Just got off the Oosterdam in Venice and my wife had Covid on the cruise, it has become a nightmare

[waiting2retire]

I do believe HAL needs to be taken to task for its treatment of these passengers. On a Spring TA on the Rotterdam, my daughter had a serious gallbladder attack. She was hospitalized in Cherbourg, France, and I needed to pack up our belongings and leave the ship prior to the end of our cruise. 
 

The onboard staff provided assistance with packing and escorting me and our belongings to the medical centre for paperwork and then to awaiting taxi. They also booked a hotel for me (at my cost of course) and supplied contact numbers for the Family Emergency Services office in HQ and the local port agent. 
 

Why can’t they do the same for Covid patients and their travelling companions who need to quarantine in foreign cities prior to returning to their homes?  Why are they treating Covid patients any differently than they would any other medical situation?  
 

[terrydtx]

It has now gotten worse with more lies from Holland.  My wife just tested and was barely positive and she in in day 7 of her isolation quarantine.  The testing people told her that Holland set up testing for day 7 and if still positive not again until day 10, which is Friday. The Oosterdam Guess Services and the ships medical people all told us more than once that if she was positive on day 7, they would come back every day after and test until she was negative.  Just more bigtime lies from Holland on how shore quarantine would be handled. I am trying to get Holland Family services to change this but not holding out much hope. No one should be lied to and treated like we have from Holland or any cruise line..  

[rodndonna]

25 minutes ago, waiting2retire said:

I do believe HAL needs to be taken to task for its treatment of these passengers. On a Spring TA on the Rotterdam, my daughter had a serious gallbladder attack. She was hospitalized in Cherbourg, France, and I needed to pack up our belongings and leave the ship prior to the end of our cruise. 
 

The onboard staff provided assistance with packing and escorting me and our belongings to the medical centre for paperwork and then to awaiting taxi. They also booked a hotel for me (at my cost of course) and supplied contact numbers for the Family Emergency Services office in HQ and the local port agent. 
 

Why can’t they do the same for Covid patients and their travelling companions who need to quarantine in foreign cities prior to returning to their homes?  Why are they treating Covid patients any differently than they would any other medical situation?  
 

 

I think the incidence of Covid these days with the new variants is just much too high for that to be realistic.

[PACD_JG]

9 hours ago, terrydtx said:

Because we followed the rules on the ship. My wife woke up on the 31st with a bad cough and we used one of the home test we brought with us and she tested positive.  So we notified the ships medical and they confirmed the test was positive and I was negative. I am sure every one of the many others in the ship quarantine wards did the same.

 

Thanks for answering.

 

3 hours ago, Caribbean Chris said:

I understand that you did the right thing and feel you have suffered because of it.

 

But should we follow your advice and not report it if one of us begins to feel sick in the privacy of our cabin? Should everyone board a plane to fly home, even if a traveling companion spouse has tested positive?

 

Is it your opinion that government (and cruise line) officials need to stop these quarantines and restrictions and just treat Covid like the flu? Or should cruise ship passengers continue to be treated differently?

1.  I would.  2.  I would.

 

The CDC 7-day average for deaths from Covid is 390.  Let me know when I should worry.

 

 

[BetsyS.]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

It has now gotten worse with more lies from Holland.  My wife just tested and was barely positive and she in in day 7 of her isolation quarantine.  The testing people told her that Holland set up testing for day 7 and if still positive not again until day 10, which is Friday. The Oosterdam Guess Services and the ships medical people all told us more than once that if she was positive on day 7, they would come back every day after and test until she was negative.  Just more bigtime lies from Holland on how shore quarantine would be handled. I am trying to get Holland Family services to change this but not holding out much hope. No one should be lied to and treated like we have from Holland or any cruise line..  

I am sorry that HAL said they will not have your wife tested until Friday.  I hope Holland Family services will change this so that your wife can be tested every day until she's 

negative. I hope your wife will feel better soon.  Your reporting on this will help 

other people know what to expect. Thank you for the updates. Good luck.

[Mary229]

I do believe that the rules of when to test and which results are accepted are dictated by the port country and is not at HAL’s discretion.  The folks on my cruise-tour who tested positive a few days ago are home.  They were in country and the US does not have a Covid travel restriction by land and air and they were able to depart.  (I am stating this to be factual there is no need to judge those who are dealing with a difficult situation).  
 

Have you considered finding a local private physician to do her test?   We don’t trust the “services”.  When DH tested positive we found a physician to do a proper test and certify his clean health. It only cost us $35 and we were on our way the next morning 

[Bookited]

Barely Positive, is that like Barely Pregnant?

Tell me if it doesn't go your way does that make it a lie?

[terrydtx]

47 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

.  Have you considered finding a local private physician to do her test?   We don’t trust the “services”.  When DH tested positive we found a physician to do a proper test and certify his clean health. It only cost us $35 and we were on our way the next morning 

I looked into that, but in Italy in order to get a release on her passport so we can travel, the test has to be done by an agency recognized by the Italian Health authority. We cannot even check out from the Hotel without the release. 

 

I was contacted by HAL Family Services and per the Italian rules we have to wait, but she did find out that my DW can be tested in 40 hours after the positive test today, that will now be Thursday morning. That helps some.  

[terrydtx]

47 minutes ago, Bookited said:

Barely Positive, is that like Barely Pregnant?

Tell me if it doesn't go your way does that make it a lie?

The red test line was so faint it had to be read in a bright light, when she was first tested last week the test line was bright red. The faint line means she has hardly any of the virus in her body.  So yes as she was told today she is "Barely Positive"

[terrydtx]

54 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

I do believe that the rules of when to test and which results are accepted are dictated by the port country and is not at HAL’s discretion.

That is true, however the Oosterdam has been sailing out of Italy all summer and we are not the first Covid cases to be dumped in Venice, so the ship's people should have known the Italian rules and not lied are told us false and misleading information, like we would be tested every day until she is negative.  This is 100% on HAL for misleading us. 

 

BTW if she is positive on Thursday we have to wait here until next Tuesday  (14th day of isolation) to get a third test, per the Italian rules.

[Guest ldtr]

3 hours ago, PACD_JG said:

 

Thanks for answering.

 

1.  I would.  2.  I would.

 

The CDC 7-day average for deaths from Covid is 390.  Let me know when I should worry.

 

 

All depends if you are one of the 390 per day (142,000 per year, more than twice of a very bad flu year) not counting those resulting from longer term issues resulting  from the infection or put another way 1 person out of each 2500 in the US each year just from active infection.

[Guest ldtr]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

That is true, however the Oosterdam has been sailing out of Italy all summer and we are not the first Covid cases to be dumped in Venice, so the ship's people should have known the Italian rules and not lied are told us false and misleading information, like we would be tested every day until she is negative.  This is 100% on HAL for misleading us. 

 

BTW if she is positive on Thursday we have to wait here until next Tuesday  (14th day of isolation) to get a third test, per the Italian rules.

I expect that what they told you is the shipboard protocol.

 

Have you tried contacting the port agent, they would be much more likely to know local procedures than ship board or home office personnel?

 

Do the rules say that you cannot test again before day 10 or only that the next test scheduled will be at day 10?

If all you need is a negative test and test it does not have to be a day 10 negative test, you should be able to schedule one at you own expense. The front desk should know how to schedule one. My brother in law developed Covid in Italy. He just arranged for testing on his own. Costs were pretty low. There are many services recognized by Public Health in Italy to give tests. 

Edited September 6, 2022 by ldtr

[NavyCruiser]

So let's say 100 people have covid/symptoms onboard.

Thankfully, all were fully vaccinated & boosted, all had mild symptoms.

50 popped some pills, continue cruise, flew home like normal.

50 did the "right" thing, like OP, & went to Medical, then went thru all this quarantine hell onboard & ashore.

Hmmm...

[silversneakers]

4 hours ago, terrydtx said:

It has now gotten worse with more lies from Holland.  My wife just tested and was barely positive and she in in day 7 of her isolation quarantine.  The testing people told her that Holland set up testing for day 7 and if still positive not again until day 10, which is Friday. The Oosterdam Guess Services and the ships medical people all told us more than once that if she was positive on day 7, they would come back every day after and test until she was negative.  Just more bigtime lies from Holland on how shore quarantine would be handled. I am trying to get Holland Family services to change this but not holding out much hope. No one should be lied to and treated like we have from Holland or any cruise line..  

You can also test positive for up to 90 days.  Just curious, how can you know "barely positive"....

[Guest ldtr]

23 minutes ago, ldtr said:

I expect that what they told you is the shipboard protocol.

 

Have you tried contacting the port agent, they would be much more likely to know local procedures than ship board or home office personnel?

 

Do the rules say that you cannot test again before day 10 or only that the next test scheduled will be at day 10?

If all you need is a negative test and test it does not have to be a day 10 negative test, you should be able to schedule one at you own expense. The front desk should know how to schedule one. My brother in law developed Covid in Italy. He just arranged for testing on his own. Costs were pretty low. There are many services recognized by Public Health in Italy to give tests. 

He was in Milan.  I contacted him to get the name of the company he used, but unfortunately they do not cover Venice.  Did find one that does at home testing in Venice by they are pretty expensive.  

Edited September 6, 2022 by ldtr

[terrydtx]

51 minutes ago, ldtr said:

I expect that what they told you is the shipboard protocol.

 

Have you tried contacting the port agent, they would be much more likely to know local procedures than ship board or home office personnel?

 

Do the rules say that you cannot test again before day 10 or only that the next test scheduled will be at day 10?

If all you need is a negative test and test it does not have to be a day 10 negative test, you should be able to schedule one at you own expense. The front desk should know how to schedule one. My brother in law developed Covid in Italy. He just arranged for testing on his own. Costs were pretty low. There are many services recognized by Public Health in Italy to give tests. 

We are at the mercy of the Italian Health Authorities and their protocols which the Oosterdam Personnel did not inform us of. The Italian protocols call for testing at day 7 of isolation and 10 days if the 7 day one was still positive. My wife cannot get private testing and be released by the Italians to fly home. The HAL corporate person I have been communicating with has confirmed the Italian protocols and that HAL cannot do anything more.  She told me that Italy has the most stringent Covid protocols for quarantine and testing in the EU. The front desk of the hotel will not let my wife check out until she has a negative test and released by the Italian Health authorities. I have asked the front desk about private testing, and I was told that is not an option as it will not get us released by the government.  

[Guest ldtr]

4 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

We are at the mercy of the Italian Health Authorities and their protocols which the Oosterdam Personnel did not inform us of. The Italian protocols call for testing at day 7 of isolation and 10 days if the 7 day one was still positive. My wife cannot get private testing and be released by the Italians to fly home. The HAL corporate person I have been communicating with has confirmed the Italian protocols and that HAL cannot do anything more.  She told me that Italy has the most stringent Covid protocols for quarantine and testing in the EU. The front desk of the hotel will not let my wife check out until she has a negative test and released by the Italian Health authorities. I have asked the front desk about private testing, and I was told that is not an option as it will not get us released by the government.  

Have you contacted the local ASL office

 

Veneto

800 462 340

 

They usually have English speaking staff available.

 

While things vary by region the general policy is:

 

Testing positive for COVID-19 while in Italy

If you are tested and the result is positive, you must immediately self-isolate in your accommodation and call your regional hotline as set out above.

You may be able to remain in your existing accommodation for self-isolation, or be required to transfer into a state hospital or other government-provided accommodation. See Quarantine hotels .

You must self-isolate for 5 days. In order to be released from self-isolation, you must produce a negative PCR or antigen test. The local health authority determines the type of test they will use and the pattern of testing. You will also need to have been symptom-free for at least 2 days.

If you continue to test positive, you must remain in self-isolation for a maximum of 14 days from the first positive test.

You should follow the advice of the local health authorities at all times as regional variations may apply.

Local health authorities have now indicated you can test in a private facility. If you do so, you must send a digital copy of your negative test certificate to the local ASL office.

[Mary229]

@terrydtxperhaps contact your airline for assistance.  Just a thought 

[cruiserchuck]

With HAL allowing unvaxxed folks and no testing for vaxxed folks starting today, I suspect there will be more Covid cases onboard going forward.  I am doing a cruise where I can drive to/from the port as my first cruise since 2019 to hopefully avoid any quarantine issues.
 

 

[Laminator]

Did you try contacting the US Embassy in Venice to see if they could provide any assistance?

 

Edited September 6, 2022 by Laminator

[cccole]

4 hours ago, Laminator said:

Did you try contacting the US Embassy in Venice to see if they could provide any assistance?

 

If this is the policy of the Italian government, and travelers can access the information and policy, why would the U.S. Embassy become involved.  I truly hope they spend their time and resources on more important problems.  JMO. Cherie

[JesseLivermore]

On 9/5/2022 at 5:09 AM, terrydtx said:

We are in a Sheraton 4 Points way out in Mestre and the room is about $130 a night.  We are 20 miles from the airport too.

 

wow that's cheaper than Seattle was. 

 

Sorry you got punished for following rules and self reporting. 

[bellevuemountain]

5 hours ago, cruiserchuck said:

With HAL allowing unvaxxed folks and no testing for vaxxed folks starting today, I suspect there will be more Covid cases onboard going forward.  I am doing a cruise where I can drive to/from the port as my first cruise since 2019 to hopefully avoid any quarantine issues.
 

 

It’s industry wide.  When the CDC made certain changes on July 18th, I waited to find out what the different cruise lines would do.

 

I asked my specific questions in regards to a cruise I had booked, evaluated my personal level of comfort with the answers given, and opted to cancel.

 

As cruiserchuck, I also suspect there will be more Covid cases onboard going forward.  I have not cruised since 2019 either, I’m confortable with my decision to cancel following the recent changes.

 

From my understanding, the cruiseline has a contract with the passenger until disembarkation.  What happens after becomes an insurance claim (HAL does mention covering certain expenses, the excess fees seem to be addressed via the insurance policies that one should have).  To my knowledge, there is no written timeline for quarantine measures, one must address these issues before traveling.

 

I do not expect any cruise line to waiver a country’s regulations in regards to sanitary measures.

 

I do find the OP’s situation unfortunate, but it is done.  I do wish the OP’s wife a peaceful healing so she may return home, and for the both of them to file an insurance claim for non covered quarantine fees.  The rest is not as important as health, that’s why insurance exists.

Edited September 7, 2022 by bellevuemountain

[ncgolferette]

Can’t a Certificate of Recovery be issued for a person to leave the country even with a person still testing positive?   This has worked in other European countries but not Italy?

[Laminator]

1 hour ago, cccole said:

If this is the policy of the Italian government, and travelers can access the information and policy, why would the U.S. Embassy become involved.  I truly hope they spend their time and resources on more important problems.  JMO. Cherie

They may be able to arrange for additional testing quicker or a certificate of recovery as mentioned above. I think we are close to the point where a certificate of recovery comes into play.