As evidenced by this and other threads, this whole mess is out of control insane, with no one actually having the big flick as it changes from day today. How in the world the other non CC cruisers, who don't follow this with such interest, will ever get it all right, don't know.  And now Carnival is dropping at the pier testing because of logistics with a 2000+ number of guests.  Meet the new CDC requirement, how?  

Carnival Cruise Line has dropped its plans to carry out COVID-19 testing at its terminals, according to a letter sent to guests by the cruise line’s President Christine Duffy.

“While we had previously raised the possibility of more on-site testing at our terminals, the logistics of making this service widely available to a large number of guests does not make this a viable option,” Duffy wrote.

Previously, Carnival’s website said that the cruise line was “working to set up mobile testing sites at all our embarkation homeports to conduct a rapid test the day before or day of your departure.”

The need for the availability of this service was enhanced by the new CDC rules stating that, as of Sept. 13, pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests must be taken within two days prior to the sailing date.

As the cruise line revealed its plans for at-terminal testing, it said that the service would be chargeable for a “per-person fee,” which was "to be established." The mobile labs were planned to be located either in or adjacent to Carnival's terminals or within walking distance.

38 minutes ago, Shellbelle28 said:

If they are the BinaxNOW AG tests, the expiration date marked on the packaging has been extended.

EUA-abbott-binaxNOW-Rev-2021-04-06.pdf 149.14 kB · 3 downloads

It did get me thinking.  I have four Everly Well PCR test kits that our health department gave me for future use if desired.  Just looked at their packaging.  It's sealed but no expiration date on it anywhere.  

35 minutes ago, roger001 said:

Carnival has just warned that the self tests that they have been selling, some have very soon expatriation dates, some before the scheduled cruise date of the guest using them.  If you buy a self test, check that it is going to last long enough to use.  

Expiration....not expatriation....auto correct....dam....uh...damn!

Carnival has just warned that the self tests that they have been selling, some have very soon expatriation dates, some before the scheduled cruise date of the guest using them.  If you buy a self test, check that it is going to last long enough to use.  

Arrival at the port is never going to be exact.  Too many types of travel and possible delays getting there.  I'm guessing it is a, not before, but any time after, kinda thing.  

When is NCL's first, or next Bermuda cruise?

1 hour ago, njhorseman said:

The government of Bermuda has consistently had some of the world's most stringent protocols for both air and sea arrivals from Day 1 of their reopening in addition to strict protocols to be followed while in the country.

Bermuda has seen a substantial rise in COVID cases in recent days. https://www.royalgazette.com/health/news/article/20210903/covid-cases-surge-seven-in-hospital-one-in-icu/ .

 

Having read that article, I would not be surprised to see Bermuda shut down visits completely.  If I did the math right, 12 of the current cases are from arriving visitors via airline, of which 80% of those were vaccinated.  Bermuda not being bigger than a small city can't let that continue.   And...they sound like they are buried right now just taking care of contact tracing and their other Covid issues.  It said for residents to expect delay with test results.  I can't see how they can approve several thousand TAs in just the needed one  or two days to get them back to shop visitors.  

Although it is a Bermuda requirement and a requirement that the guests must accomplish, NCL is aware of the requirements.  They also must understand how difficult it is becoming to accomplish this Bermuda requirement.  They must work with Bermuda is insuring it can be accomplished in a timely manner.  They can't advertise Bermuda cruises and then leave half the guests behind, standing on the pier.  Also, with all the other cruise lines now going to a 2 day time frame for preboarding testing requirements, testing is going to have to be available at the pier.  Two days just will not work for many guests.  Of course, the whole thig sucks with the virus continuing to spread and today a new one announced as happening in Calif.  Planning, for a cruise line, is a total uncertainty.  

28 minutes ago, craig01020 said:

Could this be any more of a cluster🤬?!

Not to forget the test before you can exit the ship in Bermuda.

39 minutes ago, Mrs_Reevo said:

If you have a certificate I don’t see how they would know if it was a self test or not, we have booked ours at the airport 

I agree.  Our health dept was giving test several weeks ago.  You drove in, and either they would swab for you and send it to a lab for results, or they would hand you  a kit and you could do it yourself at home.  It was then sent to the exact same lab.  Regardless of whether they sent it or you sent it, the results were emailed to you exactly the same, no indication of who administered the test.  This is all that I received.  I would then need to take it back to the health dept I guess and get it notarized by them.   Sure wouldn't fit into a 72 hour time frame.  

Hi, roger

Reading through this thread is mind boggling.........    What a mess.

Our 23 cruises have always been about the relaxation and freedom from any worries once we left our house.  We would drive or fly away with a big smile, relaxed.  I'm afraid all of that is no longer possible for us anyhow.  We are going to wait it out, see what happens, and hope we aren't too old to cruise if it ever returns to something like previous normal.  

My wife lives on Diet Pepsi.  The drink package only give you bar served type soda, squirted into a glass or plastic cup, not cans of sodas.  A can of them is around $4 now.  So we would just get two cups of Diet Pepsi, no ice, and take them to our room where we pour them up in empty 16 ounce plastic bottles we brought with us.  She then has a supply in the refridg available for her Pepsi needs morning and night. 

We love those aft facing suites.   I think 10664 we've used on some of the Jewel class ships.  

19 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

I spent a long time on the phone last night with my parents trying to figure out their testing situation. They are going to go to CVS today and get their insurance info on file, so hopefully they can bypass uploading photos of their insurance cards when they make their testing appointments. My dad was told by someone (unfortunately he does not remember who) that CVS tests in their area are taking as much as five days! When I go to the CVS site to try to make an appointment at their local store, it still says "Results in 1-2 days", so hopefully the web site is right and whoever my dad talked to is wrong. I also searched around for other PCR testing in their area. I found and urgent care that does PCR testing specifically for the purposes of travel, but their turnaround time is 2-3 days. I found a private lab that does PCR tests with results within 24 hours, but they are $200/test. No way are my parents going to pony up $400.

 

This is definitely stressing me out big time! My husband and I are getting our own CVS tests on Wednesday for our trip to Toronto, so at least I should have an idea of what he and I can look forward to the week of our cruise. I am going to see if I can poke the people over on the Crystal forums for more info from the people who sailed yesterday.

I just read today's Nashville paper that this area is tryin to set up more testing stations.  Apparently testing is suddenly  in great demand and appointments are limited and results slow returning.  

7 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

I can't speak for your particular situation, but hope this may help. The time of day absolutely does matter for testing for travel into Hawaii. There was even an app created to account for time zone changes because those counted in the 72 hours. The clock started the moment your plane departed on the LAST LEG of your flight to Hawaii, so when researching be sure to inquire about time zone changes (if applicable) and find out the exact time the clock 'starts' ticking.

 

Again, this is how they did it for Hawaii. Could be entirely different for Greece or Bermuda, but the precedent for accounting for exact time is set. Hope that helps somehow.

And from today's paper:   

Hawaii's Governor:

"I encourage everyone to restrict and curtail travel to Hawaii," Ige said during a press conference on Monday. "It's not a good time to travel to the islands." 

Ige said that travel should be limited to "essential business activities only." Visitors, he said, will not have the "typical" vacation that they would expect, as restaurant capacity has been restricted and rental vehicles are limited.

He went on to say that hospitals are at capacity and critical patients are being declined on occasion.  

This whole thing, not just Bermuda, but all of them as they continue to evolve has exceeded my "cruses are relaxing" level.  Once again, just going try to forget and wait until much later before trying to schedule again.  At my and wife's age, beginning to think we won't be cruising again.  Better focus on other types of vacation.   Sucks!

Our health dept. provides free take home PCR test kits.  When I went down to get one for my wife and myself, they said how many do you want.   Their though being also, a test is only valid for the moment you take it.  They have no problem with you testing as many times as you wish.  The test is UPS overnight to the lab and results were back email in about 48 hours for this first time.  

6 minutes ago, classy_cruiser said:

This cruise only had about 1200 passengers. The passengers have to quarantine for 10 days in a Greek government hotel. 

Everyone?????

However you add  it up, flying just sucks these days, although SWA is less suckie than the others.  I keep looking at booking (some good last minute cruise offers, and SWA,  even last minute booking is almost flying you for free on some of their routes) but there seems to be an anxious obstacle thrown in with every decision.  I'm eligible for a booster in Oct.  After that I may just bite the anxiety bullet and give it one more try.  

Those 11 cases, if they were guests, when the get back  and get off the ship, do they then have to go find a place to quarantine, or not being able to fly then rent a car and drive home?  Correct?

Ketchikan is noted for being one of the most consistently rainy places there is.  We've just taken cheap rain gear, worn it, and tours, life there, etc seems to just continue as normal, everyone just walking around dripping a little water.  Here's an interesting link that gives the complete Ketchikan weather picture.  

https://weatherspark.com/y/295/Average-Weather-in-Ketchikan-Alaska-United-States-Year-Round

We never tendered there.  Docked right downtown.  

6 hours ago, casofilia said:

Latest

 

Auckland and Coromandel at Level 4 for 7 days, and the rest of New Zealand for 3 days, initially.

 

Confirmation if it is Delta will not occur till tomorrow morning.

 

The source is still unknown.

 

Mike

Yea.  Just read that you guys have gone into total lock down again.  

Just read this morning's news that a few countries that are requiring proof of vaccination before entry will  in Sept will no longer accept the CDC card.  They are going to require digital proof.  Hmmmmm......