Georgia_Peaches

I only just received an upgrade email a week ago for my cruise at the end of the month. But when I did a mock booking to see the prices of the categories listed in the offer, none were showing as available. I guess cancellations occur but the upgrade starting points didn’t seem too appealing to me so I passed.

I just read your post. Good news all around. I still remain a non fan of GC. Just never had much fun there. But again, I love the direction things are moving in. It makes me feel like we are finally getting back to cruising normalcy.

My take, cut GC out of cruise itineraries altogether. It’s a tender port, last time I was there they didn’t take USD, and a total pain in the butt anyway. I generally avoid a cruise that includes a stop there or at the very least, look at it a another sea day where we just hang out on the ship.

Bourbon and peaches. Soooo good!

Very good point! I think we are just so excited to cruise that I'm overthinking the possible pitfalls.

Totally agree! It's nerve wracking to say the least. I guess if we get turned away at the pier for the wrong test we'll know the rules with certainty. My guess is that in the wake of relaxing testing requirements they wouldn't then eliminate the antigen test in favor of just the PCR thus making fulfilling the testing requirement seemingly more difficult than before the testing relaxation. But that's just me. I think MSC struggles to communicate what they mean clearly on their website because their are catering to so many traveling audiences both foreign and domestic.

The magic number these days seems to be 10. Those who test positive are generally considered not contagious after the 10th day. Most will test negative somewhere within those 10 days. My source is personal experience. We got stuck in Belize before the USG lifted the requirement to test negative before returning to the US. I tested negative on day seven while DH never tested negative. On day 10 they let him come home with a letter of recovery. So what does this mean for your situation? Well if you can determine the number of days it's been since you started feeling crappy, that could be a gauge for when you will test negative. However, if you are feeling pretty bad with only a week out, you may not test negative in time to go. Definitely reach out to your cruise planner to discuss your options. Hope you feel better!

Just found this posted 4 days ago: from this site: https://unitedcruises.cruisehelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044863092-MSC-Cruises-Travel-Requirements-Safety-Protocols

I take this to mean that it was taken by a lab technician. Meaning someone in a white coat swabbed my nose...or in the case of CVS, watched me swab my nose while standing outside my car. I hope this is OK as we are testing on Friday in this manner for our cruise on Saturday.

Wasn’t aware. Thank you for this!!

What does verifying the vaccine card entail? Are they comparing the original vax dates to the questionnaire? I am about to fill out the same thing as OP and was confused. We haven’t had a booster and our original vax was in 2021, so more than 6 months ago. The website says boosters are recommended but I see nothing about them being required. This question makes me a little nervous bc it seems like they want to know if I’m boosterd even though it’s not required.

My understanding is that you can move your cruise forward without penalty under the one change program. Not sure that’s the exact name. I recommend reaching out to your TA just to be sure. Also note it is entirely possible that nobody else in your household will become positive. Perhaps you wont need to postpone? Also, I recommend that you purchase self tests to take with you regardless of when you cruise because one could be negative one day and positive the next. Nice to have a self test on hand just in case. I bought 5 rapid tests from Amazon…pack of 5 for 24.99. Wishing your wife a speedy recovery.

What about a rapid test? You get the results in about an hour. I know CVS does them. We have it scheduled for our upcoming cruise next week.

Wow! That's great information. I am assuming that is for both US and Europe?

I agree it is all very confusing. Did you use a TA or book direct? A TA would be where I would start.

I read this regarding cruises in Europe which indicate that if you were vaccinated greater than 270 before your cruise, you need a booster. If you are within the 270 days and said days don't run out prior to the end of your cruise, you don't need the booster. However, if your cruise occurs in the midst of your 270th day, ie on day 5 of your ten day cruise you've reached 270 days since your vaccination, your card is "expired" and you will need a booster. For US sailings, the wording is such that MSC recommends the booster but I see nothing about requiring it. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

Celebrity has been our go-to line for many years but we are trying MSC at the end of the month because their prices are just so much better than Celebrity. We booked a YC deluxe suite for less money than a Celebrity, entry level sky suite. To me, that alone is reason enough to settle for food that may not be exactly on par with Celebrity. I have to say though, the menus I've looked at lately seem to be fish-centric and my hope is that being an Italian based company, MSC will be able to make my not-so-favorite menu item taste delicious.

Also our first MSC cruise. Leaving soon and like you, I'm going to chance it with my own hair instruments.

Huh. Good to know. Thank you.

Just got an e-mail from MSC as we are 15 days until embarkation. The e-mail says that only the following electronic items will be permitted: electric shaver computer hair dryer (they provide in cabin) charger This prompted me to go to their website and look more closely at prohibited items. They include (list not complete): clothes iron coffee maker hair iron kettles hot plates candles I've always brought a curling iron and my own hair dryer. Are these items going to be confiscated if I bring them? And if so, I could probably get by with the provided hair dryer but I hate the kind that you have to hold the button down while operating...not sure if that's the kind on MSC...but no curling iron? Ladies, please chime in on suggestions for curling my hair...guess I could resort to the old fashioned pink sponge hair rollers...surely curling irons won't be confiscated. Say it isn't so!

So we got our e tickets right after we completed our on board check in information. I chuckled at out boarding time which according to MSC begins at 10am and closes “1 hour after assigned boarding time”. So if we show up at 11:30 we are out of luck? I’ve never sailed MSC but this was new to me. No worries tho, we are happy to embark asap.

Jeepers! I hope you weren't the doctor! 😁

Is there such an area in Maimi?

I know of a few people who have experienced the same phenomena you described. May I ask which cruise lines you were traveling that required the booster? I stopped after the 2nd jab and probably won't get boosted because I am not in a high risk category.

Possibly. Back in May I came down with covid in Belize. I was traveling with a mixed party of vaxed and nonvaxed friends. Three of us tested positive. I was feeling pretty good most of the time and tested negative 5 days before my friends. One of them never tested negative but was allowed to go home because he had spent 10 days in isolation. The rules about testing negative to come back to the US have been lifted since then. I think NCL has figured out that we all assume a certain level of risk with cruising with covid...something that appears to be here to stay.