Cruising & My COVID RMF
So I’m off tomorrow on a Big Gay Cruise. I’m sure many people will shake their heads and say, why are you doing it, you should cancel, and it’s too risky. And maybe it is risky, but everything we do these days has a risk to it. The key is to manage the risk, especially in these COVID times, and that’s where my personal COVID Risk Management Framework comes into effect.
This BGC was originally scheduled for January 2021, but got pushed to 2022. While I didn’t get travel insurance when I originally booked the cruise, it’s impossible to get Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance these days. And because it’s a charter, it’s not like I can get my money back if I decide it’s too risky. If I feel the risk is too much and I choose not to go, I’m out $4K. That’s just the way charter cruises, like BGC’s work. But I want to go. BGC’s are fun. Travel is fun. I need fun. Now. Stat.
So the risks? What if I get COVID before I get on the ship? Well, if that happens, then I can’t go on the cruise. I’ve got Trip Interruption insurance, so I’ll get most of my money back. After returning from CO for the holidays, I’ve been keeping a low profile. I mean, Florida is just COVID central. I’m back to wearing a KN-95 mask at the grocery store and the gym. And then I really didn’t go out much. I’m taking responsible measures to reduce my risk and to protect myself. And most importantly, I’m vaxxed and boosted. And to get on the ship, you must be vaxxed as well. And show a negative test within two days of departure. So those are some of the risk mitigation efforts that the cruise ship and I are already taking.
That’s all good, but there’s a *risk* that someone will test negative, but either have it but not enough to trigger a positive test, or they’ll hit the bars in Wilton Manors, pick it up and bring it onboard the ship. The risk of that is pretty high if you’ve been reading the news reports about the cruise industry. Remember, fear sells, and the cruise lines are an easy target for the news media. But the cruise lines have done a lot to reduce the risk of transmission on the ship. Vaxxed and neg tests required to board. Mandating masks for everyone inside the ship.
If I get exposed and infected on the first day (the odds are low), I won’t have any symptoms till day three at the earliest. So there’s a risk that I could be quarantined in my room starting then. Which would suck. But I’ve bought the premium drink package, and they better be delivering a cocktail to my room every hour on the hour! But seriously, I’m bringing my laptop, I’ve got books to read, I’ve got a balcony, I’ll be fine. I’m vaxxed so the risk of hospitalization or death is minimal. Yes, the odds of getting infected increase as the cruise goes along, but that also means my time in quarantine on the ship decreases, and I’ll end up quarantining at home. Again, that would suck, but I’ll be fine.
Basically, since I’m vaxxed and boosted, the threat of hospitalization or death is very small. I’ll be taking precautions to protect myself on the cruise, the ship is taking precautions, and if I do get infected, I’m prepared to be quarantined. Oh, it won’t stop me from bitching and complaining about it, but I’ve assessed the risks, looked at the impacts, and made a decision that I think is right for me. #AdaptToLive!