Self isolation

[exlondoner]

On the U.K. Website, in the section about getting Covid on board, it used to mention moving you to a quarantine cabin, if possible with a balcony, etc. I can no longer seem to find a mention of moving cabins. Am I going mad or has this changed?

[Host Hattie]

It doesn't mention moving

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence/our-assurance-to-you

 

 

[exlondoner]

3 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

It doesn't mention moving

https://www.cunard.com/en-gb/the-cunard-experience/sailing-with-confidence/our-assurance-to-you

 

 

 

Thats what I thought. I'm sure it used to. If so excellent news, unless one is in an inside cabin.

[Host Hattie]

Or an Outside, any cabin without access to fresh air doesn't seem suitable for isolation.

[bluemarble]

Very interesting. Moving to a different stateroom to isolate is still mentioned on this page (emphasis in red mine) on the Cunard US website: Preparing to sail - your on board experience.

 

"We’ll take care of you if you test positive for Covid-19 on board.

 

If you or a member of your traveling party tests positive for Covid-19 during your voyage, we’ll take care of you.

 

If you test positive for Covid-19 whilst on board, you will need to isolate for your well-being and the well-being of other guests.

 

We’ll move you to a dedicated stateroom, with a balcony where possible, and we’ll make sure you’re well looked after with full room service, a choice of three meals a day, free access to TV channels, and a complimentary laundry service. ..."

 

====================

 

But yes indeed, the wording is different on that page on the Cunard UK website.

 

"We’ll take care of you if you test positive for Covid-19 on board.

 

If you or a member of your travelling party tests positive for Covid-19 during your voyage, we’ll take care of you.

 

If you test positive for Covid-19 whilst on board, you will need to isolate for your well-being and the well-being of other guests.

 

We’ll make sure you’re well looked after with full room service, a choice of three meals a day, free access to TV channels, and a complimentary laundry service. ..."

Edited August 13, 2022 by bluemarble

[exlondoner]

Thank you. That is what the UK version used to say, I'm sure. Interesting, possibly?

[elmsliebev]

We were in isolation for 6 days on the current QE voyage before disembarking in Florida on Tuesday. We were moved from an inside to a balcony for those 6 days, then back to our original cabin. 

[fabnfortysomething]

disembarked QM2 Friday when husband tested positive on final day

we were disembarked after all other passengers with other isolating passengers

they had been moved to deck 5

we had noted the doors to that floor were closed during cruise with note not to enter unless in emergency

[NavyPanda]

It is clear where the polices are going. Yesterday, Carnival Corp & PLC announced a relaxation of testing requirements for Cunard, Carnival, Princess + P&O effective from 6th September. With Carnival and Princess, the vaccination requirement will be removed also. I expect Cunard & P&O will follow suit shortly. 

 

With regards to self isolation, my guess is that quarantine cabins will be got rid off shortly, I think you have discovered a change in policy by noting the absence of information which used to be on the website. Over the past year, making provision for quarantine cabins has reduced the capacity which Cunard have been able to sell and are consequently reducing their revenues, this is a situation which is undesirable for Carnival Plc and will be behind the apparent decision to get rid of quarantine cabins.

 

In the short term, I imagine that the request to self isolate will remain on Cunard. The isolation will take place in the passengers booked cabin, and will remove the need for Cunard to keep extra 'spare' cabins. Looking ahead, I can see that the requirement to self isolate, as well as vaccination will cease at some not too distant point in the future. 

[exlondoner]

Much of this seems merely what you would like to happen. Surely Cunard won't expect those in inside cabins to stay there? And remember, the loss of revenue won't be as much as it might seem, as the Grills have been sailing full for months.

[mcloaked]

It looks like requirements will continue to change - Cunard needs to survive financially after the huge cash losses of the lockdown era, and everyone will make their own minds up about whether they will book cruises or not under the changing landscape. If Cunard continues to survive as a profit making company, and they fill the available rooms with continuing eased requirements, then both Cunard and those passengers who are happy with those arrangements will be moving forward and it looks like that may well be the reality for the future.  Discussions on this forum will likely remain just that and will be unlikely to influence either Cunard management, or those passengers who disagree with the the changes, particularly if there are enough people who are sufficiently happy that they will continue to book cruises, and feel the have the kind of holiday they have paid for.

[NavyPanda]

34 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Much of this seems merely what you would like to happen. Surely Cunard won't expect those in inside cabins to stay there? And remember, the loss of revenue won't be as much as it might seem, as the Grills have been sailing full for months.

Think of it the other way around.

Carnival/Cunard is a commercial company whose aim is to maximise shareholders wealth (make profit). By dedicating space for quarantine cabins they are reducing their opportunity to make profit. With regulations from the CDC and UK regulators either going or gone it is now a business decision for Carnival to make as to the future of quarantine cabins and other Covid related policies.

 

How does Carnival make more money from not selling cabins and using them for isolation purposes than it will from selling them to paying passengers? Carnival will ultimately choose the path which makes them the most money.

 

Yes, I would expect Cunard to ask those in inside cabins to stay there. This is what they, and other lines owned by Carnival, have done with regards to norovirus outbreaks. 

 

Isolation will probably stop being mandatory at some point in the near future. There will be many potential customers of Carnival brands who will be deterred from booking if they believe there is a potential to be confined for over a week to their cabins. I suspect the allure of potential customers will be to great for Carnival to resist and they would bet that they would gain more customers from forgetting isolation than they would lose by dropping the policy. Practically, isolation is effectively voluntary anyway at the moment as it relies on passengers reporting symptoms and test results to the ship's medical team.

 

Finally, regarding vaccination polices, Carnival have updated their policy for US brands, allowing vaccination passengers without limit (although with a test). I would imagine the UK brands won't be too far behind given Carnival's desire to not limit their market. 

[NavyPanda]

Just now, mcloaked said:

It looks like requirements will continue to change - Cunard needs to survive financially after the huge cash losses of the lockdown era, and everyone will make their own minds up about whether they will book cruises or not under the changing landscape. If Cunard continues to survive as a profit making company, and they fill the available rooms with continuing eased requirements, then both Cunard and those passengers who are happy with those arrangements will be moving forward and it looks like that may well be the reality for the future.  Discussions on this forum will likely remain just that and will be unlikely to influence either Cunard management, or those passengers who disagree with the the changes, particularly if there are enough people who are sufficiently happy that they will continue to book cruises, and feel the have the kind of holiday they have paid for.

 

Well put. Ultimately Cunard (Carnival) is a for-profit company, they will do whatever they think will generate them the most profit. The market for people who would prefer (and pay significantly extra for, to offset the higher costs) to sail in a more Covid-rule based environment is likely very small. A small specialist line may go down that route, but not Cunard and other Carnival brands who target the mainstream market. 

[mcloaked]

I would take a bet that we won't see any cruise line offering high cost voyages with stricter regulations for passengers than the mainstream lines.