MSC cruises ..are masks required on board

[logan25]

57 minutes ago, MStarzky said:

do we need a another negative covid test before we are allowed to board?

Per current MSC health protocol for Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, yes.  All embarking passengers will be tested at the pier (cost covered by MSC).

Edited July 14, 2021 by logan25

[MStarzky]

8 minutes ago, logan25 said:

Per current MSC health protocol for Bahamas and Caribbean cruises, yes.  All embarking passengers will be tested at the pier (cost covered by MSC).

well if its at the pier thats fine I have no problem with this.

[tlmaule]

2 hours ago, MStarzky said:

do we need a another negative covid test before we are allowed to board?

If you are not vaccinated, then yes, you need to have your own testing done prior to cruising.  Per the website:

• You must get tested within 72 hours of departure and provide the negative RT-PCR test result at embarkation (guests are responsible for the test and cost)

Everyone, vaccinated and non-vaccinated, will also receive a rapid antigen test at embarkation.  So if you ARE vaccinated, you do not need additional testing, just the one given at the pier.
 

Here's the link to the requirements:  https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

[back-at-it]

This is the part I hope they change before my Sept 10th cruise.

 

You will be required to wear a mask throughout the cruise while indoors and in public areas. Mask use is not required outdoors. Where social distancing is not possible outdoors, mask use is recommended for all guests

[MStarzky]

the insurance thing is killing me, on msc website it says unvaccinated people need to buy insurance. The msc agent told me i need to buy covid insurance even though i am fully vaxxed. I;m just confused.

Edited July 14, 2021 by MStarzky

[Seadweller001]

6 minutes ago, MStarzky said:

the insurance thing is killing me, on msc website it says vaccinated people need to buy insurance. The msc agent told me i need to buy covid insurance even though i am fully vaxxed. I;m just confused.

Recommended, not mandatory for vaccinated passengers.

[MarkusToe]

In the EU needed to board....

[lexxfield]

Add me to the list of those who will not cruise MSC if masks are required on board.  I am looking to sail on the Seashore this winter, but unless MSC changes this requirement, I will be looking at other cruise lines that do not require masks.  Some people might not mind the restriction, but for me, it is a complete deal breaker.  I haven't cruised in almost two years, but I am prepared to wait until the experience is what is was prior to 2020.

[Liljo22]

On 7/14/2021 at 11:12 AM, kilkoyne said:

 

Florida law says you can't be denied service if you are not vaccinated. They can ask and if you want to volunteer the info that's ok. If they deny you then it's not ok.....at least that's the way I read into it.

Carnival’s first sailing on the Horizon was fully vaxxed except for 5% of exemptions given mostly to kids under 12.  NCL also says they will do the same.  RCL is asking and if you are not or don’t provide proof, you are required to wear a mask at all times indoors and are not allowed in certain venues like the casino and a few restaurants\bars.  

Edited July 17, 2021 by Liljo22

[SeaBrz]

On 7/11/2021 at 12:56 PM, deliver42 said:

MSC goes out of Florida, and they can't ask if passengers are vaccinated there. It will probably be 95% vaccinated and 5% unvaccinated, in which case vaccinated will have to wear a mas some places inside, and non vaccinated will be restricted where they can go, just lie Royal Caribbean and Carnival. This cold change by the day. 

I understand the confusing news circulating, but the reality is the cruise lines can and are asking for vaccination information. I just booked Sept and Nov 2021 cruises from Canaveral and was asked for vax status by both MSC and NCL. The intent of the FL law suit was to prohibit discrimination by refusing to allow un-vaxed adults to sail, but any onboard isolation restrictions are up to each ship.

[SeaBrz]

In mid June, I booked my Sept ‘21 Divina cruise ONLY after confirming that onboard masks were not required for fully vaccinated passengers. I only found out from the CC site that MSC had changed the policy. Then it took a few levels of digging on MSC’s site to find that the policy had indeed changed. I will reschedule (or cancel) if this hasn’t changed by Aug. 

[thepla]

On 7/14/2021 at 4:29 PM, tlmaule said:

If you are not vaccinated, then yes, you need to have your own testing done prior to cruising.  Per the website:

• You must get tested within 72 hours of departure and provide the negative RT-PCR test result at embarkation (guests are responsible for the test and cost)

Everyone, vaccinated and non-vaccinated, will also receive a rapid antigen test at embarkation.  So if you ARE vaccinated, you do not need additional testing, just the one given at the pier.
 

Here's the link to the requirements:  https://www.msccruisesusa.com/health-and-safety-measures/caribbean-cruises

If I read this correctly, it seems, if we are both fully vaccinated and end up with covid msc covers lodging, etc. Until cleared to go home from say Miami.

[amygutman]

We are Americans currently living in Bermuda and our family have all been vaccinated by the Bermudan government (who are so efficient at vaccinations that the only tourists it seemed we had for months were British citizens coming to Bermuda to get vaccinated as they could not get jabbed in England due to wait times). 

 

Our vaccination cards and "SafeKey" documents (a scannable phone app) that show our vaccination status are issued by the Bermudan government - not the CDC.

 

For non-Americans, or those who do not have the "CDC vaccination card" required on the MSC website, is a different proof of vaccination accepted? I spoke to an MSC representative who could not give me an answer as she said "she wasn't provided alternative document information".

 

Re: mask wearing...we hate it too, but we will not let this minor inconvenience ruin our Sept trip on the Divina. It's a false sense of security, but frankly, that and some of the other health and safety measure undertaken by the cruise lines (like no sticky self-service on the buffet) actually make cruising MORE appealing.

[MStarzky]

Everyone seems to be getting different anwsers for the same question. If the vaccination proof is good enough to get you into the US it should be good enough to get you on a ship.

[kilkoyne]

On 7/14/2021 at 7:22 PM, MStarzky said:

the insurance thing is killing me, on msc website it says unvaccinated people need to buy insurance. The msc agent told me i need to buy covid insurance even though i am fully vaxxed. I;m just confused.

 

You could try calling another agent. I had an issue with one agent not being able to help me but the second agent was much more knowledgeable.

 

[amygutman]

1 hour ago, MStarzky said:

Everyone seems to be getting different anwsers for the same question. If the vaccination proof is good enough to get you into the US it should be good enough to get you on a ship.

That's what we thought as well as it is common sense.

Would love to get the same confirmation from MSC. Went to a few other cruiseline websites to see what their policies were - NCL, RCL and Celebrity all have the same confusing information. 

Many thanks - Amy

[sverigecruiser]

17 hours ago, SeaBrz said:

I understand the confusing news circulating, but the reality is the cruise lines can and are asking for vaccination information. I just booked Sept and Nov 2021 cruises from Canaveral and was asked for vax status by both MSC and NCL. The intent of the FL law suit was to prohibit discrimination by refusing to allow un-vaxed adults to sail, but any onboard isolation restrictions are up to each ship.

 

Can someone explain the American situation for me?

 

Is this correct:

In some states, for example Florida, it's discrimination not to allow un-vaxed adults to sail and in some states it't okay to mandate vaccination (not for Covid 19 but other vaccines) to attend school. Is that correct or have I missunderstood something?

 

I'm totally fine with requiring vaccinations for cruising but think that it's absurd to required it for attending school.

 

I think that it's okay that someone who choose not to be vaccinated can't cruise but it's unfair that a child which parents are against vaccinations can't go to school.

[MotownVoice]

1 hour ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

Can someone explain the American situation for me?

 

Is this correct:

In some states, for example Florida, it's discrimination not to allow un-vaxed adults to sail and in some states it't okay to mandate vaccination (not for Covid 19 but other vaccines) to attend school. Is that correct or have I missunderstood something?

 

I'm totally fine with requiring vaccinations for cruising but think that it's absurd to required it for attending school.

 

I think that it's okay that someone who choose not to be vaccinated can't cruise but it's unfair that a child which parents are against vaccinations can't go to school.

Ron Desantis’ declaration that cruise ships cannot require proof of vaccination is not based on the premise that it is “discriminatory”.  It is just an executive order he issued based on his opinion that it violates the Florida constitution.   A judge agreed.

 

Unfortunately for Ron, an appellate court some time last night disagreed and reversed the lower court’s decision.   This puts the CDC back in the driver’s seat and MSC, if it so chooses can return to requiring proof of vaccination for all guests.   
 

It will go to the Florida Supreme Court so I wouldn’t expect to see a lot of shuffling of the deck chairs just yet.  But the Governor, as it stands, is overruled.  
 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/appeals-court-sides-with-cdc-norwegian-cruise-lines-over-desantis-on-vaccination-rules/ar-AAMi3BR?ocid=uxbndlbing

 

 

Edited July 18, 2021 by MotownVoice

[Sinbadssailors]

The ruling about the CDC's conditional sail order is separate from the Florida vaccination-related LAW(it was an executive order, passed by the legislature,signed into law in May. It took effect July 1st).

 

The Florida law forbids denial of service based on vaccination status. It's a state issue.

 

Yesterday the appeals court allowed CDC rules for cruises to stand. The CDC CSO is about vaccination min/max for passengers and more, and it's a federal issue.

 

As for school requirements, schools require certain vaccines.

The problem here is that the Covid vaccines haven't been approved yet. They're under an emergency authorization only. Up to now, only approved vaccines were/could be required.

[deliver42]

The Florida vaccination law is being challenged by NCL. I wish them all the luck in the world. If they succeed, I will cancel all my cruise with other lines, and book with NCL. They will be, by far, the safest cruise line and not just counting the almighty dollar from children as Royal, MSC, and Carnival are doing. The 95% vaccine  thing has already gone to 90%. What's next? 50%?

[KennyFla]

20 hours ago, sverigecruiser said:

 

Can someone explain the American situation for me?

 

Is this correct:

In some states, for example Florida, it's discrimination not to allow un-vaxed adults to sail and in some states it't okay to mandate vaccination (not for Covid 19 but other vaccines) to attend school. Is that correct or have I missunderstood something?

 

I'm totally fine with requiring vaccinations for cruising but think that it's absurd to required it for attending school.

 

I think that it's okay that someone who choose not to be vaccinated can't cruise but it's unfair that a child which parents are against vaccinations can't go to school.

You are correct.

Individual states still wield tremendous power in the US, contrary to what the new Federalists would have you believe.

 

Health and safety regulations have traditionally been handled by each state, the theory being they are closer to the situation and know what's best for their population.  The federal bureaucracy has been slowly encroaching on that, one of the reasons for the lawsuit.

[Jeremiah1212]

21 hours ago, MotownVoice said:

Ron Desantis’ declaration that cruise ships cannot require proof of vaccination is not based on the premise that it is “discriminatory”.  It is just an executive order he issued based on his opinion that it violates the Florida constitution.   A judge agreed.

 

Unfortunately for Ron, an appellate court some time last night disagreed and reversed the lower court’s decision.   This puts the CDC back in the driver’s seat and MSC, if it so chooses can return to requiring proof of vaccination for all guests.   
 

It will go to the Florida Supreme Court so I wouldn’t expect to see a lot of shuffling of the deck chairs just yet.  But the Governor, as it stands, is overruled.  
 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/appeals-court-sides-with-cdc-norwegian-cruise-lines-over-desantis-on-vaccination-rules/ar-AAMi3BR?ocid=uxbndlbing

 

 

 

Those are two totally separate cases. All that happened so far was that the CSO and it's requirements remain in place for now. NCL vs. the FL surgeon general with vaccination requirements is a different issue and has not had any activity yet. 

 

16 hours ago, deliver42 said:

The Florida vaccination law is being challenged by NCL. I wish them all the luck in the world. If they succeed, I will cancel all my cruise with other lines, and book with NCL. They will be, by far, the safest cruise line and not just counting the almighty dollar from children as Royal, MSC, and Carnival are doing. The 95% vaccine  thing has already gone to 90%. What's next? 50%?

 

The 95% vaccination guideline to forego test cruises and the protocols that are loosened as a result of adhering to 95% vaccination guests are still fully in place. There is no 90% guideline.