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[Travel] Pre cruise Covid nerves
- Thread starter Super Steve Earle
- Start date
I've been on two cruises since the re-start. One last October when we weren't allowed to mix with the "natives" in any port, despite it being a wholly UK cruise, and the other more recent 19 nights to the Med.
After the stupidity of the LFT pre-boarding (the most likely place for me to have caught covid in the whole pandemic period), it was very relaxed. There were still a few rules specific to Covid like having to be served in the self-service restaurant and wear a mask in the theatre, but cruises have always had much stricter health and safety regulations (sanitiser everywhere) so it was mostly just like the old days. The biggest issue for me was that you couldn't sit up at any bar, which we used to always do to chat with the bar staff as much as the other passengers.
Whilst others have said it's a daft choice if you're nervous of Covid still, I'd disagree (apart from the LFT fiasco). That may be because I choose to cruise on Cunard, where you don't have loads of situations where you are squeezed into the same space as many others, anyway. However, the Beatles tribute act put on a great show where everyone was up dancing and the "disco" was also popular.
I didn't hear of any Covid cases once we were on board for either trip.
One thing that we all noticed, though, on the Med trip, was how much more seriously mask wearing is taken in Spain and Italy. Almost a higher instance of compliance that we've ever had in the UK.
It did seem odd that we went ashore and mixed with the locals and then didn't have to do any further testing, but I was glad that that was the case.
I'm off on another cruise later this month and another in November. It's not something to be overly concerned about, in my opinion, though obviously it's not completely safe, any more than staying at home is.
After the stupidity of the LFT pre-boarding (the most likely place for me to have caught covid in the whole pandemic period), it was very relaxed. There were still a few rules specific to Covid like having to be served in the self-service restaurant and wear a mask in the theatre, but cruises have always had much stricter health and safety regulations (sanitiser everywhere) so it was mostly just like the old days. The biggest issue for me was that you couldn't sit up at any bar, which we used to always do to chat with the bar staff as much as the other passengers.
Whilst others have said it's a daft choice if you're nervous of Covid still, I'd disagree (apart from the LFT fiasco). That may be because I choose to cruise on Cunard, where you don't have loads of situations where you are squeezed into the same space as many others, anyway. However, the Beatles tribute act put on a great show where everyone was up dancing and the "disco" was also popular.
I didn't hear of any Covid cases once we were on board for either trip.
One thing that we all noticed, though, on the Med trip, was how much more seriously mask wearing is taken in Spain and Italy. Almost a higher instance of compliance that we've ever had in the UK.
It did seem odd that we went ashore and mixed with the locals and then didn't have to do any further testing, but I was glad that that was the case.
I'm off on another cruise later this month and another in November. It's not something to be overly concerned about, in my opinion, though obviously it's not completely safe, any more than staying at home is.
I came back from a cruise around Spain and Portugal (TUI Marella cruises), on Saturday just gone. Things were almost back to normal. We had to do a pre flight lft the day before and there were the usual Covid questionnaires. There were reminders to keep sanitising hands, but the self service restaurant was self service, unlike when I went in October.
We were advised to wear masks on public transport, but there wasn’t much mask wearing by tourists or the locals.
It actually felt very safe and won’t hesitate to to go on another cruise in a few months time.
Despite all the moans about airports at the moment, I checked in my luggage at 09:50 (on the half-them Saturday ), went through security and was sitting down in the departures lounge 20 mins later. Flights both out to Palma and back into Gatwick on time. Maybe I was just lucky!
We were advised to wear masks on public transport, but there wasn’t much mask wearing by tourists or the locals.
It actually felt very safe and won’t hesitate to to go on another cruise in a few months time.
Despite all the moans about airports at the moment, I checked in my luggage at 09:50 (on the half-them Saturday ), went through security and was sitting down in the departures lounge 20 mins later. Flights both out to Palma and back into Gatwick on time. Maybe I was just lucky!
Weststander
Well-known member
Mods, Lock this thread.
Gazwag
5 millionth post poster
Did a stay cation cruise last Sept, 12 nights a month ago and have a week in four weeks time. Last one and next one are replacements from cancellations from the last two years. Only half full at the moment which is great. Test at home the day before with a fit to fly lft works well, we still wear masks on board a fair amount but only 40% of people do. Only fully vaccinated allowed which is brilliant. All out on Southampton so no flying.
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #27
We took pretty much the same view till Mrs Earle went down with Covid a few weeks ago, but after we booked it and turns out it was a helluva lot worse than just a few relatively mild symptoms. She's a now a bit nervous of a second bout confined to cabin. Has a different view now she's had it. Hopefully all the ship precautions will mean we'll be fine. Not worrying about it, just triggered to see if anyone else had a recent Royal Caribbean experience to relate.
Bahamas laws/protocols currently require masks in all enclosed Public places, queues, shops, entrances to beaches etc etc
Practically they are hardly being worn anywhere. When we checked in the first thing they said was 'take your mask off, no need to wear it anywhere in the hotel'
Actually wandered around the cruise port today, hordes of maskless Yanks in all the shops
Practically they are hardly being worn anywhere. When we checked in the first thing they said was 'take your mask off, no need to wear it anywhere in the hotel'
Actually wandered around the cruise port today, hordes of maskless Yanks in all the shops
Don’t worry about Covid19 the protocols are we’ll versed on Cruise ships, it’s the Monkey Pox you want to be worried about
TheJasperCo
Well-known member
He was in Top Gun, not Titanic.
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #31
Well that went well. Lovely holiday, plenty of mask wearing by me and Mrs Earle, more than most. Back yesterday, Covid today!
Rotten luck SSE, probably better to pick up Covid at home rather than during the cruise. Incidentally, did you fly to and from your cruise ship or embark from UK?Well that went well. Lovely holiday, plenty of mask wearing by me and Mrs Earle, more than most. Back yesterday, Covid today!
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
- Thread starter
- #33
You're right. Nobody wants to get moved to Deck 3! Great holiday and a reminder how cheap some things are abroad. In La Coruna, we had 4 beers, 2 coffees and 2 frittatas for 11 euros. Drove to and from Southampton. My wife got pinged this morning for a Covid contact on 16th June, but I'd already tested today.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 72,321
Cruises were called Floating Petri Dishes for any and every bug going, long before Covid. If anything they're probably a healthier place to be than they were before