TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Not a good start for cruising out of SXM

On our lcal news tonight, a story about a couple sharing a room on the Millenium, As they were being tested at the end of the cruise, they tested POSITIVE for Covid. This was the first cruise, and the first cases reported. This was supposedly a ''proof of vaccinated only" cruise for both passengers and crew. They are now supposedly in quarintine on SXM. Definitely not a good start for cruising to open up again. Story here

https://www.wpbf.com/article/passengers-positive-covid-celebrity-millennium-cruise/36691017

What I don't get in this article, it said that 95% of the passengers were vaccinated. I thought you could NOT board without of proof of valid vaccine!!!
Here's what the Daily Herald had to say: https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/two-tested-covid-19-positive-onboard-celebrity-millennium

As I read it, the 95% level is because children were required to show a negative test since not vaccinated.

Exactly

So apparently "vaccinated" people can still get covid? Huh.

Yup...95% effective so math says yes for that 5%...but...better than 0% protection

Yes, but the chances are much lower than someone that's not vaccinated. The risk level is explained in more detail here, but here's the gist: "Basically, whatever rate of the population is getting COVID-19 now, a population fully vaccinated by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would have a rate 95% lower and a population fully vaccinated by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would have a rate 66% lower."

Also, the people are asymptomatic. There's a good chance they wouldn't be if they didn't get vaccinated.

I think its expected news......a few out of 500 or so is certainly better than the odds. This virus is here for a long time and we have to live and deal with It not let it consume us. I sure hope the news hungry media will stop spinning these nothing stories into just more so called "breaking news". A lot of people will be walking around with Covid and not just on these ships. imo

The ship hasn't reached St Maarten yet. I don't know what happens to the two passengers when the ship does arrive, but they are not presently in quarantine on SXM.

Everything is relative, but smells to me.

With what we know two people at the same time test positive? The chances are less than we want to think..... so what is the tracing, when was the testing, when was vaccination, etc.

Think that there is a whole lot more to come from this story...... hoping my thoughts are wrong!

Eric

"two people at the same time test positive?"
They were sharing same cabin.

Yes, but................

95% against for one person, then also 95% against the second person??? Then the spouse is 95% preventive even from the spouse that is 95% against. Then both test positive within a 24 hour period???? So a whole lot of questions, that none have been answernerd as of yet. Think there are a lot more questions that we have no clue about. But you can make sure that the cruise line is asking those questions.

Maybe not, but sure seems fishy to me. Just my opinion, so take it for what it is worth.

Maybe they were NY Yankees....

The media ran with the story but I think you will see very little information from here on out. The cruise line will want to protect their interests and SXM tourist industry as well. It would have been helpful to put it all out there right away so we don’t speculate. My questions would be... did they arrive through PJIA or did they board from Barbados or Aruba if that is allowed. Did they mingle closely with others in the bars and clubs or did they stay to themselves. Contract tracing on a cruise ship is a huge task to know who they were close to. Who knows?

Unfortunately cruises are a gleaming white target for the media.

No one is making news articles about to people at hotel/resort X testing positive.

Do the big theme parks in orlando test all patrons coming in the gate and leaving at night?

Given the target factor, it is Silly for the cruise lines not to make it a 100% vaccinated cruise for the next few months.

Some cruises are and they say if you are unable to vaccinate for whatever reason (too old, immuno compromised, young kid, etc) find another vacation.

I so agree. We are scheduled for a cruise labor day week. Hoping the cruise lines get their sh/t together fully by then.