A better sleep but our cabin steward was early delivering us a pack of RAT tests. Bearing in mind I had been just a little off colour, it was with some trepidation that I took the test. Sure enough, I tested positive. Paula tested negative. The ship’s system is quite clear. If you test positive you have to ring Customer Services and they then confirm you are in quarantine.
Within an hour or two, the little table is outside your cabin door and the steward delivered a large clear bag for used towels and or bed linen, a red bag for rubbish, a spray bottle of disinfectant and cloths.
Then under the door, the lunch menu (which is the same as the dining room menu) and a dinner menu.
The Medical Centre rang to see how I was and asked a few basic questions and also asked if I wanted the Covid drug, which I declined. (Covid related medical issues aren’t charged.) I said that I’d been a little off colour for two or three days and they confirmed I’d be confined to the cabin and if I tested negative Christmas Day, I was clear to resume normal life Boxing Day.
Meanwhile, Paula, as a close contact was free to circulate, collect food/coffee from any of the outlets, but has to return to the cabin to consume the food and should test daily.
More paperwork arrived explaining a few other bits and pieces. One of which was that we’d get a future cruise credit for the days in quarantine (which is generous, as no way are Princess to blame) plus free internet for four days, so that future arrangements can be made, relatives informed etc.
Paula managed to wander and grab me a decent coffee and a tasty cheese and ham toasted ciabatta. She had a chat to Murray who estimated that due to our current course, we’d be going past the north of the north island and not around the bottom of the south island at all.
In the past on the last two European cruises, we’d managed to be in the top 40 ‘most travelled passengers’ which meant a special lunch or similar. No chance on this cruise. Wolfgang and Danielle on 800+ cruise days are 27th!
The rest of the day was merely existing, but unlike my 14 day quarantine (MIQ) I at least had Paula for company and a balcony for fresh air, even if there are no walkies.
The evening meal delivered was my favourite lobster bisque, and beef medallion plus veg. Delicious. As it was formal night, my Mickey Mouse waistcoat and bow tie remained on the hanger.
We then opted to watch the most recent James Bond movie, which we’d missed as we were in lockdown and Paula didn’t have a vaccine passport. I had a little weep as The Aston Martin DB5 was peppered with gunshot…
It’s a long movie so we were able to leave it with 50 minutes to go.
Now Paula was feeling a little off colour but still tested negative.
Once again, we switched to the Hawaiian music channel and crashed quite early.
Quite where I picked up Covid, it is impossible to say. It could have been from Australians on board prior to Brisbane, but given the incubation period, it could even have been in Auckland. At least my symptoms are mild and I have had far worse on board, especially late 2011, when smokers in the adjacent cabin were at it 24/7. It took me three months to get over that.
Thank goodness Princess banned smoking in cabins, on balconies and all indoor venues from 2012. Just a couple of places for smokers that are easily avoided. The number seen smoking seems to be very few these days.
For those anti cruisers, claiming that cruise ships are floating petri dishes, I don’t blame the ship at all, as their on-board hygiene protocols are exemplary.
We’ll miss Christmas Day, but Boxing Day we hope is OK in Wellington, as we plan to catch up with #1 grandson and his partner, who missed out on the family Christmas lunch (no) thanks to Jetstar cancelling their flight from Wellington to Auckland.
So what is next, that is unplanned we ask?
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