Any Guesses on how NCL is Going to Manage Bermuda Cruises calling on Norfolk?

[Dr. Cocktail]

I've been itching to get on a cruise and now that things are (hopefully) settling down, I was eying one of the sailings to Bermuda from NYC. 

 

With Bermuda announcing their new rules last week (https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation),  it appears that passengers on these sailings will have to be tested before boarding and then, all crew and passengers will need a rapid test before arriving in Bermuda. That would pose a bit of a logistical challenge on the single day at sea and open up an entire can of worms.

 

There are numerous posts about people stressed about failing their test pre-embarkation and how they have almost been "self-isolating" before their trip. What happens now when you are tested again three or four days after your first test?  There would be numerous chances to be exposed, either at home or during your travels.  I have zero doubt that there will be positive results with subsequent on-board quarantine and contact tracing.

 

After thinking about this (a lot!), I simply don't want to worry about such things and would give it a pass if everyone requires two tests.

 

The easiest answer would be to skip Norfolk but this is where we turn it over to the accountants at NCL.

 

Pros of skipping: No costs of testing equipment and tests, no staff for tests, no bad publicity from people in quarantine, less headaches with Bermudian officials.

 

Pros of going to Norfolk: Shore excursion revenue,  less alcohol consumed than at a day at sea, ? less fuel costs than being at sea but ? offset by needing a higher speed to get to Bermuda?

 

Curious to hear people's thoughts!

[bluesea777]

If your ship doesn’t stop in Norfolk enroute to Bermuda, but has to stop there on way back you all will be subjected to Immigration/Customs check there instead of New York!

 

FWIW, NCL should drop Norfolk entirely on the Bermuda cruises. 
 

Maybe Norfolk stop is where pax can be tested for Bermuda arrival? 
 

 

[tbedard1]

WE signed up for our first post pandemic cruise on one of these not realizing that Bermuda was implementing the additional testing due to the Virginia stop! Waiting to hear how this s going to be handled!

[Dr. Cocktail]

49 minutes ago, tbedard1 said:

WE signed up for our first post pandemic cruise on one of these not realizing that Bermuda was implementing the additional testing due to the Virginia stop! Waiting to hear how this s going to be handled!

As a follow-up, I called NCL today ....

 

The rep was truly lovely (no sarcasm here!) but was shocked at the new requirements (that she was unaware of....)

 

I actually gave her the web link!

 

Norfolk was only added as a stop in December .... I'm (selfishly) seriously hoping that it's "unadded" soon!

Edited March 14, 2022 by Dr. Cocktail

[JandC_Cruising]

11 minutes ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

Norfolk was only added as a stop in December .... I'm (selfishly) seriously hoping that it's "unadded" soon!

Absolutely agree!  Been on the NYC to Bermuda run before and love it. We were so baffled by this addition back in December and now it is only creating more work for everyone…including NCL. 
According to these new Bermuda rules:

“If Bermuda is the not first port of call on your cruise OR your cruise will take more than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda:

All passengers regardless of vaccination status must undergo a further supervised antigen or COVID-19 NAAT on-board, by the ships medical team, no more than 2 days before passengers are to disembark in Bermuda. “

 

This clearly puts the onus on NCL medical and can be avoided by just removing the stop in Norfolk. 

Let’s hope they just revert to the original itinerary from NY and go back to a extra sea day.  

[norwoodcruisergirl]

I am interested to see what happens. I just booked this cruise itinerary yesterday. Thinking I should call ncl as well. 

[njhorseman]

54 minutes ago, norwoodcruisergirl said:

I am interested to see what happens. I just booked this cruise itinerary yesterday. Thinking I should call ncl as well. 

Don't waste your time. The telephone customer service rep won't know anything. They'll be the last to know what NCL is going to do, or if they're even going to do anything.

[Dr. Cocktail]

1 hour ago, JandC_Cruising said:

Absolutely agree!  Been on the NYC to Bermuda run before and love it. We were so baffled by this addition back in December and now it is only creating more work for everyone…including NCL. 
According to these new Bermuda rules:

“If Bermuda is the not first port of call on your cruise OR your cruise will take more than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda:

All passengers regardless of vaccination status must undergo a further supervised antigen or COVID-19 NAAT on-board, by the ships medical team, no more than 2 days before passengers are to disembark in Bermuda. “

 

This clearly puts the onus on NCL medical and can be avoided by just removing the stop in Norfolk. 

Let’s hope they just revert to the original itinerary from NY and go back to a extra sea day.  

For all intensive purposes,  the testing really can't be done on board unless there's a full dedicated team.

 

Again, it will NOT be a happy scene as there WILL be people who are positive and then you can't release anyone until you complete contact tracing.

 

I have done the Bermuda run about 20 times .... while I used to love the 4 days in Bermuda, I also love the two days at sea! An extra stop in not an enticement ....

 

As a Canadian, it would mean a test before flying to NYC, a test the next day to board, another test three days later and a final test to get back to Canada!!!

Edited March 14, 2022 by Dr. Cocktail

[negn]

I originally booked this but changed to Western Caribbean instead.   Just didn’t t feel like the hassle. Was unhappy when they added Norfolk but since it didn’t effect our time in Bermuda I was ok with it.    Would just stay on the ship.  Can’t imagine trying to get everyone tested prior to disembarking.   Ironically, just got a flyer from Casino specifically for Bermuda so maybe they’re having trouble filling them.  

[karmamule]

On our last cruise on MSC Seashore we had to do on-board testing before our stop in San Juan due to PR regulations, and it was surprisingly smooth, although the ship was at very low capacity at the time. 

 

They gave us a 15 minute window to show up in and it took all of 5 minutes for both of us to wait in a short line then get swabbed by one of the ship's medical staff. It was far less tedious than we feared.

 

The main variables would be if the ship's medical staff would be large enough to keep testing lines down for however much capacity a ship is running at.

 

Having said that, we have ZERO interest in the Virginia Beach stop they added to our cruise, and even without the extra burden of pre-Bermuda on-ship testing we'd prefer they just give us our two sea days. We LOVE sea days!

[Dr. Cocktail]

2 hours ago, karmamule said:

On our last cruise on MSC Seashore we had to do on-board testing before our stop in San Juan due to PR regulations, and it was surprisingly smooth, although the ship was at very low capacity at the time. 

 

They gave us a 15 minute window to show up in and it took all of 5 minutes for both of us to wait in a short line then get swabbed by one of the ship's medical staff. It was far less tedious than we feared.

 

The main variables would be if the ship's medical staff would be large enough to keep testing lines down for however much capacity a ship is running at.

 

Having said that, we have ZERO interest in the Virginia Beach stop they added to our cruise, and even without the extra burden of pre-Bermuda on-ship testing we'd prefer they just give us our two sea days. We LOVE sea days!

If Joy is sailing at the expected 60% capacity, that would be about 3300 to 3500 (or more!)  people to test including crew!

[moosecrouse]

My guess is NCL promised to make Norfolk a stop on the East coast runs as a payback for hosting the Encore, Bliss and Spirit during the cruise shutdown. Otherwise no real need for NCL to add the cost and inconvenience of onboard testing. 

Edited March 14, 2022 by moosecrouse

[BirdTravels]

18 hours ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

For all intensive purposes,  the testing really can't be done on board unless there's a full dedicated team. Again, it will NOT be a happy scene as there WILL be people who are positive and then you can't release anyone until you complete contact tracing.

We have sailed out of Nassau twice post-restart. For all practical purposes, the entire ship (passengers, crew) were tested during the cruise over a 1+ day period (most passengers on one day, a few stragglers on the second). I think that it were three eurofin nurses doing the samples and maybe a labtech or two reading the results and printing out results. Fast, easy. They supplemented the ship's medical team who were not directly involved with the testing (except if someone flunked and went into quarantine). 

[Dr. Cocktail]

43 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

We have sailed out of Nassau twice post-restart. For all practical purposes, the entire ship (passengers, crew) were tested during the cruise over a 1+ day period (most passengers on one day, a few stragglers on the second). I think that it were three eurofin nurses doing the samples and maybe a labtech or two reading the results and printing out results. Fast, easy. They supplemented the ship's medical team who were not directly involved with the testing (except if someone flunked and went into quarantine). 

Interesting ... and selfishly disappointing on my side!  I didn't think that it would be possible.

 

I'm comfortable enough taking my first cruise but not willing to risk a quarantine by my second day on board!

 

I still have a feeling that this is is TBD down at head office ...

[Dr. Cocktail]

OK - I have an official answer which is now on the website. BirdTravels was correct - everyone will be tested on the day at sea after leaving Norfolk.

 

Boooooooooo!  I guess no Bermuda for me yet again this year ....

 

Where Bermuda is not the first port of call, or if the ship takes longer than 4 days to arrive in Bermuda, all guests, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to take an additional antigen or PCR test onboard no more than 2 days prior to disembarking in Bermuda. This test will be paid for and administered by our onboard medical team.

[CPT Trips]

[geegee1]

1 hour ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

OK - I have an official answer which is now on the website. BirdTravels was correct - everyone will be tested on the day at sea after leaving Norfolk.

 

Boooooooooo!  I guess no Bermuda for me yet again this year ....

 

Where Bermuda is not the first port of call, or if the ship takes longer than 4 days to arrive in Bermuda, all guests, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to take an additional antigen or PCR test onboard no more than 2 days prior to disembarking in Bermuda. This test will be paid for and administered by our onboard medical team.

But the current cruises out of NY are not taking longer than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda.  Leave NY Sunday, arrive Bermuda Wednesday.  Any way you count, that is not longer than 4 days.

[Dr. Cocktail]

4 minutes ago, geegee1 said:

But the current cruises out of NY are not taking longer than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda.  Leave NY Sunday, arrive Bermuda Wednesday.  Any way you count, that is not longer than 4 days.

But they're stopping in Norfolk first ie Bermuda is NOT the first port of call ...

 

Nearly all of the departures stop in Norfolk.....

Edited March 16, 2022 by Dr. Cocktail

[Dr. Cocktail]

59 minutes ago, CPT Trips said:

With that attitude?

 

Yes.

[geegee1]

1 minute ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

But they're stopping in Norfolk first ie Bermuda is NOT the first port of call ...

Damn reading comprehension.  This does suck.  Hopefully as the season goes on, they loosen this requirement.

[shof515]

if you want to avoid all of this extra testing onboard the ship, look for the few bermuda cruises without norfolk. there is still a few of them from what i saw on their website  

[bluesea777]

1 hour ago, shof515 said:

if you want to avoid all of this extra testing onboard the ship, look for the few bermuda cruises without norfolk. there is still a few of them from what i saw on their website  

 

Yes, there's the Pearl departing from Boston on Fridays, getting to Bermuda on the Sundays, staying there for a few days and they go to Bar Harbor, Maine on the way back to Boston.

 

It's fine if you don't mind two things on those cruises - smaller, and a Jewel class ship, AND Bar Harbor is a tender port and first entry into US where you'll be subjected to US Immigration control! Boston, it's Customs control.

 

P.S. Pearl has to depart Bermuda before Joy can arrive to dock. That's why Joy has 2 days out to Bermuda vs Pearl's 1 day. Joy has 1 day back and Pearl has 2 days.

 

Also, your antigen test has to be taken within 48 hours before arrival to Bermuda, which means stopping at Norfolk has nothing to do with it. It's either one Norfolk day and one sea day OR two sea days (if no Norfolk). The tests will be conducted on the ship.

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by bluesea777

[Dr. Cocktail]

53 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

 

 

 

Also, your antigen test has to be taken within 48 hours before arrival to Bermuda, which means stopping at Norfolk has nothing to do with it. It's either one Norfolk day and one sea day OR two sea days (if no Norfolk). The tests will be conducted on the ship.

 

 

 

Actually, that's not quite correct...

 

The rules are as follows. EVERYONE who is vaccinated will need a pcr up to 4 days before embarkation or a supervised antigen test.

 

If Bermuda is the not first port of call on your cruise OR your cruise will take more than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda:

All passengers regardless of vaccination status must undergo a further supervised antigen or COVID-19 NAAT on-board, by the ships medical team, no more than 2 days before passengers are to disembark in Bermuda. 

Passenger Category	Cruise voyage where Bermuda is the first port of call	Cruise voyage where Bermuda is not the first port of call or ship takes longer than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda from embarkation port
Fully Vaccinated Cruise Ship Passengers	Travel Authorisation required. Application fee $40. COVID-19 NAAT test (PCR, LAMP or TMA) up to 4 days before embarkation  OR Supervised antigen up to 2 days before embarkation	Travel Authorisation required. Application fee $40. COVID-19 NAAT test up to 4 days before embarkation  OR Supervised antigen up to 2 days before embarkation AND COVID-19 NAAT or supervised antigen test up to 2 days before disembarking in Bermuda

Edited March 16, 2022 by Dr. Cocktail

[deweytrader]

58 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

 

Yes, there's the Pearl departing from Boston on Fridays, getting to Bermuda on the Sundays, staying there for a few days and they go to Bar Harbor, Maine on the way back to Boston.

 

It's fine if you don't mind two things on those cruises - smaller, and a Jewel class ship, AND Bar Harbor is a tender port and first entry into US where you'll be subjected to US Immigration control! Boston, it's Customs control.

 

P.S. Pearl has to depart Bermuda before Joy can arrive to dock. That's why Joy has 2 days out to Bermuda vs Pearl's 1 day. Joy has 1 day back and Pearl has 2 days.

 

Also, your antigen test has to be taken within 48 hours before arrival to Bermuda, which means stopping at Norfolk has nothing to do with it. It's either one Norfolk day and one sea day OR two sea days (if no Norfolk). The tests will be conducted on the ship.

 

 

 

The Joy has some sailings that bypass Norfolk, 5/29, 7/24, 10/22, 10/29.

[suz1607]

18 minutes ago, Dr. Cocktail said:

Actually, that's not quite correct...

 

The rules are as follows. EVERYONE who is vaccinated will need a pcr up to 4 days before embarkation or a supervised antigen test.

 

If Bermuda is the not first port of call on your cruise OR your cruise will take more than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda:

All passengers regardless of vaccination status must undergo a further supervised antigen or COVID-19 NAAT on-board, by the ships medical team, no more than 2 days before passengers are to disembark in Bermuda. 

Passenger Category	Cruise voyage where Bermuda is the first port of call	Cruise voyage where Bermuda is not the first port of call or ship takes longer than 4 days to arrive to Bermuda from embarkation port
Fully Vaccinated Cruise Ship Passengers	Travel Authorisation required. Application fee $40. COVID-19 NAAT test (PCR, LAMP or TMA) up to 4 days before embarkation  OR Supervised antigen up to 2 days before embarkation	Travel Authorisation required. Application fee $40. COVID-19 NAAT test up to 4 days before embarkation  OR Supervised antigen up to 2 days before embarkation AND COVID-19 NAAT or supervised antigen test up to 2 days before disembarking in Bermuda