Here's what you can expect if you get COVID-19 on a cruise ship according to a Royal Caribbean passenger who was given the option to quarantine on the ship even after the cruise ended
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- Numerous cruise ships have lifted their COVID-19 vaccine and masking requirements.
- If a passenger contracts the virus, cruise ships offer medical treatment and future cruise credits.
- The CDC advises travellers to stay in their cabin and notify the onboard medical team if they get COVID-19.
With travel restrictions easing, cruise ships lifting their COVID-19 vaccine and masking requirements, and some cruise ships that our own Insider reporters found quite crowded, it begs the question: What happens if you contract the virus during your time aboard the ship?
Insider spoke with Matt Hochberg who has been on hundreds of cruises and runs a website called RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com that shares travel tips and advice for those interested in booking a cruise. The website has no affiliation with the cruise line of the same name.
In June, Hochberg was sailing on a Royal Caribbean ship in Alaska with his family when he began to have a scratchy throat. He brought his own COVID tests — something he advises passengers to do — and tested positive. He informed the cabin crew immediately and was then relegated to his cabin for the remainder of the trip.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises travelers to stay in their cabin and notify the onboard medical team if symptoms of the virus occur.
Submitted by Matt Hochberg/RoyalCaribbeanBlog
Hochberg told Insider that the treatment he received during his time on the ship was fantastic. In less than an hour, a medical team consisting of a doctor and nurse tested him again as well as his family who tested negative. Both the medical team and the guest services team called him regularly to check on him. Doctors provided him with over-the-counter medication and the guest services team helped him plan his disembarkment process.
Because Hochberg became sick toward the end of his trip, he only had to isolate in his cabin for one day. Guest services provided him with numerous options for his disembarkment plan, including allowing him to stay on board and finish his quarantine until he tested negative. Hochberg decided to disembark where the ship was docked, in Vancouver, Canada, and drive his rental car back to the US.
While contracting COVID can happen anywhere, Hochberg's advice for those boarding a cruise is to be aware of the cruise line's policies and risks.
"It's important to understand what could possibly happen because I think ignorance is not an excuse for anything at this point," he told Insider.
Medical attention and complimentary amenities on various cruise lines
Carnival
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Guests who test positive for COVID-19 on a Carnival cruise will need to isolate until their medical team says it is safe to resume activities, according to the company's website. Carnival offers regular visits from medical staff either in-person or through teleconsultation and guests will have access to complimentary amenities like Wi-Fi and room service.
Royal Caribbean
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Depending on when you booked your cruise, passengers on Royal Caribbean ships will have access to varying COVID-19 assistance at no extra charge. For guests who made a reservation on or after August 8, 2022, Royal Caribbean will cover the costs of COVID-19-related medical treatments onboard if you test positive.
The company will also offer a pro-rated cruise fare refund if a cruise is cut short for reasons related to COVID-19, for cruises departing on or before September 30, 2022.
Princess
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On October 21, Princess cruise line updated its COVID policy to welcome all guests, regardless of vaccination status. Anyone presenting symptoms of the virus during their time on board will be tested and reviewed by the company's medical staff.
According to the company's website, a positive case, that does not require admission to the ship's medical center or medical disembarkation, will be moved to a different cabin during the isolation period.
Celebrity
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Celebrity cruises offer rapid testing and on-site medical teams. In the event that a guest contracts the virus on their vacation, the company will cover the cost of medical treatment onboard, and the person and their party can stay on the ship for free to complete any required quarantine plans.
Future cruise credits
Most cruise lines offer future cruise credits if a passenger gets sick with COVID-19, but Hochberg said that process has been challenging. Since his trip in June, he's only partially received his refund.
Despite getting the virus, he characterized his experience as positive.
"If you get sick on a cruise, they're going to take care of you. The care that I received was complimentary," he said.
In July, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, putting the onus on cruise lines to create their own standards.
On Monday, Australian health authorities confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Coral Princess, one of the first major cruise liners to dock in Western Australia in over two years, according to The Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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