Fairsailing

On 4/26/2024 at 11:04 AM, DandDM said:

Interesting!  I couldn’t find specific info on how they are going the match, any one see that? This might mean I’ll be visiting the old mirage casino in Las Vegas soon. Also hope this doesn’t mean they are terminating their partnership with MGM…I’ve got a lot of mileage from that over the years!

 

thanks for posting. 

Agreed re: MGM.  The savings on parking and resort fees in Vegas have been great. 

3 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I mean it's an Alaskan cruise in April. That weather is expected.

The allure of shoulder season pricing is strong, but there is a reason for it….

Great news. Looks like preparation for Quantum-class taking over the one-way Vancouver/Seward routes. Which are the best ones, in my opinion….  The train ride straight from the port to ANC is a convenient feature.  Glad they’re incorporating it in the new facility.  

On 2/21/2024 at 7:57 PM, blueslily said:

 

This may be a silly question, but people pay cruise fare to have Catalina island as a cruise port? I like Catalina Island, but I thought it was easy to get to and cheaper to get to than as a cruise port. But, I guess thats like people paying to have Port Canaveral as a port stop on some cruises. 

A round trip ferry ride to Catalina is about $90.  Factor in the food and lodging a cruise provides, and it’s not too bad a deal if they’re throwing in Ensenada.  

The Viking Crown Lounge on new ships

5 hours ago, Cruiscs said:

It is impossible to please everyone. I rather have a huge solarium with views like Wonder than a small Viking Crown.

Well, I guess they could name it the “Viking Crown Solarium”….  It does look like a crown on top of the bridge.   

I remember when it was free when it debuted with Voyager so long ago.  The place was hopping and had a great atmosphere with the music and dancing.  Stayed that way even with the $5 cover.  
 

But now at $12/14+?   It was kind of sad on our Wonder cruise two months ago.   The crew was doing their routine during prime lunchtime to about 5 scattered parties staring at their phones.  

14 minutes ago, cruisingator2 said:

Agree. Much easier for the smaller lines with fewer ships to move faster. 😉 I’m sure that some of the lines that have ships placed all over the world and still need to figure out which ports/countries still require testing. I think that we will start to hear more next week. 

RCL has an earnings call scheduled for Thursday at 10 am Eastern…..

Ugh. Of course my Wonder sailing is 7/31.  

Definitely do 2 rooms, if only so everyone has a decent mattress instead of those horrible couch futons

8 minutes ago, Levi is good said:

Fairsailing, could you please provide where it says the NA protocols have been extended to Sept. 30th?  I can't find that.  Also is that for Royal Caribbean, or the US in general?  We are in OC too 🙂 .

Don’t know if I can refer to other blogs here but it is only for RC.  The blog’s name has the cruise line and….blog 😂

Also interesting that Princess, HAL, and NCL are now at 3 days prior to embarkation (which appear to include Italy).  
 

Also, a blog is reporting that the European protocols have been extended to June 30. But yet the North American protocols have been extended already to September 30.  More changes for Europe in time for summer?  One can hope I guess. 

1 hour ago, framboesa said:

The protocol for May 6th on WOTS it's diferent from the protocol for may 8th (We will board may 8th)

Good luck and let us know what happens as I believe that is the first "real" cruise out of Barcelona!  I forsee a couple of scenarios:

1) You get a follow-up email admitting RCL screwed up the website and your test needs to be no more than one day before embarkation.  You board with no additional tests.  Highly likely.

2) No email and cruisers that show up with a two day old test are allowed on board with only that, ignoring the Healthy Gateways regulations that every cruise line and European government worked together to formulate. Not likely.

3) No email and every cruiser is rapid tested at embarkation.  Surprise!  That test we made you work around your travel schedule and pay 30-40 $/pounds/euros per person for?  Yeah that was just for fun.  I give that one 50/50 odds. 

4) No email and every cruiser with a two day old test is denied boarding because it does not meet  government regulations.  Hopefully there are enough rapid tests at the pier to help those folks, or they get left behind.

One thing is for sure, the cruisers boarding the Wonder in Rome will be fine.  Because they have been given the right information on the website.  

Just now, sowhat said:

From Royal Caribbean  for  the Wonder European Inaugural Launch event on the 6-8th May in Barcelona!

So one of those trips with no stops for travel agents and the like?  Maybe “events” are treated differently 😄

4 hours ago, TRUEBLUE66 said:

Sorry, not true.

We are on the MSC Seaview from Barcelona on the 6th of May. The Seaview is already operating in Europe. This is a post on the MSC cc area from a passenger actually on the ship on the 9th of April.

 

 "Am now on Seaview. Vaccination docs and 48 hour antigen tests checked and the  questionnaire collected. No check on insurance. Temperature checked and also a lateral flow test done. Latter very quick. Quite efficient, 30 minutes from arrival to having coffee in YC lounge. Masks being worn unless eating etc."

 

This is what their website states:

ll Guests (2 years old and over) need to provide a certificate of a negative Antigen or RT-PCR test or antigen test taken within 48 hours before embarkation. Guests must bring the valid negative test certificate with them to the terminal.If you embark on your cruise at 15:00 on a Saturday, you should take your COVID-19 test on the Thursday as of 15:00. Antigen self-tests are accepted for Embarkation only if you show evidence of your negative test result on an official certificate. Test results on an SMS or email will not be accepted.

 

 

Actually, true.  MSC is complying with the Healthy Gateways mandate by testing everyone again at embarkation.  Because the 2 day test won’t cut it and is superfluous.  
 

i guess we’ll wait and see if the Wonder guests get a surprise antigen test at the pier. 

4 hours ago, sowhat said:

 

For Wonder of the Seas sailing 6th May 2022

 

We know COVID-19 testing requirements are ever changing and can be confusing. Here are the protocols to board the Wonder of the Seas. They may be different from local requirements, or your country of origin. We are unable to give you individual travel advice to enter Spain, only protocols to board the Ship.
 

• All guests must produce a negative supervised antigen test result, administered no earlier than the 5th May (one day before sail date – it can be taken any time on this day). This will be at the guests’ expense.

• This is an over 18s event and all guests must be double vaccinated with an EMA or a WHO approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to sail date with proof.

• Double vaccinated (or one shot of J&J) are considered “up to date”

• Guests are responsible for any testing requirements to enter Spain.

Where is that from? Because the RCL website  
 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center/getting-ready-to-cruise

says:

• Vaccinated guests who are up to date must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day. Vaccinated guests who are not up to date will have a 1 day window to take this test. Kids age 5 to 11 who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests.

On 4/13/2022 at 12:16 PM, yogini06 said:

They are also using this "EU Healthy Gateways" for cruise ship protocols in the EU in addition to each countries' requirements

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EUHG_Operational_guidelines_CoV_April2022.pdf?ver=2022-04-06-152525-527

As I’ve been following this drama, something just didn’t seem right.  Every other cruise line is doing testing no more than one day before embarkation.  Yet RCL is saying up to two days before sailing out of Barcelona.  I just browsed this Healthy Gateways document, which governs cruise ships in Europe, and sure enough it mandates testing no more than one day before embarkation.  I sure hope RCL is not setting people up for disappointment when they find out their tests were taken too early.  Those first Barcelona cruisers are going to be the Guinea pigs….

On a sad side note, the document is over 60 pages long and a lot of work appears to have been put into it.  My hopes for some of the protocols changing (like testing) as the summer season progresses are low.  

50 minutes ago, rfs7306 said:

Will it be complimentary?

It appears so, and given that it is “pay for your own” in the US, it may have been forced on the cruise lines by the EU. Saves my family $120 for testing.  But I still don’t think it’s worth the possibility of a last minute boarding denial due to positive test.  

20 minutes ago, Billy Baltic said:

Current standard perhaps but IMO no cruise line should determine in April, what is appropriate for the entire European season. 

I agree but it looks like it is the relevant governments, not the lines, that are setting the rules.  

3 hours ago, PumpkinPatches said:

Oh yikes... they must have changed their policy.  A week or so ago, I received an email from them saying there would be no testing above what is already required to get into the country.

Thanks for the update.  This just goes to show how quickly things change.

Also in browsing the NCL Europe protocols on their site, I am seeing the same thing - embarkation antigen test at the pier.  Might be the standard we end up seeing from RCL.  I would almost prefer doing it myself a day or two before boarding to spare the last minute disappointment….

https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country

Edit:  Appears Princess is the same (updated on 4/5).  Test no more than one day in advance (they do mention accepting accept outside tests) and complimentary antigen tests at the pier “for your convenience”  
 

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

starting to think RCL is just slow to post what is apparently the EU standard

In other news, Princess and NCL just pulled the plug on their Baltic cruises.  War/demand.  

I’m no Carnival fan, but the Navigator can’t compete with the Panorama.  Radiance, maybe.  That’s why they are having a hard time filling berths.  RCI has a history of half-hearted attempts to compete in SoCal.  

57 minutes ago, adam7392 said:

Well said. Can't see any reason why cruises in the Med, Canaries, UK and Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Southern Baltic would be affected. 

LOL.  
 

February 2020: “This thing is just a bad cold, we’ll be frolicking in the Med come summer.  
 

February 2022: “He’ll totally stop at Ukraine, we’ll be touring Tallinn come summer.”

Yeah it’s a 30 year old ship with few, if any, balcony cabins. It will attract the parrot head die hards but that’s about it.  

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cruises-no-longer-required-cdc-030533196.html
 

And it looks like CDC restrictions will be voluntary after January 15. It will be interesting to see which ones are continued.  The industry cannot afford the image of another Diamond Princess.