Maria63

We are also prepared to take the test as it has so far been required - albeit testing locations are now starting to shut down over here due to lessening demand. Royal seems to be in the midst of revising their protocols though, so things could change from one sailing to the next.

The way I read this (and I could be wrong) is that pre-cruise testing in Europe for vaccinated adults is now required only for sailings out of Spain, Greece and Denmark/Copenhagen. We sail out of Amsterdam in 3 weeks, and when i click "Amsterdam" it takes me to the following info mentioning only sailings out of Copenhagen (but not for instance Amsterdam). But I can't for now discount the possibility that the mention of Copenhagen is a typo and they actually mean all European ports excluding Greece & Spain. The below also seems to correspond with the fact that Denmark doesn't even allow vaccination of under 18 year olds anymore, and all minors should therefore also be allowed to sail out of Copenhagen just with a negative test: REQUIRED TESTING FOR GUESTS SAILING FROM EUROPE HOME PORTS, EXCLUDING GREECE AND SPAIN All Guests: Required Pre-Cruise Testing All guests sailing from Copenhagen, Denmark will need to take a test before boarding, as detailed below. The test must be conducted at a certified testing location or supervised by a healthcare telemedicine professional. Telehealth tests are accepted, but must be completed with a supervised video visit. All tests are at the guests’ expense. Vaccinated guests - including those not considered 'up to date' by EMA standards - must show a negative result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before boarding day. Guests 12 and younger who have been vaccinated may present proof of full vaccination and follow the testing protocols for vaccinated guests. Unvaccinated kids age 2 to 17 must show a negative test result for a PCR or antigen test taken no more than 1 day before boarding day. Guests under 2 years of age do not need to complete a pre-cruise test

Please all you Pinnacles, do wear your pins! My DH & I love spotting pin-wearing folks esp. early in a cruise. It gives a sense of reassurance that we made the right choice - because "if those people chose this ship & itinerary it can't be all bad". We're non-US and will never make Pinnacle ourselves, but one reason we still keep coming back to Royal is their loyalty program, which we think is perhaps the best in the business once you reach Diamond (the matching with Celebrity is also a big +).

As for Denmark / Copenhagen, the Danish health authorities no longer allow general Covid vaccination of minors under 18. Difficult to see how a cruise company sailing out of Denmark could demand a vaccine at least for minors that the local health authorities do not allow: https://www.sst.dk/da/corona/vaccination (google translation) Therefore, from 1 July 2022 it will no longer be possible for children and young people under the age of 18 to get the 1st jab, and from 1 September 2022 it will no longer be possible to get the 2nd jab.

We are from Finland and have had similar issues with Visa payments to US companies, if the card is linked to a bank account with an additional security & verification system. Master Card seems to work more smoothly. If you can't call the US, we've worked things out by sending emails.

As for Helsinki, I would skip Porvoo. It's nice enough, but a long and very uninteresting drive to get there. If your kids are into history, the Suomenlinna fortress is perhaps the prime spot in and around Helsinki. It's easily reached by a ferry from the main Market Square that is inexpensive and part of the public transport system. Guided tours in English are also available twice daily at appr. 12 euros/pp, you buy tickets either online or at the Suomenlinna museum once you get there.