ALD18

Good news indeed.  Think you are seeing the European countries that went into Omicron lock down slowly starting to fully open back up.  I would not be overly surprised to see US drop the arrival antigen testing in the relatively near future as well.  Since we are about 4-5 weeks behind everyone else in mandates, maybe by end of March or early April we'll be done with arrival testing too.  Not sure which direction I see the cruise lines going on the testing route.  Can see them keeping testing in place as a safety measure to smooth over historical bad press, but maybe not.

5 minutes ago, Luv2Cruze4 said:

So...best option for taking a test then to get back? Tests you can take with you?

That is as complex and the testing requirements😀  Your cruise line may provide them onboard or at the dock.  You may need to take one on board if the disembark locations requires it.  Some people do it at cruise line dock location, some find local drug stores who provide the service, and some get it done at airport.  Doing one of the self tests requires access to internet for testing purposes.  Switch Health antigen is one of the more popular options for take it with you kits.  It appears to be simple and straight forward, but only issue could/can be ship internet if you choose to do it on board.  If you can wait until you get ashore it apparently works far better.

The "on-arrival" testing is done at the airport in Canada and was always random.  Hearing they are still doing frequent random selection and it is a PCR test.  The second point in regards to rapid antigen taken within 72 hours of departure/arrival from outside the country is the one that needs to be adhered too.  Before you head home from outside the country. 

12 minutes ago, Luv2Cruze4 said:

I thought Canadians no longer needed covid test to get back into the country if you are fully vaccinated??

Nope, you need an antigen test within 24 hours wall clock time for entry.  They dropped the cursed PCR test last week.

I'd dig as deep as you can get on the RCL web page and if you cannot find sufficient information call the customer information 800 number.  If you use a TA contact them and hopefully they are up to date.  It will depend on where your disembark port is and that countries rule/regulations on what they require for entry as well.  Generally speaking though a lot of the lines have pushed the disembark testing to the dock.  As part of that they are putting the cost of testing on to the passenger as well.  Not all though.  That tightens up your timing for testing and results.  We are seriously looking at getting the Switch Health certified antigen test and taking them with us.  Buy a days worth of internet and do the test via internet when you please.  Only issue here would be ships wifi and internet speeds which seem to be very unstable most of the time.  As things continue to morph who knows what will be in place in March😄

I dunno, just clicked on the link 6 times.  Canada showed 2 times, 4 it did not.  Maybe something with the way cookies and history are being handled.  Open in a new tab and Canada shows every time.  Regardless, looks like we can get off the ship!!!!!

Wow, swimmerboy, funky stuff going on with link.  Your input shows Canada, but clicking on the link does not show Canada......every time?  You click on link multiple times and sometimes Canada is in there, sometimes its not.  A mystery..........or just me?

1 hour ago, broberts said:

 

Didn't work for me.

Me neither, thus the thinking emoji🤔  Should have been more clear on my sarcasm😀

Boy that English translation tab works great🤔

Good read..............

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/02/18/canadian-fliers-confused-after-portugal-drops-canada-from-travel-list.html

May 8 Anthem of the Seas

We're giving 4 hours.  Would far rather sit around and people watch than have added pressure of presenting all paperwork and avoiding crowds running on a string and possibly missing flight.

Thanks for the info, appreciate it😀

Wondering if RCL is still primarily using QR codes and apps for interaction with onboard guests?  Or are the old reliable paper Compass and menus back in use?  Neither of us are big fans of toting cells or tablets everywhere while on holiday.  Realize some things like booking onboard activities we may need to use app, but normal activity while sailing I'm turning mine off and leaving in room.  Thanks. 

Great information, thank you for sharing😀

If I remember correctly the ArriveCan app only uses 2 shots as fully vaccinated.  Probably boils down to wording.  Fully vaxxed is 2 shots, 3rd shot is the booster.

Now if we can get Portugal to let us off the ship in May my anxiety level will drop significantly😟

Bit more info:

https://torontosun.com/news/national/canada-to-ease-travel-requirements-as-covid-cases-decline-govt-source

Like the dropping of the travel advisory to a lower level as well. 

1 minute ago, 1kaper said:

I'll still take antigen test over PCR any day. Much cheaper. 

Did you order your LAMP test anyways😉

5 minutes ago, truckswain said:

It is breaking news, however does nothing to change what one must do to cruise if you have to fly home from your departure port.

 

Time to end all testing for vaccinated travelers period.

Agreed, but they're taking political baby steps here as expected.  Will greatly reduce costs, result wait times, and make a lot of people/families happy. 

GOOD STUFF!!!!  Hope you can have some fun now😃

In the context of the cruise lines, I wonder if the ships will still dock in the Azores, or any other Portuguese ports, but just not let Canadians off?  Might they ban future Canadian passenger bookings and cancel Canadians already on the cruises that are to stop in any Portuguese ports? That may be another logistical hurdle for them to handle sorting who can and cannot get off..........

Wondering if it affects entry into the Azores?  Is it not a separate country now, not directly part of Portugal?    

19 minutes ago, 1kaper said:

 

My experience has been the turn around time had more to do with the person preparing the result documentation than the time it takes to get the results.  

But you are also supposed to wait 15 minutes for the results.  I don't think anyone preparing documentation would say it was a definite negative before the full testing time is up. 

 

In my case, again at work, the paperwork is taken care of later.  I can see it taking 15 minutes on the ship, dock, and/or pier for results, if not a bit more time.  But waaaaay better than hours for pcr.

Implementing the antigen boils down to pricing and timely results.  The supposed 15 minute turn around is actually less than 5.  We have to test where I work and for those that have tested positive the second little red line proving infection shows up real quick in like 2-3 minutes.  I don't mind doing that procedure and would gladly do it prior to returning home.