Rachel, Marc has been sweating it all too. Was so worried one of us would test positive this morning and be put off the ship on our anniversary. We didn’t and all is well.

All of the “in transit” passengers tested negative this morning and a loud cheer went up when it was announced as we were all sitting in the theater waiting to go through customs. Don’t have any idea if any new guests tested positive at embarkation this morning.

Yesterday they announced an employee in the entertainment department tested positive during their routine testing. So, yesterday before trivia all entertainment was canceled completely as all entertainment crew was in quarantine until the contract tracing was done. We watched a bit of embarkation this morning and it was different as they usually rely heavily on the entertainment staff to help welcome passengers, etc. No entertainment or games or trivia today, but about 5 when we left port, they announced that the person who tested positive was taken off the ship. John who usually does welcoming and muster was notably absent. The passages tonight lists no cruise director or assistant cruise director, so we are assuming it was John. They did have the duo playing tonight, but no show and was announced there will be no captains welcome or seven seas party. They are really trying to keep the gatherings to a minimum

Rachel, my guess is that your cruise will be fine if there are no more cases, and we have been told there aren’t so far. As for the masks….we are wearing them in hallways and walking around indoors, but not outside at all, especially not while relaxing on loungers by the pool. Like back home wearing them when walking thru restaurant but once seated, not at all. The crew are all wearing theirs always. Interesting, yesterday I came to room after lunch and it hadn’t been done yet, understandable because they had had testing during the morning. When she came to do the room, I asked if it was ok to sit on the couch while she cleaned, with my mask on, and she said she couldn’t clean unless I went on the balcony, which was perfectly fine with me. All this is to say that the staff and officers are, I think, trying to do their best to keep everyone healthy and are not being “hard nosed” about it. Rachel, I completely understand your worry with George as Marc is much the same with regard to masks. Really had to talk him down a few times! It is just a fact of life

We have been on since the 17th and haven’t been off the ship yet. None of the ports really interested us enough to take the chance going off, and we are enjoying the new ship so much, we have happily stayed on board, where things are a “little” more controlled than going ashore and not being sure who is vaccinated, or not, who is healthy or not etc. We have had an absolutely wonderful time, even with the staying on board, masks, etc. I think, Rachel that if you get tested two days before and are negative, are careful while flying, you should be fine. I actually feel safer on board in this controlled environment than I probably would at home