Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

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Interesting reading the diversity of opinion on here.

My 2 cents worth. (I am 4 x Vaxxed)

I caught Covid-19 in Feb this year at a wedding in Townsville despite taking all the precautions I could. Mask wearing except when eating, hand sanitising etc etc etc.

After 2 years of living in fear of this virus, I have had enough. I am not getting any younger and want to get on with my life and cross off things that I want to do and see before I depart this earth.

Just returned from a month overseas spending a week each in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Thailand via 13 flight sectors. (Destinations that were originally booked and paid for, but cancelled early 2020 when bans started.)

I wore a mask while on board flights except when eating and I never leave the house without a small bottle of sanitiser in my pocket and wear a mask when in close quarters with other people. On the long haul sectors, ourselves and crew members were just about the only people on board who wore a mask at any time. Almost nobody, with a handful of rare exceptions here and there was wearing a mask in hotels or excursions or shops or transport overseas except some crew members on a 4 day cruise. Government workers in airports and some banks often did wear a mask, but not all.)

Living close to the CBD in Brisbane, I rarely see any members of the public with a mask on public transport or shops (again with a handful of rare exceptions).

We have bitten the bullet and booked two "shortish" cruises next year from Australian home ports and confirmed with my credit card provider we are covered for free travel insurance for covid and for cruising.

I could catch covid tomorrow getting into a lift in our apartment building taking the rubbish down to the basement from a resident or tradie who rode in it before me and may or may not be aware they are infected and may or may not have any symptoms.

Its time to get on with my life and enjoy what is left not living in fear, but taking all the usual precautions like I have always had to do anyway against e.g. pick pockets, scammers, drunks et al.

Carpe Diem
 
p--and--t said:
Interesting reading the diversity of opinion on here.

My 2 cents worth. (I am 4 x Vaxxed)

I caught Covid-19 in Feb this year at a wedding in Townsville despite taking all the precautions I could. Mask wearing except when eating, hand sanitising etc etc etc.

After 2 years of living in fear of this virus, I have had enough. I am not getting any younger and want to get on with my life and cross off things that I want to do and see before I depart this earth.

Just returned from a month overseas spending a week each in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Thailand via 13 flight sectors. (Destinations that were originally booked and paid for, but cancelled early 2020 when bans started.)

I wore a mask while on board flights except when eating and I never leave the house without a small bottle of sanitiser in my pocket and wear a mask when in close quarters with other people. On the long haul sectors, ourselves and crew members were just about the only people on board who wore a mask at any time. Almost nobody, with a handful of rare exceptions here and there was wearing a mask in hotels or excursions or shops or transport overseas except some crew members on a 4 day cruise. Government workers in airports and some banks often did wear a mask, but not all.)

Living close to the CBD in Brisbane, I rarely see any members of the public with a mask on public transport or shops (again with a handful of rare exceptions).

We have bitten the bullet and booked two "shortish" cruises next year from Australian home ports and confirmed with my credit card provider we are covered for free travel insurance for covid and for cruising.

I could catch covid tomorrow getting into a lift in our apartment building taking the rubbish down to the basement from a resident or tradie who rode in it before me and may or may not be aware they are infected and may or may not have any symptoms.

Its time to get on with my life and enjoy what is left not living in fear, but taking all the usual precautions like I have always had to do anyway against e.g. pick pockets, scammers, drunks et al.

Carpe Diem
Click to expand...
Great news! Welcome to the world of travel again.
 
Just a reminder that Expedition cruising can be dangerous. two people died as a result of a zodiac overturning near Elephant Island in Antarctica.
www.travelresearchonline.com

Two Dead in Rare Zodiac Accident in Antarctica

The 2022 Antarctica season has kicked off with the worst possible news for Quark Expeditions, where a rare zodiac accident has left two passengers dead. Seatrade Cruise News reported that the line confirmed that “a Zodiac carrying six passengers and two expedition staff overturned near shore, tra
www.travelresearchonline.com www.travelresearchonline.com
 
p--and--t said:
I wore a mask while on board flights except when eating and I never leave the house without a small bottle of sanitiser in my pocket and wear a mask when in close quarters with other people. On the long haul sectors, ourselves and crew members were just about the only people on board who wore a mask at any time. Almost nobody, with a handful of rare exceptions here and there was wearing a mask in hotels or excursions or shops or transport overseas except some crew members on a 4 day cruise. Government workers in airports and some banks often did wear a mask, but not all.)
Click to expand...

Just finished a week tour in Egypt, including a Nile Cruise.

Difference - Flights - few masks long haul to Egypt; Egypt domestic, maybe 30%-40% wore them, most of those with the one tour group on any one flight. Flight attendants on domestic flights wore masks, but not over nose. Ditto for airport workers.

Same: - few masks in hotels or excursions or shops or transport; again, if present, 100% of the one tour group. On our boat, usual mostly +50 and many +60, very few masks. VERY close and crowded in many temples. I was more concerned with pick-pockets than Covid (the latter, ZERO)
 
We are currently on the Coral Princess PNG cruise. Mask wearing is being enforced by the crew and the majority of pax are compliant with a few exceptions wearing masks under their chins and such. You have to wash your hands before entering the buffet but most items are self-serve. I haven't heard of any covid cases on board so far nor seen any tables in the corridors. We only have 4 more nights. I was never worried about catching Covid, I was more worried about being locked in my cabin and unable to go ashore and go around the ship freely.
 
Coming up to my first time cruise in a few weeks… do all companies make it as difficult as Cunard to ‘check in’? We had to give passport details for each passenger… again… then provide emergency contact numbers - we are a party of three, so had to make three separate calls as I didn’t know everyone’s emergency numbers… then had to give emergency email addresses… then had to provide a credit card to set up an onboard account… THEN had to provide photos of each passenger!!

The fine print said photos could be taken at the terminal before embarkation… so I rang to find out what time we could embark… ‘oh, we can’t tell you that until you have completed check in… and we can’t complete check in until you have all uploaded photos’.

On mentioning the checkin process says we can have the photo taken at the terminal, the response was the same… we cannot tell you what time you will embark until checkin in completed.

So I tried a different question… ‘what time can I arrive to have my photo taken?’ (as in, separate from embarkation time)… on hold for 20 minutes before ‘the terminal opens from 1245pm’.

We had to provide more information than an international departure to the USA… which given the recent data breaches seemed overkill. My feedback was that Cunard was making it all too difficult to enjoy the cruise!
 
We have never had to check in on Silversea. everything done when you arrive at the port. They always say embarkation is 1400 but usually we arrive ~ midday and no problems being early pre covid.
 
MEL_Traveller said:
Coming up to my first time cruise in a few weeks… do all companies make it as difficult as Cunard to ‘check in’? We had to give passport details for each passenger… again… then provide emergency contact numbers - we are a party of three, so had to make three separate calls as I didn’t know everyone’s emergency numbers… then had to give emergency email addresses… then had to provide a credit card to set up an onboard account… THEN had to provide photos of each passenger!!

The fine print said photos could be taken at the terminal before embarkation… so I rang to find out what time we could embark… ‘oh, we can’t tell you that until you have completed check in… and we can’t complete check in until you have all uploaded photos’.

On mentioning the checkin process says we can have the photo taken at the terminal, the response was the same… we cannot tell you what time you will embark until checkin in completed.

So I tried a different question… ‘what time can I arrive to have my photo taken?’ (as in, separate from embarkation time)… on hold for 20 minutes before ‘the terminal opens from 1245pm’.

We had to provide more information than an international departure to the USA… which given the recent data breaches seemed overkill. My feedback was that Cunard was making it all too difficult to enjoy the cruise!
Click to expand...
With online check in for my Azamara cruise next month, these same questions were asked again too (passport and emergency contact). The information had already been entered to complete registration. It was not a hassle to provide the information again as it only took a couple of minutes. Uploading a photo was something new though. It was stated that would speed up check in at the port. So I took a selfie! Sounds like a photo at the port might not be done now. I also then chose a check in time from 2:00pm onwards. Later boarding these days to allow for further sanitation measures.
 
MEL_Traveller said:
Coming up to my first time cruise in a few weeks… do all companies make it as difficult as Cunard to ‘check in’? We had to give passport details for each passenger… again… then provide emergency contact numbers - we are a party of three, so had to make three separate calls as I didn’t know everyone’s emergency numbers… then had to give emergency email addresses… then had to provide a credit card to set up an onboard account… THEN had to provide photos of each passenger!!

The fine print said photos could be taken at the terminal before embarkation… so I rang to find out what time we could embark… ‘oh, we can’t tell you that until you have completed check in… and we can’t complete check in until you have all uploaded photos’.

On mentioning the checkin process says we can have the photo taken at the terminal, the response was the same… we cannot tell you what time you will embark until checkin in completed.

So I tried a different question… ‘what time can I arrive to have my photo taken?’ (as in, separate from embarkation time)… on hold for 20 minutes before ‘the terminal opens from 1245pm’.

We had to provide more information than an international departure to the USA… which given the recent data breaches seemed overkill. My feedback was that Cunard was making it all too difficult to enjoy the cruise!
Click to expand...
I just did my Cunard check in and it was unnecessarily annoying. Also if you open another link you often have to login again ☹️
 
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VPS said:
I just did my Cunard check in and it was unnecessarily annoying. Also if you open another link you often have to login again ☹️
Click to expand...
Exactly! I forgot to mention that too! I think i logged in at least three times after being sent in a loop.

We are a party of three separate pax, so we all have different emergency contacts. If you were a couple it might be a bit easier.

I think Cunard is asking too much info in this data breach time!
 
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MEL_Traveller said:
Coming up to my first time cruise in a few weeks… do all companies make it as difficult as Cunard to ‘check in’? We had to give passport details for each passenger… again… then provide emergency contact numbers - we are a party of three, so had to make three separate calls as I didn’t know everyone’s emergency numbers… then had to give emergency email addresses… then had to provide a credit card to set up an onboard account… THEN had to provide photos of each passenger!!

The fine print said photos could be taken at the terminal before embarkation… so I rang to find out what time we could embark… ‘oh, we can’t tell you that until you have completed check in… and we can’t complete check in until you have all uploaded photos’.

On mentioning the checkin process says we can have the photo taken at the terminal, the response was the same… we cannot tell you what time you will embark until checkin in completed.

So I tried a different question… ‘what time can I arrive to have my photo taken?’ (as in, separate from embarkation time)… on hold for 20 minutes before ‘the terminal opens from 1245pm’.

We had to provide more information than an international departure to the USA… which given the recent data breaches seemed overkill. My feedback was that Cunard was making it all too difficult to enjoy the cruise!
Click to expand...

Plus Cunard are the only ones requiring covid boosters, which is beyond government or other requirements. And unlike other lines when I asked about it, their default stance was if you didn't have any booster, it was you cancelling, even though it was their excessive requirement alone (not government policy). Whereas other lines just gave refunds even if you didn't meet government requirements.
cruisepassenger.com.au

Unvaccinated and holding an FCC? Here's what the cruise lines are saying about what you should do - Cruise Passenger

It's a thorny question: with more and more cruise lines mandating vaccines for passengers and crew, what happens to those among the tens of thousands
cruisepassenger.com.au cruisepassenger.com.au

Their site information is deficient/lacking content on policies. And I've had my own issue with checkin coming up with unexplained errors.

They must just have a bunch of loyal cruisers willing to sail with them, whatever they impose/do.
 
Cunard demands a booster and a supervised Covid test 3 days before you board
 
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