Are Boosted Guests Being Tested At Port Or On Ship Once Cleared To Board ?

[morpheusofthesea]

We are booked for February 2022 on Seashore YC. Assuming negative test 48 hrs prior in hand, will we be tested at the port again before boarding ? Then again on board on day 2 or 3 ? 

[Morgsmom]

As of today, yes and yes to your questions, however the situation is very fluid.

[morpheusofthesea]

5 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

As of today, yes and yes to your questions, however the situation is very fluid.

The reason we are asking this is because MSC when contacted on the phone says (today) that they are testing everyone at the port before allowing to board in Miami. No further testing to be conducted while on board of passengers, willy-nilly, whether one wants to or not, forced to take a test. Are there any CC members on the ship at this moment reading this that can confirm ?

Edited January 9, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[gadaboutgal]

Am currently on board 1/8 Seashore. 

 Before being allowed to even pass through handbag security we were tested and had to wait for results before registration.  A very orderly, efficient process.

   Temperatures are taken each morning as before, but no one has said anything regarding further testing on this cruise.

noted: beginning this voyage, the crew and officers have started wearing both masks and face shields.

[Morgsmom]

Well they can change things on a dime, and that's in their total purview to do so.   The current sailings are having testing on day 2 (not willy-nilly, but by deck) which is 100000 million percent in the right of the cruise ship to do.  Once you are at sea you are in the charge of the Master.   His (her) ship, his (her) rules.  You absolutely can be "forced to test" while at sea.  Reason being is that some ports of call want to see that all pax are ok w/in a certain # of hours.  t's the only way that the ship will allow docking.

 

Please understand that the minute that you are in international waters you are under the Master's orders.  He can throw you in the brig or confine to cabin as he sees fit.  US "don't tread on me" laws do not apply.  It's all in your cruise contract.  

 

PS - ANYTHING, (no really, anything, that a remote MSC rep tells you on the phone) should be treated with one grain of Ocean Cay sand.  Anyone who has cruised MSC knows this to be true.

[girli565]

We just sailed on the Divina out of Miami Jan. 6-9, 2022. Everyone was tested pre-boarding. You're tested before you show anyone your vax card or negative test. 

[Explorer525]

gadaboutgal, 

 

How many passengers are on your 1/8/2021 Seashore Cruise?  I am going later in Jan, and was curious to how packed it was.   Keep us up to date. Thanks for the info.

[morpheusofthesea]

53 minutes ago, gadaboutgal said:

Am currently on board 1/8 Seashore. 

 Before being allowed to even pass through handbag security we were tested and had to wait for results before registration.  A very orderly, efficient process.

   Temperatures are taken each morning as before, but no one has said anything regarding further testing on this cruise.

noted: beginning this voyage, the crew and officers have started wearing both masks and face shields.

Thank you.  All very understandable. We want to cruise on MSC Seashore. Been on 6 since July 2021, all on Celebrity Retreat.  There was never any forced testing of all passengers while on board. Thought we would try MSC Seashore YC. Calling TA in morning to triple check. We do not want to go on any cruise line and have to worry they will pull us out of our expensive Owners Suite and force us into a small cabin under quarantine for days without proper room service, laundry, towel and sheet changes, etc...In all cases, this quarantine/isolation is worse than being incarcerated in a jail on land for the same length of time (not that we ever experience such in our life times, but just as humiliating).

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, Morgsmom said:

Well they can change things on a dime, and that's in their total purview to do so.   The current sailings are having testing on day 2 (not willy-nilly, but by deck) which is 100000 million percent in the right of the cruise ship to do.  Once you are at sea you are in the charge of the Master.   His (her) ship, his (her) rules.  You absolutely can be "forced to test" while at sea.  Reason being is that some ports of call want to see that all pax are ok w/in a certain # of hours.  t's the only way that the ship will allow docking.

 

Please understand that the minute that you are in international waters you are under the Master's orders.  He can throw you in the brig or confine to cabin as he sees fit.  US "don't tread on me" laws do not apply.  It's all in your cruise contract.  

 

PS - ANYTHING, (no really, anything, that a remote MSC rep tells you on the phone) should be treated with one grain of Ocean Cay sand.  Anyone who has cruised MSC knows this to be true.

Yes, Everything you stated is true. (except willy-nilly) 

"wil·ly-nil·ly

/ˌwilēˈnilē/

adverb

1.

whether one likes it or not.

"he would be forced to collaborate willy-nilly"

We would be forced. So far, since Celebrity began sailing from US ports this forced testing of ALL passengers has not taken place. Chances are much better of Celebrity 'staying the course' in this testing regard. 

 We thank you for your astute insight.

[morpheusofthesea]

1 hour ago, girli565 said:

We just sailed on the Divina out of Miami Jan. 6-9, 2022. Everyone was tested pre-boarding. You're tested before you show anyone your vax card or negative test. 

Thank you. That is great ! Before one boards. The worst that can happen at the port is a positive test, no boarding of the ship and ones luggage are the only things that take the cruise.

[Markanddonna]

It appears that a few ports are requiring PCR testing of passengers, so Aruba and Panama will likely be out again for the 10 day Divina sailings. The mayor of Cartagena was quoted as stating the last sailing there was canceled by the cruise because there were 50 crew members who tested positive. So, I'm guessing Cartagena won't be receiving ship now considering all cruise ships have at least one case of COVID (except the crew only ships.) 

[morpheusofthesea]

8 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

It appears that a few ports are requiring PCR testing of passengers, 

Are they requiring PCR testing of ALL passengers, or only passengers wanting to get off the ship ?

[cruiseguyinorl]

6 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

In all cases, this quarantine/isolation is worse than being incarcerated in a jail on land for the same length of time

 

🤣🤣🤣

[Morgsmom]

11 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Thank you. That is great ! Before one boards. The worst that can happen at the port is a positive test, no boarding of the ship and ones luggage are the only things that take the cruise.

To note - that was on a short sailing; on the 7 nighters last week the cruise line tested all pax on day 2 or 3.

[gadaboutgal]

On 1/9/2022 at 7:37 AM, morpheusofthesea said:

We are booked for February 2022 on Seashore YC. Assuming negative test 48 hrs prior in hand, will we be tested at the port again before boarding ? Then again on board on day 2 or 3 ? 

Seashore 1/8 sailing:  No mention of testing on the ship and this is day 3.           We were tested in terminal on embarkation almost upon immediate entry.  No waiting as MSC had set up about 8 booths for testing.  

After going through scanners we were directed to second floor to a numbered seating section.  Our results were back before we even had a chance to sit.

note: No one at embarkation requested to see our pre-cruise Test from CVS.  

{forgot to mention we are vaxed and boosted.)

Edited January 10, 2022 by gadaboutgal

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, gadaboutgal said:

No mention of testing on the ship and this is day 3.

Absolutely fabulous. A poster on FB said that on the Christmas sailing ALL passengers were being tested 3 days into cruise. That 170 passengers did not show up for testing ? Asking for more clarification as to what happened to these 170 passengers ? Are they Conscientious Objectors ("a person who for reasons of conscience objects to complying with a particular requirement") ? Did not hear of any being  put off the ship.

Edited January 10, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[gadaboutgal]

Which is probably why we received an email from MSC 2 days before boarding stating there was a "number" of covid issues on previous cruise: and that, if we so chose, we could cancel and receive full refund for this 1/8 sailing.

 

It's just maddening to know that so many will ignore all the requirements of the cruise lines to keep us and the crew safe.

So far on this cruise, I have not seen one person not wearing their masks in the  appropriate manner and place.

[Markanddonna]

It seems that since MSC is doing a test at the dock before embarkation that they will likely NOT test during the cruise. Their diligence in testing last week was probably not in their best interest and if the cruisers this week aren't tested mid week, we can assume that was a one time policy.

[morpheusofthesea]

All this testing might be due to Bahamas not allowing MSC to use Ocean Cay ? In any event, this extra testing is putting undue worry and stress upon passengers  concerned they will be isolated/quarantined for the remainder of the cruise.

Edited January 11, 2022 by morpheusofthesea

[tkwbear]

1 hour ago, gadaboutgal said:

Which is probably why we received an email from MSC 2 days before boarding stating there was a "number" of covid issues on previous cruise: and that, if we so chose, we could cancel and receive full refund for this 1/8 sailing.

 

It's just maddening to know that so many will ignore all the requirements of the cruise lines to keep us and the crew safe.

So far on this cruise, I have not seen one person not wearing their masks in the  appropriate manner and place.

Thanks for the updates. I had that cruise booked (14 days) but canceled last week due to the chaos and the Bahamas deciding whether or not a ship could land at their own private island. The overnight to Ocean Cay was the prime reason I booked the cruise.

 

Please keep us informed. I hope everything goes well for you!