How are Covid cases on NCL ships?

[abugarcia1]

I feel this would be a difficult question to answer as there is a lot going on within a cruise that most passengers never see. We just returned from a week on the Encore. I am immunocompromised so we took every precaution that we could to stay safe. This included always wearing masks and dining in our room or al fresco. We did see a Q&A with some of the cruise officials who stated there are doctors and infectious disease professionals onboard. So while it is possible for someone to get sick or come down with Covid, it is also possible that only a few people are aware of that situation if it happens. We just returned home the other day and thankfully so far we are feeling fine.  

[CrazyTrain2]

It will be interesting to see if there is a correlation between cruise length and reported covid cases.  Many post Cruise Covid cases do NOT get reported since the light symptoms in the early stages go right off the ship, into transfer buses and onto planes home.  Covid may have been contracted on board, but it is not reported as ship board Covid due to gestation period and initial light symptoms.  Longer cruises cannot hide their cases as well as shorter cruises.

 

Keep in mind the Omicron variant is more transmissible than Delta or Alpha B,G.  As viruses evolve, more transmissible variants tend to dominate over time.  I would walk on board with a script for a Covid anti-viral and get a booster 3 weeks ahead of sailing to maximize antibodies. 

 

With 76% of the fleet reporting ORANGE, there is a problem that is not being addressed.

[renji]

28 minutes ago, CrazyTrain2 said:

It will be interesting to see if there is a correlation between cruise length and reported covid cases.  Many post Cruise Covid cases do NOT get reported since the light symptoms in the early stages go right off the ship, into transfer buses and onto planes home.  Covid may have been contracted on board, but it is not reported as ship board Covid due to gestation period and initial light symptoms.  Longer cruises cannot hide their cases as well as shorter cruises.

 

Keep in mind the Omicron variant is more transmissible than Delta or Alpha B,G.  As viruses evolve, more transmissible variants tend to dominate over time.  I would walk on board with a script for a Covid anti-viral and get a booster 3 weeks ahead of sailing to maximize antibodies. 

 

With 76% of the fleet reporting ORANGE, there is a problem that is not being addressed.

Exactly—this variant is so contagious that moving a percentage (and certainly we can see it isn’t going to be all) of positive passengers into a version of “hell week” probably has tHe perverse effect of increasing the spread —simply because others are going to mask their symptoms to avoid the risk of that fate. As the tax code shows us, incentives actually work.  

[ontheweb]

47 minutes ago, renji said:

Exactly—this variant is so contagious that moving a percentage (and certainly we can see it isn’t going to be all) of positive passengers into a version of “hell week” probably has tHe perverse effect of increasing the spread —simply because others are going to mask their symptoms to avoid the risk of that fate. As the tax code shows us, incentives actually work.  

It is also called the law of unintended consequences.

[renji]

12 hours ago, dcipjr said:

You hit the nail on the head here. 

I was far more worried about getting quarantined than the effects of COVID.
 

Let’s say that hypothetically, NCL put this quarantine policy on their website:

 

All quarantine cabins have a balcony, for access to fresh air. Quarantined guests have the ability to order food and beverage at mealtimes from the MDR, and can order in with their dining and drinks packages. All quarantine cabins have free on-demand movies and unlimited Internet. 
 

Let’s contrast that with their stated quarantine policy on their website:

 

…oh right, they don’t have one on their site.

 

As such, I have to imagine at least some guests aren’t reporting symptoms, out of fear of being confined to an inside or oceanview, with questionable access to meals and entertainment.

 

Even if I eventually test positive after the cruise, I feel like I got lucky by not getting quarantined. It shouldn’t be that way. 
 

Better policies and more transparency would have me sailing again sooner. 

Now that is a brilliant, if fictional, quarantine policy!  Maybe someone in cruise ship admin will copy you 😊

[dcipjr]

On 5/15/2022 at 6:13 PM, mking8288 said:

Dan - guest what, Susan and I hit the (unlucky) jackpot this afternoon

And I hit the “jackpot” this morning. I tested negative on Sunday and Monday, but woke up with a fever and aches this morning, and a cough. 
 

Positive. 
 

I was as careful as could be onboard—masking in crowded areas that I didn’t avoid entirely, didn’t set foot in an elevator, talked to people mostly outside. Didn’t help. 
 

At this point I just feel fortunate that I didn’t get sick onboard. 
 

But still, if I took all these precautions and still got it, that kind of says something about how safe ships are at this point. 

Edited May 17, 2022 by dcipjr

[hawkeyetlse]

14 hours ago, renji said:

Exactly—this variant is so contagious that moving a percentage (and certainly we can see it isn’t going to be all) of positive passengers into a version of “hell week” probably has tHe perverse effect of increasing the spread —simply because others are going to mask their symptoms to avoid the risk of that fate. As the tax code shows us, incentives actually work.  

What kind of incentive do you have in mind? Even if you somehow offer a great quarantine experience or offer money or whatever, people do not want to spend the rest of their cruise separated from their spouses and other traveling companions.

 

You're right, some people with symptoms are going to hide them, but the main problem is that some people sincerely don't know that they are infected and able to infect others. This can only be detected and managed through testing.

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, dcipjr said:

And I hit the “jackpot” this morning. I tested negative on Sunday and Monday, but woke up with a fever and aches this morning, and a cough.  Positive. 
I was as careful as could be onboard—masking in crowded areas that I didn’t avoid entirely, didn’t set foot in an elevator, talked to people mostly outside. Didn’t help. 
At this point I just feel fortunate that I didn’t get sick onboard. 
But still, if I took all these precautions and still got it ... 

Oh, no ... Dan, start those Vitamins C boosters, tele-consult your PCP and tap into your campus employer's vast resources ... feeling sad about telling, sharing and revealing our "isolated" exposure while onboard.  I am fairly confident that you will be okay over the next few days, give our immunity-vax boosted system to do its work, etc. etc.  Feel bad, get rested and keep DW and baby away, you & I know the drills / protocols and best practices.  Just in case you missed my update on the other thread, dearest SIL that was in her own/smaller bedroom in "our" suite, also, tested positive late on Sunday after noticing subtle symptoms, she was initially negative as one of her nurse nephew off-duty from work, came upstairs to help test her, to be sure.  Good news, she's isolating and has the entire week OFF doing housework, cooking & cleaning - our poor adult nieces got to take over.  Gotta to keep our sense in humor thru it all, thankfully didn't freak DW out initially.  What an uncommon bonding that we are ending up, far more than being on the Joy, on Cruise Critic and ... part of our life stories for the next generation to share & past along, perhaps. 

 

Just reading the newly revised CDC guidance for travelers and testing, etc. - it's a matter of timing, I suppose too.  I'm not sure if you can narrow down, let alone pinpoint, when & where "it" spread to you - parked above MCT/Pier 88, disembarked & went thru CBP area quickly, etc.  And, hasn't venture elsewhere so it was 99% from exposure onboard the ship.  Researchers are correct, this latest subvariants is the most, highly contagious and catching those of us that are vaxxed & boosted.  It's not good for the cruise industry as a whole and for global/domestic travelers.  Lines including NCL are in a no-win situation, it seems.  

 

Anyway ... just placed our 3rd free order from USPS, this time - 8 test kits being shipped (in 2 packages) inventory is good & plentiful for now, and, we / I know we are going to need extras and using them more often than not, especially if we don't change our plan to cruise this Fall & next January, fingers and legs crossed - focus on the winding roads ahead and not the rearview mirrors. 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2022 by mking8288

[dcipjr]

@mking8288 thanks for the well-wishes…I’ve been just relaxing, and so far my symptoms are mild. My wife and I are both vaxxed and boosted, and my daughter is young enough that symptoms will likely be mild, if she gets it at all.

 

I could have gotten it anywhere. Heck, the way the latest variant is spreading, I could easily just have gotten it anyway had I stayed home.

 

We’ll just get through it. In a way I’m almost relieved—it was pretty much inevitable that I would get COVID at some point, but I didn’t test positive while on the ship. Now I just have to get it over with!

[craig01020]

Just returned from my third cruise since October (1=masked, 2=unmasked)

I've never tested positive, nor did I hear of anyone onboard who did.

 

At this point I don't care if I get it. I've had four jabs and I'm not going to be afraid of catching a cold.

We've got to stop overreacting like it's the plague. Omicron is no Delta.

 

 

 

[craig01020]

17 hours ago, renji said:

Exactly—this variant is so contagious that moving a percentage (and certainly we can see it isn’t going to be all) of positive passengers into a version of “hell week” probably has tHe perverse effect of increasing the spread

How about utilizing The Haven empty any positive cases? 🤣

[kylenyc]

On 5/16/2022 at 9:33 AM, cruiseny4life said:

My husband and I sailed on 4/17 from NYC on the Getaway to Bermuda. You know, the one where people waited in line for up to eight hours to embark. I'm sure a few instances of COVID/flu transmission occurred while everyone waited in this line as there was no social distancing and it seemed that only my husband and I wore a mask. We got lucky and embarked in just three hours (feels really weird to say we were lucky). This was one of the first cruises that was at over 100% capacity due to school breaks, so we probably got a glimpse of what full ship cruising will be like. 

 

When we got on the ship we were amongst the masses that pretended COVID didn't exist. 95% of cruisers didn't wear masks. That percentage may be even higher! Masks, on passengers, were virtually non-existent. I will admit to being one of those. At this point, we are both triple vaccinated. At the time I worked in a school and was around COVID every single day as I was the director of the school so went to the nurse's office almost every time we had a student test positive for COVID. 

 

I've taken the position that I'm going to get COVID. I don't know when, where, or how, nor will I ever really know the details of how the transmission occurs. I'm a fat diabetic so am immunocompromised - I'm hoping the vaccines will aid me when I do get COVID! 

 

When we were in Bermuda, masks were required on public transportation, including NCL's free ferry and buses. I wrote a review on this forum where I mentioned that I forgot to put my mask on when getting on one of the Bermuda buses. No one reminded me, but I did hastily put it on when I looked around and realized I was the only one not wearing it. I truly forgot, wasn't trying to be an arrogant American with an attitude. 

 

We feel that we did take some precautions on the ship. We did not attend any shows. We did participate in the CC slot pulls and were unmasked during this time. Also, spent a little extra cash in the casino and were unmasked. We only used the elevators 3 or 4 times the entire week. Twice we were smashed in with a lot of people. I don't believe the ten or so had a mask on (we didn't). 

 

Most days we were in the thermal suite with limited numbers of other guests (except the first day when it was crazy) and spent considerable time in the Haven Courtyard and Restaurant. Honestly, the Haven made this trip feel safer. Also, our meal times were early so Cagney's and Teppanyaki were not full. We then retreated to our balcony or the thermal suite. 

 

There were plenty of occasions for transmission if you spent considerable time in public spaces, waiting in line, participating in trivia, or shows, etc. Thankfully we did not get COVID, however many people reported they got COVID on social after the cruise. There was also some other type of respiratory bug going around (maybe the flu) that was reported. 

 

I say all this just to give you an idea of what it was like on a fully booked cruise. Best wishes as you make the right decision for you. As for my husband and I, it's going to be a year or so until we venture onto a cruise ship again. We'll be going camping, hiking, and fixing up our new house. 

 

To many happy voyages!

>> "there was no social distancing and it seemed that only my husband and I wore a mask. We got lucky and embarked in just three hours (feels really weird to say we were lucky). This was one of the first cruises that was at over 100% capacity due to school breaks, so we probably got a glimpse of what full ship cruising will be like. "

 

So this was a holiday week? Could you describe the ages of the people not wearing masks? Mostly teens and 20-something spring breakers?

 

I've been on several cruises out of NYC and my experience every time has been nearly 100% mask compliance while waiting on the security and check-in lines. That is nearly 100% wearing masks. I don't mean they are wearing good masks or wearing them properly.  Then over 95% not wearing a mask onboard indoors.

 

Your experience with check-in during on a holiday week is so drastically different, makes me want to be extra careful not to book during holidays.

 

On 5/14/2022 at 10:54 AM, KateQ22003 said:

I am on oral chemo as well; my oncologist is against the idea of a cruise but knows it's ultimately my decision how much risk I am willing to take. She is suggesting an antibody infusion for me; not sure I want to go this route as it only has emergency FDA approval. Right now I am leaning towards canceling, but will wait a few more weeks and watch what's going on in the Northeast. I'm really more afraid of the Boston cruiseport than I am of the ship!

I agree here. Waiting in the crowded lines at security and check-in is one of the higher risk situations for those of taking every precaution. I credit N95 masks (not KN95) from protecting me here after several cruises out of NYC. I try to pace myself in line so that I'm not standing next to folks to the left or right who are doing a lot of animated talking or improperly wearing masks (I rarely need to). I stay 6 feet back from the person in front me. I drag a carry on behind me to keep the folks behind me a few feet further away.

 

When a security, port, or check-in agent pulls down their mask to talk, take a step back. These individuals interact with the most people. Likewise onboard, watch out for guest services personnel doing it. 

Edited May 17, 2022 by kylenyc

[cruiseny4life]

33 minutes ago, kylenyc said:

So this was a holiday week? Could you describe the ages of the people not wearing masks? Mostly teens and 20-something spring breakers?

School break for the tri-state area, so there were kids of all ages (6 - 18). We did see a few college students that appeared to be on spring break, but not many. 4/17 was Easter, so mainly families. I'd say the older someone was, the more likely they were to wear a mask. When kids were with their parents it also looked like they had their masks on (the under 12 crowd), but when parents weren't around, masks weren't around. 

 

Masks were required in the terminal upon embarkation - this was not adhered to, nor enforced by anyone, including at the security check. 

 

You mention staying 6 feet from people while in line, however the check-in for Bermuda documentation used the back and forth style of webbing so you would always be within 3 feet (or closer) of someone else. It was simply not possible to social distance in any meaningful way. 

 

We stayed negative on our trip so it can be done through luck and a bit of carefulness. 

[The Shrike]

46 minutes ago, craig01020 said:

Just returned from my third cruise since October (1=masked, 2=unmasked)

I've never tested positive, nor did I hear of anyone onboard who did.

 

At this point I don't care if I get it. I've had four jabs and I'm not going to be afraid of catching a cold.

We've got to stop overreacting like it's the plague. Omicron is no Delta.

 

 

 

Exactly!

[CrazyTrain2]

9 minutes ago, The Shrike said:

Exactly!

I do not fear the Covid virus per se.  I fear being locked up in my room on board, prevented from boarding a flight home or quarantined in a foreign nation at the whim of a government bureaucrat.  That's not a vacation to me - there are alternative vacation options that pose less risk to my life interruptus.

 

I do not have a current Rho factor for Omicron, but it is clearly spreading fast and wide.  The cruise environment regardless of CDC compliance measures seems to exacerbate the problem.  I suspect it is air quality/recirculation on the ship combined with repeated exposures.  The CDC/FDA need to fast track the Omicron variant second generation vaccines or simply throw up their hands and let Omicron run its course given its lower mortality/hospitalization rate.  So its not the virus, its the government/industry reaction to the virus.

[cruiseny4life]

1 minute ago, CrazyTrain2 said:

That's not a vacation to me - there are alternative vacation options that pose less risk to my life interruptus.

I agree it's not quite the vacation I would want, especially since I'd be trading a Haven room for some interior room nearly at water level, however I'd love the time away. I enjoy quiet, relaxing places and if I were sick I think this would be perfect for me! 

 

I really need to book a cabin in the woods far from anything...if only my husband would agree, or let me vacation on my own. 🙂

[dman07]

Returned from Breakaway May 8-15 sailing and tested positive yesterday. A group of people I met are also testing positive too. 
 

my symptoms are COVID tongue, sore throat, chills, headache 

[renji]

5 hours ago, hawkeyetlse said:

What kind of incentive do you have in mind? Even if you somehow offer a great quarantine experience or offer money or whatever, people do not want to spend the rest of their cruise separated from their spouses and other traveling companions.

 

You're right, some people with symptoms are going to hide them, but the main problem is that some people sincerely don't know that they are infected and able to infect others. This can only be detected and managed through testing.

 

 

 

 I agree—there are always going to be people who report no matter how unpleasant the consequences to themselves personally, and there are always going to be people who will hide it no matter what.  But there are many others who would quarantine but will be disinclined to do so (or willfully ignorant about early symptoms) if it’s perceived by them to be torture….and with no real gain exactly because of your second point!  “Even if I’m thrown in the brig, there are 50 other people walking around with covid, so what’s the point of me being miserable?”  
 

what really ought to happen is daily testing or every other day testing and please stay in your cabin while contagious.  And we will treat you very well while self-isolating, so no fear of reporting is needed.

[renji]

5 hours ago, dcipjr said:

And I hit the “jackpot” this morning. I tested negative on Sunday and Monday, but woke up with a fever and aches this morning, and a cough. 
 

Positive. 
 

I was as careful as could be onboard—masking in crowded areas that I didn’t avoid entirely, didn’t set foot in an elevator, talked to people mostly outside. Didn’t help. 
 

At this point I just feel fortunate that I didn’t get sick onboard. 
 

But still, if I took all these precautions and still got it, that kind of says something about how safe ships are at this point. 

Omicron is just that contagious….I’ve been isolating and masking for years and picked it up somewhere!  It’s not that cruising is unsafe, it’s that living is unsafe…

[CrazyTrain2]

Currently, 74 of 85 ships of the US Landing fleet reporting to the CDC are ORANGE Status.  The vast majority of the Not Orange status ships are sailing "Crew Only" with no passengers.

 

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html

 

The CDC guidelines were made with an understanding of Covid Alpha B,D and Delta variants.  Omicron is a different beast from a virility and transmissibility standpoint.  While Omicron symptoms are less severe in most cases, this variant is slicing through CDC Cruising guidelines like a hot knife on a buttered roll.  While the onboard caseload is below the Red threshold, clearly, it is not taking into account passenger positivity 3-4 days from Debarkation.

 

I have about 5 weeks before I need to make final payment for an October sailing.  If this situation remains, I am going to make other arrangements outside of the cruising industry.

[kylenyc]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

School break for the tri-state area, so there were kids of all ages (6 - 18). We did see a few college students that appeared to be on spring break, but not many. 4/17 was Easter, so mainly families. I'd say the older someone was, the more likely they were to wear a mask. When kids were with their parents it also looked like they had their masks on (the under 12 crowd), but when parents weren't around, masks weren't around. 

 

Masks were required in the terminal upon embarkation - this was not adhered to, nor enforced by anyone, including at the security check. 

 

You mention staying 6 feet from people while in line, however the check-in for Bermuda documentation used the back and forth style of webbing so you would always be within 3 feet (or closer) of someone else. It was simply not possible to social distance in any meaningful way. 

 

We stayed negative on our trip so it can be done through luck and a bit of carefulness. 

Thanks a lot! I'll be more careful with planning around holidays. I narrowly missed your experience with school break. I'll be reading CC experiences with cruises during summer recess too.

Edited May 17, 2022 by kylenyc

[craig01020]

28 minutes ago, renji said:

what really ought to happen is daily testing or every other day testing

ummm ... no!

 

Why don't we test everyone on domestic flights, or checking into a hotel, or going into a restaurant?

 

Bottom line is, get vaxxed, get on with life and stop worrying about the sky falling!

Edited May 17, 2022 by craig01020

[kylenyc]

14 hours ago, renji said:

Now that is a brilliant, if fictional, quarantine policy!  Maybe someone in cruise ship admin will copy you 😊

3rd class passengers should remain below deck behind locked gates. 1st class passengers should be accompanied by a string quartet to the very end.

 

Sorry... couldn't help it.

Edited May 17, 2022 by kylenyc

[renji]

28 minutes ago, craig01020 said:

ummm ... no!

 

Why don't we test everyone on domestic flights, or checking into a hotel, or going into a restaurant?

 

Bottom line is, get vaxxed, get on with life and stop worrying about the sky falling!

The consequences are different and the spread is more prevalent with a captive audience. Many places of employment request self-testing regularly. If people were responsible and honorable, and weren’t given ridiculous consequences for testing themselves, most would do it in order to cruise without the risk of externally imposed quarantine.  It’s literally nothing to give yourself an antigen test.  

[FM]

It is not so simple for international travellers flying into the US to forgo planning for contingencies if one unfortunately gets infected with COVID.  The US still requires anyone flying into the country to provide a negative COVID test within one calendar day of travel (whereas Canada not longer requires it).  If one plans to spend several days before the cruise at the port city such as Seattle, then you have to get tested again prior to boarding the cruise ship.  Never mind what one has to go through in re to quarantine etc if stricken ill before one can fly back into one's country.  

 

That's why it is so important for cruise lines to be open and transparent so people can make better and informed decisions on whether to cruise or not at this point in time.