Rare Turtles06 Posted August 22, 2022 #101 Share Posted August 22, 2022 42 minutes ago, jelayne said: While the verbiage in the body of the document says one thing the chart has not changed and there is no notation that the on board test is only for those wishing to get off the ship. I understand what you are saying, but the chart describes itself as a "summary table" of requirements. The actual written language (what you called the "verbiage") in the body of the document has more specifics/details. And with respect to testing when the ship takes more than 4 days to reach Bermuda, it very specifically says: "passengers wishing to get off the ship in Bermuda must take another supervised COVID-19 test on board, no more than 2 days before arrival to Bermuda." It doesn't say everyone must take that test, only those "wishing to get off the ship in Bermuda." Also, this is new language and very different from the language that previously existed regarding testing when a ship takes more than 4 days to arrive in Bermuda. The old language, from the June 3, 2022 rules, said: "Cruise voyages that take more than 4 days to get to Bermuda from the embarkation port: 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 come ashore in Bermuda." https://web.archive.org/web/20220803232710/https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation The prior language specifically required "all passengers" to be tested on board (and made no mention of their desire to disembark or not). The new language specifically turns on the passenger's desire to get off the ship in Bermuda, and says those wanting to get off in Bermuda must take a test. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #102 Share Posted August 22, 2022 @Turtles06 Yup, that new added language didn't appear by accident. Could conceivably reduce the load on Medical enough to make testing practical without a big staff-up if enough choose to stay aboard. However, after four days at sea after Ponta Delgada, bet a lot will want to put their toes in the sand, so to speak. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #103 Share Posted August 22, 2022 4 minutes ago, canderson said: Could conceivably reduce the load on Medical enough to make testing practical without a big staff-up if enough choose to stay aboard. I doubt that insufficient staffing is the reason for a cruise line's reluctance to mass test its passengers well into a voyage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #104 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Just now, RichYak said: I doubt that insufficient staffing is the reason for a cruise line's reluctance to mass test its passengers well into a voyage. I really doubt they want to discover and quarantine all of the previously undiscovered positives, too (I assume thats what youre driving at), but this would lower the other logistical bar a little bit. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #105 Share Posted August 22, 2022 4 minutes ago, RichYak said: I doubt that insufficient staffing is the reason for a cruise line's reluctance to mass test its passengers well into a voyage. If fact, the curious but impractical side of me would be fascinated to discover what the real % positive is on one of these cruises. It's a data point that X has never had except for crew, and they don't publish those. Crew just disappear mid-cruise. I assume they're still doing regular testing now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #106 Share Posted August 22, 2022 1 minute ago, canderson said: I really doubt they want to discover and quarantine all of the previously undiscovered positives, too (I assume thats what youre driving at), but this would lower the other logistical bar a little bit. That is what I'm driving at. It could result in a large number of partial refunds that can be avoided by an itinerary change. There is also the possibility that the test requirement could impact passenger behavior--they could choose not to go ashore in Bermuda just to avoid the test. It's difficult to predict. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #107 Share Posted August 22, 2022 2 minutes ago, canderson said: If fact, the curious but impractical side of me would be fascinated to discover what the real % positive is on one of these cruises. It's a data point that X has never had except for crew, and they don't publish those. Crew just disappear mid-cruise. I assume they're still doing regular testing now. I think the B2B testing requirement gives them a clear enough picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #108 Share Posted August 22, 2022 1 minute ago, RichYak said: That is what I'm driving at. It could result in a large number of partial refunds that can be avoided by an itinerary change. There is also the possibility that the test requirement could impact passenger behavior--they could choose not to go ashore in Bermuda just to avoid the test. It's difficult to predict. Beyond the partial refunds, there is the potential problem of a much larger number of pax to service with food, wellness checks, etc. in quarantine. They've already had struggles with this with 'normal' numbers of pax in quarantine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #109 Share Posted August 22, 2022 3 minutes ago, RichYak said: I think the B2B testing requirement gives them a clear enough picture. Many B2B pax have been so paranoid about B2B testing that I'm not sure they're a representative sample. Many have reported taking a lot of extra precautions on earlier legs. And 50 or so out of thousands may not be a sufficient sample size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rrraydon Posted August 22, 2022 #110 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Well, I didn’t win the “guess the date of RCI unvaxxed and testing update” but I’m very happy they updated today!! Healthy Sail Center All Guests, All Aboard Updated August 22, 2022 | Effective September 5, 2022 We’re making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. Unvaccinated travelers can join us for almost all U.S. sailings. Starting with September 5thdepartures, guests who are not vaccinated can sail on almost all cruises from the U.S. (except itineraries that visit Canada or Bermuda). More details. Testing protocols will be easier Starting with September 5th, for U.S. cruises that don’t visit Canada or Bermuda: Vaccinated guests won’t have to take a pre-cruise test on cruises that are shorter than 10 nights. Unvaccinated guests age 5 and up will need to test within 3 days before boarding, regardless of cruise length. We will begin accepting results from self-administered home tests. See full testing details Requirements in other regions Starting September 5th, guests who are not vaccinated can also sail on European cruises. Currently published testing and vaccination requirements remain in place for cruises from Australia and Singapore; cruises that depart from or visit Canada or Bermuda; and transatlantic sailings, until further notice. To see current protocols by port of departure, visit our Getting Ready to Cruise page. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #111 Share Posted August 22, 2022 7 minutes ago, canderson said: Beyond the partial refunds, there is the potential problem of a much larger number of pax to service with food, wellness checks, etc. in quarantine. They've already had struggles with this with 'normal' numbers of pax in quarantine. Yes, but one is a ship problem, the other is a Miami problem. Miami will decide whether or not to change the itineraries. 4 minutes ago, canderson said: Many B2B pax have been so paranoid about B2B testing that I'm not sure they're a representative sample. Many have reported taking a lot of extra precautions on earlier legs. And 50 or so out of thousands may not be a sufficient sample size. Multiply that across all sailings and I think it's plenty. B2B pax may all think they're taking extra precautions, but avoiding elevators does nothing. Once that N-95 mask comes off to enjoy a meal, everything they worked for is moot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #112 Share Posted August 22, 2022 8 minutes ago, rrraydon said: Well, I didn’t win the “guess the date of RCI unvaxxed and testing update” but I’m very happy they updated today!! Great news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #113 Share Posted August 22, 2022 6 minutes ago, RichYak said: Yes, but one is a ship problem, the other is a Miami problem. Miami will decide whether or not to change the itineraries. Both would be Miami problems. Miami would also have to add medical (Bermuda requirement) staff in Europe for what would effectively be a 13 night one-way contract (with pre-cruise travel or post-cruise repatriation) to get the job done if most pax choose to disembark. Wouldn't think existing medical staff have that much extra time on their hands to perform a few thousand extra tests. It's going to be a cost both ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #114 Share Posted August 22, 2022 (edited) 23 minutes ago, canderson said: Miami would also have to add medical (Bermuda requirement) staff in Europe for what would effectively be a 13 night one-way contract (with pre-cruise travel or post-cruise repatriation) to get the job done if most pax choose to disembark. If that's how it works, then IMO Bermuda will certainly be skipped. As an alternative, X could offer Binax AG proctored tests for purchase on board to those that would like to visit Bermuda. That would require no additional staff and cut way back on pax going ashore in Bermuda. EDIT: Re-reading the Bermuda site says the test must be supervised by the ship's medical team. So never mind about the Binax idea. Edited August 22, 2022 by RichYak Never mind about the Binax idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #115 Share Posted August 22, 2022 7 minutes ago, RichYak said: If that's how it works, then IMO Bermuda will certainly be skipped. As an alternative, X could offer Binax AG proctored tests for purchase on board to those that would like to visit Bermuda. That would require no additional staff and cut way back on pax going ashore in Bermuda. Right. They'd all need functional streaming internet, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #116 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Just now, canderson said: Right. They'd all need functional streaming internet, too! Read my edit above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRBlizz Posted August 22, 2022 #117 Share Posted August 22, 2022 I might have missed it before, but I see the pre-cruise testing requirement now specifies that the test be done at a facility, not just "supervised." As we will be spending most of the days prior to the cruise travelling to England from the US, I had been planning to use one of the telemed supervised tests. This wrinkle complicates things! I guess we have to find a testing place in Southampton, ugh. Hubby has been to Bermuda a few times (I have not), and he is definitely not inclined to go through all these hoops.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canderson Posted August 22, 2022 #118 Share Posted August 22, 2022 1 minute ago, RichYak said: Read my edit above. Yup. That's been there all along. I joked in some thread that 'deputizing' a few cooks wasn't an option. 😄 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #119 Share Posted August 22, 2022 (edited) 3 minutes ago, GRBlizz said: I might have missed it before, but I see the pre-cruise testing requirement now specifies that the test be done at a facility, not just "supervised." "A valid pre-travel COVID-19 test must be a COVID-19 NAAT test listed below or a supervised antigen test." https://www.gov.bm/covid-19-tests-accepted-bermuda Edited August 22, 2022 by RichYak Source link added 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRBlizz Posted August 22, 2022 #120 Share Posted August 22, 2022 14 minutes ago, RichYak said: "A valid pre-travel COVID-19 test must be a COVID-19 NAAT test listed below or a supervised antigen test." https://www.gov.bm/covid-19-tests-accepted-bermuda A valid pre-arrival test result must meet the following standards: The COVID-19 test type must be indicated on the test result: RT-PCR, Rapid PCR, RT-LAMP, Antigen, The test must be performed by an accredited laboratory, healthcare provider or pharmacy If this accreditation includes EMed, then great. Additional complication - the rules say that the test must be performed no more than four days before departure from the prior port, not the start of the cruise. Of course we will be at sea for most of those four days before leaving Tenerife. So now we have to find a way to get tested on a port day, or else clarify that the EMed supervision counts for Vaxed passsengers. Yuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfs2k Posted August 22, 2022 Author #121 Share Posted August 22, 2022 I really hope either Bermuda changes their rules again, or Celebrity decides Bermuda is too much of a hassle and cancels the port stop there. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted August 22, 2022 #122 Share Posted August 22, 2022 30 minutes ago, GRBlizz said: If this accreditation includes EMed, then great. It does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Cruiser 6143 Posted August 22, 2022 #123 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Does this mean that is we choose not to get off the ship in Bermuda we do not have to pay their $40 fee? Previously, it was required in order to even board the ship. Life would be so much simpler if Celebrity would just skip Bermuda! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njhorseman Posted August 22, 2022 #124 Share Posted August 22, 2022 23 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said: Does this mean that is we choose not to get off the ship in Bermuda we do not have to pay their $40 fee? Previously, it was required in order to even board the ship. Life would be so much simpler if Celebrity would just skip Bermuda! No, you still need the approved Bermuda Travel Authorization so you have to pay the $40 fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verizon Posted August 22, 2022 #125 Share Posted August 22, 2022 I haven't been to Bermuda. I just do not think paying $40.00 worth the visit to the third world country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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