jerseygirl3

39 minutes ago, MaddyandMax said:

 

Unvaccinated passengers have to get a PCR test.  The turnaround for that is much longer.  Here in Canada it could go past 3 days.

Oh, ok. That does make sense. A PCR herr in New Jersey usually has a 48 hour turnaround, but not guaranteed. When we go to Europe in October, we'll prob bring a few government issued tests with us and use that Rapid Test company, assuming we have decent wifi. 

10 hours ago, BND said:

It's been three days.

 

What caught my eye was the last sentence about further relaxing testing requirements.

I didn't realize testing for unvaccinated was always 3 days prior to embarkation.  That doesn't even make sense.  It would be more prudent to have the unvaccinated test closer to embarkation, not later than those vaccinated, as the unvaccinated have a higher risk of contracting the virus and getting sicker (that statement is not up for debate; I'm a nurse and I get the daily totals of hospitalizations and deaths broken down by vaccinated vs unvaccinated).   I don't get that rationale;  as a vaccinated passenger I can't be tested any sooner than 48 hours, which makes things more complicated when traveling overseas. 

40 minutes ago, handbellplayer said:

 

Wow - thanks for the helpful responses! 

 

I have heard of problems with the eMed tests, too.  If I order two tests, what if one doesn't work?  Should I order more? Thanks to those who are sympathetic.  I know I come across as a nut, but I have been confidently cruising for many years....before COVID.

Use one if the at home tests the government sent and log onto Rapidtestandtrace.com. It is proctored, costs $20/pp, and you have the results in 30 min.  

1 hour ago, BND said:

This is what Michael Bayley posted on his FB page:  "Today ! Finally ! we announced a change to the testing requirement. Effective August 8th there is no requirement for vaccinated guests to test for any cruise 5 nights or less. Unvaccinated guests will be required to take one test within 3 days of departure. We will also continue to operate highly vaccinated cruises with a vaccinated population greater than society and which continues to exempt kids 12 and under and we will welcome unvaccinated guests over 12 and guests with a certificate of recovery within 90 days to travel keeping in mind our ships will typically sail with 80 percent plus vaccinated guests onboard. All crew onboard will continue to be fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible. Over the coming weeks as we evaluate these changes and discuss further changes with the destinations we visit, our intention is to further relax testing requirements."

So now they will be allowing more unvaccinated to sail "typically with 80% vaccinated " and changing the timeframe for testing from 48 to 72 hours?  

4 hours ago, CoffeeBoy said:

"Starting Aug. 8, testing will be required for unvaccinated guests on all voyages and for vaccinated guests only on voyages that are six nights or longer. "

 

Wait. Are they saying unvaccinated guests can board cruises after August? They don't have to apply for a religious or medical exception?

I thought the same thing.  Sounds like they will be doing away with vaccine mandates before they do away with testing for vaccinated passengers. Not happy about this.

25 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Omicron hits you pretty quick.  You could legit test negative 2 days prior, be exposed that day and be symptomatic when you board the cruise.

I suspect the 5 night cutoff is much more bureaucratic and political than actually medically founded.

When my husband got this new variant (we assume it was the new variant as it was so recent), it took 6 days before I tested positive, although I was symptomatic within 2 days of him testing positive.  The testing needs to go, it does nothing.  

I tested negative at day 11 with an antigen test. 

3 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

I think we are seeing a trend away from testing (an exercise in futility) and possibly vaccinations, which now don't seem to matter based on Biden (four times vaxxed) getting COVID. The "science" has morphed so much that no expert can make any statement with certainty anymore. 

 

I have been following the opinions of people who have been shut down for the past three years. It appears that their cautionary statement now are shown to be accurate. I have a very close relative who is an MD and refuses to vaccinate his children and now what he has been worrying has now been exposed as accurate.  Still, this morning, on the mainstream news, I heard a newscaster say that "Responsible children protect their children with COVID vaccines. It seems some are holding onto this thinking. Check out what Dr. Deborah Birx just said.DR. BIRX: I knew these vaccines were not going to protect against infection. And I think we overplayed the vaccines, and it made people then worry that it's not going to protect against severe disease and hospitalization. It will. But let's be very clear: 50% of the people who died from the Omicron surge were older, vaccinated. So that's why I'm saying even if you're vaccinated and boosted, if you're unvaccinated right now, the key is testing and Paxlovid. It's effective. It's a great antiviral. And really, that is what's going to save your lives right now if you're over 70, which if you look at the hospitalizations, hospitalizations are rising steadily with new admissions, particularly in those over 70. 

But Biden didn't require hospitalization, as did the previous occupant of the WH.  So vaccines are effective.  Not everyone can take Paxlovid, due to other interactions with other medications (blood thinners, to be one).  

6 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

They dropped the b2b testing around the 3rd week of my b4b on the Allure in April and first week of May. If they had tested me I might have tested positive and would have been booted. Since they didn’t I ended up with symptoms the night of the first day of that last cruise and we know how that went. 😃

When you were symptomatic, did you quarantine for 5 days?

Just now, Vacationdreamer<>< said:

 

Ugh.  The flu I had in 2009 was the most miserable I'd ever been.  I'm sorry it found you on vacation.  😞

Not only did it find my husband (thankfully, the Medical Center put me on Tamiflu prophylactically and I didn't catch it), but it also found 80 other passengers.  That's the count that was given to the CDC.  I'm sure there were loads of others, but they weren't counted or quarantined if they didn't visit the Medical Center.  

14 minutes ago, Vacationdreamer<>< said:

Was your husband so ill he needed to seek health services?

Yes.  He was running almost 103 temp fever and was very lethargic, sore throat, body aches.  

19 minutes ago, Babr said:

 

I’ve been wondering about this, too. Once the testing requirements are relaxed or eliminated, I expect that COVID assistance plans and lenient cancellation policies will go as well.

 

If the cruise lines continue to quarantine positive passengers, it will be up to them to provide any compensation because insurance won’t pay for isolation on board. If you are disembarked at the next port, then trip delay/trip interruption provisions apply.

My husbsnd was quarantined when he contracted Influenza A onboard Feb 2020. We received  no compensation for the days he was quarantined (the rest of our 12 day sailing). It didnt even occur to us that he would be refunded. There were 80 confirmed cases on our sailing. Prob more that didnt report to the Medical Center. 

Im all for ending the testing.  I just wonder how many will still board even if they know they are positive for Covid. 

12 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

Send an email to mbayley@rccl.com ... a little birdy told me that he will personally respond ASAP.  😉

 

I sent him an email a frw weeks ago. Crickets...

On 7/14/2022 at 6:18 PM, larry_s_taco said:

This is our first trip to Rome. We will be staying 3 days in Rome before our cruise in October. We were wondering what restaurants near the Termini that everyone would recommend. We are staying at the Hilton Doubletree Monti in that area. We would like to find some walkable places to eat. Preferably some traditional Italian places, not the tourist traps that I've been reading about. We are also interested in the best Gelato locations. 

 

I'm assuming if you're spending 3 days in Rome, you will want to make a visit to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, etc.  If you are going to be in that location, I would highly suggest Armando Al Pantheon restaurant (about 50  yards away from the Pantheon, but tucked in a small street.)   It is very small, you must make a reservation for dinner at least a month in advance.  Lunch may be easier, but still need a reservation.  It's very small and family owned (they are closed on Sundays).  It's a little more difficult to get in since Stanley Tucci featured it on his CNN special "Searching for Italy", but it's not a touristy place.  The cacio e pepe is to die for, as is the carbonara.  

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

Wife and I took our tests this morning and it could not have gone more smoothly. Before scheduling, I asked via live chat if we could both get monitored at the same time by one proctor even though you have to schedule two separate appointments. I was told absolutely, just let the proctor know. We did and it went just as I was told.

 

Prior to the appointment, they sent numerous reminders via e-mail and text with a link to the Microsoft Teams meeting. You don't have to download Teams if you don't want to though, simply click on "open in browser" after clicking the provided link.

 

We used free iHealth rapid antigen tests provided by the government (from our stockpile) but they will let you use any FDA approved test.

 

Our proctor (a registered nurse) was very friendly and professional. She double checked all our information and made sure to ask if we had any questions throughout the process. She also stayed online while she sent the PDF results via e-mail and had us go over the info to ensure it was all correct before ending the session.

 

Cost was $20 per person.

 

Just wanted to share my experience. I'm not trying to convince anyone to use this service. Everyone should use whatever testing method they feel comfortable with.

 

If you are interested, here's a link... https://rapidtestandtrace.com/product/observed-test-for-travel/

Can this service be used outside the country?  We will need a test done in Italy. 

2 minutes ago, flamingos said:

If it is like emed, you both need to establish accounts.  I have not used this so I cannot answer that question.

Can you explain how emed works?  And which tests are acceptable. We have QuickVue, Flowflex, and Clinitest 

7 hours ago, flamingos said:

 

Here is one of those companies. You use your test, you set up an account with them and pay them, and they proctor your test.  

 

https://rapidtestandtrace.com/product/observed-test-for-travel/?gclid=CjwKCAjwt7SWBhAnEiwAx8ZLaje_zFr5x7QRThUUcwktpWVkX1FtCcQG1jllZ-0WFvI9uHNMa8Hg0RoCPyEQAvD_BwE

Do you order 2 separate test proctors for husband and wife. Also, how soon before you want to test do you order?  
 

thanks!

23 hours ago, ace2542 said:

Someone must have boarded with Flu at some point?

Im sure there was. Or he could have picked up in one of the ports. 

3 hours ago, ace2542 said:

They should not have been allowed to board either. They could have created a new flu/covid combined virus from the spread of both virus at the same time. A new virus that would sweep the world and kill millions. And they should mandate flu vaccines and testing. I wonder how many working days where lost to staff because of flu.

My husband contracted Influenza A on our last cruise before the pandemic started (Feb 2020). As did 80 other passengers. All were quarantined. He was allowed to stay in our cabin and irder room service. No cabin attendant seevice. The medical center did not quarantine me, but they did put me on Tamiflu prophylactically. I stayed in the cabin fir the most part anyway because i didnt want to leave my husband alone I know for sure my husband didnt board the ship with flu, as we were already 9 days into a 12 day cruise when he first felt ill and stayed in our cabin that evening and in the morning went to the Medical Center, where they tested him for flu. 

6 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

They do it because they feel entitled and believe the rules don't apply to them. They probably also have a fake vaccination record. 🙄

 

And again you are repeating some false info. Btw, everyone knows or should know that the email goes to staff that can help or try to and not directly to Bayley.

 

This is true, but THINK about it. Someone tests positive and therefore can't get on the ship. That prevents more covid from spreading. It's a no brainer!

 

I was a big proponent of precruise testing, but I've since changed my mind.  My husband got Covid 5 days into a Florida vacation last month.  I immediately isolated.  I became symptomatic 2 days later.   I tested every day for 5  days and was consistently negative.  I didn't test positive until 6 days later.  I'm sure I had it during those 5 days I was testing negative.  If my husband hadn't tested positive, I probably would have stopped testing after the first negative test and thought I had a cold/flu.  

Thnx!

Can someone enlighten me as to the daily gratuity amount?  It seems like so long since we’ve cruised that I’ve forgotten. 

We got a one way from Philly to Bologna (with a changeover in Heathrow) Premium Economy for $735/pp. Booked direct with American Airlines.   I think we did pretty well.  Last 2 times we booked with cruiseline, they dropped the ball.  The first time they cancelled our reservation completely (they wouldn't take any responsibility and had no idea who or why we were cancelled, as the flight was still a go).  The second time we found out days before we were due to fly to Rome that they bumped my husband off the flight.  Both times they were First Class/Business class tickets.  And neither time did they notify us.  We happened to check our reservations and found out.  

On 6/28/2022 at 10:24 AM, Funky Fusion FoodsJ said:

We had a cruise for last Sunday.  With airline problems we never even got off the ground.  Air2Sea attempted to find other flights to get us there, even looking at getting us to the first port stop but no luck.

 

Anyone have this happen?  Since air was booked through them will the issue a refund or fcc or consider it as a no show?

It says "they will do everything possible to get you to your cruise."  It doesn't say it guarantees getting you to your cruise.  Did you have travel insurance?  If not, I think you're out of luck.  We never travel without insurance.