sunlover33

On 5/15/2022 at 4:58 PM, Arizona Wildcat said:

Would it be better to tell 40% of the suite passengers their cruise was cancelled?  

Maybe it would be better not to overbook suites by move up offers,  while the staffing crisis remains unsolved? 

Yay let’s just hope it doesn’t change again. 

On 5/15/2022 at 6:46 PM, Silkroad said:

Try to give the crew the benefit of the doubt when response times are slower than normal, or mistakes happen. On both my cruises, I saw crew members valiantly trying to cover gaps in addition to their regular duties. They have no control over corporate decisions.

And while no one  blames the staff and would certainly not voice this to staff trying valiantly to provide a service, it should Certainly be voiced to Celebrity  head office, who need to either reduce passenger numbers or reduce prices to meet expectations. I pay for a certain  level of service and if it cannot be provided at the level I paid for or expect  then I would demand a reduced price. Yes Celebrity need to recoup the money they have lost, but I am not a charity. They are a business and their job is to keep customers happy so they will return. If we lower the bar because times are difficult, it will remain low but at increased cost. 

3 hours ago, 360Guy said:

Almost entirely British passengers with 200 “others”.  England has zero quarantine, no test to return and stopped paying for tests.  Self test kits were hard to come by.  While very high vaccinated and boosted percentage, 99% unmasked and rampant coughing and sneezing.  

Maybe it’s because in England we now consider it endemic.The vast majority of people have no more symptoms than a common cold or mild flu. Most don’t  even test and there is no mandate to self isolate if positive although guidance suggests we should. Numbers continue to drop and speaking to staff in my local hospital  this week there are no patients in ICU with covid and very few admissions for covid related illness. Those who are tend to be mainly unvaccinated. I currently have covid and can honestly say if I didn’t have to test to attend hospital this week  I would not  have even known,  I thought it was just pollen allergy. With increased knowledge of covid, effective vaccines, a milder strain with omicron and anti viral drugs it’s really time to move on and stop treating this virus like we did two years ago. We are in different times now and although some are hesitant maybe it’s time to consider moving forward and start treating this disease like any other virus and not the plague. 

I am still unsure why  Celebrity are making life so difficult for their guests with this rigid one day testing  before embarkation. It’s not an Italian requirement, a quick look on other cruise websites reveals for all European departures (including Italy)  Viking is two days, MSC 48 hours and Princess three days with the provision of free port testing if passengers are unable to obtain a test results in time. Celebrity are not doing themselves any favours. 

3 hours ago, B x said:

We'll still be wearing ours as well when we travel to Rome on June 11th.

 

A mail from BA this morning which I guess was prompted by the EU announcement yesterday, rather ambiguous in part, but basically wearing one on board rests with the requirements of the destination Country, so it's a yes for Italy until 15th June. No requirement to wear one at Heathrow now.  

Which shows what an utter nonsense these rules are. Either mandate mask wearing in airports and flying or scrap the rules altogether. What’s the point of thousands of people milling around an airport security and lounges exchanging numerous virus particles and then flying for multiple hours wearing a mask. I’m not arguing either way but the rules need to be streamlined so they make sense both pre boarding and while on board. 

1 hour ago, Purplsmurf said:

Italy definitely still requires masks on planes, airports, trains and other places.

The wording is ‘encouraged’  not ‘mandatory’ on flights  

The new recommendations on the wearing of face masks are set to come into effect from May 16, 2022. However rules for masks in particular will continue to vary by airline beyond that date. For example, flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still required on public transport should continue to encourage mask wearing, according to the recommendations.

Thanks Jim and Lain for sharing your trip with us. Your wonderful photography, interesting anecdotes, sense of humour even in the face of adversity and your extensive cruise knowledge have made great reading over the last few weeks. Enjoy the rest of your stay in Scotland and safe journey home. xx 

On 5/3/2022 at 5:42 PM, LegalEagle2012 said:

My point, and still not clarified by Celebrity, is why offer the option of a COR if you STILL have to have an antigen test.

 

I have a valid COR, by virtue of what is on the app and website and it still states no test is required if you have a COR.  Why they are saying differently via messenger and not on the app or website anywhere is a total mystery

 

Have you had any further updates? I currently have covid, we sail in 67 days and wondering if it’s worth getting a COR once recovered and if I need to buy a PCR  test or if an antigen  test will suffice as evidence of positivity.  I can’t see the point of a COR if we still have to take an antigen test I day prior to the cruise, but if it would prevent this it will be worth it. 

On 5/4/2022 at 1:17 PM, harryspotter said:

Hi, sorry not a sexy title but I have a quandary. 

 

My cruise arrives in Port at 5am. I need to book transport to an hotel in Rome and want to get there fairly early around 1030. I want to go on an underground coliseum tour at 1130.

 

But I have no idea what time I will get off ship and thru customs ready for a waiting car.

 

Let's say, I want to get in the car at 9am. I imagine that will give me enough time to get to the hotel in cental Rome.

 

What do I need to do to make this happen?

 

BTW,  it will be the Beyond in August so pretty excited.

Ask the company you plan to book with. They are experts at getting people from A to B for certain times and will know the likely traffic situation for the times you need. Can highly recommend Stephano Costantini -Rome cabs. Done this trip many times and they have never let us down. 

On 5/5/2022 at 4:09 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

I really don't think I would have thought I had Covid, especially after testing negative.   I would have thought I had allergies to all the trees in bloom.     From others I thought a Temperature was the number one indicator.   Even the nurse, the only thing she did at our door was take our temperatures.  Both us were normal. 

I agree completely, I thought I had an allergy to tree pollen. Ionly tested as visiting my 92 year old mum in hospital and surprisingly tested positive this morning. Hopefully that gives me an immune boost for our upcoming cruise in July. Just need DH to catch it now!  Really enjoying your thread and wonderful pictures. It’s really interesting to see views from someone else’s lens. 

The original poster has updated her post since speaking to an officer and things seem to have improved considerably. A little kindness and common sense had been applied today, it doesn’t take much but has changed this ladies experience considerably. I’m so glad for them both. 

33 minutes ago, VitaminSea53 said:

But the difference is original cruise quarantine and electing to stay on the ship for the next cruise to complete quarantine. They probably don’t want to make it too attractive for Covid+ passengers to stay on board although they do “offer”;that option. 

And Therein lies the rub. Either offer it and look after pax or don’t offer it at all. Sitting on the fence is not an option. 

15 minutes ago, VitaminSea53 said:

Your food choices when originally quarantined allow for all the dining options you would have access to based on your originally booked cabin. If you elect to stay on board after your original cruise ends then you are limited to only the typical room service menu.  

Do you know this for a fact? I haven’t seen it written anywhere, in fact there seems to be very little information about what happens if you test positive except you will be quarantined. No information about where or amenities provided except from passengers who have unfortunately found themselves in this position. If it is correct, it’s  not a good way to treat passengers. A company stands on its reputation of how it treats people when things go wrong. Sadly in my opinion Celebrity are not helping their reputation by treating passengers so poorly. Surely a basic standard  of care regarding nutrition is required for passengers if Celebrity allows  them to quarantine aboard after their cruise has ended. 

42 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

From the several CC posts I have read from people who are, or were quarantined, the room service is available from what ever dining room you were booked in. Luminae for suites, Blu for Aqua and MDR for all other. This is not much different than pre covid being quarantined to your cabin with Norovirus. I do agree that having to give up your cabin to be quarantined in an OV or Inside cabin on deck 3 is rather over the top  and maybe unnecessary for those booked in verandah and Suites cabins.

That was my understanding with regard to food choices too. However the OP posted that her husband has only room service menu and not dining room menu and also mentioned the lack of vegetables. I have no reason to doubt her account. 

2 hours ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

NOT horrific.  Much of her whining was self-imposed.  Her entitlement came across strongly.  "Everyone must do everything for me and my husband" attitude.  Celebrity is NOT your mother.

 

We have to be aware this is the "new normal."  COVID testing, restrictions for safety, altered itineraries, etc.  Celebrity *and other cruise lines) are not responsible for you catching COVID.  They are responsible for maintaining sanitary conditions so COVID does not spread.  Just off a Princess trans-Atlantic and the ship failed to follow basic protocols - until they tested passengers flying back to the US and found that about 20 percent tested positive.  Only then did they mandate masking everyone for everyone.

Wow that’s a little harsh for a lady who finds herself isolated and alone and in difficult circumstances. Maybe a little empathy wouldn’t go amiss.  Yes we are all responsible for our own health, but the way Celebrity are treating positive cases is truly horrific. Her husband has been quarantined with access only to room service menu, which from my recollection is not all that comprehensive. It’s covid not the bubonic plague, maybe Celebrity need to reconsider all guests needs, variety of food, exercise and fresh air being fairly basic, either in quarantine or free roaming.  If Celebrity  continue to treat guests this way, why are they surprised  that guests who feel unwell fail to report, therefore perpetuating the spread. 

9 hours ago, p18750 said:

I did read the rest of the thread and I don't believe there was a definitive answer to whether it was a day or 24 hours. 

There was a post from the EU health agency indicating "the day before" but that was clearly a recommendation and not a requirement and in either case does not answer the question since the question is what does a "day" mean.

There was a post from another cruise line which indicated "one day/no more than 24 hours" but that is for Silversea and not Celebrity.

I had posted earlier that Oceania indicates 72 hours but that has no bearing on what Celebrity means. 

 

The common usage of "day before" would mean the previous day, i.e. Sunday is the previous day to Monday. If it is Thursday then "the day before yesterday" refers to Tuesday. But as has been pointed out the dictionary definition indicates 24 hours. 

 

If I have missed something please let me know. 

The day before means the previous day according to Celebrity’s website. See FAQ 

When calculating which days you can take your test, be aware that the day you set sail is not counted as one of the days, unless the country of embarkation stipulates that the test be taken within 24 hours of arrival.

For example, if you are setting sail on a Saturday, and you are required to test 3 days before your sailing, you can take your test on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday; and for 2 days in advance, you can take the test Thursday or Friday.

https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/healthy-at-sea/faqs

When/ if we get a reply I will let you know. 

On 5/3/2022 at 9:51 PM, Denny01 said:

Yup, back to 1 day prior. We were already going to be in Civitavecchia 2 days prior so we were taking the test while there already. We all need to watch the changing requirements! 

 

One question. It says that the ‘Up to Date Guests’, those who had full vaccinations within 270 days or a booster:  Must present a negative Antigen test taken within 1 day prior to sailing. Testing at the terminal will not be required.

 

Does that infer we could take the test at the terminal as they are providing for those designated Fully-vaccinated (have been vaccinated but taken longer than 270 prior and no booster)? 

 

I’ll test the day prior, but it would be nice to know it we have issues doing that on line at our hotel, that we can be tested At the terminal.I’d call Celebrity, but with the extended hold times, And I don’t really trust what a peson who is working the phones will actually know For Sure. 

 

Oh well. Would be interesting if someone knew this from direct experience. 

 

Den

 

I have asked the question via celebrity messenger but still awaiting reply. This is our dilemma too. Would be nice to know we have a back up plan. 

Love your photography 

The difficulty we now have as passengers is a dilemma in light of this new information which I already suspected, having read differing reports of how covid positive cases are handled. We may agree to a contract,  but there is no way  of knowing how each individual ship will handle  the quarantine requirements of infected passengers. In effect we leave ourselves completely open to the vagaries of individual captains of each ship, without knowing exactly what the outcome will be? Our final payment is due in three days, I’m now considering do we pay or cancel, as could we bear a possible 10 days in an inside cabin instead of a sky suite? I’m not sure it’s a risk worth taking at present. Thank  you JetBlue for your very useful insights and follow up information and hope you both are recovered from your recent infection and experience.  

I have really enjoyed reading of both of your adventures over the past two weeks and look forward to a continuation of your travels, albeit changed itinerary. Hope you aren’t feeling too unwell following your positive test  and Iain continues to be negative. At least you will have given yourself an immunity boost but shame your trip to Norway is cancelled. We are on Reflection in July and really hoping Celebrity considers changing their quarantine policies by then, but will take all sensible precautions. Hope you have a lovely stay in the U.K. you have picked a great day to return, sunny and warm today. Also hope disembarkation is smooth and stress free. 

4 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

An idea 💡💥  find an "unoccupied" lounger with clean unused towels and a couple or so belongings like book, suntan lotion. Remove them to floor next to lounger and plop yourself on the clean towels. Go for a swim and return to same lounger. After a few mins or so, get up and put the original belongings back on wet towels and leave.

 

 

 

Or find loungers directly above or below the offending hogs, position the loungers exactly in the same direction and move their stuff, positioned exactly as they left it, when they return say you must be mistaken we have been here all day. 

10 hours ago, Guppy99 said:

They still rate the ships based on their protocols and the number of positive cases on board for cases for the public's knowledge. It's a voluntary program.  https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html

 

Totally irrelevant, that’s for ships operating in US waters. The ships currently being  discussed are transatlantic crossings or in the Mediterranean. 

Let’s just keelhaul them and have done!