Barbados summer cruises 2021

[Hlitner]

19 minutes ago, fudgbug said:

Quest has drive through locations and physical locations.  Our test was done at a physical location.  "Observed self collection"  RT/PCR/TMA (Sars-CoV-2 RNA, QL NAAT) result.

If a test result had "Observed Self Collection" on the result form this would be contrary to the requirements of Barbados.  They specifically require the collection do be done by a healthcare provider.   This requirement has caused us some difficulty since there are multiple providers (such as CVS) that use "observed self collection" which is currently not acceptable to the Barbados authorities.  Trying to enter Barbados with such a lab report (assuming one could even get on the plane) would possibly result in the person needing to quarantine for X number of days or even be denied entry into the country.

 

Hank

[fudgbug]

3 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

If a test result had "Observed Self Collection" on the result form this would be contrary to the requirements of Barbados.  They specifically require the collection do be done by a healthcare provider.

Hank

Then Quest isn't a good match for Barbados and Seabourn shouldn't have a link...if Seabourn does that is. 🙂

 

[jeffbrig]

46 minutes ago, fudgbug said:

Then Quest isn't a good match for Barbados and Seabourn shouldn't have a link...if Seabourn does that is. 🙂

 

Agreed.  A Quest self-administered test may be fine for other Seabourn itineraries with departure ports in other countries, but it does NOT meet the requirements for Barbados.

[Travels with Lisa]

11 minutes ago, jeffbrig said:

Agreed.  A Quest self-administered test may be fine for other Seabourn itineraries with departure ports in other countries, but it does NOT meet the requirements for Barbados.

I argued this point with my TA.  While the alliance between Carnival Corp and Quest will be sufficient for 99.9% of the itineraries they offer, it might not work for us.  Perhaps, Quest will offer that option, but until Seabourn gets the link added to their website, we will be in the dark.  Long story short, I was given a "backline" number to call Quest (there are no people to talk to you when you call the "regular" number) and I was told that they couldn't tell me if they offered the nasopharyngeal swab unless I had the billing code.  So frustrating!

[jeffbrig]

Question for any of the recent travelers thru Barbados.  After clearing customs, for those boarding the ship later the same day, what did Seabourn have in place for holding passengers before taking you to the port?  

[sable1]

What time do you clear customs? What time is your check-in  time?  Maybe you can just go on to the ship?

We arrived a day early, stayed in a hotel and had a 1p.m. check-in time.  When we arrived we were the second couple and had a Covid test, waited 15? minutes and were escorted onboard with champagne in hand.  John jokingly asked where his Pina Colada was, and when we arrived in the suite Steven was there shortly with two of them.  Wow!  That's service.

I loved the Odyssey, everything was perfect.

Joanne

[jeffbrig]

17 minutes ago, sable1 said:

What time do you clear customs? What time is your check-in  time?  Maybe you can just go on to the ship?

We land 2ish, and have a check in time of 5:30, so we may have 1-2 hrs to kill.  It's entirely possible that I'm being way optimistic with customs, lol.

[cruiseej]

9 hours ago, fudgbug said:

"Observed self collection"

 

That would seem to not meet the Barbados standard. You might get away with it -- it depends how the test result statement is worded; would that description appear on the statement? -- but would you risk getting to Barbados and being told your test does not qualify for admission to the country? I wouldn't. I think if the words "nasopharyngeal" or "oropharyngeal" don't appear on the test result document, you might be at risk of rejection.

 

EDIT: Oops, I missed seeing several of the comments above saying basically the same thing.

Edited September 18, 2021 by cruiseej

[cruiseej]

To anyone who has been on an Odyssey cruise this summer: does Seabourn still give out beach/tote bags in each stateroom upon arrival? We have several, but don't want to carry one with us if we'll be getting a new one. But if they no longer give them out, we'll want to take one for going to the pool & beaches. Thanks!

[Fred arbuthnot]

Just returned from Odyssey Barbados 7 day cruise, and they did give us the beach bag. It was great to take stuff to the pool etc. It was a lovely cruise.should have stayed onboard longer.

[netpj]

Has anyone sailed on the Odyssey who flew straight back after the cruise?  We are particularly wondering about obtaining a PCR test required for anyone flying to Canada and wonder if it would be possible to obtain that and still fly back on day of disembarkation.  Thanks!

[johng75370]

3 hours ago, netpj said:

We are particularly wondering about obtaining a PCR test required for anyone flying to Canada and wonder if it would be possible to obtain that and still fly back on day of disembarkation. 

Just returned from Odyssey, and the testing was done on Friday, with results the same day.  The results form states it is nasopharangeal (sample site), nasal swap (specimen type), and was performed by a doctor.  This met the U.S. requirement for flying out on Sunday (disembarkation day), as well as Barbados entry requirements.  Not sure what the Canadian requirements are, but hope this helps.  

Edited September 20, 2021 by johng75370

[johng75370]

FWIW, one regret we had from the recent (wonderful) time on Odyssey was not using an arrivals expediting service.  When we first arrived there was a long line of people packed close together waiting to have health documents checked, took about 20 minutes or more to get through (despite being "in transit" to the ship we were told we still had to wait in that line).  An expediting service would have avoided that line.  

[sable1]

We flew home on Air Canada via Toronto on Sunday with no problems except lost luggage.  Finally showed up on Wednesday.

 

Joanne

[Travels with Lisa]

5 hours ago, johng75370 said:

FWIW, one regret we had from the recent (wonderful) time on Odyssey was not using an arrivals expediting service.  When we first arrived there was a long line of people packed close together waiting to have health documents checked, took about 20 minutes or more to get through (despite being "in transit" to the ship we were told we still had to wait in that line).  An expediting service would have avoided that line.  

What time did your flight get in?

[johng75370]

1 hour ago, Travels with Lisa said:

What time did your flight get in?

We arrived around 3pm; I heard similar experiences from people arriving in the afternoon, not sure about morning arrivals.  

[jeffbrig]

3 hours ago, johng75370 said:

We arrived around 3pm; I heard similar experiences from people arriving in the afternoon, not sure about morning arrivals.  

We landed around 230 and there were 10 or 12 seabourn passengers on our flight. We were met by an expediting team on our way into the terminal. I won't say there were no lines, but we bypassed the general queue. Within an hour of landing we were in a taxi headed to the ship. The biggest delay was in baggage claim... 

 

Also, we have 110 passengers on this week's sailing.  Loving it! 

[jeffbrig]

Also worth mentioning, the seabourn health screening. In addition to everyone having a negative PCR test in advance, the ship doctor met with everyone at check in and we had to clear a rapid test before boarding. 

[FAUDR]

Everyone's information has been extremely helpful- thank you all!

 

Since breakthrough infections are likely to occur at some point, it would be very reassuring to know that Seabourn has monoclonal antibody treatments(Regeneron and similar) on the ship.  I would be grateful if someone could ask the ship's physician if indeed they have this treatment available- and then post the answer.

Thanks!

[cruiseej]

3 hours ago, FAUDR said:

Since breakthrough infections are likely to occur at some point, it would be very reassuring to know that Seabourn has monoclonal antibody treatments(Regeneron and similar) on the ship.  I would be grateful if someone could ask the ship's physician if indeed they have this treatment available- and then post the answer.

 

Someone did provide an answer about this earlier this summer, but I can't remember if it was in the Seabourn forum or the Silversea forum. The answer was: no, they do not have monoclonal antibody treatments on board. I think the mitigation plan is to get anyone who might need such treatment off the ship and to a local hospital as soon as possible. Since everyone on the ship is vaccinated, I think only patients considered high risk would potentially be given that treatment; it isn't given to every breakthrough case. 

[FAUDR]

If that is currently the plan on Seabourn, I would have two concerns: Not unlike Third World countries, several of the Caribbean islands on our itinerary lack sophisticated medical facilities.  Additionally, I believe that a significant portion of current Seabourn passengers are over the age of 65 and therefore would be considered to be "high risk".   

 

It would be great to know the current contingency plans.

 

Thanks again for any insight or updates.

 

[jeffbrig]

51 minutes ago, FAUDR said:

several of the Caribbean islands on our itinerary lack sophisticated medical facilities.

This is why we buy travel insurance with med evac coverage. If an emergency happens, I want access to the best first world doctors. 

[cruiseej]

This note is for @Hlitner (or anyone who has signed up for pre-travel PCR testing with Test Now And Go in Malvern, PA or New York City)...

 

Hank, I was prepared to send you some not-so-good news, but all is well. We had our PCR tests yesterday at 4 pm in Malvern, and got our test results -- negative, phew! -- this morning at 6 am. If you follow Google Maps to the address, Test Now And Go isn't in the actual building at that address; they have two trailers and a tent in a parking lot to the right of that building; as you pull in passing Wegmans on the right, make a left onto Carnegie Blvd, and then look for the tent and trailers on your right. You drive around the trailers & tent and they come out to do your tests while you sit in your car. We were there 30 minutes early, but there was no one else there, and we were done in 5 minutes.

 

Here's the tale of why I lost some sleep last night. The nurse or person who was going to take our samples took my registration info, went into the trailer and came out with two tubes with test swabs. Just before she did the test on my wife, I thought, "let me double-check that she's doing the correct test we signed up for." So I said, "This is the nasopharyngeal PCR test, right?" And she replied, "Nasopharyngeal? No, those are the ones with the very long swab that go way up, like into your brain. This swab is shorter and not as uncomfortable." I could feel my heart pound and all the air suck out of the car. "No, no!" I said. "We're going to Barbados and they specifically need a nasopharyngeal test... I emailed Test Now And Go and they confirmed to me that this was nasopharyngeal..." She assured me that they've tested people going to every country imaginable, including Barbados, and this would be fine, but I had a sense of doom; I immediately began picturing was it would be like to spend our two days in Barbados stuck in our hotel room because our PCR test wouldn't pass muster upon entry.

 

But the story has a happy ending! The test results form from the lab clearly show "Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID 19) (Nasopharyngeal Swab, PCR)" -- exactly the language required by Barbados. I don't know why the person administering the test said it wasn't nasopharyngeal. And I really wish I hadn't asked and given myself a night of apparently unnecessary concern!

 

Bottom line: Test Now And Go was less expensive than other provers I could find in our area, easy to find, fast administering the test, not uncomfortable because it wasn't the very deep nose swab,  and delivered results as promised in under 24 hours. 🙂 

 

I've just uploaded our documents to the BIMSafe app; now I have to do the same for our airline and for Seabourn, and then it's off to finish packing. By golly, I think we're actually going... 😉 

[Hlitner]

20 minutes ago, cruiseej said:

This note is for @Hlitner (or anyone who has signed up for pre-travel PCR testing with Test Now And Go in Malvern, PA or New York City)...

 

Hank, I was prepared to send you some not-so-good news, but all is well. We had our PCR tests yesterday at 4 pm in Malvern, and got our test results -- negative, phew! -- this morning at 6 am. If you follow Google Maps to the address, Test Now And Go isn't in the actual building at that address; they have two trailers and a tent in a parking lot to the right of that building; as you pull in passing Wegmans on the right, make a left onto Carnegie Blvd, and then look for the tent and trailers on your right. You drive around the trailers & tent and they come out to do your tests while you sit in your car. We were there 30 minutes early, but there was no one else there, and we were done in 5 minutes.

 

............................

 

I've just uploaded our documents to the BIMSafe app; now I have to do the same for our airline and for Seabourn, and then it's off to finish packing. By golly, I think we're actually going... 😉 

Saw the post and already printed out your directions :).  A lot of the PCR swabs are now more shallow so that part of your story was not too surprising.    I do have a couple of questions?  Did you each have a Aura app on your phones or did you handle both tests on a single phone.  And did you have any difficulty figuring out how to upload the Aura test result page to the Barbados Bim app?

 

We hope you and your wife have a terrific trip/cruise and try to remember to post some trip updates when you get a few free moments.   

 

Hank

[cruiseej]

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

Did you each have a Aura app on your phones or did you handle both tests on a single phone. 

 

I was prepared to do it on both our phons, but it easily allowed me to add a family member, so I ended up doing it on just my phone. You don't ned to show your phone for the test; just your ID or a printout of your test payment from TravelNowAndGo.

 

I had some fights with the Aura app. 😉 It might be a short-term glitch, but the startup screen didn't fit on the phone screen. Maybe someone was testing it for an iPhone 13 Max.  I couldn't get to the button to create a new login. I eventually was able to click on the login via Gmail button and got in. There were some other glitches once I entered my information. It showed my middle name as "Null". (This is fixed now.) My birthday showed correctly on the profile screen, but incorrectly on the edit profile screen. Worse, when I tried to edit my account info, no matter what I entered, when I clicked the Submit button, it would say "City is required". Of course, the city existed. No amount of things I tried for the city worked, so I couldn't edit my info. I reached out to Aura support twice, and got pretty quick and helpful replies. In short, I'd say that if things look right on your profile page, don't click edit to tweak or add additional info. Again, these may have been temporary glitches. 

 

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

And did you have any difficulty figuring out how to upload the Aura test result page to the Barbados Bim app?

 

I was pleased that the Aura app offered sending a one-time link to an email address. I wanted them in my email and so I could print them. This was easy.

 

The BIMSafe app seems excellent. It also allows you to manage yourself and your wife together, so I didn't need to do her's on her phone.  For test results, you can take a picture of your test results and upload that, but I wanted to upload the original PDF files. So I sent the PDFs to myself as an email, opened them on my iPhone and Saved them on the phone. In the BIMSafe app, one of the options allowed for uploading a file, so I just selected each PDF file and uploaded. There are probably at least 3 other ways to do this, so do whatever you're most comfortable with. Just make sure to print out copies of all the documents as a backup/alternative to using your phone at the airport. 

 

We're flying American, and they have partnered with another service, VeriFly, for document verification online to save doing it at the airport check-in. I'm in the midst of that now; it requires uploading a photo of each of you, both or your Covid test results, and both of your Barbados travel IDs (which you'll have from the initial step of using the BIMSafe app). Then check-in for American. Then completing the Seabourn travel questionnaire. Then I think I'll be done. ;) Sheesh! I remarked to my wife earlier that I was glad my nonagenarian parents aren't traveling with us, as this would be overwhelming for them -- or for me trying to talk them through it all!