At sea with Covid: a positive report about a positive test result

[bronzey214]

To those who are masking on cruises: do you still eat in the MDRs? I’m not mocking at all. We just came off the Sky and

many people developed coughs towards the end of the cruise. We didn’t mask (figuring we’d be outside mostly) but I’m wondering if we should mask indoors except for the MDRs but then… is there a point? Maybe it’s just about amount of exposure.

[bronzey214]

38 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

It’s best I just don’t cruise I guess, or I would find myself in trouble. 

I will miss your blogs but I understand and respect your decision - I’m 36, just took my parents (65, 62) on their first cruise (originally scheduled for Nov 2020, then Nov 2021) and was having nightmares of them getting COVID during the cruise.

 

Do you plan on land travel at all?

[LidoLiz]

Feeling ok, thanks. Sort of like a bad cold with congestion and an annoying cough.

And as for the question of staying in my original cabin or joining DH right away after he tested positive, that was a no-brainer, for me at least.
As a close contact, I knew I would potentially already be carrying and transmitting the bug, even though I was testing negative with no symptoms. I didn’t relish the prospect of wearing a mask during every single interaction with other passengers or crew, including at dinner or in line at the International Cafe.
From everything I understand about this evolving virus, this was the prudent course (for me, if not others). We are both vaxxed to the max, with the fifth (bivalent) dose administered three weeks before we boarded.

Quarantine aside, this has been a great trip with lots of adventures.

No regrets.

 

 

 

 

[Coral]

21 minutes ago, LidoLiz said:

Feeling ok, thanks. Sort of like a bad cold with congestion and an annoying cough.

And as for the question of staying in my original cabin or joining DH right away after he tested positive, that was a no-brainer, for me at least.
As a close contact, I knew I would potentially already be carrying and transmitting the bug, even though I was testing negative with no symptoms. I didn’t relish the prospect of wearing a mask during every single interaction with other passengers or crew, including at dinner or in line at the International Cafe.
From everything I understand about this evolving virus, this was the prudent course (for me, if not others). We are both vaxxed to the max, with the fifth (bivalent) dose administered three weeks before we boarded.

Quarantine aside, this has been a great trip with lots of adventures.

No regrets.

 

Thanks for your reports and your honesty. I sure hope that you have some built in immunity and can plan another vacation soon that you can enjoy with no worries!

 

I didn't know if there was a chance that if you hadn't gone down there, if you would have stayed negative. Probably not.

[Honolulu Blue]

19 minutes ago, bronzey214 said:

To those who are masking on cruises: do you still eat in the MDRs? I’m not mocking at all. We just came off the Sky and many people developed coughs towards the end of the cruise. We didn’t mask (figuring we’d be outside mostly) but I’m wondering if we should mask indoors except for the MDRs but then… is there a point? Maybe it’s just about amount of exposure.

Thank you for your respect.  I haven't eaten in the MDR since the restart.  Then again, I hadn't eaten much in the MDRs before this.  

 

Masking is a highly personal decision that I can't make for you or anyone.  Yes, they're a pain in the neck to wear - but some people believe they work.

[Coral]

31 minutes ago, bronzey214 said:

To those who are masking on cruises: do you still eat in the MDRs? I’m not mocking at all. We just came off the Sky and

many people developed coughs towards the end of the cruise. We didn’t mask (figuring we’d be outside mostly) but I’m wondering if we should mask indoors except for the MDRs but then… is there a point? Maybe it’s just about amount of exposure.

I am eating in the dining room at night. They often put tables for 2 really close to each other on this class of ship and I insisted we get a table away from that. So we have a table for 3 that is away from others for the 2 of us. We had to adjust our dining time because of that but it was worth it. When I go to the dining room for breakfast or lunch - I ask to sit away from others. The head waiters, now Restaurant Managers have been great and have been putting me in non-crowded areas. They really have been great!

 

If I eat in the buffet - I grab my food and then head clear to the aft area and sit away from others.

Edited November 19, 2022 by Coral

[Centsless_Cruiser]

1 hour ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

This took me a minute to figure out. I kept thinking biscuits?  Sausage gravy? 😆

 

Any patience I had for almost three years for dealing with those who mocked my mask wearing is long gone. I’m afraid I would suggest anyone commenting kiss something far less pleasant than southern oatmeal. It’s best I just don’t cruise I guess, or I would find myself in trouble. 

 

I am pretty sure she is quoting Flo from the TV show Alice who loved to say "Kiss My Gr*ts" whenever she didn't like something.

 😉

[memoak]

1 hour ago, bronzey214 said:

To those who are masking on cruises: do you still eat in the MDRs? I’m not mocking at all. We just came off the Sky and

many people developed coughs towards the end of the cruise. We didn’t mask (figuring we’d be outside mostly) but I’m wondering if we should mask indoors except for the MDRs but then… is there a point? Maybe it’s just about amount of exposure.

We mask mostly in crowded situations like elevators and crowded shows. When we are sitting at a bar, eating or playing slots we do not mask. We have always hated the buffet so all of our dinners are in MDR (club class) lunch usually out on deck for burgers but some times IC   We did get covid last trip in August but think it was probably the MTP on the first leg of a b2b when we were seated with a couple we didn’t know. Sailing next week on the Ruby will probably play it by ear 

[PescadoAmarillo]

3 hours ago, bronzey214 said:

I will miss your blogs but I understand and respect your decision - I’m 36, just took my parents (65, 62) on their first cruise (originally scheduled for Nov 2020, then Nov 2021) and was having nightmares of them getting COVID during the cruise.

 

Do you plan on land travel at all?

Thank you so much. That’s nice to hear. I was up late last night re-reading my blog from the year we went to Easter Island. Great memories!  We are doing land trips, and I *might* actually fly in February to visit several friends in Arizona. 

[sabreline]

6 hours ago, sunviking90 said:

I am curious about this also. DH and I were discussing this yesterday and we agreed that if in this situation we would isolate alone and the other stay put. As long as we could communicate we’d be ok with it. I know everyone has different perspectives but our experience in the summer with the ease of passing it to each other in a 2000 sq ft house, never mind a 200 sq ft stateroom decided it for us.

We were in Israel in April and may husband tested positive. Our travel company absolutely insisted that I go back to the states...he stayed for a week.

[Mittens101]

6 hours ago, bronzey214 said:

To those who are masking on cruises: do you still eat in the MDRs? I’m not mocking at all. We just came off the Sky and

many people developed coughs towards the end of the cruise. We didn’t mask (figuring we’d be outside mostly) but I’m wondering if we should mask indoors except for the MDRs but then… is there a point? Maybe it’s just about amount of exposure.

I just got off sky very few were wearing masks and there was a ton coughing by the end. Hopefully we escaped without catching the bug. Whether you mask or not that’s up to you. 

[sunviking90]

11 hours ago, bronzey214 said:

To those who are masking on cruises: do you still eat in the MDRs? I’m not mocking at all. We just came off the Sky and

many people developed coughs towards the end of the cruise. We didn’t mask (figuring we’d be outside mostly) but I’m wondering if we should mask indoors except for the MDRs but then… is there a point? Maybe it’s just about amount of exposure.

I have started keeping a clean mask with me if I’m going out into the ship at busy times, especially  waiting for coffee at the IC when I’m standing around a lot of people for a few minutes. We eat in the MDR for lunch and dinner and always a table for 2. We have had the same table for dinner off in a corner, but we do chat with our neighbours nearby. We fortunately are able to take stairs rather than elevators and have always (even before Covid) tended to keep to ourselves, rarely go to the shows, etc. 

[bronzey214]

12 hours ago, Mittens101 said:

I just got off sky very few were wearing masks and there was a ton coughing by the end. Hopefully we escaped without catching the bug. Whether you mask or not that’s up to you. 

Yep - I came off with a slight sore throat but have tested negative for three consecutive days.

[Jilliebean28]

I wish my Covid experience on the Regal was as positive as the OP’s.  I am currently on the Regal doing the Med and TA.  On November 12th I started with a sore throat.  Tested myself and DH and we were both negative.  Felt good until November 15th when I woke up with a horrible headache and cold symptoms.  Self tested as did DH - I was positive and he was negative.  Called medical and they came up and tested both us with the same results.

I was moved from our mini suite to a balcony cabin on the Emerald deck within an hour.  I was escorted to my cabin and told to order food from room service and call housekeeping for towels.  That was the extent of information I received.  There was not even a bottle of water in the room.  In the 6 days I was there (I tested negative and was released this morning) I was contacted once by medical after two days and was told they would call the next day to check on me (that never happened).  If I tried to order from the Medallion app it thought I was in my old cabin so that didn’t work; calling room service could take almost an hour; no menus at all for lunch and only got menus for breakfast and dinner after asking for them.  Had to ask how to get rid of my garbage.  

I would think that there should have been some kind of written instructions left in the cabins telling me what to expect.  I must say that two crew members in room service (Jesse and Mary) were the two bright spots in my days.

Princess should do better.

[memoak]

10 minutes ago, Jilliebean28 said:

I wish my Covid experience on the Regal was as positive as the OP’s.  I am currently on the Regal doing the Med and TA.  On November 12th I started with a sore throat.  Tested myself and DH and we were both negative.  Felt good until November 15th when I woke up with a horrible headache and cold symptoms.  Self tested as did DH - I was positive and he was negative.  Called medical and they came up and tested both us with the same results.

I was moved from our mini suite to a balcony cabin on the Emerald deck within an hour.  I was escorted to my cabin and told to order food from room service and call housekeeping for towels.  That was the extent of information I received.  There was not even a bottle of water in the room.  In the 6 days I was there (I tested negative and was released this morning) I was contacted once by medical after two days and was told they would call the next day to check on me (that never happened).  If I tried to order from the Medallion app it thought I was in my old cabin so that didn’t work; calling room service could take almost an hour; no menus at all for lunch and only got menus for breakfast and dinner after asking for them.  Had to ask how to get rid of my garbage.  

I would think that there should have been some kind of written instructions left in the cabins telling me what to expect.  I must say that two crew members in room service (Jesse and Mary) were the two bright spots in my days.

Princess should do better.

You should have been able to see the menus on your tv

[PescadoAmarillo]

28 minutes ago, Jilliebean28 said:

Princess should do better.

Especially after over 15 months of experience, they certainly should do better. 
 

17 minutes ago, memoak said:

You should have been able to see the menus on your tv

Princess should have made this capability known, in writing. 

[Steelers36]

21 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

This took me a minute to figure out. I kept thinking biscuits?  Sausage gravy? 😆

 

Any patience I had for almost three years for dealing with those who mocked my mask wearing is long gone. I’m afraid I would suggest anyone commenting kiss something far less pleasant than southern oatmeal. It’s best I just don’t cruise I guess, or I would find myself in trouble. 

I think the commenters are few and far between.  We were on two ships for a total of 37 days and our friends wore masks outdoors and indoors in port, outdoors on the ship, indoors, etc.  They wore them more of the day than not.  Never witnessed nor heard anyone say anything and they never mentioned anything.  There were times they were almost the only ones in sight wearing a mask (onshore).  When the crew was free to choose, most elected no mask, but several here and there would be wearing them.  I think it was a norm for a minority to choose a mask, but I really don't believe there was measurable confrontation or mocking of the choices in either direction.

[Yehootu]

22 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

Yes, I know.  My question to @Yehootu

was it PAA?

Pan American Airways?  They flew to PPG.

 

Hawaiian Air. We used to stay at the Rainmaker Hotel that was built by Pan Am. 

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, Yehootu said:

Hawaiian Air. We used to stay at the Rainmaker Hotel that was built by Pan Am. 

IHC.  Those Intercontiental Hotels were great.  Great memories for you.

 

[memoak]

3 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Especially after over 15 months of experience, they certainly should do better. 
 

Princess should have made this capability known, in writing. 

There is a tab on the main screen marked Dining. Each days menus show there. Makes it easy to know if you want to go to MDR or not

[tampadee]

Thanks for posting.

[GOLDENBONNY]

On 11/18/2022 at 10:12 AM, bnickle said:

and we had tested every three days since we had left home several weeks

Why? 

[cr8tiv1]

2 hours ago, GOLDENBONNY said:

Why? 

Why not?

[LidoLiz]

Jilliebean28, I am sorry that your experience on Regal has been so much different than here on Emerald. But it’s great news that you have been released.

It has certainly been a learning experience as to the best times to call Room Service, or the coloured-bag system for laundry vs. garbage, or finding out that your Medallion means nothing anymore and everything has to be done on the phone. The dining room menus are on the TV, and there is a separate category for everyday room service food like burgers, salads and pizzas.

I have to give a shout-out to Room Service, who has been calling me AHEAD of meal times to get my order in, and to Guest Services, who calls twice a day to see if I need anything or have any questions. (Quarantine pro tips: ask for a kettle, as steamy hot water can help with congestion, and get fresh ice if you have a sore throat). 
It also helps to talk across balconies to your fellow inmates as they may have useful information and are, so to speak, in the same boat! 😀

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by LidoLiz

[Coral]

12 hours ago, memoak said:

There is a tab on the main screen marked Dining. Each days menus show there. Makes it easy to know if you want to go to MDR or not

The menus on the app have been wrong on this voyage. Especially the lunch menus - they are completely off. The dinner menus are a little bit better but still off - for example, some things have shown up most nights on the desert menu that I have never seen yet . I said something to a Restaurant Manager and he had heard from others also.