joyandjerry

We used that to sail there 22 May. Starting 24 May, one no longer has to upload test results. Most of those on our ship went thorough hell trying to get the TAs, so I am glad that it will be better for those going forward. Major hassle on the ship - CCL kept giving us conflicting info.

That is what we used to board the Carnival Legend 22 May for Bermuda. No problem, other than the nightmare of not getting the TA in time, which has been discussed on other threads.

Every one with whom I spoke (on the ship recently) or posted in forums was #89 on hold. Perhaps the system doesn't go higher than that. Upon arriving home, our agent told us the Bermuda goct reps were working till 05:00 to try to get the authorizations done for our ship and the Norwegian Joy that was docked the same time. I don't know what they were thinking that they could get them all done in time. Ours came in several hours apart on the day we sailed, even though I submitted them together, early AM the day prior. A passenger on the ship said they were doing them seemingly in any order, as she didn't even apply until the night before sailing, and did everything all in one go for several family members. And they got their TAs in less than an hour! Got off the Carnival Legend 28 May. Very smooth embarkation at Baltimore - 30 minutes from arrival to lunch in front of me! Sadly, getting info on the final TA was a real cluster. While the govt policies are not CCL's fault, there was no communication about if we got the final TA and we just had to keep bugging them at Guest Services. Many were very upset on the ship, and it really ruined the first few days. False info from the staff to meet with the officials on board, but that was only if we received notice to do so, which we did not. We were "lucky" we found the officials at the start of a meeting that very few knew about and we were already approved. We asked for a hard copy of the Green TA, and were told "don't worry about it". Really!!??? The day after (second sea day) many stood in line for over two hours to find out that was superfluous, as they were already approved and not informed. Many upset passengers! Nothing was required upon leaving the ship except your ship room card and photo ID. No one asked about the TA. A big production was made of wearing a mask to walk through a terminal that was the size of a large garage and nearly bare. Same with getting on the open air ferry. We had a ship tour and no one was asked to mask up. Crystal Caves required masks, but the guide took his off as did many. This was our first time in Bermuda, and it was very nice, but maybe my expectations were too high for it to live up to the hype. Locals were very cordial and helpful. Sadly, Hamilton had beggars and a few street people. Traffic was awful in town and it was very congested. Food was insanely expensive. They are supposed begging for tourist money, but everything closes at 5:00. Many commented the the shop owners didn't really seem to care if the tourists were buying. Pink sands are slowly disappearing due to the coral dying. The popular beaches were crowded. Jerry and I are not big beach people, and thought HMC and Coco Cay were just as nice. Barbados and some other islands are nearly as pretty and not nearly as pricey. Many historical areas of interest that would benefit from a closer look. I calculated I spent as much time chasing down the TA before and during the cruise, posting on forums about it, etc. as I spent actually off the ship in Bermuda.

Got off Carnival Legend to Bermuda yesterday. Crazy traffic and speeding scooters. Bus had to stop in traffic for severely injured scooter driver hit by car.

Got off the Carnival Legend yesterday. Very smooth embarkation at Baltimore - 30 minutes from arrival to lunch in front of me! Sadly, getting info on the final TA was a real cluster. While the govt policies are not CCL's fault, there was no communication about if we got the final TA and we just had to keep bugging them at Guest Services. Many were very upset on the ship, and it really ruined the first few days. False info from the staff to meet with the officials on board, but that was only if we received notice to do so, which we did not. We were "lucky" we found the officials at the start of a meeting that very few knew about and we were already approved. We asked for a hard copy of the Green TA, and were told "don't worry about it". Really!!??? The day after (second sea day) many stood in line for over two hours to find out that was superfluous, as they were already approved and not informed. Many upset passengers! Nothing was required upon leaving the ship except your ship room card and photo ID. No one asked about the TA. A big production was made of wearing a mask to walk through a terminal that was the size of a large garage and nearly bare. Same with getting on the open air ferry. We had a ship tour and no one was asked to mask up. Crystal Caves required masks, but the guide took his off as did many. This was our first time in Bermuda, and it was very nice, but maybe my expectations were too high for it to live up to the hype. Locals were very cordial and helpful. Sadly, Hamilton had beggars and a few street people. Traffic was awful in town and it was very congested. Food was insanely expensive. They are supposed begging for tourist money, but everything closes at 5:00. Many commented the the shop owners didn't really seem to care if the tourists were buying. Pink sands are slowly disappearing due to the coral dying. The popular beaches were crowded. Jerry and I are not big beach people, and thought HMC and Coco Cay were just as nice. Barbados and some other islands are nearly as pretty and not nearly as pricey. Many historical areas of interest that would benefit from a closer look. I calculated I spent as much time chasing down the TA before and during the cruise, posting on forums about it, etc. as I spent actually off the ship in Bermuda.

Yeah, I found this out early today, and am sailing tomorrow. In our case, we were issued a provisional waiver to board the ship. Part of doc: PROVISIONAL WAIVER TO BOARD THE CRUISE SHIP#: XXXXXX Embarkation Date: Sunday 22 May 2022 THIS ALLOWS YOU TO EMBARK ON THE CRUISE SHIP YOU CANNOT DISEMBARK IN BERMUDA ON THIS PROVISIONAL WAIVER TO RECEIVE A TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION TO DISEMBARK IN BERMUDA, YOUR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENTATION NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED ************************************************************************ DOCUMENTATION REVIEW REASON: Please have all documents in hand for review with the Bermuda Health team on board ship ************************************************************************

Nancy, the first email is just a confirmation that your application was submitted. The TA is needed to disembark in Bermuda. At 4 PM today, we each got emails stating the following: BERMUDA TRAVEL APPLICATION PROVISIONAL APPROVAL Travel Authorisation Application#: XXXXXXX Dear Traveller, We have reviewed your application for a Travel Authorisation to enter Bermuda and you have been issued a Provisional Waiver for Boarding purposes. Some of the documentation will need to be reviewed: Please have All valid documents in hand for review with the Bermuda Health team on board ship. ACTIONS REQUIRED FROM TRAVELLER: 1. Complete and obtain the Provisional Waiver for boarding your Cruise. You must show this document at embarkation to be allowed on the ship: Click to complete. Please follow this link to view the waiver, sign, inital and Submit it. The signed and initialled waiver is your Travel Authorisation document. This Provisional Waiver does not allow you entry into Bermuda. You will be required to provide the documentation as indicated above to be issued with a Green Travel Authorization that will allow you to disembark from the ship in Bermuda. I printed ours and it clearly states it is for embarkation purposes only.

Priscilla, note my response to this thread, post #157 - I think we were posting at the same time. Now I need to do some cleaning, work out and try to get some sleep!

Just got this email from my travel agent - Just spoke to Carnival’s Emergency Desk Carnival is aware of the situation and will clear everyone with their original documentation of the application, Covid vaccination card and test results at the pier.

Thank you for the suggestion, but I spoke to our travel agent this AM, and she said all of the phone lines were busy due to overload. (The number Berrnuda gave us was a foreign number, but I looked up the toll free govt number.) She had to do a few dozen authorizations yesterday for elderly without a computer, and has not heard back on anyone. On our roll call on this site, no one else has heard back either. Same with passengers of the other ship to dock the same day as ours. So I am just going to take the traveler confirmation I got from them.

Thanks for that very important update! But still one needs the TA to board? I filled out the form and uploaded our vax cards weeks ago, and the test yesterday morning. Still no TA.

Thanks, I did see this about NCL, but we are on CCL out of Baltimore tomorrow, so I hope that applies to us.

I submitted our negative tests about 11:30 AM. We are submitting our own, but I am going down with a group of elderly, who cannot do them. The travel agent is doing them. She emailed me about an hour ago, stating she submitted a few dozen, starting at 8AM and ending at 3PM and has heard nothing. The ships that don’t have Bermuda as the first stop have to test onboard, and many are not getting off at the first ports to avoid getting tested again. That is resulting in lost revenue for the cruise lines with cancelled excursions and the port with less tourists. Celebrity is skipping a port, doing Bermuda first, but having to tender passengers as the dock is already booked. Bermuda is showing total lack of consideration for the cruise lines and the tourists to make us go through this. They just could have charged the fee and not have the associated uploads. No other country is doing this. I didn't sleep much last night, so now tonight will be same if I don't get the TA. I have never been to Bermuda, but nothing is worth this stress. BTW, I just explained to Jerry that one cannot even board the ship without the TA, so now he understands my chagrin. He just thought Carnival would straighten it all out on board!

Thanks for the info! A mess for all involved. In a few minutes, we are doing our online COVID tests. All packed and fingers crossed!

Why would they tender in Bermuda? How is that helping the testing mess?

That is correct, unfortunately. Even though on our cruise Bermuda is the only stop, this really is punitive to those that have other stops prior to Bermuda. It is basically sabotaging the rest of your vacation. This would also be harmful to the cruise lines, as many of those that choose not to disembark in other ports will not partake in their excursions. This Bermuda policy is causing a lot of stress, aggravation, and ill will towards the destination. And one cannot cancel their cruise because of this, because it is too late in most cases.

Nice that you can get a test nearby. We are doing the online proctored test, and hope it goes well. There are some places that are pricey with long waits if that does not work out. We did it for a Bahamas cruise on RCCL late March, to which we drove. That was only 65% capacity. We got a second booster several weeks ago, and are going down on a charter bus with older folks who cannot do this computer stuff on their own. So the poor TA, who is actually out of business, is doing it for a few dozen people and trying to coordinate it. CCL told us if we do not have a TA, we cannot board. The first season's cruise to Bermuda on the Pearl was a real mess, with passengers waiting at the port for several hours for approval. Then they had bad weather and cut the Bermuda port short, with only one overnight. We will definitely have masks if we need them. We are still one of the very few to wear them in stores, etc. here. No biggie for us to shop with one on for a bit, as I would rather take precautions. Our area has a low rate of vax, and the highest death rate per capita in the state.

You are very diligent! Since I cannot answer my landline or cell there, that wasn't my concern. The govt. knows which ship you are on, anyway. We are sailing Sunday and taking the test is my urgency now. Major hassle for all for no reason. I hope your cruise goes well. The Joy (my name!) will be there when we are there next week.

IMO, more red tape when completing forms - useless info that no one will ever use. I just put my home # so the field would be populated. Can't imagine why it would matter at all.

Thanks for the clarification. I did not think buildings would be open 24/7.

Oh, thank you, Charles! I realize that the RND is a fort, but not the Dockyard did not close. I wondered if we could wander around there in the AM. Our interest is much more in the history, not shopping.

We love forts! But we are leaving 11:00, so on board time will be early. It probably doesn't open until 9:00 or 10:00.

Charles, that is valuable info. Thanks!

I noted that was a highly recommended place I am sure would be enjoyable, but it closes at 5:00.