How long do you "stay home" pre-cruise?

[ChessE4]

I am wondering how long folks are "staying in" prior to a cruise to ensure a negative COVID test.  I realize some folks can't or don't self-quarantine before a cruise, but for others, how many days are you planning?  We are thinking about doing our errands and groceries 3-7 days in advance.  Thoughts?

[GatorCruiser]

Not what you asked but heres my 2 cents, if you are worried about catching asymptomatic covid leading up to the cruise, just wear an N95 mask and go about your business, that should help immensely and it allows for not having to restrict your activities prior to.

[ChessE4]

7 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

Not what you asked but heres my 2 cents, if you are worried about catching asymptomatic covid leading up to the cruise, just wear an N95 mask and go about your business, that should help immensely and it allows for not having to restrict your activities prior to.

Thanks, we already do that.

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

We didn’t stay home completely but did cut back on interactions with crowds and close settings.  No hugs when greeting anyone and stayed away from public shopping areas for the final week before our cruise.  Only place I needed to go was my mom’s nursing home which they make us wear N95 masks anyway as well as keep a safe distance away.  I will admit I hugged my mom when I was leaving even though I wasn’t supposed to!  Being safe is one thing…but sorry it’s my mom, I am going to hug her!  
So you sound like you have a good plan.

[Neesa]

7 days, but we did this every  sailing even before COVID. We just wanted to make sure we limited exposure to anything, ie strong perfumes make my nose run for a day or two. Nothing worse then not being able to enjoy your sailing to the fullest. We did our shopping and running around and only went out to school & work. Making all my meals and eating at home made that first dinner on the ship that much more special. We have always done this so the only other place we visit now is a testing facility for the pre cruise test BUT I just ordered the EMED so no more of that either. 

 

[Kayleigh]

We also cut back on interactions and didn't really leave the house for like two or three days before our cruise.

[jticarruthers]

Just going about my business normally, leaving tomorrow for a 9 nighter, COVID test this morning ... no sense getting bent out of shape about it all.

[Suite Snob]

Our normal activity is running to the grocery store, medical appointments, department stores, walking at the park, and I may go to certain unpopulated areas to fly my drone.  I don't change that activity at all.  I'm retired and don't live near family, so there isn't much to do, otherwise.  For example, our next cruise experience starts next Wednesday and I really don't have any need to leave the house until then, except my daily walks at the park.  

So, I'd worry more about the preparation time and travel leading up to embarkation.  Flying, if you do, which I am for my next cruise in a few day, hoteling, restauranting LOL, travel to the port, processing in the terminal...................  

[Ampurp85]

I don't change anything. I am pretty introverted and really only go out to go to work. I have a small family circle, so being around a lot of people doesn't naturally occur. I have sinus issues, so flying will always result in a few sniffles. My thing is I eat less for the few weeks coming up to cruising.

[HeWhoWaits]

8 minutes ago, 10-42 said:

So, I'd worry more about the preparation time and travel leading up to embarkation.  Flying, if you do, which I am for my next cruise in a few day, hoteling, restauranting LOL, travel to the port, processing in the terminal...................  

But all of that happens AFTER you test negative and the worries about testing positive pre-cruise have passed.

[CruisingNewb]

For some of us, and I would wager many of us, our next cruise is a big deal.  My family hasn't been able to take a major vacation since summer of 2019.  Not saying we are getting "bent out of shape," but taking certain precautions is prudent.  

Also, again for some (if not many) of us, a cruise is a sizable investment for rest and relaxation.  I know that my family cannot reschedule our cruise should we get Covid and cannot board.  

I would say take simple precautions such as wearing a N95 mask and limiting exposure.  No need to isolate completely (unless transmissions rates are high in your area), but no need to unnecessarily expose yourself to large crowds.  You will get plenty of large crowd exposure on the ship.

We will be taking preventative measures about 5 days prior to flying out and testing on the morning of the flight.

[smokeybandit]

I didn't change any behaviors before my 2 post-covid cruises. 

[DunkelBierJay]

I don't make any changes. If I get it, I get it cause when I got it, I got it...this is why I get insurance for what the cruise line doesn't cover.

[Suite Snob]

20 minutes ago, HeWhoWaits said:

But all of that happens AFTER you test negative and the worries about testing positive pre-cruise have passed.

True!  But, if you develop symptoms after the pre-test and you are honest or you are screened at the Terminal or on the ship it could cause issues, which I'm not going to worry about.  I'm going to go with the flow, if I get COVID, again, within the pre-cruise test and sometime on the ship, so be it.  I'll do the right thing.

[Hotwheels]

I typically stay home anyway.  haha!

We usually start being more cognizant about a week prior.  We take an at-home test, then stay home to keep our negative test, negative.  We are all vaccinated (me and my two teenage kiddos), but we are worried about catching covid and not showing any signs.  And frankly, we want our vacation!  So we are willing to jump through these hoops to make sure we are allowed on board.

[Okgladgal]

Our last cruise was in January, right in the middle of Omicron. I stayed out of the gym and we did grocery pickup. We'd both been exposed at New Year's and felt like the threat was great. We both work from home.

[Lexster]

Honestly have been quarantining for two weeks. I work from home, so not really a huge change, but after having to wait two years for this cruise, I'm NOT taking a chance that I'll catch something right before.

[ChanaC]

I've been work from home since Covid started, so I'm lucky I don't need to interact with people every day. I've still been wearing masks everywhere, but in the two weeks leading up I'm going to be even more cautious about what I do and where I go. For example, I got invited to a work industry mixer at a crowded bar next week, and last time I went at least 100 people showed up... so no to that. I will also definitely be wearing my N95 on the plane. We have a really limited window of vacation availability and the cruise we chose fit perfectly in that time slot. If we test positive it's not like we can just go the following week. It's an Alaska cruise, and it honestly might be really hard to find another time to go this season, so it's really important we don't test positive before this cruise.

[WannaCruise]

We cut back what we could for the 2 weeks prior to our cruise meaning:

• kids had no get togethers with friends
• extra curricular programs stopped
• no family get togethers or seeing friends (didn't do the latter much anyways since covid)
• kids wore N95 masks to school (normally it's just triple layer)

Things that continued:

• kids went to school
• DH and I worked, but luckily for our last cruise we were both worked from home (that'll be partially changing soon though)
• N95 masks when out (supermarket or in stores)

Until testing is removed (to get on a plane or on a cruise ship), I will be nervous and do what we can to try and avoid covid.

 

[LovetoCruise87]

We cruised last August and didn't change anything at all. Kept our normal routine. 

[Mark_A]

9 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

My thing is I eat less for the few weeks coming up to cruising.

I need to learn how to do this!     

[Micheleyd]

I have been on 3 vacations since March 2020 and all this madness began. I have not changed any of my habits pre or during except for being mandated to wear the mask during flights. I am in Canada so our testing (upon return)was more extreme for a long time and myself, my wife nor my kids have had covid or any positive tests. 

[HeWhoWaits]

20 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

 My thing is I eat less for the few weeks coming up to cruising.

You're doing it wrong! Cutting back on how much you eat leading up to the cruise causes your stomach to shrink (albeit slightly) which makes you get full quicker.

The right approach is to warm up for the excessive eating on the cruise by gradually increasing your food intake leading up to the cruise. That way, you won't be as uncomfortably full after each of your daily seven or eight meals.

[barbeyg]

We go about our business as usual mostly, other than not doing large gatherings or shows that put a bunch of strangers together in confined spaces for a period of time (in the two weeks leading up to testing).  We just do what we have throughout Covid.  

[Ampurp85]

4 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said:

You're doing it wrong! Cutting back on how much you eat leading up to the cruise causes your stomach to shrink (albeit slightly) which makes you get full quicker.

The right approach is to warm up for the excessive eating on the cruise by gradually increasing your food intake leading up to the cruise. That way, you won't be as uncomfortably full after each of your daily seven or eight meals.

I literally do this for every vacation, and it works in my favor. I also don't do more than five meals. The only time so far, I have been even slightly uncomfortably full was a Star Class sailing.

I should clarify that for me eating less, usually means no eating of "outside" food. I usually get takeout 1-3 times a week because I am a pre-planner, and all my meals are cooked for the week. I have to break the monotony up, so I get something extra or dine sometimes with friends, coworkers, and/or family. I stop that about 6wks before I go on any vacation so I can eat all this none-prepared-by-me-food and appreciate it.