NWT Cruiser

@Fouremco  Can you please assist me with the above message.

@broberts Thank you for letting me know how to notify people on this Message Board.

4 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Based on RCI's wording, a test taken on the 24th certainly meets their requirements. Looking at it logically:

 

Oct 27 - boarding day

Oct 26 - 1st day before boarding day

Oct 25 - 2nd day before boarding day

Oct 24 - 3rd day before boarding day

Thanks for your thought on this.  This is how I read it also, but like you said, I'll phone RCI to confirm.  Thanks, again.

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

@Fouremco  Can you please assist me with the above message.

@broberts Thank you for letting me know how to notify people on this Message Board.

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

The following is from the Royal Caribbean Cruiseline;

Fully vaccinated guests 5 years of age and older must bring a negative test result for a COVID-19 antigen or PCR test taken within the 3 days before boarding day on sailings that are 10 nights or longer only. Testing is not required for fully vaccinated guests on shorter itineraries. 

I can't remember how this works ... our 14 night cruise leaves Cape Liberty on Oct. 27th.  We are leaving our hometown on Oct. 25th at 6 AM and will be spending two nights in New York City.  If we receive a rapid antigen test on Oct. 24th would we be safe (and within the 3 days before boarding) or is Oct. 27th considered one day (which would then mean we need to get our test no sooner than Oct. 25th)?

Fouremco, maybe you can assist me and give me your advice on this.

Thank you.

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

1 hour ago, Fouremco said:

Here's some contact information for the embassy: https://embassies.info/EmbassyofSaudiArabiainOttawaCanada

 

Thanks for this link.  I'll pass it on to my daughter.  It's just so crazy ... a family of 4 having to pay $800 just to go from the cruise port to the airport.  As they say, "it is what it is".

Hope that it changes before they get there.

Thanks, again.

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

Fouremco; I'm hoping you can help with the following question.

Has anyone cruised to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia?  My daughter, her hubby and their two boys aged 8 and 11 will be docking in Jeddah and going directly to the airport to fly to Dubai.  When we look up any information on e-visas, transit visas or maritime visas, it looks like a visa is required.  We called MSC Cruiselines to see if a visa is necessary and they said it was up to us to apply for one (didn't quite answer the question we had).  The cost for any of the above visas is approx. $195 Cdn. each which, of course, for their family of four would be $800.  Don't want to apply for these if they are really not required. 

Any help on whether a visa is mandatory would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

Just a note to let you all know that plans have changed ... not sailing on this particular sailing.  My daughter and her family are still sailing with MSC (Cairo to Saudi Arabia) and will fly to Dubai to meet up with me.  We will then drive to  Abu Dhabi and stay a couple nights and fly to Athens where we are booked on a 9 night cruise with Norwegian (from Athens into Israel, Cyprus, Greece & Turkey and return back to Athens).

I had my heart set with this cruise, but it didn't work out.  Saudi Arabia back on the bucket list for me.

Cheers,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

On 7/19/2022 at 1:54 PM, marcoigna said:

Looks very easy for a Visa for Saudi Arabia.  Special cruise ship visa

 

https://www.saudiarabiaonlinevisas.com/e-maritime-visa-cruise-tourists/amp/

Thanks for the link.  I should have posted the link that I had also googled, which I believe is the same one you are looking at.

https://www.saudiarabianevisa.com/e-maritime-visa/

I see it in American dollars and when I look at the value of our Cdn dollar to U.S., it looks like the visa will cost approx. $195 per person Cdn.  That's pretty steep considering Saudia Arabia is trying to boost their tourism sector and we're only there 10 hours.  But, all this aside, I'll get my evisa since I would love the opportunity to go into SA.

On 7/17/2022 at 6:49 PM, bridlewood said:

Looks like more Canadians on this trip. My wife and I will be boarding in Dubai and finishing in Marseille.

Yay, great to see more Canadians booking this cruise.  Sounds like you have a great life avoiding the winters by having a home in Myrtle Beach and also in southern Canada.  I'm living way up north and the winters are long and cold.

Chat later,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

I emailed MSC re a Saudi visa and this is the response I received:

"Good afternoon Frances,

Thank you for contacting MSC Cruises Canada.

It’s every guest’s responsibility to apply for the required documents to travel to all destinations.

MSC Cruises does not apply for passenger’s visa.

Thank you for your understanding.

Kind regards,

Marc-Antoine San Luis

MSC Cruises Consultant"

MSC Cruises Canada Ltd.

2810 Matheson Blvd E

Mississauga ON L4W 4X7

Phone: +1-833-253-9978

Visit our website: msccruises.ca

Learn more about our environmental stewardship practices: https://www.msccruises.ca/about-msc/sustainability

Discover our media centre: www.mscpressarea.com

Visit our consumer website: www.msccruises.ca

On 7/12/2022 at 6:05 PM, HSBC said:

Do you need to apply  visa to Saudi Arabia?

Thanks!

Hello fellow Canadian; 

I'm trying to get ahold of MSC (on the phone) to ask if they would do a "blanket visa" for our port in Saudi Arabia, but the lines are busy and I don't want to be put on hold for more than 1/2 hour ... I've tried umpteen times and I hang up after my 1/2 hour on hold.  lol  I also sent them an email with this question, but have not received a reply.

By the way, where are you from in Canada?  I'm from Yellowknife, NT.

Chat later,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

On 7/11/2022 at 11:55 AM, marcoigna said:

Well good day my Canadian friends.  We booked this after 2 similar sailings cancelled.  We booked almost a year ago now. Looking forward.  Total of 6 of us - all from Ontario.  Already booked flights with Etihad to Abu Dhabi  then  taxi to Dubai.  Staying  4 nights prior - then fly home when ship docks in Barcelona.   

Hello to all of you;

I am flying from Yellowknife to Vancouver and then through Delhi to Dubai (Air Canada/Air India).  Will spend 3 nights in Dubai.  My daughter and family are flying from Calgary (I don't know what routes) but are flying to Cairo for 3 nights beforehand and will meet up with me in Dubai.  We still haven't confirmed which hotel to book ... I was booked at Dusit Thani in the past (very near to Burj Khalifa) but it's all sold out.  I checked other booking sites and this particular hotel are sold out for the days we need them.  We're only booked to Rome and will disembark then.  Easier for me to catch my flight rather than going into Portofino.  My daughter and family will also disembark in Rome but will fly to Morocco for 3 nights, then to Paris for a couple nights and back to Calgary.  I was just in Spain in April/May so continuing on to Barcelona wasn't an option for me.  I am still working and need to save some of my annual leave.  lol

I'm trying to get ahold of MSC (on the phone) to ask if they would do a "blanket visa" for our port in Saudi Arabia, but the lines are busy and I don't want to be put on hold for more than 1/2 hour ... I've tried umpteen times and I hang up after my 1/2 hour on hold.  lol  I also sent them an email with this question, but have not received a reply.

Happy to hear of other Canadians on this roll call.

Cheers,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

I seen this cruise and booked it as I like the itinerary.  I've been on cruises to Dubai in the past (Suez Canal), but now that Saudi Arabia is one of the cruise ports, I am excited about it.  I will be joining my daughter, her husband and my two grandsons (ages 11 and 8).

I'm from Yellowknife (northern Canada) and my daughter and her family are from Calgary, Alberta.

Chat later,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

13 hours ago, LHT28 said:

looks like yes you will need a tourist VISA

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/saudi-arabia

 

Check all the rules

Thank you so much for this link.  Very helpful.

12 hours ago, Fouremco said:

I came across this website quite recently and found it to be a quite useful addition to the GOC website. Here's the page for Saudi Arabia:

 

https://airheart.com/travel-restrictions/saudi-arabia-from-canada-vaccinated

Thank you also for this link.  Very informative.  I know Saudi Arabia has only recently (2019) agreed to allow cruises to sail into their ports.  I am also going to phone MSC to find out if they will be doing a "blanket visa" for all passengers ... fingers cross they will.  I have been on cruises in the past that have done this, and only one time they added the visa fee to your booking.  If they look after this, I don't care how much they charge to get their money back (it just would be easier for the passengers not having to fill out more forms).  I also noticed in this link that it's mandatory for passengers to have valid health insurance that covers the costs of COVID-19 treatment.  I'm glad I seen this.

Cheers

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

Does anyone know if an e-visa is required for cruises that stop in Saudi Arabia?  We are booked on a cruise with MSC in March 2023 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Genoa, Italy and one of the ports the ship stops in is Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for 10 hours.

Thanks.

I have a Switch Health kit that I plan on using in my hotel room the day before heading to the cruise port. 

Question:  Do I need to contact Switch Health to make an appointment beforehand i.e. 

a date and time that would be suitable for me, or do I just call in and have it proctored by anyone that answers?

Thanks.

3 hours ago, pixiedust777 said:

Get her a PCR test today.

You will need a copy of the lab report that says she is positive in order to fly.

If fully vaccinated she needs to quarantine for 5 days.

She can fly into the U.S with a positive result that is 10 - 90 days old.

She will also need a doctors note of recovery and is fit to travel.

In order to board the cruise she will still need to test negative on an antigen test prior to boarding. Not sure who you are cruising with but Celebrity requires a negative test taken no more than 2 days prior to boarding.

I would suggest that before you board your flight she gets a rapid test done and if it is negative you should be good. If it it positive that is a whole different story.

 

Thank you ... she is fully vaccinated along with the booster.  We will follow the above steps you listed.  We have a NUMI Rapid Antigen test booked at the airport (6 hours before our flight).  If she tests "positive" we'll have to cancel her trip.  She feels a bit better today so is going to go to Shopper's to get a free rapid antigen kit and will do it at home.  Fingers crossed, it is negative.  I suppose one of my main queries was if she tests positive today, and 18 days later gets tested at the airport (could there be a possibility of a negative test - if she is positive today)? 

Mark Mary ... of course, we would never think of her travelling if she is still contagious and not safe to be around other passengers.  We are stringent on wearing our masks and washing and sanitizing our hands 100% of the day.    I assumed that after 10 -14 days of isolation that is required by everyone (symptomatic or asymptomatic) would be all that is needed.  My question to all this is, would her test still show "positive" after isolating 14 days ... if that's the case, I'll cancel her NUMI test and she won't bother with the 26 mile ride to the airport.  At this point, we don't know if she has covid or not, only the test she does later today will confirm that.

Fouremco ... thanks for understanding my dilemma.  

Cheers, everyone!

Can anyone please answer the following question I have regarding Covid.  My niece is to come sailing with me (leaving Canada to the U.S. at midnight on April 18), and our cruise is sailing out of Fort Lauderdale on April 20th. She believes she has covid with the symptoms she is feeling (dry cough and sore muscles and just feeling sick).  If she waits until after the weekend to see a doctor, how many days before getting on a flight to the U.S,. and how many days before getting on a cruise would she need in order to fly and sail, if she gets a note from a doctor which states she had covid.

Our flight is with Air Canada and our cruise is with Royal Caribbean.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. 

18 hours ago, Fouremco said:

What about Switch Health in Richmond? $39 for a Rapid Antigen Test if you are an Aeroplan member.

Hopefully cruise ships accept the Switch Health Rapid Antigen Test (whether done in their clinics or remotely).  I ordered two of these tests and found out after my order was placed that these tests ARE NOT FDA approved.

Fingers crossed that RCI & Princess accept these.  When ordering them they are a 2 pack kit for $79 plus tax.

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

17 hours ago, Ciren219 said:

Alternatively, you could do a Switch Health at your hotel with an online health technician. There will probably be a service at the cruise terminal for testing since many passengers won't know they need the antigen test one day before and NOT two or three days allowed by the cruise lines.

If anyone orders the Rapid Antigen Test kit from SWITCH HEALTH, please read everything about it before ordering ... I ordered two of the kits and only after the order was placed did I realize they were not FDA approved (and the cruise lines would not accept the results).  The cruise lines require FDA approval on covid tests that are proctored by health officials).  Another alternative would be to order testing kits from NUMI Health (which have testing sites in Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg).  If you can't make an appt. at any of the 3 places named, you can order from their site and a health official will proctor your testing.

Cheers,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

16 hours ago, Fouremco said:

According to their website, the price for Aeroplan members is $39 (presumably plus tax). Did you provide your Aeroplan number when you tried booking?

 

https://switchhealth.ca/en/partners/aeroplan/

Can you please let me know if the Rapid Antigen Test from Switch Health (which is not FDA approved) is fine to get on a flight to the U.S.  If that's the case, I'll save my NUMI Rapid Antigen kit (which is FDA approved) to do in the hotel room before heading to the Royal Caribbean cruise port.

Thank you so much.

Lakelivin2

The following is info from the NUMI site:   

Rapid Antigen Test

17 hours ago, lakelivin2 said:

This is giving me a headache......  So if we get the test done at Shoppers/Rexall/airport etc.  These tests will be accepted by the cruise lines (Royal in particular), but if I do the switch rapid antigen (online), then it will allow me into the U.S. but, could be denied by Royal because it is not FDA approved?  Is this right?  I'm going on a Transatlantic and I can't afford to take chances.😒

Hi Lakelivin2;

I believe you are on the same Transatlantic as we are (April 20).  I have the same headache as you (only mine feels like a migraine) lol.  But seriously, we ordered two Switch Health Rapid Antigen Test kits and after the order was placed I was told by a friend that these tests are not FDA approved.  We were going to use them two days before reaching our first port.  I called Switch Health and we were told they could not reimburse us as they were just sent out.  We have an appointment with NUMI Health in the Edmonton airport on April 18 (which we were getting done so that we could enter US). NUMI's antigen tests are FDA approved.  With all what's happened, we just might use our Switch Health kits which will get us into US - although not FDA approved and buy the NUMI kits at the Edmonton airport (which are FDA approved) and save them to use 48 hours before our first port.

I'm not sure where you live, but regardless, NUMI now has the kits available for sale for approx. $75 per kit.  I believe until the last couple weeks sometime, they were only available in the Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg offices (and you couldn't buy them at that time - NUMI had to administer the tests).

The following is info from the NUMI site:   

Rapid Antigen Test

On the lighter side, I think (hope) I have everything ready for sailing.  I hope we meet each other - on the ship - which means we had everything in order.

Cheers,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

17 hours ago, lakelivin2 said:

This is giving me a headache......  So if we get the test done at Shoppers/Rexall/airport etc.  These tests will be accepted by the cruise lines (Royal in particular), but if I do the switch rapid antigen (online), then it will allow me into the U.S. but, could be denied by Royal because it is not FDA approved?  Is this right?  I'm going on a Transatlantic and I can't afford to take chances.☹️ 

Hi Lakelivin2;

I believe you are on the same Transatlantic as we are (April 20).  I have the same headache as you (only mine feels like a migraine) lol.  But seriously, we ordered two Switch Health Rapid Antigen Test kits and after the order was placed I was told by a friend that these tests are not FDA approved.  We were going to use them two days before reaching our first port.  I called Switch Health and we were told they could not reimburse us as they were just sent out.  We have an appointment with NUMI Health in the Edmonton airport on April 18 (which we were getting done so that we could enter US). NUMI's antigen tests are FDA approved.  With all what's happened, we just might use our Switch Health kits which will get us into US - although not FDA approved and buy the NUMI kits at the Edmonton airport (which are FDA approved) and save them to use 48 hours before our first port.

I'm not sure where you live, but regardless, NUMI now has the kits available for sale for approx. $75 per kit.  I believe until the last couple weeks sometime, they were only available in the Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg offices (and you couldn't buy them at that time - NUMI had to administer the tests).

On the lighter side, I think (hope) I have everything ready for sailing.  I hope we meet each other - on the ship - which means we had everything in order.

Cheers,

Frances (NWT Cruiser)

45 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

As the name suggests ArriveCan is used for arriving in Canada. There is no need to fill it out before you depart from Canada. 

45 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

As the name suggests ArriveCan is used for arriving in Canada. There is no need to fill it out before you depart from Canada. 

Thank you.  That's one less set of papers we need to fill out.

44 minutes ago, gnome12 said:

 

On 3/14/2022 at 4:34 PM, Fouremco said:

Here's a link to the form:  https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Combined-Passenger-Attestation-Amended-Testing-Order-12-02-2021-p.pdf. As you will see, although 7 pages in length, there is very little information required from the average traveller.

Thanks for the link. Only need to fill out our ARRIVECAN forms (before departure and another set for when we return) and I think we're all set.