What happened when I tested positive for Covid on a cruise ship
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2022
- Unfortunately, I tested positive for Covid-19 at the end of my Serenade of the Seas cruise in Alaska. Here's a look at what happened and what you can expect if someone in your family tested positive while on a cruise ship.
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Sad to hear it got you too... but glad you were looked after!
Thanks. Feeling back to normal now!
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog uplkcv r((; thanks txt we tfadety
If you get symptoms of sore throat you must do COVID test straight away🥹
I worked at RC guest services for little over 10 years and I can tell you that each guest has a file with notes from all the previous sailings, and your's certainly includes the fact that you run this CZcams channel and also your status helped a lot.
I do not run a CZcams channel and we were treated very well by Celebrity (who are owned by RC).
That would kind of suck if they did play favorites since lots of people are spending lots of $ on RCL that have jobs other than blogging.
I too caught COVID on an RC cruise two weeks ago that sailed out of FL and received the EXACT same treatment and debarkation options. I don’t believe it was preferential treatment but a testament to the great service I have ALWAYS received on an RC cruise.
We caught covid on RC last week and got the same treatment ! I have a small TikTok following but I don’t think it was any clout for special treatment
I've never worked for RCCL, but I used to work guest services for a 5 star hotel, pre Covid. If I was given that option on the cruise line side, I'd do it. They might lose a small amount of money in the short term, refunding that portion of the cruise, but it would build up a ton of goodwill with the guest and encourage them to book RC again in the future. That was the #1 rule I learned in hospitality, is that mistakes will happen, even though this one isn't RCCL's fault, but how you manage the incident will greatly effect the outcome. The only cruise line I've ever been on was RCCL, but I've been cruising with them for 15 years now. Had they screwed up on the first cruise, I might have gone somewhere else, but since there was excellent service, I kept coming back.
Sorry to hear of your Covid ordeal, glad is was mild and you are recovering well. Also it is nice to hear how RCCL treated you as you hear all kinds of horror stories all over the industry. We are doing the Serenade mid September and was concerned about how things would be handled in case one of our group go ill. Thank you for shedding some light on this for us. Get well fast
Glad it all worked out for you and your family and yourself are good to go.
WOW! My son and I are sailing with Royal Caribbean next month and this makes me feel so much better! I am glad that they took such good care of you.
Great idea to take the at home tests with you. We're going for a 3rd time in March 2023 since Sept 2020 and I felt safe on every ship. Royal Caribbean takes steps to keep everyone stay safe. So sorry you got covid but, no doubt how well they took care of you. I absolutely love Royal Caribbean. Don't think I'll ever change.
Good to known, Yes I will pack a couple of test. Thanks for that reminders, but so sorry you had to experience that first hand, Glad your feeling better and that the rest of the family was good. That's why I love RCL, they know how to treat there guest.
hope you are feeling better...thanks for letting us know of your experience.
This video helped ease a lot of my stress. My wife and I didn’t want to go if it would be a total loss. The fact that they will help and refund, that gives us added assurances. THANKS MATT!
Matt, hope you're feeling better now. Good information; thanks for sharing.
Feeling much better, thank you
Glad you were mild and hope you’re recovering well . Thanks for the information. I’m sailing next month and this is definitely at the forefront on my mind .
Have fun!
Thank you for sharing about your experience - seeing how well you were taken care of and how they compensated you well, etc - basically feels like they were doing all they could be expected to and then some. Definitely makes me feel a lot better about this worry. Hope you are feeling better!
When I got sick on RCL, they treated us exceptionally. I was treated just like the author of this video mentioned.
Glad to hear it!
I would never tell them I feel bad. Why would I …!?!?
@@arkadiuszg2864 In my husbands case he is diabetic and I felt it would be foolish not to get treatment asap if necessary and why chance giving it to others
@@arkadiuszg2864 you could spread it to others
@@elizabethcarballo2891 not self isolating will spread the flu?
I’m pretty sure you ware saying the same thing 4 months ago about wearing a mask and by now you have miraculously changed your mind.
I’ve noticed it takes between 2 and 3 months to deprogram people.
That's amazing but, honestly, I'm not surprised because its RCCL. Thanks for sharing, Matt - another great video. Glad you recovered with no serious problems.
You and me both!
Thank you for this blog. It was very informative and put me at ease about what could happen
Glad you liked it!
wow, they really work to make you feel compensated. Thank you so much for this update.
You're welcome!
Thanks for sharing your story. Great information.
This makes me feel a little bit better about our Serenade sailing in September. Still a bit apprehensive, even though we have sailed 3 time since last September. Thanks so much for the article and video.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! As always, your video is very informative!! I hope you have recovered and your family never caught it ❤️
Thanks! I'm recovered now and family still negative
Great run down of your situation. Hope all is well and you're able to get back out there.
Thanks
Great idea to pack tests...just in case. Thanks so much for the video. Hope you are feeling better.
Feeling much better!
Matt, I hope you are recovering and getting better! Thank you so much for this information and sharing the details of your unfortunate experience. All saying, glad your symptoms were not too severe. It is in RCL's best interest to compensate and assist in any way possible if any Passengers do contract Covid while on a cruise. Think about it, you mentioned that there 11 total Covid passengers on your cruise (0.5% approx). That is a small amount of passengers to compensate and more importantly, verify that protocols are adheres to for everyone's safety even after the cruise ends. Get better and thanks again for the video!
Happy you had a good experience with RCCL.
Sorry that you were sick, thanks for the Info.. Royal Caribbean room service dining sounds wonderful to me.
Thanks Matt for the experience summary! This is all I would ever hope for if it happens to my family. Going to start packing a few test.
Best of luck!
Wearing a mask is like a affirmation go get the flue. You got what you ware waiting for.
Glad you’re doing better and that it appears you were not that sick.
Thank you for an extremely informative video!!!!!!! I hope you are feeling better and that your family never came down with it!!!
Thanks!
Very interesting. Thanks for posting this. Have a nice day now.
Our last cruise January 2022. My wife tested positive for covid. Both vacs & boosted. No serious issues! TG! All good!! Now she is triple good! We will GW be on AOS in August! Good luck All, keep Cruising!!!
Fast recovery buddy! Thx for sharing your experience since I’m going on harmony july3-10. This is everyone,s fear. I’m definitely bringing some kits with me.
Thanks!
Damn, your treatment and care was completely different from what I had...
I also tested positive on my last day on the ship, it was crazy, they collected the samples, 1 hour later they called our room calling us by the name of another guest, we informed that they called to the wrong room, they apologized and asked to wait, then another person called and informed us that we were positive...
On disembarkation morning, they forgot us in the cabin, we had to keep calling and asking for information...
They didn't offer anything, no support and not even what to do after landing, we left through a separate door, got into a cdc car that dropped us off at the terminal to pick up our bags, and then each man for himself...
I had to take a new test when I left the ship to apply for insurance to cover the quarantine, the test came negative, mine and my wife's... And according to the royal caribbean, we were positive, until today I don't know what happened...
I've been waiting more than 40 days for a response from royal, and I haven't received a response yet.
And this is exactly why I will not spend my hard earned money on a cruise vacation right now.
Why are people rolling the dice? Blows my mind.
Any update since you posted this comment 3 months ago? Thanks.
You took the risk. You deserve what you got.
I just came off Celebrity Apex as a nurse. RCCL has been very kind to guests in terms of accommodations. The medical teams are working extra hard to take good care of people. Please be kind to the medical facility.
Wow. This is great information to have. Thanks so much!
Glad it was helpful!
We just finished an Oasis Of The Seas cruise to Canada leaving from New Jersey! So glad that it was a COVID-19 free time for our party of 6!!!! You information was very helpful!!!!
How was it? I really wanted to go on that sailing, but we had a COVID exposure from the perfect day itinerary a week before that sailing. Thankfully, we never ended up testing positive for COVID ourselves.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Oh no!! That would be my worst nightmare... Wishing you a speed recovery!!
Feel great now!
Hope you feel better and thanks for the info it would help everyone take care and be better soon ...
I appreciate it
Thank you for sharing. Wishing you good health.
Thanks!
Thank you for posting your experience with Covid. I had wondered how RC would handle it, and am glad to hear there are options and that they made such an effort to ensure you were as comfortable as possible. My next cruise ends in Vancouver as well.
Glad you found this video helpful
Never report you feel bad and you will be ok.
Great idea about taking home Covid test with you. I already planned on taking a Covid med kit just in case. My daughter recently recovered from Covid and I asked her what really helped her and your meds matched. I am sorry that you had Covid during your cruise but thankful you could share your experience with us.
Matt, glad you’re home and feeling better now!!
His karma for wearing a mask 😷
Good to hear you are over COVID! Thank you for documenting your experience es in this video. This will help potential #cruise passengers allay their fears during their cruise!
Glad you liked it
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog You're welcome
Thanks Matt, glad it all worked out good for you.
Thanks again!
Very good information for our next cruise trip 🙏💖😊
Good news, glad you were taken well care of, and the last day of vacation 😉
I was very happy it happened at the end of the cruise
Aw Matt your poor voice! 💔 so sorry you got sick! Hopefully you feel better soon!
Matt thank you I’ve learned a lot listening to you
Glad you found this video helpful
Thanks for this information. It makes me feel much better about sailing. Testing positive during a cruise is one of my big fears 😁 Will definitely bring a couple of home tests with me on my cruise!
Great update Thank You
Sounds like Royal is doing a very good job with this! Thank you for sharing your experience!!!!!!!
You are so welcome!
So sorry you got COVID on your Alaskan Cruise…we are headed out for an Alaskan Cruise on NCL on August 6th for my 73th birthday, so I sure hope neither my husband or myself get sick on the cruise! Thanks for the advice about taking some of the “at home” test with us and I always have our medicine/first aid kit but I think now I’ll add a few extra things to it! I also hope that NCL treats us as good should either of us get the COVID on the cruise!
Very reassuring Matt, since I'm going on the Harmony next week ;-)
Great information! Eases my mind alot concerning worst case scenario with Covid.
Glad it was helpful!
Bummer dude! Good you were all nearly done!
Get well soon!!
I am so happy for that you only had to quarantine onboard for one day! I was on back-to back cruises on the Carnival Horizon beginning June 11, 2022. I was tested for Covid in the Carnival port because they didn’t like my Canadian vaccine reports ( I am double vaccinated, plus 1 booster) and I tested negative.
My travel companion started with a bad headache on day 3 of the first 8 day cruise, and didn’t ever get bad symptoms. Then I started with symptoms on day 1 of the next 6 night cruise. We both tested positive late in the evening, and were quarantined in a floor 1 ocean view room….for 6 days.
They reimbursed the cost of the entire 2nd cruise, free internet, free in-room movies (which didn’t work in our room until day 4!) free room service but only from the in-place room service menu or the dining room menu. We were VERY bored with the menu very quickly…it didn’t really affect me though because I lost my sense of taste and smell very early on.
Medical called us every morning to check on us. Room service called 3 times per day to take food orders. Food was Luke-warm, and very often items just weren’t brought. This is probably my biggest issue. Housekeeping would never answer our calls…we had to catch someone in the hallway to get fresh towels.
US regulations prevented us from flying home yesterday, so we booked a hotel to ride out the rest of our 10 day quarantine. I am VERY surprised to hear you say you got a per deim for hotel and food once off the ship. I will be keeping all of our receipts to check on this with Carnival.
We can’t wait to fly home after 4 more days of self-quarantine!
Thank you for your video, which spelled out everything for CZcamsrs out there!
That's very generous of them to do for you
Thanks for sharing we were worried what would happen if we got Covid while on a cruise.
Really really good tipe here man. thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Feel better Matt. Hope your family continued to test negative.
Thanks!
Thank you for doing this video. great info. I am in Florida west coast
You are so welcome!
Sorry to hear that you tested positive on cruise. I tested positive on my recent cruise and a tip that I learned was that if you purchased the specialty dining package you are still able to use that package as if it was a to-go option. Best part is they will still refund the package (pro-rated obviously). It made quarantine a little less stressful, knowing that I was taken care of by Royal.
Good info, thanks!
Never even thought about bringing some COVID tests with us It makes perfect sense and thanks for the enormous tip. I'll make sure we have some with us on our next RC cruise in March. I don't stay awake at night thinking about all the "what ifs" when it comes to cruising and COVID, but I do think about it. I appreciate all the information in this video and I feel somewhat relieved knowing that it won't be horrible as far as how RC is handling positive COVID patients. I'm glad you were only sick for 1 day on your cruise.
Hope you're all better soon Matt.
So sorry for your experience Matt. Very relieved to hear your treatment onboard was positive and compensation didn’t hurt. It’s nice to know RCL takes good care of those passengers who contracted COVID while onboard and you were lucky that you found out towards the end if the cruise. We will be sailing on RCL in December during holidays and no matter which cruise ship you are on, contracting COVID is always on our minds, along with pre cruise testing😏. Great tips on what we should pack and May we never need it but better to be safe than sorry. Wishing you a speedy recovery👍
Thanks, Annie!
Do not assume you will treated well after testing positive. i went to being around what seem to be the best employees in the world (stewards, waiters, cruise staff) to being an afterthought that has paid $1500 for isolation in a hotel, food, air change, transfers. The letter they gave me when I got off the ship says I will be reimbursed. It has been hell trying through every communication possible to find anyone that will give me confidence that they are working on this. A+ customer service has gone to F. (The doctor even lied to me when he told me I was the only passenger that tested positive for Covid, before being paraded on the pier with 40 others the next day.)
Hate to hear you went through that, but WOW! Royal Caribbean took great care of you!!
Feel better soon ❤️
You can check out the prevalence of Covid on the Seranade (or most other ships) by checking the CDC color chart. It shows the Serenade at Orange level, 2nd to highest level. Glad you were treated well.
I just looked. They are all orange. ??
A big concern of mine is booking a 7 night cruise in an Aqua Theater suite and testing positive on the 2nd night and spending 5 days jailed in an interior room. I think I would be tempted to bring my own tests as you mention, and if I test positive, just self quarantine and never let anyone know. Basically handle my isolation the way you did yours, but spend it in a gorgeous suite instead of an inside room with nothing to look at for 5 days. I'd be even more mental than I am today. And that is saying something :-)
Matt, thank you for the story and great idea to pack Covid Tests from home so we can self test. It's nice to know RCCL takes good care of those unfortunate enough to catch covid while on a cruise. We're cruising on August 18th on AdOS and looking forward to a great time.
Bill
Lr
Hope you’re feeling better now Matt? Very helpful video.
Yes, I'm back to normal. Thank you
I love Royal Carribbean. I cruise with no other cruise line. Their services are excellent!!
I did too. When I got home from a 3 day RC out of LA.
Glad Royal does lots for people who have Covid. The compensations are awesome and always makes sure if the person that has Covid still can have fun while they can't do the stuff other people can do.
We took the Navigator of the Seas to Mexico out of Los Angeles for a 7 day cruise (10/14 to 10/21). The 6th day I started to feel a little funny and by that night I had a low grade fever but with no other symptoms. I tested myself for Covid-19 with a home antigen test kit that I brought along with negative results. My symptoms were pretty mild but stayed in my cabin until disembarkation the next morning just to be sure. I tested myself again when we got to our friends home Friday morning with negative results.
We drove back to Arizona on Sunday and I tested myself again on Monday (using a different brand of test kit) and unfortunately this time with positive results. At this point my symptoms were pretty strong. Now my wife has it too. Both my wife and I are vaccinated plus one booster. Thank God for Paxlovid.
After reading some of the comments from other folks, who haven't been as fortunate as you Matt, I'm glad my test showed negative at first. I didn't need to talk to any of the medical staff on board and then get put in isolation. Getting Covid sucks but getting put in isolation with no support, and then later being forgotten on disembarkation day adds insult to injury.
We had a lot of fun on this cruise and we were looking forward to going on future adventures. However, coming home and getting sick with Covid 19 has given us pause. As much as the cruise industry would like you to believe otherwise I don't think they are capable of protecting you from getting sick on their ships. Let me assure you that no matter how enjoyable a cruise is, it isn't worth damaging your health. Let our experience be a warning to all of you.
We got it too on the way back home from our Alaska cruise 2 1/2 weeks ago.
At least you got to cruise. I found out that I was positive prior to boarding. Thank goodness for trip insurance. Seven day Eastern Caribbean out of New Orleans. I got one calendar year to sail again.
Not only was is great to hear how you were treated properly after getting Covid. But I think the most important was that only you and not the rest of your family also got sick.
Matt really good detailed information...
Thanks for watching!
Although I believe you that everyone with covid was treated equally, I have zero doubt that they did not know who you were. Having said that, the professionalism shown and the generosity were impressive.
Look at the other comments here from others that encountered same thing. I'm telling you, they didn't know who I was.
I was on the same cruise! Serenade from Vancouver leaving on 6/5
This cruise line really did it right! I am a fan of what Royal Caribbean represents.
When one of us tested positive we were told basically what you were. But the reality of how we were treated was very different. From the cold and late food all the way to being dropped off in a crowd of people instead of being dropped near our car. No meds were offered.
I tested positive on Mariner on a 8 day Bermuda cruise. I was asked to isolate on Deck 2 for the remaining 3 days of my cruise, but my wife was allowed to stay in our suite. Overall the experience was ok. I too was told about compensation for the days in isolation, but have heard from RCL yet.
That's the cruise my husband and I were on. Both of us ended up quarantined on deck 2. Only saw Bermuda because husband was starting to get sick so he wanted to go back to the ship. I felt fine but in interest for other passengers we called medical. The nurse came up and tested us both and we were both positive. We were isolated for 3 days but we did get compensated somewhat. Hope you do also.
I got Covid on Serenade a few weeks ago, and I can’t say I had the same experience as you in terms of communication and knowing what was going on. I was put into an isolation room on Thursday, trying to coordinate my disembarkation with my husband and my mom (who was in a different stateroom) was an ordeal. It was after 10 am and there was an announcement for everyone to be off the ship, and those of us in isolation were still sitting in our rooms, waiting for someone to come and get us, hoping no one had forgotten about us. There were about 15 people down in the isolation rooms with me and probably another 100-200 quarantined in their own room from testing positive on their pre-flight test (which got lifted one week later)
Similar experience. Terrible communication even up to this day when I can't get anyone to acknowledge the reimbursement for isolation that they made a written commitment to me. Cruise a month ago.
You got radiated is what happened, look at those orbs on the ship, what do you think those are? How did they test you with a test not fit for purpose.
All those numbers of infections,,,
This is exactly why this virus has mutated to where the vaccine offers no protection except to hopefully keep you from getting serioucly sick!
Too many getting it, and getting it, and getting it!
I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but I didn’t know you were from Florida! How cool! Me too!
On our last cruise (pre-covid) we would download shows onto our kids tablets for them. We'd start the downloads before we went to bed, and they'd be finished come morning. The slow speed really didn't matter since we weren't awake to wait.
Good tip!
Thanks for posting this information. I just tested positive after getting off my last cruise and have had 4 vaccinations so it would seem very easy to get it once exposed. Glad your infection was at the very end of your cruise and that the way that Royal handles these things is very smooth and that people are well taken care of
I have cruised many time, including two previous ones with RCL, which were lovely. My latest experience on Royal Caribbean could not have been more opposite. After being one of few passengers on Quantum of the Seas trip to Alaska on the 20th who masked up, sanitized, and distanced, I had a positive test. I got no information about anything, a cursory check--"How do you feel?" "I have Covid." Do you feel any better?" "No." No menus, no coddling, and the bathroom smelled sewer-y. I expected the treatment described. I received next to nothing in my room in the Red Zone. After repeated requests for information, a menu, etc., I got a list of the hotels in Seattle where I was to quarantine 2 extra days and a driver to take me there, who had not been advised of my Covid status. The hotel initially turned me away--they don 't accept guests with Covid, but the kind manager reconsidered when I showed him my list from the cruise line. I came pretty close to being sleepless, maybe homeless, in Seattle.
The lovely room cost $809. Princess offered $500, plus $100 per day for food. The hotel did not have a restaurant. I grabbed a bunch of snacks on my way to the room, where I remained in isolation, of course, and managed to survive on the snacks. There were dozens of Covid positive passengers along with me, emerging from isolation on the ship, by the way, although I have no exact number. I had to book another way back home, as well.
I had not booked a 2-bedroom suite onboard; I hope that was not the reason for the disparate treatment.
I had a somewhat similar experience on Princess a few years ago--my room was sanitized top to bottom, 3 times a day, until it was determined I did not have noravirus, frequent medical attention, and non-medical check-ins. Night and day.
We were on that cruise and tested positive when we got home that night. Hearing the coughing going on during that trip, I think there were a lot more people who had it than were letting on. That's pure speculation on my part but sure seemed like it. We felt ick the last day when we woke up and figured we're leaving today, we're not testing. We'll mask up and get out of here. I'm glad it didn't happen earlier in the cruise because your experience was my worry. If everyone was reporting, I think things would be better but I can guarantee many people were not reporting.
Good to know RCL really takes care of you in this situation.. another reason why I love RCL! This is what I'm worried about especially now that I booked RCL for October to MX. I got Covid 2x already within 4 months of each other even when vaccinated. Both times were due to dining since you can't wear a mask when eating/drinking. The only way to really prevent it is for me to wear a mask. I might be the only one wearing one on the ship but hey, it's about my own health as well as others, right? Anyway, thanks for these tips!
I did thing you could Covid if you had the shot
I just got off a 4 day cruise this past Saturday morning and by Saturday night I felt horrible. Did an at home test and came out positive. Now 4 days later still not feeling great. I have been vaccinated and boostered. I knew this was a risk before going. So I am not upset. Just how it goes.
I’m a travel agent and I’m booked on RCL in October and this is so helpful to know! Makes me feel much more at ease 😊 Wonder if they’ll pay for my flights back to New Zealand haha 😂
We had someone test positive 2 days before leaving this week. They were great with understanding why we had to cancel and were fantastic with moving our reservation out 3 months.
Glad to hear it!
Matt, I had a similar experience on a Seattle to Alaska cruise on Celebrity. I tested positive on day 5 (6/29/2022) and stayed in the room for 2 days with plenty of phone calls to check on us and room service. My wife was symptomatic on day 6 and we assumed she was positive, which we confirmed later.
Thx for the detail info. Hope u didn't have any ongoing prob
Thanks. I feel great now
Damn Matt, you sold this so well I can only hope I get covid on my next Royal Caribbean Cruise!
Right!!
I would still pass on catching covid anywhere/anytime. I would not do well in quarantine. Glad your much better now.
@@yolandatynes375 I've had it three times :-/
We just got off the Harmony of the seas Sunday 6-19. My adult son also tested postive and was moved to the quarantine deck. We were treated just like so so amazing and offered the same stuff out of Florida. We choose to rent a car and drive the 14 hours home to Kentucky. So impressed with Royal
That's great to hear. Thanks so much for sharing!
What test did the cruise line use to test you? Was it the very invasive covid test that "tickles your brain", or was it a rapid antigen test?
Wes, they used the easy one rapid
A couple of cruises ago, I fell on gravel during a Lazer tag excursion, and cut up my elbow. The clinic nurse on board cleaned up the wounds and bandaged me up. They also gave me extra gauze and antibiotic. There was no charge. Great service!!
The medical staff is fantastic
You can still get free tests through the USPS if you live in the US. Just got 10 more the other day. A package of 5 is much smaller than one of those used for the monitored tests pre-cruise.
Good tip. Going to order a new batch now
I should have recorded my experience with Radiance of the Seas. I also tested positive at the end and got stranded in Vancouver, BC for a week and a half on my own. :| - I tested positive at the airport 2 hours before my return flight to the states.