doublebzz

7 minutes ago, PRH said:

We got ours the week after we booked for a November cruise.

Interesting!  My cruise is in 10 days and have received nothing so I assume there is not biding on all cruises.

How many days before a cruise does MSC send out bidding upgrade solicitations?

7 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

We just came back yesterday from Europe, we had an MSC cruise from August 28-September 4. They wanted to see the CDC vaccination card at embarkation. They also did a rapid test at the port before we could board. Enjoy your cruise, we had an absolutely fantastic time!

Thanks for your response.  Just got off the phone with MSC Rep and they say the web site takes precedence and even fully vaccinated need the Covid test regardless of what my email stated.  On a related subject, were you required to take MSC tours if you wanted to debark in any of the Italian ports?  My understanding is you can travel independently in Spanish ports but must take the tours in Italy.

The MSC web site currently states this about Covid tests:

"NEGATIVE TEST REQUIRED^*: All guests 2 years and older — regardless of vaccination status — must provide documentation of a negative COVID-19 test at the pier. The test must be taken no more than 3 days before arriving at the terminal for embarkation and the guest is responsible for the test and cost. Fully vaccinated guests must provide either a negative RT-PCR test, negative NAAT or negative antigen test. See below for more details about tests."

On August 31st, I received the following email concerning my Sep 18th cruise:

"

3 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

This thread seems to have veered off topic. This is for Mediterranean cruises.

You are correct but it doesn't hurt to get as much information as you can given MSC's frequent policy changes.  In the course of the last few weeks, with regard to Europe cruises, MSC exempted vaxers from the insurance requirement, then required purchasing insurance only through MSC and, within the last couple of days, now permits 3rd party insurance purchases.

1 hour ago, MiamiHeater said:

 

Can you please share which insurance did you purchase.

 

Cruise Critic rules do not permit naming specific companies; however, if you google "covid travel insurance", I'm sure you will find many options.  I am on a European cruise so insurance is mandatory even for vaxed persons - don't believe that is the case for the Caribbean.

I spoke with an MSC agent this morning and she confirmed 3rd party Covid insurance is acceptable as long as it meets their minimums.  I purchased 3rd party insurance at 1/4 the cost MSC was quoting even though my military retirement medical benefit would completely cover any illness incurred.  But, avoiding the hassles as you put it.

6 minutes ago, KeepSailing said:

  But, I am guessing as I purchased from MSC to avoid the hassles of the documentation.

I am being quoted $426 from MSC for a 7 day cruise.  I can purchase 3rd party insurance for $141 so I think I can accept some degree of hassle.

I am trying to keep up with the insurance requirements for a September Med cruise.  Previously the MSC web site indicated you were required to purchase Covid insurance from MSC.  This morning the web site says:   "TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIRED: All bookings are required to purchase a Travel Protection Plan with coverage for COVID-19.  If purchased from MSC Cruises, this must be purchased prior to making final payment on your booking. You must either purchase insurance through MSC Cruises or present at the pier documentation of sufficient coverage purchased from another provider, or you will be denied boarding."  

Is this a change or am I missing something?

5 hours ago, NightWoman said:

Hi doublebzz,  you don'the need to buy MSC insurance, we purchased our insurance through Staysure

 

I thought that you were required to purchase insurance from MSC.  To be clear, are you saying they will accept any Covid insurance notwithstanding what they are saying in print or did you book your cruise before this was a requirement?

Were you required to purchase the MSC Covid insurance and, if so, was it checked at embarkation? 

51 minutes ago, 8420PR said:

 

 

If you are vaccinated and visiting from the US then I am sure you will still be enjoying your Med cruise in September, October and onwards.

This sure makes me feel better as I'm booked on a Sep 18th cruise out of Barcelona.  Does anyone on this thread disagree with 8420PR's analysis?

3 minutes ago, drsel said:

I am just concerned that Americans who booked cruises in September onwards may not be allowed to board, in which case they will have to reschedule their fully paid Cruises and the MSc travel protection plan may be wasted.

Can the MSc travel protection plan payment also be carried forward ,?

Good question.  This is the reason I'm waiting until I'm within a week of my Sep 18th cruise before purchasing MSC insurance.  By the way, they are quoting me $426 for my 7 day cruise in YC.

15 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

So far, so good. We are in Italy on our way to Croatia now and no indication we can’t get off the ship tomorrow. 

Are you required to take MSC excursions or can you debark independently in Italian ports?

Spoke with an MSC rep yesterday.  If you are on a European cruise, you must buy the MSC insurance direct from them even if you have your own insurance.  If you are in Yacht Club, the price quoted was $426 for 2 for a 1 week cruise.

3 hours ago, korpo024 said:

Nobody will ask for it...not on the cruise and not on land. It's all a big administration joke.

We've been to Italy e few times this summer and are currently on Grandiosa... nobody cares.

 

Could you answer a couple of more questions as we are sailing on Grandiosa in two weeks.  (1) Is MSC requiring you purchase insurance direct from them or can you use your own insurance and; (2) does MSC prohibit you from leaving the ship in port visits unless you are on one of their tours?

13 minutes ago, Ronaldo807 said:

So when I login and click on Voyagers Club, it asks if I want to become a member. I have not gone through those prompts because I didn't want to potentially screw up the status match. Are you saying that once assigned, I will see my number there instead of it asking me to join? Or do I need to join and then my number will show up there once matched?

I'm not an expert on this so maybe someone else on this thread can answer your question.  My experience was to become a member first and then ask for the status match.  I also already had a cruise booked.  Once I joined, I saw my number in Voyages Club and then was given a different number with the status match upgrade.  All of this was done without any communications from MSC or my TA.

I submitted a number of status match requests but heard nothing from MSC.  Today, I went to the MSC web site and under Voyages Club and  I noticed they did match my status from HAL.  So those of you that are waiting weeks might want to check the web site periodically.

8 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

 

  Not all of the MSC excursions have this Green Pass requirement, BTW. We'll find out when we go, and report back.

Thanks, this will be very helpful.  I am planning to pre-order 3 Italian excursions on my cruise departing September 18th; one would think MSC would indicate if a Green Pass is required.  On a related subject, we are flying to Barcelona with a change of planes at Heathrow.  From what I'm reading from the GOVUK Covid web site, transiting passengers are not required to take any Covid tests if you don't leave the airport.  Can anyone confirm this?

4 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

Thanks, I assume you meant 72 hours and not 712 (I wish!). 😉 We're planning to get tested Wednesday just as a precaution, but the rules seem to keep changing. I had thought the same as you, but the email MSC sent today doesn't mention vaccinated people being required to get tested at all, let alone at the port. What they *did* mention is that some excursions in Italy require participants to have the Italian Green Pass (and presumably not its equivalent from another country), but that people can opt to get a free Covid test onboard and be issued a Green Pass or choose to book a different excursion. For our cruise in the Mediterranean, we were told we had to purchase insurance through MSC, which we did. It seems they've lowered that requirement for US sailings to 'recommended,' but so far not for Europe. We'll just be happy if we get onboard! 😂

Yes, 72 hours.  I did a dummy application for the Italian Green Pass.  It asks for embarkation and debarkation ports among other things.  However, the only debarkation ports you can enter are Italian ports so it doesn't appear possible to get one unless you are departing from Italy.  I guess you could enter the intermediate stops at Italian ports and get multiple Green passes that way.  I also read somewhere, contrary to your understanding, that a health pass from any EU country is acceptable through the EU excepting UK and Ireland, I believe.  It is beyond confusing so your experience will be invaluable.

2 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

They ARE allowing US citizens, at least they'd better be since I just got a final email from MSC this morning and we're sailing from Trieste on Saturday! 😉 BTW MSC now says we can board with EITHER proof of a negative Covid test dated within 48 hours, OR proof of vaccination. They do also accept proof of recovery within the past 6 months. (and they welcome non-Schengen guests from Cyprus, Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, FYI...)

I read on one of these posts that all guests, whether vaccinated or not, are required to have a negative Covid test within 712 hours of embarkation.  Please advise us of your boarding experience on Saturday in this regard also what insurance requirements they are accepting.  Thanks in advance.

4 hours ago, KeepSailing said:

 

 

Here is the Spain national PLF link if you do not have it already - sorry if I confused.

 

https://spthm.puertos.es/

It appears that I will have to fill out the form 48 hours before flying to Barcelona.  Then, possibly, again on the ship 48 hours prior to debarking in Barcelona although this part of it is unclear.

Well, there is no way to enter a final destination port on the form unless its an Italian port.  I tried unsuccessfully on a Barcelona top Barcelona cruise.  So I have to conclude this form is only for folks entering and staying in Italy.  Where am I wrong?

I didn't get a communications either.  If it wasn't for these boards, I would have shown up without the required test.

It looks like I can get away with a negative antigen test from what has been posted.  The antigen test is considerably less costly than the PCR test in Spain.