claranda

For the information of those on later Canaries cruises:

• our Encore boarding time was 1.20, and we were told not to arrive early, so expected to have to waste time hanging around the airport. But approached a Seabourn rep there who said just go now, no problem. This may have been because so many people’s travel arrangements were disrupted, but we were glad we’d asked, because we got processed pretty quickly once we arrived at the cruise terminal.
• at the airport we had our vaccination proof ready, but immigration didn’t ask for it on this occasion.
• can recommend Uber from the airport to the terminal - less than EURO 7.
• Seabourn did not ask to see our pre-flight test results. They nose swab you and you sit and wait till your number flashes up indicating you’re negative, then you proceed to check in. Boarding started around 12.30 for Diamond level folk, we got on board by 1.00pm. A very, very warm welcome from the CD and crew. 

There are 100 passengers still to board, today. The problem seems to have been that the stormy conditions elsewhere played havoc with many peoples travel arrangements and Seabourn quickly made the decision to wait for them. It’s quiet here in Lisbon - hope we don’t meet adverse weather in the Atlantic! 🤞

I haven’t had this notification yet. I expect it will come from my TA tomorrow. Seabourn could at least have waited until us 19 Feb passengers - nearly all of whom have paid for a test at their insistence - had got on board. I shall request a refund of the cost of the test through my TA, but I don’t suppose I’ll have much luck.

Ditto.

If you look at the Roll Call for 19 Feb, you’ll see that most of us are opting for a pre-arrival test just to be on the safe side and to avoid any boarding arguments. Erring on the safe side seems to be best at the moment in the face of Seabourn’s confusing messages.

But does a foreign currency debit/credit card work?

@claudiaYVR From what I can discover, this change happened on 17 Jan ( see https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/01/17/covid-19-council-removes-argentina-australia-and-canada-from-the-list-of-countries-for-which-travel-restrictions-should-be-lifted/?utm_source=dsms-auto&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=COVID-19%3a+Council+removes+Argentina%2c+Australia+and+Canada+from+the+list+of+countries+for+which+travel+restrictions+should+be+lifted

Can you contact the Portugeuse embassy to see if this is likely to change? The EU reviews the list every two weeks. The link Seabourn gives to Visit Portugal seems pretty clear https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal

Can ‘t quite believe this….good luck.

On 2/10/2022 at 7:25 PM, claudiaYVR said:

As far as I can tell Seabourn is not requiring anyone be tested for Covid before arriving in Portugal (despite the ambiguous language in the outdated doc linked below referring to tests before "arrival and boarding").

Claudia, I think you’re right and I have consequently moved my pre-cruise lateral flow test from next Friday to March, when I’m due to go to Italy. The key as far as I can see is that under the heading ‘Embarkation’ Seabourn specifically mentions a negative test requirement for cruises from the US and the Caribbean, but does not require this under the same heading for Portugal. The testing  FAQs and the $100 fine are not applicable to Portugal. Well …. we’ll find out soon one way or the other…. . BTW, are you sure  you don’t need a test coming from Canada? I thought the EU recently took Canada off the reciprocal vaccination list - but I could well be wrong.

Had a small rant to my TA who responded with a standard letter, in part saying:

We have since had further information from Seabourn regarding the entry requirements into Portugal and they have advised, guests will need to have a PCR test within 72 hours of going or a medically observed antigen test within 48 hours.
We are aware that, Portugal have changed their entry protocols, however Seabourn are still advising guests to have the testing I have stated above.

My first thought was that these are the requirements to get into Portugal for those from countries without a reciprocal arrangement (eg the USA and Canada) and that Seabourn can’t be bothered/doesn’t think it equitable to accept that Europeans and Brits don’t need a test to enter and doesn’t care that we’re paying for something that’s redundant. On looking again, however, I note that Portugal’s actual requirement for the antigen test is within 24 hours. So Seaboun continues to get it wrong…

29 minutes ago, jrmuk said:

I therefore can’t get a test at home and would have to arrange something in Lisbon which would be more difficult.

If you are staying in a hotel, they would probably sort something out for you.

But really, Seabourn’s use of English is dire. You could quote their requirement for a test ‘prior to 2 days before my sailing’ as meaning that the test has to be taken THREE days before you board. The word ‘prior’ used here reduces the sentence to gobbledegook….

11 hours ago, claudiaYVR said:

right you are 🙂

 

I'm personally very fond of Passion Pearls (champagne with cognac and passion fruit) in the Observation Lounge 🍹

OMG, that combination might floor me!🙃 But a glass of fizz in the Observation lounge sounds very civilised…👍

I think all of us boarding on 19 Feb will be in need of a calming beverage once we (hopefully) stagger on board! 

Just received a message from Seabourn via my TA that seems to indicate that Seabourn wants a test taken even if Portugal doesn’t. ‘Boarding’ seems to be the key word here.

“Guests must provide a negative COVID-19 test for entry and boarding in Portugal. Guests will also be administered a complimentary rapid antigen test at the cruise terminal before boarding the ship.”

As first-timers on Viking, it all seems a bit weird to us. Our suite level gives us three reservations for each of the speciality restaurants, so when reservations opened I made the six bookings - for a seven night cruise! Like others, though, we’re going to want to make changes - I’m sure we’ll want to try the Restaurant more than once, and we will not fancy the British or American Chef’s Tables, plus I could only get 8pm timings and we’d like a couple at 7.30. If everyone’s doing it, it sounds chaotic! Maybe we’ll prop up the bar till the dust clears!

As of 21 January, Viking was still saying:

Independent Exploration: At this time, we expect to allow independent exploration ashore for departures beginning March 1, 2022 or later. However, please note that Viking’s medical team continues to monitor conditions in all destinations to which we operate and may adjust this policy as necessary at the time of travel.

I can find nothing from Italian or EU websites on this subject and the Viking statement is very vague. So hope for the best and be resigned if it doesn’t happen. The way things are going, I should expect a relaxation from Italy pretty soon.

28 minutes ago, KBs mum said:

The wine list has two items, white or red. Literally, that's the choice, the white one or the red one! 

Sounds just like the 70s. I don’t suppose they serve food either…

It depends on your budget and other things, but we usually stay at the Moresco, which is down at the bottom of Shark B8’s map, just beyond the gardens. I would recommend a hotel at this end - like the Moresco  or the Abbazia - because a) once you’ve dumped your luggage  you have very easy access to the vaporetto stops at Piazzale Roma and/or Ferrovia, which will take you all the way up the Grand Canal and back at your convenience, getting off where you choose (suggest you get the 24hour travel card) and b) because if you are near Piazzale Roma you can either walk to the cruise terminal or get the People Mover for a couple of stops to it. This is what we are doing in March. 

Rather earlier than I anticipated, Viking is allowing a lateral flow test as an alternative to a PCR. I just received the following info via my TA. I suspect Viking will have to change its position on the boarding PCR as well in due course…

• Pre-Departure COVID-19 Testing

Effective immediately and until further notice

Viking is committed to doing all we can to ensure you are healthy and well prepared for international travel - and that you will be able to arrive in your destination and embark your ship safely. Viking requires that all guests take a pre-departure COVID-19 test. After re-evaluating current testing conditions, guests now have two options for this required test; for both options, you must travel with an electronic or printed copy of your negative COVID-19 test result:

• You may take a COVID-19 PCR test (with a laboratory-certified proof of negative result) within 72 hours prior to boarding your first outbound flight from your home country OR
• You may take a COVID-19 antigen test (with a laboratory-certified proof of negative result) within 24 hours prior to boarding your first outbound flight from your home country.

Select on-site antigen tests will meet Viking's travel requirement, provided they include a laboratory-certified proof of result. Please check with your test provider that they will be able to satisfy this requirement.

Please Note: Some countries may have more stringent testing requirements for entry and for boarding a cruise ship - and we will inform you of all relevant requirements in advance of your departure. You may also read the Pre-Cruise Requirements found under the Resources tab of your itinerary page on the Viking website and follow all guidelines that Viking provides via email and on MyVikingJourney.com.

• Embarkation COVID-19 Testing Protocol: As part of our regular embarkation process, guests are required to take a PCR test in the privacy and comfort of your stateroom. This non-invasive PCR test is conducted with a simple saliva specimen collected in a plastic tube and processed on board, in the ship's laboratory. For upcoming sailings, all guests will remain in their staterooms for a few hours, until negative test results are confirmed.

Yes, that appears to be what it’s saying, and who knows, by the end of March Portugal itself may no longer be requiring a test. Of course there may be another variant rampaging around by then…but let’s look on the bright side!

Just received this from Seabourn…

   HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES 2022 CANARY ISLAND VOYAGES
 PRIOR TO TRAVEL
Ensure that you understand requirements for traveling from your home country to the destinations you plan to visit (including air travel policies)
Please complete the following prior to boarding:
• Negative COVID-19 test is required for entry and boarding in Portugal. Refer to https://www. visitportugal.com/en/content/covid-19-measures-implemented-portugal which outlines the pre-travel COVID-19 testing required by Portugal.
• Proof of full vaccination, including booster if eligible
• Passenger Locator Forms (PLF): Guests will need to complete both PLF forms and get QR codes for both embarkation and disembarkation
• Entering Portugal via Air (pre-cruise): Turismo de Portugal (https://portugalcleanandsafe.pt/en/ passenger-locator-card)
• Entering Portugal via Sea (disembarkation): Turismo de Portugal (https://portugalcleanandsafe. com/en/passenger-locator-maritime-card)
  CHECK IN ONLINE OR VIA SEABOURN SOURCE APP
• Download Seabourn Source App
• Complete your Online Guest Registration at Seabourn.com as soon as you have booked
• Complete and accept risk acknowledgment, vaccination attestation form and cruise contract • Complete health questionnaire 72-24 hours before embarkation
• Get boarding pass and check-in time
  EMBARKATION
Required ID and Documentation
• Bring your required ID and and show your boarding pass.
Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
The following are acceptable proofs of full vaccination:
• Original COVID-19 vaccination card
• Digital COVID-19 certificate, including NHS COVID Pass (QR code acceptable)
• Record of COVID-19 vaccination from a healthcare provider including original digital email notification, personal electronic health record
• Government Immunization Information System (IIS) record
Guests will be administered a complimentary rapid antigen test at the cruise terminal during thecheck-in process

I’ve been wondering the same thing, having had Omicron over Christmas and (hopefully) getting aboard Viking in March. However, on another thread there’s news that Viking is starting to accept antigen (lateral flow) tests as an alternative to PCR. This is a logical move by Viking and I have fingers crossed that this, or an even more permissive regime will apply by March for cruises starting in Europe.

10 hours ago, millybess said:

(the wives get larger the more I tell the story 😊)

Great typo!

Porcupine 52, you’re a mere strippling - go for it! This from someone who could be described as Claranda 50….

‘Now on a serious note, the “music” they pipe through the ship is horrible. It is just incoherent music on some kind of loop. Why not play real music? You know, with a beginning and an end. ‘
 

This is bad news for us; we detest muzak (this may be a UK term for it). Are all of those lovely sitting areas polluted in this way; is there anywhere inside the ship - apart from one’s suite - where one can sit and read in silence? If not, our March sailing will probably be our first and only Viking cruise…..