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Embarkation was the start of the disasters. It took one hour 45 mins from arrival to actually getting onto the ship - it was faster last year when we all had to await test results! Even the lady who was organising the rows of disgruntled passengers (few of which were wearing masks) said she didn't know why the folks checking us in were so slow. Definitely not the SS of old!

We were also on the Norway cruise and compared to the Spirit last year felt very unsafe in respect to the Covid risk. We wore the FFP2 masks whenever out of our room and out and about on the ship and if we perceived too many people in a room we did not enter. We only ate in La Terrazza once, for dinner, and that was an uncomfortable experience as the tables for two were placed very closely together. It was a case of eating and running and cancelling our second reservation. The tables were much closer together than we had experienced pre Covid. We only took one shore excursion on the Flam Railway (our sixth attempt to achieve this!). Very few masks were worn and it was very crowded - all very unsettling. I should have gone with my first instinct and booked independently as those carriages were far from full and it would also have meant we weren't stuck up a mountain for a forced stop for coffee and waffles for over an hour (we did not partake). Covid risk apart this was not a successful cruise - initially our butler was conspicuous by his absence (not that we utilise the butler but I did want to ensure we had a good supply of water) and I complained to the Hotel Director(?) after three consecutive days of the room not being touched by either the room steward or the butler until well after 2pm. This resulted in a change of butler (the first one had 15 rooms on deck 9 and then us on deck 8). The room steward was very forgetful in replacing towels and nearly every day I had to call for bath towels. He also had 15 rooms elsewhere on our floor and then us. Something wrong with the staffing and I expressed my concerns to the Hotel Director. The general feeling we had about the ship that it had no soul and the staff really didn't want to be there. Not a feeling we have experienced on SS before. Is it the change in ownership I wonder. Whether we return to Silversea I don't know but right now I am not looking at any of their cruises and possibly waiting to see what happens when Crystal returns.

We'll see you on the ship! Such a relief!!! My husband wanted to do a dry run so that we could see exactly where it was - needless to say I was resisting strongly! Now I can spend the day getting things immaculate for our cat sitter!

This from the SS website today Voyages Departing On or After September 5, 2022 PRE-EMBARKATION TESTING REQUIREMENTS Fully Vaccinated Guest Testing Requirements Guests embarking on a Silversea vessel who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to present a negative PCR or Antigen test.

I've never had problems on a TA other than the normal slow speed which you get used to after a few days and on one occasion that was on a northerly course via Iceland and Greenland. I've actually had more problems while being in a port at various locations in the world.

I'll have to tell the owner of our little paper shop tomorrow morning that he lives in an exotic place!!! For some reason he lives over that way and drives 50 mins every day.......... It was so much easier last year when we got on the Spirit - they tested us pierside! We'll certainly have earned all those lovely drinks and American beef!!!

Yes we do have to go the other side of Wolverhampton (not a part of the world I know!). Oh well an adventure. Good luck with your tests too.

I assume you're on the Moon on 9th. I did see that but don't have much confidence in doing it myself! It would still mean doing it over the internet which again I don't have much confidence in - hopefully Dam Health will work and I'll just have to be exceptionally well organized!

Les I am in the same boat - November was my last booster but then I look at my smallpox vax which I must have had 60+ years ago and presumably they are still effective. So who knows. My biggest problem has been getting a test - after much filling in of forms online and eventually being directed to a Boots website no appointments available. Upon further investigation Boots don't do them any more!!!! After that on to Lloyds Pharmacy - nothing within in a 50 mile radius. Eventually I did find a Dam Health but that is nearly 50 miles away - I just don't need to be doing a 100 mile round trip the day before we go to Southampton. But that is what we have to do.

Thank you everyone for your info and, Jolly, thank you for interpreting things for me.

Thank you. My problem is my booster is over 270 days so thought I should get the PCR just to be safe knowing our luck we will be turned away for not having the right one. No DAM health near here sadly!

Fudge where did you get your PCR test? I am tearing my hair out trying to find somewhere to have it done 48 hours prior to boarding. Our Boots only do them selected days and of course not the day we need. Apparently there is no call for them as "they are not needed for travel".

Will be interested to hear your views. We have looked at various Saga brochures but they all seem to arrive with the rooms we are interested in sold out.

I too had my booster in November 21 however by our cruise in September I will be over the 270 days from it so not sure how I get counted! If it is by the 2nd dose of the vaccine I would think that most people are over the 270 days. All so confusing and I'm making myself ill stressing over it. I wish we'd cancelled when we could or were allowed to have a second booster! Not a problem for my husband he is over 75.

Who knows - last thing I read is they are discussing it and whether we will get it with the flu shot! Not much use to we people who had the booster almost a year ago and nothing since. I asked my GP if the under 75's were getting it and she said she had no idea the GP's are totally out of the loop. All so frustrating.