I'm sitting in front of my computer, jaw resting on my desk... I'm in utter shock at this most unfortunate news of your positive test result!!  For the last couple of weeks, I've been updated my husband daily with great news of how you and Iain have managed to avoid covid due to your smart actions, everything from avoiding crowded areas, wearing the best masks at all times outside of your cabin (I even tracked down the 3M 9205 masks here in Canada for hubby and I to take on our B2B next month based on your recommendations and great success at remaining healthy!), and we've been so buoyed by your experiences, thinking we'd emulate everything you do and we'll be just fine... but if YOU can end up with a positive result, ANYONE can! I'm so very sorry that this has happened to you... what a disappointment for you both! 😞 

 

I'm going to refill my coffee cup and break this bad news to my husband now... and for sure this will cause us to reconsider our plans for next month... just shocking, truly!  We really want to travel, and thought we could almost assure ourselves we could avoid covid, but now I'm not so sure. 

 

Hope you both remain asymptomatic and are able to salvage the rest of your trip in a happy way.  

Exact same here!  I've been updating DH for a couple of weeks.  We are both shocked and so sad to hear this turn of events.

 

Stay save Jim/Iain and keep us updated.  Rooting for you both!

[calicakes]

On 4/12/2022 at 7:37 AM, Mike981 said:

Jim, as someone who walks 10 miles a day I am going to assume you know a thing or two about walking shoes. I recently had my hip replaced and plan on getting my walking going again, do you have any suggestions on shoes?

I'm chiming in here, a friend who had a knee replacement said that his dr. and PT person all are recommending Hoka shoes.  Very expensive, but supposed to be worth it. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, nunuc2000 said:

Oh my goodness, Jim!!  I'm sitting in front of my computer, jaw resting on my desk... I'm in utter shock at this most unfortunate news of your positive test result!!  For the last couple of weeks, I've been updated my husband daily with great news of how you and Iain have managed to avoid covid due to your smart actions, everything from avoiding crowded areas, wearing the best masks at all times outside of your cabin (I even tracked down the 3M 9205 masks here in Canada for hubby and I to take on our B2B next month based on your recommendations and great success at remaining healthy!), and we've been so buoyed by your experiences, thinking we'd emulate everything you do and we'll be just fine... but if YOU can end up with a positive result, ANYONE can! I'm so very sorry that this has happened to you... what a disappointment for you both! 😞 

 

I'm going to refill my coffee cup and break this bad news to my husband now... and for sure this will cause us to reconsider our plans for next month... just shocking, truly!  We really want to travel, and thought we could almost assure ourselves we could avoid covid, but now I'm not so sure. 

 

Hope you both remain asymptomatic and are able to salvage the rest of your trip in a happy way.  

 

There's a good chance that it is false positive and hope to confirm that once in Southampton,  not that it makes a difference. 

 

We can only do the best we can and hopefully the cases in Europe will continue to drop.   I was watching the Morning News from San Francisco that cases and hospitalization  are up 110% in the past month, starting a surge that was seen in Europe a month ago. 

[scrapcreator]

Oh, no! You and Iain have been so careful. I hope you both continue to stay healthy as you adjust your travel plans.

[nunuc2000]

1 minute ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

There's a good chance that it is false positive and hope to confirm that once in Southampton,  not that it makes a difference. 

 

We can only do the best we can and hopefully the cases in Europe will continue to drop.   I was watching the Morning News from San Francisco that cases and hospitalization  are up 110% in the past month, starting a surge that was seen in Europe a month ago. 

I sincerely hope it is a false positive!!  Please do continue to update us here. We're seeing increases here again as well in Canada... and by all accounts, so many seem to be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, but on a cruise ship, I guess that still means you're locked up - how unfortunate! 😞 

[chefestelle]

7 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

There's a good chance that it is false positive and hope to confirm that once in Southampton,  not that it makes a difference. 

 

We can only do the best we can and hopefully the cases in Europe will continue to drop.   I was watching the Morning News from San Francisco that cases and hospitalization  are up 110% in the past month, starting a surge that was seen in Europe a month ago. 

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear your news (though I am happy you are asymptomatic!). I've been reading these posts daily and have very much enjoyed your journey. 

 

A question: I thought false negatives were common but false positives were rare. Is this  "good chance" specific to the tests Viking uses? 

[bjahil47]

Jim,

So sorry you tested positive.  I hope you stay asymptomatic and can enjoy your time with Iians family.  I enjoyed reading your posts and all the pictures.  At least you got a B2B done!  Safe travels to you both.

Bonnie

[calicakes]

2 hours ago, Virginia100 said:

This and the other posts here indicate positive Covid on board is most likely far more prevalent than most assumed. This is why my 8/8 Rome cruise is very tenuous with that required test to return home. Floating around Italy snd Greece is dubious at this time especially as Jim is far better at protecting himself than me! I was lucky on our 3/26 Reflection cruise, saw and heard of no Covid anywhere. Time to wait until Feb 2023 my brain says. 

We are booked on 9/16Reflection from Rome.  I'm nervous now.  We returned from an Oceania cruise in Feb, only 332 ppl on board.  It was so nice.  We masked up until March 1st when we were allowed to remove the masks.  

[mfs2k]

8 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Well just received my results

 

Yikes -  It has been an 1 1/2 hour since the test and no telephone call or contact at this point.   Iain was just looking out the peep hole and I asked are their prison guards out there.

 

More as this unravels - 

 

By the way I feel perfectly normal, temperature 97.8 (my normal) Oxygen Saturation 99 

 

 

Ugh.

I'm sorry.  That sucks. Hope you continue to feel ok. 

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, calicakes said:

We are booked on 9/16Reflection from Rome.  I'm nervous now.  We returned from an Oceania cruise in Feb, only 332 ppl on board.  It was so nice.  We masked up until March 1st when we were allowed to remove the masks.  

 

I can tell you that on Silhouette 98% of passenger are mask free and NO SOCIAL DISTANCING or understanding of respecting other's personal social distance. 

 

[Purplsmurf]

How devastating! We are scheduled to sail in 2 weeks from Rome. I’m so nervous, only because afterwords we are going to Spain to see our son who we haven’t seen since September. Seeing him is more important than anything. Part of me says cancel the cruise and just go to Spain. I don’t know what to do 😩. You mention that so many people don’t wear masks. It’s surprising after what happened on the Equinox a few weeks ago. After so many positives masks were required. With all of the positives on your TA and now this cruise, it shocks me that Celebrity wouldn’t require masks again, at least indoors. I’m so glad you are feeling well and got most of your trip in. Take care and enjoy your time in Scotland!

[clochette]

I am so sorry, you both have been so careful.  I love how you seem to be staying calm and already made other plans for that week. I do hope that you stay without symptoms and that you have a great time on your new vacation.

[peanut head]

I, too, am in shock about the way things have turned out.  On the plus side, you are both fully vaccinated  and boosted which can reduce symptoms and possible hospitalization (but you already know this).  This is surely one for the memory book.  Hoping that it is just a false positive and you can now enjoy your land touring.  There will be more cruises down the road/ocean.

 

Thank you for taking us along your journeys and hope to continue traveling with you in the future.  

[Oceangoer2]

22 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I can tell you that on Silhouette 98% of passenger are mask free and NO SOCIAL DISTANCING or understanding of respecting other's personal social distance. 

 

I remember you saw a difference between the 1st and the 2ng leg of your cruise....re masking, soc. distancing, and numbers onboard.  And that it seemed it was more carefree on the 2nd leg.   If there's any justice between you being so careful and should NOT have contracted the virus and those who were decidedly free of care, perhaps there's many in that number who are ill also.  I very much do not wish ANYONE to be ill from anything onboard, but my concern is whom they may have been spreading it to.  Does your next 'hotel' have a balcony so you can get air, and Ian can smoke freely....LOL....while isolating?

[Provence55always]

How upsetting for you both but as usual you are taking it in your stride. I really feel that Celebrity should bring back mandatory mask wearing except when eating or drinking. Almost dreading our B2B in Alaska in a couple of weeks but at the same time hoping for the best. We have the 3M masks and will take all the precautions (like you did) and hope others on board will respect social distancing.

 

Wishing you both well on your onwards travel.

 

 

[Megabear2]

50 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

I can tell you that on Silhouette 98% of passenger are mask free and NO SOCIAL DISTANCING or understanding of respecting other's personal social distance. 

 

You are experiencing living with Covid the UK way!  The government here has a stated policy of riding things out hence no masking, social distancing and testing. Residents of the UK have been told from high authority that they should resume near normal life, hence no requirement to isolate if you test positive - it's quite normal to now carry on working, socialising etc.

 

Most of the ships sailing from Southampton have had many Covid incidents in the period since Christmas but it is now simply old news I'm afraid.  There are many here who believe the problems are all over - they're told it's the case by newspapers and politicians - and caution is therefore non existent.  

 

Any international guest planning on joining a UK sailing needs to be very aware of this situation.  I note you were surprised at the lack of rules on quarantine as well. It is inevitably more risky to be sailing on a ship where the main residents do not expect or have restrictions on them.

 

Thank you for your blog and photographs which I have enjoyed very much.  I hope you are recovered soon so you can enjoy Scotland.

 

Edited April 29, 2022 by Megabear2

[islabahia]

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Yes we can stay and shhhhh... being told Iain can use the Guest Bathroom to smoke. 

 

It is a bit chaotic and the right hand doesn't seem to know what the left is doing. 

 

I tried to call guest relations to find out about what time we can expect to depart the ship tomorrow.  The phone rung unanswered for 20 minutes.     I had asked Danial, The Retreat Manager, a question about Iain being able to smoke and after 2 hours no answer.   I called him again to ask for the Retreat Concierges phone number and he asked if he could help.    I said I was reticent to ask him as he never answered my last question.   BAM..    He apologized and said Iain could smoke on the balcony or in the bathrooms.   He would have a n ashtray sent to the room.   Never showed up.

 

At least we have China, Crystal and Silverware in our room so enjoying ourselves.    Maybe a plunge in the outside jetted tub will help me feel pampered.      At least we are on Starboard and facing the harbor for privacy.     It's a chilly windy day today at about 54F and 25 mph winds so may have to go for the tub in the bathroom.

 

 

Why are exceptions being made for y’all re: smoking in cabin or balcony?  Seems incredibly disrespectful to whomever will be using that cabin after you leave.  I enjoyed your blog, I am sorry that you tested positive but smoking policy outside of designated is either all or nothing.  No 🔥 please.  JMHO

[Land of Ice and Snow]

Jim and Iain, so saddened to read your post this morning.  I have been following you daily and sharing your reports with my husband.  Like you both, we would keep wearing our masks and would avoid crowds and elevators as we are both active walkers.  Please take care and I hope you remain symptom free and Iain negative.  Enjoy the rest of your travels.

[pretty princess]

Jim, I am so saddened about your positive rest result.  I pray it’s a false positive and you continue to feel well.  I have followed all your adventures in cruise critic. I am re-reading your Bermuda b2b right now as we are set to to Newport Bermuda cruise May 13th. Will,also be wearing masks, no elevators as possible and distancing as much as possible.  Pretty nervous about it though.  Continue to keep us posted if you can.  My biggest fear is being moved to deck 2 in window cabin on Summit.  If any thing about this is positive is that other rooms are full an you can stay and enjoy the balcony.  Be well ❤️

[mfs2k]

11 minutes ago, islabahia said:

Why are exceptions being made for y’all re: smoking in cabin or balcony?  Seems incredibly disrespectful to whomever will be using that cabin after you leave.  I enjoyed your blog, I am sorry that you tested positive but smoking policy outside of designated is either all or nothing.  No 🔥 please.  JMHO

 

Personally, if I were the next guest in their cabin, I'd have more to be concerned with than the smell of smoke. 

[raudacruise]

Jim, so sorry about your positive test. Glad you completed most of this leg of your cruise and you are still in your suite.

 

Hope you stay asymptomatic and Iain stays negative so you can enjoy Scotland.

 

Seems to me you couldn’t have been more careful. Makes me a bit more nervous about my upcoming January Silhouette cruise but I’m still going. Will The Fates dare to put me in jail two cruises in a row? Guess I’ll find out.😎

[silkismom]

So sorry, but I have to say it "the butler did it".

[mfs2k]

1 minute ago, mfs2k said:

 

Personally, if I were the next guest in their cabin, I'd have more to be concerned with than the smell of smoke. 

 

Also, Somebody just got their Move-up offer approved for Jim's suite at the last minute.  Maybe they'll post about it in another thread. 

[Spif Barwunkel]

1 hour ago, Purplsmurf said:

How devastating! We are scheduled to sail in 2 weeks from Rome. I’m so nervous, only because afterwords we are going to Spain to see our son who we haven’t seen since September. Seeing him is more important than anything. Part of me says cancel the cruise and just go to Spain. I don’t know what to do 😩. You mention that so many people don’t wear masks. It’s surprising after what happened on the Equinox a few weeks ago. After so many positives masks were required. With all of the positives on your TA and now this cruise, it shocks me that Celebrity wouldn’t require masks again, at least indoors. I’m so glad you are feeling well and got most of your trip in. Take care and enjoy your time in Scotland!

The level of anxiety and concern within the cruising world is certainly heightened with each new covid case detected on board the ships. Perhaps when a positive result - false or otherwise - shows up relative to prominent and popular CC members, like Jim & Iain, that uneasiness is exacerbated somewhat.  

 

Purplsmurfs trepidation is certainly understandable. Had we planned a post-cruise visit with family in Europe we might consider canceling our cruise as well. For us, the time has come to board Reflection on May 13 for what will hopefully be a wonderful and healthy cruise. Like many others, we have done all the prep work and we will continue to be careful and vigilant. At some point we have to feel confident that it is enough to see us through. That conviction will come at different times to different people. When your time comes, that is the only right time. 

 

All the best to Jim and Iain.   

Edited April 29, 2022 by Spif Barwunkel