RC Health Plan - Health and Safety Panel Report are now released

[Plum Happy]

5 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

From everything I have checked out online - there is no travel insurance company covering covid related medical expenses.   We shall see what is available when cruising actually re-starts in the US.      

 

You do realize temperature checks really do not do much as there are many asymptomatic individuals.     Also, my DH has a normal body temperature between 95 -96 - so if he has a fever he is at 98.    My normal body temp is around 96.5%, if I have a fever I am at 99.       Taking a daily temp really doesn't give you that much protection.

If there's no outbreak on the ship, you and your husband will be isolated away from everyone else.

 

And the CLIA has adopted RCL & NCL's healthy sail across all cruise lines.  https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/09/21/cruise-covid-19-precautions-industry-mandates-testing-masks-more/5839777002/

Edited September 21, 2020 by Plum Happy

[Sunshine3601]

4 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:

I am pretty sure it will be standard operating procedure concerning getting passengers back home.  For them to drop off a passenger in Costa Maya with COVID, then they forged their test, the daily prescreening didn't go well.  I haven't heard anyone not have symptoms get that sick with COVID overnight, but anything is possible.  But my thinking is they would isolate that person on the ship since there's no outbreak and once back at port, deal with them getting to their home.

OMG - yes, of course they will isolate / quarantine that person and anyone they came in contact in while on board the ship.     yes, people do drop over sick overnight from Covid.     A good friend of mine  in her late 40's said she felt okay a little tired when she woke up but figured she was fine, no fever, no sore throat 3 hours later while she was standing in line at airport security she dropped over (passed out) and woke up in the hospital and was told she had covid.    

I have to get back to work.     stay well.

 

[Sunshine3601]

5 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:

If there's no outbreak on the ship, you and your husband will be isolated away from everyone else.

????     Why would we be isolated??    We would be enjoying our cruise.     

[Plum Happy]

Just now, Sunshine3601 said:

????     Why would we be isolated??    We would be enjoying our cruise.     

You do realize this would happen if tests came back as positive while on the ship?????

[cruiselvr04]

As previously stated you can test positive and have no symptoms.  So you get to the pier and test +.  Do you get your money back if you can’t go?  The cruise lines have to come out with some assurance that you will be refunded.  Otherwise I’m not booking a thing.  That’s a huge risk to me.  

 

And testing before the pier is not fool proof since you could be exposed so many times on the way....airplane, restaurants, hotel all on the way.  A covid PCR takes about an hour. The wise thing to do is test at the pier, keeping people separated until the results come back.  You could still have been exposed 2 days prior on the way and it might not show up yet.  So even that isn’t perfect.

 

I think Travel Insured is covering  Covid related illnesses.  I’m using them for a trip in the states next month.  But if they get hit with a bunch of cruise ship claims that might not last long.

 

As much as I want to resume cruising I’ll be taking a wait and see approach.  Nothing booked until November of 21.

[Ashland]

21 minutes ago, Plum Happy said:

You do realize this would happen if tests came back as positive while on the ship?????

Book a cabin that you and your traveling companion wouldn't mind being isolated in, like a suite 

[nelblu]

26 minutes ago, cruiselvr04 said:

As previously stated you can test positive and have no symptoms.  So you get to the pier and test +.  .

 

There's been a lot of false positives reporting.  Any secondary testing for confirm..

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, Plum Happy said:

 

50-54 covers that.  Their medical teams makes the determination based on the severity of their illness.  They would be isolated on the ship, aka quarantined away from people.  

 

Then they are also responsible for getting them home.

Here is what it says. I quoted from 50.

 

“The Panel recommends that individuals who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, their close contacts, and anyone under investigation be separately debarked from the ship and transported using privately contracted transportation methods to a medical facility, home, or designated quarantine or isolation location”

 

It doesn’t say the cruise lines will be responsible for the medical facilities. I believe they (Cruise lines) want to drop off sick passengers into US Ports and Medical facilities. This again ignores the original CDC order and questions. 
 

M8

[Slidell_Cruiser]

So I have to pay for a covid19 test as a requirement before going in a cruise I have to pay for....

What’s not to like here....

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

Same in California...no charge or Dr. request needed...lot's of drive up style testing locations. They text you the results in 2-3 days. We had an antibody test and that was emailed and took 7 days.

It’s odd that NY requires a Dr order and charges for the test.

 

I wonder why?😇

[Mapleleafforever]

So no real plan, just some recommendations? Now we wait 14 weeks for the CDC to review?

 

(I haven't read it yet but I'm assuming.....)

Edited September 21, 2020 by Mapleleafforever

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You are missing the point.   I am not saying I want off the ship because someone is sick.   I am saying if someone is sick and they need care at a hospital immediately, they are going to take you to the closest hospital, whatever island that may be.       RCL is NOT going to pay for your care at that hospital, nor will travel insurance or other US health plans.     RCL is not going to charter you a private plane to fly you home and drop you at your door.

 

MERV 13 is a type of a filter for a HVAC.       

 

What agreement do you keep referring to that are already in place with the CDC?      Is that from months ago when they had ships still sailing with covid positive passengers and crew stuck on ships?   

I get it

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, Plum Happy said:

That is covered under 50-54.  Their medical specialists will make the determination if they need to transport them from whatever port back home.  The transportation was agreed upon with all cruise ships during the summer.  They wouldn't allow the crew to get off until they signed the agreement.  '

 

Yes, MERV is the filter, but if you go back and read that section, it mentions upgrading the HVAC.

And look how long it took the Cruise lines to get the crew home. 
 

Still doesn’t address the CDC original questions. 
 

M8

[Mapleleafforever]

Thanks for posting. Now I have something to read tonight after the kids go to sleep. Is this a Scotch read or can I get by with an herbal tea?

[Hoopster95]

11 minutes ago, Mapleleafforever said:

So no real plan, just some recommendations?

 

^This.

 

There's no real plan at all. It's all bandaids... there will still be covid on board... it's how they mitigate.

The real question, as asked in a thousand threads on this forum since March, is:

How do you keep covid from getting on the ship in the first place?

 

The answer is.... you can't! It's been the answer since day one, no matter how deep everyone wants to put our heads into the sand. The next question should be... ok, so we let people on board with Covid because we'll all have to live with it now... how do we kill it when it's on board?

 

If one cannot come up with a way to do this, then there will be zero cruises leaving the US, or maybe anywhere.... unless: I feel MSC Grandiosa found a  possible answer with independent air circulation in cabins and supposed UV light sterilization. Perhaps a start in the right direction?

 

Edited September 21, 2020 by Hoopster95

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Plum Happy said:

You do realize this would happen if tests came back as positive while on the ship?????

You are very confusing.     You spoke about daily temperature checks and said me and my husband would be isolated.      Why would we be isolated if our daily temperature is below 100.4 ?      Again, asymptomatic people do Not get a fever, so they can walk around spreading and you never know it.      Again, the reason why we must all wear masks, social distance and wash our hands on a regular basis.      

 

Yes, of course I am completely understand that any passenger and their entire travel party as well as anyone they came in contact with, thru contact tracing such as Wow bracelets, would be isolated/quarantined for the duration of the cruise.       Then they will put me on a magic carpet and send me home. 

 

I have been watching many of the MSC videos posted on their protocols and they have a very good model in place that has worked well for the last 6 weeks of their summer sailings in Europe.     I suspect they may put a hold on their cruises or change their "permitted to cruise list to a limited area Schegen countries.  Several European countries are having high cases again and going into 2nd wave of restrictions/lock downs.

 

8 minutes ago, Mapleleafforever said:

Thanks for posting. Now I have something to read tonight after the kids go to sleep. Is this a Scotch read or can I get by with an herbal tea?

Tea with a shot sounds good!

[sjb317]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

From everything I have checked out online - there is no travel insurance company covering covid related medical expenses.   We shall see what is available when cruising actually re-starts in the US.      

 

You do realize temperature checks really do not do much as there are many asymptomatic individuals.     Also, my DH has a normal body temperature between 95 -96 - so if he has a fever he is at 98.    My normal body temp is around 96.5%, if I have a fever I am at 99.       Taking a daily temp really doesn't give you that much protection.

You are right about temperature checks, they give a false sense of security.  As do 5 day old lab results😂😂

 

Sherri🙂

[Ashland]

Did anyone notice that Captain Patrik was on this panel...We've cruised with him...such a nice guy...he even watched us at a Cup Cake making class. I know this has no bearing but just thought i would add this tidbit.

[nelblu]

14 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

It’s odd that NY requires a Dr order and charges for the test.

 

I wonder why?😇

I got mine via a MedExpress facility.  Made appointment and waited in car.  A nurse came out in the parking lot, took my temperature and asked key medical questions.   About 10 minutes later, Physician came to my car, asked/confirm the  medical questions and finally swabbed my nostrils.  Test results within 2-3 days.  No Doctor order required and Medicare paid 100%.

[Kokomo91165]

Biggest disappointment from all of this is their lack of commitment to testing at the pier. This is a BIG red flag to me. 
 

Securing a Covid test 5 days or 24hrs before debarkation is going to be a fiasco. Plus the expense!  FL tests range $119-$250 per person with results ranging from 1-3 days. Talk about an added expense for cruising. My cruise fare for a 3 night balcony room is less than my Covid test. 
 

I know these remain recommendations, but I hope RCL seriously considers testing at the port as their main testing resource. 

[Milwaukee Eight]

3 minutes ago, nelblu said:

I got mine via a MedExpress facility.  Made appointment and waited in car.  A nurse came out in the parking lot, took my temperature and asked key medical questions.   About 10 minutes later, Physician came to my car, asked/confirm the  medical questions and finally swabbed my nostrils.  Test results within 2-3 days.  No Doctor order required and Medicare paid 100%.

What if you didn’t have Medicare?

[Sunshine3601]

3 minutes ago, nelblu said:

I got mine via a MedExpress facility.  Made appointment and waited in car.  A nurse came out in the parking lot, took my temperature and asked key medical questions.   About 10 minutes later, Physician came to my car, asked/confirm the  medical questions and finally swabbed my nostrils.  Test results within 2-3 days.  No Doctor order required and Medicare paid 100%.

Technically, the fact the physician came to your car and asked questions was probably considered a doctor authorization of the test.    

personally, I think it is ridiculous that some states still have issues in getting tests done and getting results back in 2 or 3 days at most.    

4 minutes ago, Kokomo91165 said:

Biggest disappointment from all of this is their lack of commitment to testing at the pier. This is a BIG red flag to me. 
 

Securing a Covid test 5 days or 24hrs before debarkation is going to be a fiasco. Plus the expense!  FL tests range $119-$250 per person with results ranging from 1-3 days. Talk about an added expense for cruising. My cruise fare for a 3 night balcony room is less than my Covid test. 
 

I know these remain recommendations, but I hope RCL seriously considers testing at the port as their main testing resource. 

Yup, that is  Big Red Flag!.     If they don't implement a rapid test (like MSC) at the cruise terminal the day of sailing, then I am not getting on the ship.       They said in their health plan, "if feasible based on cost and available technology" that may be done.        For me that a Must be done, not a may be done. 

[Ashland]

9 minutes ago, nelblu said:

I got mine via a MedExpress facility.  Made appointment and waited in car.  A nurse came out in the parking lot, took my temperature and asked key medical questions.   About 10 minutes later, Physician came to my car, asked/confirm the  medical questions and finally swabbed my nostrils.  Test results within 2-3 days.  No Doctor order required and Medicare paid 100%.

Here in Calif...No insurance question is even asked of you.

[Plum Happy]

46 minutes ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Here is what it says. I quoted from 50.

 

“The Panel recommends that individuals who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, their close contacts, and anyone under investigation be separately debarked from the ship and transported using privately contracted transportation methods to a medical facility, home, or designated quarantine or isolation location”

 

It doesn’t say the cruise lines will be responsible for the medical facilities. I believe they (Cruise lines) want to drop off sick passengers into US Ports and Medical facilities. This again ignores the original CDC order and questions. 
 

M8

Wow, if they let the passengers just go, they would get on a plane with everyone else, wouldn't they?  So, of course the cruise line is going to ensure that they are taken to their destination.  You can go back and see what the CDC informed the cruise line to to do to minimize the spread.

Edited September 21, 2020 by Plum Happy

[orville99]

What I find interesting is the two columns to the right of the list that indicate which recommendations are “modifiable” and which ones are permanent changes. Makes all the difference ion the way that the cruise lines treat their response once a vaccine or antiviral is approved.