sherylc

Just got an email from United changing our perfect 12:30 flights to 10:09 am!  The other options are horrible, super long layovers, getting in super late, etc. 

If we take our luggage off ourselves at first moment they let us off, is it possible to make a 10 am flight at MCO? We have pre-check to help with security.  

Thoughts from those with experience from Port Canaveral?

Thanks

Just off the Refkection yesterday. They did offer the options you listed. About 200-300 passengers took advantage of the onboard testing with 13 of them testing positive. (Caused our numbers to hit at least 1 percent for cruise since so few passengers, 1327). Some chose to stay on in quarantine, others chose to quarantine in Italy.  

On board the Reflection right now RT Rome. They just changed their Covid testing rules today to allow passengers that are flying home within 1 day of disembarking to test onboard ($65 each). Testing will be late afternoon/evening on day prior to returning to Rome. Also given option of buying emed testing to be handed out at port or making a reservation at FCO for testing. 

Sometime between last night and this afternoon, Celebrity changed their mind on offering pre-departure testing. Paperwork last night was usual options off the ship. Today we got new paperwork offering onboard testing for tomorrow (for $65) for those flying out on day of debarkation (the following day) Not sure if this is a ship based, Italy or even a fleet wide change. 

If we do end up doing test day of travel, do we then have to upload it to the airline’s website or just show it to the agent at the check in window? 

I’m currently on the Reflection and was told the Porch wouldn’t be open at all for lunch this cruise. Very disappointed especially since it would have been included for me in an upper suite. 

31 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

We are currently on Reflection. We get off of the ship tomorrow. We have done all Celebrity excursions because we had a lot of OBC to use. Today, our last day, they asked us for cabin numbers while on the excursion. I found it odd that they only did it the last day!

Have there been a bunch of Covid cases in last few days to account for the change?

Actually Celebrity no longer has "formal nights" and has replaced them with "Evening Chic" which tends to be a lot less dressy. Definitely have ordered more than one main dish when I couldn't decide or found that I didn't enjoy the first one.  

Sold Out excursions usually continue to show up, just with the "sold out" label on it. So it is odd it isn't showing up at all. If nothing changes (watching often), the best bet would be to go to the shore excursion desk as soon as you board and ask to try to get on with your friends. I was able to do this on an Alaska excursion -- DH got a spot, but took the last one. They were able to call the tour company running the excursion and get me on too.

We have a bunch of "private journeys" booked with Celebrity on a cruise later this month. Wonder if those could count or only new bookings. Also where do you find the form to fill out?

I'm guessing a lot of people are booking private tours to avoid covid exposure/contact tracing and they have gotten a bit desperate to fill up their shore excursions!

We had our butler bring us Sushi on 5 when last in a Royal Suite - no problem at all.

Wow, I actually had this exact thought a few minutes ago for our upcoming cruise RT from Rome. Since they are apparently letting you stay onboard if you test positive, wouldn't it make more sense to bring the proctored test with you and test before disembarkation?  If you are negative, you are free to relax on your way to the airport (or in our case on the one day prior to leaving while we enjoy Rome). If you are positive, you are still on the ship with potential options.  

We also were able to lift and shift when Celebrity cancelled our cruise (Japan)  -- saved a lot of money over what it would have cost to cancel and rebook.

13 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

Yes you can. I have done it. Quarantine for 5 days and along with letter and positive test one can travel ……I also know many people that have done it

Kinda interesting to hear that the airlines are not following the CDC requirements which are very clear that, while you can end isolation at 5 days and wear a mask, the DO NOT TRAVEL extends all the way to 10 days after covid positive test results.  

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

https://quick.md/blog/doctors-notes-medical-certificates/documentation-of-recovery-for-recent-covid-19-infection-cdc/

A lot of times what is stated and what is followed aren't the same so good to know what is happening in actual practice. I looked up the airline checklist to see if they have any date requirements for positive test until flying and I didn't see it listed. Not sure if each individual country might have their own isolation requirements that also have to be followed (heard Italy was a minimum of 7 days if repeat test is negative). Also might be very dependent on the doctor filling out the certificate of recovery. (US doctors are supposed to make patient wait the 10 days per CDC guidelines - see above link)

46 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

Unfortunately, since you are already off of the ship and tested a day later…..actually doesn’t matter since you are off of the ship…..Celebrity holds no responsibility anymore. You will have to see if you can get a letter of recovery after 5 days and use that with your positive test to re enter the US (if he tests negative after 5 days you won’t  need that) Regardless, he will have to stay there for at least 5 days. Is he old enough to stay alone? If so, all family members should leave Spain because if another tests positive you will be there longer……hope that made sense

Actually, you can't travel to the United States for a minimum of 10 days once you tested positive (per CDC site:)

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html#do-not-travel

Do NOT travel if…

• You have COVID-19 symptoms, even if you recovered from COVID-19 within the past 90 days or are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• You tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date your positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.
• You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test.
  • If your test comes back positive while you are at your destination, you will need to isolate and postpone your return until it’s safe for you to travel. Your travel companions may need to quarantine.
• You had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine.
  • Do not travel until a full 5 days after your last close contact with the person with COVID-19. It is best to avoid travel for a full 10 days after your last exposure.
  • If you must travel during days 6 through 10 after your last exposure:
    • Get tested at least 5 days after your last close contact. Make sure your test result is negative and you remain without symptoms before traveling. If you don’t get tested, avoid travel until a full 10 days after your last close contact with a person with COVID-19.
    • Properly wear a well-fitting mask when you are around others for the entire duration of travel during days 6 through 10. If you are unable to wear a mask, you should not travel during days 6 through 10.

Looks like deck 6 is all balconies, so that is a bit of a relief if we do have to isolate!! Thanks for the updates, we are sailing on May 23, so love following along with you.

If you are in one of the high end suites, is it acceptable to have Luminae or even a specialty dining option served in your suite? We've ordered Sushi on 5 before in our suite, but wasn't sure about plated meals.

But they have dropped any coverage for hotel/food/transportation costs related to having to quarantine after the cruise or if you don't get to board due to covid.

Glad you had a great time!! 

Hate to ask this emotionally charged topic, but sailing in 4 weeks on the Reflection so curious: Were there Covid cases and if so where did they isolate?  

Does anyone know if this affects all of the Cloud Antarctica itineraries? We are booked mid-December 2022 and haven't heard of any changes. 

21 hours ago, Babr said:

All of these bullet points can be covered by buying insurance.

 

Point one : Insurance will reimburse all prepaid nonrefundable costs under cancellation for a medical reason. In addition, it will reimburse you for costs associated with quarantine if you test positive at the pier. Celebrity is not paying quarantine costs after April 30, 2022, so even if they extended the cancellation feature until 2023, how are you any better off? You’d still have to pay for quarantine and return travel if you tested positive at the pier.

 

Points two and three expire in two weeks; but they, too, are covered by the Trip Interruption provision of a comprehensive travel policy.

The difference is that one has to pay for insurance. I guess I just do not expect the cruise line and - by extension - other paying passengers to continue to underwrite the cost of people who test positive for COVID. 
 

 

Curious how travel insurance would work for a group traveling together where one person tests positive the day before the cruise after the group spent several days together pre-cruise. That person should have their expensed covered under travel experience. Would their spouse? Would the other couple(s) that have now been exposed and would likely not be allowed to board the ship due to their exposure?

20 minutes ago, klfhngr said:

So if I'm fully boosted, but caught Covid in January, I don't need to take a test 1 day before boarding in Italy?

That's exactly my situation and I expect to HAVE TO take a test one day before since I meet the boosted qualification. January covid doesnt really matter

2 hours ago, Stumblefoot said:

Tell us more, please.  What are you referring to, on what ship, and how would you like to dress?

Silver Cloud Antarctica and South Georgia Islands -- I thought I heard people don't typically dress up on these type of cruises.

Do these dress codes apply to expedition ships? (we are doing Antarctica over Christmas and weren't planning to dress up much)