joyandjerry

Many are feeling it is a hassle or not aware of the requirements. Elderly may not have the means to complete it. Article about it here.

@KyloRenSo much confusion! It is easy to misunderstand, especially when the cruise lines sites are not accurate. When Jerry and I sailed to Bermuda, 22 May, I was sweating bullets, because the TA did not come. They only announced the day before we left that one only needed to show it at the port. Many upset pax that spent a lot of money on calls to Bermuda! Unbelievable stress.

EECC Travels (YouTube) did an excellent video on Boston recently. They felt the Cheers experience was waaay overpriced.

Been to Boston twice - the Freedom Trail is great, as is the USS Constitution. Got to the latter by the HOHO bus. Thinking of Harvard or the Aquarium this time. Want to do the MFA, but they are closed on Tuesdays, when we will be there. Our Bermuda is 6 nts, so that was my logic, also. I heard they test on the last sea day. In May, we did not mask on the ship, but were very mindful of hand washing, etc. Masked on shore indoors. Still don't want to get COVID, even if not positive till several days. No one wants to feel ill on a "relaxing" trip and possibly infect others.

Kathy, I am getting quite anxious about all of this, likely blowing it out of proportion. What is the date of your first cruise? We are ordering eMed tests, as we have done it twice before this year. If there is a glitch with the online testing, we have a nearby lab, albeit at a higher cost. It just seems like such rotten luck we are going the two places that require testing! The protocols change so much that one cannot not know that when they book. E.g., I booked the Canada/NE one well over a year ago. When RCCL dropped testing for B2B cruisers (a while back), I didn't realize Canada was singling out cruise ship passengers, as I read that they had dropped testing to enter. Also didn't realize ArriveCAN applied to us originally. It is easy to create an account and save your info for later. When I returned from Bermuda in early June, the cruise leaving 30 September had dropped very low in price possibly b/c of the TA hassle. So I booked that as they are staying longer than the first cruise, getting two overnights and leaving in the PM the third day. Future cruise may have you get there midday and then leave midday the next day. Tough as everything closes at 5! Wanted to see St. Georges, but now the ferry is not operational due to dock repairs for the season. Seeing on other places (Shipmate app) pax clueless about Bermuda testing, as they thought cruise lines are not requiring it, and it may be their first cruise since the restart. My concern is testing for the second leg. We will just have to mask up everywhere, even the gym. The ships are at capacity now and pax are serving themselves in the WJ. When we went in March, it was 65% capacity and staff served. On Carnival in May, we were at 80% (?) and I got some symptoms on the way home. I don't sleep well at the best of times, and the Bermuda TA thing was really screwed up at the time and I was really run down. DId not test positive till four days later, and Jerry in six, so he caught it from me at home. Concerned b/c I am seeing on other sites (Shipmate app) pax saying they took precautions and got it anyway. I really don't want to be paranoid the whole first leg. Amazing the grocery workers, etc. here and just about all do not wear masks and are in contact with hundreds of peeps daily. Of course, if they are not being tested, they may be positive.

If necessary, the cruise line will provide testing for B2B passengers. Not sure what you meant by the last two sentences, as testing is only required in certain circumstances, like Bermuda and Canada.

@KATHYMAC68, Somehow I was looking at RCCL dates and thinking your cruises started late August and would be over now. But they are not until October? My first leg to Bermuda is September 30, then October 6 to Canada/NE. I was hoping to get input from someone who had done this already, as I am letting myself get very, very stressed out over the testing. What rotten luck I picked the two destinations that involved testing! One must follow the country's protocols if they are more stringent than the cruise lines. I was really hoping Canada would drop this requirement, as the ArriveCAN is also really hurting tourism. When Jerry and I were on Enchantment in March, other cruisers said they tested the B2B cruisers gratis. Like you, I got the second room a few doors down from the first cruise's room.

When I did mine, the info was retained, but Jerry's was not. No big deal to do it again, but the COVID test is a real PITA.

If there is a problem with your application, they will let you know. Let us know how it works out.

See if this can be rectified. What is keeping you from uploading an image of the vax card? Take a picture of it and upload the file (acceptable formats on Bermuda's web site). Can you take a camera pic and put it on your desktop or laptop and do it from there? If it will not upload to the site, call the Bermuda toll free number and ask for help.

I feel your pain. Worried about how I can do this on the ship.

Thanks for the heads up! Another poster on a similar board commented on this also; she realized and got out in time.

Mo & Fran - wow what memories! They had the South of the Border signs up when I was a wee lad in the 70s. What a junk heap: I didn't know it still existed. Still remember Pedro's forecast - "Chili today, hot tamale!"

And Bermuda made such a fuss about mask wearing on public trans and in their minuscule terminal, and not one single employee in any shop, attraction or on public trans complied.

We, too, are not big on shopping. Our home has more than we need! Never heard of Wall Drug, so thanks for the new info.

I would, too. On a B2B with Canada second in a few weeks.

Well said! Unbelievable that they are doing this to first, their citizens, and second, the tourists. Jerry and I visited Bermuda for the first time in May and went through hell with the TA, when one had to upload test results to board the ship. Since we got a great price and are going to Canada/NE, I decided to book Bermuda again and do them as a B2B, starting 30 September. (Just applied for TAs again today.) One of the reasons was to see St. George's, so bummer. Also peeved that Canada and Bermuda are the two places that still require testing, so I'll be worried about that during the first leg. Plus Canada had ArriveCAN paperwork, which I do not mind, but I won't have internet on the ship to complete it. This testing is causing so much stress. Ah, the "good ole' days", where one just packed and got on the ship!

Nancy, we are in Cambria County and enjoy great foliage, also. Your comment about Halloween rang true. Weather could be anything! First Canada/NE cruise was in early September, and it was cool. Second one was in late September, and it was very warm (70s) and sunny.

@KATHYMAC68, as another poster stated, lots of aquariums and things to see. It was part of an excursion I took, so it was worth it to see, but I don't know if I would pay just to shop there. Depends on what else you could do in Portland. Although Freeport has many, many stores, not just LL, so one could easily spend hours there walking about.

Exceptionally well said! Other pax, read the hell others (like me) went through for sailings in April and May where one had to upload test results and wait for the approval to board the ship. Mass confusion, hours delay boarding and unbelievable stress. Pax on board my sailing were furious; many had phone calls that cost over $100 to call Bermuda to get it rectified in time to sail. The sailing immediately after ours, that rule about uploading test results was changed. Our travel agent was clueless until I told her (we usually book on our own), the cruise lines did not inform pax. We had to find out about it on sites like CC.

I found a link on Seabourn's site (by chance, I have not cruised with them) for using ArriveCAN for cruise ship pax. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks very complete, with pix. The link is here. I mentioned it in the ArriveCAN thread, but that is getting rather long and thought it may help those here.

We don't have a Target or any other discount store here, so all types shop at Wally World, many in their pj's. And quite a few that obviously don't have a mirror in their house! Blessings for a safe and happy trip!

I found a link on Seabourn's site (by chance, I have not cruised with them) for using ArriveCAN for cruise ship pax. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks very complete, with pix. The link is here.

I think we will, too. We never take elevators and stay away from others. Will have to be careful at the shows and trivia. always wear them when out shopping at home anyway, like in Wally World today. Pity Canada doesn't require testing for arrivals by air or auto, only cruises. Enjoy yourself!

Thanks ever so much for the info! Really hoping not to be tested on the ship. On our May cruise to Bermuda, I got COVID, but did not test positive till day four of getting home. A few days later, Jerry tested positive. We didn't mask on the ship, but did indoors in Bermuda. Really worried about it.