COVID/Mask Update from QM2 eastbound crossing. Good news and bad news!

[Host Hattie]

Thanks for reporting back, it sounds like Brooklyn is still a shambles, how was Southampton?

[2BACRUISER]

6 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Thanks for reporting back, it sounds like Brooklyn is still a shambles, how was Southampton?

Southampton wouldn't be a shambles if everyone stuck to their allocated boarding times. We turned up at 2.15pm at CPS and were on board within an hour, others who'd tried to circumvent their time by going earlier had a longer wait. 😳 

[Golfwidow100]

46 minutes ago, Host Hattie said:

Thanks for reporting back, it sounds like Brooklyn is still a shambles, how was Southampton?

It was a complete contrast. Southampton was very quick and efficient both times. We had an embarkation time of 2.45 and arrived at the terminal at 2.20. We'd stopped at the services to delay our arrival but the car park was full so we headed straight there and were fully prepared to be told to wait until 2.45. Dropped the car and luggage off, went through all the embarkation and security checks and we were onboard at 2.45. We did however have priority boarding. 

Our debark time was 9.20 and we had collected our cases, picked up the car and were on the road at 9.45. UK immigration checks were all done onboard which made the process much quicker. 

 

 

[Host Hattie]

That's good to hear, recent reports from Southampton have generally been much more positive than Brooklyn.

[3rdGenCunarder]

Thanks for the info, GolfWidow. I'm sorry Brooklyn was such a mess. It sounds like they are understaffed and/or they have a lot of new people. How could they not know to set up an in-transit line???? That is inexcusable. And then for the guy at the desk to not know about the in-transit card? That's on the people who supervise and train the staff. The extra document checks make it more complicated, but their job is to figure out a way to make it workable. 

[exlondoner]

47 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

Thanks for the info, GolfWidow. I'm sorry Brooklyn was such a mess. It sounds like they are understaffed and/or they have a lot of new people. How could they not know to set up an in-transit line???? That is inexcusable. And then for the guy at the desk to not know about the in-transit card? That's on the people who supervise and train the staff. The extra document checks make it more complicated, but their job is to figure out a way to make it workable. 

The most chaotic embarkation I ever suffered was at Manhattan in 1999, so I’m not entirely convinced it is a new problem.

[RICHARD@SEA]

As far as the covid situation onQM2(and other ships & large gatherings of people) even tho the mask mandate & some lines have even dropped vaccination requirements for sailing out of USA(MSC cruises is one that I know of).... covid is with us globally for the long term....just like the flu...its just another virus.

In regard to Cunard....I've sailed in their ships since the 1980's, I booked the July 4 2022 cruise out of NYC.  All was  ready(I live in NYC) when the day before I received an email from Cunard stating Covid was onboard QM2(it was returning from England) and Cunard was notifying passengers that we could cancel w a full refund or sail w the responsibility of knowing the situation.  I called my travel agent - he had no knowledge of Cunards Email  - he called me back in less that 15 minutes - I cancelled for health reason - I haven't been on a ship since pre covid - I was disappointed but for me it wasn't worth the risk. But certainly the situation onboard must of been bad or Cunard would not of gone so far as to issue the notice.

[BlueRiband]

4 minutes ago, RICHARD@SEA said:

...But certainly the situation onboard must of been bad or Cunard would not of gone so far as to issue the notice.

Or it was corporate "CYA" on the advice of shoreside legal.

[Host Hattie]

It was part of the CDC requirements at the time.

[RICHARD@SEA]

2 hours ago, BlueRiband said:

Or it was corporate "CYA" on the advice of shoreside legal.

I agree with you....believe me sailing in a Cuanrd ship pre Carnivore Corp(1999) was completely different than after.

 

[DrGonzo]

We were on the same crossing (and are still

on the ship) and there definitely are COVID cases on board.  We saw a nurse in full PPE enter a cabin on our deck. A couple of hours later the people were escorted to the quarantine deck and a cleaning crew in full PPE disinfected the cabin. On the Norway cruise that finished this morning we saw a couple of cabins on our deck that were in isolation. You could tell by all the room service trays and could hear the coughing when on the balcony. 

[ace2542]

1 hour ago, DrGonzo said:

We were on the same crossing (and are still

on the ship) and there definitely are COVID cases on board.  We saw a nurse in full PPE enter a cabin on our deck. A couple of hours later the people were escorted to the quarantine deck and a cleaning crew in full PPE disinfected the cabin. On the Norway cruise that finished this morning we saw a couple of cabins on our deck that were in isolation. You could tell by all the room service trays and could hear the coughing when on the balcony. 

Strange for the NYC trip because I have saw no person walking around on the last day who wasn't there on the first and I have a real good memory. As for the Norway  trip which ended today. Yes there was coughing but I think a lot of people lied about getting tested when asked or did the test incorrectly quite innocently perhaps.

[Underwatr]

I've never been on QM2 when there hasn't been a lot of coughing. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

[Scones1]

I've just read a previous review which stated that 'there is no Covid' aboard QM2 at the moment. This surprised me as my family and I just returned on 4th September 2022 after a 2 week cruise. The cruise itself was fantastic and highly recommended, but my daughter tested positive half way through the cruise and was physically isolated in a separate cabin for 4 and a half days, and my son was quarantined for 5 days, which meant he couldn't join us for meals/afternoon tea even though he tested negative. My husband and I also tested negative on board at the same time. Since returning home 5 days ago, my husband, son and I have all tested positive and are not feeling well at all - I'm in 4 layers of clothes plus a blanket and still freezing. What's annoying is that we all complied with the pre-testing requirements and really avoided any public situations/mixing for more than a week before the holiday, so we're struggling to think where we might have caught it. My daughter said that the other isolation rooms around her were occupied . We feel that if Cunard policy had been to test dock-side (as last year) we might have escaped Covid this year.

[BklynBoy8]

12 minutes ago, Scones1 said:

I've just read a previous review which stated that 'there is no Covid' aboard QM2 at the moment. This surprised me as my family and I just returned on 4th September 2022 after a 2 week cruise. The cruise itself was fantastic and highly recommended, but my daughter tested positive half way through the cruise and was physically isolated in a separate cabin for 4 and a half days, and my son was quarantined for 5 days, which meant he couldn't join us for meals/afternoon tea even though he tested negative. My husband and I also tested negative on board at the same time. Since returning home 5 days ago, my husband, son and I have all tested positive and are not feeling well at all - I'm in 4 layers of clothes plus a blanket and still freezing. What's annoying is that we all complied with the pre-testing requirements and really avoided any public situations/mixing for more than a week before the holiday, so we're struggling to think where we might have caught it. My daughter said that the other isolation rooms around her were occupied . We feel that if Cunard policy had been to test dock-side (as last year) we might have escaped Covid this year.

 

With us leaving in 12 days on the QM2, were all of you masked during the complete sailing? Were you also masked during you journey to the terminal before boarding?

 

Now if you can recall, how many other passengers were masked during your sailing? Were they masked at the different venues on board? Were the staff and crew wearing masks also?

 

We too are trying to figure where did you all contract the C-19 during the sailing as in less 12 day we will be on board the ship you sailed.

 

Appreciate response. 

 

 

[Victoria2]

7 hours ago, BklynBoy8 said:

 

With us leaving in 12 days on the QM2, were all of you masked during the complete sailing? Were you also masked during you journey to the terminal before boarding?

 

Now if you can recall, how many other passengers were masked during your sailing? Were they masked at the different venues on board? Were the staff and crew wearing masks also?

 

We too are trying to figure where did you all contract the C-19 during the sailing as in less 12 day we will be on board the ship you sailed.

 

Appreciate response. 

 

 

We were quite apprehensive prior to our QV cruise in August but were determined to go.

We were very much the odd ones out, passenger wise, when were were out of our cabin as we masked up, decent masks and double filtered, everywhere apart from being seated to dine and having a drink and even then, we chose our drinking venues well and kept away from the more popular ones.

We didn't go on any coaches and we sat in boxes in the theatre when we could.

 

Basically, we kept clear of people as much as we could and did our own things. The only place we couldn't, were the lifts but we hoped our masks would help, and maybe  they did.

 

We were told 'there's no Covid on Victoria at the moment'. I'm afraid the cynic in me mentally added the word 'reported' to that comment and we kept up our regime. 

 

There might very well have been no cases but we took no chance and came home after a wonderful holiday, Covid free.

 

I think you have to bear in mind, the percentage of those who might contract Covid, whether from the ship, a port or were carrying it onboard, against the vast majority who won't contract it and if masks and hygiene rules are adhered to,  there is a jolly good chance, Covid will not affect 'you'.

 

There will be those who will say, 'that's not much of a holiday' and I will disagree as it was still lovely, but different. 

Caveat Emptor.

[ace2542]

10 hours ago, Scones1 said:

I've just read a previous review which stated that 'there is no Covid' aboard QM2 at the moment. This surprised me as my family and I just returned on 4th September 2022 after a 2 week cruise. The cruise itself was fantastic and highly recommended, but my daughter tested positive half way through the cruise and was physically isolated in a separate cabin for 4 and a half days, and my son was quarantined for 5 days, which meant he couldn't join us for meals/afternoon tea even though he tested negative. My husband and I also tested negative on board at the same time. Since returning home 5 days ago, my husband, son and I have all tested positive and are not feeling well at all - I'm in 4 layers of clothes plus a blanket and still freezing. What's annoying is that we all complied with the pre-testing requirements and really avoided any public situations/mixing for more than a week before the holiday, so we're struggling to think where we might have caught it. My daughter said that the other isolation rooms around her were occupied . We feel that if Cunard policy had been to test dock-side (as last year) we might have escaped Covid this year.

I said no known cases onboard as of when I posted and strangely not much coughing around either during the eastbound crossing. You most likely got it during the boarding process? The boarding in brooklyn was very poor. I was negative when I tested in NYC despite going through Manchester airport check in process the flight, and a night in NYC.

[Scones1]

Hi BkLynBoy8,

 

Yes Caveat Emptor indeed! We did 'mask up' with N-95 masks on the taxi journeys there and back and for the embarkation /disembarkation processes. We also wore them as much as we could around the ship, in lifts, shops, all the inclosed places, such as the show, talks, and quizzes, even when collecting food in Kings Court.  My daughter (who caught Covid after 3/4 days) has to take a Covid PCR every 3 days in order to go into her workplace, and so is very strict with adhering to mask-wearing, could not believe that all guests were left to test themselves within 2 days of travelling on a lateral flow test.

The staff/crew were all wearing N-95 masks all the time but I would say that a large proportion of the passengers weren't.   

 

We did enjoy the holiday though, it's just a bit disappointing to come back and be 'grounded'. My husband is still testing positive after 8 days.

 

 

 

[BklynBoy8]

2 hours ago, Scones1 said:

Hi BkLynBoy8,

 

Yes Caveat Emptor indeed! We did 'mask up' with N-95 masks on the taxi journeys there and back and for the embarkation /disembarkation processes. We also wore them as much as we could around the ship, in lifts, shops, all the inclosed places, such as the show, talks, and quizzes, even when collecting food in Kings Court.  My daughter (who caught Covid after 3/4 days) has to take a Covid PCR every 3 days in order to go into her workplace, and so is very strict with adhering to mask-wearing, could not believe that all guests were left to test themselves within 2 days of travelling on a lateral flow test.

The staff/crew were all wearing N-95 masks all the time but I would say that a large proportion of the passengers weren't.   

 

We did enjoy the holiday though, it's just a bit disappointing to come back and be 'grounded'. My husband is still testing positive after 8 days

 

So so sorry for your sickness. You have my thoughts and prayers for all to completely recover. We all are hoping to enjoy a holiday to the fullest. 

 

We wish to continue on to the sailing and make the best of it. I know 14 days away from home is alot and hope not to contract the virus.

 

Thank u for the response....

[techteach]

@Scones1 I contracted Covid on a cruise in August. All were required to do monitored testing prior to boarding. Looking back on it — there was lots of sneezing going on, which I now think was the source. I was masked except while swimming or eating. I was negative the morning we disembarked and positive by nightfall. I didn’t test negative until Day 12. I continue to have congestion and low blood pressure. I am thankful I had a mild case. Hang in there! 

[showingdiva]

Just off QM2 this morning, albeit on a short Europe cruise.   Captain Hashmi, in one of his daily announcements, mentioned that passengers should be mindful about mask wearing in places like the theatre, planetarium, lifts, buses, crowded places etc.  There was more mask wearing after that, but I was still very much in the minority (passengers) - all crew (and I) in N95's.

 

That said, I can't say I heard much coughing, sneezing etc anywhere around the ship.

[ace2542]

13 hours ago, showingdiva said:

Just off QM2 this morning, albeit on a short Europe cruise.   Captain Hashmi, in one of his daily announcements, mentioned that passengers should be mindful about mask wearing in places like the theatre, planetarium, lifts, buses, crowded places etc.  There was more mask wearing after that, but I was still very much in the minority (passengers) - all crew (and I) in N95's.

 

That said, I can't say I heard much coughing, sneezing etc anywhere around the ship.

Where all crew wearing them properly? One the eastbound NY-SOTON and the Fijords some crewmembers where not. There was lots of coughing on the fijords but very little on the eastbound TA. Yet now they are doing the mask wearing on the westbound TA with mostly new people on it.

[showingdiva]

1 hour ago, ace2542 said:

Where all crew wearing them properly? One the eastbound NY-SOTON and the Fijords some crewmembers where not. There was lots of coughing on the fijords but very little on the eastbound TA. Yet now they are doing the mask wearing on the westbound TA with mostly new people on it.

 

Yes.   Definite compliance amongst staff (I notice these things - I work both for the NHS and in the cruise industry).   Perhaps they've also had a "chat" from Captain Hashmi, who in his daily passengers also mentioned the flags were flying at half mast, the books of condolence and that out of respect there would be no horn sounding on departure.