Update is in - testing still required for 6 nights or longer - Vaccine dropped in certain ports as of 9/5/22

[Ashland]

14 minutes ago, Maria63 said:

The way I read this (and I could be wrong) is that pre-cruise testing  in Europe for vaccinated adults is now required only for sailings out of Spain, Greece and Denmark/Copenhagen. We sail out of Amsterdam in 3 weeks, and when i click "Amsterdam" it takes me to the following info mentioning only sailings out of Copenhagen (but not for instance Amsterdam). But I can't for now discount the possibility that the mention of Copenhagen is a typo and they actually mean all European ports excluding Greece & Spain.

 

The below also seems to correspond with the fact that Denmark doesn't even allow vaccination of under 18 year olds anymore, and all minors should therefore also be allowed to sail out of Copenhagen just with a negative test:

 

REQUIRED TESTING FOR GUESTS SAILING FROM EUROPE HOME PORTS, EXCLUDING GREECE AND SPAIN

All Guests: Required Pre-Cruise Testing 

All guests sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark will need to take a test before boarding, as detailed below. The test must be conducted at a certified testing location or supervised by a healthcare telemedicine professional. Telehealth tests are accepted, but must be completed with a supervised video visit. All tests are at the guests’ expense.

• Vaccinated guests - including those not considered 'up to date' by EMA standards - must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day.  Guests 12 and younger who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.

• Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 17 must show a negative test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 1 day before boarding day.

• Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test

We just returned from sailing out of Amsterdam (RCI Jewel) and we had to test 2 days prior to our cruise per RCI policy.

[Maria63]

8 minutes ago, Ashland said:

We just returned from sailing out of Amsterdam (RCI Jewel) and we had to test 2 days prior to our cruise per RCI policy.

We are also prepared to take the test as it has so far been required - albeit testing locations are now starting to shut down over here due to lessening demand. Royal seems to be in the midst of revising their protocols though, so things could change from one sailing to the next.

[FionaMG]

4 hours ago, Maria63 said:

We are also prepared to take the test as it has so far been required - albeit testing locations are now starting to shut down over here due to lessening demand. Royal seems to be in the midst of revising their protocols though, so things could change from one sailing to the next.

The website has now been updated with the new protocols.

As things stand right now, testing is definitely still required.

As you say, this could change from one sailing to the next. However, my sneaking feeling is that, since the European season is nearing its end, they will keep the testing requirement all the way through. 😕

[Maria63]

7 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

However, my sneaking feeling is that, since the European season is nearing its end, they will keep the testing requirement all the way through. 😕

That's true, but on the other hand some of the major US companies continue in the Med through the fall with presumably mostly Europeans onboard. And we don't, to my knowledge, have the supervised self-testing system available the same way as in the US. Getting tested is becoming increasingly inconvenient for Europeans as there are fewer places that offer this service in many EU-countries - but we'll just have to wait and see how this goes.

[little britain]

I would be happier to keep the vaccine requirement, drop the pre cruise testing especially as it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find test centres in England; and stop the crew having to wear masks.

 

I’m not thrilled that unvaccinated will now be allowed on board. 
jmho. 

[molly361]

So is this the announcement due out by 8/14/22?

[FionaMG]

11 minutes ago, Maria63 said:

And we don't, to my knowledge, have the supervised self-testing system available the same way as in the US. Getting tested is becoming increasingly inconvenient for Europeans as there are fewer places that offer this service in many EU-countries

 

5 minutes ago, little britain said:

I would be happier to keep the vaccine requirement, drop the pre cruise testing especially as it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find test centres in England

 

Agree, this is absolutely an issue.

 

They say on the website "At-Home Tests Kits

Through our testing partners, UK, European & U.S.-based vaccinated guests may purchase antigen test kits that you can complete online with a supervised virtual video visit, wherever you are, 24 hours 7 days a week to meet travel testing requirements for cruise or flight." But when you click on the "Learn more" link, there's no provision for European cruisers.

[not-enough-cruising]

15 minutes ago, molly361 said:

So is this the announcement due out by 8/14/22?

Probably 

[hazeleyes46]

1 hour ago, molly361 said:

So is this the announcement due out by 8/14/22?

No clue as it does say for Eastern Caribbean, info will be available soon. 

[hazeleyes46]

1 hour ago, little britain said:

I would be happier to keep the vaccine requirement, drop the pre cruise testing especially as it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find test centres in England; and stop the crew having to wear masks.

 

I’m not thrilled that unvaccinated will now be allowed on board. 
jmho. 

Why? Do you know who is vaccinated and unvaccinated when you go out on land? How would you know who is vaccinated on a cruise?

[Tlbecker1]

29 minutes ago, hazeleyes46 said:

Why? Do you know who is vaccinated and unvaccinated when you go out on land? How would you know who is vaccinated on a cruise?

For the last 14 months everyone(except kids under 12) were vaccinated.  There were very few medical exceptions if any.  We all wore wristbands and you had to have them on just to go into the casino, some pubs and the theater.

[hotsauce126]

2 minutes ago, Tlbecker1 said:

For the last 14 months everyone(except kids under 12) were vaccinated.  There were very few medical exceptions if any.  We all wore wristbands and you had to have them on just to go into the casino, some pubs and the theater.

Yeah and it was a PITA especially if you forgot your wristband in your room

[hazeleyes46]

7 minutes ago, Tlbecker1 said:

For the last 14 months everyone(except kids under 12) were vaccinated.  There were very few medical exceptions if any.  We all wore wristbands and you had to have them on just to go into the casino, some pubs and the theater.

But how would you know on land? I get the ships were vaccinated but if they lift it now, how would you know?

[Tlbecker1]

9 minutes ago, hazeleyes46 said:

But how would you know on land? I get the ships were vaccinated but if they lift it now, how would you know?

You won’t and that is the point…

[smokeybandit]

I sure hope the plan is still to ditch testing for the 6+ cruises. It just makes no sense, especially now with the vax requirement gone. And with another major cruise line having already made the change.

Edited August 11, 2022 by smokeybandit

[hazeleyes46]

9 minutes ago, Tlbecker1 said:

You won’t and that is the point…

Thank you 🙂

[Homosassa]

I would also prefer to have the test requirements gone for those of us that are fully vaccinated (and boosted where available).

 

At this point, some of us have done all we personally can to protect the public health through vaccination.

 

If someone decides to cruise unvaccinated and put their personal health at risk, it is on them if they become severely ill.

 

 

[gliles]

 The email I got says in part...and it's a 5 day from New Orleans.

 

[gliles]

7 minutes ago, gliles said:

 The email I got says in part...and it's a 5 day from New Orleans.

 

oh and it also says this and when you click it...

 

[Preziosa]

And what about Italy, I Think They did forget Italy, Ravanna. We are sailing Brilliance from Italy the 11.th of september

[atgood]

12 hours ago, Tlbecker1 said:

For the last 14 months everyone(except kids under 12) were vaccinated.  There were very few medical exceptions if any.  We all wore wristbands and you had to have them on just to go into the casino, some pubs and the theater.

Since February, RCI has been sailing in the USA with up to 10% unvaccinated passengers, which included kids (5 and up) and adults too.  No wristbands either, so it was not possible to tell who was vaccinated and who was not as their very little restrictions onboard.  The venue restrictions disappeared around the same time. 
 

The only restriction I can think of, at the moment, was unvaccinated were not supposed to eat with vaccinated in the MDR if they weren’t part of the same traveling party.  There was no such restriction for specialty dining or the WJ.  

[BND]

CDC just updated their guidelines today.  If the cruise lines follow, there will be more changes very soon.  

This one in particular:  

• Recommending screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html

Edited August 12, 2022 by BND

[njkruzer]

Got an email update from Royal for our 8/28 cruise from Galveston.  Test 3 days in advance, no pier testing day of sailing, or onboard or departure testing (didn’t apply to us).  Vaccination still required but working with ports that require them (Cayman Islands for our cruise).

[smokeybandit]

10 minutes ago, BND said:

CDC just updated their guidelines today.  If the cruise lines follow, there will be more changes very soon.  

This one in particular:  

• Recommending screening testing of asymptomatic people without known exposures will no longer be recommended in most community settings.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html

 

Unfortunately cruising has always been lumped in with nursing homes and prisons as congregate settings, so it never is lumped into "most community settings"

Fortunately the CDC said updated guidance for congregate settings is coming soon.

[Tlbecker1]

52 minutes ago, atgood said:

Since February, RCI has been sailing in the USA with up to 10% unvaccinated passengers, which included kids (5 and up) and adults too.  No wristbands either, so it was not possible to tell who was vaccinated and who was not as their very little restrictions onboard.  The venue restrictions disappeared around the same time. 
 

The only restriction I can think of, at the moment, was unvaccinated were not supposed to eat with vaccinated in the MDR if they weren’t part of the same traveling party.  There was no such restriction for specialty dining or the WJ.  

I can assure you that I started cruising again June-2021 and have cruised 10 times since, this was the rule.  Why would I say it if it wasn’t true?  There were many restrictions in the beginning of start up.  I have several wristbands in which I had to wear them in order to go to MANY venues.