Pre-cruise testing extended until March 31, 2022

[misterkevin]

My cruise is scheduled early March, and Celebrity just sent this email.

 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS
 
Dear Guest,

We look forward to welcoming you aboard for your upcoming Celebrity Cruises vacation. Before we set sail, we have some important information to share regarding our Health and Safety Protocols.

Vaccines
Celebrity Cruises will require guests 12 years of age and older, to be fully vaccinated with all initial doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. We highly recommend guests ages 5 to 11 are also vaccinated.

Guests with a mixed series of any two of the following vaccines taken within a minimum of 28 days between doses, will also be considered fully vaccinated: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Sinopharm or Covaxin. Youths who have received one dose of a vaccine (other than Johnson & Johnson) will not be considered fully vaccinated. COVID-19 Booster Vaccine shots are not currently required to sail on Celebrity Cruises.

Pre-Cruise Testing
For sailings departing the U.S. through March 31, 2022, all vaccinated guests are required to present a negative COVID-19 test at the time of embarkation. This test may be taken as either as an Antigen or PCR test, conducted within two days of boarding the ship. Each guest is responsible for making their own arrangements with an accredited testing provider as well as covering all associated costs.

Unvaccinated children between the ages of two and eleven years old will be required to bring a negative PCR test conducted within three days of boarding. These guests will be provided an additional Antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation as well as on the day before disembarkation. A registration link for required testing at the terminal will be sent separately. Please note, unvaccinated guests cannot be tested twice in one day as it may affect the accuracy of their test results, therefore the COVID-19 test required before arriving at the terminal cannot be taken on boarding day.

Convenient Testing Options
Monitored Self-Test Kit - Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card:
Approved Self-Test Kits are available for order pre-cruise for fully vaccinated guests. Complete your pre-cruise test kit at home or any place of your choosing with the help of live video supervision by a Certified Guide. Your results will be ready in 15 minutes. ORDER HERE

Concierge Testing Service:
In partnership with Bio-reference a concierge testing option is also available. Bio-reference will send a qualified medical technician to your home, office, hotel, or any place you choose, to perform the test. Your results will be ready in about 48 hours. RESERVE HERE

Guests arriving at the terminal without a negative COVID-19 test result may be denied boarding. For details on our current health and safety protocols please visit www.healthyatsea.com.

While Onboard
Effective February 12, 2022 face masks will be optional on board for vaccinated guests unless attending activities in The Theatre or Casino.  Masks will continue to be required for unvaccinated guests, at all times indoors, except while eating or drinking. This policy will be re-evaluated on a continuous basis

Home Country Re-Entry Testing
All fully vaccinated guests requiring a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be provided the opportunity to receive testing in the cruise port during disembarkation. Proof of return travel scheduled within 24 hours of disembarkation will be required. Details on testing registration will be provided onboard. Testing will be complimentary for guests with cruise reservations booked prior to November 16, 2021.  For new bookings made on or after November 16, 2021, testing will be available for a per person fee.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of these important guidelines. The health and safety of everyone onboard is our number one priority. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.

Sincerely,
Celebrity Cruises 

[DaKahuna]

We are sailing March 28 on Reflection and received an identical letter. 

[39august]

I notice the "all initial doses" wording rather  than the CDC's "up to date" wording. Good, as my husband doesn't want to get a booster. 

[Northern Aurora]

Thanks for the update.  Our next cruise is scheduled for late April.  I suspect I will be ordering another set of tests from eMed but plan to wait until early April to order.

[judla]

We are doing the second part of a B2B April 2nd,  Does anyone think they will be cancelling the covid tests by then?  I certainly hope so.  If they do require them  will Celebrity pay for them or will I have to pay for another proctored set?

[helen haywood]

If they require them Celebrity will certainly not be paying for the test.

[MikeMary4449]

18 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

We are sailing March 28 on Reflection and received an identical letter. 

Curious:  We are sailing on March 26 on Reflection.  Hope you don't miss the boat! 😃

[cruisestitch]

14 hours ago, judla said:

We are doing the second part of a B2B April 2nd,  Does anyone think they will be cancelling the covid tests by then?  I certainly hope so.  If they do require them  will Celebrity pay for them or will I have to pay for another proctored set?

If you are back to back they will give you a complementary test on the shipIf you are back to back they will give you a complementary test on the ship

[cruisestitch]

14 hours ago, helen haywood said:

If they require them Celebrity will certainly not be paying for the test.

Not true. For back to back guests they give a complementary test on the first cruise so you can go onto the second cruise.

 

They even do that if you are changing ships, going to another ship in the RCG fleet (so Celebrity or Royal), as long as the second ship is within the requisite  timeframe.
 

I just disembarked reflection on Saturday and boarded silhouette on Monday and they were able to test me on the ship on Saturday morning before I disembarked.   I had the results within 15 minutes, before I even got off the reflection. There was no charge for this test.

[davekathy]

Bummer about the pre cruise testing and having to wear a mask in the theater. I should say anywhere in/on the ship.  

[39august]

I just hope the tests are done with by our May 6 cruise. 

[DaKahuna]

5 hours ago, MikeMary4449 said:

Curious:  We are sailing on March 26 on Reflection.  Hope you don't miss the boat! 😃

Oops, We are sailing on March 28 but on Silhouette.  Sorry about that.

[jolly_cruiser]

On 2/14/2022 at 4:47 PM, misterkevin said:

My cruise is scheduled early March, and Celebrity just sent this email.

 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS
 
Dear Guest,

We look forward to welcoming you aboard for your upcoming Celebrity Cruises vacation. Before we set sail, we have some important information to share regarding our Health and Safety Protocols.

Vaccines
Celebrity Cruises will require guests 12 years of age and older, to be fully vaccinated with all initial doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. We highly recommend guests ages 5 to 11 are also vaccinated.

Guests with a mixed series of any two of the following vaccines taken within a minimum of 28 days between doses, will also be considered fully vaccinated: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Sinopharm or Covaxin. Youths who have received one dose of a vaccine (other than Johnson & Johnson) will not be considered fully vaccinated. COVID-19 Booster Vaccine shots are not currently required to sail on Celebrity Cruises.

Pre-Cruise Testing
For sailings departing the U.S. through March 31, 2022, all vaccinated guests are required to present a negative COVID-19 test at the time of embarkation. This test may be taken as either as an Antigen or PCR test, conducted within two days of boarding the ship. Each guest is responsible for making their own arrangements with an accredited testing provider as well as covering all associated costs.

Unvaccinated children between the ages of two and eleven years old will be required to bring a negative PCR test conducted within three days of boarding. These guests will be provided an additional Antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation as well as on the day before disembarkation. A registration link for required testing at the terminal will be sent separately. Please note, unvaccinated guests cannot be tested twice in one day as it may affect the accuracy of their test results, therefore the COVID-19 test required before arriving at the terminal cannot be taken on boarding day.

Convenient Testing Options
Monitored Self-Test Kit - Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card:
Approved Self-Test Kits are available for order pre-cruise for fully vaccinated guests. Complete your pre-cruise test kit at home or any place of your choosing with the help of live video supervision by a Certified Guide. Your results will be ready in 15 minutes. ORDER HERE

Concierge Testing Service:
In partnership with Bio-reference a concierge testing option is also available. Bio-reference will send a qualified medical technician to your home, office, hotel, or any place you choose, to perform the test. Your results will be ready in about 48 hours. RESERVE HERE

Guests arriving at the terminal without a negative COVID-19 test result may be denied boarding. For details on our current health and safety protocols please visit www.healthyatsea.com.

While Onboard
Effective February 12, 2022 face masks will be optional on board for vaccinated guests unless attending activities in The Theatre or Casino.  Masks will continue to be required for unvaccinated guests, at all times indoors, except while eating or drinking. This policy will be re-evaluated on a continuous basis

Home Country Re-Entry Testing
All fully vaccinated guests requiring a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be provided the opportunity to receive testing in the cruise port during disembarkation. Proof of return travel scheduled within 24 hours of disembarkation will be required. Details on testing registration will be provided onboard. Testing will be complimentary for guests with cruise reservations booked prior to November 16, 2021.  For new bookings made on or after November 16, 2021, testing will be available for a per person fee.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of these important guidelines. The health and safety of everyone onboard is our number one priority. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.

Sincerely,
Celebrity Cruises 

Yes. Got the same one for our March 13th Cruise on the Edge. It appears we have to go through the stress of getting a negative result 🙂

[deliver42]

I don't go on Celebrity until December, and, unfortunately, fully expect to still have to test at that time. I thought this nonsense would end, but for the first time, I'm wrong again. LOL

[Jim_Iain]

Well if they cancel testing  requirements after March 31 I have a bunch of test kits.   I'll bet ya double or nothing the testing requirement is extended.    If I loose I have the tests to spare.

[Virginia100]

I would bet testing goes to 12/31/22. 

[BigAl94]

30 minutes ago, Virginia100 said:

I would bet testing goes to 12/31/22. 

At least.

[Northern Aurora]

6 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Well if they cancel testing  requirements after March 31 I have a bunch of test kits.   I'll bet ya double or nothing the testing requirement is extended.    If I loose I have the tests to spare.

 

 

I don't gamble, but I also suspect that the testing requirement is extended past March 31st.  I am holding hands with @Virginia100 and @BigAl94.  

[Cruise a holic]

On 2/14/2022 at 6:06 PM, 39august said:

I notice the "all initial doses" wording rather  than the CDC's "up to date" wording. Good, as my husband doesn't want to get a booster. 

Why?

[garyl62]

I received the same letter for our March 19th sailing, and I believe it is the exact same letter I received for our sailing this past October. I would not take this to mean any decision about testing was recently made, but rather it is a letter reiterating what the current requirements are with the current expiration date.

[Hickeyclan1]

On 2/14/2022 at 10:39 PM, helen haywood said:

If they require them Celebrity will certainly not be paying for the test.

Why should Celebrity pay for the test?

[wrk2cruise]

It is pretty much the same letter, just the "required for sailings through xx/xx/xx" changed.

 

I wonder if Celebrity is going to "opt in" to the new CDC covid plans.  I guess we won't know until Friday.

[terrydtx]

12 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Well if they cancel testing  requirements after March 31 I have a bunch of test kits.   I'll bet ya double or nothing the testing requirement is extended.    If I loose I have the tests to spare.

I bet if testing does end April 1st, as soon as they see a spike of cases onboard, the testing will be back.

[Virginia100]

Until the data reflecting cases is still a determining  factor and not hospitalizations this will continue. At some point raw case counts will not be critical. That will be when it’s an endemic virus.

[TeeRick]

My guess is that pre-cruise testing maybe goes away after at least 2-3 months of minimal cases (or zero cases) on board ships.   In my most optimistic thoughts this could be August this year?