Are you curious about what happens if you test positive for COVID while on a cruise? During my last few cruises, it has certainly weighed on me and is not something I would want first-hand experience with. Fortunately for you, reader, my new cruise friends Fain and Laura (Travel Spree) documented their COVID experience after Laura tested positive on their recent cruise on the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas.
Getting COVID on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas
So what exactly happens when you test positive for COVID on a cruise? I’ve broken down Travel Spree’s 23-minute video into chapters that will help answer any COVID cruise-related questions you might have. You can find the chapter list below the video.
COVID on Cruise Breakdown. What Happens Next?
- 0:37 – Tests positive for COVID-19 after feeling chest congestion
- 1:30 – Someone comes to move you to a different room and tests your travel companion
- 1:48 – Guests services takes pictures of your passport and vaccination cards, as well as provides general info on the process of COVID lockdown
- 2:26 – Fain explains the paperwork left by Guests Services that details what happens next
- 3:30 – A little unsure what is happening next since they still haven’t come to test Fain or move them to a new room yet
- 4:27 – Both get moved to the same room despite Fain not being tested for COVID
- 5:10 – Crew helps Fain & Laura with their bags as they get moved to the COVID floor, aka. Quarantine floor, aka. the 3rd floor
- 5:24 – They are escorted through the crew/freight elevator to avoid other guests
- 6:22 – They arrive in their new room, which is not an inside room. There’s a window, king-size bed, TV, etc
- 6:38 – They leave a disinfectant cleaner and red biohazard bags for all trash
- 7:55 – Room service in the quarantine rooms seems to be entirely complimentary
- 10:00 – Their first room service order arrives individually wrapped
- 12:56 – The crew does a welfare check to make sure everyone is ok
- 14:10 – The process begins for them to depart at Port Miami
- 14:35 – The to-go breakfast arrives, and Fain shows what’s inside
- 15:50 – Fain explains that if you have COVID on a cruise, you won’t be the first to depart
- 16:22 – Something I’m sure Royal Caribbean doesn’t want anyone to see is the hallway full of contaminated bags from all the COVID cruisers on the 3rd floor
- 17:05 – Those with COVID depart the ship from a different section of the boat
- 17:24 – The crew are dressed in protective gear when checking COVID passengers off the ship
- 18:08 – A car takes them to the car lot where they parked during the duration of their cruise
- 18:38 – Reporting live from ‘COVID Hell,’ Laura shares her experience after testing positive on Symphony of the Seas
Huge thanks to Travel Spree for sharing their COVID cruise story with the world. Though unfortunate, these are the stories that will help push the cruise industry even further with safety.
