What occurs if you end up quarantined on a cruise ship?

At Dinogo, I often hear from readers that their biggest hesitation about cruising isn’t fear of COVID-19; rather, it’s the implications of a quarantine or isolation situation during their trip and how it might affect their ability to return home.

What are the consequences if you test positive for COVID-19 during your cruise or if you’ve been in contact with someone who is? I’m sharing insights based on my own experience with cruise ship quarantine as well as a detailed account from Steven Episcopo, a TPG reader who had to isolate after testing positive during his recent journey.

How do isolation and quarantine differ from each other?

Before we delve into the specifics, it’s essential to clarify what these two terms mean. They are not interchangeable. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines the distinctions between them on their website.

Isolation: Isolation keeps individuals who are ill with a contagious disease away from those who are healthy.

Quarantine: Quarantine restricts and monitors the movement of individuals who have been exposed to a contagious illness to determine if they develop symptoms.

In Episcopo's situation, he tested positive, but his girlfriend did not. He was placed in isolation while his girlfriend remained quarantined in their cabin for 24 hours.

What occurs during quarantine on a cruise ship?

If COVID-19 cases are identified on board, cruise ships utilize a sophisticated contact tracing system to monitor potential exposures.

In June 2021, during my first cruise after the 2020 shutdown, I was exposed during a shore excursion to two asymptomatic passengers who later tested positive during routine onboard screenings.

If you are recognized as a close contact—having been in the same area as an infected person for 15 minutes or more—you will be instructed to return to your cabin and remain there. A medical staff member will come to test you. You must stay in your room until your results are negative, but it may be longer based on your situation and the ship's protocols.

While you’re in quarantine, the crew will do their best to keep you comfortable and entertained. This may include complimentary Wi-Fi, in-room movie rentals, and room service, as you won't be able to dine out. During my 13-hour confinement, I received a bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries to acknowledge the inconvenience.

Once your results arrive, you will be allowed to leave your stateroom if they are negative. If they are positive, you may undergo another test to confirm the result and rule out false positives.

In certain situations, you may need to stay in quarantine until all close contacts have been tested. Why is this important? If one of those contacts tests positive, contact tracing would need to restart. Therefore, it's safer for the cruise operator to keep all initial contacts separated from the rest of the passengers until they receive negative results.

How do cruise ships manage the isolation of passengers?

Due to updated CDC regulations for cruise ships, passengers who test positive can stay in their booked cabins if they are disembarking within 36 hours of receiving a positive result and if they are the sole occupant of that stateroom.

Typically, if you test positive for COVID-19, you will be moved from your original room to a cabin located in an area referred to as the "Red Zone" on some ships, which is close to the medical facilities. Most of these cabins are ocean view, providing natural light, though they lack fresh air. These rooms use a negative-pressure airflow system to prevent particles from escaping when the doors are opened.

In situations requiring relocation, you won't be able to remain in your original cabin if you test positive, regardless of how luxurious or spacious it is. On the cruise when I had to quarantine, I had booked a balcony cabin, thinking I would at least have some fresh air if I fell ill. I was unaware that, had I tested positive (which, thankfully, I didn't), I would have been moved to a different cabin altogether.

Crew members on cruise ships take every precaution necessary when transferring a passenger who has tested positive for COVID-19 from their cabin to an isolation room.

"The transfer to the Red Zone felt like a scene from a movie," Episcopo recounted. "Two crew members dressed in full personal protective equipment guided me, while another behind me sprayed an airborne sanitizer. There were crew members stationed at every corner, ensuring that no other guests could witness what was happening. The stairs were blocked off, and the elevator waiting for me had no windows."

"They escorted me down to the fourth deck and led me through a fire door that was closed. Once on the other side, they had to remove a plastic divider... They delivered me to my new room, which was a standard ocean view stateroom," he described.

The change of cabins was disheartening for Episcopo, who had initially booked an inside cabin on a canceled trip. He chose to take 120% future cruise credit and eventually ended up in an Owner's Suite (for only $640 total for two people) after successfully bidding for an upgrade on the sailing where he was relocated to an isolation cabin.

What occurs during isolation on a cruise ship?

Passengers in isolation on a cruise ship have minimal, if any, interaction with others to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The only individuals you may encounter are the ship's doctors and nurses, who will check on you if necessary. Most often, they will simply call your cabin each day to see how you're feeling and ensure you have everything you need during your recovery. They only visit in person when it is essential.

You’re also unlikely to encounter housekeeping or room service staff. "In my new room, there were some cleaning supplies similar to those used by the housekeeping crew, as they were not permitted to clean my room," Episcopo mentioned. "There were red 'biohazard waste' bags for me to dispose of my trash, which I left outside my door."

Regular room service meals are delivered outside your door. "There was a piece of paper with QR codes for each day," Episcopo explained. "I used this to order my meals. I simply scanned the QR code for the next day, filled out the form before 9 p.m., and my food arrived almost exactly at the chosen time for each meal. (There were half-hour intervals to select from.)"

Cruise lines recognize that being in isolation can be tedious and frustrating. They often provide additional perks such as Wi-Fi and access to movies to help passengers pass the time.

"[The cruise ship] offered me complimentary access to Wi-Fi and an on-demand movie catalog," Episcopo said. "During the next 2.5 days, I read an entire book, watched several movies, and helplessly gazed out the window as people enjoyed the ports of call."

Alongside enhanced testing capabilities, ship medical facilities are now outfitted with ventilators and oxygen supplies, enabling a higher standard of care for COVID-19 passengers compared to what was available before the 2020 shutdown. If your health deteriorates after testing positive during your cruise, the lines have arrangements with ports along their routes to facilitate shore-based medical care if needed.

What follows after quarantine or isolation on a cruise ship?

Depending on the duration of your cruise, you will either complete your quarantine or isolation and return to your cabin and resume regular ship activities, or you will remain confined until the end of the voyage.

Once your isolation period is over, you can return home as usual. If your isolation is not complete, you will be transported privately to finish your isolation at either a hotel or your home. The only exception is for those who live nearby and drove to the port; in that case, you can use your own vehicle to return home.

Check with your cruise line to determine if they will cover the costs for any necessary hotel stays or charter flights home. Most do, but some may require passengers to have travel insurance that includes medical evacuation coverage.

Essentials to pack for your cruise, just in case

If you prefer to be prepared, consider packing items that will keep you entertained during a potential quarantine or isolation. Here are some quick suggestions:

• A tablet loaded with shows you want to binge, movies you’ve been eager to watch, and books you wish to read.
• Coloring books with a variety of colored pencils or crayons for both kids and adults.
• A deck of cards or other compact games.
• Small craft projects like knitting or crocheting.
• Resistance bands for stretching and working out in a confined space.
• Packaged snacks for munching between meals, as you may not be able to order food on a whim.
• Extra clothing, in case you need to isolate for a few days after your cruise ends.
• Your work laptop (if you can work remotely), which will be useful if your return home is delayed.
• Additional prescription medication in case your isolation prolongs your trip.

Featured graphic by filo/Getty Images.