Big Tiger Fan

DH and I have sailed 62 days since September. Both of us are fully vaccinated with two boosters. We wore masks every time we left our cabin and only removed them for meals. We had private tables for all meals even if we were in buffet. I never contracted Covid but DH had it within 3 days of our last cruise in early May, even though we did the same things. Go figure.

Planks is back open?? In January we played cards back there in the afternoons. It was a marvelous space. Did the same on the Emerald in April.

Tracie, Thank you for updates on the CB. We were on her in January and are returning in July. Since you are near capacity wondering if all 3 MDRs are now open instead of only two. Hope you have a great cruise.

Wowzz, I hope you recognize that people are still getting Covid. Even if you are fully vaccinated and have boosters you are not immune. However, your symptoms most likely won’t be as severe as if you are unvaccinated which means decreasing hospitalizations. But you do become contagious and can spread it. I suspect the numbers of cases are decreasing because since so many use the home testing kits and are thus u reported.

OMG, spunks! You had a worse time than we did and I thought it was the worst. At least I tested negative on our April 2 cruise part of B2B and only had to quarantine for 24 hours. Then we did get home before DH started getting sick and tested positive. Regarding cruise, my experience with medical staff was positive. They rate excellent with me. I really liked Dr. Tim and I had to see him twice. Very sorry others might not feel the same. I’m posting our experience because I want others to know that Covid is on the ships. Allowing passengers to not wear masks and adding more passengers the industry is creating a situation where Covid can spread. The order from our captain that masks would be required for the remainder of our cruise came too late. We will be even more vigilant on our next cruise in July (since it is too late to get a full refund).

We got off Emerald Princess last Sunday and they tested on the ship that morning before we disembarked. To say it was a fiasco would be kind. Sounds like they learned their lesson even though many of us were begging for testing information much earlier. For those flying out of Heathrow they have testing stations set up outside terminal 3. Understood from others it took 30 minutes to get results. Airline asked for test results along with passport before you could check in and get boarding pass.

Also, on this cruise small Square tables popped up outside cabin doors on our deck 10. Rumors were that they were used by room service to sit trays on for quarantined passengers. Don’t know if they ran out of quarantine area cabins or what. About 5 days before we disembarked Everyone received a letter with a few face masks telling us that we had Covid cases on board. From then on we had to wear masks while indoors. They also cut out service at bars. We had to sit at a table for service. For more details on other personal experiences go to the April 16 sailing on Emerald Princess. Lots of unhappy folks.

I tested negative after experiencing strep throat symptoms but I still had to quarantine for 24 hours until I could get tested the next day. DH had no symptoms but still had to be tested. Since he was negative he could go out and about. We ordered food and drink from television room service apps. I had to go out on our balcony before they would come in our cabin with the tray. We ate on the balcony using that table. Since we were in the Caribbean it wasn’t bad. Our regular room steward was not allowed in our room. The housekeeping staff arranged for a different person to take care of the cabin while we sat on the balcony. Don’t know how this would work without a balcony. After we were notified by telephone of my second negative test I was cleared to leave my cabin. They did not take my medallion so I still had it. Thankfully my experience was only for 24 hours. Cannot imagine how boring it could get.

Is the food that bad? Yes. Just got off a 29 day cruise and there were many nights DH and I had to search the MDR menu for something to eat. You kinda get tired of Caesar salads and Fettuccine Alfredo after a few nights. Even breakfast pastries were cold and hard.

Does anyone have information on obtaining a test in Quebec City that might be close to the cruise port? We will disembark Friday, August 5 in Quebec and will be flying back to US that day. Unless protocols change we know we must get a test within 24 hours of re-entry. Since the ship will arrive the day before we disembark we should have time to get tested then if we can locate a testing site. Many thanks for all of the information. We know know we need a booster (check) and fill out the arrive Canada form. Got it. Y’all are a great help.