Silver Seas COVID start up plan, rough draft
 

I like it. I take care of COVID patients, so this works for me, also have had Pfizer x 2.

THE MOST NOTABLE CHANGES TO THE GUEST EXPERIENCE

• VACCINATIONS
  We are evaluating the possibility to only allow vaccinated guests on board and we are looking into solutions to have all of our crew members vaccinated as soon as possible.
• TESTING FOR ALL
  All guests and crew are required to provide results of a PCR COVID-19 test dated 24 hours to five days prior to boarding. All must test negative to board the ship.
• MASKS
  Guests will be required to wear a mask in all indoor public areas, terminals and during shore excursions. Nevertheless, masks will not be compulsory while seating at restaurants and bar tables and in outdoor areas when physical distancing can be maintained.
  Crew will be wearing masks at all times.
• PHYSICAL DISTANCING
  Thanks to the intimate size and abundant personal space of our ships, we will be able to guarantee physical distancing with minor reconfiguration of onboard public areas. Guests will still be able to socialize with other fellow travelers outside of their group in all restaurants and public areas, provided that the appropriate distance of six feet is maintained.
  Furthermore, our ships will sail at reduced capacity during first months of operations.
• CERTIFIED SHORE EXCURSIONS
  Our itineraries have been carefully revised to include only low-risk destinations with approved contingency plans. Shore excursions will be carefully curated to ensure they uphold our onboard health and safety standard; Guests will be authorized to go ashore only through our certified shore excursions, which will be included in the cruise fare.
  

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE

• ‘CRUISE WITH CONFIDENCE’ PROGRAM
  With our Cruise with Confidence program, you can cancel your reservation up to 30 days before your sail date for any reason and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit.
• COVID-19 PROTECTIONS
  Should you or a member of your travel party (other guests in your booking and/or members of your family booked on the same voyage) test positive within 30 days prior to the cruise, at the boarding terminal or during the cruise, you will receive 100% Future Cruise Credit or 100% refund for the total booking amount.
• SAFE, TIMELY RETURN HOME
  Royal Caribbean Group has partnered with local medical authorities to develop transport protocols and repatriate all affected guests swiftly and safely in case of a positive case on board. We will cover COVID-19-related expenses for onboard medical and repatriation costs.

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW

• SANITATION
  Our cleaning processes have been further enhanced to provide the highest cleanliness standards in travel. Hospital-grade disinfectants will be consistently used throughout the day in all public areas. Suites will be sanitized twice daily.
• INCREASED FILTRATION
  On all our ships, our HVAC system supplies fresh, filtered air from outdoor to all indoor spaces.

This continual intake of fresh air replaces the air in any space, with a total air change up to 12 times an hour in staterooms, and about 15 changes an hour in public spaces.

• MEDICAL FACILITIES & EXPERT RESPONSE
  Our high-quality onboard medical care is stronger than ever, with more doctors and nurses on each ship and state-of-the-art equipment enhancements. Our multi-level COVID-19 Expert Response Plan has been developed and approved by the Healthy Sail Panel to contain an outbreak if a positive case is confirmed.

Looks like we won’t be on a Silversea cruise anytime soon. The deal breaker for us is only being allowed off the ship on ship provided tours. Take that away and we could live with the rest.

Is that from the Royal Caribbean site or on the Silversea ( not Silver Seas) site??

There is currently no way that a cruise operator can allow unrestricted visits by passengers at ports of call. It is way too easy for someone to mingle inappropriately on shore and then bring the virus back to the ship.

They would still test negative upon arrival after the port call yet become a transmitter sometime in the future while circulating on board.

In truth, it appears that from the above, almost all issues have been dealt with, if true. What is still missing to me is how the rest of the ship will be handled in the event of a positive passenger being detected during the cruise. Will everyone be locked down? Does the cruise continue or is it an instant abort and return to base? Still awaiting answers to those questions.

I agree that the cruise lines have very little choice and restricting shore visits to ship controlled tours makes sense. That however is not the way we want to cruise and that’s our choice.

I don’t think you’ll be on any cruise soon, as allowing free for alls at port isn’t going to be on the cards for a while.

I agree. It’s just not the cruise experience we enjoy. It could very well mean we have taken our last cruise. That is a bit sad but we can live with that. Not going to pay top dollar for a vacation and be limited in what we can do. Again, the lines may not have a choice and we understand that.

Not having a go at you personally, but I just don’t see that model coming back soon!

boerne , thanks for posting the Silverseas draft policy. Goes a lot further than some companies' releases.

The biggest concern that I would have: No statement that crew will have to be vaccinated and only allowed on board after being tested after a two-week post-vaccination period. Given the crew's crowded living conditions, that would be a major concern.

Finally, I'd sure like to see what their containment plan is if there is an isolated or outbreak situation.

EDIT: I just found Silversea's stated policy, in this link: https://www.silversea.com/lp-silvers...-consumer.html

Second EDIT: While they say they intend to have all crew vaccinated, they leave themself a big out in case it is inconvenient for them.

Just once prior to boarding, correct? No re-testing at any interval of a certain percentage to monitor conditions?

Since passengers won't be allowed at destinations without escort, I'm guessing crew will be similarly restricted. Right now it seems shore services and chaplains are doing a lot of shopping for crew members onboard. I know they sign up for a lot of work days but if a line/ship decides not to enforce vaccinations and doesn't work something out with the ports & CDC, it could be a while before they set foot on land again. Periodic random sampling should be done under certain positivity rates and conditions.

More details desired. Which local authorities? Does it differ for passengers vs crew? What about just positive but not needing hospitalization?

I've just started looking at a possible cruise on a line that requires everyone to be vaccinated, so was looking at Silversea. They have some itineraries for later this year. How does this work if they will not have the included certified excursions until 2022? Are we not permitted off the ship unless we pay for an excursion?

Pretty much all lines are requiring vaccinations.

Not Seabourn.

How can you keep your ship free of the virus if you let cruisers off the ship in port unless they travel in a bubble?

And if you are packed into a bubble excursion, you are going to have to sign up for it and pay for it.

This is so tricky. The newer variants are more contagious which means you would need a more secure bubble. I just don't think that this is possible without destroying the joy of an excursion.

For me (and this is strictly a personal opinion), it would be better just to have protocols for dealing with Covid stricken patients. If we know how we are gong to handle the ill patient and the remainder of the passengers and crew when illness appears, then cruises will restart. The handling of this illness should be no different than how we use to deal with other infectious outbreaks on ships in the past. Assuming all are vaccinated (and up to date, with the oncoming booster season :o), there should be little severe illness, if any, on board. So we are primarily dealing with spread.

This means we have to figure out how to isolate the test + patient, and how port authorities handle a ship with a test + case on board. I still have not heard details about those issues.

Tragically, at the rate things are going, I am very pessimistic about a traditional type of cruising experience restarting this year. Hope they prove me wrong ;)

How can an excursion stay in a bubble? Tour guides, bus drivers, food and bar service, port shopping and all the other things seen on a typical excursion? If cruising resumes, a big if at this point, excursions may not be possible but without excursions why cruise?