When Will the CDC Drop Testing Requirement for Cruises?

[upwarduk]

10 minutes ago, RichYak said:

What cruise ship did he board?

He didn’t, he flew in from LHR.

My point is, it is no longer a requirement of Spain, it’s the cruise ships who are continuing to insist on pre boarding testing.

Edited June 13, 2022 by upwarduk

[terrydtx]

12 minutes ago, TeeRick said:

I agree that cruise customers do have an exposure risk on ships for sure.  And they are under intense scrutiny and have put solid operational principles in place.  Almost all customers are vaccinated and many are boosted or doubly boosted.  So risk of serious illness is lower and perhaps less than on land since vaccination status is known for everybody and pre-cruise testing has occurred.  Not the case in a hotel resort or theme park.  So how/what do we consider a long exposure in a confined space on a ship?  Maybe in your cabin with another infected person?  How is this very different than a hotel room?  If one takes a typical 7-day cruise with precautions (masking in the theatre or elevators for example) then the risk of becoming COVID+ is pretty low.  You can identify confined spaces and longer exposure times and avoid them.  Avoid crowded tour buses.  Avoid crowded casinos.  Go to outdoor bars.  Even with little precautions and no masks (these days), perhaps 1-3% are infected by all accounts from the data released from ships.  And rare reports of serious symptoms.  So still excellent opportunity to cruise COVID free.  

My son and his wife both work for a huge insurance company that returned to their offices last week after 2 years of working at home. He called us last night and they both have Covid after being vaccinated and boosted for work. The only place they could have been infected was being back in the office. So the virus can get us anywhere, not just cruise ships. BTW they are both doing OK with just mild symptoms.

Edited June 13, 2022 by terrydtx

[terrydtx]

2 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

He didn’t, he flew in from LHR.

My point is, it is no longer a requirement of Spain, it’s the cruise ships who are continuing to insist on pre boarding testing.

Flying into a country is not the same as entering by sea on a cruise ship.

[RichYak]

2 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

He didn’t, he flew in from LHR.

My point is, it is no longer a requirement of Spain, it’s the cruise ships who are continuing to insist on pre boarding testing.

Your point is incorrect. The US, Canada, Spain, Italy, etc do not require testing to fly into their countries. The all require pre-boarding testing for cruise ships sailing from their countries.

[markeb]

I guess I tuned out on the news article when he equated regulating theme parks, sporting events, etc. with cruise ships. The state and local governments establish health requirements for facilities in their states. The CDC's authority is on interstate and international travel.

 

We can have a long philosophical and technical discussion on continuing to test on cruise ships (and get us both warned!), but implying the CDC did this to the cruise industry and not all these other venues ignores the simple fact that they can't regulate those other venues.

 

(And for the record, even with a lifetime in various public health functions, I'm not sure what the pre-boarding testing is accomplishing either. Early on, yes. Now, just not sure.)

[upwarduk]

Just now, terrydtx said:

Flying into a country is not the same as entering by sea on a cruise ship.

I know that, but the cruise ships are insisting it is.

 

The following is taken from Celebrity Health & Safety at Sea protocols, which were updated on 10 th June.

“For itineraries that end in Spain, pre-arrival test must be taken within 1 day of sailing regardless of homeport.”

[TeeRick]

7 minutes ago, markeb said:

I guess I tuned out on the news article when he equated regulating theme parks, sporting events, etc. with cruise ships. The state and local governments establish health requirements for facilities in their states. The CDC's authority is on interstate and international travel.

 

We can have a long philosophical and technical discussion on continuing to test on cruise ships (and get us both warned!), but implying the CDC did this to the cruise industry and not all these other venues ignores the simple fact that they can't regulate those other venues.

 

(And for the record, even with a lifetime in various public health functions, I'm not sure what the pre-boarding testing is accomplishing either. Early on, yes. Now, just not sure.)

But the CDC can choose to regulate interstate airlines, buses, trains, etc.

[TeeRick]

12 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

My son and his wife both work for a huge insurance company that returned to their offices last week after 2 years of working at home. He called us last night and they both have Covid after being vaccinated and boosted for work. The only place they could have been infected was being back in the office. So the virus can get us anywhere, not just cruise ships. BTW they are both doing OK with just mild symptoms.

My son and daughter in law work at different companies.  Both were called into the office for meetings.  Both ended up getting COVID.  They isolated for 5 days at home and were good to go.  This story is quite common these days.  But here on CC we just focus on cruise ships and risks as that is the theme of these boards. 

[cangelmd]

5 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

My son and his wife both work for a huge insurance company that returned to their offices last week after 2 years of working at home. He called us last night and they both have Covid after being vaccinated and boosted for work. The only place they could have been infected was being back in the office. So the virus can get us anywhere, not just cruise ships. BTW they are both doing OK with just mild symptoms.

Glad they are doing well. Perfect example of how everyone is going to get Covid when their personal immunity has waned enough and they are exposed. 
 

[Ken the cruiser]

15 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

He didn’t, he flew in from LHR.

My point is, it is no longer a requirement of Spain, it’s the cruise ships who are continuing to insist on pre boarding testing.

So the EU pre-cruise testing requirements listed at paragraph 7.4 in the EU Health Gateways Operational Guidelines are just a suggestion? Would these be considered similar to CDC guidelines, but applicable to all EU countries?

 

7.4. Testing of passengers on the day of embarkation

All passengers (except children under the age of 12 years) should hold proof of a negative:

 NAAT performed within 72 hours before embarkation, OR
 RADT performed within 48 hours before embarkation

 

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EUHG_Operational_guidelines_CoV_June2022.pdf?ver=2022-06-10-140149-413#page26

[RichYak]

9 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

I know that, but the cruise ships are insisting it is.

 

The following is taken from Celebrity Health & Safety at Sea protocols, which were updated on 10 th June.

“For itineraries that end in Spain, pre-arrival test must be taken within 1 day of sailing regardless of homeport.”

I simply don't understand your point. In the quoted post, you are both making a point and are refuting it at the same time. Flying into a country has one set of rules. Cruising has a different set of rules. Both are dictated by the particular country.

[RichYak]

4 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

So the EU pre-cruise testing requirements listed at paragraph 7.4 in the EU Health Gateways Operational Guidelines are just a suggestion?

Yes, they are guidelines. Each EU country sets its own covid protocols. 

[Ken the cruiser]

10 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Yes, they are guidelines. Each EU country sets its own covid protocols. 

What’s interesting is that in the same document at paragraph 5.2, it states what you’re saying with regards to incoming travelers to the country of embarkation. But in paragraph 7.4 they’re a little more specific when it comes to actually embarking on a cruise. 
 

5.2. Screening of incoming travellers to the country of embarkation
Passengers who have travelled from abroad to the country of embarkation must comply with the requirements for incoming travellers to the country of embarkation.

[mayleeman]

I think the precruise tests will continue not in spite of cases being milder, but because they are. The few cases that involve more serious symptoms, hospitalization, or death will stand out and become newsworthy. Precruise testing, and other screening, will discourage many people who suspect they are ill from trying to sneak aboard.

 

The cruise lines will not want to have the rare extreme cases prove the truth of "one death is a tragedy, a million is a statistic."

[terrydtx]

1 hour ago, TeeRick said:

My son and daughter in law work at different companies.  Both were called into the office for meetings.  Both ended up getting COVID.  They isolated for 5 days at home and were good to go.  This story is quite common these days.  But here on CC we just focus on cruise ships and risks as that is the theme of these boards. 

Our Son and DIL both work in entirely separate sections of the company, he got it first and she got it the next day. After calling their supervisors today, they found that Covid is running rampant in their offices, the company is now going to reevaluate their decision to return to the office for employees. Must have been a "Typhoid Mary" running around the offices last week infecting so many, LOL

[p18750]

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

The first early season Europe cruises in April did testing because Spain required cruise ships that disembarked or stopped in any Spanish ports had to test passengers before they boarded the ship. There was a time that Italy had a similar requirement, this may have changed since then. This was reported in several Live from Threads on the early Silhouette cruises from the UK and TA.

That is true but I do not believe either Italy or Spain requires testing prior to embarking or disembarking. I believe Greece still has some requirements, but they are thought to be removed soon. I believe the Celebrity testing requirements for Spain and Italy are voluntary and can be removed by Celebrity.  

[Arizona Wildcat]

2 hours ago, RichYak said:

Your point is incorrect. The US, Canada, Spain, Italy, etc do not require testing to fly into their countries. The all require pre-boarding testing for cruise ships sailing from their countries.

Not exactly.  Canada requires no testing for fully vaccinated.  Not fully vaccinated  complicated.  Spain requires testing for countries considered high risk for covid.  Those countries change it appears weekly. 

Really pointless to debate the rules as they are changing daily.  What we do know is the current predominant covid variant is usually very contagious and those infected have symptoms ranging from none to death.  Again there are others exposed for hours in close proximity to infected individuals that did not contract covid such as my DW.  And yes she was tested twice to verify.

[canderson]

36 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Again there are others exposed for hours in close proximity to infected individuals that did not contract covid such as my DW.  And yes she was tested twice to verify.

That's one of the fascinating things about this bug.  We have frequently heard of someone testing positive on cruise ships and the spouse continuing to test negative ... all at a time when they're probably spending more time together than they would if home!

 

[terrydtx]

9 minutes ago, canderson said:

That's one of the fascinating things about this bug.  We have frequently heard of someone testing positive on cruise ships and the spouse continuing to test negative ... all at a time when they're probably spending more time together than they would if home!

 

My sister and BIL returned from an NCL Hawaii cruise on June 6th. My Bil tested positive the day they got home on the 6th, they got off the ship on the 5th and took the redeye home that night. My BIL started getting symptoms on the overnight flight to Chicago from Honolulu so no doubt he got Covid on the cruise ship. Our 11year old Niece also came home from the cruise with Covid but out of their group of 9 family members on the cruise they were the only ones with the virus, so far. My sister has been negative the whole time as well. All of the adults were vaccinated and boosted and the children were all vaccinated but not boosted and all tested negative to board the ship on May 29th.

[p18750]

3 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

So the EU pre-cruise testing requirements listed at paragraph 7.4 in the EU Health Gateways Operational Guidelines are just a suggestion? Would these be considered similar to CDC guidelines, but applicable to all EU countries?

 

 

7.4. Testing of passengers on the day of embarkation

All passengers (except children under the age of 12 years) should hold proof of a negative:

 NAAT performed within 72 hours before embarkation, OR
 RADT performed within 48 hours before embarkation

 

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EUHG_Operational_guidelines_CoV_June2022.pdf?ver=2022-06-10-140149-413#page26

Yes, the EU can issue advisories but it up to each country in the EU to decide the actual requirements for their countries. 

[Ken the cruiser]

16 minutes ago, p18750 said:

Yes, the EU can issue advisories but it up to each country in the EU to decide the actual requirements for their countries. 

So any idea how one finds out if an EU member country has decided to “ignore” paragraph 7.4, in essence leaving it up to a particular cruise line to make the decision to require/not required a pre-cruise C19 test?

 

For example, we’re flying to Barcelona on July 1 to subsequently board the Princess Regal once we arrive. Barcelona has no requirement  for a C19 test to land in their country if you are fully vaccinated. However, Princess states on their website you have to test within 3 days of embarkation. Is there a way to tell if that’s a Spain requirement or just the EU requirement Princess is adhering to?

Edited June 13, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[Virginia100]

22 hours ago, prmssk said:

Absolutely, any cruise line will have to follow country requirements, although those requirements seem to be disappearing fast.  But what I think it says is that Viking doesn't feel these tests are necessary any longer for their purposes.  They don't see the value in these tests or at least the cost (in time, money, lost sales, etc.) is greater than any potential value.

I think many in charge now understand it far more important to require passengers to be up to date in their vaccines ( and even beyond) than testing for a positive reading. The up to date vaccinated now so rarely get seriously sick to go to a hospital like before the vaccines were developed that the testing prevents little now. It becomes a nuisance not a life threatening procedure.

[Ipeeinthepools]

19 minutes ago, Virginia100 said:

I think many in charge now understand it far more important to require passengers to be up to date in their vaccines ( and even beyond) than testing for a positive reading. The up to date vaccinated now so rarely get seriously sick to go to a hospital like before the vaccines were developed that the testing prevents little now. It becomes a nuisance not a life threatening procedure.

 

Or maybe they understand it is better with up to date vaccinations and pre-cruise testing.  Who said it had to be one or the other?

[Guppy99]

47 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

So any idea how one finds out if an EU member country has decided to “ignore” paragraph 7.4, in essence leaving it up to a particular cruise line to make the decision to require/not required a pre-cruise C19 test?

 

For example, we’re flying to Barcelona on July 1 to subsequently board the Princess Regal once we arrive. Barcelona has no requirement  for a C19 test to land in their country if you are fully vaccinated. However, Princess states on their website you have to test within 3 days of embarkation. Is there a way to tell if that’s a Spain requirement or just the EU requirement Princess is adhering to?

does it make a difference?

[Guppy99]

40 minutes ago, Virginia100 said:

I think many in charge now understand it far more important to require passengers to be up to date in their vaccines ( and even beyond) than testing for a positive reading. The up to date vaccinated now so rarely get seriously sick to go to a hospital like before the vaccines were developed that the testing prevents little now. It becomes a nuisance not a life threatening procedure.

So wrong. The uptick in cases of covid and long covid with the appearance of the delta variant is significant. Having been fully vaccinated and receiving a booster, I caught covid. That was on a cruise in January. It's June and I still have residual affects. I was very nearly hospitalized as well.  It is certainly different from before vaccinations were available, but saying its now just a nuisance is trivializing what is still a serious disease and threat to the public health. Perhaps people should consider that the protocols  still in place that your tired of, are in fact managing the disease and its spread.