Caribbean islands and COVID testing

[Snowrose]

I see a lot of Caribbean islands are requiring COVID testing even for vaccinated travellers. Has anyone seen or heard how NCL plans to handle this? Are there exceptions for cruise ship passengers? Will cruise passengers have to take and pay for tests while on the ship, which could be quite the unexpected expense?

[BirdTravels]

NCL have not published any information yet. 

 

It is totally up to what agreements exist between the cruise line and the ports of call. For example, The Bahamas requires all visitors to obtain a Bahamian Health Visa and buy Bahamian COVID insurance to enter the country. Royal has agreements, based on their specific protocols, that allow their passengers to visit the Bahamas without obtaining a visa and insurance. 

 

Stay tuned. 

[casofilia]

I wonder if NCL are waiting to see how the early cruises of the Jade in the Mediterranean go before making any decisions about the protocols for visiting the rest of the world.

Edited July 24, 2021 by casofilia

[ColeThornton]

9 minutes ago, casofilia said:

I wonder if NCL are waiting to see how the early cruises of the Jade in the Mediterranean go before making any decisions about the protocols for visiting the rest of the world.

 

I don't think so, that would seem myopic for a company of their size.

[sanger727]

I believe that the cruises that are currently operating in the caribbean are not following the same entry requirements as normal travelers. I assume they have worked out agreements with the ports they are going to. For example, celebrity at the last minute announced that only escorted tours were permitted in Barbados. Because Barbados is now requiring that of cruise ship passengers, probably since they aren’t Covid testing or quarantining.

[ClevelandCruisin]

I'm sure even if an agreement is reached, they can close the port and deny entry when you arrive. 

[BirdTravels]

16 minutes ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

I'm sure even if an agreement is reached, they can close the port and deny entry when you arrive. 

And, what is your point? All ships have always had to be cleared into all ports of call at all times (now and before). The sky can't always be falling. 

Edited July 24, 2021 by BirdTravels

[ClevelandCruisin]

1 minute ago, BirdTravels said:

And, what is your point? All ships have always had to be cleared into all ports of call at all times (now and before). 

Thanks for your reply bird... 

 

My point is very valid.

[BirdTravels]

 

44 minutes ago, casofilia said:

I wonder if NCL are waiting to see how the early cruises of the Jade in the Mediterranean go before making any decisions about the protocols for visiting the rest of the world.

NCL is most certainly will use lessons learned from every single cruise to continue to shape and refine their protocols. The first cruises of the Jade and Encore are test grounds to see what works and what does not work. It would be myopic to think that they have all of the answers before their first cruise. I know that Royal certainly was using feeback from cruises across Celebrity and Royal to refine and develop the protocols that they used on their first Florida sailings. And used lessons learned from the first Freedom cruise for future cruises. (Royal was using photographs and documentation from my cruise to build training material for future cruises)

Edited July 24, 2021 by BirdTravels