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SeaDream Barbados December


wjfan417
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Just a few days away from final payment and debating whether to cancel. We’re booked to fly in 2 days prior to cruise but it looks like Barbados is currently requiring a COVID test upon arrival, with 2-3 days of quarantine required until a negative result is available. On top of that, American just had a schedule change giving us only 40 minutes to connect in Miami, so there’s a good chance we’ll be stuck in Miami until 1 day prior. How far in advance are those of you taking the cruises out of Barbados flying into Barbados?
 

Diana

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Does that mean you have to stay in Barbados 2-3 days before boarding?  I could not find, on their website, any info on passengers "in transit" (those going straight to the ship).  I know when we cruised out of St. Martin in June, as "in transit" passengers, we just had to show our vaccine card, EHAS document and Covid results and went straight to the boat (where they did an onboard test).  

Yes, coming to Miami from Cleveland, in the winter, would be problematic and delays not unexpected.

I'd check with Barbados about "in transit" passengers. Also, SeaDream may have some insight. Fly in and sail out the same day may be possible (though, again, problematic). 

Having to pay your final payment so far i advance, with rules seemingly changing daily, is the real stickler.        

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DW and I are scheduled for Barbodos sailing Dec 12.

 

Under normal circumstances we would never fly in same day but this time we are doing exactly what cabosal1 describes.  Fly in and then straight to the ship.

 

As of the last information I had this should work without quarantine (but things can always change and my information could be out of date so please do your own research and don't rely on anything I say).

 

Now more than ever get the best travel insurance you can as recommended by you TA and keep fingers crossed.

 

RKM

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We have just cancelled today our reservations on this voyage. We were scheduled to fly to Barbados on the 3rd of December. However, as we reviewed the most up date travel requirements in and out of Barbados, we decided not to chance it. I'm not suggesting others should do that, we just decided to postpone to a future trip when things are "more normal".

 

Best regards,

 

Mike

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1 hour ago, Mike in AR said:

We have just cancelled today our reservations on this voyage. We were scheduled to fly to Barbados on the 3rd of December. However, as we reviewed the most up date travel requirements in and out of Barbados, we decided not to chance it. I'm not suggesting others should do that, we just decided to postpone to a future trip when things are "more normal".

 

Best regards,

 

Mike

I emailed the US Tourist Board for Barbados since the website wasn't clear about the protocols for people boarding a cruise there and this was the response:

 

Regarding travel protocols to Barbados presently, to enter the country you have to take a PCR test three days prior to arrival here. Then when you reach Barbados you will be given a Rapid test and the result will be known by the time you leave the airport. If you do take a PCR test instead of the Rapid test,  the results are known within 48 hours.

 

If you decide to change your flight to be safe and worried-free, please try to be in Barbados at least one full day before sailing. The times are fluid in face of covid and December is only three months away.  Check out these links for further information : www.visitbarbados.org and

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  • 3 weeks later...

who knows about new barabdos travel protocol from 10th sept ? before cruise starting in Bridgetown?

 

we need 2 days before for quarantine in special hotel?

 

how about b2b day in bridgetown= excursion possible?

 

how about end of cruise coming back to Barbados some days in beach hotel ? quarantine again`?

 

getting more and more confusing planning something !!

 

what are you doing pre and past cruise?

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SeaDream requests payment in full 90 days prior to embarkation, but can't guarantee stops (Caribbean), excursions, fully vaccinated, etc.  On our June cruise (Windstar) we were promised all (passengers & crew) would be vaccinated.  Two days prior to cruise we were informed that we would probably not be stopping off anywhere (St. Barts, Anguilla, BVI's, etc) due to crew members un-vaccinated.  We trust SD but, due to this prior experience, are hesitant to commit $$ ( WE are currently booked on a B2B out of St. Martin in January).    

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Late to this party....we're due for final next week as we're on the 12/27 SXM-BGI......I called SD today and nothing was said about staying in bubble or cancelled ports (for now anyway)....Much can change in 3 months....HOPING things are a little more open in the Caribbean by December (for the vaxxed!)....

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  • 5 weeks later...

Starting Nov. 1st, St. Martin will NOT require Covid testing to enter for those already vaxxed.  Hopefully this is the beginning of the Caribbean relaxing restrictions. (Coincidentally, also the start of their high season.)   

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On 9/22/2021 at 5:44 PM, laurelguy said:

Late to this party....we're due for final next week as we're on the 12/27 SXM-BGI......I called SD today and nothing was said about staying in bubble or cancelled ports (for now anyway)....Much can change in 3 months....HOPING things are a little more open in the Caribbean by December (for the vaxxed!)....

SeaDream does not seem ready to address their Caribbean excursions yet, since they have not had any cruises there yet.  However, we went on a Celebrity cruise back in September and they were pretty good about keeping us informed about ports.  Also they were very much oriented to letting the local regulations be the determining factor.  So if they said a bubble excursion was required, it was because of local country regulations.   If local regulations did not require it, Celebrity would let you out on your own.

 

I just checked on Celebrity's website and here is what it says about ports with bubble vs. on-your-own excursions...

 

Southern Caribbean Itineraries

Excursions provided by Celebrity Cruises are required in:

  • Antigua
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • Tortola
  • BVI
  • St. Lucia

Guests can explore the destination on their own in the ports below. However, we highly recommend you choose shore excursions with Celebrity Cruises that follow the same health protocols we have on board:

  • St. Croix
  • St. Maarten*
  • St. Thomas
  • Aruba
  • Bonaire
  • Curacao

While in Aruba, the use of masks is required while indoors, except for while eating and drinking.

Eastern Caribbean Itineraries
Excursions provided by Celebrity Cruises are required in:

  • Tortola

Guests can explore the destination on their own in the ports below. However, we highly recommend you choose shore excursions with Celebrity Cruises that follow the same health protocols we have on board:

  • Nassau
  • Bimini
  • St. Croix
  • St. Thomas
  • St. Maarten*
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

I think that would you give you an idea on the current situation, but as you mentioned, things can change quickly these days.  I would also mention that on the SeaBourne boards they said that cruises that are round trip from Barbados require bubble excursions for all stops, no matter what the local regulations required.  Not sure if that is Barbados or SeaBourne requirement.

 

Hopefully SeaDream will be getting things in order with regards to excursions soon.  We are 5  weeks away from our November cruise.

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On 10/23/2021 at 6:22 AM, DWhit said:

SeaDream does not seem ready to address their Caribbean excursions yet, since they have not had any cruises there yet.  However, we went on a Celebrity cruise back in September and they were pretty good about keeping us informed about ports.  Also they were very much oriented to letting the local regulations be the determining factor.  So if they said a bubble excursion was required, it was because of local country regulations.   If local regulations did not require it, Celebrity would let you out on your own.

 

I just checked on Celebrity's website and here is what it says about ports with bubble vs. on-your-own excursions...

 

Southern Caribbean Itineraries

Excursions provided by Celebrity Cruises are required in:

  • Antigua
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • Tortola
  • BVI
  • St. Lucia

Guests can explore the destination on their own in the ports below. However, we highly recommend you choose shore excursions with Celebrity Cruises that follow the same health protocols we have on board:

  • St. Croix
  • St. Maarten*
  • St. Thomas
  • Aruba
  • Bonaire
  • Curacao

While in Aruba, the use of masks is required while indoors, except for while eating and drinking.

Eastern Caribbean Itineraries
Excursions provided by Celebrity Cruises are required in:

  • Tortola

Guests can explore the destination on their own in the ports below. However, we highly recommend you choose shore excursions with Celebrity Cruises that follow the same health protocols we have on board:

  • Nassau
  • Bimini
  • St. Croix
  • St. Thomas
  • St. Maarten*
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

I think that would you give you an idea on the current situation, but as you mentioned, things can change quickly these days.  I would also mention that on the SeaBourne boards they said that cruises that are round trip from Barbados require bubble excursions for all stops, no matter what the local regulations required.  Not sure if that is Barbados or SeaBourne requirement.

 

Hopefully SeaDream will be getting things in order with regards to excursions soon.  We are 5  weeks away from our November cruise.

On 10/23/2021 at 6:22 AM, DWhit said:

SeaDream does not seem ready to address their Caribbean excursions yet, since they have not had any cruises there yet.  However, we went on a Celebrity cruise back in September and they were pretty good about keeping us informed about ports.  Also they were very much oriented to letting the local regulations be the determining factor.  So if they said a bubble excursion was required, it was because of local country regulations.   If local regulations did not require it, Celebrity would let you out on your own.

 

I just checked on Celebrity's website and here is what it says about ports with bubble vs. on-your-own excursions...

 

Southern Caribbean Itineraries

Excursions provided by Celebrity Cruises are required in:

  • Antigua
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • Tortola
  • BVI
  • St. Lucia

Guests can explore the destination on their own in the ports below. However, we highly recommend you choose shore excursions with Celebrity Cruises that follow the same health protocols we have on board:

  • St. Croix
  • St. Maarten*
  • St. Thomas
  • Aruba
  • Bonaire
  • Curacao

While in Aruba, the use of masks is required while indoors, except for while eating and drinking.

Eastern Caribbean Itineraries
Excursions provided by Celebrity Cruises are required in:

  • Tortola

Guests can explore the destination on their own in the ports below. However, we highly recommend you choose shore excursions with Celebrity Cruises that follow the same health protocols we have on board:

  • Nassau
  • Bimini
  • St. Croix
  • St. Thomas
  • St. Maarten*
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

I think that would you give you an idea on the current situation, but as you mentioned, things can change quickly these days.  I would also mention that on the SeaBourne boards they said that cruises that are round trip from Barbados require bubble excursions for all stops, no matter what the local regulations required.  Not sure if that is Barbados or SeaBourne requirement.

 

Hopefully SeaDream will be getting things in order with regards to excursions soon.  We are 5  weeks away from our November cruise.

 

Edited by laurelguy
trouble with website
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7 hours ago, laurelguy said:

Dwhit....thank you SO much for posting the info on excursions/bubbles in the Caribbean....I called the office and they are not sure about requirements pre and post cruise for SXM and BGI....we'll see! 

I read this morning that Antigua is dropping their bubble requirement.  I am hoping BVI does the same.  I am hoping for my first Painkiller at Jost Van Dyke.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I called SeaDream yesterday to see if we can leave the ship on our own (round trip Barbados cruise). First the agent said yes, but then he checked and said they had an update and ship tours had to be taken in Bequia, Mayreau and Nevis.

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I also called SeaDream this week about our upcoming SeaDream cruise in a few weeks. The agent led me to SDs website - at the top of their homepage in a black band with a link to Health & Safety protocol which has lots of info listed. As of today the only bubble ports are: "Currently, the following countries require a “bubble tour” format: Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat, Nevis, and St. Kitts."

 

Gouverneur's Beach and Soggy Dollar, here we come!

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7 hours ago, piratelooksat45 said:

I also called SeaDream this week about our upcoming SeaDream cruise in a few weeks. ...As of today the only bubble ports are: "Currently, the following countries require a “bubble tour” format: Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Montserrat, Nevis, and St. Kitts."

I hope they told you correctly.  RCL has a Barbados December departure and Barbados is currently requiring them to have bubble tours at all stops regardless of local regulations.

 

The following came from the RCL board about their upcoming Dec 5th departure from Barbados...

 

The purchase of tours through Royal Caribbean is primarily only for sailings in December.    Someone on social media called Royal today, and this was reported

 

I have just spoken to a very helpful RC agent in Guatemala.

Specifically I wanted to know if the protocols regarding RC shore excursions only are restricted to December 2021 alone (as per the email received last night from RC). She said that from Jan 2022 passengers may leave the ship unescorted EXCEPT on the following Islands;

St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, St Kitts, Tobago, Trinidad, Grenada, Martinique, Dominica and St Vincent.

These restrictions are in place from Jan 2022-March 2022.

I must stress this is what I was told and is not information I have read anywhere.

Not sure if this helps or not! x. “
 

Possibly the bubble rule does not apply to SeaDream.  I sure hope that is the case.  Either way you should have a great time.  Best of luck and happy sailing!

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I just saw that Celebrity has added a BVI port (Tortola) to the list of places you can do your own excursions.  So I think BVI is in the clear for exploring on our own.

 

Also I forgot that RCCL can have non-vaccinated passengers, so that may impact their Barbados requirements.

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On 11/12/2021 at 7:16 PM, DWhit said:

I just saw that Celebrity has added a BVI port (Tortola) to the list of places you can do your own excursions.  So I think BVI is in the clear for exploring on our own.

 

Also I forgot that RCCL can have non-vaccinated passengers, so that may impact their Barbados requirements.

 

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