Observations Onboard Odyssey

[clover18]

We have been waiting for an announcement about being allowed to disembark in Curaçao. That was about two hours ago. In the meantime. All of the tour buses that were waiting for our passengers to take around the island have departed. It’s obvious that the captain is going to announce that we will not be allowed off the ship. But the locals were the first to know and the buses are now gone.

I took some pictures but cruise critic is not working that great right now so I can’t upload them. All of the buses departed within minutes of each other Within the last half hour.

[zpdw484]

Not what I wanted to hear... Supposed to be doing the ABC's next week on explorer..  Thanks for giving us some real time information. 

[Sunshine3601]

If there is a certain amount of positive covid cases onboard the islands (they each make their own rules) will make the decision on whether or not passengers are allowed to disembark.

Happened last week where Explorer could not dock at St. Lucia and unfortunately, it will continue to happen till we get thru the holidays with everyone traveling and the spread of omicron.  

Sorry to hear you may not be able to get off the ship at Curacao.    It is a beautiful island. 

[clover18]

I don’t want to spread rumors so I’m not going to speculate on how many Covid cases we have on board. We know that there are some because of canceled shows and activities. The captain has not yet come back to officially announce that we will not be allowed on board the island. I am doing a live blog on odyssey of the seas December 18 rollcall. And will be updating there as information becomes available. Lots of disappointed faces around here. 

[AtSea2021]

There are at least 50 cases on board. 47 crew. https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/8990149002

[zpdw484]

Thanks for the info. According to marine traffic it looks like carnival freedom had to skip Bonaire today also... Gonna be a bumpy ride ahead for the cruise lines.. 

[livingonthebeach]

Hope you have a good rest of your cruise on Odyssey. Is that the same ship that returned to Port Everglades one day later to drop off a Covid patient?  Any news on her condition?  

[clover18]

Captain announcement just now: there are 54 confirmed crewmembers with Covid and three passengers also. The country of Curacao has denied us entry. The captain is awaiting guidance from the main office with respect to what will happen next. I’m sure we will get an update before dinner time about what will happen in Aruba tomorrow. Meanwhile, the cruise Director and his team are scrambling to find other activities. They can open the casino or the shops while we are in Port so Who knows what they’re going to plan for us while we are docked here

[Sunshine3601]

Just now, livingonthebeach said:

Hope you have a good rest of your cruise on Odyssey. Is that the same ship that returned to Port Everglades one day later to drop off a Covid patient?  Any news on her condition?  

Yes, Odyssey dropped off a woman that apparently boarded not feeling well.   

We have to trust people will do the right thing and we all know some people won't.   

[Sunshine3601]

2 minutes ago, clover18 said:

Captain announcement just now: there are 54 confirmed crewmembers with Covid and three passengers also. The country of Curacao has denied us entry. The captain is awaiting guidance from the main office with respect to what will happen next. I’m sure we will get an update before dinner time about what will happen in Aruba tomorrow. Meanwhile, the cruise Director and his team are scrambling to find other activities. They can open the casino or the shops while we are in Port so Who knows what they’re going to plan for us while we are docked here

Sorry to hear this and thank you for updating us. 

 

Sounds like this started last week with the casino crew that tested positive first.    Tumble down effect.

at least people are realizing that majority of population that are vaccinated only experience minor symptoms.   

[livingonthebeach]

2 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Yes, Odyssey dropped off a woman that apparently boarded not feeling well.   

We have to trust people will do the right thing and we all know some people won't.   

Wow - I didn’t know she boarded while feeling ill.  People just don’t think or just don’t care or maybe both.  The cruise lines don’t need this sort of thing right now. 

[livingonthebeach]

7 minutes ago, clover18 said:

Captain announcement just now: there are 54 confirmed crewmembers with Covid and three passengers also. The country of Curacao has denied us entry. The captain is awaiting guidance from the main office with respect to what will happen next. I’m sure we will get an update before dinner time about what will happen in Aruba tomorrow. Meanwhile, the cruise Director and his team are scrambling to find other activities. They can open the casino or the shops while we are in Port so Who knows what they’re going to plan for us while we are docked here

Thanks for the update.  There are people on your cruise posting on Social Media as well.  

[Sunshine3601]

Just now, livingonthebeach said:

Wow - I didn’t know she boarded while feeling ill.  People just don’t think or just don’t care or maybe both.  The cruise lines don’t need this sort of thing right now. 

She was traveling with 8 or 10 other people and probably didn't want to ruin their vacation so she didn't say anything (I guess she lied on her health questionnaire?)   

Heard that all the other travel companions left the ship with her.     They were all escorted off with staff wearing haz mat suits and their luggage wrapped up in plastic.

[livingonthebeach]

5 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

She was traveling with 8 or 10 other people and probably didn't want to ruin their vacation so she didn't say anything (I guess she lied on her health questionnaire?)   

Heard that all the other travel companions left the ship with her.     They were all escorted off with staff wearing haz mat suits and their luggage wrapped up in plastic.

 

Someone who is on that ship right now wrote the following on FB:

"From the “things that do not go as planned” department… we are on the newsbreaking Royal Carribean Odyssey of the Seas… on first night we had to return as a passenger lied and came down with full-blown covid. We just arrived in beautiful Curacao but due to the crew having FIFTY cases and two passengers sick, we have been denied permission to disembark. Are we upset? No! Not at all. Totally support decisions and are making most of it. The safety protocols are terrific on the ship, and we are keeping at a safe distance from others mostly staying on our balcony. And we saw a shark! Love and light to you all… #royalcarribean #covidcruise"

[toad455]

I wonder if Odyssey's next sailing will get cancelled?

[ticketsunlimited]

Thats a great positive attitude!  Unfortunately this may not be the norm for a lot of people on board.  As REO says.  You need to  'roll with the changes"

[bouhunter]

12 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Someone who is on that ship right now wrote the following on FB:

"From the “things that do not go as planned” department… we are on the newsbreaking Royal Carribean Odyssey of the Seas… on first night we had to return as a passenger lied and came down with full-blown covid. We just arrived in beautiful Curacao but due to the crew having FIFTY cases and two passengers sick, we have been denied permission to disembark. Are we upset? No! Not at all. Totally support decisions and are making most of it. The safety protocols are terrific on the ship, and we are keeping at a safe distance from others mostly staying on our balcony. And we saw a shark! Love and light to you all… #royalcarribean #covidcruise"

Royal should be happy there are people content to sit on their balcony.  We love a balcony cabin but would have no desire to spend most of our time there.

[livingonthebeach]

1 minute ago, bouhunter said:

Royal should be happy there are people content to sit on their balcony.  We love a balcony cabin but would have no desire to spend most of our time there.

 

Yes but a balcony is a much better place to be than an inside cabin -- this happened on the Odyssey not too long ago:

 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/travel-troubles/127366242/covid-on-a-cruise-how-a-breakthrough-case-sent-one-couple-from-an-ocean-view-balcony-to-the-dungeon

[davekathy]

2 minutes ago, bouhunter said:

Royal should be happy there are people content to sit on their balcony.  We love a balcony cabin but would have no desire to spend most of our time there.

Exactly, Boring! 

[ticketsunlimited]

5 minutes ago, toad455 said:

I wonder if Odyssey's next sailing will get cancelled?

RCL is doing the best thing they can do and that's, be transparent.  The islands will continue to let passengers off future arrivals as long as they know the ships are doing their do diligence.  In saying that we cannot guarantee that the next trip has a large number of positive cases pop up.  It will be trip by trip.  As for Aruba tomorrow with the bad news today it is very doubtful that they will welcome the ship with open arms.

I don't see future cruises cancelled unless the crew is overwhelmed with Covid and they cannot take care of their passengers.  

Maybe I am just being wishful but I cannot see the Cruise industry going back down that slippery slope.  I think they will do pretty much what the rest of the world is doing.  Adjust on the fly and except the fact that this is not going away soon.  Going back to boarding up the world is not going to be accepted.

[pa6860]

25 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Someone who is on that ship right now wrote the following on FB:

"From the “things that do not go as planned” department… we are on the newsbreaking Royal Carribean Odyssey of the Seas… on first night we had to return as a passenger lied and came down with full-blown covid. We just arrived in beautiful Curacao but due to the crew having FIFTY cases and two passengers sick, we have been denied permission to disembark. Are we upset? No! Not at all. Totally support decisions and are making most of it. The safety protocols are terrific on the ship, and we are keeping at a safe distance from others mostly staying on our balcony. And we saw a shark! Love and light to you all… #royalcarribean #covidcruise"

We’re on the Odyssey with you and feel the same!  Having a blast!  But admittedly washing my hands even more and making sure my family are strict about wearing masks!

 

yeah, disappointed we can’t do Curaçao (and most likely Aruba either), but just trying our best to roll with the punches and enjoy being on a cruise for the first time since the pandemic started….

Edited December 22, 2021 by pa6860

[livingonthebeach]

1 minute ago, pa6860 said:

We’re on the Odyssey with you and feel the same!  Having a blast!  By admittedly washing my hands even more and making sure my family are strict about wearing masks!

 

I was quoting someone who is on the Odyssey -- I'm not on it.  Is Curacao the first stop on the itinerary?  Where is it headed next?  Has it been announced? 

[gracia98]

2 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

I was quoting someone who is on the Odyssey -- I'm not on it.  Is Curacao the first stop on the itinerary?  Where is it headed next?  Has it been announced? 

Aruba tomorrow.  They were at Coco Cay a few days ago.

[livingonthebeach]

3 minutes ago, gracia98 said:

Aruba tomorrow.  They were at Coco Cay a few days ago.

 

Aruba probably won't be happening.  That's got to be the longest cruise to Coco Cay ever.

[pa6860]

 

4 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

I was quoting someone who is on the Odyssey -- I'm not on it.  Is Curacao the first stop on the itinerary?  Where is it headed next?  Has it been announced? 

 

Ahhh, ok, got it.  Thx for sharing that post though.

 

I’m assuming Aruba is going to follow suit.  Hopefully corporate can get a solid answer from Aruba ASAP, then hopefully we can go somewhere else willing to accept the Odyssey, even if it means going back to Coco Cay! 
 

Honestly, most likely we’ll probably have 7 sea days on this cruise….