Hi from iso on the Riviera

[1Virgo]

On 8/28/2023 at 6:33 AM, jakes47 said:

I would like to share my covid experience on our current B2B Cruises.

We are doing B2B cruises on the Rivera.  We left Oslo on the 5th August for the first leg - then on the Wednesday 23rd departing Portsmouth for the second  cruise.  The first was most enjoyable and went with out a hitch but when the new passengers boarded in Portsmouth it was a different story.  The ship was full and it was obvious to my husband and I that many boarded with sniffles and coughs.  We would move seats to avoid them and joked about it being “Covid Central”.  The main problem was no one seem to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing   We witnessed on several occasions people blowing their noses on the cloth serviettes in the Terrace Cafe.  It would seem that all the lessons we were taught during covid have gone out the window.

 

The day before and after embarkation were sea days and the second cruise day was at the port of Newcastle.  I awoke on the third day (Saturday) feeling unwell and doing the right thing decided to do one of the Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) we had bought from home.  It was positive.  My husband and I went on the Oceania site and Googled in search of up to date Covid protocol on board and found nothing. I decided I needed to report this as there are a lot of elderly passengers on board and we should do the right thing.  We had an appointment with the medical teem that confirmed I was positive but my husband was negative and we were told we had to isolate until the 1st September - the day before we disembarked. I asked how many others had reported in and they said none.  We believe there are people with symptoms among the passengers on this ship that have continued to go out and about and that time will tell a different story.

My husband and I are not terribly social especially since Covid .  We dine at a table for 2.  We might chat to the couple at the next table but pretty much keep to our selves.  The only time we mixed with others was the night we left Portsmouth when we went to the Riviera lounge for the show. We move seats twice to get away from the coughing.  And the following night at the Captains cocktails in Horizons where we joked about Covid Central and left after 1 drink.

 

As I write this I feel back to normal but we still have 3 more days of isolation only to come out in time to pack our bags and leave the ship.  My husband is still negative but he has missed the cruise but for 1 port also.

I can’t confirm where I got this from - only have strong  suspicions.

Yes -we do sanitise and wash our hands at every opportunity.

No - we did not wear masks but would avoid crowded situations.

Yes - we are 5x vaccinated

 

What would we do next time :  Wear a mask in crowded venues.  Always carry RATs with us and test if symptoms appear.  If positive stay in our cabin until symptom free  - then wear a mask when out of our room.

 

To our fellow passenger and future passengers - Please, Please, Please -cover you mouths when coughing and sneezing. Wash your hands.  Use the sanitising stations.  Wear a mask if you have suspicious symptoms then test yourself and take appropriate precautions to not spread this to others. Nobody wants to miss a cruise due to illness but it is so incredibly selfish to ignore your symptoms and infect others. Serviettes are not for blowing your nose.

 

The advantages of reporting the positive covid test are -  all our O tours were refunded and documents are supplied to claim on insurance.  I was prescribed antiviral and antibiotic meds. The medical team are great and check in daily.

 

Could Oceania do anything differently? I think they could be proactively offering masks again and check on people who are showing symptoms.  I would like to hear daily announcements on the importance of hygiene with specific instruction on health care and recommended procedures for those feeling unwell.

 

Covid is still out there so please take precautions and be mindful of others.

we wear a mask unless eating. we had a lady getting onto elevator  and seeing us masked, ask if we were sick. No. just dont want to be.  DH took his mask off onboard plane home. I said the stewardess is sick but she leaned in to speak with him.   Long story short 💰💰💰 in antibiotics I cant pronounce, 3 sets of xrays, cat scan, and 100 days of h*ll, back on track.  So no formal diagnosis but heard “100 day cold” aka pertussis.    I thought he was to die

 

We noticed same. Cough. Oh. Whatever you do, forget all the safety things we ve learned and dont cover your mouth.  Rattling cough. no covering their mouth

 

So I am 100% in agreement.  Cover your mouth!,,

 

Covid is out there and increasing

[Ray4Fun]

Some thoughts,
 

We walked off a ship in Bergen Aug 15. Train to Oslo. Left for USA the 17th. The 20th one of us came down with the C. 

 

Was it the Ship?  Was it the train?  Was it Oslo???  Or the flight home? Or maybe Publix getting milk and bread the day we came home? You're never ever going to know where or when. Will that stop you? Sure some, that's OK. For others no. Will people be stupid , sure. 

 

If you have issues with C, physical ones, then consider what to do. C will not go away. 

 

Peace all. 

[WESTEAST]

We were on the cruise starting in Portsmouth and agree 100% that passengers were coughing in all venues and do feel Oceania could have communicated the importance of hand washing etc. On our many past cruises pre-Covid, we have heard numerous times announcements from Cruise Directors the importance of hand sanitation, etc.  This Cruise Director, who we felt was the worse one in all of our cruises, provided minimal communication. The ship had a high percentage of very senior passengers with canes, walkers and wheelchairs that we joked we boarded the British Geriatric Club Cruise. We kept to ourselves, did not attend Captain's Cocktail nor Oceania Club night, used only stairs, ate at tables for two, and wore masks on the two shore excursions. There were three medical emergencies on our cruise and one involving a helicopter ambulance transfer and we quickly learnt what 'Code Mike' meant. We still managed to enjoy the itinerary, the excellent dining and the renovated Riviera especially the new bathroom and the expanded Baristas. As mentioned in numerous other posts, dress code adherence and lack of enforcement continues... Do hope for our future cruises, fellow passengers are more respectful and don't board if sick, cover your mouths when coughing, etc. 

[jakes47]

11 hours ago, WESTEAST said:

We were on the cruise starting in Portsmouth and agree 100% that passengers were coughing in all venues and do feel Oceania could have communicated the importance of hand washing etc. On our many past cruises pre-Covid, we have heard numerous times announcements from Cruise Directors the importance of hand sanitation, etc.  This Cruise Director, who we felt was the worse one in all of our cruises, provided minimal communication. The ship had a high percentage of very senior passengers with canes, walkers and wheelchairs that we joked we boarded the British Geriatric Club Cruise. We kept to ourselves, did not attend Captain's Cocktail nor Oceania Club night, used only stairs, ate at tables for two, and wore masks on the two shore excursions. There were three medical emergencies on our cruise and one involving a helicopter ambulance transfer and we quickly learnt what 'Code Mike' meant. We still managed to enjoy the itinerary, the excellent dining and the renovated Riviera especially the new bathroom and the expanded Baristas. As mentioned in numerous other posts, dress code adherence and lack of enforcement continues... Do hope for our future cruises, fellow passengers are more respectful and don't board if sick, cover your mouths when coughing, etc. 

I couldn’t agree more - The Cruise Director and his his off sider were the worst we have sailed with and my husband and I also joke about feeling like we were in a nursing home.  That may sound disrespectful but we witnessed 5 serious falls in the first 2 days. When we would hear “Code Mike” we would say - “oh dear - another one down”.  I believe O was reading here as on the last couple of days there was an announcement and a note in the Currents regarding hygiene and sanitising.

So glad to be off the ship and now enjoying London.

We have canceled our 2025 Oceania cruise.

[JFontaine]

British Geriatric Club?  Nursing home? The longer, the more expensive cruise - the older, the more well-off the passengers. Good for them to be out there enjoying life and I can only hope to be among them one day. Nice people need canes and wheelchairs, and you would think about this differently if it was you or your spouse who needed help..  Until then I'd recommend shorter cruises  and less luxurious lines since older travelers apparently bother you. 

Edited September 6, 2023 by JFontaine

[WESTEAST]

3 hours ago, jakes47 said:

I couldn’t agree more - The Cruise Director and his his off sider were the worst we have sailed with and my husband and I also joke about feeling like we were in a nursing home.  That may sound disrespectful but we witnessed 5 serious falls in the first 2 days. When we would hear “Code Mike” we would say - “oh dear - another one down”.  I believe O was reading here as on the last couple of days there was an announcement and a note in the Currents regarding hygiene and sanitising.

So glad to be off the ship and now enjoying London.

We have canceled our 2025 Oceania cruise.

Sorry to hear that you have cancelled your upcoming cruise. The demographics on this cruise and the constant coughing, disrespect for fellow passengers, etc. were not what we have experienced in our many past cruises. We did include our comments in the mid-cruise survey and the end cruise survey so hopefully O will take note and make required changes e.g. Cruise Director and his side kick.  Enjoy London. 

[Ray4Fun]

"disrespect for fellow passengers". ?

 

Please expand a bit, what happened?

[RetiredLifer]

Who is the Cruise Director and do you know how long he/she will be on?  Thanks

 

[jakes47]

5 hours ago, JFontaine said:

British Geriatric Club?  Nursing home? The longer, the more expensive cruise - the older, the more well-off the passengers. Good for them to be out there enjoying life and I can only hope to be among them one day. Nice people need canes and wheelchairs, and you would think about this differently if it was you or your spouse who needed help..  Until then I'd recommend shorter cruises  and less luxurious lines since older travelers apparently bother you. 

I will assume you were not on this cruise.  Nothing was said about nice people not needing assistance - not sure where you got that from.

Let we tell you more about us and let you imagine what we experienced.  We are not spring chickens. However we are able to get to our muster station.  We would be able to get into a life boat if needed. We are able to find our cabin. We are able to feed ourselves.  We are both fully continent.  We do not have dementia.  We are steady on our feet to be able to get on and off the ship.  (I know that many requested assistance prior to the cruise, but many more did not which did cause problems).

When the day comes that this changes - we will not be cruising - for the comfort and safety of all on board.

Edited September 6, 2023 by jakes47

[ORV]

6 hours ago, WESTEAST said:

Sorry to hear that you have cancelled your upcoming cruise. The demographics on this cruise and the constant coughing, disrespect for fellow passengers, etc. were not what we have experienced in our many past cruises. We did include our comments in the mid-cruise survey and the end cruise survey so hopefully O will take note and make required changes e.g. Cruise Director and his side kick.  Enjoy London. 

So which cruise director are we talking about?

[jakes47]

8 hours ago, ORV said:

So which cruise director are we talking about?

Steven Campbell.

[ORV]

6 hours ago, jakes47 said:

Steven Campbell.

I guess I've never had the pleasure, he must be new in the last couple of years.