flowery

Beav and Laffnvegas- thanks for your comments. I agree it's good to be flexible and open.

My thinking on the situation evolves and shifts on an almost daily basis.

Just 6 weeks ago we were still being careful with mask wearing. Now we are taking no precautions even in large crowds. I'm thinking we might be immune, having had Covid less than 5 mos ago.

As long as ports and countries don't deny the Rotterdam entry or require group excursions I think we'll be OK.

I do all my own travel planning- hotels, air etc for maximum flexibility. We are paying a lot for Platinum insurance so we have the luxury of not embarking at the very last minute if we shift again.

Still looking forward to hearing from cruisers currently on the Rotterdam or disembarking next week.

willoL- thank you so much for explaining why you look at statistics and trends- you articulated it perfectly in a way I couldn't.

BermudaBound and Lizard House- thanks for your posts. Excellent info BermudaBound!

Celebrity Apex is now requiring masks.

I hope everyone on the current 14 day Rotterdam sailing is doing OK. 

ThePoint- that's very strange about the rushed service at the Pinnacle Grill- the exact opposite of what one normally experiences at a specialty restaurant. It sounds like they were trying to squeeze in as many sittings as possible. I haven't made any specialty reservations yet because I wasn't sure about the cancellation policy. Is it easy to make restaurant reservations onboard for Neptune suites?

Celeb Aqua Blu- service was way too slow and dragged out and also, we weren't keen on the food.

Celeb Luminae pacing and dishes all perfect- our ideal.

However, as long as there's a possibility of being moved to an Ocean View cabin we wouldn't sail with Celebrity again.

Oceania is the only cruise line that I'm aware of that's allowing passengers to remain in their original staterooms. Some passengers on Regent aren't being moved but it's not consistent. Is Viking still dumping anyone positive at the nearest port to quarantine in a budget hotel? I haven't checked their board for a few weeks.

Italy- sounds way too strict at the moment. If you test positive at the airport they give you a few mins to decide if you want to go to a special quarantine hotel, get an AirBnB or stay with a relative. I would do a land based trip to Italy but cruising sounds kind of risky.

Thanks so much ThePoint for all the great detail! Our Neptune Suite is as pricey or more than a Celebrity sky suite- and also about the price of a Seabourn cabin (?). It's too bad they don't offer an upgraded dining experience to justify the expense.

Your description confirms what Fabric posted about the "subpar, cold food" on the Rotterdam.

Did you try any of the specialty restaurants? We're hoping Tamarind is good -the menu looks very appealing.

I agree HAL has excellent and varied itineraries. Also, glad to hear you were happy with the service.

We are very picky about dining and are only sailing on HAL to be with friends. After months/years of social deprivation, it's our top priority LOL.

We rarely do group excursions so when we're on our own at ports we'll try to find some nice lunch spots.

I sure hope HAL will offer to test everyone who is flying to the US- not just those who booked air with them. It will be a mad scramble if we have to do it on our own. I don't mind paying a fee.

Albingirl- I don't understand the hostile comments by you and others e.g.  "rocket science."

It's been really interesting reading through the boards of many different cruise lines as I look for Covid trends and protocols.  You can really get a "read" on the differences among cruise lines- some  boards are very polite and diplomatic and others express so much anger and hostility. I'm sure there are some perfectly nice HAL cruisers who want to avoid controversy and are lurking and not posting.

Thanks again everyone- please keep posting.

Beav- I'm impressed with Capt Costas on Celeb Edge making daily announcements- that's what I expect from a good cruise line and a competent captain. Thanks also for the statistics.

But I am leery now of Celebrity after reading of the possibility of being sent to an Ocean View quarantine room and quarantine locations being left to the discretion of the captains.

ThePoint- thanks for the info on mask wearing aboard the Rotterdam- I'm not surprised. Everyone is in denial about the transmissibility of the current variant and apparently so tired of mask wearing...In our area, Covid has been spreading like wildfire for the past week or two..

I'm not sure if we will wear masks or not- dining and drinking on a cruise ship is a risky activity and we don't plan to eat in our cabin. 

I think you mentioned in your post that testing was provided if you'd booked air through HAL. We booked our own air- I hope that's not an issue. We declined the $500 credit toward air as part of the Have It All deal.

Off topic but I see you sailed Celebrity recently- how did HAL's dining compare to Luminae and Celebrity MDR? Will you sail HAL again?

Fred321- Excellent point- I agree it's entirely possible that HAL will also stop offering Covid tests for flights to US.

Lots of great info! Thanks to everyone for posting. Look forward to hearing more as the situation evolves.

We aren't wearing masks now in our hometown. It seems inevitable we will get the new variant at some point- getting it now rather than while in Europe sounds preferable and we were lucky to have relatively mild reactions to Omicron in Dec/Jan.

Great news MAVIP! Thanks for posting!

Thanks Laminator for the graph.

Thanks also to others for their helpful suggestions that we might be too worried and therefore should not be cruising. LOL.

In addition to numbers, I've been hoping to get info on current quarantine conditions and protocols.

Maybe the 7 day segments are short enough that not as many are testing positive.

Did anyone test positive on Saturday and have trouble flying back to the US?

There's an interesting thread on the Celebrity board re: the Edge April 22 roll call. Apparently Celebrity abruptly refused to test passengers for their flights home and some were in tears after testing positive at the Rome airport and not being allowed to fly back home as scheduled. Italy is also quite strict and you're required to quarantine in a designated hotel or go to an AirBnB (?)

UK has no testing requirements and no quarantine mandates- possibly some suggestions.

What about the Netherlands?

One person on Celebrity had an interesting idea about using Canada or Mexico Air - no testing requirement. However, unless you live close to those borders, you'd have to fly home and domestic airlines all ask if you've been recently exposed etc.

I'll be curious to hear how the current 14 day Rotterdam sailing pans out and if anyone has trouble testing positive at the end.

From my reading, Carnival Corp voluntarily opted into the CDC reporting program while in US waters. All HAL ships are currently "orange" according to the CDC website. Orange indicates significant transmission and positive cases.

Some captains on other cruise lines (including a Carnival/Princess ship?) proudly proclaimed at the onset of a recent sailing that they were "green" but then it abruptly switched and no more announcements were forthcoming. Passengers reported many entering quarantine. Obviously, the cruise lines prefer to make announcements only when their numbers are good.

I did take a look at the NYT excellent Covid section and couldn't find exact numbers for the Netherlands but their color on the color coded map looks favorable. Unfortunately, some of their neighbors e.g. Germany aren't doing well at the moment. Of course all that can change in a few months. Europe may be over it soon and the US will start surging according to prediction models.

I find it super odd that some people don't want to know the current daily positive cases which are being reported on some cruise lines.

I think I can better gauge our risk if I had an idea of how many are in quarantine- I would assume at least double since more are likely to be asymptomatic.

We love cruising as does everyone on this board, however, we have options. Maybe some of you feel locked in and have made final payment?

I'm hoping some people will post about their experiences relative to Covid onboard the Rotterdam. 

I think it's funny that some denounce my inquiry. What's so upsetting about it? I'm not afraid of information- are you??

I like your attitude ShipWalker!

It might help a little. We were incredibly careful for several years- never dining indoors at restaurants etc. Now the realization that Covid is going to be with us a long time is starting to sink in.

Fabric- thanks for taking the time to post while on your cruise. That's interesting Carnival/HAL is not requiring testing on B2Bs. A couple on a Celebrity ship got caught up in B2B testing but were lucky to disembark in the UK and get an airbnb- only spending two days in quarantine on the ship.

Mary- thanks also for your "live" report. I don't know whether to be alarmed or relieved that the spouse of someone in quarantine was running around the ship unmasked.

Laminator- I agree that so many are asymptomatic and the numbers are likely much higher, although I would still like to know the official count and how many are in quarantine. We have fully refundable airline and hotel tickets and can also cancel moments before boarding with Platinum insurance.

If numbers are alarmingly high (thinking of Carnival/Princess Ruby) we could switch to last minute intraEuropean flights and land based travels. 

We got lucky with Omicron- I had a very mild case and my husband was only sick for a few days but I don't relish the thought of spending time on a cruise ship sick or in quarantine.

More and more I'm agreeing with those who refer to mask wearing as "theater." KN 94/95s are very protective when worn at all times in indoor settings. But I don't think there are many who are planning to eat their meals in their cabin. 

Laminator- thanks for the suggestion about checking out Dutch Covid numbers. In past European cruises, most of the people onboard with us were American I thought (Azamara and Celebrity).

Linda- thanks so much for the "real time" info. If you hear anymore tidbits I'm all ears!

Laminator- that would be great to get a report on your June 5 sailing.

Most of the Rotterdam's segments are shorter 7 day which might help their Covid numbers.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the 14 day May 8 sailing. Also, how many people on back to backs test positive and are denied re-boarding. I'm assuming everyone has to retest?

I wonder why HAL is scared to release their numbers.

Laminator- that's a shame that they're concealing numbers. Current and future passengers need this information.

I hope there will be some first hand reports of the number of tables outside the quarantine cabins (isn't that a sign?) and some anecdotal reports too of personal experiences.

I know HAL has a reputation as a cruise line for older passengers - we fit that demographic but are still working and have jobs to get back to.

I've been reading about the "Documentation of Recovery" but it's only issued after Day 10 in the case of someone who continues to test positive and is trying to fly back to the US.

Thanks for clarifying CruiserBruce.

Thank you Lisa- that's good to know. Hope it stays that way!

6 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Your given dates are confusing.  What is happening today does not indicate anything about the future.  Now that I am finally sailing I firmly believe anyone who is not willing to sail under the most stringent restrictions should not sail.  The rules change according to unpredictable circumstances. I agree about testing, expect to carry your test supplies with you and conduct the tests online. As European countries drop their testing requirements it may become difficult to find an affordable testing location.  

Mary, I don't agree with you. It is very relevant to us and I expect to see an evolution of case numbers and protocols. 

I can't look at the CDC ratings since the Rotterdam isn't sailing in US waters.

Who said we can't follow "stringent restrictions"? But I would like to know more about the "stringent conditions" currently and as they evolve.

On one Celebrity ship it's up to the captain's discretion where passengers quarantine- suite and balcony passengers are going to Deck 3 Ocean Views. Except when the quarantine cabins fill up and then positives are allowed to quarantine in their original rooms. HAL appears to be going the way of Celebrity with testing no longer provided. 

The Rotterdam sailings might be quite full this summer and I'm hoping to get first hand accounts of Covid conditions.

Thanks Ine. Testing 72 hours before embarking will be OK for us.

However, I think it should be offered to disembarking passengers who are flying out the same day. 

Apparently there are no plans for the US to drop this requirement.

Also, if the preceding day before disembarking is an "At Sea" day it becomes super inconvenient. 

The cruise lines should charge if $ is their concern or is it because they don't want the number of positives to be revealed? Easier to conceal who contracted Covid while onboard if testing occurs afterward.

Thanks CruiserBruce!

Are the quarantine cabin locations specific to the Rotterdam or on all HAL ships?

Are negative roommates required to test daily and for how many days?

Do you know how HAL is determining who is a close contact? How many consecutive days are they tested?

Please update all of us on the current Covid situation and for upcoming Rotterdam cruises all departing from Amsterdam:

May 8, 22, 29 June 5, 12, 19, 26 July 10, 17, 24.

I'm trying to decide if we should go ahead and make final payment in a few weeks although we'll get the Platinum Protection insurance and can cancel at the last minute if necessary.

1) please describe testing situation/requirements at the port for embarkation

2) what are your infected numbers for guests and crew. Is the captain making daily announcements?

3) where are the quarantine cabins located?

4) were you required to move cabins?

5) if your partner tested negative did they remain in the original cabin, did they have to quarantine and how often were they tested?

6) are close contacts subjected to testing also?

7) anyone test positive on disembarking and get stuck in Amsterdam- couldn't fly back to US?

30 minutes ago, JeanieC,Aston said:

 

 

With respect to Jim who could relax in  RS and social distance in Luminea,,or eat breakfast in his suite dining area…..those of us in steerage had to crowd in MDR or OV.

There wasn’t the option to spend hours in our cabin jacuzzi….LoL!!

 

 

Are tables spaced out now in Luminae? Not when we've been there! There was some spacing on Reflection in 2016? but not on our last cruise on the Edge in Feb 2020. We were frequently seated just a few feet away from others. Folks, you need 26 feet of spacing and also your waiter, sommelier and others should be wearing well fitting KN 94/95 masks. Also, no infected person can walk past you maskless. Crew members on all ships are getting infected and will likely be immune in another month or two but passengers remain vulnerable.

We will continue to travel and I wish it could be on a cruise ship but it's looking more and more doubtful. The entire social distancing concept doesn't seem to work indoors when unmasked.

And I can't agree with those who say you are safer on a cruise ship. How? There's a high doubling rate of the virus and you are in a contained space. I'm more concerned with getting confined in quarantine than getting sick.

We have an upcoming HAL cruise this summer that we will probably have to cancel. I'm very disappointed but can't risk spending days in quarantine on a cruise ship.

There's so much magical thinking and denial among the general public and cruise passengers in particular. Everyone touts about how "careful" they were wearing masks at all times and on elevators. taking stairs etc etc but did you eat your meals in your room or did you remove your mask and eat in dining rooms?

In June of 2021, when Australia was under lockdown and contact tracing was easy, fleeting encounters in an indoor shopping mall with CCTV footage captured the moment of transmission. This was the Delta variant. The current variant is even more transmissible.

Contact tracing on cruise ships is also silly for this very reason. For those of you who still subscribe to the idea of 15 mins or more of close contact, how do you justify removing your masks and eating indoors? Are you eating your meals in less than 15 mins? Several years ago the virus was shown to travel airborne 26 feet.

Jim and Ian deserve sympathy and have done a great job keeping us updated on their experiences, however, they are also extremely lucky that they can disembark quickly and go to an AirBnB.

I've been following Covid posts on all the cruise lines and everyone who ends up in quarantine for 4/5 plus days is unhappy and regrets their decision to cruise. This includes a couple on Oceania where passengers are allowed to quarantine in their original rooms and receive meals on real china.

Fabric- thanks for posting about the subpar, cold food on the Rotterdam. I see you normally sail Celebrity. We think Luminae (dining room for suites) has amazing, delicious food. In the past though, we haven't been that happy with Celebrity's MDR food and several of the specialty restaurants we've tried on Celebrity ships have been mediocre.

We are going on the Rotterdam in order to be with friends who have FCC.

I fervently hope HAL's cuisine is better than Princess's which is truly awful.

I would not sail Celebrity during Covid, however, since they are apparently moving guests into Ocean View isolation cabins on low decks. Balconies are reserved for quarantining crew!

How are the Covid numbers on your sailing? Where are the isolation cabins? is the captain announcing daily infection numbers?

Gracie- you are right- even a tiny balcony cabin on HAL is preferable to no balcony. But if the ships are full this summer will that be guaranteed?

Someone needs to create a graph comparing quarantines on the various cruise lines. I've read on Oceania you can remain in your own cabin. On Viking, they have daily PCR testing but if you test positive you are dumped at the nearest port in a designated budget hotel and not allowed to leave your room (?)

I wonder how many cabins will be set aside for quarantine on all the cruise lines. Won't summer sailings already be at capacity? I don't think any cruise line is promising in writing a certain type of cabin for quarantine.

I like the CDC color coding for ships- is there a European version of this? I'd like to know how to gauge the risk on Summer 2022 European sailings.

David, thanks for keeping us all updated on your situation. This has been an excellent although sobering accounting of what to expect on a cruise ship if quarantined.

Celebrity's handling of guests by placing them in cabins without fresh air and no opportunity for outside public deck times has been egregious.

Gracie (and others?) have mentioned HAL's balcony cabins for quarantine. I'm not impressed with the way HAL is handling it either. Going from a larger suite to a tiny balcony cabin doesn't appeal- I'd rather take a land based trip. Also, let's not forget that HAL's parent company is Carnival- their recent handling of the Covid situation on the Ruby Princess was scary.

One thing I want to point out is that most of us seem to be in denial about the risks of indoor eating and drinking in public areas. There's speculation about where transmission occurred- it seems indoor dining is a likely spot. In June 2021, the Delta variant was demonstrated to be transmitted in fleeting (seconds, not minutes) encounters in an indoor mall in Australia that was captured on CCTV footage.

The only way we will know actual transmission rates aboard cruise ships is if everyone tests on their 5th day after disembarking. But I also expect a truthful, daily accounting while onboard.