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I thought it might be the case. Though there have been anomalies similar (arrive Greece no test / board in Athens - test needed - which was a Greek requirement.) if the case, I’d imagine it’s the fear of the 10% infection rate and denial of docking that’s led it. Just a hunch. Looks like clearance from quarantine is a full 10 days. I’d suggested in previous post no boarding meant you’d be left to your own devices and expense, but think now we would be covered. Re entry, I believe you can declare your status and upload docs prior to arrival which speeds this up. I believe there was something in place that’s now been updated but is the same thing effectively. https://vjw-lp.digital.go.jp/en/ I think this is the one… but was just a quick search. Glad our flights weren’t with Cathay or we’d have needed a test to enter as well as another to board!

Well I suppose considering up to about 3 months ago, Japan was near shut for any tourism, we are still in a better place than then. I would think the conflicting info will be corrected soon. Well I hope it will….. ! I was going to call but no point. It will be clarified and highly improbable anyone in the offices would be any the wiser. I’m waiting to here back from a Japanese contact to see if this is Japan or Silversea led. My gut feeling here is it’s not directly Japan but it is SS instruction to do so. Just an educated guess in the absence of any details which is based on what I believe is a fact for cruising around Japan. Any cruise ship with infections above 10% of passengers (and crew?) is effectively cancelled and cannot berth. So it’s in SS interest to make sure it doesn’t get under way with cases on board at the beginning and limit that risk. I suspect that physical ceiling has signalled a need to do what has happened here. I’ve not seen any other CL guests on CC saying they now have to test. Of course this is early days and could change. It was suggested by the time we sail, these restrictions may be pulled. My gut feeling is it won’t be, particularly as the caution has probably been heightened because of China reopening. Ridding responsibility towards guest who’ll now be pushed towards insurance instead of being taken care of probably is a huge factor too. As already mentioned, I expect anyone paying with a FCC won’t get anything back. Hopefully no one needs to put that to the test. 6 weeks to Barbados and thankfully no test.

That’s disgraceful that you weren’t separated. You were kept in a Covid incubator! Meanwhile on my sailing out of Osaka on April 26, we’ve just learned (Via CC… still no official notification, but it is now shown within the website) that in order to board Siler Muse, we need a negative Covid test. No test to enter Japan, just to board. This immediately rings alarm bells. So you test positive and denied boarding… You will be instructed to claim from your insurance. If you’ve boarded, the CL will look after you, including getting you home and any quarantine requirements on land should they be needed. So, you can’t board, you are responsible for quarantine and flights home (my cruise ends in Seward, so no good to get home from Osaka). You will lose your cruise. If you’d boarded, no doubt you would get a part refund for being locked up. Now that won’t happen and the CL removed from that scenario. If you booked using a FCC (which I suspect a large number of guests will have), your insurance company is likely to disregard that as it’s stipulated there is no monetary value. So cruise lost and no refund. I suspect this is also implemented because of the less than 10% infections or cruise cancelled policy in Japan. I can’t see anywhere that Japan insist on a pre board test, so this appears to be an RCI mandate. I can’t see this mentioned on any other board either, though it’s early days I guess. Am I being cynical here and unduly concerned by this new instruction brought in yesterday? What makes it worse is that there is no clarity on what is a valid test with the suggestion s home kit is valid with a photo and time stamp.

Further.down it gives the actual requirements as JollyJones said. Pre-Arrival Testing Option The Antigen test may be administered by a verified third party, either a laboratory or pharmacy OR a self-test at home, verified by a third party (telehealth provider, pharmacy or laboratory). The Certificate must contain the guest’s name (as shown on the cruise ticket), as well as date of test, and result. You must provide a digital or printed proof upon embarkation. Whilst approved self-test kits are now readily available at pharmacies and drugstore chains, Silversea is pleased to make them available for order pre-cruise. We suggest that you order them at least one full week in advance of your sailing. These tests allow you to complete your pre-cruise test at home, or in any place of your choosing, with the help of live video supervision by a Certified Testing Guide.

Hopefully these home test kits from Randox in the UK which you need to upload the registered test kit into their app then take a photo of the tester, will be acceptable. You get an email "fit to fly" digital certificate at the end of it..... No video involved. Hopefully these will be fine. https://covid.randox.com/pre-departure/ £11 each if you collect

Cheers for the link. I certainly didn't doubt it was online somewhere, just didn't see it. I think its fair to make the assumption the home testing is fine, but it needs to be via video. The photo bit is a bit of a nonsense as I'd suggested above. You need a certificate... and not one you've printed yourself! 🤣 The timescales mean I cannot test before making the long flight and will need to do so in Osaka. Hopefully that's still a thing and done easily. Having coughed up for a second night, I was hoping to use the day to sightsee not looking for a testing agency! 😅 I've looked on the links for Japanese immigration and so far cant see anything suggesting its Japan stipulating it. Obviously SS dont want infected passengers onboard, but the cynic in me wonders if washing hands (no pun intended) before boarding makes that no longer a SS issue now but yours. I expect the quarantine accommodation wont come cheap.... and the savings on the food bill will be welcome! Every little helps! I suspect your flights will now be down to you as well? I get your point, though personal experience, a year ago, going overboard about tests saved us from our intended 16 night cruise, which ended up being a 25 night cruise.... It could have been a further two weeks had we not been testing and got "caught" when they did the tests the day before disembarkation. OK, so that may have actually been a bonus I know - I certainly wouldn't have complained, but the missus had to get back. Hence what appears to be over analysis and paranoia! It's not cool being being half way around the world and stranded if it were to go pear shaped (for the second SS cruise in a row!)

I know. It just make you question if everything is all worth the hassle. The timescales given the amount of time it takes to get there makes it impossible to get a test prior to departing. It begs the question, is this a Japanese government stipulation (which SS has no control over,) or if this is SS demanding it at this late stage. A while back, I avoided cruises starting from Athens because they insisted a negative test within 24 hours of boarding where everywhere else had no requirements on the testing front. Greece for me is a shortish hop home … but only after a forced hotel stay. I really don’t fancy this scenario for this voyage. I know from experience, potentially things go wrong. If it happened once the cruise started, at least it is bearable and you’ll still see stuff and eat well. The thought of arriving at the port and denied boarding, makes me question if some gambles are actually worth the risk. Obviously if you board, it is. If you don’t…….

Phew..... I thought for a second they wanted proof of a test you've just done for yourself and not by someone else a week ago you brought with you and a date stamp of some sort in the photo! All sounds a bit dubious that! Luckily I have a fair few antigen testers which if that is needed, I'm all set....... But that all sounds too obviously easy to bypass if it is as it reads? (I'm not referring to me - but to every guest - some could be knowingly positive but show someone elses results. Can't be that simple and open to abuse surely? Not seen this anywhere. Still showing this on my.silversea under health requirements: Silversea Vaccination Status Requirements Fully Vaccinated Guests: All embarking crew and guests aged 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks prior to embarkation. Only guests fully vaccinated with approved WHO vaccines (see here) will be permitted to board. A copy of your vaccination certificate must be uploaded in advance of your travels. In addition, in order to board the ship, the vaccination certificate must be printed in two copies and presented at the terminal during the check-in and embarkation process. If its not as I suggested and you cant do the test yourself, not sure how easy it's going to be getting a late test done in Osaka!

With Storm troopers guarding all exits.

I just saw the speed test results! Doesn't sound like they've paid the bill!

Larry, add the details in your cruise roll call. I know CC frown on tour shares in this part of the site. I suspect its this one.

No I completely agree. I would have expanded into that and the fact I think Airlines are meant to get you on the next available flight - including using other airlines. (That may just be Europe and probably never done anyway!) But yes, travel is a gamble with connections so no point in worsening your chances having a connection I'd never want to risk. Anyway, I have good news again which hopefully this time wont be subject to further changes and cancellations. I was able to get details from another guest who had these options which actually were very good - the best we could hope for apart from the carrier on the way back not our first choice. But getting home is the target and the airline secondary especially when it does have the 2 carry ons allowed. So we now fly BA at 09.35 which was always my first choice and denied each time things changed and told we cant have. Return is at 13.20 which means not needing to get up at 3.30am for the flight we did have and also has a buffer of a 3h30m connection. All in all very relieved and fingers crossed AA or BA don't go cancelling or changing times again. What was telling here, was I sent over an image of what was given to another guest and the TA said when they called, it was given without any quibbles. Not the first time I've experienced this on this particular cruise, so its clearly useful to fact find and short circuit.

Working, or just installed.

I thought it might be similar to Miami, but had it confirmed a month ago. Only useful if using SS direct (which I usually do but not with the most difficult to date I’ve ever had!) Spoke with our TA today and I have to admit they don’t fill me with confidence. They are going to request that my out and return are from LHR. I’ve also just learned that both BA flights I was originally told I couldn’t have, are both being used. Unfortunately the Agent refuse to tell them “I know people of these flights - here’s the booking number” which probably ensures it’s prolonged. My return flight has also been nuked for the third time. Not SS fault BA have for the second time, cancelled their Seattle to London flights, so it seems we now have to accept a 10 hour transfer in Seattle or move to Delta with just a 1h40m transfer, which I really don’t think is possible to do. I’ve penned to them another alternative, which means having a second night in Anchorage and a flight with a 3h30m connection. Id prefer just to fly home same day, so this is simply to get a more favourable flight time. Not sure what the hotel will cost. We already got hit with this at the start of the cruise with a second night in Osaka, but to be fair that was a good “upgrade”. I’ve a feeling I’m not gonna like the cost! Sooo…. If I took the Delta suggestion, what’s the outcome if the connection isn’t made? Next flight is 24 hours later I expect. Are we expected to pay for a hotel because of an impossible schedule was given to us? Delta washed their hands of us when we missed our flight in Atlanta booked by us direct. Same result here? I’ve certainly no desire to stay overnight in Seattle which unfortunately I suspect that connect time ensures.

Great news…. Hopefully their journey isn’t as eventful and scary as our journey to Arica 12 months ago when the whole ship shuddered for a minute after we hit a whale!

Probably - but unable to respond 'cos internet not working! 🤣 Fingers crossed everything went well.

Oooh.... That sounds promising! Fingers and toes crossed. Please do let us know what they let you know. 🤞

I’m assuming that is arriving March 30th? If so, according to what’s in port, you will be using the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal. https://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-tokyo-japan.html. (Add date manually) https://www.cruisetimetables.com/visitingtokyojapan-30mar2023.html Obviously things can change, but I think it’s a safe bet that’s where you will disembark if that is indeed your cruise.

The London office sales team are on the same floor as the air department and my SS rep stated they certainly can pop in to speak with them directly. Might not be like that in Miami. My Japan flights continue to be an issue. We were forced to accept Emirates, which I was ok with, but poor times and just learned they have a 7Kg cabin bag limit, not the 20kg and 2 bag I would get with BA. Alas I had to accept when they tell me they have no contract with BA and cannot book. So it’s very strange I learned they were able to provide one of the 2 options I asked for to another guest and request made just yesterday. This is the second time on this booking this has happened. The same occurred on the return…. Which we managed to get reserved for a week before they moved us again to have a 6 hour connection once more! There is something else that’s weird for this trip too. An American guest has only been given flights to Tokyo and the cruise starts in Osaka. They think that the “transfer to Hotel” shown, might be a 500Km bullet train transfer which I suggested was highly improbable. They have also had continual problems via the TA with communication to the Silver Air department. With just 3 months to go, someone there needs to respond and provide flights to the correct destination for this guest. Just seems so strange it’s been pointed out but no urgency to respond. I suggest they get the PNR in case the error is on my.silversea just not showing the connecting flight. Hopefully it’s that. For my next sailing, flights have not been an issue at all and have been ticket now, but Osaka to Anchorage has just been a nightmare. I intend to reach out again today for my outbound flights. I would leave mine with Emirates, but that 7kg limit is a killer. I’d consider booking an extra hold case, but they want £250 for an extra bag. That just seems crazy! Their prices for going over the 7kg limit is extortion! Puts me off completely.

Not yet according to a CC guest report on board last week. It had been suggested by the now president of SS it was going to be fitted in Fort Lauderdale in December but it unfortunately didn’t happen. Annoying as we are on the sailing immediately prior to yours. To date, I don’t believe any ship in the fleet has a working service, though it has been guest reported it has been installed on the Muse and rumoured to be switched on at the end of March. Which will be good as our Muse sailing is 26 April. On the SS website it says it’s the intention to have all ships fitted by the end of March, but that definitely won’t be achieved.

The Sojourn and Moon are both on their way to Callao. Seven seas Marina has just left. On the Seabourn board, no passengers allowed off and was treated as a supply stop only. Can’t see anything for Mariner. The Moons stop is obviously a different scenario being an embarkation / disembarkation stop. Fingers crossed all goes well and transition is straight forward and uneventful….. and allowed!.

Vistas are fine. If you had a GTY there is a very good chance you would have got your balcony wish.

It was my wife that said it to me this morning (so far from reliable!) and guess she was quoting from someone on that other site and onboard. I did say in the post is anyone on board able to confirm if it was true. When I checked, the Moon was on its way to Salaverry this morning. It’s currently bobbing about outside of Salaverry and shown as “underway” but travelling at under 1Kph. Is Salaverry a dock or tender port? (We weren’t permitted to visit there last year either so don’t know.) But if it is a dock port, it does sound like it’s accurate. Hopefully someone will be able to confirm. Fingers crossed I didn’t see something on the internet that turned out not to be true! lol If your friend is on board now, they should be in Saleverry not on way to Lima, so it certainly sounds like they are saying they’ve bypassed Salaverry. Did you see the footage from Lima? As long as the airport/ hotels used/ and dock is clear of the troubles, all should be ok if allowed to travel. It sure looked messed up what I saw.

As long as there was a happy ending is all that matters. 😄

That doesn’t sound correct at all. You wouldn’t even be credited with VS sail days in your account either. I don’t think the incentive is dependant on booking direct with SS and also think the money is independent of any commission earnings paid to TA. They should remain unchanged. Did you both fill out the forms for this? I’d go back and insist they add it. Some TA don’t act with the best intentions for their customers