les37b

I can only go on the comments made by guests who have just returned from a cruise which they've found to be less than satisfactory, from a provisions perspective and staff levels. The "why is that" isn't something I can answer. Not sure that's true all cruse lines are having the same issues. The 5 cruises I've been on since we opened back up, never had any of the issues described. That info coupled with the late changes and awful flight allocations and policies regarding flights, have really given my some "with hindsight" moments and question if it was a good idea to make the booking.

Now sure why you shouted that, but re-read it. It is advice. It is not law and it's not an instruction. Terms in your shout "guidance"..... And "try". Strangely I couldn't even see where that 5 days quote came from. I know that was the case some time ago. I'm obviously not suggesting people shouldn't protect others and should behave responsibly. This is the current info as of 13 April. If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. No mention of 5 days... And as I'd said. It's saying it's fine to go into work unless you are feeling ill.... ie just like any illness then! As for the effects. I know numerous people who would definitely not be here without the vaccine and recent infections. Indeed, they all reported it to be minor enough to not even feel they were I'll. My wife spent 10 days in quarantine in Jan on Silver Moon in South America she had absolutely zero symptoms. And feeling like I had a mild cold in the middle of the week, I finally tested myself on Friday and was positive. I have stayed away from people, but can categorically tell you the effects on me are very much a mild cold. I have had bad colds and flu in the past which caused me to need time off work. When the consequences of a positive test are more serious than the illness, it's time to reassess. I have worked from home for the past 2 years and took the pandemic seriously. Now in line with many countries, we are at the stage we need to live with it. If cruise lines want to insist it's a condition of passage, then they should own it and not make a huge profit on it. I have no problem with being testing or wear a mask. Just think the stage has been reached where testing is the problem. As stated, my wife had zero symptoms. We were simply testing privately every other day. Had we not have done that, we'd have been one the wiser. Amazingly, there is a Silversea Facebook group that someone who had never sailed on the line complained "the husband of a guest in quarantine had free run of the ship. Which wasn't true. I was in isolation for 48 hours, when I was released, I was asked to stay clear of people, which was happy to do. I had 5 PCRs and 6 Antigens during the 10 days she was in quarantine, but that wasn't enough and according to that guest, should have been locked up. They are not on the ship, not even thinking of sailing, but think being in contact with someone and ignoring the tests and precautions wasn't enough for them. Therein lies the problem.

So why are they insisting on something that isn't required? This an azamara requirement only. On my cruise in a month, no country is insisting on a test, no airline is insisting on a test, just the azamara clinic. And if they insist, it shouldn't be with an extortionate markup. In the UK now, you don't even need to isolate if you are positive and are fine to continue work. The vaccines and evolution means it's a mild cold now. Can flu and colds kill? Yep, just like they always have and without this nonsense as it stands now. The insistance on this test for me personally is a real pain as even with a 72 hour window, it's nigh impossible. London will be in chaos on the weekend I need to get sorted because of the Jubilee..... And because testing is nigh history, there are just not many places open. Plus the cheapest PCR I can find, adds another £140 to the cost.

I couldn't disagree more. A quick gob in a tube took less than 30 seconds and meant Viking were on top of potential infections by minimising further mixing of positive cases. I know you mentioned before that you said you were told to wait hours for the first test result. As mentioned previously, that was wrong. You were free to go once done, but would quickly have been hauled in if there was any bad news. I felt safer knowing they were testing and it had zero negatives for me on an enjoyment level.

So a supermarket shop in Lisbon prior to boarding is in order!