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Hi, we are sailing from Rome on Splendour in Oct and just wondering if anyone has any recent knowledge of which pre cruise hotel may be assigned. Thanks in advance x

We are sailing Beyond in November - not first time on Edge class but first time non - retreat. We originally booked Traditional dining as we are sailing with friends, but then realised this didn't exist so have recently changed to Anytime so we can pre book our MDR dining. Although we are 10 weeks out, there are NO MDR slots available pre 9pm for any of the restaurants on any of the nights. Is this normal? Now I know I can probably book once we board, but I was hoping to have all this sorted ahead of time, since we are cruising with other people.

Thanks in advance 

We are sailing on celebrity Beyond in November - 4 x adults and are looking to do Dunns River Falls. From everything I have read it looks like the ships tour is the easiest and safest way.

If we were to kook the cheapest option - Independent Exploration: Dunn's River Falls - does anyone know if we can just get a guide when we get there to take us up the falls?

Thanks in advance x

We haven't done Chefs Table on Celebrity but did the Magic carpet meal on Edge a month or so back.

Menu looked amazing so didn't mind the large upcharge (think it was around $300 for the both of us) but had to say it was the most disappointing meal all week and we did get a full refund.

Food was mediocre but the service was so slow.... We had been waiting about an hour before we even got our bread course, whereas tables all around us were on courses 3 & 4 (and yes, we were seated before them). 

Drinks service was so slow also, so just seemed they were way understaffed.

During sunset it was a lovely place to sit and eat, but by 10pm it was dark and quote cold - we had to use our phone torches to see what we were eating.

Lovely idea, but just needs to be executed waaaaaay better.

16 hours ago, crzndeb said:

From March 7

 

Canada Releases Health Guidelines For Cruises

Through Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, Transport Canada released the long-awaited new health and safety guidelines for cruise ships today, March 7. 

As expected, the measures introduced by Transport Canada essentially mirror those implemented in the United States by the CDC. However, there are some exceptions. Guests wanting to take a cruise that departs from a Canadian port, or one that has a Canadian port as a port of call included, will need to take a PCR test within 72 hours before they board. 

An antigen test is also accepted; however, only if it was taken within one day of boarding. That means that the current standard that is in place in the US, 48-hours before boarding, is not valid for cruises that call in Canadian ports. 

All guests must be fully vaccinated before sailing, although some groups may be able to get an exemption if they comply with one of the following: 

 

 

But then the question arises for the ships stopping in Victoria. Are they going to test everyone on board the ship before they arrive? Doesn’t make a lot of sense.

 

And who’s checking the documents? Royal staff, or a Canadian official first? 

That is March 7th which I believe has been superseded since.

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

I may be wrong, but have been following testing protocols with some interest since we are sailing on Radiance in April, but haven't Canada announced that are dropping testing to enter (by road, rail and sea) on April 1st, which means RCI protocols are the only ones to follow?

2 hours ago, Digjharper said:

It all depends if the test kits have been approved by the US FDA as per the reply I got from RCI this morning. Many kits sold in the UK are approved by the US FDA. For example, the ones I am taking in to the US are certainly approved by the US FDA so according to RCI they are acceptable.

https://dochq.co.uk/shop/

 

 

“Telehealth self-tests taken at home must meet these requirements:

Per U.S. CDC guidance, only vaccinated guests may present self-administered telehealth COVID-19 test results at the terminal to satisfy the pre-cruise testing requirement. The test must have Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA. The self-test process must happen under live supervision on a video call with a telehealth representative. The telehealth provider must issue you a result document that includes all the necessary information.

International guests sailing from the U.S. are able to complete their testing using telehealth test kits, providing the kit has been authorized for use by the U.S. FDA. Telehealth test kits obtained internationally that do not meet this requirement will not be accepted”.

Thats interesting, and thanks for posting  - I have it it writing from RCI that states that NO tests from the UK can be used... Just shows you that the right hand doesn't always know what the left hand is doing 🤣

4 hours ago, Digjharper said:

My wife and I are in the same position as yourselves. What we are doing is to take in extra testing kits from the UK (same ones we are using for our US flights) and doing the online test. Only thing to be aware of is the time difference when booking the appointment times.

 

We are using Edocs ones, used in the past and no issue. Only 19 quid each.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but for those taking tests from the UK to do once in the USA - they are NOT accepted, even the ones where you test via video link. I checked with Royal and they clearly said that unless I tested in the UK, then my only other 2 options were to test in USA or get a RCI test sent to my hotel. Any test that originated from the UK CANNOT be used for boarding stateside unless its taken in the UK and falls within the 2 day testing rule.

I am pretty sure the OP's initial test to fly to the US will be OK for RCI. It is 2 days before testing but boarding day is classed as day 0 so testing on Wednesday and sailing on Friday will be fine.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/faq/questions/how-do-i-figure-out-when-to-get-pre-cruise-covid-19-test

WE are also flying in from the UK to take a cruise out of USA. We are taking our test at Lloyds Pharmacy on the Thursday morning, using that test to fly on Friday to the US and using the same test to board RCI Radiance of the Seas on the Saturday. Lloyds tests are approx £30 and you get results whilst you wait. 

We are sailing LA > Vancouver then B2B Vancouver > Vancouver (on Radiance). 1st leg is less than 30 days out and no protocols in place.

We are on the first sailing on Radiance (23rd April) and I emailed Royal to see what was happening with the app last week - this was the reply...

Hi, we are sailing into Vancouver mid May (on RCI Radiance FYI) and our flight home isn't until 10pm. Just wondering what options are available for luggage storage as we would like to make the most of the day and do some sightseeing.

I seem to remember pre Covid that the Pan Pacific hotel took luggage in (for a fee) - does anyone know if this is still the case or are there  any other options.

Thanks in advance x

On 3/14/2022 at 6:14 PM, little britain said:

She will be the last RCI ship to reenter service. First sailing is 4/15 from Barcelona to Copenhagen.  She will then be based in Copenhagen for the summer season - her Baltic itineraries have been recently altered to remove St Petersburg calls. Replaced with great ports like Riga and Gdansk. 

Isn't Radiance the last ship to enter service - we are sailing 23rd April and that will be her first back to service sailing?

Well this is going to be interesting and I really hope RCI advise passengers what they are going to do to support the testing requirements as soon as they can.

We are flying into USA from UK on the Friday (very early am) and our cruise sails on the Saturday from San Pedro. 

We were hoping that our antigen test (already booked in UK for the Thursday morning) would suffice both the USA and RCI requirements, but since we are on a B2B (San Pedro > Vancouver, then Vancouver > Vancouver) which sails end April I am now not sure what tests we will need to have, or where even to get them!!!!

With 44 days to go I really hope RCI give clarity pretty soon 🤔

No unfortunately. I believe the only cruise line to have an affiliation is Celebrity and we used them last summer onboard Silhouette. Had to book and you had to have a Peloton account.

We were on Anthem last year out of UK and were given wow brands as we were Star class. Fast forward a few months and on Anthem in Jan out of NJ (no longer star class) - asked if we could get our wow bands reprogrammed (no muster printed on them) and were told they were no longer being used and therefore they couldn't be reprogrammed. Very disappointed as we found them such a benefit.

We were on Anthem in January, and we were given white cloth like bracelets to wear. For the first day or so we were checked when entering venues that we had them but this stopped after a few days. Unfortunately, many of the venues we went to (Boleros, Music Hall, Casino) had many many people in without the bracelets and no one said anything. Chances are that they were all vaccinated and had just forgotten to put the bracelet on, but it was disappointing to see that no-one really cared to check.

6 hours ago, mtm103 said:

Yes I have heard this… I need to do a PCR test to get in the US anyway.. but I might do a “pre run” anyway just to make sure I test negative! Thank you

We are flying to the US on Thursday from the UK and currently you only need a lateral flow test to fly to the USA (the day before), although this MUST be proctored - no DIY with NHS  tests.

Interesting to see that the T&C's have changed yet again...

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/when-to-take-a-test-if-traveling-to-us-from-another-country

International Re-Entry Testing Options for Cruises from U.S. Homeports 

Many international travelers will require a negative COVID-19 test result for re-entry into their country of residence. Please see below for options available to you on your sailing.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with your country’s specific requirements prior to scheduling your re-entry test. 

For Sailings That Depart Before January 5, 2022 

You can schedule a complimentary COVID-19 test to be taken onboard just before the cruise ends. Both PCR and antigen tests are offered. Details on scheduling your test will be provided once onboard.

For Sailings Departing January 5, 2022 through January 31, 2022

Optional testing to satisfy your International Re-Entry Testing requirement is offered in the terminal after you disembark the ship, through our test provider partners. The cost of this testing is covered by Royal Caribbean for sailings departing through January 31, 2022. Both PCR and antigen “swab and go” tests are offered, with results emailed to you within an hour after testing. Once onboard, you will receive further guidance on how to schedule a test appointment.

For Sailings Departing On or After February 1, 2022

Optional testing to satisfy your International Re-Entry Testing requirement is offered in the terminal after you disembark the ship, through our test provider partners. The cost of testing is the responsibility of the guest, and varies depending on the port, with antigen tests starting at $105 and PCR tests starting at $210. Either test is “swab and go,” and results will be emailed to you within an hour after testing. Once onboard, you will receive further guidance on how to schedule a test appointment.

You can also make your own arrangements with test providers at the airport, or in the area of the port, such as local pharmacies or clinics. 

44 minutes ago, allwyn said:

No point in non us citizens cruising if they cannot be tested by Royal free on last day of cruise.

To re enter USA they will need a pcr test not more than 24 hrs before arrival anyway as they do now  with the flight to the USA.  i think there may be a lot of merit in the point made  in this link that by not giving the test to non us citizens they absolve themselves of any responsibility if they test positive once they have left the ship  whereas currently if tested positive onboard on  the last day of the cruise it would be their responsibility... It will also potentially mean that they can show higher numbers of passengers cov free when leaving the ship...    

 Not true -  to enter the USA all UK citizens must have a LATERAL / ANTIGEN test the day before flying, not a pcr test.
 

Not sure, however what the test requirements are for re- entering the USA after a cruise. I wasn’t sure there were any. Whatever those requirements are I would think it would be irrespective of nationality and in place already. It Would almost certainly be up to RCI to provide these as you wouldn’t be allowed to disembark without.

If we still get to travel then we are going to take our own lateral flow tests with us. We have plenty of the free nhs ones and will buy the travel home one and test the day before we disembark. In the unfortunate situation of testing positive, at least we will still be onboard and in theory RCIs responsibility, as opposed to finding out we are positive after we have left the ship and RCI have no responsibilities to us. 
 

4 minutes ago, chmusar said:

Does it not depend where you are going in the world as Protocols for where i am going

" Barbados" a antigen test is free on the ship so you can re-enter Barbados and that will suffice for getting back to UK.

 

I also booked a walk in  PCR test at manchester airport on my arrival at 7.00am to cover the PCR test within  2 days .

 

Could all be a waste of time depending on what Boris is going to do 🤨

Agree. Any announcement in the next few days by either Boris or Biden could scupper any plans for travel, BUT as it stands atm if you fly anywhere abroad you need a pre departure lateral flow test to fly back home and then your 2 day return test when you land.

This is the test we had provisionally looked at getting and taking with us before RCI UK had confirmed via email only a few days ago that testing would be produced onboard and FOC

https://www.chronomics.com/test-to-return/?fbclid=IwAR3Y5MnM9YwaMpVgpBjbaIhYolbyunSCvCqX65OB7LxKgw27yldDl92aub8
 

and not trying to be negative but RCI posting that we can get tested at the terminal, airport or local testing site is just not good enough. Do we need to book ahead, just turn up, what’s the cost???? We are talking about flying transatlantic the same day. If there is ANY issue with the test then we don’t fly, which means additional costs for hotels and rebooking flights. At least with the RCI test onboard it was the day before so at least gave you a bit of contingency if needed.

Also, as a non us resident trying to get a test isn’t as easy as you would think and damn expensive. We are staying in NY a few days prior to the cruise and it’s not been straightforward finding a private company to take the pre departure test. 

As a uk resident who is meant to be sailing on anthem 9th January I find this really poor. We have to have a test in order to fly home, and like do many others will be flying on the day we disembark. Now, we have to try and find somewhere to test and have the worry waiting for our results on the same day we fly. 

Currently we ‘should’ be able to take a test with us (as currently only needs lateral flow) but who knows if that will change over the next few weeks.
 

With less than 3 weeks before we are supposed to be going, this has made an already stressful situation even more worrying.

I totally appreciate things have to be fluid whilst travelling during covid times, but come on Royal… making this decision only benefits Royal and not the costumer. 
 

On 12/4/2021 at 4:54 PM, little britain said:

Hi -just to verify it says "You will need to have taken this test no more than 24 hours before your flight to the US departs".....  our flight leaves at 12.10 so will book an appt for 12:15 the day before! 

 

Agree with you about how nice it is to have everything planned... alas no more! 

 

Glad you posted this - we have our 24 hour tests booked at Lloyds pharmacy at 9am the day before we fly. Now... we have connecting flights. Our initial flight MAN > LHR is actually 6am BUT our LHR > EWR flight isn't until 10.45 sooooooo I am thinking that just in case the connecting flight isn't taken into account, we should change our Lloyds text to midday. Cheers x