John H announced masks and Mandatory testing,

[Trinam2]

Just now, helene109 said:

Only 2 days before so going with CVS making the appointment for rapid test now

How far in advance?

[IntrepidFromDC]

5 minutes ago, deb1eric said:

So if you're vaccinated do you have antibodies for the antigen test?

I think you have antibodies from the vaccine but not the live proteins the antigen test looks for.

[TNcruising02]

6 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

I just bought this mask - will this work?

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0836V8L27?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image

 

🌞

Ha!  I remember reading an article about someone trying to wear some type of mask like that on an airplane and they said no.

[Ilovesailaway]

54 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

 

I'm just sad for those people who test within 72 hours that get a false positive... 

 

 

 

Tom

My concern exactly. 

[IntrepidFromDC]

27 minutes ago, WhaleTailFlCruiser said:

I am still going on my B2B on Mardi Grass its been almost two years I will suffer through the Mask and Testing if it gets me back onboard. 

While I'm in the casino for 3 - 5 hours most days, I'll tell the server to keep 'em coming and bring two at a time in case there's a lull in service.  Can't wear mask right now, I have pocket Aces - er, I mean I have a drink.

[ScottsSweetie]

1 minute ago, TNcruising02 said:

Ha!  I remember reading an article about someone trying to wear some type of mask like that on an airplane and they said no.

Well, you just gotta laugh at the situation at this point. But we did just for real buy these - it was DH who asked if we could just wear our new "masks". 🤣

[B&J1]

Okay, so I just got off the phone with my TA who spoke to Carnival.  I was scheduled on August 21st on the Horizon, but I am not willing to wear a mask and cruise. Carnival will not give me a FCC, however they will give me a gift certificate for the full amount or I may apply the full amount to a future cruise. No FCC makes no sense to me but I'm happy with a gift certificate. 😊👍

[Lee Cruiser]

8 minutes ago, DB2VA said:

This is huge problem , since many people do fly in the day before. If your cruise is a Monday, you would test Saturday and fly tp port on Sunday. You will not get the results. 

Just talked with my clinic.  The antigen test is actually the rapid test.  She said it would take 10-15 minutes to get the results.  The PCR test is the one that takes 48 hours or so.  Carnival says that vaccinated guests may use either the antigen or PCR>

[picantel]

14 minutes ago, BrianMD said:

I just got off the phone with Carnival and they canceled & refunded my 8/24 Alaska cruise w/o penalty. It was a casino (Jackpot) offer so they had to transfer me to that dept. to complete. She didn't bat an eye at my cancellation request, she just asked if I was interested in a later cruise and I told her that I just wanted to start fresh after all of the dust settles. It would have been nice to cruise w/o restrictions but there are too many other vacation options available than to deal with these uncertain times. I still haven't received the email announcing the new protocols. 

How long were you on hold. I am sitting on 1.5 hours now.

[helene109]

7 minutes ago, Trinam2 said:

How far in advance?

I just made my appointment for next week! Good luck!

[Lee Cruiser]

24 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

I am very thankful they are still cruising and hope that a lot of people still go on the cruises.  

I finished rebooking my Mardi Gras cruise.   I changed it to April 2022 and I like the itinerary better.  I lost my Free Cheers promo because you have to choose a current promo for rebooking.  I couldn't get a cabin on the lido deck, but got deck 15.  I was able to keep my $600 rebooking OBC.  However, they could not transfer my $100 OBC for stock and I will need to resubmit a request.  I have an additional OBC of $51.80 on the new cruise, so that's $651.80.  I feel a lot better!

Good luck to the people keeping their cruises, the people requesting refunds, and the ones rebooking.  Everyone should do what they feel comfortable of doing and not feel ridiculed because of their personal choice.

We will keep our airline tickets to MCO and enjoy a maskless Florida vacation!

That's great.  When is your April cruise?  We are booked on the Mardi Gras April 23.

[DB2VA]

2 hours ago, ColeThornton said:

https://www.carnival.com/legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols

 

MASKS & PHYSICAL DISTANCING (Effective with sailings departing August 7, 2021)

We strongly encourage all guests to wear face masks when indoors, particularly guests who are unvaccinated, including children under the age of 12 who should wear masks in public areas, except when eating or drinking. All guests age 2 and older will be required to wear face masks in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino, except when eating or drinking. Guests will be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the Lido Buffet area and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate (signs will be posted). Additionally, masks are required at any indoor activity with children under 12 years, (i.e., Build-A-Bear®, Family Harbor, Sky Zone®)

Not that is confusing..it says at the beginning guests are encouraged, but then says REQUIRED   at least 3 times.

[DB2VA]

2 hours ago, kdr69 said:

Maybe yours wasnt updated yet.

 

We strongly encourage all guests to wear face masks when indoors, particularly guests who are unvaccinated, including children under the age of 12 who should wear masks in public areas, except when eating or drinking. All guests age 2 and older will be required to wear face masks in elevators and in designated indoor entertainment areas, all retail shops, and in the casino, except when eating or drinking. Guests will be required to wear face masks prior to being seated in our main dining rooms and in the Lido Buffet area and occasionally in other designated areas where larger number of guests may congregate (signs will be posted). Additionally, masks are required at any indoor activity with children under 12 years, (i.e., Build-A-Bear®, Family Harbor, Sky Zone®).

First sentence says, strongly encouraged....

[GTO-Girl]

1 hour ago, Albums in the Attic said:

I can promise you... your health insurance is NOT required to cover testing for travel.  I know this with 100% certainly.  That is why I mentioned the need to lie.  And I'm not even saying you need to lie.  But to be covered by insurance, it needs to be a symptomatic test, exposed test, etc.  Travel testing is most certainly not covered.  Now... do you tell a CVS the purpose of the test?  Does CVS even ask?  I'm sure most could slip through the cracks.  But as someone pointed out... the ethics are very murky.

we have friends who have sailed twice now and both times they got their tests at CVS….…and both times they stated the tests were for travel purposes…..and both tests cost them zero.  
 

Maybe it depends on what type of insurance you have…🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[SidneyHuff1950]

LET'S GO OUT TO EAT ON A CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP

1. Arrive at restaurant with your three month old single-use surgical mask, still slightly sticky from this morning's 84oz diet Pepsi

2. Strap up with three month old single-use surgical mask.

*MAGICAL ANTI-GERM BARRIER ENGAGED!!!*

3. Proceed into restaurant, opening door with same handle grabbed by 200 people so far today.

4. Hostess has immediate seating for your woke party of three. Walk past entire restaurant of unmasked people. It's ok, they're sitting.

5. Sit down.

*SEATED ANTI-GERM FORCEFIELD ENGAGED!!!*

6. Safely within your anti-germ forcefield, remove mask. Browse menu while making relaxed inhales of the same recirculated AC air previously inside the lungs of the 200 people that also grabbed the door handle.

7. Waitress drops off drinks bare handed.

8. Grab drink with your bare hand. Sip leisurely, secure in knowing you're within your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness.

9. Too many drinks. Need to pee. Put on your magical anti-germ barrier mask as you leave your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness.

10. Walk past 40 unmasked restaurant patrons. Open bathroom with same door knob grabbed by 100 other people so far today.

11. Return to table past same 40 unmasked restaurant patrons.

12. Remove mask. Once again safe in your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness. Waitress takes your sweaty drink glass with her bare hand, refills, hands back to you. You accept with your bare hand. Grab some bread and eat it. Same hand. Yum Yum.

13. Meal complete. Mask on. Walk past 40 unmasked patrons. Make full body contact with at least 4 people waiting at the hostess stand as you squeeze your way back to the door - no matter, they're all also wearing their magical anti-germ barriers.

14. Grab exit handle, which you are now the 220th person of the day to touch. Eating out successful.

15. Breathe a sigh of relief knowing that even after leaving the protection of your home and venturing out into the scary world of the public, you are essentially sterile thanks to your state approved methods of magical germ mitigation.

[kdr69]

6 minutes ago, B&J1 said:

Okay, so I just got off the phone with my TA who spoke to Carnival.  I was scheduled on August 21st on the Horizon, but I am not willing to wear a mask and cruise. Carnival will not give me a FCC, however they will give me a gift certificate for the full amount or I may apply the full amount to a future cruise. No FCC makes no sense to me but I'm happy with a gift certificate. 😊👍

They just literally gave you an FCC in paper form.

[kdr69]

3 minutes ago, DB2VA said:

First sentence says, strongly encouraged....

yes suggested all the time while indoors but required in certain places 2nd sentence

[DB2VA]

16 minutes ago, kdr69 said:

Why not test Friday then its still within the 3 day period?

Yes, thanks, I didn't calculate the 3 days correctly. 

[TNcruising02]

5 minutes ago, Lee Cruiser said:

That's great.  When is your April cruise?  We are booked on the Mardi Gras April 23.

I booked for April 9th.  Happy sailing!  I am still excited about sailing on this ship and hope that things will be much better next year.

[Cruise Related]

2 minutes ago, SidneyHuff1950 said:

LET'S GO OUT TO EAT ON A CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP

1. Arrive at restaurant with your three month old single-use surgical mask, still slightly sticky from this morning's 84oz diet Pepsi

2. Strap up with three month old single-use surgical mask.

*MAGICAL ANTI-GERM BARRIER ENGAGED!!!*

3. Proceed into restaurant, opening door with same handle grabbed by 200 people so far today.

4. Hostess has immediate seating for your woke party of three. Walk past entire restaurant of unmasked people. It's ok, they're sitting.

5. Sit down.

*SEATED ANTI-GERM FORCEFIELD ENGAGED!!!*

6. Safely within your anti-germ forcefield, remove mask. Browse menu while making relaxed inhales of the same recirculated AC air previously inside the lungs of the 200 people that also grabbed the door handle.

7. Waitress drops off drinks bare handed.

8. Grab drink with your bare hand. Sip leisurely, secure in knowing you're within your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness.

9. Too many drinks. Need to pee. Put on your magical anti-germ barrier mask as you leave your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness.

10. Walk past 40 unmasked restaurant patrons. Open bathroom with same door knob grabbed by 100 other people so far today.

11. Return to table past same 40 unmasked restaurant patrons.

12. Remove mask. Once again safe in your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness. Waitress takes your sweaty drink glass with her bare hand, refills, hands back to you. You accept with your bare hand. Grab some bread and eat it. Same hand. Yum Yum.

13. Meal complete. Mask on. Walk past 40 unmasked patrons. Make full body contact with at least 4 people waiting at the hostess stand as you squeeze your way back to the door - no matter, they're all also wearing their magical anti-germ barriers.

14. Grab exit handle, which you are now the 220th person of the day to touch. Eating out successful.

15. Breathe a sigh of relief knowing that even after leaving the protection of your home and venturing out into the scary world of the public, you are essentially sterile thanks to your state approved methods of magical germ mitigation.

I laughed really hard at the anti-germ force field of seatedness. Hilarious! 

[sanger727]

2 hours ago, MT_Sea_Cruisers said:

I agree 4 - 7 days seems excessive in 2021 . . .  However, I live in a remote area of Montana.  The quote I provided was from the most current information posted for our local testing sites.   It may be too much of a risk to count on a facility near the port to be able to provide to us the day before.  Unfortunately, there are too many unknowns before now and  October.  And I have to consider if risking losing everything paid for two cruises (B2B's) would be worth it if we are unable to find a location who can provide an immediate test result. 

there are also at home antigen testing kits. You could check if carnival will accept those. Could get 2 and also do it for your second cruise. Results in 15 minutes.

 

https://www.globalpointofcare.abbott/en/product-details/binaxnow-covid-19-antigen-self-test-us.html?utp=UTID&utid=SEM_Google_BinaxNOW&gclid=CjwKCAjw9aiIBhA1EiwAJ_GTSgypu7SscJfYYTiW839vVCRhDgJkS2Q2eUvdvR84LL0DKh1U_M6zehoCf8EQAvD_BwE

[DB2VA]

22 minutes ago, deb1eric said:

So if you're vaccinated do you have antibodies for the antigen test?

Only if you have had it, or been exposed. 

[NotlocTRD]

4 minutes ago, SidneyHuff1950 said:

LET'S GO OUT TO EAT ON A CARNIVAL CRUISE SHIP

1. Arrive at restaurant with your three month old single-use surgical mask, still slightly sticky from this morning's 84oz diet Pepsi

2. Strap up with three month old single-use surgical mask.

*MAGICAL ANTI-GERM BARRIER ENGAGED!!!*

3. Proceed into restaurant, opening door with same handle grabbed by 200 people so far today.

4. Hostess has immediate seating for your woke party of three. Walk past entire restaurant of unmasked people. It's ok, they're sitting.

5. Sit down.

*SEATED ANTI-GERM FORCEFIELD ENGAGED!!!*

6. Safely within your anti-germ forcefield, remove mask. Browse menu while making relaxed inhales of the same recirculated AC air previously inside the lungs of the 200 people that also grabbed the door handle.

7. Waitress drops off drinks bare handed.

8. Grab drink with your bare hand. Sip leisurely, secure in knowing you're within your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness.

9. Too many drinks. Need to pee. Put on your magical anti-germ barrier mask as you leave your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness.

10. Walk past 40 unmasked restaurant patrons. Open bathroom with same door knob grabbed by 100 other people so far today.

11. Return to table past same 40 unmasked restaurant patrons.

12. Remove mask. Once again safe in your anti-germ forcefield of seatedness. Waitress takes your sweaty drink glass with her bare hand, refills, hands back to you. You accept with your bare hand. Grab some bread and eat it. Same hand. Yum Yum.

13. Meal complete. Mask on. Walk past 40 unmasked patrons. Make full body contact with at least 4 people waiting at the hostess stand as you squeeze your way back to the door - no matter, they're all also wearing their magical anti-germ barriers.

14. Grab exit handle, which you are now the 220th person of the day to touch. Eating out successful.

15. Breathe a sigh of relief knowing that even after leaving the protection of your home and venturing out into the scary world of the public, you are essentially sterile thanks to your state approved methods of magical germ mitigation.

 

Absolutely spot on. 

 

/sarcasm/ BUT DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT THE SCIENCE!!! /sarcasm/ 

[Lee Cruiser]

1 minute ago, TNcruising02 said:

I booked for April 9th.  Happy sailing!  I am still excited about sailing on this ship and hope that things will be much better next year.

We are booked on the Sunrise in September.  My wife and I will discuss it tonight and make a decision about the updated mask policy.

[BrianMD]

11 minutes ago, picantel said:

How long were you on hold. I am sitting on 1.5 hours now.

About 45 minutes until the first person answered and about another 15 minutes after being transferred to the casino offer dept. Roughly an hour total.