Kamfish642

UAL flight from MIA to Newark for tomorrow was cancelled for today and yesterday, but still has not been cancelled for tomorrow. Definitely worried!

I don't believe that HAL has modified Verifly for July test cruises out of Amsterdam.

Believe so.

Today, I looked into the HAL website to verify my flights leaving Friday for a July 10 cruise out of Amsterdam. I was surprised to see an OOPS message saying that my flight(s) were being rescheduled. After talking with a HAL rep, I was told that Lufthansa had cancelled the 2nd leg of my flight from Frankfort to Amsterdam and that they had rescheduled my flight with only a 1 hour and 20-minute transfer time in Frankfort. They informed me that my only option was a flight on United from MIA to Newark with a 2 hour and 45-minute layover until flight to Amsterdam. Knowing all the current delay issues, is this sufficient time in Newark between flights?

My wife and I are one of the 3 test cruises in July leaving from Amsterdam where they are not requiring a pre-cruise COVID test. However, is still requiring us to enter test results prior to cruise. Is there any way around this or is Verify useless for our cruise?

We have a connection flight in Frankfurt to Amsterdam with a 4 1/2-hour layover between flights. Hopefully that is sufficient time so that bags make it on flight from FRA to AMS without getting lost.

Just interested if there has been any significant COVID issues on cruises since Viking revised its COVID testing policy? HAL is doing test cruises eliminating need for pre-COVID testing on 3 upcoming cruises in July on the Rotterdam leaving Amsterdam for Norwegian ports.

We continue to hear horror stories about travelling to/from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. We are flying into Schiphol Airport on July 9 for a cruise, and was interested if anyone has had any issues with lost or delayed baggage?

Need to get a new roommate!

keokukjoe - I want to thank you again for your insights. I have an upcoming HAL cruise of Norway in early July, and HAL just cancelled pre-cruise COVID testing for European cruises for countries not requiring COVID test for entry. Also looking forward to no COVID test worries on our December 2022 cruise on the new Viking Neptune.

I'm not sure of any countries in Europe that are still requiring a negative COVID test for entry, possibly Greece, so this should apply to almost all European cruises.

I would assume it would apply to countries which still have a COVID test requirement for entry. Not may anymore.

Just received the following email from HAL for our upcoming 14-Day Best of Norway cruise departing on July 10: June 30, 2022 Dear Valued Guest: We look forward to welcoming you on board Rotterdam for your upcoming voyage (booking XXXXXX). We are reaching out to advise you of a change to our COVID-19 testing requirement that affects your sailing. As health protocols around the world continue to evolve, we are adjusting our policies to align with those of the countries we visit. As a result, you are no longer required to undergo pre-cruise COVID-19 testing or produce a negative test result at embarkation for this cruise. Our COVID-19 vaccination requirements remain in place: · All guests 12 years and older are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the final dose of an approved vaccine received at least 14 days prior to embarkation. · Guests 18 years and older must have received a COVID-19 booster dose if their final dose of an approved vaccine is older than 9 months (270 days) from the last day of their cruise. · Guests who do not meet these vaccination requirements must receive an approved vaccination exemption from Holland America Line in advance of their cruise. For full health and safety guidelines for your voyage, please visit our website. Please note that at this time, the removal of testing requirements only applies to select voyages, so our full FAQ has not been updated. For this cruise, please disregard the testing requirements listed there. Here at Holland America Line, the health and well-being of our guests, team members, and the communities we visit are our highest priority. Our protocols are designed to ensure a relaxing and memorable vacation experience while maximizing the health and safety of our guests and crew. Thank you for choosing Holland America Line, and we look forward to seeing you on board soon. Kind regards, Holland America Line

Need to check with your health insurance company for specifics as far as whether they will cover, but most still allow for a certain number of COVID tests per year. I know that our local Walgreens and CVS are no longer providing rapid-antigen testing at drive thru, only PCR (results in 2 days) or NAAT (results in 2 hours).

On 14-Day Best of Norway cruise, which is scheduled to visit Geiranger, Norway, on July 20, but excursions are not yet available on-line. Any prior cruises visiting Geiranger having issues with booking excursions in advance? Any idea when excursion will be available to book on-line in advance of cruise?

What is HAL's policy on B2B?

I have HAL transfer from ship to airport. Any idea when transport leaves ship for airport?

Cruise is a single booking (14 day), just returns to Amsterdam after 1st week. I believe that each week can be booked separately, but ours was booked as 14 day Best of Norway cruise.

We have a 2:30 pm flight. Should this be sufficient time?

On the 14 Day Best of Norway sailing on the Rotterdam out of Amsterdam, which returns to Amsterdam after week 1. I know we will need to have a negative COVID test results 3 days prior to initial embarkation in Amsterdam, but will we need to get a 2nd COVID test upon return to Amsterdam prior to start of week 2 of cruise?

My wife and I are on the July 10 sailing of the Rotterdam from Amsterdam. Is the MDR open for lunch on embarkation day? I've seen various posts that seem to infer both yes and no, so asking for feedback from you veteran HAL sailors. This is only our 3rd HAL cruise and 1st from Europe. Thank you in advance.

I inquired about this and apparently EU European Cruise Protocol, cited on HAL website, is merely voluntary, similar to CDC recommendations for sailing from US ports. They are not requirements. According to the Viking representative that I spoke to they are no longer looking at complying with EU protocol, while HAL and other cruise lines sailing from European port have volunteered to still comply. Major shift for Viking, which when from the most restrictive to one of the less restrictive.

Received some clarification on EU European Cruise Protocol applicability. After speaking with Viking rep, I was informed that Viking is no longer requiring or verifying pre-cruise COVID testing but apparently HAL and other cruise lines are. Apparently, EU Cruise Protocol, like CDC guidance for cruise lines sailing from US ports, is voluntarily, and HAL and other lines have chosen to follow while other lines have chosen not to. Confusing since I have upcoming European cruises on 3 different cruises. EU guidance posted on HAL website apparently was just updated (June 2022), but only change is testing from Greece. So, I guess I will need to schedule NAAT test for July 2022 cruise out of Rotterdam. EUHG_Operational_guidelines_CoV_June2022.pdf

Thank you for clarification. So each cruise line is choosing to follow or not EU guidelines, similar to cruise lines out of US port volunteering to follow CDC guidelines. Obviously, HAL and Princess, and not Viking, have chosen to follow EU protocol based on my calls today with HAL and Princess since I have upcoming cruises with them. Thanks again, I missed up front statement and was confused further by input from various cruise line representatives.

Will see when you try to get on cruise ship in EU port. At least for now. See Section 7.4 of the link above.