Queen Victoria Jan 26 2023: A Port Day: Oranjestad, Aruba

The storm breaks! Thursday morning we tested for Covid; barely seconds after the nasal sample fluid hit the test strip a very dark and well-defined line indicated I had been infected. Phil was Negative.

Even though I had developed some coughing and nasal dripping, I thought it was just a cold. Oh, no.

I immediately reported it to the medical staff; Phil had the option to move to an inside cabin (to avoid getting infected). He chose to stay in the stateroom with me. Our dispensary opened and I started my five days of Paxlovid, in addition to Advil cold/flu tablets. Room service would become our dining option (but we could get our Princess Grill menu as room service too). 

Phil went ashore in Aruba and ran some errands at Super Food and did some sight-seeing while I napped and read. 

Super Food is a gigantic supermarket. It's fascinating because of the abundance of Dutch products (Aruba being one of the four countries making up the Kingdom of the Netherlands). For example: four kinds of StroopWaffles. I easily spent an hour or two exploring.

The divi divi trees are a photogenic, wind -shaped native tree.

Two large books from the ship's library having been obtained in advnce of my test "just in case". Lots of ebooks were opened that afternoon.

Basically there are six days of strict confinement; then test every day till Negative again.

We had tea in the stateroom on Phil's return, then he tested himself again. Positive! Exactly the scenario we had envisioned and had provided against. SO at least we are on the same confinement schedule, and he didn't move to an inside. It's good that we have such a big cabin to spread out in.