Thursday, November 3, 2022

Cruise Lines Lifting Testing Protocols

Covid-19 Test

Covid-19 Rapid Testing


The image on the right may look familiar to many of you who have cruised during 2022.   It is the Abbot Labs self-test kit accepted by the majority of cruise lines as a valid proctored rapid test.

While there hasn't been any formal declaration of an end to the pandemic, there have been some positive trends which has prompted the cruise lines to relax some of their Covid-19 protocols.   The latest round of updates includes the lifting of testing requirements with certain exceptions.

We just returned from our Transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Beyond.  This image was actually captured when we did our pre-cruise test at the airport.
Our particular cruise was one of the exceptions requiring passengers to be fully vaccinated, and to have a proctored PCR or Antigen test with negative results presented in order to board the ship.

Here are the latest updates from the cruise lines regarding testing requirements.   It is best to consult your cruise lines' health and safety page prior to sailing as requirements fluctuate frequently.


Royal Caribbean and Disney have announced that they are lifting testing protocols for sailings departing from the United States with some exceptions. Check out all the details below.

Royal Caribbean

Summary  
Royal Caribbean has already made the decision to welcome all guests, regardless of vaccination status, onboard their itineraries. Now, effective November 2, 2022, travelers on U.S., Barbados, or Singapore sailings — regardless of vaccination status — will no longer require pre-departure testing, with a few exclusions outlined below.
  

 What You Need To Know

 Vaccination Recommended:

  • We recommend that guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against COVID19.
  • While vaccination is not required, we kindly ask guests disclose their status during check-in.

 Testing: 

  • Effective November 2, 2022, all travelers — regardless of vaccination status — will no longer require pre-departure testing.
    • Exclusions apply to sailings to Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, Transatlantic and Australia sailings.
  • The Barbados Customs & Immigration form is no longer required for entry into Barbados.

 U.S. & Barbados Departures visiting Colombia, Haiti, & Honduras: 

  • All unvaccinated guests ages 12 years and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 3 days prior to sailing.
  • Fully vaccinated guests and guests ages 11 years and younger are exempt from this test.

 Resources


Disney Cruise Line

 Statement

Beginning November 14, 2022, for sailings departing from the United States, Disney Cruise Line will no longer require Guests (regardless of vaccination status) to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to sailing. Disney Cruise Line continues to highly recommend that all Guests be fully vaccinated and encourages unvaccinated Guests to take a COVID-19 test two days prior to sailing.

 Resources


Celebrity Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruise Line has announced that they are lifting testing protocols for sailings departing from the United States with some exceptions. Check out all the details below. 

Statement  

Beginning with departures on November 2, 2022: All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, are welcome to cruise with us and will no longer be required to provide proof of pre-departure testing, except for specific sailings where vaccination or testing are required by law.

What You Need to Know

Exceptions currently include:

 Resources


Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line has updated their pre-cruise testing protocols. Please see the details below.

Statement

Carnival Cruise Line is informing guests and travel agents of additional updates to its pre-cruise testing protocols for guests on voyages 15 nights or less. These changes are consistent with the evolving public health guidelines and will be acceptable for arriving cruise guests effective immediately. Vaccines, proof of vaccination, and testing for unvaccinated guests are no longer required on cruises of 15 nights or less. However, Carnival encourages all guests 5 years and older to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, when eligible, carry proof of vaccination, and get tested before embarkation.

What You Need to Know

  • Cruises of 15 nights or less: Although not required for either vaccinated or unvaccinated guests, Carnival encourages all guests 5 years and older to take a pre-cruise test within three days of their cruise.
  • Cruises of 16 nights or more: Guests age 5 years and older have to present a PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days before sailing (unsupervised self-tests are not accepted).
  • A VeriFLY pass is no longer necessary for check-in.


Resources

 

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruise Lines has lifted all protocols for most voyages.

Statement

Beginning October 21, protocols to cruising have been lifted. This means that for most voyages there are no longer vaccination or testing requirements. This applies to itineraries to all destinations except where government regulations may vary like Australia and on a few enhanced guidelines voyages that have their own vaccination and testing requirements.

Resources

 

Bermuda

Bermuda has announced that they will no longer require testing for cruise passengers beginning October 25, 2022. Health insurance requirements will remain the same.

 Please be mindful that at this time, not all cruise lines websites are updated with the below information. It is important to continue referencing the cruise line websites for specific health and safety guidelines.

Statement

All Cruise travellers arriving October 25, 2022, onwards will no longer require a pre-travel test, arrival test or a day 4 test. Unvaccinated non-resident travellers will still be required to upload valid proof of travel health insurance to enter Bermuda. 
 

Resources

  • Apply for a Bermuda Travel Authorisation
  • Click here for Bermuda’s definition of fully vaccinated
  • Click here for the requirements for valid proof of travel health insurance
  • Click here for the requirements for a valid pre-travel test.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Today, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will eliminate COVID-19 requirements …

 What You Need To Know

  • Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it has updated its global health and safety protocols by removing all COVID-19 requirements effective October 4, 2022 including:
    • Testing
    • Masking  
    • Vaccination
  • With the easing of the Cruise Line’s health and safety protocols, NCL will continue to follow the travel guidelines as required by the destinations it visits.
    • Please see the resources below for more detailed information about the country requirements.

Resources




I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.




Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat







Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Atlantic Hurricane Season Not Quite Over


Hurricane Lisa


Archive | Graphics

Hurricane Lisa
Updated 11/2/22

We've just returned from our Transatlantic cruise on Celebrity Beyond from Barcelona, Spain to Cape Liberty, New Jersey.   During our crossing, we had a couple of days with rocky conditions as the Atlantic Ocean conditions were impacted by tropical weather.   Even though there were no tropical storms in the immediate area, their reach was felt for 500 miles.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season officially ends on November 1st, however Mother Nature doesn't necessarily check the calendar.   There are currently two Hurricanes active in the Atlantic Basin.

Hurricane Lisa has impacted several cruise ship schedules. Royal Caribbean has three ships impacted and Carnival has one ship impacted:  

  • Adventure of the Seas - currently sailing a 14-night Transatlantic, will have it's route adjusted to avoid the storm and provide smoother seas
  • Serenade of the Seas - on a 7-night roundtrip Western Caribbean sailing from Tampa, Florida, was scheduled to stop in Belize which is where Lisa made landfall
  • Symphony of the Seas - sailing a 7-night roundtrip Western Caribbean itinerary from Miami, Florida,  will have it's port call in Honduras cancelled
  • Carnival Vista - changed port call in Belize to a sea day

 
Hurricane LISA
400 PM CDT Wed Nov 02 2022

...LISA ABOUT TO MAKE LANDFALL NEAR BELIZE CITY...

WIND:
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H
WATCHES/ WARNINGS:
SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* The coast of Belize
* Chetumal to Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* North coast of Guatemala
* Puerto Costa Maya to Punta Allen, Mexico







I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.




Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat





Friday, October 7, 2022

Bermuda Drops Testing Requirements

Bermuda Tourism

Bermuda has announced that they will no longer require testing for cruise passengers beginning October 25, 2022. Health insurance requirements will remain the same.

 Please be mindful that at this time, not all cruise lines websites are updated with the below information. It is important to continue referencing the cruise line websites for specific health and safety guidelines.

 Statement

All Cruise travellers arriving October 25, 2022, onwards will no longer require a pre-travel test, arrival test or a day 4 test. Unvaccinated non-resident travellers will still be required to upload valid proof of travel health insurance to enter Bermuda. 
 

Resources

  • Apply for a Bermuda Travel Authorisation
  • Click here for Bermuda’s definition of fully vaccinated
  • Click here for the requirements for valid proof of travel health insurance
  • Click here for the requirements for a valid pre-travel test.

Personal Note:

This news came too late for our Transatlantic cruise.   Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Beyond was scheduled to stop in Bermuda enroute from Barcelona to New Jersey.  The port of call was changed to another sea day and the ports in Spain expanded due to the testing requirements that were still in effect prior to the cruise.

I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.




Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat







Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Canada Drops Travel Requirements

Canada drops travel requirements

Updated: September 29, 2022

The Public Health Agency of Canada has released an official press release today, Monday, September 26, 2022, relaxing vaccination, and testing protocols for travel to Canada effective October 1, 2022.

 Statement

Today the Government of Canada announced the removal of all COVID-19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada. Effective October 1, 2022, all travelers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:

 

  • submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
  • provide proof of vaccination;
  • undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;
  • carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation;
  • monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada.

Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements. As of October 1, 2022, travelers will no longer be required to:

  • undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or
  • wear masks on planes and trains.

Cruise measures are also being lifted, and travelers will no longer be required to have pre-board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States.


Norwegian Cruise Line has updated its health & safety requirements.

 

Statement

Effective for sailings beginning September 30, 2022, all COVID-19 travel requirements, including vaccination, mandatory use of ArriveCAN, and any testing and quarantine/isolation protocols will no longer be required for travelers entering Canada by land, air or sea.


Norwegian Cruise Line 

Although Canada has lifted its COVID-19 travel requirements, including those specific to cruise passengers, all guests must still meet the following NCL embarkation requirements to board their upcoming cruise.

What You Need to Know

 Embarkation Requirements:

  • All guests ages 12 years and older, must provide proof of ONE of the following:
    • Proof of completed series of one-dose or two-dose vaccination regimen.
    • Proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or NAAT test (i.e., PCR) taken within three days of the embarkation date.
  • Guests 6 months to 11 years are welcome aboard with no restrictions.

Important Note: While Norwegian welcomes unvaccinated guests, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing.

 

Resources


Seabourn Cruise Line

Seabourn has released statements saying that they are ready to welcome all guests with Canada’s removal of all COVID-19 Requirements.

 Seabourn Statement

Seabourn is ready to welcome all guests on board its voyages that visit Canada with the news from Transport Canada, which announced it will end all COVID-19 entry and testing requirements for visitors traveling to Canada. The new guidance will make it easier for guests to plan and travel on Seabourn’s Alaska and Canada and New England voyages during the summer and fall seasons.

Seabourn is updating its health protocols to align with Transport Canada’s revised guidelines for select voyages departing on and after October 1, 2022.

“We welcome the decision by Transport Canada that will make it easier for travelers to sail on our Alaska and Canada and New England voyages,” said Josh Leibowitz, Seabourn’s president. “These spectacular destinations have so much to offer and are highly coveted areas to visit. We look forward to welcoming our guests on board our ultra-luxury ships and delivering special ‘Seabourn Moments’ when they sail with us.”

Celebrity Cruise Line


Celebrity Cruise Lines has updated its health & safety requirements for sailings visiting Canada.

 

Statement

Effective for sailings beginning October 1, 2022, we are welcoming all travelers, regardless of vaccination status, back onboard our sailings that visit Canada as long as they meet testing requirements to board.

 

What You Need to Know

 

Embarkation Requirements - Vaccinated Guests:

  • For all sailings 9 nights or shorter, no pre-boarding testing is required.
  • For all sailings 10 nights or longer, vaccinated guests ages 5 and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken within 3 days prior to boarding.
    • Test results from any commercially available Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), including self-tests, will be accepted.
    • Tests do not have to be supervised or proctored.
    • Test results may be presented as a printout, screenshot, or photo of the test result or the actual test.
    • Antibody tests are not accepted.

 

Embarkation Requirements - Unvaccinated Guests:

  • For all sailings guests ages 5 years and older, must present a negative COVID-19 test result from a test taken within 3 days prior to boarding.
    • Test results from any commercially available Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), including self-tests, will be accepted.
    • Tests do not have to be supervised or proctored.
    • Test results may be presented as a printout, screenshot, or photo of the test result or the actual test.
    • Antibody tests are not accepted.

Important Note: While Celebrity welcomes unvaccinated guests, it is the responsibility of the guest to be aware of any local protocols and/or travel restrictions in place at the visiting destinations at the time of sailing.

 

Resources





I recently completed extensive training and have become Travel Safety Verified. As your dedicated Travel Advisor, your safety is our priority, and it's our job to ensure you have the necessary information you need to give you confidence and peace of mind when making your future travel plans. Click the link to review our Travel Safety program with valuable resources that will answer many of your questions.




Where have you explored? 

Gather your travel and food pics and join us every Wednesday afternoon at 4 PM Eastern for the latest installment of #FoodTravelChat