Good News: Elimination of Pre-Cruise Testing!

[CaptainBazz]

1 minute ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Cruise lines aren't changing out the buffet to all fruit and vegetables as a result.

Thankfully...😁

[Concretemanstan]

I think NCL are in a bit of a pickle at the minute.  They dropped testing in all ports that they could and now they are able to drop it in the US they are hesitating.  Are they saying that it is riskier to cruise out of the US?  That Americans have more COVID? Their silence is doing them no favours

Edited July 28, 2022 by Concretemanstan

[BermudaBound2014]

13 minutes ago, Concretemanstan said:

I think NCL are in a bit of a pickle at the minute.  They dropped testing in all ports that they could and now they are able to drop it in the US they are hesitating.  Are they saying that it is riskier to cruise out of the US?  That Americans have more COVID? Their silence is doing them no favours

 

NCL reports 3Q23 next Tuesday. Like RCL today, I suspect an announcement then. 

[ontheweb]

23 hours ago, julig22 said:

NCL already removed the testing requirement, effective August 1 - with noted exceptions being the US, Canada and Greece.

Basically those are the majority; the exceptions are the ships (and ports they sail from) that have the requirements removed.

[LaCal]

Click Bait 

[njhorseman]

4 hours ago, karl_nj said:

MIAMI, July 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (the “Company”) today announced it will no longer require guests to complete pre-cruise COVID-19 testing unless required by local regulations.

Proving that NCL was weeks ahead of Azamara on this issue...totally the opposite of what the OP would have you believe.

[deliver42]

Today Royal said they were eliminating testing on short cruises under 6 days starting 08/08 for vaccinated only. None vaxxed still have to test.

[BirdTravels]

7 hours ago, karl_nj said:

 

Which is very similar to the language used by NCL when they made their announcement weeks ago:

 

MIAMI, July 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) (the “Company”) today announced it will no longer require guests to complete pre-cruise COVID-19 testing unless required by local regulations.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Announces Revisions to SailSAFE Health and Safety Protocols :: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) (nclhltd.com)

 

 

It seems pretty clear that when Azamara made this announcement, they didn't expect the CDC to make changes so quickly, since their chart, released as part of this announcement, still mentioned that testing would be required in the US.  They were just matching what NCL did weeks earlier, and not yet making any decisions on how to handle sailings out of the US.  Since they don't have any at the moment.

 

I agree who knows what the situation will be in December, but I would not be surprised if most cruise lines have dropped testing by then.  That does seem to be the direction things are heading in now.

 

 

So, is testing required by any country in the caribbean? If so, then testing will continue on all caribbean cruises until otherwise. Miami is only one of many ports that NCL calls at. And they are not going to have specific testing requirements crise-by-cruise 

Edited July 28, 2022 by BirdTravels

[BermudaBound2014]

34 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

So, is testing required by any country in the caribbean? If so, then testing will continue on all caribbean cruises until otherwise. Miami is only one of many ports that NCL calls at. And they are not going to have specific testing requirements crise-by-cruise 

 

Currently I believe there are 5 or 6 countries in the Caribbean still requiring testing. As we are all aware, this changes daily because covid protocols are fluid, but the move is clearly toward reducing Covid protocols. 

 

IMO one of two things will happen: 

a) These countries will eliminate testing

b) Cruise ships will alter their itineraries to avoid these countries.

 

 

Edited July 29, 2022 by BermudaBound2014

[psac]

If you haven’t seen the Royal Caribbean news, they’re going to eliminate testing for cruises 5 days and under for vaccinated passengers, and also allow more unvaccinated passengers over 12 (no details given yet.). I don’t know how either of these things will work with Bermuda. Or the Bahamas even… but especially Bermuda. Did I mention Bermuda?  😁. The next few weeks will be interesting!!

 

 

[njhorseman]

47 minutes ago, psac said:

If you haven’t seen the Royal Caribbean news, they’re going to eliminate testing for cruises 5 days and under for vaccinated passengers, and also allow more unvaccinated passengers over 12 (no details given yet.). I don’t know how either of these things will work with Bermuda. Or the Bahamas even… but especially Bermuda. Did I mention Bermuda?  😁. The next few weeks will be interesting!!

 

 

It won't work for Bermuda cruises. Bermuda requires everyone to be tested. A cruise line can't override a country's laws and regulations. 

 

Edited July 29, 2022 by njhorseman

[gregmarty]

On 7/27/2022 at 7:07 PM, BirdTravels said:

How horrible. Let's hope that NCL never removes pre-cruise testing. 

I agree.  What is wrong with making sure you aren’t sick before you travel with thousands of others?  

[Fun4Us2013]

Let’s face it folks, this is now in the hands of the lawyers. Obviously the bulk of those getting sick is over. No more cruise ships making the news of horrible treatment of the sick, no more refusals to dock, in other words, no more headlines. Now the lawyers have to figure out when to reduce the requirements to avoid the most loss. When somebody  goes on a ship and gets Covid will they attempt to sue because the cruise line stopped this testing. You know the answer to that. I believe.cruise lines have done all they can to keep us safe. Someone ALWAYS gets sick on a cruise. NCL and the others have to protect themselves from the sue  happy people lying in wait.

[markkw07]

On 7/27/2022 at 5:38 PM, travelhound said:

Its absolutely relevant to NCL. Competition will force all cruise lines to accept the reality of daily life and will be forced to stop the testing.  

Sure, Why don't u give Frank a call and let him know he needs to accept the reality of daily life and to stop testing...I am curious on what his response will be 😛

[prmssk]

Carnival just announced they are dropping testing on short cruises for vaccinated passengers effective Aug 4 (similar to Royal).  To stay competitive, I think NCL is going to need to follow with something similar soon. 

[Karaboudjan]

39 minutes ago, prmssk said:

Carnival just announced they are dropping testing on short cruises for vaccinated passengers effective Aug 4 (similar to Royal).  To stay competitive, I think NCL is going to need to follow with something similar soon. 

 

I don't believe that NCL does enough short cruises for that to make much of a difference for them.  

Edited July 29, 2022 by Karaboudjan

[prmssk]

18 minutes ago, Karaboudjan said:

 

I don't believe that NCL does enough short cruises for that to make much of a difference for them.  

There are more than you think. I count at least 15 (not including any that go to Bermuda since Bermuda still requires testing) through the end of the year that are 5 nights or shorter. That is more than I believe Celebrity has and they have also eliminated testing for these cruises. 
 

Plus both Carnival and Royal make clear this is just phase one with plans to eliminate testing on longer voyages “soon”.

[BermudaBound2014]

2 hours ago, markkw07 said:

Sure, Why don't u give Frank a call and let him know he needs to accept the reality of daily life and to stop testing...I am curious on what his response will be 😛

 

Covid protocols have been fluid since the resumption. Lots of changes taking place along the way.   NCL has handled Covid no different than the other lines. This change will soon come to NCL also. 

[markkw07]

11 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

Covid protocols have been fluid since the resumption. Lots of changes taking place along the way.   NCL has handled Covid no different than the other lines. This change will soon come to NCL also. 

Correct, there are going to be changes, but they will happen when cruise lines are ready to make that adjustment.

 

I just got an email from Carnival stating pre cruise testing will be eliminated on cruises 5 days OR LESS starting on August 4th 2022 for FULLY vaccinated people. I repeat the 5 DAYS OR LESS.

 

7 days will still have to test 3 days before. 

Edited July 29, 2022 by markkw07

[BermudaBound2014]

2 minutes ago, markkw07 said:

Correct, there are going to be changes, but they will happen when cruise lines are ready to make that adjustment.

 

I just got an email from Carnival stating pre cruise testing will be eliminated on cruises 5 days OR LESS starting on August 4th 2022 for FULLY vaccinated people. I repeat the 5 DAYS OR LESS.

 

7 days will still have to test 3 days before. 

 

Of course, I think we are all aware that both Carnival and RCL have eliminated pre-testing for cruises shorter than 6 days, but both have also said they will reevaluate for longer cruises 'shortly'. Here is the press release from Carnival. Of course, we don't know the definition of 'shortly'. Time will tell. 

 

We remain, as always, committed to the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve. These changes will be made in phases, with the first of these updates effective on Thursday, August 4, 2022 and focused on short cruise itineraries of 5 nights or less.

More changes will be announced shortly and all changes are subject to any requirements of destinations on the itinerary.

 

[BermudaBound2014]

It's happening folks. Slowly but surely. Today, Royal Caribbean dropped another big bomb to go along with eliminating pre testing for the vaccinated on shorter voyages, RCL is now welcoming 20% unvaccinated passengers onboard and making protocols to obtain an exemption a bit easier. Currently Virgin and Princess welcome 10% unvaccinated and have changed the way they process exemptions to make them more consumer friendly. 

 

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley posted on social media ......we will welcome unvaccinated guests over 12 and guests with a certificate of recovery within 90 days to travel keeping in mind our ships will typically sail with 80 percent plus vaccinated guests onboard. "

 

https://www.thestreet.com/investing/major-cruise-line-drops-vaccine-requirement

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/frequently-asked-questions/us-cruises/

 

 

 

[cruise*enthusiast]

A little confused. Sailing on the Bliss to Alaska. Closed loop from Seattle. Am I interpreting this this correctly; we need to provide proof of negative tests AND take another test when we arrive at the pier?  If so, does it take quite a while because they are testing the entire ship?

[Concretemanstan]

NCL have to drop it completely otherwise the question will be,

"Why have you dropped it in Europe (barring Greece) completely but not the US?"

How are they going to answer that without offending their biggest market?

[JustAPilot]

Covid is alive and well on the ships as I was walking back to my room and saw the hazmat suits and someone getting escorted with the spray behind them. I did a 180 and took the long way back.

Edited July 30, 2022 by JustAPilot

[Karaboudjan]

2 hours ago, Concretemanstan said:

NCL have to drop it completely otherwise the question will be,

"Why have you dropped it in Europe (barring Greece) completely but not the US?"

How are they going to answer that without offending their biggest market?

 

The answer is simple - the great majority of cruises from the US are stopping in Canada or Bermuda who still require tests.