Bare rooms, rotten fruit and boredom: Quarantine life on infected cruises

[brooklynite]

Washington Post

Frank Rebelo lined up the upgrades well before he boarded his Caribbean cruise: the dining package that would let him eat at high-end restaurants, the beverage package that would keep the drinks flowing. But after contracting covid-19 and isolating in a designated cabin, he had to order off the room service menu: turkey sandwich, pizza, burgers and three choices for dessert.

“They were like, ‘We’re going to give you the minimum you need to survive,’ " said Rebelo, 54, who owns a small trucking company and works as a DJ while splitting his time between Tijuana and Las Vegas.

His nine-night voyage on the Norwegian Getaway late last month went awry after a coronavirus surge sent cases soaring to record heights on land and at sea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cruise lines sailing in U.S. waters reported 5,013 coronavirus cases between Dec. 15 and Dec. 29, about 30 times more than the total from the previous two weeks.

On Dec. 31, the CDC escalated its travel warning for cruises to Level 4, advising against cruise travel even for the vaccinated. By that time, it was too late for Rebelo and thousands of others to heed the message.

[BlackSkimmer]

1. I can't imagine why anyone would sign up for a cruise at this point in history.

I find it difficult to sympathize with this fella.

Only three choices for dessert? The horror!😱

[EYESORE 9001]

5. One could get that experience at a greasy spoon locally

and save $$$.

[BlackSkimmer]

6. Lol, true.

The article is hilarious really.

One passenger ate “molten lava cake with a chocolate center” every night while quarantined.

[Poiuyt]

2. Floating petrie dishes

Last edited Sun Jan 9, 2022, 11:59 AM - Edit history (1)

You couldn't pay me enough to go on a cruise

[Deuxcents]

3. Agree...but

Could not pay me enough to even think about booking a cruise.

[at140]

8. Have done 38 cruises so far, 2 more coming up in next 2 months

Never got sick on any of the 38 so far.
But have gotten stomach flu eating in land restaurants.

[Maru Kitteh]

11. No you haven't

Because there is no such thing as a “stomach flu.”

[MiniMe]

4. I have enjoyed a cruise of 2 BC (Before Covid)

There is no way in the world that you could get me on a cruise ship now.

[at140]

7. Did 1 in September, another in November, booked 1 in January another in February

This is a great time to cruise! The ships are half empty. Sanitary protocols on ship are excellent,
better than any restaurant on land, and best of all, prices are hugely discounted.
It is wonderful to not shop groceries, cook the food, then do the dirty dishes & pots and pans.
Besides the chefs on ship cook way better than me.

4 day cruise from Port Canaveral for $82+taxes.
I can't buy 4 good meals in restaurants for that.
On ship I enjoy 12 great meals, 4 great live stage shows, and breath the fresh ocean air.
And can get drunk at one of the 12 bars and not have to drive the car home!

I hope this rare bonanza continues.

It is very easy to avoid covid infection.
Wear a good mask, wash hands often and stay 10 feet away from other passengers.
This is easy to do with ships half empty and no lines.

[brewens]

9. Since Feb 2020, you had to be out of your mind to go on a cruise. Even that early one

with the 13 cases in California that TFG was upset about. That cruise left after there were COVID breakouts on a couple cruises. Then those two in Fla that DeSantis was threatening to keep out. They left after that California ship was here. Dumbasses!

[Demovictory9]

10. taking advantage of low fare during covid time.... only reason they booked. IMHO

[IronLionZion]

12. Photos for DUers stuck behind the paywall

I don't have TikTok but there are videos of people complaining about it if anyone is interested in that.

Then somehow there are couples traveling together where one of them gets COVID and other one gets to enjoy lava cake and cocktails. No cruises for me, thanks.