Tuscany4

We very much like Seabourn but have decided not to book another cruise until the whole mask/ quarantine/ testing fiasco is finished. We’ve just booked all our vacations for 2023 as land trips. I do hope at some point by 2024 governments and the cruise industry just accept covid as we do the flu and have no special restrictions in place. The U.K. now hardly ever mentions covid and all things here are back to normal. This is where we need to be.

Until the testing stops we have decided not to take another Seabourn cruise, or any other that requires testing. The threat of isolation and a ruined vacation is still too great. With everyone now triple or quadruple vaccinated, it’s inevitable that it will stop soon but the CDC seems to work at a snails pace.

Anyone know if they are enforcing mask wearing when in Italian ports as per their website info. We were on an Azamara 2 months back and we departed Ravenna and their was no mask requirements either outbound or on the return. This must must be Oceania’s interpretation of the rules or their own company policy, or other lines are just not complying. Not sure which at the moment. The Italian rules I’ve seen state masks on public transport including ferries, but does not specifically say cruise ships which I guess are not really public transport.

Currently on the Onward. White night was a huge success. Sailing out of Kotor. Eric and his team did a fantastic job and yes it is still called White night in Europe!! The dance floor was full, and it seems almost everything is back to normal. Food on the trip, I have to say has been good but not outstanding. All restaurants open including the patio grill . No problem with reservations in the specialities. Great Chateubriand in Prime c though.Lobster ravioli good in Aqualina. .Atlas bar was nice but seating a little uncomfortable and hard. Plenty of Nichalaus Fullutte champagne . Excuse the spelling. Pinot noir on ultimate package good. Down to about only 10% mask wearing on ship if that. No reports of any Covid and talking to some btb cruisers only one couple came down with it on the previous cruise who likely had it when they boarded despite some exaggerations about numbers online. I’m off for a swim. IMG_4131.MOV

Just to he clear they are not interested in any Covid recovery letter which is contrary to the email that Azamara sent us. They insist on a negative test. Azamara did it for us at the terminal check in. I have asked them to credit the cost of the recovery letter against the cost of the test which should leave about 11$ to pay. The nurse stated that if you test positive even if you had 2 weeks ago or 2 months ago you will not be allowed to board. Tbh the chances of testing positive fir an antigen test are quite slim for previous 90 day people. Not quite so for a pcr which is very sensitive.Good luck to all.

So having boarded the Onward on Friday I can now say with experience that Azamaras E mail health protocols was absolute rubbish. You do not need to show your positive test within 90 days. You do not need a recovery certificate. You DO still have to provide a negative test result along with everyone else. We did ours on the dockside with Azamara. Even the nurse administering it said when she had it she was showing positive for nearly 60 days on a pcr. We wasted £45 in recovery certificates we did not need. An antigen test the day before is definitely the way to go.

According to the FB group the Atlas bar has been packed this week. I guess that would be called a win, but could be partly novelty factor. We will find out when we board tomorrow in Ravenna. Oh and apparently Covid has been rife this week with many isolating in cabins on deck 4 set aside for that purpose. Oh happy days.!!!!!

Can someone whose recently boarded and was in this position shed some light on testing. The latest email with the new health protocols states, The certificate with the positive result and date, along with the covid recovery letter stating you were fit to end isolation and travel should be provided to the third party testing provider. Does this mean you don’t need a test as there is a chance you will show a false positive? Or if you still need a negative test, what is the point of showing them the above information. Most of the online information is all out of date. I’ve become very disappointed in Azamaras pre cruise experience. I hope the onboard reality is way better as it could not be much worse.

Firstly nearly all of Azamaras online content is out of date. Secondly, most of the office staff have no clue about the current protocols. The only up to date info was the email sent with the current health protocols on. With regard to the Positive test within90 days it specifically mentions the positive result and the recovery letter must be provided to the third party testing provider. If you still need the negative test what is the point in providing the recovery letter they have asked for. It makes no sense. Im going to move this question to its own thread in the hope that someone whose boarded recently can shed some light on it.

The U.K. Gov website now says passenger locator forms no longer required for Italy from 01 May. Been on Italy Gov sites and all still out of date and not been updated. I know some of the mask requirements have been extended till mid June for transport but now exempt in shops and restaurants, hotels etc. The covid admin nightmare continues. Anyone have any up to date info.?