xxHadleyxx

23 minutes ago, pdawson30 said:

 

I still cant get anywhere with RC.

 

Why cant they tell me the exact tests I need to take and when I need to take them traveling from the US as a fully vaccinated person?

 

I don't know what to do? I tried RC twitter and came up blank. They just posted from the website which is full of errors/ confusion as I already posted. I asked follow up questions but Im waiting to see if they can help.

 

Does anyone have the emails for Michael Bayley and Richard Fain.

I'm 100% sure I'm going to need them.

 

I don't think it's reasonable to expect the cruise line to know what you are required to have to enter the country you're sailing from.  Every country has different rules, and those vary depending on where you're coming in from.  I feel like that's on the traveller.

I agree, the tests RCI requires of passengers (not what you need to enter the UK, but just for the ship), needs to be clear and it's rather confusing the way you register for that antigen test at the port (the process I explained above), but it's doable.  90 non UK guests on the current sailing all figured it out and fir oye sailing they actually didn't have it correct online at first and literally took until 4 days before sailing to change things to being an antigen test at port and figure out the qr code was the registration. 

9 minutes ago, pdawson30 said:

Are you 100% sure the 2nd day test is PCR. I could have sworn RC posted that the Antigen test you take on the dock can be used for the 2nd day test?

Things change constantly...don't use me as your only source of information.   

That said, I'm 100 percent positive that last week when we flew on 4 September the UK required a day two test that is a pcr test.  I paid 69 pound per person for a day two test fir a traveller from a green list country via express test at LHR.  

I also just put Southampton into the healthy sail center drop down menu on RCI 's website and it does NOT say the the at the terminal antigen test can be used as your day two test.   Four weeks ago, when it said we'd get PCR tests at the terminal it did say that could be used as the day two test.  That wording was removed within 24 hours of my first call about the wrong links...so that'd be 24 days ago now.

I'm sorry you don't like the answers I'm giving you.   I suggest you look on the UK government website yourself then.  I'm done here...back to enjoying my cruise.

12 minutes ago, jael001 said:

Hello all. I'm on the 26th September sailing (going solo) and just been catching up on here. I saw that Joff Eaton is the CD which is great. He was the CD on Independence of the Seas on 2 cruises I was on about 10 years ago and he was fab.

 

Ok a question about Belfast please: I'm meeting some friends who live in/near Belfast and thinking of getting an Uber as I don't know yet where we'll be meeting and I've never been before. Has anyone else taken an Uber in Belfast from the ship and if so, is it easy enough? Where do you wait?

We took an Uber into town today.  It was very easy.  There's a spot labeled for "pre ordered taxis" where you wait for Uber pick up...it's right after you walk through the little terminal building.   Can't miss it.

We paid 6.50 to the city center (plus tip of course)

41 minutes ago, PJL1973 said:

All these testing requirements for going abroad is the main reason why I will stick to UK staycation cruises for the time being. Still a hassle but not onerously so.  One test per cruise is enough for me.

Yeah, the UK government system is a bit much.  I'm all for being careful and safe but this doesn't seem logical from a safety standpoint...you can land and have two days to go around anywhere (and in Southampton we were pretty much the only people in masks), take the two day test and wait another 24-48 hours for results. If you were positive, you'd have been spreading Covid for four days by the time you knew anyway!

47 minutes ago, pdawson30 said:

Ok, thank you all for the great replies.

Maybe you should work for RC and train their employees who are clueless.

So what if We take a PCR on Friday in the US as we found a place in St Louis that will give us the results within 4 hours.

Does this qualify for the landing test as it's with 24 hours of landing?

No. The UK government requires a prebooked, prepaid, test taken in the UK after you land.  You will not be able to complete your passenger locator form without thus and we had several people on our flight denied boarding because they did not have this.   The UK government website does have all of this info.. admittedly it's insanely complex.

13 minutes ago, pdawson30 said:

Hi, can you tell what company you used at Heathrow to get the day two PCR test?

The ones I looked at took 24 hours or more?

I used express test.  You do not need the results in order to board the ship.  We got our results, by email, around 7 pm the day we boarded.  That test us solely for the UK government requirements, not RCI.

12 minutes ago, pdawson30 said:

Ok, thanks for the detailed reply. we still need the emails for the two UK guests. 

 

Still unsure about the series of tests we need to get on board.

We leave the US next Friday (17th) arrive on the 18th after flying overnight.

Board the ship on Sunday (19th)

Says we can fly into the UK with an Antigen test but we are unsure if we have to then take a PCR test and then another antigen at the dock? So do we need 3 test in 3 days?

 

Yes. You need three tests.  We ended up with antigen tests at home Friday, the pcr test when we landed Saturday and the antigen test at port Sunday.   The preflight test and antigen test are solely to satisfy the UK government requirements.  Then the antigen test at the port is for RCI.

3 minutes ago, kernow said:

You don't, all they need to board is a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours. They can book those independently.

This is true.  The UK adults don't have to use Eurofins or generate the QR code.  They can just book their own PCR tests.  I believe they can even get an OBC of up to 100 USD each to reimburse the cost of their tests if not via Eurofins

1 hour ago, pdawson30 said:

We are sailing on the 19th and we are in real trouble.

We have 2 British guests and 2 US guests.

 

We can't get RC to send the emails to get the PCR test for the UK guests.

 

We still don't know the exact tests the US guests are supposed to take or when.

The RC website has multiple answers and the reps we spoke to all gave different answers.

Some even told us that what is written on the website is incorrect.

Of course we can't get hold of anyone who knows.

FWIW everyone in the group is fully vaccinated so this isn't the problem.

 

The US side can't send the UK emails and when you call the UK side they say they can't see any bookings made in US dollars. What a total disaster. And yes we are Diamond, not some rookies.

Any suggestions, I just don't know what to do? I spent a total of 7 hours on the phone to get nowhere.

 

 

I'm an American citizen, German resident onboard now.  I spent hours on the phone with RCI sorting this out as this is the first sailing non UK are allowed on and RCI was confused 🤣

If nothing has changed:

Everyone should get an email with a link to the Eurofins portal.  That link will have your reference ID number built in.  This is one per person.  If you don't have those emails yet, call and ask for the reference ID number.

Everyone needs to register at that link by entering name, address, etc.  

This will generate an email from Trust One with a QR code.  Americans and Brits under 18 need this code at the port.  That code IS your registration for at the port testing.  You don't actually set up a time, etc.  Have a screenshot or printout of this code available when you first arrive at the cruise terminal.  I also suggest downloading the Trust One App because your test results will come in there faster than email.

UK residents (of all ages) can continue after the qr code part to booking a test and book their required pre cruise  PCR tests via Eurofins at no charge.  Non UK can just ignore that part.

US, assuming you're flying in, you also need a test within three days before flying and before flying must have prebooked and paid for the "day 2 test" in the UK.  This is for the UK government and you need the number from booking that test to fill in your passenger locator form 48 hours before you fly.  We used express test at Heathrow for the day 2 test and were through the whole process in less than 5 minutes.

Well, we're currently on Anthem...not post cruise yet.

Yes, it was a ton of stress dealing with the protocols before boarding and for flying into the UK (especially because this is the first UK sailing with international guests and RCI had issues with their protocols...telling us we'd been sent links we hadn't been, etc)...I think that'll be easier for international guests now that the kinks have been worked out.

We're loving being back on board.  Feels very safe.  The less crowded ship is lovely.  Masks don't bother me.  We live in Germany where they're required in all indoor public spaces so this is my norm. I don't find it difficult to put it on and off often. 

4 hours ago, kernow said:

Sounds great, do you know if they still hold the silent disco, always one of my favourites?

 

Have a lovely time.

Haven't heard anything about silent disco yet.   I live it too .. hopefully they'll have it.  I'll post about it if yes.

2 hours ago, ententecordiale said:

One of the 'foreigners' is me but UK resident. That confused them. They wanted proof of residency which we don't have but in the end, my NHS vaccination card satisfied their requirements. 

 

33 kids, it's wonderful! I agree, passengers are lovely, friendly and polite. It feels very safe as not crowded but not deserted either. About to start progressive trivia and the turn out is very good. 

 

I love this ship so much!

Yes ...we were saying the same at lunch, enough people to not feel awkward, but not enough to be crowded..a perfect sweet spot.  We were at progressive too....so nice to have everyone chill and having fun and not super competitive as usually happens.

1 hour ago, Twolittleboys said:

 

Hadley, so happy everything went smoothly after all that stress!

 

So did I understand this right:

All you had to do in the end was
- Get a test before the flight and the second day test required by the UK (both completely independent from the cruise)

- Let Royal administer an Antigen test at the port?

 

Is that right or was there more? Did you have to sign up for the Antigen test ahead of time?

 

Thanks.  We sort of had to register. We had to sign up/register with a link...that generated an email from trust one app with a qr code and a link telling us to sign up for a test (following that link just gets you told to sign up as a Brit and the whole saga).  We didn't need to register for a specific time, etc but DID need that qr code.  It's kind of a confusing set up.  But yes, other than that, you're correct about the system they eventually landed on for us international guests.

17 minutes ago, LuCruise said:

It's great hearing updates in this thread.  One question on something I haven't seen mentioned.  Is there entertainment in the Schooner bar in the evenings (i.e. piano player)?  And if so, how is the person?  We love hanging out there, especially when the person has a sense of humor and has fun.  (But not sure if it's too busy with covid protocols)

I didn't notice last night.  I'll look and get back to you 

Onboard now.

90 of us are from outside the UK.  Even with having to do the antigen test at the terminal we were on the ship within 30 minutes of arrival.  Everything went super smoothly.

Only 33 kids on this sailing...10 under age 3.

Dancing is allowed... they're putting spotlights on the dance floor and each couple had to dance in their own little light bubble 😂

Crew is amazing. Ship is beautiful.   Passengers are nice.  Food is delicious.  Life is good 

International passengers (like myself and my husband) will be onboard as of tomorrow 😊

Just make sure you have all your paperwork in order for the flight over.  Three groups on our flight today did not, were denied boarding at the gate, and the rest of us waited while their luggage was removed.

Brilliance of the Seas to Spain and Portugal in September 2019.

We board Anthem on Sunday....and are thrilled to be able to be back on the seas.  We had 8 cancellations in the meantime

4 hours ago, FionaMG said:

Yes, it's really important to take that sort of approach because if you read the excursion descriptions carefully many of them seem to have more time spent on the bus than at the actual sites. For example, there's a 5-hour trip to Sorrento at what looks like a reasonable price but when you read the description 3 hours of that time is spent getting to Sorrento and back!

absolutely!!!  Especially on Med cruises a lot of options are more bus than anything.  No thank you!  A nice day on the ship is a much better option than a day on a bus.

6 hours ago, Sianli said:

We also had hoped to be able to visit Cinque Terre on our own via train. To book the RCCL tour will cost $195-$295 per person, and cannot go to all of the villages. With the new notice I am not sure how we get the additional covid test 48 hours before the port. I guess they will have them on board but for how much? We have been to Italy off season on road trip and love it. But we could switch to Anthem the same time and have more freedom and visit some areas we haven't been to. 

Totally understandable.  We took this as the time to pay the $$ to book a tour which goes in by boat only (no bus nor train) so we can have those lovely views from the water and get the photos from that angle...as  arranging that on our own would cost us less than a ship tour, but still be pricey and kind of a pain to arrange.

4 hours ago, ukrccl_a said:

 

It isn't allowed for UK bookings unfortunately unlike when booked in other countries

It isn't allowed for German bookings either.  I think only US/Canadian bookings get that lovely perk.

3 hours ago, 330_cruiser said:

Good idea.. just think it's such a shame to cancel when there are potential solutions

I do not think that will be an option except in Majorca......don't you have to stay in an excursions only bubble at the Italian ports

18 minutes ago, LanceRomance said:

 

Yup I get it, not exactly what was envisioned. But I’ll be dammned if I am not going to make it the best damn group tour experience I can. I am going to meet some lovely people on these tours, who are experincing what I am also experincing. We will laugh at the situation we are in, and how it wasn’t what we thought it would be, but hey look at us… we are here in Italy, and not behind a computer working. Then we are going to meet up with these people who were strangers, for dinner later tonight. We made a not so promising situation into a positive J

 

I chose to change the narrative of my year, and get out there and live the hand that is dealt to me, and not wait for tomorrow, when nobody trully knows what tomorrow will bring. I am happy to be the person who embraces the “madness” and accepts it’s beauty, rather than the person who waits for “normal” to return. No right or wrong approach just how we as individuals choose to accept the reality. I am just trying to give the glass half full argument, when looking at the glass half full is the easier thing to do for most

I am very much right there with you.  Perfect attitude.

One of the best vacations of my life so far was the driving trip around Norway we took last summer when very few places were options.....it wasn't the cruises we had planned, or our oldest's wedding...all cancelled due to covid last year, but we made it into a wonderful time, no people, gorgeous scenery, etc.

Like you, I figure it will be amazing to see Cinque Terra and Capri with very few tourists, even if we have to stay in a group.  And we will get to enjoy a ship with a lot fewer passengers and meet other peopel to create fun stories with.  I fully understand choosing to wait, but for us, we will go in with an aittude to look for the good and enjoy.

48 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

We are and we are truly grateful for it. We were not even planning on booking anything, I was just browsing (as you do ) back in February of last year, just as Covid was starting and inadvertently caught a fantastic promotion on Allure that gave us over $800 off in "old fogeys" discounts. I still can't believe it. L&S'ed to Harmony and here we are... 24 days out and counting down with fingers, legs and eyes crossed!

We also booked our October Med sailing on Harmony as a lift and shift a long while back and for "stupid cheap"  Like you, we are just a short easy and inexpensive flight from Barcelona and are happy just to enjoy the ship...as many US based cruisers do in the Caribbean/Mexico/Bahamas

Those of you who had people in your travel party who had to get the antigen test at port, was the "resigtration" for that just the QR code that came from the trustone email address (and has a link to go into eurofins and book your pcr test)?   You didn't have to scheduel a certian time or anything?

(the rockstar agent who just spent nearly two hours on the phone with me thinks that is it, and it seems like it might well be, and PHEW if it is, but I would like

 to hear from someone familiar with the UK cruises to confirm.  Thanks.

Those of you who travelled with unvaccinated kids, did you actually get the email to register for teh antigen test on boarding day?  What company conducted those? 

1 hour ago, xxHadleyxx said:

Hello...we are (hopefully) sailing on Anthem this sunday 5 September.  Can those of you in the UK who have done Anthem saillings confirm for me that the PCR  test no more than 3 days prior to sailing, embarkation day does not count as a day?  Meaning, people sailing Sunday can test tomorrow (Thursday)?

 

If you care to know more, read on, but probably better to skip along than be bored....nonethelss if you can answer the question I would be grateful.  Thanks CC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the curios: I ask because we are coming form overseas (Germany) and still have not gotten a link to register for the rapid PCR at the port that the Health Sail Center says we should have (long story, I have been on the phone and emails, etc for 2 weeks now trying to sort it out, everyone is really nice but no one can actually get us the link or give as an alternate solution).  We were told Thursday last week Eurofins providing the at cruise terminal PCR and would have an email out to us soon, probably last week Friday. Still nothing, so today I called Eurofins helpline for RCI and Celebriy bookings and asked directly and was told that Eurofins does not offer any at the cruise terminal testing nor any same day PCR tets ever, anywhere and certianly not for RCI.  For RCI and Celebrity they ONLY do the 2-3 days prior PCR tests for UK residents.  Sigh.

 

So, lacking some miraculous bit of helpful information from RCI today, my husband and I are thinking we will get PCR tests done here at home tomorrow if that is within the time frame the Brits can get their PCR tets in (results promised by Friday night, and this being Germany I trust they'll come through) and take those results with us as a back up which will hopefully allow us to board even if RCI never figures out their end of what they said they provide overseas guests.  I figure if we have the same test type in the same window UK guests have to get them AND tried to do whatever RCI wanted (email chain, call logs, screen shots, etc to prove that), RCI would be hard pressed to deny us boarding.  At least that is my hope.  I really, really want to enjoy this cruise PLUS even if they refund cruise fare, we have costs associated with airfare and day 2 tests and airport tranfers and a hotel the night before and and and not to mention a waste of vacation days if we don't get to do anything with them becuase RCI drops the ball.

Just updating in case anyone from overseas sees this ...I just got an email that we will not need to register with Eurofins and will have an antigen test at port just like the kids do.   Phew.  My stress level just dropped considerably.   

Being the first sailing with overseas guests it took Royal a bit to work the bugs out, but they pulled through.  Phew.

8 minutes ago, BigRoger said:

Hi we sailed on a Sunday and had an embarkation of 12pm…. We had our test at 1pm on the Thursday and it was deemed totally acceptable.

thank you

Hello...we are (hopefully) sailing on Anthem this sunday 5 September.  Can those of you in the UK who have done Anthem saillings confirm for me that the PCR  test no more than 3 days prior to sailing, embarkation day does not count as a day?  Meaning, people sailing Sunday can test tomorrow (Thursday)?

If you care to know more, read on, but probably better to skip along than be bored....nonethelss if you can answer the question I would be grateful.  Thanks CC.

For the curios: I ask because we are coming form overseas (Germany) and still have not gotten a link to register for the rapid PCR at the port that the Health Sail Center says we should have (long story, I have been on the phone and emails, etc for 2 weeks now trying to sort it out, everyone is really nice but no one can actually get us the link or give as an alternate solution).  We were told Thursday last week Eurofins providing the at cruise terminal PCR and would have an email out to us soon, probably last week Friday. Still nothing, so today I called Eurofins helpline for RCI and Celebriy bookings and asked directly and was told that Eurofins does not offer any at the cruise terminal testing nor any same day PCR tets ever, anywhere and certianly not for RCI.  For RCI and Celebrity they ONLY do the 2-3 days prior PCR tests for UK residents.  Sigh.

So, lacking some miraculous bit of helpful information from RCI today, my husband and I are thinking we will get PCR tests done here at home tomorrow if that is within the time frame the Brits can get their PCR tets in (results promised by Friday night, and this being Germany I trust they'll come through) and take those results with us as a back up which will hopefully allow us to board even if RCI never figures out their end of what they said they provide overseas guests.  I figure if we have the same test type in the same window UK guests have to get them AND tried to do whatever RCI wanted (email chain, call logs, screen shots, etc to prove that), RCI would be hard pressed to deny us boarding.  At least that is my hope.  I really, really want to enjoy this cruise PLUS even if they refund cruise fare, we have costs associated with airfare and day 2 tests and airport tranfers and a hotel the night before and and and not to mention a waste of vacation days if we don't get to do anything with them becuase RCI drops the ball.

1 hour ago, Cruise a holic said:

While fully vaccinated and will have third immunization soon, I would be cautious before I go on any shore X- I will watch the covid stats for the country and area, before I consider any shore X or getting off the ship at any port.

 

If high covid stats and low vaccination rates- I will not chance it.  We will enjoy the ambiance of the ship.

Italy has a higher vaccination rate than the USA. and lower infection rates.  Still smart to chek, no doubt, I do and will, but odds are you will be safer in EU ports than at home based on masking/vaccination trends in both places at this point.