First time Princess Cruiser, Got Covid :(

[maggipie]

23 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I’m quite surprised they’d didn’t test your husband and son, nor limit their activities on the ship. There is certainly no standardization among the ships in how COVID is handled.  

 

I was also surprised the nurse didn't test them. When I spoke to her on the phone, I told her we were a family of 4, but she came up with one test, just for me. She really didn't ask us many (medical) questions either, maybe because we were (relatively) younger.

 

I am guessing our better experience on Majestic was because there were a fewer number of passengers/crew in isolation, compared to some of the other experiences detailed.

[maggipie]

4 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

Just FYI... The link in that post has expired and no longer works.

 

I used princess.com/refund-request, which redirects to

 

https://book.princess.com/captaincircle/customerCare.page?type=refund&topic=1

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

10 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Just because it didn’t happen to me doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. 
 

Just because it didn’t happen to you doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. 

Exactly my point.  Many different experiences from various people.  Some good, some not.  

[portiaqueen]

On 4/6/2022 at 2:59 PM, PescadoAmarillo said:

My husband did not receive anything like the FAQs on the Ruby Princess. Still hasn’t. Here is the total of what he received while in isolation. 

I was very interested to see this and I hope your husband is well.

We are presently incarcerated on the Covid deck on Sky Princess and received nothing of this kind.  In fact no communication at all for 3 days.  Our treatment has been appalling.  We were escorted to this cabin and basically abandoned here. The food was so bad (and sometimes didn't even arrive) that I went hungry for 4 days.  Eventually I completely flipped and threatened to leave the cabin and go to the restaurant if my next meal were as bad as its predecessors.  Things have definitely improved on the food front since then.  However the medical team cannot agree between themselves as to the number of days of isolation and so we are still here when we could have been released today.  My usual contact there is quite abrupt and borderline rude so I won't even ring to push the matter.  It isn't fun to spend 8 days of your holiday shut up in a small room.  The Sky Princess team have done little to minimise the misery

We did though have cause to laugh today when the disembarkation letter arrived. The writer (optimist, comedian or sadist?) concluded by saying they "look forward to welcoming me back on board to share more adventures!"

Edited April 8, 2022 by portiaqueen

[Cruise Raider]

12 hours ago, MustangGT said:

My point is that Princess does not have the same procedures or instructions from ship to ship.  
The comprehensive document the OP received was not the same for other passengers on Ruby for instance.  My question is, “Why?”  It should not be ship-dependent but a standard that passengers could expect. 

 

I see your point.  

[Cruise Raider]

13 hours ago, MustangGT said:

My point is that Princess does not have the same procedures or instructions from ship to ship.  
The comprehensive document the OP received was not the same for other passengers on Ruby for instance.  My question is, “Why?”  It should not be ship-dependent but a standard that passengers could expect. 

 

I see your point.  

Studies have shown that satisfaction is most likely based on expectations.  Expectations, when met, results in high satisfaction and when not met, very low satisfaction....common sense, right?  Being ill or feeling slighted can skew, not only that satisfaction, but also realistic expectations.  

 

I still believe that it sounds like the Ruby has been overwhelmed with the number of CoVid cases that developed over such a long sailing.  I understand that when testing on the day of boarding was done for passengers going to Hawaii, a great number of passengers tested positive and were denied boarding.  These are the same people that tested negative just two days earlier. 

 

To keep CoVid off the ships, the following would most likely help:

- shorter sailings only 

- cruises for locals only ... (basically, no flights to get to the ships)

- testing on embarkation day for all passengers 

- no port visits unless with only covid negative vendors 

- no sharing of tables with other passengers outside your immediate group

- masking at all times including sip and cover

- no more than half capacity on any ship 

- medical clearance from your doctor for infirm or elderly passengers

 

Passengers have overwhelmingly rejected those restrictions and bookings were very low.  These were all recommended by the CDC at one time or public health departments but since dropped.  We've been fortunate to have cruised several times since the restart back in July 2021 and felt perfectly safe onboard ... haven't even so much as caught a slight sniffle even though we are relatively careful.  Our next ones, we may not be so lucky but we know the risks and now, our expectations are set a bit lower.  I will bring extra snack food and make sure we have a bowl of whole fruit in the room in case we are quarantined.  We have and will continue to bring extra meds and clean underwear and will have a ton of books downloaded on our iPads.  

I don't slight anybody one mistake but if it becomes a trend, I would definitely not be satisfied.  We always believe everyone deserves a second chance to make things right.  

[PescadoAmarillo]

1 hour ago, AnyMajorCruiseDude said:

Exactly my point.  Many different experiences from various people.  Some good, some not.  

It is more than just a difference in perception. To reduce it to that is an affront to those who have witnessed it firsthand and are simply trying to recount their experiences. 

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

2 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

It is more than just a difference in perception. To reduce it to that is an affront to those who have witnessed it firsthand and are simply trying to recount their experiences. 

I am not the one who posted about perception, so you might address them directly please.  Or just leave it alone?

Edited April 8, 2022 by AnyMajorCruiseDude

[PescadoAmarillo]

1 hour ago, portiaqueen said:

I was very interested to see this and I hope your husband is well.

We are presently incarcerated on the Covid deck on Sky Princess and received nothing of this kind.  In fact no communication at all for 3 days.  Our treatment has been appalling.  We were escorted to this cabin and basically abandoned here. The food was so bad (and sometimes didn't even arrive) that I went hungry for 4 days.  Eventually I completely flipped and threatened to leave the cabin and go to the restaurant if my next meal were as bad as its predecessors.  Things have definitely improved on the food front since then.  However the medical team cannot agree between themselves as to the number of days of isolation and so we are still here when we could have been released today.  My usual contact there is quite abrupt and borderline rude so I won't even ring to push the matter.  It isn't fun to spend 8 days of your holiday shut up in a small room.  The Sky Princess team have done little to minimise the misery

We did though have cause to laugh today when the disembarkation letter arrived. The writer (optimist, comedian or sadist?) concluded by saying they "look forward to welcoming me back on board to share more adventures!"

Thank you!  I send you all good wishes too. I’m very sorry to hear of your experiences. I know how frustrating the lack of attention, concern and FOOD can be. It’s really inexcusable. 
 

That this is still happening on the Sky Princess to me sounds a loud warning to anyone taking cruises longer than 7 days in the near future, particularly those where countries require mid-cruise testing (and I’m not certain which countries are currently requiring it).
 

As I’ve said before, everyone is one nasal swab away from ending up in the same situation and I’m not convinced (based on your experience and another currently being reported from the Ruby Princess) that Princess is really making solid improvements in the process. As you pointed out, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but how many people have the strength, stamina and ability to be the squeaky wheel, and, more so, why should they have to be?

 

Good luck on your future adventures. 😆

[PescadoAmarillo]

14 hours ago, AnyMajorCruiseDude said:

Thanks for your common sense and level-headed responses!  Agree completely as always.

Ok……

 

And I’m getting to the other one. 

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

5 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Ok……

 

And I’m getting to the other one. 

Yes i do agree that everyone’s perception is probably different.  This is why we have reports of good good vs bad food, hard and soft beds, etc.  Your experience is what matters to you.  No need to diminish mine.  I will have my opinion and you yours.  

[PescadoAmarillo]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

I see your point.  

I’m glad. This gives me hope. This is NOT a perception issue. It’s a reality issue. 

Being ill or feeling slighted can skew, not only that satisfaction, but also realistic expectations.  
 

So you’re saying it’s an unrealistic expectation to receive warm, regular meals, medical follow up and consistent written communication when you test positive for COVID or are a close contact with someone who has?  Just trying to understand here. 

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

I still believe that it sounds like the Ruby has been overwhelmed with the number of CoVid cases that developed over such a long sailing.  I understand that when testing on the day of boarding was done for passengers going to Hawaii, a great number ofpassengers tested positive and were denied boarding.  These are the same people that tested negative just two days earlier. 

I’m not sure where you’re getting this from. There was no testing done in the terminal for the current Hawaii cruise. There was no Hawaii cruise testing done in the terminal since the February 10 Hawaii cruise. I believe there was terminal testing done on the February 25 Panama Canal cruise. There was also mandatory masking and the buffet was not self serve. Both of those cruises successfully operated without extensive COVID on board. 
 

It was on the March 12 Panama Canal cruise, when terminal testing was dropped, the mask mandate was dropped and the buffet became self serve that the issue took root. No other Princess ship has gone so far to relax standards. That may be what people want, but it is obvious that the result is increased COVID cases on board with which is ship is unprepared to deal. 
 

This issue will abate on the Ruby Princess. This is its last long cruise of this length for months. That doesn’t mean it has been resolved. It will pop up (as it already is) on those ships with longer itineraries. I hope Princess is more prepared to deal with it. 

 

Edited April 8, 2022 by PescadoAmarillo

[memoak]

42 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

I see your point.  

Studies have shown that satisfaction is most likely based on expectations.  Expectations, when met, results in high satisfaction and when not met, very low satisfaction....common sense, right?  Being ill or feeling slighted can skew, not only that satisfaction, but also realistic expectations.  

 

I still believe that it sounds like the Ruby has been overwhelmed with the number of CoVid cases that developed over such a long sailing.  I understand that when testing on the day of boarding was done for passengers going to Hawaii, a great number of passengers tested positive and were denied boarding.  These are the same people that tested negative just two days earlier. 

 

To keep CoVid off the ships, the following would most likely help:

- shorter sailings only 

- cruises for locals only ... (basically, no flights to get to the ships)

- testing on embarkation day for all passengers 

- no port visits unless with only covid negative vendors 

- no sharing of tables with other passengers outside your immediate group

- masking at all times including sip and cover

- no more than half capacity on any ship 

- medical clearance from your doctor for infirm or elderly passengers

 

Passengers have overwhelmingly rejected those restrictions and bookings were very low.  These were all recommended by the CDC at one time or public health departments but since dropped.  We've been fortunate to have cruised several times since the restart back in July 2021 and felt perfectly safe onboard ... haven't even so much as caught a slight sniffle even though we are relatively careful.  Our next ones, we may not be so lucky but we know the risks and now, our expectations are set a bit lower.  I will bring extra snack food and make sure we have a bowl of whole fruit in the room in case we are quarantined.  We have and will continue to bring extra meds and clean underwear and will have a ton of books downloaded on our iPads.  

I don't slight anybody one mistake but if it becomes a trend, I would definitely not be satisfied.  We always believe everyone deserves a second chance to make things right.  

Those are the most draconian measures that could be imagined. No cruisers who don’t live in a port city ?  I guess the entire Midwest should not be allowed to travel. Even here on the west coast where we had mandates longer than anywhere in the US we now walk into restaurants without masks and eat. 
 

The only thing I would suggest is 100% vaccinated for all cruises. No exemptions for anyone who does not want to get the shots 

[toofewcruises]

On 4/6/2022 at 1:27 AM, caribill said:

Sorry your family was affected by Covid.

 

One surprise to me in the letter you received is that smokers are permitted to smoke on the balcony of the quarantine cabin.

What are smokers with Covid supposed to do?  Go without so that someone who is not ill is not inconvenienced?

 

[Cruise Raider]

43 minutes ago, toofewcruises said:

What are smokers with Covid supposed to do?  Go without so that someone who is not ill is not inconvenienced?

 

I’m not a smoker but I totally understand why they are allowing smoking in those isolation rooms.  If someone is quarantined, it’s probably already doubly hard on them to try to give up that habit at the same time as trying to fight off CoVid.  I wouldn’t want to be the person in that cabin adjacent to them but, I understand they need some place to smoke and being out and about with the public is not an option. 

[Cruise Raider]

2 hours ago, AnyMajorCruiseDude said:

Yes i do agree that everyone’s perception is probably different.  This is why we have reports of good good vs bad food, hard and soft beds, etc.  Your experience is what matters to you.  No need to diminish mine.  I will have my opinion and you yours.  

Exactly my point … you’ve stated it so eloquently!  

[caribill]

59 minutes ago, toofewcruises said:

What are smokers with Covid supposed to do?  Go without so that someone who is not ill is not inconvenienced?

 

 

I do not claim to know how to deal with the quarantined passengers who are hooked on nicotine.

 

I do know that smoking was banned on balconies because it is a fire hazard. Being infected with Covid does not make it any less of a fire hazard,

[Cruise Raider]

2 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

I’m not sure where you’re getting this from. There was no testing done in the terminal for the current Hawaii cruise. There was no Hawaii cruise testing done in the terminal since the February 10 Hawaii cruise. I believe there was terminal testing done on the February 25 Panama Canal cruise. There was also mandatory masking and the buffet was not self serve. Both of those cruises successfully operated without extensive COVID on board. 
 

It was on the March 12 Panama Canal cruise, when terminal testing was dropped, the mask mandate was dropped and the buffet became self serve that the issue took root. No other Princess ship has gone so far to relax standards. That may be what people want, but it is obvious that the result is increased COVID cases on board with which is ship is unprepared to deal. 
 

This issue will abate on the Ruby Princess. This is its last long cruise of this length for months. That doesn’t mean it has been resolved. It will pop up (as it already is) on those ships with longer itineraries. I hope Princess is more prepared to deal with it. 

 

l’ve stated no such thing.  I choose to look for solutions to mitigate any potential issues and try to be more understanding of possible causes of issues.  I read on here that as soon as other passengers found out there were positive CoVid cases onboard, panic set in causing the room service line to be overwhelmed.  This might be the reason why nobody could get through.  I don’t think I’ve been on a cruise yet since the restart without some CoVid positive or exposed passengers or crew.  
 

Yes, CoVid will be with us all for years to come.  Our lives have been changed forever.  

BTW, the cruise I am referring to was back in Mid January when pre-broad testing revealed a lot of positive cases.  I was on the cruise right before and right after that on the Ruby.  The latter one had the production cast in quarantine.  I thought princess did a great job in plugging in entertainment to fill in for the missing shows and activities.  

 

[Cruise Raider]

2 hours ago, memoak said:

Those are the most draconian measures that could be imagined. No cruisers who don’t live in a port city ?  I guess the entire Midwest should not be allowed to travel. Even here on the west coast where we had mandates longer than anywhere in the US we now walk into restaurants without masks and eat. 
 

The only thing I would suggest is 100% vaccinated for all cruises. No exemptions for anyone who does not want to get the shots 

As mentioned, those recommendations were overwhelmingly rejected by the cruising demographic in no uncertain terms.  Being in the SF Bay Area, we knew how draconian the measures were for a very long time.  We were now recently allowed to go maskless when out in public, though, I’d say at least half of the people we see out in the world still wear their masks.  
I won’t get into a vaccine debate as they don’t absolutely prevent transmission and neither do masks.  I still am fully boosted and do wear a mask in many circumstances when I’m in public.  But, I’m a full believer that these measures will mitigate your chances of becoming infected but there is no absolute prevention.  Testing is the one measure I believe that can really stop the spread.  You can’t get it if it’s not there.  But, testing is not perfect either and certainly, if people test negative one day and fly on a plane, train, bus, etc with those that are infected, it’s a recipe for disaster.  I think it’s all what we are willing to put up with.  

[ebeluga]

28 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

l’ve stated no such thing.  I choose to look for solutions to mitigate any potential issues and try to be more understanding of possible causes of issues.  I read on here that as soon as other passengers found out there were positive CoVid cases onboard, panic set in causing the room service line to be overwhelmed.  This might be the reason why nobody could get through.  I don’t think I’ve been on a cruise yet since the restart without some CoVid positive or exposed passengers or crew.  
 

Yes, CoVid will be with us all for years to come.  Our lives have been changed forever.  

 

 

That is definitely a perception, someone's conjecture!

[Cruise Raider]

6 minutes ago, ebeluga said:

That is definitely a perception, someone's conjecture!

It definitely is … supports my theory of perception playing a part in all this.  

[venussuz]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

I’m not a smoker but I totally understand why they are allowing smoking in those isolation rooms.  If someone is quarantined, it’s probably already doubly hard on them to try to give up that habit at the same time as trying to fight off CoVid.  I wouldn’t want to be the person in that cabin adjacent to them but, I understand they need some place to smoke and being out and about with the public is not an option. 

Exactly this. Nicotine is ridiculously addictive and even as a non smoker, I can imagine how horrid it would be to have to give that up cold turkey during isolation. Compounding misery upon misery isn't something guests or crew could deal well with. As many others have said, smoking on balconies is better than smoking in the cabin, though not ideal for anyone catching that smoke unwillingly.

We're supposed to be sailing on an 18 day TA in May-June, and while I certainly hope these responses become standardized before then, I'm keeping an eye on what's going on to know what to expect and possibly decide to cancel for FCC. 

[voljeep]

Does there come a time ... when, if allowed to board ... you will not be put in quarantine on board ... if you choose not to be ?  I'm DV /DB - are you ? - then why does it matter if we are walking around the cruise ship or not ? I'm not scared of what you may or may not have ... I'm protected ... in as much as I can ... are you ???  If not, that's on you ... 

[Cruise Raider]

3 minutes ago, voljeep said:

Does there come a time ... when, if allowed to board ... you will not be put in quarantine on board ... if you choose not to be ?  I'm DV /DB - are you ? - then why does it matter if we are walking around the cruise ship or not ? I'm not scared of what you may or may not have ... I'm protected ... in as much as I can ... are you ???  If not, that's on you ... 

 

I agree with you 100%!  I’m sure we come in contact every day with those that infected.  Taking measures to lesson the effects of that infection is truly all we can do.  I’m not DB but SB … if I read your lingo correctly.  My brother and I have both had terrible adverse reactions to the booster and even with that, it hasn’t been six months yet … so we are holding off with that second booster.  We mask when it is requested, test for cruises and if we are going to a family gathering.  I’m a constant hand hygiene fanatic, bump elbows, no hugs, etc … 

I would hope that this quarantine policy will come to an end. I certainly would want to remain in the same room as my loved one.  At one point, it was allowed … now with the cruiseline’s voluntary participation in the CDC’s program, it appears that is no longer the case, which is ridiculous.  We are as protected as we can be .. come what may.  

[PescadoAmarillo]

15 minutes ago, voljeep said:

Does there come a time ... when, if allowed to board ... you will not be put in quarantine on board ... if you choose not to be ?  I'm DV /DB - are you ? - then why does it matter if we are walking around the cruise ship or not ? I'm not scared of what you may or may not have ... I'm protected ... in as much as I can ... are you ???  If not, that's on you ... 

Actually, why even require vaccinations to be on board?  Announce the date well in advance of final payments, say that it’s going to be open COVID season on the ship, let like minded people fill it (based on what people on here have stated, demand is such that it should be filled to 100% when all requirements are removed) and see what happens.  No quarantine cabins, no testing…at least not until the ship arrives in a port that requires it. Then let people find their own vaccinations when they get off the ship in Europe and try to fly home, and handle their own costs of quarantining in hotels in foreign cities when they inevitably test positive.
 

As long as it is announced before final payment, or guests that don’t agree can get cash refunds (not FCCs) for cancelling, let the industry loose and see what happens. 
 

My belief is that it won’t be pretty.  Cruises to nowhere, potential deaths as in the early days before the break.  But, hey, it will give some people what they want.