10 Tips for Cruising During Omicron

I was onboard Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam for a 10-night Sea of Cortez cruise over Christmas and New Years when the CDC, in light of Omicron, raised their risk advisory with regard to cruising to level 4, the highest level of risk, and recommended against all cruise travel, even for those fully vaccinated.

On that same cruise, our Captain came over the intercom to announce that local authorities weren’t allowing us to dock at our next scheduled port due to the number of positive Covid cases onboard among both passengers and crew and we watched as three of our neighbors on deck 8 were whisked away by hazmat-suited crew members (presumably to quarantine), never to be seen by us again.  My mom also got stranded for two days (which could have been much longer were it not for a hero Southwest employee who identified a lone seat on a delayed flight out of San Diego, necessitating mom sprint to her gate on an expired hip and a couple of cracked ribs) due to her flight home being cancelled.

Even considering all that, I was prepared and excited for a solo cruise onboard the Norwegian Joy, scheduled for January 22^nd  from Miami. 

However, it was cancelled by the cruise line on January 11^th.  I immediately scheduled myself on a new solo cruise on Princess for the end of February.  I also cancelled a 16-night extended family cruise scheduled for April prior to final payment (a few people in our group are high-risk for Covid complications) and, instead, booked my son and I on a sailing a week earlier over his Spring Break.  And Mr. Cruise, possibly still drunk from the Zuiderdam (he bought the drink package), also booked us on a 16-night bucket list cruise to Australia and New Zealand for over Christmas of this year.

So just over the past week, I’ve had one cruise cancelled, I’ve cancelled one, and I’ve booked three new cruises.  All this while swirling around within the eye of Omicron and getting smacked in the head by the announcement that my son’s school was switching back to virtual.   I’m currently wearing a neck brace (and you’re probably dialing your attorney to sue me for whiplash after trying to follow all that!).

The current climate has left some cruise lovers confused or fearful while it hasn’t discouraged others who are as eager as ever (maybe even more so with massively reduced capacity on many ships and some great deals to be had) to hit the open seas.  So, considering my own experiences cruising and cancelling cruises and booking cruises during Omicron and since I got asked this question directly by Paul Thornton when he interviewed me on Friday for the third in his series of cruise books, I thought I’d share my advice for those considering a cruise right now.  Keep in mind that I’m a Doctor of Cruising and before that I was a Doctor of Philosophy.  I’ve never been a medical doctor or a public health expert.  It’s probably a good idea to consult your actual doctor before making any health-related decisions about cruising or anything else right now.  Or at least call in to Joe Rogan.

10 Tips for Cruising during Omicron

1. Maintain some perspective

Yes, every single cruise ship sailing right now likely has positive Covid cases onboard.  And yes, some ports are currently not allowing cruise ships to dock.  And yes, some cruises have been cancelled due to Omicron.  And then there’s the CDC advisory.  But it’s important to consider that the Covid positivity rate on any cruise ship currently sailing is much lower than it is in any state in the U.S. and is probably lower than your home city or town’s.  That’s because cruise lines have taken extraordinary measures to make cruising as safe as possible by requiring vaccination (with a very small number of exemptions on certain lines for kids or those who aren’t eligible for the vaccine), testing, masking, contact tracing, and quarantining.  You’re likely much safer on a cruise ship right now than many other places you frequent on a weekly, or even daily, basis.  I think that perspective is important.  However, you should also…

2. Assess your personal health risk and overall risk tolerance

Are you the type who jumps out of the plane as soon as your parachute is strapped on? Or are you the type who barfs into a nearby potted plant at the mere thought (*raises hand*)? We don’t all have the same risk tolerance. And we don’t all have the same risk for serious health complications when it comes to Covid (or the same level of risk of spreading it to someone in our lives who is more vulnerable).

Cruising is, by its nature, a communal activity.  As someone who’s been on four post-Covid cruises, I’m telling you, you WILL (even on a reduced capacity ship where you try hard to keep your distance) find yourself in crowds of people on your cruise, a small number of whom may have Omicron. 

If that thought makes you uncomfortable or you’re trying to stay away from large groups of people in your regular life due to your personal risk of getting or spreading Covid or because of your overall risk tolerance, you can stop reading now (oh, thank God!) because you really shouldn’t go on a cruise right now.  Your time will come – hopefully within the next few months. Hold tight and keep baking.

For those who are like, “has the plane reached altitude yet, because I’m ready to jump!,” here’s my best advice for cruising right now…

3. Book refundable or changeable airline tickets or book air through your cruise line

If the cruise line cancels your cruise due to Omicron or you get quarantined after your cruise, you don’t want to get stuck footing the bill for expensive airline tickets you can no longer use.  You have two options.  You can either book through your cruise line (in which case they will usually cancel the tickets on your behalf and issue a refund and will also rebook for you if needed) or you can purchase refundable or changeable tickets on your own.  I’ve booked all my upcoming flights with either Southwest or Alaska (just avoid the “saver” rate on Alaska which isn’t refundable or changeable). 

4. Test, test, test

Yes, it’s true, as a college professor I used to laugh maniacally as I prepared tests for my students, knowing I was about to blow their weekend plan to visit Blockbuster for the latest Goldie Hawn comedy on VHS (the kids are still doing that, right?). But that’s not the kind of test I’m talking about here. I’m talking about testing as it relates to cruising:

No, no, not that kind of test either – although, let’s be honest, some of us have taken one of those tests after a cruise too.

I’m talking about this kind of test:

While the cruise lines all have testing requirements (this varies some depending on the line, but most require a test 48 hours or less before your embarkation date), I recommend additional testing if it’s available to you (availability should be improving soon).  On my most recent cruise, I used at-home tests right before boarding the flight to my embarkation city (doing that may save you from flying to your embarkation city only to test positive at the terminal and having to quarantine at a hotel for at least 5 days before you can fly back home, having not cruised) and again after my cruise before boarding my flight back home.  Those extra layers of testing gave me a bit more reassurance that I wasn’t carrying Covid onboard my cruise and that I didn’t catch it on my cruise, possibly infecting folks on my travels or once I got home.  No amount of testing is perfect, but it’s an effective tool for risk reduction, especially when coupled with other measures.

5. Fly in at least a day in advance

The days of flying in on the morning of your cruise to avoid taking another day off work or to save on the cost of a hotel stay are over (I mean, it was always risky, but now it’s downright reckless).  Fly in at least the day before embarkation, if not two days.  Staff shortages due to Omicron are causing waves of cancellations and delays across the airline industry.  Don’t risk it! 

6. Upgrade your mask

Every time I post a photo of myself to the blog I think, “I should really take a weedwacker to those eyebrows,” but don’t because that would double the 30 seconds I currently allot to getting ready in the morning. Anyway, if you’re cruising right now, it’s time to upgrade your mask to an N95 or a KN95, especially for crowded areas like the theater.  Yes, they are plain, white, and boring (that’s how many people describe me), but you can still shop for the perfect cloth mask to wear over them.  Here’s my favorite cruise mask:

Just kidding. Wrong kind of cruise, wrong kind of mask, and just…wrong. 

Let’s try that again…

How about a simple classy, nautical theme?

You’re not classy?  Me either.  How about this one?

Getting warmer. But I think you should go with this one:

A cat/titanic theme? Yes, please! People will think you’re a crazy cat lady AND you’ll scare first-time cruisers. It’s perfect!

7. Buy travel insurance and understand what it covers

It’s always been best cruising practice to purchase travel insurance, but now it’s imperative.  Shop around and read the plans very carefully, understanding exactly what is and isn’t covered.  I discourage you from purchasing your plan directly through the cruise line because you will pay more and the plans often aren’t that great. 

Go through a site like travelinsurance.com to compare plans and rates and get the best coverage for less.  You can even find “cancel for any reason” plans that will pay up to 75% of the total cost of your trip if you need to cancel for any reason.  I’ve been most comfortable purchasing this type of plan recently, although I probably won’t do so forever as they cost a bit more. That kind of plan may also be unnecessary if you’re booked on a cruise line with a very lenient Covid cancellation policy (NCL and Royal Caribbean have pretty good policies right now. Carnival? Not so much. Double check what your line is offering before deciding on insurance) and if you also have refundable or changeable airfare.

8. Plan for travel disruptions or quarantine delaying your return home

Assume you’re going to be delayed getting home from your cruise due to flight cancellations or being quarantined and plan accordingly.  It probably won’t end up being an issue, but if it is you’ll want to make sure you have work coverage squared away, someone to watch your dog or kids, someone to collect that package you’re expecting, and someone to take your place at the furry convention: “Just put on the squirrel head and chew on some nuts Bill, they’ll never know it’s not me.”  If you’re thinking, “but I HAVE TO BE HOME FOR XYZ,” you really shouldn’t cruise right now.  Sorry you needlessly suffered through tips 3-8 for nothing. 

9. Pack for a possible quarantine

Another one to file under, “probably won’t happen, but if it does I’ll be happy to have been prepared!”  Assume you’re going to be quarantined either on your cruise ship or at a hotel after your cruise.  Bring an extra 10 day supply of your medications, any items you may need to work or keep up with other tasks and responsibilities you have at home, and entertainment devices.  Someone I know who was recently quarantined on a cruise ship suggested bringing a tablet for watching Netflix and packaged snacks (you can go HERE to see the dining menus available to quarantined passengers on our last cruise aboard the Zuiderdam). 

10. Have fun and enjoy your cruise!

While it’s, sadly, necessary to take some extra precautions when cruising right now, once you step onboard, try to put Covid out of your mind (while continuing to follow safety guidelines of course).  Have the best time!  And be sure to take a moment out on an open deck to breathe in deeply, to gaze out at the horizon with only the sea below you and the sky above you, to feel gratitude flow through you for the incredible gift of cruising, even if it looks a little different right now.  And with that…

Class Dismissed.

Homework (10 points): Check out 15 Things to do if your Cruise was Cancelled.

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