Cliffholl55

1 minute ago, Cruisewell01 said:

Yes it is a lateral flow test now but only recently changed so people would have ordered and paid for a PCR test on recent cruises and that is what we received. 

If you booked a test now it would be a lateral flow test. 

Isn’t the day 2 return test a lateral flow test now not a PCR?  We ordered ours and there £15 each from same company.

Explorer 2 is doing 7 nite trips out of Malaga. The last 7 night cruise bookable is the 30th December so won’t be going to Jamaica b4 2 nd week  of January the earliest 

https://www.tui.co.uk/holidays/where-can-i-go-on-holiday/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Marella-Cruises-entry-requirements-for-our-holiday-destinations-261021.pdf

it was the Greece cruises that did test at airports, can only think this is a Spanish rule 

As I understand you have a test at airport from Tui (free) before flight. When we was on Explorer few weeks ago you had to have your temperature taken everyday. There’s a scan that you stand in front of after flashing ur cabin card on it. You have to do it before 4pm everyday or you go on naughty step.  You will also have your temperature taken if you go ashore as you get back on board. It’s all very simple and I think Marella are doing things much safer than other cruise lines from what I’ve read.

have a good time, we’re looking at the new year day cruise out of malaga

Chin up keep cruising 

Hope they go ahead next summer, we had great fun with friends on the 11nt Irish Sea trip. Was hoping for maybe up top of Scottish isles.

16 minutes ago, squink said:

Just found this document on the visitbarbados web site;

COVID-19 TRAVEL GUIDELINES 2021 - Visit Barbados

The doc seems to explain exactly what embarkation/disembarkation processes an operator shall adopt incl cruise stay holidays. The biggest issue would appear to be provision of testing facilities either on the boat or at the port for the 'stay ' part of the holiday to comply with the negative test result within 3 days of entry requirement.  

Go look at all the islands Marella  stop at , I think your find they all want a PCR test or did when I looked last week.

We were going to book Dis 1 for November in Caribbean but having seen all the tests for every island we did not bother. Every island you need a pcr test and who is going to pay for it let alone all the hassle with paperwork. It’s ment to be a holiday.  Thinking Marella and PO have rushed into cruises in the Caribbean. Can’t see Explorer going out there as most islands/countries on red and will be for the foreseeable.

Thanks for that and totally agree with your comments. They know the rules and should stick to them. All ships have these same rules never saw people refusing to were masks on our 30th sept Irish Sea cruise.

On 9/17/2021 at 4:38 PM, nancyneptune said:

Sadly passengers have tested positive on the Iceland cruise. They had to leave their cabin to self isolate in special cabins on deck 10. All their food is left on a small table outside this cabin. They won't be allowed to leave this isolation cabin till they arrive back in Newcastle.

This is despite testing negative on embarkation at Newcastle. 

Do you know how they were found to have had the virus, was it there daily temperature test or return to ship temperature test. Still never heard of any infection on our 30th August from Southampton 11 nighter.

Just returned from Explorer yesterday on the 11 nt Irish Sea cruise. We were with another couple and had a good time. Marella have to be congratulated on there covid rules as I’ve just read MSC round UK cruise and they have many covid infections. Didn’t hear of any on ours as everyone went along with the rules ie only 4 in lift unless same group, seating in restaurants and theatre were all spaced out, food plated for you in market place.  The food in the restaurants and market place were just ok but this seems to be the norm on other reports on other ships. The tapas and pizza were of a high standard. We were on ordinary AI which was ok for us but can some bars the amount of alcohol in drinks was questionable. Shows were ok but repetitive with singing dancing. Only 2 guest entertainers brought on , they were good.  Pool deck was well spaced out. Silent disco with Dave was a great blast, many dancing round there tables.

some of the MSC boards make interesting reading with there covid actions.

Although there were only about 480 onboard disembarkation wasn’t done very well with crowds getting off at 8 am. We were ment to go off in coloured tags which unfortunately some did not adhere too.

• We’re on the ship at the moment and here’s the menu. I’ve seen it’s £11.95 or £13.95 with a sweet. Not sure how much food you can have. Hope this helps

https://app.mex.navigate-marella.com/cms/resources/blobs/pdfs/content/6425454e-729c-4a06-9bb3-a58f35266328

15 hours ago, Northeastcruiser007 said:

Thank you for posting your e-mail communication from Marella.

 

Could I ask which cruise it refers to?

 

We are hoping to book 30 August Coastal Charms on Explorer 2 out of Newcastle. Having done an excursion-only Marella cruise in July we are worried about booking another one unless we can get off in at least some of the ports.

 

I know the situation is ever-changing but Marella are very coy about their intentions! If anyone has any information on the likelihood of independent exploration in Dover, Portsmouth, Torquay, Liverpool or Belfast on Marella I'd really appreciate it! (I know Le Havre could be much more awkward.) Thank you all.

We’re on the 30th August out of Southampton, but I believe it refers to all cruises with them. 

9 minutes ago, Cliffholl55 said:

Just got email from Marcella there allowing us to get of on our own now  will post full email tomorrow 

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your email.

We promised to adapt our onboard guidelines as guidance for cruise lines was updated. With that in mind, we're pleased to share that it's now possible for fully vaccinated guests to go ashore independently in some ports.
This will vary by port - some destinations may still require cruise line-organised shore excursions due to local restrictions or the ship's schedule. We'll share that information once you're onboard.
Unfortunately, anyone who hasn't been vaccinated won't be able to go ashore unless they're on an Marella Cruises shore excursion. This means that the majority of guests aged 17 and under will need to be on one of our excursions to be able to head ashore.
We still recommend booking with our Destination Services team or via the Navigate app as the safest way to explore - all the trips and tours have been vetted by our experts to make sure they meet our COVID safety measures. But, if you'd like to change a shore excursion booking you can do so up until 24 hours before your excursion is scheduled to depart.

Yours sincerely,
Chantelle
Customer Support Team

TUI GROUP

TUI UK & Ireland
Alexandra House | Swansea | SA1 5ED | UK
Chantelle.Sidey@tui.co.uk
 

Just got email from Marcella there allowing us to get of on our own now  will post full email tomorrow 

4 minutes ago, howmuch! said:

Can you confirm this for definite with Marella, as I haven't found it anywhere on their site.

No it’s Princess Cruises  . I called marella but there still not allowing it

Princess Cruises have said said UK cruisers can now get off in port even in EU on there own. Wonder how long this will take Marella to adhere to. 

Well that’s a risk if you want to do it. Cant think anything worse than being stuck in a inside cabin if quarantined 

54 minutes ago, FIFE1 said:

Great news International cruises now permitted on the news tonight

Only if departing from a uk port as I read it. And then still have problems with testing amber plus etc. 

From what I can see it’s only cruises departing from the Uk. 

May have something to do with latest covid cases in Spain. Some news agencies saying that Spain and Greece going on amber plus list. We’ve cancelled our winter Motorhome trip to Spain in October for next spring. Also swapped Caribbean and Cuba cruise in January as most places on red list. I feel not many European cruises going ahead for ages but we’re see.

Can also recommend NCL , been on a few and the entertainment is very good and All inclusive is much better than marella. The Epic is a great ship .Your can get packages with flights,better to use TA or jetliner cruise for ie as cheaper than getting flights with NCL.  Would not recommend getting ur own flights as not protected against cancelled flights/cruise

Yes I’ve seen that but the restrictions are changing at some point, just when though

1 hour ago, bishop84 said:

I would assume that they will substitute another port, possibly another Jamaican port, until Grand Cayman reopens to cruise ships in, currently, January. That is assuming the Covid status of Cuba changes by then as it is a 'Red' country at the moment. 

Well we decided we don’t want to go now in January so spent 2 hours on phone and managed to swap for UK cruise end of August. Such a shame as had premier seats on plane and junior suite.  I can’t see things changing in the Caribbean. Didn’t want to pay balance and fight for over £7000 or receive voucher .