Kamfish642

So EU requirements for pre-cruise COVID testing withing 72 hours of embarkation is still in place? I am also on an upcoming Viking cruise, and when I bring up this EU requirement for cruises leaving EU country ports I've been attacked.

Can you please point me to where EU pre-cruise testing requirement has been dropped. I am sailing on July 10, and as of today, cruise line (HAL) still says requirement exists.

CDC still requires negative COVID test within 2 days of departures from US ports, and EU European Cruise Protocol stills requires negative COVID test within 3 days of departure from EU ports. This is aside from specific country entry requirements and self-imposed cruise line requirements.

Website was of no use. HAL representative was not sure why seat assignments would not show up on HAL site for cruise and simply referred me to airline to resolve.

Stop your arguing. Simply do your own research if you don't believe me and take the risk. done responding.

Look up on internet. Your cruise line should also have a link to European cruise protocol.

EU requirement, like CDC in US for cruise lines (at least ocean).

We have an upcoming cruise in July 2022, and like several others, we have had troubles with cancelled flights and seat assignments. I have contacted HAL several times and have been on hold from 1-2 hours only to reach a representative who spoke English poorly, bad phone connection, or lacked knowledge to answer question. Generally, HAL just blamed airline, which in turn blamed cruise line. Supposedly, I have a confirmed reservation on flights to Europe but unable to get seat assignments. Fingers crossed when arriving at MIA? Not sure what else to do.

This only applies to entry requirements for specific counties, not EU European cruise protocol. However, not sure whether this protocol applies to just ocean cruises. Since cruise line controls requirements for boarding their vessel, I would not simply blow off cruise line representative or you may have to pay for expensive pier-side COVID test, if offered.

Does the reinstated mask policy only apply to Alaskan cruises? On a cruise in July out of Amsterdam.

I spoke to a HAL representative, since we are on a HAL cruise in July, and he indicated that EU cruise protocol also applies to vaccinated passengers. Need a negative COVID test within 3 days of embarkation. Not a cruise line requirement.

EU cruise protocol still requires a pre-cruise negative COVID test prior to embarkation on a cruise departing from EU European port. This is separate from cruise line testing requirement.

US CDC and EU cruise protocols still require a negative COVID test prior to embarkation. This is separate from cruise line requirement.

Both US CDC and EU cruise protocols still require pre-cruise COVID testing.

Thanks for the feedback. I was just confused whether NAAT test fell into PCR or rapid antigen caegory.

Our first time on an aft balcony. Our only concern was the possible funnel exhaust trailing the ship while navigating through fjords. We saw this as a problem on a Princess cruise in Alaska and glad that we did not book an aft cabin; otherwise, I've primarily heard only good things. Hopefully we'll cross paths on cruise! Feel free to stop by or call. Joe and Ellen Anderson

Is NAAT considered a PCR or rapid antigen test?

I have an Aft Vista Suite (7191) on an upcoming Rotterdam cruise. Does anyone have any experience staying in these aft Vista suites on the Rotterdam that can provide me some feedback?

Masks recommended vs. required? Not the same.

First time we have taken a B2B cruise on any cruise line. On 14-Day Best of Norway on the MS Rotterdam leaving on July10. When we return to Amsterdam after first week, will HAL require (provide) a COVID test for 2nd week? Will we need to leave ship in Amsterdam and reboard?

Finally, I was connected with a Lufthansa representative who could at least confirm we had seats somewhere on plane, but he could not process payment of specific seat selections in advance due to an error in Lufthansa system for booking. According to Lufthansa representation, the confusion appears to be the result of HAL setting up separate Airline COLs for Lufthansa flights MIA-FRA-AMS and Delta AMS-JFK-MIA, but having electronic tickets issued by Delta to Lufthansa. My concern is that initially HAL, Lufthansa and Delta websites all showed confirmed; yet, when I inquired when I could not pay for assigned seats on Lufthansa, Delta identified that flights had been cancelled and refund provided at HAL's request due to a flight change in arrival time only. Wonder what would have happened if I had not pushed this issue and simply showed up at airport. This was the first time we have every booked flights through cruiseline. Right now, I will be assigned seats from MIA-AMS upon check-in for Lufthansa flights. After all this we will be happy to get middle seats on wide-body aircraft, so long as we get to AMS.

Update: Last night after 4 1/2 hours on hold with HAL Travel Services, the HAL representative confirmed that tickets had been cancelled and refunded to HAL due to a flight change, which appeared to be only the departure and arrival time on existing flight from JFK to MIA on Delta. According to Delta representative, refund was requested by HAL, but HAL representative could not provide a reason other than verifying that tickets were cancelled and refunded due to flight change. Question is would HAL have identified this and resolved prior to my departure? On the positive side, the HAL representative re-issued ticket request to Delta. Delta representative was contacted Delta by my TA this morning and verified that e-tickets had been issued. Delta representative looked at Lufthansa website and verified that flights from MIA-FRA and FRA-AMS on Lufthansa had been confirmed and e-ticket numbers listed on their website. However, I subsequently contacted Lufthansa to pay in advance for seat assignments and was told that tickets still had not been issued. So I read off the e-ticket numbers on their site, and see put me on hold. She came back on the phone and told me that she could not help me until Delta ticketed return flights on Delta/KLM. I informed her that we had just spoken to Delta and have seat assignments. She again placed me on hold and when she came back, she simply told me that someone would call me within 36 hours regarding payment. When I asked whether or not this referred to ticket payment or seat assignment, their was mumbling for a moment without a clear answer. So here I am waiting for a call from Lufthansa in the next 36 hours. I tried to call Hall Travel Services again using the direct phone number provided by HAL Booking, and which I used last night, but all I got was a pre-recorded message stating "line is not in service." I'm going to wait until 2 weeks before cruise and if issue is not resolved with Lufthansa, either by HAL or Delta, I'm just going to cancel cruise rather that simply travel to MIA and show up at airport hoping I have a flight.

I wish that it was that easy. Both TA and I have contact as soon as they open. We were transferred to the Travel Service Department, placed on endless hold, and disconnected at 4 hours. Looks on BBB site and multiple concerns reported. We have filed a formal complaint with the BBB.

July 10, 2022, 14-Day Best of Norway cruise on MS Rotterdam VII In late April 2022, my Travel Agent contacted me after noticing that my flights reservations had unknowingly been cancelled. She contacted the HAL Flight Bookings and had same flights rebooked, but HAL representative was not able to provide an explanation on how this occurred. Jumping ahead to late May 2022, I was unable to select seats on the Lufthansa flights identified on the HAL website for my cruise. I contacted a HAL Representative via telephone and was told that I would need to contact Lufthansa directly and likely pay a fee for advance seat selection. I then called Lufthansa and was told that they could not assign or have my seats paid for since "Ticket has not been issued," even though electronic ticket numbers were listed on their website. Lufthansa representative indicated that I would need to contact HAL to resolve. After both my Travel Agent and I contacted HAL multiple times, we were either transferred to or instructed to call the HAL Flight Bookings. On numerous times, we were both simply placed on hold and after 4 hours disconnected. This is no way to run a cruise line or customer service in general, and as such, I have filed a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau. In further discussions with my Travel Agent, she believed that the e-Ticket numbers listed on the Lufthansa website indicated that HAL purchased flights through Delta Airlines. So as my last resort I contact Delta Airlines. The Delta representative informed me that information available to her showed that flights had been refunded to HAL but it was unclear to her the reason why tickets were refunded. However, she informed me that our only recourse was to contact HAL to resolve. How can this be resolved when every time we call HAL Flight Bookings, we are placed on hold for 4 hours and disconnected!!! Any advice on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated!

Hello LAFFNVEGAS. My wife and I are also on the July 10 cruise of the Amsterdam. Without hijacking post, have you been able to printout your Express Docs (boarding passes) yet? They were supposed to be available on approximately May 26 and I am getting run around by HAL representative who is unable to answer why we cannot access.