Italy cruises testing

[cruisingaussies]

20 minutes ago, mimlypops said:

We are hoping the same as an emergency back-up if there is a problem with the online supervised tests we will now have to take with us to use 1 day prior to cruise. The online tests look reliable but if there is a problem with that testing process then there is no pharmacy back-up in Civi on a Sunday so we will have no choice but to go to the port on the Monday and explain. Surely they wouldn't refuse to test you and let you board ??? 

Well I would hope not but who is going to test it.

We’re going to be traveling around the Italian country side for a month before boarding.  WiFi connection is spotty, at least it was three years ago. Am not even considering an on line test. 

[rachiem]

FFS....I am so tempted to just cancel our cruise.

We are off in two weeks...had 1 day before testing booked, then changed it as they relaxed it to 2 and now it's back to 1.

My email from yesterday with my check in details even says 2???

This cruising lark is not for the faint hearted!

Edited May 4, 2022 by rachiem

[Virginia100]

2 hours ago, rachiem said:

FFS....I am so tempted to just cancel our cruise.

We are off in two weeks...had 1 day before testing booked, then changed it as they relaxed it to 2 and now it's back to 1.

My email from yesterday with my check in details even says 2???

This cruising lark is not for the faint hearted!

I couldn’t believe it! Back to 1 day testing again. This is so stupid. I canceled yesterday. I’m done with this nonsense. I’ll wait until February and leave from a US port. Chance all this for testing in Italy both to embark snd return to US during the mob science there in August. Nope. Not me. My brain overruled my heart.

[danv3]

4 hours ago, mimlypops said:

We are hoping the same as an emergency back-up if there is a problem with the online supervised tests we will now have to take with us to use 1 day prior to cruise. The online tests look reliable but if there is a problem with that testing process then there is no pharmacy back-up in Civi on a Sunday so we will have no choice but to go to the port on the Monday and explain. Surely they wouldn't refuse to test you and let you board ??? 

This is our emergency backup plan too.  Not ideal but I don't see what else we can do given the bind X is putting us in.  

[Searanger]

This is utter B.S.  Changed testing requirement to 2 days last Friday and now back to 1 day.  Are they stupid or what.  I cancelled my test en-route to the airport on departure day (Sunday) and booked testing closer to home on the Saturday.  Does anyone understand that we all don't live beside the airport.  How do they expect a 1 day test for those traveling from North America. In my case a 4hr drive to the airport, 3hrs check-in or more, a 9hr flight and a time loss of 6hrs.  This is a Celebrity policy (not Italy) What is wrong with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Purplsmurf]

4 minutes ago, Searanger said:

This is utter B.S.  Changed testing requirement to 2 days last Friday and now back to 1 day.  Are they stupid or what.  I cancelled my test en-route to the airport on departure day (Sunday) and booked testing closer to home on the Saturday.  Does anyone understand that we all don't live beside the airport.  How do they expect a 1 day test for those traveling from North America. In my case a 4hr drive to the airport, 3hrs check-in or more, a 9hr flight and a time loss of 6hrs.  This is a Celebrity policy (not Italy) What is wrong with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is Italy making the rules and Celebrity has to follow. On April 29 when testing rules for Italy changed from 1 day to 2 we got very excited. That changed yesterday 😢. We sail next week. We will still test before boarding the plane and then immediately test upon arriving in Italy for our boarding test. Not sure why it changed back. Maybe there were too many positive cases on board and Italy wasn’t comfortable with that so changed back to testing one day before. Who knows.

[sgmn]

6 minutes ago, Searanger said:

This is utter B.S.  Changed testing requirement to 2 days last Friday and now back to 1 day.  Are they stupid or what.  I cancelled my test en-route to the airport on departure day (Sunday) and booked testing closer to home on the Saturday.  Does anyone understand that we all don't live beside the airport.  How do they expect a 1 day test for those traveling from North America. In my case a 4hr drive to the airport, 3hrs check-in or more, a 9hr flight and a time loss of 6hrs.  This is a Celebrity policy (not Italy) What is wrong with them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If its Celebrity's policy, then why aren't they mandating it everywhere in Europe. Especially UK where covid levels are high on Silhouette. 

I think it's Italian government rule,  though it may be that Celebrity misinterpreted the rules last week

[Purplsmurf]

5 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

The rules are from 1 May to 15 June if you wish to be pedantic 

You said in your post that the protocols changed May 1. I was just letting you know that it was April 29 that they changed 🙄

[Megabear2]

Just now, Purplsmurf said:

You said in your post that the protocols changed May 1. I was just letting you know that it was April 29 that they changed 🙄

I understand that but they are operative from 1 May to 15 June.  Thank you for telling me the date of the announcement which is of little relevance to me as I arrive in Italy on 15 June and am not really concerned about dates now in the past.

All travellers

From 1 May travellers will no longer be required to complete a passenger locator form (EU PLF) to enter or travel through Italy as a visitor.

 

Public spaces and travel within Italy

Public spaces and services

From 1 May until at least 15 June the use of FFP2 masks are compulsory in the following cases:

• When entering Italy by plane, ferry, train or coach
• On public transport within the country, including commercial flights, boats, ferries, interregional trains, buses, subways, cars and taxis with a driver
• At indoor public venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, live music clubs and indoor sporting events
• When visiting healthcare facilities.

It is still recommended to wear masks in all indoor public spaces. You should pay close attention to signage when travelling and carry a mask with you at all times. Children aged 5 and under do not need to wear a mask.

"

[Searanger]

CONFUSED.  If an Up To Date vaccinated traveler entering Italy doesn't need pre-testing to enter the Country, then how can this be an Italian Policy and not that of Celebrity. 

[fiona page]

4 hours ago, rachiem said:

FFS....I am so tempted to just cancel our cruise.

We are off in two weeks...had 1 day before testing booked, then changed it as they relaxed it to 2 and now it's back to 1.

My email from yesterday with my check in details even says 2???

This cruising lark is not for the faint hearted!

It's like the hokey cokey.  It's not even required for entry to Italy. Just seems celebrity 

[B x]

6 hours ago, B x said:

Excellent idea! Mind you not confident they will answer anyone, I'm still waiting on a reply from my mail last Friday to Specialist Services (medical support) copies to customer relations, so far just the normal auto reply. Are they that short staffed or snowed under with customer queries one wonders.

Updated message in relations to my mail on 29th April, just in from Celebrity:

 

We are doing everything we can to expedite your inquiry, but due to high email volume, responses are delayed an approximate additional 14 days. 

 

Accept the pressure they and many companies are under, but that will be almost three weeks to get a response. Not many companies could get away with ignoring their customers that long.

[Denny01]

Since they are testing others it would just add time to you getting on board with testing and waiting. 
 

My guess, since I have no real knowledge, is they aren’t offering terminal tests to all because it would be too huge for them. 
 

den

[Purplsmurf]

18 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I understand that but they are operative from 1 May to 15 June.  Thank you for telling me the date of the announcement which is of little relevance to me as I arrive in Italy on 15 June and am not really concerned about dates now in the past.

All travellers

From 1 May travellers will no longer be required to complete a passenger locator form (EU PLF) to enter or travel through Italy as a visitor.

 

Public spaces and travel within Italy

Public spaces and services

From 1 May until at least 15 June the use of FFP2 masks are compulsory in the following cases:

• When entering Italy by plane, ferry, train or coach
• On public transport within the country, including commercial flights, boats, ferries, interregional trains, buses, subways, cars and taxis with a driver
• At indoor public venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, live music clubs and indoor sporting events
• When visiting healthcare facilities.

It is still recommended to wear masks in all indoor public spaces. You should pay close attention to signage when travelling and carry a mask with you at all times. Children aged 5 and under do not need to wear a mask.

"

This isn’t even what I was talking about. The topic is testing in Italy and I was referring to that……I’m done now . Have a good cruise

Edited May 4, 2022 by Purplsmurf

[minster123]

Can someone confirm:  we are travelling from UK - Manchester in July.

 

I understand things might change before then but currently if we get an antigen test at a pharmacy in the UK on Thursday afternoon say 4.00pm (we fly 7am Friday morning) that will be OK for embarking at 1.00pm on Friday as it will be less than 24 hours since the test??

 

I know this sounds simple but the more I read the more confused I'm getting !!!

 

 

[Deenoob]

I think that Celebrity jumped the gun and had to roll it back to 1 day.

 

it’s my understanding that they are working under these guidelines 

 

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EUHG_Operational_guidelines_CoV_April2022.pdf?ver=2022-04-06-152525-527

 

7.4 is the paragraph 

 

as these haven’t been updated since April then whilst it’s not a Celebrity decision to have one day before testing they certainly messed up by changing it to 2 days before it had been officially changed.

 

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Novel-coronavirus

 

we are on the 4th of July Reflection cruise and were going to test on the Saturday morning but now we will test on the Sunday morning. I have three pharmacy options. If that doesn’t work out then we will test on Monday morning in Civitavecchia ( we are staying in Civitavecchia on the Sunday night)

 

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2022 by Deenoob

[Megabear2]

2 hours ago, B x said:

Updated message in relations to my mail on 29th April, just in from Celebrity:

 

We are doing everything we can to expedite your inquiry, but due to high email volume, responses are delayed an approximate additional 14 days. 

 

Accept the pressure they and many companies are under, but that will be almost three weeks to get a response. Not many companies could get away with ignoring their customers that long.

That's quite good for a cruise line!  I've an outstanding query with P&O from February about a cruise I was due to take on 1 April.  Their standard re0ly is minimum 28 days.

[Megabear2]

2 hours ago, Purplsmurf said:

This isn’t even what I was talking about. The topic is testing in Italy and I was referring to that……I’m done now . Have a good cruise

Sorry we had crossed wires. I was referring to entry requirements which in turn led to testing requirements.  I really can't understand why you are so agitated, and apologise for I've caused you stress.  I thank you once more for your assistance on the date.

[B x]

1 hour ago, minster123 said:

Can someone confirm:  we are travelling from UK - Manchester in July.

 

I understand things might change before then but currently if we get an antigen test at a pharmacy in the UK on Thursday afternoon say 4.00pm (we fly 7am Friday morning) that will be OK for embarking at 1.00pm on Friday as it will be less than 24 hours since the test??

 

I know this sounds simple but the more I read the more confused I'm getting !!!

 

 

That's as I understand it and easy to become confused, It looks from this thread that it's changed twice in the last week, one day, to two and now back to one again apparently. To be honest after I saw the mention this morning that it's back to one day again I decided to forget about it until closer to the time as may well change yet again before we go which is four weeks.

[sgmn]

2 hours ago, Denny01 said:

Since they are testing others it would just add time to you getting on board with testing and waiting. 
 

My guess, since I have no real knowledge, is they aren’t offering terminal tests to all because it would be too huge for them. 
 

den

I'm sure last summer some cruise lines were offering free tests on departure in Europe. 

They could start early, say 0700 for those staying near the port 

[sgmn]

1 hour ago, Deenoob said:

I think that Celebrity jumped the gun and had to roll it back to 1 day.

 

it’s my understanding that they are working under these guidelines 

 

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Portals/0/plcdocs/EUHG_Operational_guidelines_CoV_April2022.pdf?ver=2022-04-06-152525-527

 

7.4 is the paragraph 

 

as these haven’t been updated since April then whilst it’s not a Celebrity decision to have one day before testing they certainly messed up by changing it to 2 days before it had been officially changed.

 

https://www.healthygateways.eu/Novel-coronavirus

 

we are on the 4th of July Reflection cruise and were going to test on the Saturday morning but now we will test on the Sunday morning. I have three pharmacy options. If that doesn’t work out then we will test on Monday morning in Civitavecchia ( we are staying in Civitavecchia on the Sunday night)

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the link, very interesting. I agree that Celebrity may of jumped the gun and put the wrong info up on their site

[VitaminSea53]

6 hours ago, minster123 said:

Can someone confirm:  we are travelling from UK - Manchester in July.

 

I understand things might change before then but currently if we get an antigen test at a pharmacy in the UK on Thursday afternoon say 4.00pm (we fly 7am Friday morning) that will be OK for embarking at 1.00pm on Friday as it will be less than 24 hours since the test??

 

I know this sounds simple but the more I read the more confused I'm getting !!!

 

 

They don’t count the hours but just the day.  Since your cruise departs on Friday, you will need a test done anytime on Thursday.

[cruisingaussies]

Why do some keep insisting this is an Italian ruling and not Celebrity?  If it is an Italian requirement why is it 48 hours for passengers on Costa?  See my post #194. 

[Jeremiah1212]

10 minutes ago, cruisingaussies said:

Why do some keep insisting this is an Italian ruling and not Celebrity?  If it is an Italian requirement why is it 48 hours for passengers on Costa?  See my post #194. 

 

Their US site (albeit with some outdated information) still says they will test all passengers from US, Canadian and other high risk areas with an antigen test at the pier. 

[Jdf62]

I will be on the 6/4 Edge sailing out of Rome...I am arriving on 6/3 and am comfortable getting the pre-cruise test upon arrival at FCO.  What I am not comfortable with, yet anyway, is how to get the test for departure back to the US (crossing fingers the US drops the testing requirement).  The ship gets in around 5am and my flight is at 12:50.  Celebrity says they will be selling an ehealth test (I already have Binax kits from my canceled January cruise that are still good).  I suppose there will be enough time to test at the airport, but if it is tight timewise, I am a bit concerned about getting tested before checking luggage.  Will the elevate package wifi be good enough to take the Binax test the last day at sea?  Do I need to look into a data package that works in Italy?  I am concerned the data package might be too slow to properly do the ehealth test after we disembark.  I am not sure if just paying Verizon for coverage for Italy will be fast enough either....