Any tips on trying to avoid covid on 14 night cruise

[Zanny]

Hi Just wondering how we could try and avoid getting covid on a 14night cruise. I believe the longer the cruise more chances are of getting it. I wear my mask every where and also a face shield. Both my husband and my self haven't  caught it yet. He is a smoker and will be sitting out on the deck at the tables with other smokers I think he has more chance than myself of catching it even though it's outside.

Has anyone been on longer cruises with covid on and came back healthy and not testing positive after getting off. Would be interested to hear .

Regards Zanny

[bazzaw]

We got Covid last month on an 8 day cruise - it was our first time. Nobody truly knows how, when, where or why - but I am thinking that sooner or later everybody will get it. I am actually happy now that we got it - even though I understand that this doesn't mean much anyway. My thoughts as to why we had not caught it earlier - well our life is fairly quiet , mostly at home with occasional shopping trips - most of our socialising is done outside in the open air. We have both had worse cases of respiratory infections in the past - for me at least I did not really get any respiratory type symptoms - the fatigue and utter boredom of spending 5 days in bed  doing the only thing possible  for me in a ship cabin (watch TV) was the thing for me . Too cold and windy out on the balcony - and eyesight not good enough for much reading. I am unsure of how smoking affects people who get Covid. 

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by bazzaw

[By The Bay]

8 minutes ago, Zanny said:

Hi Just wondering how we could try and avoid getting covid on a 14night cruise. I believe the longer the cruise more chances are of getting it. I wear my mask every where and also a face shield. Both my husband and my self haven't  caught it yet. He is a smoker and will be sitting out on the deck at the tables with other smokers I think he has more chance than myself of catching it even though it's outside.

Has anyone been on longer cruises with covid on and came back healthy and not testing positive after getting off. Would be interested to hear .

Regards Zanny

We did a 13 night on the Majestic Princess to NZ in January and both came back negative (and New😉 ). We were up to date with the recommended jabs, wore masks as requested, and lots of "washy washy". We went to the theatre and other venues with crowds.

 

One thing I did was use the sanitiser after handling the serving implements in the buffet before eating. We also avoided the overcrowded lifts. We also did a 10-night coastal and 6-night Tasmanian cruise late last year. I noticed that most fellow passengers are compliant at first, but it definitely slackens off towards the end, and even the crew start to drop the ball.😡

[Aus Traveller]

We have been on five cruises since cruising re-started, the latest a 14-day trip to NZ that ended last Monday. We avoided COVID on all of these. We were pretty careful about wearing masks but maybe it comes down to luck. If someone with the virus is near you when you are eating or drinking (obviously without a mask), then your chances of avoiding it decrease.

[LittleFish1976]

Being consistent with wearing a well-fitted (firmly sealed) N95 mask is good protection. I have been wearing mine everywhere on this ship except when eating or drinking and as for that, choosing to sit as far away from others as possible and in well-ventilated areas. You're better off sitting in an open area than up against a wall or partition so the air flow is better.

 

I'm on a ship where the covid numbers are increasing and mask wearing has been basically non-existent except for a handful of us passengers (and all crew). It's now day 11 and I don't have it yet. I'm hoping not to get it of course and have to fly home tomorrow so I guess I won't risk eating anything on the plane.

 

Your husband being a smoker is more likely to get covid and more likely to spread it so you'll be at the mercy of his behaviour too!

 

[Cruisers47]

20 minutes ago, By The Bay said:

We did a 13 night on the Majestic Princess to NZ in January and both came back negative (and New😉 ). We were up to date with the recommended jabs, wore masks as requested, and lots of "washy washy". We went to the theatre and other venues with crowds.

 

One thing I did was use the sanitiser after handling the serving implements in the buffet before eating. We also avoided the overcrowded lifts. We also did a 10-night coastal and 6-night Tasmanian cruise late last year. I noticed that most fellow passengers are compliant at first, but it definitely slackens off towards the end, and even the crew start to drop the ball.😡

Hi

 

we have done 4 cruises, including a 14 day one in Europe, and are on one from Brisbane for a 5 day one on Sunday.

 

we have used masks in the theatre and will use them on the plane to Brisbane.  

 

I just keep thinking it is just a matter of time!   We have had 4 jabs and would have had the 5th but you are not allowed to have a job within 14 days of the cruise,   We will get it when we get back.

 

friends , who were on a cruise with us at Christmas, have got Covid the day they got home from a 9 day cruise.

 

I think it is just luck,

 

eileen

[LittleFish1976]

2 minutes ago, Cruisers47 said:

Hi

 

we have done 4 cruises, including a 14 day one in Europe, and are on one from Brisbane for a 5 day one on Sunday.

 

we have used masks in the theatre and will use them on the plane to Brisbane.  

 

I just keep thinking it is just a matter of time!   We have had 4 jabs and would have had the 5th but you are not allowed to have a job within 14 days of the cruise,   We will get it when we get back.

 

friends , who were on a cruise with us at Christmas, have got Covid the day they got home from a 9 day cruise.

 

I think it is just luck,

 

eileen

 

Who says you're not allowed to have a vaccination within 14 days of the cruise?

 

If they say that it would mean that the vaccinations you're relying on for proof of vaccination were completed at least 14 days ago - you can have additional ones just before sailing.

[clairebearinaus]

Clean hands!  Every time you touch something that someone else might have touched - a handle, rail, lift button, serving tongs - you need to clean and/or sanitise your hands before you touch your face (or your fork, phone, etc etc)

 

So - touch as little as possible.  Sleeve over hand, use your elbow, go back to your cabin for the bathroom.  And carry sanitiser everywhere.

 

It's very very difficult, which is why covid and noro spread so easily.

[OzKiwiJJ]

49 minutes ago, clairebearinaus said:

Clean hands!  Every time you touch something that someone else might have touched - a handle, rail, lift button, serving tongs - you need to clean and/or sanitise your hands before you touch your face (or your fork, phone, etc etc)

 

So - touch as little as possible.  Sleeve over hand, use your elbow, go back to your cabin for the bathroom.  And carry sanitiser everywhere.

 

It's very very difficult, which is why covid and noro spread so easily.

Unlike Noro, Covid spreads primarily by aerosol transmission from infected people coughing, sneezing, laughing, singing, or talking loudly close by. Keeping hands clean helps but wearing masks will give more protection. Even so, I caught it during the fifth cruise we did last year despite being very careful. All it takes is someone with Covid to stop next to you in a bar or dining area to talk to their mates and cough all over you.

[christodan]

I'd say avoid the lifts if you can. A small enclosed space with lots of people squashed in is a recipe for disaster.  

[Cruisers47]

1 hour ago, LittleFish1976 said:

 

Who says you're not allowed to have a vaccination within 14 days of the cruise?

 

If they say that it would mean that the vaccinations you're relying on for proof of vaccination were completed at least 14 days ago - you can have additional ones just before sailing.

On the documentation supplied it advises that you should not have a vaccination 14 days before you go on a cruise.   I think it may be that you might show up as having Covid in your system, even though you have not got Covid.

 

 

[bazzaw]

4 minutes ago, Cruisers47 said:

On the documentation supplied it advises that you should not have a vaccination 14 days before you go on a cruise.   I think it may be that you might show up as having Covid in your system, even though you have not got Covid.

 

 

I dont recall seeing anything like that - perhaps they are concerned about people getting a reaction to the Jab and dont wan you onboard soon after having one?? But I really don't know. 

[snoozer of the seas]

29 minutes ago, christodan said:

I'd say avoid the lifts if you can. A small enclosed space with lots of people squashed in is a recipe for disaster.  

 

This. Take the stairs if you are only go up or down a few floors, if you're able obviously. It is faster too.

 

 

...and don't lick the hand rails.

 

[Cruisers47]

1 hour ago, bazzaw said:

I dont recall seeing anything like that - perhaps they are concerned about people getting a reaction to the Jab and dont wan you onboard soon after having one?? But I really don't know. 

If you look at Carnival, RCL, and Princess they all say you should have had your vaccine at least 14 days prior to cruising.   They also refer to 7 days with boosters.   I am not good at copying the links or I would.

[lissie]

We were close contacts at least 3 times that we know of on our 2 long-haul cruises last year (see the sig). 

 

First cruise - we were all wearing masks (compulsory) - but we weren't bothering sitting around talking at craft corner.  Several got it  I didn't 

 

First cruise - we were playing trivia with a group of 4 - sometimes another couple replaced one of the other couples. She thought her husband had food poisoning - but it was Covid, she got it too. We didn't 

 

When we got on the cruise we'd had 2 primary vaccines, 1 booster and had caught covid about 90 days prior. We wore N95 masks other times - but when we were exposed we were not masked. 

 

Second cruise someone we met at a CC meetup at anytime dining in the MDR - large table of about 10- they were 2/3 places away obviously not wearing masks - they tested positive a few days later. We were by then 5 months post-infection and still didn't get it. 

 

Pretty much the most dangerous places to least dangerous places that I can figure out were: 

• buses or similar 
• crowded indoor spaces where people are talking or singing e.g choir practice (first thing cancelled) 
• crowded indoor spaces e.g. lifts 
• indoor spaces with good ventilation 
• outdoors - there seems zero chance of getting  current variants outdoors. 

 

Not all masks are the same - the N95 and FFP2 masks are much better than the  blue surgical masks, and fabric masks are a waste of time.  (google it there are studies supporting this).  

 

We are doing a long  cruise again this year and this is what we're doing - regardless of the ship's rules. 

• getting a booster and flu shot about 3 weeks before leaving home 
• wearing masks flying to the cruise particularly at the airport and until takeoff (less worried about it once everyone is sat down) 
• wearing masks in crowded bus/trains/tours  
• wearing masks for embarkation if the terminal is crowded 
• wearing masks if sitting for a show in a low-ceiliing space 
• we have many ports (21 in a 25 day cruise) - so I'm not that worried about catching it on board - but if we do book any cruise excursions we will mask for those  -probably we'll stick to car rental and  outdoor activity - which is what we do normally anyways 

 

Handwashing is always a good idea but its not particularly a covid issue. 

•  

[lissie]

57 minutes ago, Cruisers47 said:

If you look at Carnival, RCL, and Princess they all say you should have had your vaccine at least 14 days prior to cruising.   They also refer to 7 days with boosters.   I am not good at copying the links or I would.

Every health department says it takes 7-14 days for a vaccine to become fully effective - nothing unusual in that 

[Kellyansapansa]

We did an 11 day cruise at the beginning of February and managed to avoid catching Covid. Our strategy included:

 

- wearing our masks everywhere indoors

- wearing masks outdoors when in close proximity to other people

- sanitising every time we walked past a sanitiser dispenser, which was frequently because they are everywhere

- washing our hands before and after entering the buffet

- washing our hands when entering our cabin and before touching anything

- in the buffet we would find a table first, unroll our cutlery and use the napkin to pick up the serving utensils at the various buffet stations, then discard the napkin and get a new one back at our table

- taking the stairs 90% of the time to avoid the lifts

- wearing our medallions in a wristband so we never had to hand them to anyone, we could just tap them when required 

 

It was actually quite a shock to get to the airport after disembarking and see everyone walking around without masks. We had become so used to wearing them!

 

 

[By The Bay]

2 hours ago, Cruisers47 said:

If you look at Carnival, RCL, and Princess they all say you should have had your vaccine at least 14 days prior to cruising.   They also refer to 7 days with boosters.   I am not good at copying the links or I would.

Here you are. Covid - 19 Vaccine

 

Princess Cruises continues to operate cruises that meet health authority requirements for sailing with at least 95% of guests aged 12 and over to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and Influenza. These cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine, with the last dose being administered at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and can provide proof of vaccination. In addition, where local regulations allow, we’re managing a process for exemptions. Guests with medical contraindications to the vaccine are permitted to travel, subject to pre-approval by Princess Cruises. Vaccination requirements do not apply to children aged 11 years and under.

Fully vaccinated guests must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (with the dates of doses received) at the terminal prior to boarding. Failure to provide this evidence will result in denial of boarding.

Guests should always ensure they understand all requirements to travel from their home country to the destinations they plan to visit. Requirements are updated frequently, and official websites and apps developed by government agencies and tourism ministries are recommended sources for protocols.

A specific law is not required to implement vaccination requirements. Also, having vaccination requirements is not in itself unlawful. The cruising industry and Commonwealth, and Australian State governments have agreed to guidelines aimed at mitigating the risk of COVID-19, which includes a minimum of 95% of guests on each cruise must be fully vaccinated. Anyone aged 12 or over who holds a valid medical exemption as defined by the Commonwealth Government will be permitted to cruise as long as the unvaccinated group is less than 5% of the total number of guests on board. Children under 12 years old who are not fully vaccinated are permitted to travel, and there is no limit on the number of unvaccinated children permitted to sail.

[MicCanberra]

You can do all the right things and still get it, my advice is do them anyway and at least you lessen the risk.

[lyndarra]

On my recent 16 dat cruise on Westerdam I saw none of the usual cleaning of surfaces by staff - stair handrails, etc..

I think there would be two reasons for this. 1. Miniscule chance of picking up the virus from surfaces and 2, Lack of staff to do it.

I'm not one who carries hand sanitizer around with me nor is my travelling companion. We used the sanitizer when entering dining rooms and that's it. We masked up except when drinking and dining (and when we sometimes shot out the cabin door for something and forgot the mask). Also on masked on tenders and tour buses. We have both had 2 vax and 3 boosters.

Masking was about 90% on the cruise.

Neither of us caught covid.

[timtam2]

Since August, I have been on 3 short P&O cruises, 3 shortish Princess cruises,  a 4 day Royal, and a 7 night Carnival cruise.  These all had the mask requirement onboard and I did 

not get covid.

   3 weeks ago, I went on an 8 night Ovation and tested positive on disembark day. No masking requirement onboard but I wore my N95 ( one of the few who did).

   I agree with all the tips the above posters have provided and practiced those myself. I avoided certain activities that I normally enjoy e.g fitness classes but still got it. I think it's likely I picked it up at one of the crowded music trivia sessions where it turns into a loud sing-along......all those covid particles floating around 🙂

    Be careful, assess crowded situations but still have fun!

 

Edited February 24, 2023 by timtam2

[Aus Traveller]

3 hours ago, By The Bay said:

Here you are. Covid - 19 Vaccine

 

Princess Cruises continues to operate cruises that meet health authority requirements for sailing with at least 95% of guests aged 12 and over to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and Influenza. These cruises are available for guests who have received their final dose of an Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine, with the last dose being administered at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and can provide proof of vaccination. In addition, where local regulations allow, we’re managing a process for exemptions. Guests with medical contraindications to the vaccine are permitted to travel, subject to pre-approval by Princess Cruises. Vaccination requirements do not apply to children aged 11 years and under.

Fully vaccinated guests must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (with the dates of doses received) at the terminal prior to boarding. Failure to provide this evidence will result in denial of boarding.

Guests should always ensure they understand all requirements to travel from their home country to the destinations they plan to visit. Requirements are updated frequently, and official websites and apps developed by government agencies and tourism ministries are recommended sources for protocols.

A specific law is not required to implement vaccination requirements. Also, having vaccination requirements is not in itself unlawful. The cruising industry and Commonwealth, and Australian State governments have agreed to guidelines aimed at mitigating the risk of COVID-19, which includes a minimum of 95% of guests on each cruise must be fully vaccinated. Anyone aged 12 or over who holds a valid medical exemption as defined by the Commonwealth Government will be permitted to cruise as long as the unvaccinated group is less than 5% of the total number of guests on board. Children under 12 years old who are not fully vaccinated are permitted to travel, and there is no limit on the number of unvaccinated children permitted to sail.

The way I understand the info from Princess is that passengers have to have had 'their final dose of an Australian therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine with the last dose being administered at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise ... ' This refers to 'dose' not ' booster'. Vaccines available in Australia require two doses. This is what Princess is referring to. They don't care if you have a booster close to your cruise.

[Zanny]

Thanks everyone. I will just wear my mask and shield wash hands use sanitiser etc use stairs try to avoid  busy areas (impossible  I know)

The thing that makes it hard masks are not mandatory  now.

People will think I am stupid with mask etc and face shield but I don't  care.Csn only do my best . I don't  fancy being locked in cabin for 5 or so days.

Thanks Zanny

[Aussieflyer]

7 hours ago, Cruisers47 said:

On the documentation supplied it advises that you should not have a vaccination 14 days before you go on a cruise.   I think it may be that you might show up as having Covid in your system, even though you have not got Covid.

 

 

The 14 days is the time it takes for immunity to build up after a vaccination. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, Zanny said:

Thanks everyone. I will just wear my mask and shield wash hands use sanitiser etc use stairs try to avoid  busy areas (impossible  I know)

The thing that makes it hard masks are not mandatory  now.

People will think I am stupid with mask etc and face shield but I don't  care.Csn only do my best . I don't  fancy being locked in cabin for 5 or so days.

Thanks Zanny

Who cares what other people think. Do what you feel you need to do to keep yourself healthy.