Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale Nov 2021

[endlessflight]

Does anyone know how Princess will deal with requiring COVID vaccination on cruises sailing from Fort Lauderdale this fall, when Florida has made it illegal to demand vaccination  or discriminate against anyone who is not vaccinated.  We are booked for Nov. but I do not intend to cruise on any ship that is not fully vaccinated. Looking perhaps at switching to cruises departing from the west coast.  Does this look like the only option?

[Sea Hag]

I know that the Florida law says that businesses can't require proof of vaccination, but I think they can ask for proof and place restrictions on their services if proof isn't provided. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are doing that now, aren't they? They're asking for proof and then requiring testing and placing limits on venues non-vaccinated folks can visit on the ships, as well as mandating masks. That's my current understanding, but you know how things are these days. Princess will probably do the same.

[caribill]

Princess so far has said:

a) They are working with the CDC and the state to resolve this;

b) Other cruise lines that require vaccinations will be cruising from Florida before Princess and the other cruise lines will have to figure out the process first.

 

One cruise line has stated that passengers may volunteer to give their proof of vaccination. Those that do not volunteer to provide the proof will be treated as not vaccinated and:

o Have to wear a mask anytime outside of their cabin except while eating/drinking/swimming.

o Have to take (and pay for) multiple Covid-19 tests during the cruise.

o Be restricted on where they may dine.

[dog]

 

11 minutes ago, caribill said:

Princess so far has said:

a) They are working with the CDC and the state to resolve this;

b) Other cruise lines that require vaccinations will be cruising from Florida before Princess and the other cruise lines will have to figure out the process first.

 

One cruise line has stated that passengers may volunteer to give their proof of vaccination. Those that do not volunteer to provide the proof will be treated as not vaccinated and:

o Have to wear a mask anytime outside of their cabin except while eating/drinking/swimming.

o Have to take (and pay for) multiple Covid-19 tests during the cruise.

o Be restricted on where they may dine.

and in News today. 
RCL will require unvaccinated to purchase Travel Insurance 

[skynight]

Fully vaccinated. Refer to the FAQ's released June 24th by Princess.

I think the Florida restrictions will be resolved. But even if not any passenger permitted to board that does not voluntarily provide proof of vaccination, original copy as defined in the FAQ's, will be subject to on board testing and restrictions similar to those mentioned in post #3. Further if countries being visited require covid vaccination then Princess would not be permitted to board any one that does not meet that requirement. 

[Roberto256]

19 hours ago, endlessflight said:

Does anyone know how Princess will deal with requiring COVID vaccination on cruises sailing from Fort Lauderdale this fall, when Florida has made it illegal to demand vaccination  or discriminate against anyone who is not vaccinated.  We are booked for Nov. but I do not intend to cruise on any ship that is not fully vaccinated. Looking perhaps at switching to cruises departing from the west coast.  Does this look like the only option?

 

What did celebrity do on their currently sailing cruise?

 

[CruiseMrB]

Here's what Celebrity did with the first voyage of the Edge. Incentives, Incentives, Incentives.

If you "chose" not to show your vaccination card, you:

• Had to test at embarkation, everyday, and at disembarkation AT YOUR COST.
• Had to wear mask in most areas
• Lost access to certain public venues, such as the casino.
• Limited access to other areas and dining venues.
• Possibly could not disembark at ports of call as that country could require vaccination and Celebrity would not force you to show it.
• From what I read in only reference, they would not refund excursions that you could not attend by being stuck on the ship. NOT SURE on this one.

So, Celebrity made cruising a lot less fun for those who chose to not participate in showing vaccination record. You could still go on the cruise. 

 

99% VaxPax.

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by CruiseMrB

[voljeep]

2 minutes ago, CruiseMrB said:

Here's what Celebrity did with the first voyage of the Edge. Incentives, Incentives, Incentives.

If you "chose" not to show your vaccination card, you:

• Had to test at embarkation, everyday, and at disembarkation AT YOUR COST.
• Had to wear mask in most areas
• Lost access to certain public venues, such as the casino.
• Limited access to other areas and dining venues.
• Possibly could not disembark at ports of call as that country could require vaccination and Celebrity would not force you to show it.
• From what I read in only reference, they would not refund excursions that you could not attend by being stuck on the boat. NOT SURE on this one.

So, Celebrity made cruising a lot less fun for those who chose to not participate in showing vaccination record. You could still go on the cruise. 

 

99% VaxPax.

 

how were the 'un-vaxxed' tracked on the ship ?

[CruiseMrB]

Not sure

Just now, voljeep said:

how were the 'un-vaxxed' tracked on the ship ?

Not sure what if any contact tracing they are doing. I know that Royal Caribbean will be giving vaccine participants yellow wristbands, while those that don't participate won't get any band and will have a physical hole punched in the SeaPass cruise card. 

 

Princess is going wholehog with contact tracing via MedallionApp or Medallion hardware.

[AF-1]

Celebrity is doing it right.  Awesome;  hope Princess adopts this policy for their ships on both coasts

[caribill]

18 hours ago, CruiseMrB said:

 

Princess is going wholehog with contact tracing via MedallionApp or Medallion hardware.

 

Not that I have seen.

 

They have said they may use Medallion info to locate people who will then be interviewed to find out much more about who they interacted with.

[AF-1]

This new update coming in August should be able to update, upgrade the app; making it passenger friendly.  Fingers crossed

[Roberto256]

On 6/30/2021 at 4:46 PM, CruiseMrB said:

Princess is going wholehog with contact tracing via MedallionApp or Medallion hardware.

 

Based on the medallionapp so far, I don't find this very reassuring.

 

If you encounter someone with covid ... then what ... the app crashes?

 

 

 

[patrickmoran]

Edge sailed last week from Florida and passengers had to state whether or not they were vaccinated. Florida did not interfere.

By November the Delta variant will clear the field and only vaccinated will sail.

[cruisewiththekids]

Is Princess requiring Covid testing on Caribbean sailings for those who are vaccinated?

[snoozecrooze]

47 minutes ago, cruisewiththekids said:

Is Princess requiring Covid testing on Caribbean sailings for those who are vaccinated?

To board the ship, fully vaccinated guests will not be required to have a pre-travel COVID-19 test performed, though vaccinated guests who have travelled internationally within the last 14 days may be required to be tested for COVID-19 at the terminal.

 

[memoak]

Celebrity is asking for passengers to voluntarily show there proof of vaccine, if you don't want to show it you are considered non vaccinated and have to pay for a test and then follow covid restrictions on board.  No brainer - hope Princess acts the same

[cruisewiththekids]

42 minutes ago, snoozecrooze said:

To board the ship, fully vaccinated guests will not be required to have a pre-travel COVID-19 test performed, though vaccinated guests who have travelled internationally within the last 14 days may be required to be tested for COVID-19 at the terminal.

 

I was trying to understand what I read about one of the early sailings on another line had two vaccinated passengers test positive and assumed that ship must have been testing everyone, regardless of vaccination status. Hoping Princess wasnt going to do that.

[snoozecrooze]

29 minutes ago, cruisewiththekids said:

I was trying to understand what I read about one of the early sailings on another line had two vaccinated passengers test positive and assumed that ship must have been testing everyone, regardless of vaccination status. Hoping Princess wasnt going to do that.

Apologies for not interpreting your concern as you implied. I believe the answer Princess has provided here might address this particular issue: if a negative COVID-19 test is required for re-entry into your home country, Princess will cover the costs of a COVID-19 test administered onboard the ship within the timeframe required prior to travel and prior to the end of the voyage. Guests will receive a copy of the test results. Guests are encouraged to review their home country’s health authority and travel websites to understand the latest guidance on required testing and timing for return travel.

 

Since the US overall needs testing to come (fly) back, the cruise lines operating now have been providing free testing during the latter halves of their cruises and that's how the cases were detected. Others can correct me if I interpreted those cases wrong. By November 2021, things are likely to be changed, but time will tell how much will be different; variants could be way be more advanced by then, or not. 

Edited July 3, 2021 by snoozecrooze

[Steelers36]

7 hours ago, AF-1 said:

This new update coming in August should be able to update, upgrade the app; making it passenger friendly.  Fingers crossed

Not sure if it was you or someone else I saw a similar post and corrected.  My understanding is that it is a massive data corruption issue they are going to be dealing with in August for future cruises beyond the summer ones.  It is mostly data conversion issues that have been causing people to have issues in working in the MC App.  This is not about fixing MC functionality.  (But not to say there won't be some other technical updates along the way - but the main issue is data).

[beg3yrs]

1 hour ago, cruisewiththekids said:

I was trying to understand what I read about one of the early sailings on another line had two vaccinated passengers test positive and assumed that ship must have been testing everyone, regardless of vaccination status. Hoping Princess wasnt going to do that.

Maybe it was a different cruise but I read about an early sailing with two positive tests for a couple of un-vaccinated passengers under 16. They were in the same family as well.

[beg3yrs]

4 hours ago, patrickmoran said:

Edge sailed last week from Florida and passengers had to state whether or not they were vaccinated. Florida did not interfere.

.....

The Florida law did not go into effect until July 1 thus Florida would not interfere with a cruise from last week.

[Steelers36]

18 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

The Florida law did not go into effect until July 1 thus Florida would not interfere with a cruise from last week.

But they were asking for people to voluntarily offer up vaccination proof.  It won't be required, but if no proof, you are considered un-vaccinated.

[patrickmoran]

10 hours ago, beg3yrs said:

The Florida law did not go into effect until July 1 thus Florida would not interfere with a cruise from last week.

Covered by Governor's executive order which expired when the law went into effect.

2nd sailing going tomorrow under same conditions.

[AF-1]

11 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Not sure if it was you or someone else I saw a similar post and corrected.  My understanding is that it is a massive data corruption issue they are going to be dealing with in August for future cruises beyond the summer ones.  It is mostly data conversion issues that have been causing people to have issues in working in the MC App.  This is not about fixing MC functionality.  (But not to say there won't be some other technical updates along the way - but the main issue is data).

Steelers36;  I get it they are sending an update to the app to correct a data corruption issue.  What about an update that helps people keep the app from crashing and allowing all info to be input without crashing.  What issues have you encountered with the app?  Me personally I have not had an issue.  Everything was loaded from my previous medallion cruise and I have green checks.