Some cruise companies are only specifying PCR testing rather than vaccinations for cruisers to be able to cruise, with even CLIA in its Member Policy saying cruisers only have to be PCR tested, with an email I received over the weekend from US cruise lawyer Jim Walker bringing home to me how important vaccinations were for cruisers, asking the question is being infected at sea, the new normal on cruise ships?
Jim told the story of cruise vloggers Dee and Jay who operate the popular ParoDeeJay YouTube page, who last week, went on a cruise on the Carnival Mardi Gras.
During the early part of the cruise, Dee began experiencing symptoms (which she described as a tickly throat, fever, and an “icky feeling”) and she was given a PCR test on the ship, with Jay an antigen test) and Dee tested positive for COVID19.
In the video below she says that she wants to stay “as positive as possible” and the symptoms were “not terrible”, subsequently lost her taste and smell and she was given oxygen to use, which it appears in the video she did no need.
During self-quarantine in their cabin, they say that getting infected on a cruise is “kinda the new normal” like getting the virus at “Walmart or a grocery store”, with Jay saying that they are both vaccinated “but COVID is out there . . . it’s something that we have to deal with.”
He continued, which is the point I am making, “. . . and the point of the vaccination is that it’s gonna make I guess an easier time to deal with and you’re not gonna be as symptomatic or as spreading or you know it’s not as dangerous necessarily . . . “
It is not clear whether Dee contracted COVID-19 before or during the cruise, but one thing is clear and check out the video below, is that even though she has contracted COVID-19, being fully vaccinated, she is not seriously ill.
In the meantime, a speedy recovery to Dee and well done for being fully vaccinated which appears to have significantly reduced your symptoms, a lesson for all of us, the cruise companies and also CLIA and the Australian government, with vaccination the key to cruising.
An edited report from Jim Walker by John Alwyn-Jones, Cruise Editor Global Travel Media and Global Cruise News.
.jpg){kind=tracking}