sunlover33

JetBlue. So sorry you are missing the Azores, but it just gives you the excuse to do this trip all over again next year. Just a quick  question if you have time. How long did Celebrity give you to pack some stuff to take to quarantine, or have all your belongings been packed and transferrred with you. Just wondering if the worst happens on our trip if it’s worth keeping a small emergency bag if essentials ready. 

1 hour ago, Virginia100 said:

I contacted the Captains Club and a supervisor there said if up to date vaccinated you must get that Covid test 1 day prior, will not be done at the port. As testing cannot be in the US and used as it will be 2 days old, if my hotel cannot set up an appointment for me locally (requested on 4/11, still no confirmation) by FP in 3 weeks I’m out. I’ve become less enthused with waiting until landing in Italy to be tested and having to test negative to return to the US. I think until this changes I’ll stick to my usual cruising the Caribbean.

What to stop you doing your own test before leaving the USA for your own peace of mind and then doing the celebrity required test in Italy one day pre cruise? 

    Happy Birthday JetBlue at least you can dine out on this birthday for years to come! Sincerely hope you get a negative result on day 5 and your dear husband remains negative so you can enjoy what’s left of your cruise. Thank you for the updates helps to know what we can expect when cruising this summer in the Med.  We have already had the conversation of what to do if one of us tests positive, which we would not have done without your very useful posts. ( I’m staying in the suite! ) Maybe ask for smoothies from the spa cafe with lots of antioxidants to help with recovery, or  a decent red or  I swear by a hot toddy, whiskey, lemon, honey and hot water, chases any virus away. My husband says says I love getting a cold virus so I can have hot toddy’s. Hope you recover soon. 

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

X's current stance:

Celebrity never miss an opportunity to sell something, even if reserving chairs goes against their guidelines. 

8 minutes ago, tromvest said:

I Was wondering the same thing as well. We are “up-to-date”as well and only have one day before to test in our hotel room. If for some reason we don’t have a good Internet connection to do the E med test it would be nice to know that I could come to the pier and test there before I board. I have placed a call into the executive offices of Celebrity and I’m waiting to hear back to see if the up-to-date passengers can pay and receive a Covid test at the pier.

I will look for the response with interest  as we have the same dilemma.

A friend has bought me some packing cubes for my next trip. I always overpack and am determined not to do so for this trip in the Mediterranean this summer, hopefully warm weather and having  a few days stay in Italy either end of an eleven night cruise. I have never used packing cubes before and  just wondered about peoples packing preferences , habits and tips. Folding versus rolling and advantages or not of packing cubes? 

We have booked this too for our upcoming reflection cruise. We never normally bother with photos but had a lot of OBC and seemed too good to miss. We will see how good it really is in July. 

2 hours ago, upwarduk said:

5 hours ago, sunlover33 said:

 

Of course the levels will drop, as free testing finished on April 1st.

Who is now going to pay for a test?

Fortunately, I managed to order some at the end of March.

I don’t think that was Tim’s rationale for the numbers dropping. He thinks as there was such a surge over the last month then there is a high level of antibody protection among the general population at the moment, although clearly as we have seen before this doesn’t last. However we may not know about the next surge as people won’t be testing as frequently as access to testing is much more limited now with the abolition of free tests.

Just seen a reply from a Celebrity rep on a Celebrity Facebook group. They hope to have European protocols published by the end of this week. Not sure how accurate this information is but sounds as though they are finally making decisions based on the current situation. The levels of covid in the U.K. are expected to drop rapidly over the next few weeks according to professor Tim Spector, who has so far been very accurate with his predictions. Maybe Celebrity are hoping not to have to change the protocols once published if they wait for the most updated  information from the U.K. and Europe. 

5 hours ago, Purplsmurf said:

You’re right. The OP mentioned that they felt that the protocols would be the same for summer sailings in Europe, so I just through that out there.

I was just speculating, I have no further information at present but just thought it indicated that  Celebrity will  insist on pre cruise testing, even if no testing  requirements for individual countries. . We are in the same position sailing from Civitavecchia in July and arriving one day pre cruise which would mean  trying to find testing in Italy. 

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

This from Euronews.com Italy entry requirements and it says within 9 months or booster to avoid the Covid pre entry test, there is no time limit on the booster. The 6 months if I read it right is in leu of booster if you have a certificate of recovery from Covid within 6 months.

 

What are Italy's travel rules?

Fully vaccinated travellers (those who have received one or two doses within the past nine months or those who have received a booster shot) from any country are no longer required to supply a negative COVID test to enter Italy.

That means if you're fully jabbed, you can present either proof of vaccination status or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months.

 

Unvaccinated visitors can also enter Italy and are no longer required to quarantine (previously they had to quarantine for five days). But they will need to produce proof of recovery from COVID within the last 180 days or a negative COVID test.

Regardless of vaccination status, all passengers must fill in a Passenger Locator Form, which can be found here. If they do not, they will have to quarantine for five days on arrival.

Passengers flying to or from Italy must also wear an FFP2 mask at all times while on board.

Yes, they were originally advocating 6 rather than 9 months, but I thought they may have changed to fall in line with Spain and other European countries. But haven’t had time to check today. 

5 hours ago, cbfb said:

I believe it is stating if your 2nd dose is more than 270 days you need a booster shot to avoid other testing. We are traveling to Italy later this year and that is their requirement right now. 

The last time I looked Italy’s requirement’s were for booster  180 days after final primary dose. 

Celebrity have finally  released vaccine and testing requirements  for transatlantic cruises. Although it can change this is what is also likely to  expect for European cruises this summer. https://www.celebritycruises.com/gb/healthy-at-sea/travel
 

On 3/29/2022 at 6:51 PM, talljules1 said:

if you're in a Royal suite you don't get a tote bag. You get a little donkey with wicker baskets on it's back that follows you about. Ours was called Dave (stupid name for a donkey) and loved carrots.

Well that’s me out of a Royal Suite then. I only want a donkey called Roderick who eats sweetcorn.  

 Holland America Line does not require testing for travel to/from/within Europe above and beyond any governmental requirements, but we strongly encourage all guests take a viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) prior to leaving home to avoid travel disruptions associated with a possible positive test result on the day of embarkation. 
 
Masks:  All guests are required to wear masks always covering their nose and mouth when indoors and outdoors when physical distancing cannot be maintained, as well as during embarkation, disembarkation and when on transportation. Exceptions are made while guests are eating or drinking or when in their own stateroom.

The rule of requiring a booster if it’s over 180 days since your initial doses are a regulation in Italy. In Spain and most other European countries it’s 270 days.
It’s also interesting   to see although H&A are not insisting on a pre embarkation covid test, they advocate testing incase of a possible positive test on the day of embarkation. Is this random testing? They have also not scrapped wearing masks.

8 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

Huh? I assume you meant that the variant is "more infectious". Virulent means harmful so your comment as written makes no sense.

Yes thank you for the correction, that’s exactly what I meant. I’m going to duck out if this topic now as I’m getting dizzy going round and round and round. Have a great safe cruise season  everyone and take whatever precautions you personally  feel effective to make you feel safe. 

If people want to take 100 bottles of wine onboard why would I lose any sleep over it?  It’s not affecting me in the slightest,  I will leave it  to Celebrity to police their policies. I cannot be responsible for any one else’s behaviour but my own.  Yes it’s sensible to take precautions to keep themselves and others safe, some will  take more precautions than others,  I will do what I feel necessary to maintain my own health and that of fellow passengers, I may avoid certain people if I feel they are a threat,  either covid related or anything else that may affect me. But I’m certainly not going to castigate anyone for taking different actions than me. I’m not the covid police I just want to have a relaxing stress free cruise. I’m not sure why some people become so incensed by the actions of other people. Just relax a little it’s a vacation. 

4 hours ago, Guppy99 said:

do object to people who do not follow the rules that are in place at any given place and time. And...I do think that many people who post here are in fact very self-centered and self-entitled when it comes to something they find inconvenient.

I think you misunderstand some of the posts. People are not advocating breaking the rules but many here and elsewhere are saying maybe it’s time we changed the rules and moved on. Covid in 2022 is a very different disease than it was back in 2020 when the pandemic began. Currently the variant most widely circulating is more virulent but less harmful. Which is the way most viruses change as it doesn’t help itself by killing its entire host population. This does not mean there won’t be other variants than evade the vaccine but we’re not there. Also medicine has moved on considerably with vaccines and effective anti viral drugs in addition to knowing much more of what we are dealing with. We can’t stay in a state of fear forever. It’s here to stay and we need to adapt to live with this virus. Calling people self centred and self entitled because they want to move on is not helpful, the world changes and we must change with it. 

Simple way to  beat the chair hogs. Gather up the belongings and give them to the pool attendant saying someone has left their belongings behind. Them when they deign to return, smile sweetly and say  you thought they had forgotten their belongings and you handed them to the pool attendant as you didn’t want them to get lost. They have not only lost their real estate but have to troop around looking for the pool attendant to reclaim their detritus. 

3 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Sorry it was mentioned that you knew somebody who got COVID from visiting a zoo.  I was actually agreeing with your comment and showing how it is carried in animals in the US.  Not trying to be humorous.   

It’s also possible to transmit from humans to our pets. https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/covid-19/pets.html 

but the windscreen is much bigger than the rear view mirror. 

1 hour ago, Wineaux007 said:

LOL.  What science is that?  It seems it evolves every day.

It’s certainly evolved over the past two years, unfortunately some peoples mind sets have not.

6 hours ago, talljules1 said:

Hmmm. I agree that this virus is going to be around for a long time. I don't agree with you that getting it gives a natural immunity boost.  If that were true, there would not be people who are fully vaccinated, who have also had COVID before, who are getting it again now.  I personally know several such individuals.  The COVID deaths I am aware of are in people much younger than 85. (We should also be careful about dismissing deaths in the over 85s - it is not as though these people do not matter!)  I am glad that the new booster campaign has been launched today.

Research shows that you will develop anti n antibodies following a bout of covid and anti s antibodies either from vaccination or developing covid. The higher antibody level you have the less likely you are to contract covid. Both  anti n and anti s antibody levels will wain in time which is why people become re infected, however catching covid will naturally give your antibody levels a boost, especially if your anti s antibodies from vaccination are lowering. I’m in no way dismiss the deaths of over 85s as insignificant, I’m just saying that the figures represent a death rate mainly for over 85s. Deaths in any age are more likely to be people with multiple Co morbidities or unvaccinated.  My 92 year old mother has just recovered from a bout of covid, she had no more symptoms than a minor cold luckily, because  she was fully vaccinated. I’m really pleased we are re-vaccinating the over 75s as their immunity will reduce quicker than the general population making then even more at risk. 

It strikes me that some would prefer to call people selfish and self centred rather than suggest a constructive way in which we move forward from here. We cannot remain where we have been for the last two years. We can’t continue to run and hide away, life has to move on. Medicine has advanced.  Sadly for some individuals who have compromised immunity life may never return to how it was before. This is the reality of living with a chronic condition and while most sensible people are willing to be respectful and adhere to any guidelines required, as a society  we need to move on to an endemic stage. I think psychologically some are not yet ready for this stage,  hence the fear about making any changes. 

59 minutes ago, talljules1 said:

We take the view that living with COVID does not mean pretending it has gone away (because it really hasn't - and cases and hospitalisations are rising again in the UK).

Cases are very high in the U.K. general population currently 1:20  but the positive benefit is people get a natural immunity boost. Hospital numbers and deaths are rising but mainly  in the over 85s and they are  still not as high as in January even though we have removed all restrictions  now. That’s why we are starting our 2nd booster jab campaign today for the over 75s and vulnerable over 12s. We can no longer run or hide  from this virus we need to learn how to live along with it, it will be with us for years.

49 minutes ago, Guppy99 said:

You ignore the fact that while you may not experience any serios comments, you can transmit it to someone who will experience serious symptoms, secondary infections, ad possibly long term effects. Are you aware of the number of persons with comorbidities. That includes everyone who: has a compromised immune system (rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, pregnancy, PPIDs, SCID, autoimmune disease, Lupus, cancer, transplant patients, diabetics, etc) Then add those that already have breathing issues, such as COPD, emphysema, a lung removal etc. The numbers are huge.  Anyone who fails to consider that they run into multiple people everyday that are compromised , is not living in the real world.  Anyone that fails to consider the impact their own decsions have on the others, is living a self-centered existence.

What do you suggest we do? We are aware of how vulnerable some people can be, but apart from being fully vaccinated and not mixing when unwell there is very little anyone can do, unless we isolate forever. Medicine has moved on considerably in the last two years and even the vulnerable groups have much more protection with increased booster vaccines, currently a much less severe virus circulating and anti viral drugs. We are in a much better position of understanding this virus now than we were before and life has to continue as much for peoples mental health as well as physical.