Royal Now Requires Covid Test For All Passengers

[Straughn]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

In the USA do most drugstores offer a test with same day results?  I worry about results being late.

Both CVS and Walgreens offer them where I live. With Royal’s announcement yesterday, I took the precaution of scheduling the rapid antigen test on the Friday before my August 8th Equinox  cruise. I can always cancel, but if Celebrity decides they want all passengers tested, I am prepared. 

[zitsky]

41 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Sailing on Royal, Allure, this September...full vaxxed crew of 8...glad they are doing this.  

 

Did you say crew of 8?  Can't be that hard to get them vaxxed.

[graphicguy]

Just got this in my email this a.m. regarding my sailing in a couple of weeks.  Should clear up any questions regarding Celebrity......

 

We’re counting down the days to your sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. Here’s important information on testing and health screening requirements.

US ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• All non-US residents must present a negative NAAT or Antigen test taken with 3 days of travel.

• Be sure to save a copy on your phone and bring a printed copy. Name on test results must match those on government issued identification.

VACCINATION POLICY

Following CDC guidelines we will sail with all crew vaccinated and at least 95% of guests will be fully vaccinated.

All guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. As of August 1, 2021, all guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated.

Acceptable proof of vaccination must be in the form of the original vaccination record document issued by the country’s health authority or healthcare provider that administered the vaccination.

All unvaccinated children 6 months to 15 years old (6 months to 11 years old as of August 1st) will require a complimentary Covid-19 test at the terminal. Registration is required prior to arrival at terminal. A link will be provided via email to the unvaccinated guest.

Guests that do not meet the testing and health screening policy requirements will be denied boarding.

WHILE ONBOARD

• Following CDC Guidelines, masks will not be required for vaccinated guests.

WHILE ASHORE

Shore excursion guidance listed by itinerary below. We will continue to monitor and evaluate and update as any changes to local requirements occur. Families with unvaccinated children are required to take a Celebrity curated tour to go ashore. Southern Caribbean: • On your own tours are permitted in Aruba and Curacao. • Celebrity curated tours are required in Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis, Tortola and St. Lucia. Eastern Caribbean: • On your own tours are permitted in St. Croix, St. Maarten*, St. Thomas and Nassau. • Celebrity curated tours are required in Tortola. *The St. Maarten government requires all unvaccinated guests age 10 and older, be tested 2 days prior to disembarking and visiting St. Maarten. Test will be provided onboard. Western Caribbean: • On your own tours are permitted in Nassau. • Celebrity curated tours are required in Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan.

TRAVEL HOME

• Unvaccinated children are required to take a PCR test for Covid-19 prior to re-entry for voyages 4 nights or longer.

• Tests required for home country re-entry will also be administered onboard. Testing will be provided free of charge to our vaccinated guests prior to debarkation. Additional details and registration provided once onboard.

[Coochuck]

So many people think it's a great idea to get tested at the Pier with a Rapid Test.

  OK...So I fly in from wherever.  Paid for flights, stayed at a hotel room for the night prior to the cruise.  I walk up to check in and test POSITIVE.  So, I'm out the air fare, hotel.  I might have to book a last minute flight home.  Do they quarantine me a hotel, medical facility(additional cost)?  And to make matters worse, I can't cruise!  Not a very good alternative.  This Strain of Covid is highly transmissible.  We are booked on the Equinox for the 8/8 sailing.  Weighing my alternatives.

[helen haywood]

Yes, I was just about to post this.  So, at the moment, Celebrity is only requiring negative tests from non-US residents.

[terrydtx]

3 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Just got this in my email this a.m. regarding my sailing in a couple of weeks.  Should clear up any questions regarding Celebrity......

 

We’re counting down the days to your sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. Here’s important information on testing and health screening requirements.

US ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• All non-US residents must present a negative NAAT or Antigen test taken with 3 days of travel.

• Be sure to save a copy on your phone and bring a printed copy. Name on test results must match those on government issued identification.

VACCINATION POLICY

Following CDC guidelines we will sail with all crew vaccinated and at least 95% of guests will be fully vaccinated.

All guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. As of August 1, 2021, all guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated.

Acceptable proof of vaccination must be in the form of the original vaccination record document issued by the country’s health authority or healthcare provider that administered the vaccination.

All unvaccinated children 6 months to 15 years old (6 months to 11 years old as of August 1st) will require a complimentary Covid-19 test at the terminal. Registration is required prior to arrival at terminal. A link will be provided via email to the unvaccinated guest.

Guests that do not meet the testing and health screening policy requirements will be denied boarding.

WHILE ONBOARD

• Following CDC Guidelines, masks will not be required for vaccinated guests.

WHILE ASHORE

Shore excursion guidance listed by itinerary below. We will continue to monitor and evaluate and update as any changes to local requirements occur. Families with unvaccinated children are required to take a Celebrity curated tour to go ashore. Southern Caribbean: • On your own tours are permitted in Aruba and Curacao. • Celebrity curated tours are required in Barbados, St. Kitts & Nevis, Tortola and St. Lucia. Eastern Caribbean: • On your own tours are permitted in St. Croix, St. Maarten*, St. Thomas and Nassau. • Celebrity curated tours are required in Tortola. *The St. Maarten government requires all unvaccinated guests age 10 and older, be tested 2 days prior to disembarking and visiting St. Maarten. Test will be provided onboard. Western Caribbean: • On your own tours are permitted in Nassau. • Celebrity curated tours are required in Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatan.

TRAVEL HOME

• Unvaccinated children are required to take a PCR test for Covid-19 prior to re-entry for voyages 4 nights or longer.

• Tests required for home country re-entry will also be administered onboard. Testing will be provided free of charge to our vaccinated guests prior to debarkation. Additional details and registration provided once onboard.

We got the same email so I doubt any testing for vaccinated US residents will be required.

[mom says]

7 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Yes, I was just about to post this.  So, at the moment, Celebrity is only requiring negative tests from non-US residents.

Read it again. The tests are required for non US residents to enter the country; not to board the ship.

[SHIP TRAVELER]

12 hours ago, iamaqt2 said:

I would like to see this added by Celebrity, but done as a rapid test at embarkation and provided by the cruiseline.  

I see the point of the embarkation test, but a false positive after flying in would be very expensive and disappointing.  I would be more comfortable with the 3 day test prior to travel.  I think we all need to be careful with exposures after testing negative before the cruise.

[helen haywood]

If someone takes the test three days prior to their flight to the US, but is here a week before boarding the ship…does that still count?

[DCPIV]

12 minutes ago, Coochuck said:

So many people think it's a great idea to get tested at the Pier with a Rapid Test.

  OK...So I fly in from wherever.  Paid for flights, stayed at a hotel room for the night prior to the cruise.  I walk up to check in and test POSITIVE.  So, I'm out the air fare, hotel.  I might have to book a last minute flight home.  Do they quarantine me a hotel, medical facility(additional cost)?  And to make matters worse, I can't cruise!  Not a very good alternative.  This Strain of Covid is highly transmissible.  We are booked on the Equinox for the 8/8 sailing.  Weighing my alternatives.

 

I was talking about this in some thread (this one or another--hard to keep track).  I can't imagine they do much of anything except hold up a cross and tell you to begone (although I think they also refund your fare).  While there are worse things than being turned away at the pier, there aren't many.

 

I agree that I would much rather get tested before I headed out, even if I were required to be tested at the pier!

[DCPIV]

2 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

If someone takes the test three days prior to their flight to the US, but is here a week before boarding the ship…does that still count?

 

From everything I've seen and heard, no.  You'll need two tests.

[Jeremiah1212]

1 minute ago, helen haywood said:

If someone takes the test three days prior to their flight to the US, but is here a week before boarding the ship…does that still count?

 

No, the test must be done 72 hours prior to boarding the ship. 

[Fouremco]

As we are required to have a negative test before being allowed to fly into the US, I've no problem with showing Celebrity my test results. On the other hand, as COVID rates are higher in the US than in Canada and a number of other countries, it seems that they will be targeting the wrong segment of their passengers. Making all passengers provide a negative test would seem more logical.

 

Edited to say that after reading the post by @mom says, I'm unclear as to Celebrity's intentions, but telling non-residents to "Be sure to save a copy on your phone and bring a printed copy" sounds like they will want to check them before boarding.

Edited July 30, 2021 by Fouremco

[SHIP TRAVELER]

I am thinking that even with the pier embarkation test, any exposure on route, in the airport or plane would not show up as positive for a few days.  Covid could still get on the ship even with negative tests at the pier.  Almost the same risk as with the three day test.

I have hope that Delta numbers will go down drastically here from a peak like they did in India.  Fingers crossed for less concern by our October cruise. 

[DCPIV]

4 minutes ago, SHIP TRAVELER said:

I am thinking that even with the pier embarkation test, any exposure on route, in the airport or plane would not show up as positive for a few days.  Covid could still get on the ship even with negative tests at the pier.  Almost the same risk as with the three day test.

 

I agree.  That delay between contracting COVID and when it can be detected is one way positive cases are slipping through now.  That's just life.

[graphicguy]

I do agree about Royal's policies.  That's a whole other tangled ball of twine over there.  

 

Royal took on the policy of not requiring at least 95% of their passengers to be vaccinated.  In addition to the additional costs for testing of unvaccinated (I think it's $178/pp) and the indoor mask mandates for said passengers, they're also not allowing unvaccinated to go to the casino and other venues on board and limiting the shows and dining options.  And, they're requiring COVID insurance to those same folks, too.

 

That's a whole discombobulation.  IMHO, they're begging for trouble with that whole plan, and it has to be a nightmare to track and administer.

 

Compare that to their sister Celebrity lines, who has been smooth as butter in their policy, their handling of the few COVID cases that have presented themselves, while navigating the innane FL requirement no allowing for COVID proof (although they do seem to have found a process that works to handle that, too).

 

 

Edited July 30, 2021 by graphicguy

[Sunshine424]

While the concept of testing everyone before boarding is nice and all, it is really only a snap shot of a specific day in time. You can test negative at 1 pm on Friday, but be positive Saturday afternoon.  If you test up to 72 hours before you board, great you will be negative at that time, but you can still contract it on the way to the port and become positive during the cruise.  Busy airports, flying are excellent ways to spread viruses in general.  Since you have incubation periods and most fly in the day before or on embarkation day, that means that testing at the pier will miss the majority of those who contract it while traveling to the ship.  Additionally, rapids are very inaccurate, many places refuse to use them for this reason.  They have a higher rate of accuracy if you are symptomatic.  Hopefully if you are symptomatic you are not trying to board a ship.   Again you can contract it flying in the day before and you will test negative at the port, but might be positive by day 2 or day 4 of the cruise, by then you have been maskless and all over the ship.  Honestly for testing to be really efficient and if you want to make sure you don't miss any cases, you would really need to test either every day, or every other day before, and during your cruise. But they would still be on the ship when found.  I doubt the majority of people would be willing to fly in 4-7 days early and quarantine before their cruise as well. There is no perfect catch all way.  Ensuring as many as possible are vaccinated will lessen the chances of break through cases.  But the reality is even with testing and vaccination there will still be some that could possibly slip through. 

[emmas gran]

32 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

If someone takes the test three days prior to their flight to the US, but is here a week before boarding the ship…does that still count?

We are hopeful of cruising Nov 7th on Equinox at the moment there are lots of possible things to stop our B2B.
USA may not let us in

Will 21 days 12+9 be allowed

As our flight is 5th November and 2 nights pre cruise do we test in UK or USA

Hoping all is resolved before final payment early September 

[Jeremiah1212]

56 minutes ago, Coochuck said:

So many people think it's a great idea to get tested at the Pier with a Rapid Test.

  OK...So I fly in from wherever.  Paid for flights, stayed at a hotel room for the night prior to the cruise.  I walk up to check in and test POSITIVE.  So, I'm out the air fare, hotel.  I might have to book a last minute flight home.  Do they quarantine me a hotel, medical facility(additional cost)?  And to make matters worse, I can't cruise!  Not a very good alternative.  This Strain of Covid is highly transmissible.  We are booked on the Equinox for the 8/8 sailing.  Weighing my alternatives.

 

Here is what they currently provide under today's protocol. While you would be out some money for travel expenses, that's a risk you would have to be willing to take if you're traveling uninsured. They aren't going to place a bit of inconvenience over safety of the entire ship. 

 

Covid-19 Assistance

 

Book a Celebrity cruise that’s sailing on or before October 31, 2021 and you’ll have the following reassurance at no extra charge:

 

• 100% cruise fare refund for you, and your Travelling Party, if any of you tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days prior to the cruise or at the boarding terminal.*
• Pro-rated cruise fare refund for anyone who has their cruise cut short due to testing positive for COVID-19 or being suspected of having COVID-19 during the cruise.
• If you test positive for COVID-19 during the cruise, Celebrity Cruises will cover the costs of COVID-19 related medical treatment onboard, any required land-based quarantine, and travel home for you and your Travelling Party.

 

 

[cangelmd]

Follow CDC guidance and mask up prior to your trip. Avoid contacts as much as possible. Your family and extended family are your most likely source of exposure, at least up until Delta. We’ve fretted and fumed over the grocery store and restaurants, but most people not involved in superspreader events got Covid from someone in their own home or a family member’s home.

 

A minority of vaccinated people are getting it, but it seems to be a large enough minority to raise concerns. The vast majority of those people will have only minor symptoms. It is moving like wildfire, highly contagious, so going into an environment where every sniffle will be scrutinized, protect yourself ahead of time.

[cangelmd]

As an MD who loves to cruise, I would like to see them move to a policy for Covid in vaccinated persons more like what they do for Noro. Treat the positive patient per their symptoms, in other words quarantine on a medical floor with daily wellness checks and room service. Quarantine close contacts in their cabin. Only evacuate those with significant symptoms, and provide transport home from the original port of embarkation. Obviously this will only work or work best with 7 day or less cruises. We are going to see more positives, and on Celeb they will be vaccinated, predominantly. I think it’s likely to last beyond Oct 31

[RickT]

4 hours ago, Miaminice said:

I am all for it! 

 

Although I am vaccinated I could be part of a spread withouth knowing it.
If all it takes to help (I know nothing is 100%) and to make sure I don´t harm others is a simple test like we have done it a hundred times by now - WHY NOT???!!!

 

 

Fully agree!  Fully vaxed and unlikely I’ve contracted Covid but would gladly be tested to increase my confidence level that I (and fellow passengers) don’t have Covid.

[emmas gran]

2 minutes ago, cangelmd said:

As an MD who loves to cruise, I would like to see them move to a policy for Covid in vaccinated persons more like what they do for Noro. Treat the positive patient per their symptoms, in other words quarantine on a medical floor with daily wellness checks and room service. Quarantine close contacts in their cabin. Only evacuate those with significant symptoms, and provide transport home from the original port of embarkation. Obviously this will only work or work best with 7 day or less cruises. We are going to see more positives, and on Celeb they will be vaccinated, predominantly. I think it’s likely to last beyond Oct 31

We are both fully vaccinated and if offered the intended booster in the fall will hopefully get that prior to our cruise along with the flu jab

[bajathree]

As I have said before ...right now I wouldn't go near Royal with the current restrictions and policies in place...IMO any of these cruise lines sailing with unvaccinated people are shooting themselves in the foot right now. Even Celebrity should just cut the 5% unvaccinated out IMO.

[PTC DAWG]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

 

Did you say crew of 8?  Can't be that hard to get them vaxxed.

We have all had 2 jabs a few months ago.