What's your feeling about cruising again?

[towny44]

Just arrived back from our international cruise on Iona!! Went really well - no problems at all - everything was seamless -

Do you have any definite info about the passenger who was disembarked in Caduz after testing positive. There are lots of social media reports, but a lot offer conflicting comments.

[david63]

Having given some thought to this, and cutting through the social media hysteria, my take on this is:

P&O decided that the passenger who tested positive needed to be disembarked - what the reason was we can only speculate. Was it because the next port would not allow the ship to dock? Was it because the ship did not have the facilities to deal with a seriously ill Covid patient? Or was it some other reason?

The decision was made to disembark the passenger and the port authorities, rightly so, insisted that the passenger went into quarantine, not as has been portrayed that the port insisted that the passenger was disembarked. Why would one port in one country insist that the passenger was disembarked? The last thing any country wants is to willingly bring potential Covid cases in the country.

The problem with the social media is that it has gone off at a tangent over who pays for those in close contact that have also been disembarked. To me this is a non issue - if it happened to me I would (begrudgingly) pay up. It is part of the risk that you take at the moment when travelling abroad and as a generalisation if you can afford a cruise then you can afford the quarantine/isolation costs - it might mean that you have to miss out on the next cruise!

[towny44]

Having given some thought to this, and cutting through the social media hysteria, my take on this is:

P&O decided that the passenger who tested positive needed to be disembarked - what the reason was we can only speculate. Was it because the next port would not allow the ship to dock? Was it because the ship did not have the facilities to deal with a seriously ill Covid patient? Or was it some other reason?

The decision was made to disembark the passenger and the port authorities, rightly so, insisted that the passenger went into quarantine, not as has been portrayed that the port insisted that the passenger was disembarked. Why would one port in one country insist that the passenger was disembarked? The last thing any country wants is to willingly bring potential Covid cases in the country.

The problem with the social media is that it has gone off at a tangent over who pays for those in close contact that have also been disembarked. To me this is a non issue - if it happened to me I would (begrudgingly) pay up. It is part of the risk that you take at the moment when travelling abroad and as a generalisation if you can afford a cruise then you can afford the quarantine/isolation costs - it might mean that you have to miss out on the next cruise!

The majority view on social media, including our P&O mole, is that this was entirely down to to Cadiz, their rules require that anyone testing positive has to stay in a quarantine hotel. Whether or not this coincided, or suited P&O is not known.

[Stephen]

Having given some thought to this, and cutting through the social media hysteria, my take on this is:

P&O decided that the passenger who tested positive needed to be disembarked - what the reason was we can only speculate. Was it because the next port would not allow the ship to dock? Was it because the ship did not have the facilities to deal with a seriously ill Covid patient? Or was it some other reason?

The decision was made to disembark the passenger and the port authorities, rightly so, insisted that the passenger went into quarantine, not as has been portrayed that the port insisted that the passenger was disembarked. Why would one port in one country insist that the passenger was disembarked? The last thing any country wants is to willingly bring potential Covid cases in the country.

The problem with the social media is that it has gone off at a tangent over who pays for those in close contact that have also been disembarked. To me this is a non issue - if it happened to me I would (begrudgingly) pay up. It is part of the risk that you take at the moment when travelling abroad and as a generalisation if you can afford a cruise then you can afford the quarantine/isolation costs - it might mean that you have to miss out on the next cruise!

Providing you are covered, I would hope your insurance cover would reimburse any costs.

[towny44]

Providing you are covered, I would hope your insurance cover would reimburse any costs.

Apparently some insurance policies do not cover your travelling companion unless they also test positive for covid. Which leaves a lot of uncertainty about full reimbursement.

[Manoverboard]

As well as the above if the passenger had serious symptoms or needed intensive care treatment their companion would not be able to share the isolation facilities ... does this mean that the unaffected companion continues on the cruise alone ?

[Meg 50]

As well as the above if the passenger had serious symptoms or needed intensive care treatment their companion would not be able to share the isolation facilities ... does this mean that the unaffected companion continues on the cruise alone ?

but the companion would have been in contact and therefore compromised

[Manoverboard]

As well as the above if the passenger had serious symptoms or needed intensive care treatment their companion would not be able to share the isolation facilities ... does this mean that the unaffected companion continues on the cruise alone ?

but the companion would have been in contact and therefore compromised

Indeed but at the time of the Hospitalisation, for example, any tests on the companion could have been negative.

It's a difficult one that's for sure.

[Meg 50]

As well as the above if the passenger had serious symptoms or needed intensive care treatment their companion would not be able to share the isolation facilities ... does this mean that the unaffected companion continues on the cruise alone ?

but the companion would have been in contact and therefore compromised

Indeed but at the time of the Hospitalisation, for example, any tests on the companion could have been negative.

It's a difficult one that's for sure.

but they might still be incubating it....

[Manoverboard]

... could be.

[Stephen]

Just had this pre cruise info email from P&O

https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-with-c ... engagement

[LadyPCruiser]

Even though we were on the cruise didn’t know anyone was taken off the ship with Covid

[kaymar]

Would you care to tell us a bit more about your experience, Lady P, and how it differed from pre-Covid? Might help with some dcision making, if you can spare the time.

[Whynd1]

That would be helpful, I'm sitting on the fence at the moment. 3 booked for next year ,the first one on Aurora in April and balance has to be paid just before Christmas.

Lindsey

[Manoverboard]

Talking to chums who have recently returned from the Med on Britannia ... they said that if we were to book we should go for the Premium Drinks option, eat as frequently as possible in the alternate Restaurants and to stay on board for the entire cruise as in this way one is able to mange one's space in the best possible way but to live extremely well in the meantime.

[Stephen]

That’s fine if you have the budget to go with it, plus the idea of staying onboard for the duration is a no no for us.

[kaymar]

Talking to chums who have recently returned from the Med on Britannia ... they said that if we were to book we should go for the Premium Drinks option, eat as frequently as possible in the alternate Restaurants and to stay on board for the entire cruise as in this way one is able to mange one's space in the best possible way but to live extremely well in the meantime.

Or, I suppose, you could just stay in a decent hotel for a couple of weeks.

[Manoverboard]

Talking to chums who have recently returned from the Med on Britannia ... they said that if we were to book we should go for the Premium Drinks option, eat as frequently as possible in the alternate Restaurants and to stay on board for the entire cruise as in this way one is able to mange one's space in the best possible way but to live extremely well in the meantime.

Or, I suppose, you could just stay in a decent hotel for a couple of weeks.

In this instance it was not about money. They wanted to go on a cruise but felt that it may not be as special as is the norm. They were also concerned about safety so opted for the formula above to achieve this ... for them it worked out very well but that is not to say that it is a suitable formula for everybody.

[Stephen]

Fair comment Moby.

[poole boy]

personally do not see any problem with cruising again we have had 2 cruises already this year and have 2 more booked for next year I have had 3 injections now for covid and really think you could be crossing a road and get knocked down as likely as catching covid lifes far to short to worry about things like that just get on and enjoy your life whist you are still able to as one things for sure we are all going to die one day

[allatc]

personally do not see any problem with cruising again we have had 2 cruises already this year and have 2 more booked for next year I have had 3 injections now for covid and really think you could be crossing a road and get knocked down as likely as catching covid lifes far to short to worry about things like that just get on and enjoy your life whist you are still able to as one things for sure we are all going to die one day

I wasn't aware that there are 30,000+ people per day getting knocked down on the roads.

I think the problem with getting Covid whilst on a cruise is the consequences as exemplified in previous posts

[poole boy]

allatc from what I have read a lot of people who have died have not had there injections when they were asked to and left themselves open to problems.
I can only say on the 2 cruises we have done this year we did not hear of any problems with covid at all and felt very safe and well looked after and had very enjoyable holidays

[LadyPCruiser]

We found the experience pretty much the same as previous cruises. Some small differences include room cleaning one a day hence no evening chocolate - Most of the cruise appeared to be new to the role so not quite as obliging as before…I didn’t particularly like booking the shows etc as sometimes it was a choice of show or food! But that was mainly due to the fact that we are early to bed people. We had to have dinner at 5.30 in order to see a show we really wanted to see at the time we wanted to see it! It was impossible to be spontaneous in the most popular restaurants as you just wouldn’t get in. On saying all this it was still an enjoyable break! Also just remembered you now have to pay for the cakes in Costa coffee!

[Whynd1]

Well I have come off the fence. Decided not to cruise in April next year, just not sure yet about it all. Have moved the booking to Aurora 2023.

Will decide nearer the time about the 2 Arcadia cruises booked for next year.

Lindsey

[Quizzical Bob]

We are on Sky Princess and due to arrive at Ponta Delgada in the Azores at 4:00 pm local time this afternoon.

We boarded last Friday after a modified embarkation routine. We had been told to go to the drive through testing facility but were then directed to the Ocean Cruise Terminal and had our LF tests done there. They take your mobile number and you sit in a waiting area until given the all clear some twenty minutes later. Boarding is straightforward but it was when we got to our cabin that the problems started.

We had carefully chosen D227 when we booked back in April but when we got to it we were sent back down to the service desk. Apparently some 80 staff joined the ship in Southampton so the D deck has been set aside for them to serve their quarantine time confined to their own balcony cabins. This is all very understandable but unfortunately they forgot to tell the passengers that were affected. We had been allocated another cabin on C deck but this was smaller and unacceptable to us. After much ranting and raving we were eventually upgraded to a mini suite amidships but not until we were due to sail.

Our suitcases all had our original labels of course so they took some time to arrive. This was all very disappointing and annoying but not the fault of the onboard staff who were extremely helpful. It could all have been avoided if the shoreside team had contacted us weeks ago when they first knew of new arrangements.

We are delighted with the outcome.

This magnificent and barely used ship has capacity for 3660 guests. There are only 1048 aboard which is wonderful and highly to be recommended. Apparently some 14 were denied boarding on account of their test results at Southampton. There are a surprising number of Americans aboard along with a couple of other nationalities.

Life aboard is typical cruising. We need to wear a mask when moving around the ship and in the theatre but not when sitting or eating. We had the first of our two required tests at sea today and the second will be just before we arrive in Fort Lauderdale.

We overnight in Ponta Delgada before leaving just after lunch tomorrow and then we have next Sunday in Antigua and Monday in St Maarten and disembark on Thursday the 18th.I had planned for 7nights in Florida but because of our changed early arrival we now have an extra two nights on the Florida Keys.

It’s good to be at sea again.