On Edge Now 1/9-16 Observations

[Redking]

On 1/11/2022 at 8:53 AM, GenerationX said:

 
You’re a good husband! I’ve had my eye on the 1/30 sailing for a couple of months and my husband is having reservations now thanks to the omicron situation.  I told him I respect his risk tolerance but the cold winter is making me miserable and if I decide to take the risk and sail, I’m doing so with or without him.  His response: “Very well my love, just let me know when I have to take you to the airport.” 😂

We're booked on the Edge in Jan 2024. My husband has told me he's not going on that if Covid is still an issue. How's that for low risk tolerance 😂 Mind you he also says that hopefully Omicron will 'normalise' the incidence and severity of the virus, do go figure. Either we I'm cruising in 2024 if not before!

[miaminative0853]

8 hours ago, fd851 said:

Miaminative,

If you meet my friend Marty, big guy driving a red scooter, staying in suites, also.... tell him he looks good and ask him if he played football!  Then tell him I said "hello"

 

Frank

Will do.

[George C]

We were on the July 3 cruise retreat area and pool were crowded most days but we could get a lounge , Luminae was crowded each night but never a long wait , loved that ship , did a move up and found out we had the penthouse two days before sailing. 

[helen haywood]

Miami, did you hear what the Captain’s announcement was just now?  I got the tail end…

[miaminative0853]

I caught the tail end of a Captain's annoucement too Helen. He referenced positive cases but I did not hear a number nor whether pax/crew/or combo. Perhaps another OP on the same cruise can fill in the blanks. I thought he said they were "asymptomatic" which if correct would lead you to believe perhaps crew members but, again, not sure. If I get any better info, I will pass it along.

[miaminative0853]

Update: Just checked with our Suite butler who checked with the conceirge regarding the Captain's announcement. She was told the Capitan did not say a specific number who tested positvie but that it was 1%. Also said that he did not indicate whether passengers, crew or both. So we do not know at this point 1% of what number. She also said the Captain reported that all were being quarantined. 

[miaminative0853]

Further update: Captain just made his Tortola departure announcement. No further mention of the positive COVID cases but I did find it interesting that he said we are now heading to our next port which "we hope to be Saint Martin". Hmm.

[lhuepper]

On 1/11/2022 at 4:55 AM, miaminative0853 said:

Update: Dined at Luminae last night. Arrived at 6:45. Seated immediately. Restaurant was about 20% filled. We kept expecting it to get crowded but it never did. At max maybe got to 30-35% by the time we left. Easy to social distance. Service and food were outstanding.

Thank you for your posts.  We really appreciate the information since we are doing B2B cruises on the Edge 1/30 and 2/6.  Planning on going as long as they’re sailing.  We’re staying in a Sky Suite on the back of the ship.  Can’t wait!!!

[miaminative0853]

49 minutes ago, lhuepper said:

Thank you for your posts.  We really appreciate the information since we are doing B2B cruises on the Edge 1/30 and 2/6.  Planning on going as long as they’re sailing.  We’re staying in a Sky Suite on the back of the ship.  Can’t wait!!!

Had our first disappointing experience in Luminae. Arrived around 8 pm. The restaurant was pretty crowded, maybe 80%. Hostess said: "we don't have a table for you right now, would you like to wait?". My response: Do I have an option? Then she said "We have a large group and they are being very loud". I wasnt sure what point one had to do with point two. My wife then said maybe we should go to Blu and the hostess replied I can call down for you. At that point another guest left and she siad maybe we can accomodate you. we said, fine but we'd like to be socially distanced as much as possible. They then take us to a two top that is at a forty five degree angle to another table where the head of another gentleman was literally inches away from mine. I said, this won't do and as we got up to leave I noticed an elderly guest who was gotten up from a table at the front of the resturant, a table with at least 12 patrons (perhaps the "loud group") and he was pacing back and forth in the main area of the tables unmasked hacking away. Back and forth, back and forth, hacking and hacking. No staff said a word to him. We noticed two empty two-top tables right near this group, that were not offered to us. My guess is they were leaving the tables empty due to this fellow's disregard for the rules instead of simply asking him to leave. We hightailed it out of there and went to Blu where we had a delightful dinner, socially distanced. 

 

Allowing an unmasked guest who is constantly coughing while he walks freely around the restaurant was unacceptable, particualrly given the Captain had just a few hours earlier made his announcement regarinf postive COVID cases hitting the 1% threshold and reminding everyone to adhere to protocols.

Edited January 13, 2022 by miaminative0853
typo

[helen haywood]

Miami, I took the Captain’s statement re hoping to get to St. Martin to be his sense of humor…as it followed his Siri jokes.  It’s hard to know what a Captain should do…stay all serious or try to inject some humor…. I really would like to

know exactly what he said.  I looked through the TV channels thinking maybe the Captain’s announcements can be replayed… nope.  Tried calling Guest Services and was put on hold so hung up.

 

Your dinner experience is absolutely unacceptable!  I cannot believe that.

 

We went back to Tuscan for dinner tonight and I asked the hostess if we could have a distanced table and she seemed surprised and said “ Of course” and that was what they were doing every night.  I replied it wasn’t our experience in Cyprus the night before.

 

 

[miaminative0853]

Helen, Well we are here in St. Martin so it must have been Captain Humor! Glad to here Tuscan is doing things right. Well I'm only seeing a few passengers without masks I am also seeing zero enforcement. Last night we walked by one of the shops an a woman was in picking through the clothes section with no mask. Returned five minutes later and she was still roaming around in the shop. I'm guessing so many crew are trained to be deferential to passengers they are too afraid to say anything.

 

On the other hand another passenger we befriended told us he was denied entry to one of the restaurants because he hand shorts on. It was definitely right to send him packing but ironic that you can roam around maskless but not long pantsless!

 

Anyway, it's a beautiful morning in St. Martin. It's the kind of morning we all cruise for!

[TeeRick]

12 hours ago, miaminative0853 said:

Allowing an unmasked guest who is constantly coughing while he walks freely around the restaurant was unacceptable, particularly given the Captain had just a few hours earlier made his announcement regarding positive COVID cases hitting the 1% threshold and reminding everyone to adhere to protocols.

So this is exactly the sticky problem.  The 1% positive on the ship is the minimum number.  These are the honest people.  A lot of others will not report their symptoms for fear of quarantine and isolation, or just want to ignore symptoms or rationalize then as a simple "cold" and hope for the best.  It is highly likely that there are a lot more than the reported positives on the ship- all walking around and spreading the virus.  It will not be tracked of course.

[helen haywood]

Keep in mind that 1% on this sailing would be 9 people.

[TeeRick]

6 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Keep in mind that 1% on this sailing would be 9 people.

Yes and I am speculating that number is well below the number of positives on board if everybody was tested and it was not voluntary reporting by those having symptoms.  I am not suggesting this approach- but just being realistic on the reported numbers.

[flviking]

To add to the uncertainty the CDC has stated the requirements of  Conditional Sail Order will become voluntary on Jan 16.  My guess is that near term the lines will continue but loosening of the requirements to sail will now be at the discretion of the company.

[GenerationX]

22 hours ago, Redking said:

We're booked on the Edge in Jan 2024. My husband has told me he's not going on that if Covid is still an issue. How's that for low risk tolerance 😂 Mind you he also says that hopefully Omicron will 'normalise' the incidence and severity of the virus, do go figure. Either we I'm cruising in 2024 if not before!

Oh my that is a low risk tolerance!  I can only imagine what he’s like in the casino! 😂

 

Well, if you do find yourself sailing solo in 2024 please feel free to look me up. I’m no stranger to booking a short notice cruise and I promise I’m great travel company! 

[GenerationX]

On 1/11/2022 at 5:57 PM, ILgirl said:

Hey GenerationX,  I followed your October Summit sailing, commenting on your great live review and in particular your fashion!  I’ve got to know….have you pulled the trigger on the 1/30 Edge sailing?  I hope so because I am on board and would look forward to meeting you and enjoying a cocktail or two!

Hey ILgirl!  Yes, I’m happy to report that I’ve decided to sail and would LOVE to meet up for social distanced cocktails! Can’t wait to meet you!

[GenerationX]

Miaminative,

 

Thank you again for all the reports!

 

Have you seen any indications that the multi course dinner event on the Magic Carpet is being offered on your sailing?  I think it was called Dinner on the Edge or something like that?

 

Pre-shutdown it looked like a fun experience and menu to try but I don’t know if they’d offer that type of experience now with the social distancing needs, even at an outdoor venue.

 

 

[miaminative0853]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

Miaminative,

 

Thank you again for all the reports!

 

Have you seen any indications that the multi course dinner event on the Magic Carpet is being offered on your sailing?  I think it was called Dinner on the Edge or something like that?

 

Pre-shutdown it looked like a fun experience and menu to try but I don’t know if they’d offer that type of experience now with the social distancing needs, even at an outdoor venue.

 

 

GenX,

 

You are welcome!

 

I overheard an OP talking about dinner on the Majic Carpet and said it was only offered one night on the cruise. I am speculating maybe a port night due to the winds on the MC and the only night we would have been in port late enough was San Juan, which was cancelled. If I learn anything else I'll let you know.

[miaminative0853]

COVID Update: As we were leaving St. Martin this afternoon, Captain said we were at "1%" with two more positive cases today. So, at the moment things seem to be less of a problem than at your local Home Depot!

[ILgirl]

Hey GenerationX,  Woo Hoo!  Happy you are sailing and we will have a chance to meet…More than likely over an adult beverage.😀. I realized after I posted that I had actually followed you on your Equinox cruise…no matter, I thoroughly enjoyed your posts!  Looking forward to seeing you onboard!

[miaminative0853]

Update: Edge is on its sea day headed to Nassau tomorrow, 1 pm arrival I believe. Nassau is a substitute for our skipped San Juan stop on Day 3. Not excited about Nassau as my DW and I were there two months ago, but can’t complain as any Caribbean/Bahamian island is a good one. Too early for the Capitan’s report but I get the sense things are under control on the COVID front. There was a story floating around when we were in port in St. Thomas that positive crew cases were being transferred to another RCL ship (Jewel of the Sea?) that was anchored and tendered. Not sure if it is true. I’m going to post separately on this topic on the board to see if any other passenger can shed light one way or another.

 

Had a nice meal in Raw on Five. The Maître D from Luminae tracked us down to apologize for the situation previous night (see earlier post), which was gracious of him.

 

For all the folks who are on the fence concerning future cruises in the short-term, I will share my thoughts as we near the end of our cruise, for what it’s worth. At this point I would say it’s a mixed bag.

[GMoney]

Thanks for your posts. I'm on the same sailing (and the one before), and learned some things along the way. 

 

We did get our third CD yesterday. Sorry if you already posted this and I overlooked it. 

[hoklun]

25 minutes ago, GMoney said:

Thanks for your posts. I'm on the same sailing (and the one before), and learned some things along the way. 

 

We did get our third CD yesterday. Sorry if you already posted this and I overlooked it. 

CD?

[morpheusofthesea]

On 1/10/2022 at 3:11 PM, molemaui said:

We currently on Oceania , disembarking on the 14th and boarding the Edge on the 16th

LOVE IT !  "And she'll have fun.fun,fun, til her daddy takes the T-bird away !"