Covid test no longer required in Bermuda for vaccinated cruisers!

[MarkWiltonM]

Yay! We no longer need a Covid test to cruise to Bermuda (we are scheduled on Riviera to Bermuda departing Miami 03/12/23).

 

https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation

 

All travellers arriving October 25 2022 onwards will no longer require a pre-travel test, arrival test nor a day 4 test. Unvaccinated non-resident travellers will still be required to upload valid proof of travel health insurance to enter Bermuda.

 

You do still need to apply for the travel authorization up to one month before and upload your vaccination records.

[njhorseman]

44 minutes ago, MarkWiltonM said:

You do still need to apply for the travel authorization up to one month before and upload your vaccination records.

Even that may very well be gone before your cruise in 2023. They're discussing the replacement or elimination of the current form .

Edited September 30, 2022 by njhorseman

[DrivesLikeMario]

I wish Oceania would update their webpage on this.  When you call them to see if they're still requiring the test, they refer you to the website, which of course, isn't correct now.

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

I wish Oceania would update their webpage on this.  When you call them to see if they're still requiring the test, they refer you to the website, which of course, isn't correct now.

Agree

Their tech dept  is  behind the times 

maybe they cannot find competent people  for the job 🤔

[DrivesLikeMario]

50 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

Agree

Their tech dept  is  behind the times 

maybe they cannot find competent people  for the job 🤔

Makes sense but you'd think they could at least send out a quick bulk email to everyone who is due to stop in Bermuda in the next few weeks.

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

Makes sense but you'd think they could at least send out a quick bulk email to everyone who is due to stop in Bermuda in the next few weeks.

Oceania  is known for it's lack of information  even onboard  when you KNOW  things are going south  they do not tell you

JMO

[pinotlover]

My guess is they’ll change the website when they get around to it. Oceania said, in the very beginning, they weren’t going to immediately respond to every change in policy worldwide regarding Covid issues. Some here have nothing better to do than daily check conditions and policies in country X. Great. Maybe it takes awhile for all of that to flow into their system. Patience!

[shepherd really]

4 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

 Some here have nothing better to do than daily check conditions and policies in country X. Great. Maybe it takes awhile for all of that to flow into their system. Patience!

You would think Oceania would have several people checking daily conditions and policies, that being directly related to their core business of transporting people around. Perhaps even someone beside Carlos to share that with inside and outside stakeholders, like their customers. 

 

Or do I expect too much?

[pinotlover]

2 hours ago, shepherd really said:

You would think Oceania would have several people checking daily conditions and policies, that being directly related to their core business of transporting people around. Perhaps even someone beside Carlos to share that with inside and outside stakeholders, like their customers. 

 

Or do I expect too much?

Probably expect too much!

 

Not sure when Oceania returns to Bermuda next but believe it’s a ways out. So if they change the website today or next week it doesn’t affect anyone cruising. Plenty of time to get the word out and for people to respond.

[CurlerRob]

39 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

Probably expect too much!

 

Not sure when Oceania returns to Bermuda next but believe it’s a ways out. So if they change the website today or next week it doesn’t affect anyone cruising. Plenty of time to get the word out and for people to respond.

 

On September 26, Canada announced significantly reduced restrictions effective October 1. On September 27, Oceania emailed pax on the Oct 1, 11 and 21st Canadian embarkations about the key changes. (Interestingly, nothing was sent to Oct 31 pax).

 

The O SailSAFE protocol sheet is still showing the withdrawn Canadian requirements as in effect - even after the October 1 sailing has left.

 

Insignia calls at Bermuda November 11th. Given the lack of timely correction of the O website info regarding the Canadian change, I am skeptical that it will be updated for Bermuda any time soon.

 

One of the mandatory items in e-commerce is timely and accurate information - especially on the firm's primary face to the customer. Inconsistent information is bad for both parties - the resulting customer confusion and annoyance leads to more requests for information to the cruise line, impacting their overall service level. 🍺🥌

[LHT28]

Looks like  you still need  a covid test  for Bermuda 

https://www.oceaniacruises.com/sites/default/files/2022-10/sail-safe-new-programer.pdf

For Voyages Calling in Bermuda:
• All travelers must be Fully Vaccinated.
• For voyages that arrive in Bermuda within four (4) days of embarkation, all travelers must present a negative,
medically administered covid-19 test. Antigen test results may not be older than 48 hours at the time of
boarding and PCR test results may not be more than 96 hours old at the time of boarding.
• For voyages that arrive in Bermuda more than four (4) days after embarkation, all travelers must present a
negative, medically administered covid-19 test prior to embarkation and undergo additional testing onboard,
prior to arrival. For embarkation, Antigen test results may not be older than 48 hours at the time of boarding
and PCR test results may not be more than 96 hours old at the time of boarding. Onboard testing will be
conducted onboard within two (2) days of arrival in Bermuda.
• All travelers must be in possession of a valid Bermuda Travel Authorization (BTA). To secure a BTA, please
visit: Make reservations | Bookings powered by resQwest.com (www.gov.bm)

[njhorseman]

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

Looks like  you still need  a covid test  for Bermuda 

You shouldn't.

Effective for arrivals on and after October 25 2022 Bermuda changed its rules and eliminated the test requirement. NCL changed its Sail Safe page a day or two ago to reflect this change, but it looks like O hasn't yet gotten around to updating it's rules. My observation has been that O doesn't do a great job of keeping its COVID requirements up to date. I suspect in a couple of days you'll see the change made to O's website to reflect the elimination of testing for Bermuda cruises.

Bermuda's new rules can be found at

https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation

All Cruise travellers arriving October 25 2022 onwards will no longer require a pre-travel test, arrival test or a day 4 test.

 

BTW, I believe O's requirements for Greece may also now be out of date.

Edited October 8, 2022 by njhorseman

[chloemonkey]

On 10/3/2022 at 4:05 PM, shepherd really said:

You would think Oceania would have several people checking daily conditions and policies, that being directly related to their core business of transporting people around. Perhaps even someone beside Carlos to share that with inside and outside stakeholders, like their customers. 

 

Or do I expect too much?

I tend to agree...as isn't there also a "legal" element to not having the current conditions, requirements etc. on the company's web site?

[CurlerRob]

Just saw that the O website has updated its SailSAFE protocols effective Oct. 3, bringing them in line with recent Canadian changes. The protocols are still out of step with Bermudian recent announcements eliminating testing after October 25. An excerpt:

 

For All Voyages Departing On or After October 1, 2022:

The line’s revised SailSafe base-level protocols for embarkation are as follows:
• Fully Vaccinated travelers aged 12 and older will not need to test to embark.
• Un-vaccinated travelers will need to present a negative, medically administered covid-19 test. Antigen and PCR test results may not be more than 72 hours old at the time of boarding.
• Travelers aged 11 and under are not subject to any cruise line vaccination requirements or testing protocols
• Fully Vaccinated travelers must meet the generally-accepted definition of “fully vaccinated” based on the destination they are embarking and/or traveling to and must provide proof of vaccination.
Travelers who cannot provide proof of vaccination will be able to travel but subject to any required testing protocols.

 

For Voyages Calling in Bermuda:

• All travelers must be Fully Vaccinated.
• For voyages that arrive in Bermuda within four (4) days of embarkation, all travelers must present a negative, medically administered covid-19 test. Antigen test results may not be older than 48 hours at the time of boarding and PCR test results may not be more than 96 hours old at the time of boarding.
• For voyages that arrive in Bermuda more than four (4) days after embarkation, all travelers must present a negative, medically administered covid-19 test prior to embarkation and undergo additional testing onboard, prior to arrival. For embarkation, Antigen test results may not be older than 48 hours at the time of boarding and PCR test results may not be more than 96 hours old at the time of boarding. Onboard testing will be conducted onboard within two (2) days of arrival in Bermuda.

 

Cheers 🍺🥌

Edited October 8, 2022 by CurlerRob
Completion

[DrivesLikeMario]

On 10/3/2022 at 8:17 PM, pinotlover said:

Probably expect too much!

 

Not sure when Oceania returns to Bermuda next but believe it’s a ways out. So if they change the website today or next week it doesn’t affect anyone cruising. Plenty of time to get the word out and for people to respond.

My friends will be there in a few weeks.