Nolsie

You can do it now - I had to call up the Reservations line, but secured 2 Vibe passes for the 25th Feb 2024 sailing out of San Juan.

Thank you to this group - managed to secure Vibe passes for our 25th Feb 2024 cruise on Viva.

On a positive note (No COVID pun intended), looks like she is steadily making her way to Barcelona as we speak :

It was good news from the UK Gov travel update yesterday, Spain stayed off the red list.

So, the only thing stopping us enjoying a boat drink or 5 onboard on September 5th is if we catch the bloody virus ourselves, but we have been testing ourselves regularly, and so far, all good.

This may just happen 🙂

Cheers

Nolsie.

Just got the same email, so went straight to Agent Chat. 

Was told, that nothing has changed, and that we would not be denied boarding in Barcelona.

The bathroom layouts in most staterooms are an experience in themselves 🙂

Finally, eDocs are now available, so admin wise, all good. 

Just keeping everything crossed now that neither Spain or Italy move to the UK Govs red list at next review, and the Italian Gov's rules around isolation are relaxed for fully vaccinated UK citizens at end of August.

This is now sorted, had to go back into the check in section where you add your photo. There is now an option to add your checkin time at the pier. Selected that for both me and my missus, and its showing as fully checked in again. 

Hopefully eDocs should be available shortly.

Grrrr, has anybody been able to download eDocs ? I thought I was all checked in, and it does show that in the app and on the web.

However, when I look at my vacation summary, it now only shows 84% checked in, and missing a green tick for Check In Time. Has anybody sorted this, either with NCL, or by themselves ?

Thanks

All sorted, just needed to re-validate email addresses for both. All good now, so waiting on eDocs....

Yep, done everything so far....

It wont give the option until I complete online check in 🤬

Anybody completed the online check in now things are back up and running ? I have, and got all green ticks against each phase, except for the Health and Safety section.

I have completed all parts of it, and received the QR code for the antigen test at embarkation, but still no green tick. Anybody else ?

I am getting the same. Hopefully just routine maintenance.

Hi All,

Just picking up on an earlier post. Think it has been confirmed that all UK based cruisers that were booked on Harmony of the Seas throughout August have been cancelled as it visits Italian ports.

I get Trimone's point about the vaccination requirements being different, but I do wonder if this means we wont be using the "In Transit" clause for the Italian Gov's entry rules. If that is the case, if they dont relax that 5 day isolation rule on August 30th, those of us from the UK may indeed be prevented from boarding.

Anybody have a different spin on it ?

Interestingly, you can still book on HotS through 3rd party TA's, but its just not showing on RCCL's UK site to book either August or September.

This is so unnerving, if we do make it, that drinks package will be getting some hammer !!!

We are also scheduled to fly on the Friday, but from Birmingham. I just double checked, and there is still availability on that flight if that works ? 

It is BA, but the flight is operated by Vueling, soi maybe you can transfer if you can make it to Birmingham. We will also be taking our required antigen test at the airport, so killing two birds with one stone.

ScratchTheRat,

I guess its worth mentioning that I am actually picking the sailing up on the 5th September in Barcelona, so Trimone is responding on that basis, as we are not boarding in Rome.

That is a whole other kettle of fish 🙂

Cheers

Nolsie

Thanks Trimone,

That is certainly what we are hoping, although I would just be happy being able to board. We have been lucky enough to visit a few of these destinations before, so not bursting to do any excursions - it is so port intense that it is actually tiring trying to do something each day. Especially the NCL tours that invariably begin at 7AM in the morning.

So, we would be happy just enjoying the ship and the drinks package, with some warm sunshine. But if we did have the option to go ashore, and Florence is my absolute favourite place in the world, then that would just be great. I just hope that we are able to board in the first place.

I guess a lot can still change anyway, Spain may be added to the Red List or not, Italy may relax its isolation rules, etc. Its very much a risk v reward situation, and just erring on the reward side as it stands !!

Cheers

Nolsie.

This has turned into quite a hot potato.

First time checking back for a few days, so thanks all for the contributions. As a UK traveller, there is still huge uncertainty around Italy, and the Italian governments requirement for visitors to isolate for 5 days.

When I asked the NCL cruise consultant - and I think it was Macie - she was pretty clear on stating the 36 hour transit clause, and that we would be OK to do our own excursions whilst in Italian ports. I clarified it, and yes, that means own, independent excursions !!

However, I do not think for one second that is honestly the case. The 36 hour clause applies if transitting in a private vehicle - would a cruise ship be classified as a private vehicle ?

I just dont know what will happen. Will we be denied boarding, will we just not let off the ship, or will we be allowed to visit the ports given somehow the ship is considered to be compliant with the 36 hour transit clause.

Just so many unknowns. As it stands, we have flights and this cruise booked. The news from the UK government today around changes to the traffic light system is largely positive with more countries being moved to the green list (though not Spain or Italy yet), and France being moved to regular Amber list. It suggests that things are moving in the right direction, but some clarity from NCL is much needed on how we will fare when it comes to visiting Italy.

We are keeping a close eye on that 15 days to go FCC date. If we dont get clarity before then, we may be forced to cancel, which would be a huge shame.

Complete change of heart on this. After speaking with an NCL cruise consultant, we have decided to book on the sailing on Epic out of Barcelona on September 5th after all.

They mentioned that we should be able to do excursions, given that we are transitting through the country, and that the PCR test will be done up to 72 hours prior to boarding, so should cover the airline requirements as well.

So all booked and keeping fingers crossed that this goes ahead.

Cheers

Nolsie

I have sailed P&O before, and just wasnt that impressed to be honest Trimone. It was on an older ship mind, so that may have done it. And I am holding off Virgin for now. Just not sure what to make of that offering, so will wait to read some reviews I think.

MSC would be new, the Virtuosa is a new ship, lots of features, so it looks OK. Just would have preferred heading out to the Med, but just seem like so much hassle.

Thanks all for the comments.

It just sounds too tricky. Was on the phone with an independent travel agent, and they werent so sure. They did say that the PCR test offered by NCL is done at the port prior to embarkation, so would have to stump up for a further test prior to travel to Spain.

Think we may go down the MSC route and do the British Isles - just too fluid.

Thanks again.

Nolsie

Hi everyone,

I am really struggling to find some information about the Epic sailing from Barcelona this summer, so was hoping that the community on here could weigh in with some answers.

Basically, my wife and I are UK nationals, and we are looking at booking this sailing as we just need to get out of the house. Does anybody know how the port visits to Italy will work, given current restrictions mean that you need to isolate for 5 days. Would we be prevented from embarking, would we be made to stay on the ship, or if we are on an NCL excursion in a bubble, would that be OK ?

And do NCL offer PCR tests as part of cruise fare, like some other lines do ?

Thanks so much for any advice.

Nolsie.

Wonderful review, not too many around for Anthem, so thank you as I am sailing on her in January.

On ‎6‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 6:57 PM, Merion_Mom said:

 

@Nolsie - Paul, which sailing?

We are on the 5th Jan sailing, @Merion_Mom 🙂

Thanks for sharing Pete. 

As a similar UK based cruiser, I also often use US based TA's for bookings, as they usually come in cheaper than UK based or directly through the cruise line themselves, but it still pays to look around.

For example my wife and I are booked on Anthem next Jan. We booked this directly through the UK RCCL site, as believe it or not, they had by far the best deal that included the beverage package (much needed on a 11 night sailing). I also find that the price advertised by US agents does not often include port fees, taxes, etc, so this can often bump the price up.

Having said that, probably 9 times out of 10 the US TA's are better value, and perks like OBC seem to be more frequently offered.

I guess what I am saying in a long winded sort of way, is that it does still pay to put the effort into researching all options, I never would have thought that booking direct with RCCL would have ever been the best option, I was pleasantly surprised 🙂

Happy sailings

Paul