I'm currently on the Norwegian Star on a 14-day cruise ending in Reykjavik. A couple of days ago I was feeling lousy so I have myself a Covid test I'd brought from home. It was positive. Not a complete surprise when cruising nowadays.
I called the ship doctor who gave me a confirming Covid test (exact same type that I brought from home) (charged me $99 for that), gave me a consult to let me know I had Covid (that was $199), gave me a "non-generic equivalent" of Paxlovid (a whopping $800 for that when Paxlovid is FREE in the States) and gave me 30 tablets of Tylenol ($36 for the Tylenol).
Then I was escorted to my room and told that I could not leave it until the end of the cruise (I would have isolated even if they hadn't told me to). The ship provided room service three times a day at times that worked for them (not on my schedule, but it worked out okay).
The problem, of course, was what to do AFTER the cruise was over. I initially wanted to get a hotel and stay in Reykjavik for a couple more days to make sure I wasn't contagious before flying, but that became technically really difficult because I couldn't find hotels that would let me in before 3:00 p.m. (latest the ship would let me leave was 9:00 a.m. and I have luggage and it's cold) and everywhere that had room service (And ALL airport hotels) were sold out. In fact, most of the places left with availability were small guesthouses, many with shared bathrooms. My chance of infecting others while out on the streets, waiting for rooms and trying to keep myself fed while isolating was probably at least as high as when taking a flight, especially since flights have GPS air circulation systems.
In fact, the ship's doctor had told me that flying back should be fine since my virus level would be greatly reduced from the Paxlovid and I'd be wearing a K95 mask.
I had paid for an airport transfer well before the cruise when I read how difficult it could be to get a taxi from the cruise ports - long lines and long waits. And of course the weather can be cold and wet this time of year.
When I asked guest relations about my airport transfer, they said "no, we can't take you to the airport now that you have Covid, but we'll refund the money you paid us for the airport transfer."
Wait a sec ... you mean you guys are really going to push a sick 60 year old woman who caught Covid on YOUR ship (with the timing I couldn't have brought it with me) out into the cold to fend for herself ... with the airport 45 minutes away, a possible 2- hour wait in the cold for a taxi, and a taxi fare of maybe $150??? Their reply was "yes, that is EXACTLY what we're going to do."
I escalated up a couple of levels and got no help at all. They will not assist me in getting a cab. They will not pay for my cab or provide alternative transport to the airport, despite the fact that they would not allow a passenger to cancel airport transfers FOR ANY REASON past 20 days prior to the cruise.
Am I the axxhole for thinking that NCL is despicable for chewing me up and spitting me out?