HAL requiring masks?

[jayhawk66]

I just read that Carnival and Princess are requiring masks indoors beginning August 7. Has anyone been notified by HAL?

[Galley Slave]

We are on the August 7th sailing and have not heard anything.  We cannot get on the Navigator App to answer the health questionnaire.  Maybe things are going to be updated?

[Galley Slave]

Our TA just called to tell us we need a test before Saturday. PCR or Antigen Test.

[rucrazy]

1 minute ago, Galley Slave said:

Our TA just called to tell us we need a test before Saturday. PCR or Antigen Test.

@Galley Slave I hope you will choose to keep us informed as to procedure and protocols as much as you can up to and possibly including embarkation!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

That was going  to happen ..

[Destiny0315]

The new CCL protocols on masks and testing will be used until 10/31 according to the announcement.

[Galley Slave]

TA just called back.  Testing not required until 8/14, masks recommended starting 8/7 in public areas. Sorry for the wrong information.  

[LAFFNVEGAS]

28 minutes ago, Galley Slave said:

Our TA just called to tell us we need a test before Saturday. PCR or Antigen Test.

I think your TA might be jumping the gun a bit Princess just announced they are starting to require pre testing on August 15, I suspect HAL will start August 14 but masks will be required starting this Saturday in public areas and probably being requested to be done on the current sailing. 
For this Saturday it is too soon to require it.

Also the Health Questionaire will not be available till late tonight or tomorrow morning for this Saturday’s sailing .

[roxybear135]

Did your TA give any indication as to whether HAL will be doing testing at the port or if people will have to get tested prior to embarkation day?  I'm on the 8/21 sailing and haven't heard anything from HAL (I booked through Costco so no TA).

[julia]

ATTENTION HAL!!

 

Please get ahead of this immediately and publish your specific protocol requirements and dates.

[AncientWanderer]

20 minutes ago, Galley Slave said:

TA just called back.  Testing not required until 8/14, masks recommended starting 8/7 in public areas. Sorry for the wrong information.  

 

It was inevitable.  DH and I were discussing last night the need to schedule a test before we board in September.  We want to know we are healthy before we sail, just for our own peace of mind.  Nobody wants to bring Covid onto the ship.  Probably by then, they will be doing the rapid tests right before boarding.  

Whatever...I've made up my mind to roll with the punches.  This is seemingly the hand we have to play for awhile.

 

[zelker]

We're on the 8/28 NA cruise.  We're ok with masks but if they are going to require testing 3 days prior, and assuming they give us the option to cancel with refund or FCC, we're going to cancel.  We're flying to Seattle 3 days out and are not going to screw around trying to get tested away from home and what happens if one of us should happen to turn up positive?  Nope, not gonna do it.

 

We also have cruises booked out of San Diego starting November 6th so not sure what we'll do about those.  Right now we can still cancel and get refunds.

 

And you know, yesterday when I brought the suitcases up from the basement, I had an inkling I was jumping the gun.  😞 

 

 

Edited August 4, 2021 by zelker

[ohmycruise]

I just got an email for my Aug. 07 NA sailing.

 

Please carefully review the information below regarding new, temporary testing requirements:

 

• Effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 14, 2021, we will require ALL fully vaccinated guests to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (medically supervised PCR or antigen test) taken within 72 hours of their embarkation on all Holland America Line sailings.
• Fully vaccinated guests will be required to provide proof of this negative COVID-19 test, along with proof of full vaccination at least 14 days prior to embarkation, upon arrival in the terminal and can then proceed on board.
• For guests embarking in the United States, please note that testing in the terminal will not be available so it’s critical that you have your negative test results with you at cruise check-in. We will not be able to accommodate guests without proof of a negative test.

 

 

In addition to testing requirements, effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 7, 2021, we have also made adjustments to our onboard mask policy as follows:

 

• We require all guests to wear face masks when indoors.
• All guests ages 12 and older will be required to wear face masks in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino, except when eating or drinking.
• Guests will be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the Lido Market area. You may occasionally be asked to wear a mask in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate.
• As a reminder, masks are required during embarkation and debarkation in the terminal, and masks must also be worn during the debarkation process on board.
• We recommend guests wash or replace their mask daily and choose a good quality double-layer cloth or paper medical-grade mask. Please note that bandanas, neck gaiters and masks with exhaust valves will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask and that visors and face shields are only permitted when used in addition to a mask.

 

Please check our TravelWell^® (www.hollandamerica.com/travelwell) for further details on our updated testing requirements and onboard protocols.

 

These new requirements are being implemented to protect our guests and team members while onboard. Several destinations have implemented their own requirements and all guests will be required to follow the protocols in each destination we visit.

 

As stated above, we are hopeful these requirements will be temporary, and we appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming you aboard.

Edited August 4, 2021 by ohmycruise

[mightycruisequeen]

3 minutes ago, ohmycruise said:

I just got an email for my Aug. 07 NA sailing.

 

Please carefully review the information below regarding new, temporary testing requirements:

 

• Effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 14, 2021, we will require ALL fully vaccinated guests to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (medically supervised PCR or antigen test) taken within 72 hours of their embarkation on all Holland America Line sailings.
• Fully vaccinated guests will be required to provide proof of this negative COVID-19 test, along with proof of full vaccination at least 14 days prior to embarkation, upon arrival in the terminal and can then proceed on board.
• For guests embarking in the United States, please note that testing in the terminal will not be available so it’s critical that you have your negative test results with you at cruise check-in. We will not be able to accommodate guests without proof of a negative test.

 

 

In addition to testing requirements, effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 7, 2021, we have also made adjustments to our onboard mask policy as follows:

 

• We require all guests to wear face masks when indoors.
• All guests ages 12 and older will be required to wear face masks in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino, except when eating or drinking.
• Guests will be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the Lido Market area. You may occasionally be asked to wear a mask in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate.
• As a reminder, masks are required during embarkation and debarkation in the terminal, and masks must also be worn during the debarkation process on board.
• We recommend guests wash or replace their mask daily and choose a good quality double-layer cloth or paper medical-grade mask. Please note that bandanas, neck gaiters and masks with exhaust valves will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask and that visors and face shields are only permitted when used in addition to a mask.

 

Please check our TravelWell^® (www.hollandamerica.com/travelwell) for further details on our updated testing requirements and onboard protocols.

 

These new requirements are being implemented to protect our guests and team members while onboard. Several destinations have implemented their own requirements and all guests will be required to follow the protocols in each destination we visit.

 

As stated above, we are hopeful these requirements will be temporary, and we appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming you aboard.

Not exactly my idea of the way to start a fun-filled cruise vacation.

[zelker]

Nothing that says they will give a refund or FCC if you can't comply though.  So now what?  Hate to think how many people will be calling HAL about this.  If anyone hears anything one way or the other about that specifically, please post back here.

[roxybear135]

Just now, zelker said:

Nothing that says they will give a refund or FCC if you can't comply though.  So now what?  Hate to think how many people will be calling HAL about this.  If anyone hears anything one way or the other about that specifically, please post back here.

It's definitely very frustrating.  Especially since the vast majority of us who are flying in from out of town have probably already booked our flights and may not be able to get tested and get the results prior to flying out.  I sure don't want to fly in awaiting results and possibly have to cancel my cruise and figure out how to get home without it costing a fortune. I'm supposed to fly in the afternoon before my cruise so it's extremely unlikely I can get tested AND get the results with still having time to cancel my flight without incurring a penalty if needed.

[AncientWanderer]

 I'm glad to see they will accept the antigen test, as well as PCR.  Easier and more accessible option, I think.  I'd be nervous waiting for PCR results.  The rapid tests at least allow you to re-test quickly, in case there is a false positive.  At least that's my impression from muddling through all this stuff.  Some places will only accept the PCR tests.  

[AncientWanderer]

Hawaii has been requiring the PCR tests to enter, and tourists have been complying in droves.  We can do this.

[suec12]

So I see the HAL notice says those embarking in the US must have test done beforehand, test will not done at pier. We are (dare we hope) embarking in Venice so for EU cruises, will HAL do the tests at pier?

 

Of course that assumes HAL has an embarkation pier lined up for us in Venice - that seems to be unclear at this time🤣

Edited August 4, 2021 by suec12

[kazu]

20 minutes ago, zelker said:

Nothing that says they will give a refund or FCC if you can't comply though.  So now what?  Hate to think how many people will be calling HAL about this.  If anyone hears anything one way or the other about that specifically, please post back here.

 

Yes, I guess the Cruise with Confidence won’t cover this since some of the cruises are less than 30 days to sailing 😔. those further out can invoke it.

[Caribbean Chris]

Walgreens has 6,000 drive-thru testing locations in the US. Friends stayed with us recently before flying to the US Virgin Islands. They found a site 15 minutes from our house and made appointments online.
 

They drove there, were directed to a drive-thru lane and were handed a kit by a staff person providing instruction. (They put the swab in their own noses.)  The paid nothing but showed their insurance cards.

 

They had emails with results in 1 - 2 days for PCR tests. If they had been able to have Antigen tests, the results would have been emailed in about 15 minutes.

 

So this is not an impossible burden. 

[AncientWanderer]

4 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Yes, I guess the Cruise with Confidence won’t cover this since some of the cruises are less than 30 days to sailing 😔. those further out can invoke it.

 

I believe it's also the case that if one does unfortunately test positive, they are able to cancel right up to time of boarding.  That is how I read the "Cruise with Confidence."  

[Destiny0315]

With RCCL, CCL, and even the Bahamas, all making adjustments in their Covid protocols today, and Florida setting new daily records in cases, I think it's fair to say that cruising and Covid is still a fluid situation.

[zelker]

Just now, Caribbean Chris said:

Walgreens has 6,000 drive-thru testing locations in the US. Friends stayed with us recently before flying to the US Virgin Islands. They found a site 15 minutes from our house and made appointments online.
 

They drove there, were directed to a drive-thru lane and were handed a kit by a staff person providing instruction. (They put the swab in their own noses.)  The paid nothing but showed their insurance cards.

 

They had emails with results in 1 - 2 days for PCR tests. If they had been able to have Antigen tests, the results would have been emailed in about 15 minutes.

 

So this is not an impossible burden. 

You're assuming that we can find appointments to get this done.  At the moment, I can find nothing and we live in the greater Denver-Boulder metro area.  And an even bigger issue is finding a place in the Seattle area to get the test done since we're flying in 72 hours prior. 

 

I just talked to HAL - she had heard nothing, reached out to her supervisor who had also heard nothing, and it's not showing up on HAL's site yet either.  Maybe we're a little more sensitive to all of this since we were in the middle of the Pacific on Eurodam when all hell broke loose in March of 2020. 

[jayhawk66]

39 minutes ago, ohmycruise said:

I just got an email for my Aug. 07 NA sailing.

 

Please carefully review the information below regarding new, temporary testing requirements:

 

• Effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 14, 2021, we will require ALL fully vaccinated guests to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (medically supervised PCR or antigen test) taken within 72 hours of their embarkation on all Holland America Line sailings.
• Fully vaccinated guests will be required to provide proof of this negative COVID-19 test, along with proof of full vaccination at least 14 days prior to embarkation, upon arrival in the terminal and can then proceed on board.
• For guests embarking in the United States, please note that testing in the terminal will not be available so it’s critical that you have your negative test results with you at cruise check-in. We will not be able to accommodate guests without proof of a negative test.

 

 

In addition to testing requirements, effective with cruises departing on Saturday, August 7, 2021, we have also made adjustments to our onboard mask policy as follows:

 

• We require all guests to wear face masks when indoors.
• All guests ages 12 and older will be required to wear face masks in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino, except when eating or drinking.
• Guests will be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the Lido Market area. You may occasionally be asked to wear a mask in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate.
• As a reminder, masks are required during embarkation and debarkation in the terminal, and masks must also be worn during the debarkation process on board.
• We recommend guests wash or replace their mask daily and choose a good quality double-layer cloth or paper medical-grade mask. Please note that bandanas, neck gaiters and masks with exhaust valves will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask and that visors and face shields are only permitted when used in addition to a mask.

 

Please check our TravelWell^® (www.hollandamerica.com/travelwell) for further details on our updated testing requirements and onboard protocols.

 

These new requirements are being implemented to protect our guests and team members while onboard. Several destinations have implemented their own requirements and all guests will be required to follow the protocols in each destination we visit.

 

As stated above, we are hopeful these requirements will be temporary, and we appreciate your cooperation and look forward to welcoming you aboard.

Unfortunately the Travelwell link above has not been updated to show the new requirements. No help there!