The last place I want to be in a pandemic is on a cruise ship…
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Remember that for most ships they are testing crew weekly, but passengers are only being tested if they report they are sick. So while a ship may report that the vast majority if those with COVID are crew, there are likely as many Passengers who would test positive if they were being tested as well, but who are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms that they don’t report for fear of being isolated for the rest of the cruise. It’s kind of a “don’t test don’t tell” policy that’s sure to keep reported number down.
According to a cruise critic message board I’ve been following, Some of the cruise companies will no longer offer on-board pre-debarkation testing for people who need such testing to return to their home countries, but will refer travelers to their testing “partner” who can arrange antigen or PCR testing after they leave the ship (soon to be at the travelers own expense). In that way, the additional identified cases won’t be counted as having occurred during the cruise, and the company won’t be responsible for arranging quarantine accommodations or getting the passenger home. Pretty clever huh?
Can’t say I blame them for that, considering the field day the media have with news of onboard positives. Sounds like their legal department is doing its job.
I don’t know what to do. I am scheduled to fly to MN on Monday to visit my dad, who is 92 and in a continuing care facility. We are both vaxxed and boosted, but I am very concerned about Omicron, which seems to evade the vaccine. Many of my husband’s co-workers and his doctor have tested positive within the last week or two. These are all people who are fully vaxxed and boosted. I was able to get my hands on two sets of home tests and we just tested negative; I’ll test again later in the week.
I’m not really concerned about getting Omicron myself, but I could not stand the thought of giving it to my dad, who is wearing a heart monitor and is very vulnerable to any illness. On the other hand, if I don’t go next week to see him, I can’t go until March. I will have to fly (don’t want to drive alone, in winter, with less daylight to make progress). His health is failing and we last saw him in October (we drove–a four-day drive for a two-day visit). I don’t know if he will be alive or conscious in March.
I would try to get a few more home tests and take them with you on your trip. Then you can make sure to test before going to visit your dad. I would also make sure you have the best possible masks to wear on the flight and when you visit.
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Probably in the minority but I felt that way about cruise ships even under the best of circumstances!!
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D20 took a class last semester that had a 10-day trip as a follow up in the time between NYD and the first day of classes. The class has a Zoom meeting tomorrow morning with the professor to discuss the viability of the itinerary. D is soooooo disappointed to even be considering a cancellation. They are scheduled to visit DC, NC, GA, AL, and TN. Needless to say some places cause more anxiety than others.
Yup. Same here. Not a fan of mega ships for that same reason.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/27/business/weekend-flights-canceled-omicron.html
Flight disruptions in the United States showed few signs of abating on Monday as many people embarked on their first trips in almost two years, and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, raised the possibility of a vaccination requirement for air travel.
What @showmom858 said. I would get some more home tests (we had to drive out to more rural areas to find them at CVS) and take them with you and test immediately before going in the home (like while you are in the car), wear a good mask or two, and go visit if negative. I do sometimes double mask with an N-95ish and a cloth mask just because I think it helps the N-95 fit better w/ no gaps.
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My daughter flew home today. Last week her plane was half empty as she was flying to see us. Today her plane was oversold and they were asking for volunteers to give up their seats. We are speculating that there were cancelled flights yesterday and people were rebooked onto her flight.
I was talking to a friend who is a hospital chaplain. His understanding is that the rapid antigen tests are pretty accurate if you are symptomatic, but will with some probability show negative for people who are asymptomatic and at at an early stage of infection because their viral load is low. But, his further understanding is that if people’s viral load is low and they’ve test 15 minutes before the meeting, they are not going to be infectious in the next couple of hours – even if they will become infectious later on. Assuming his interpretation is correct, @NJSue, the advice from @showmom858 and @Sweetgum seems pretty reasonable.
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D21 and I are supposed to go on a cruise January 9th. I’m in a wait and see pattern. I have a friend who boarded a cruise yesterday. We are boosted and bought upgraded masks. If we go, we will mask inside if we feel we need to. We’ll discuss worst case scenarios before we make a final decision.
With Omicron, I think many people who have been able to avoid Covid, will get it in the next few weeks. Many of D18’s friends have gotten Covid in the last couple of weeks, just living their lives. D18 avoided Covid so far because she traveled. The good news for them was they tested positive and then 3 days later, negative- so it was much quicker than with other variants. I’ve got kids in college- the fact that they have avoided Covid so far is luck. I expect they will get it no matter what they do when they go back to school. Oh and D18 starts her job at Disney in a few weeks- so this could be why I haven’t run from my cruise yet! 
Even though I am willing, I can completely understand why many people wouldn’t want to go on a cruise now!
We have plane reservations to fly to Phoenix in March. I have to say…the United Airlines website is the worst possible one. We had chosen an outbound flight and we’re looking at return and it timed us out. This happened several times! Very annoying.but we think we have reservations.
Now…to wonder if the flight will actually happen!
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Just to remind cruisers, even if you don’t encounter the virus, you may end up not being allowed off the ship during the cruise. Several ships have been turned away from various ports just in the last few days because of outbreaks onboard. So if the ports are a major draw (understanding that they are never guaranteed even in normal times), wait.
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I spoke to my parents on Christmas and they had just canceled a Baltic cruise they were scheduled to go on at the beginning of April. My mom said she just doesn’t feel safe yet flying internationally and then getting on a ship. I feel bad for my parents since they are in good health, but my mom turns 80 in March and I don’t know how many years of travel they will be able to easily do.
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H and I haven’t booked any cruises and don’t plan to until there’s a better handle on Covid. H is turning 80 and travel us already challenging because we have to schlep my oxygen. We really aren’t interested in being far from home and possibly ill or quarantined. The risks of travel currently far outweigh the benefits for us.
Perhaps we may travel in May 2022—we will see.
I worry about cancelled flights, especially for my daughter. As I mentioned above, she is in the UK visiting her in-laws with her husband and 2 year old. Their return flight on the 4th was cancelled several days ago, but they were able to rebook for the 1st. If this flight were to cancel without advance notice, they could be in a bind. The in-laws live about 1.5 hour drive from the airport, where they are arriving about 4 hours early to get their Covid test at the airport. I guess her FIL could wait in London until they actually take off, so he could take them back if they didn’t leave. There is only one direct flight a day, so pickings are slim to get them home. Hanging at the airport for a day with a toddler is not an option!
Finger and toes crossed the flight leaves as scheduled.
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There is Uber and there are hotels around the airport. Why not get tested a day earlier? If the in-laws leave 1.5 hour away then they would only need to wait 1.5 hour to be picked up if the flight is cancelled.
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I’d book more than one flight in that situation. Most tickets on US airlines (not sure about British airlines) are cancelable these days. If you’re concerned about not being able to use airline credit as a result of cancellation, book award tickets using airline miles, which will be redeposited back into your account in the event of cancellation. US airlines have all waived award cancellation fees (and British Airways or Virgin Atlantic charges only nominal fees).