8/12/22 PRINCESS CRUISES REMOVES VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR MOST VOYAGES, ELMINATES PRE-CRUISE TESTING FOR VACCINATED GUESTS

[LACruiser88]

August 12, 2022 3:00 PM EDT PRINCESS CRUISES REMOVES VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR MOST VOYAGES, ELMINATES PRE-CRUISE TESTING FOR VACCINATED GUESTS Unvaccinated Guests Required to Self-Test Within 3 Days of Sailing SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced updated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, removing the vaccine requirement for most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise, and adjusting pre-travel testing requirements to make it less complicated.     Starting Sept. 6, vaccinated guests sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test before boarding and only need to upload proof of vaccination while getting OceanReady. Unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of vaccination, on those itineraries will self-test within three days of sailing and upload proof of a negative test before boarding.    These new guidelines apply to itineraries from all departure ports except where government regulations and protocols may vary like Canada, Greece and Australia. Below are the key points for Princess' updated CruiseHealth guidelines for embarkation:  No pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages of up to 15 nights (guests 5 and older) with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries; unvaccinated guests must provide a negative self-test result taken within three days of embarkation (unvaccinated children under 5 years do not require pre-cruise testing) Guests sailing on voyages 16 nights or longer, or sailing on full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other specific itineraries, need to take a supervised test within three days of embarkation (guests 5 and older). Guests on these types of voyages will be contacted directly by an Ocean Navigator to assist. Princess' updated guidelines reflect the cruise line's ongoing commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for all guests and crew. "These updated guidelines help ensure a Princess vacation is available to everyone," said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. "The Princess experience is truly one-of-a-kind and we encourage everyone to take a Princess vacation that offers amazing service at unmatched value." The updated guidelines are subject to the local regulations of applicable homeports and destinations. About Princess Cruises One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the world's leading international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 15 modern cruise ships, carrying millions of guests each year to 330 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries."  In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the Medallion device, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation, giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

[JT1962]

Great news!

[DougH]

Of course my next cruise is 16 days 😢

[fpsphil]

About time

[JimmyVWine]

Of course, my next cruise departs out of Greece.  🥺  Just under 60 days for Greece to change its procedures.  Here's hoping. 

[LACruiser88]

2 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

Of course, my next cruise departs out of Greece.  🥺  Just under 60 days for Greece to change its procedures.  Here's hoping. 

So sorry...

[JimmyVWine]

This press release now shows up in the "News Center" of the Princess website.  

[San10s]

WooHoo!  🎉👏🏻👏🏻🎉

[winty]

Great news. But does a 15 night Hawaii cruise from LA count ?? Anyone have an idea. I think the 15 nights seems to fit as it says 16 nights or over but what about the ‘trans-ocean’ part? Or does that mean going from one side of the ocean to another?  Cheers 

[ProfMHC]

How about B2B?

[phabric]

Have to test for my August 27 cruise then no test for my  two 2023 cruises unless something changes.

[JimmyVWine]

1 minute ago, LACruiser88 said:

So sorry...

As long as they go back to accepting Tele-Med observed testing I won't care.  But the current "must be done in person and internet observed tests don't qualify" rule is really onerous. Especially for those who want to visit their beautiful country for several days before boarding.  Being a stranger in a strange land makes it really, really hard to test in person.  What I really don't get is why this rule applies to cruises that are not ROUNDTRIP in and out of Athens.  Why does the Greek government care if someone boards the ship with Covid if they are going to disembark in Barcelona 7 days later?  That is Spains problem, not theirs.  As long as I am not setting foot back into Greece after the cruise, why do they need to take the most restrictive position of any country?  

[ERvet]

My next cruise is 16 nights-of course, sigh.  Anyone know how far in advance i should expect to be contacted by an ocean navigator?

[LACruiser88]

6 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

As long as they go back to accepting Tele-Med observed testing I won't care.  But the current "must be done in person and internet observed tests don't qualify" rule is really onerous. Especially for those who want to visit their beautiful country for several days before boarding.  Being a stranger in a strange land makes it really, really hard to test in person.  What I really don't get is why this rule applies to cruises that are not ROUNDTRIP in and out of Athens.  Why does the Greek government care if someone boards the ship with Covid if they are going to disembark in Barcelona 7 days later?  That is Spains problem, not theirs.  As long as I am not setting foot back into Greece after the cruise, why do they need to take the most restrictive position of any country?  

Agree!  🤫

[LACruiser88]

8 minutes ago, winty said:

Great news. But does a 15 night Hawaii cruise from LA count ?? Anyone have an idea. I think the 15 nights seems to fit as it says 16 nights or over but what about the ‘trans-ocean’ part? Or does that mean going from one side of the ocean to another?  Cheers 

A 15 day Hawaii cruise would not require a pre-test.  I take the "trans-ocean" to mean full ocean crossings, not a round-trip from same port.  But, it is not real clear???

[winty]

1 minute ago, LACruiser88 said:

A 15 day Hawaii cruise would not require a pre-test.  I take the "trans-ocean" to mean full ocean crossings, not a round-trip from same port.  But, it is not real clear???

Thanks. I really hope so. 

[LACruiser88]

14 minutes ago, ProfMHC said:

How about B2B?

I would think that if each leg in under 16 days, then no testing.  Currently in the Med, they are not testing b2b's.   

 

Maybe someone who is currently on or completed b2b's in Alaska can comment on b2b testing.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2022 by LACruiser88

[muffin]

my hunch is the 16 days was chosen to allow for the Hawaiian trips to be included in the no test needed group.  

[San10s]

24 minutes ago, winty said:

Great news. But does a 15 night Hawaii cruise from LA count ?? Anyone have an idea. I think the 15 nights seems to fit as it says 16 nights or over but what about the ‘trans-ocean’ part? Or does that mean going from one side of the ocean to another?  Cheers 

Yes.. your cruise would be under the new process of Vaccinated passengers would NOT need to have a Covid test.  
 

We are on the Royal 15 nights and 16 days…. So no testing required.

 

“No pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages of up to 15 nights (guests 5 and older) with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries; unvaccinated guests must provide a negative self-test result taken within three days of embarkation (unvaccinated children under 5 years do not require pre-cruise testing)”

Edited August 12, 2022 by San10s

[Fortunatefew]

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

August 12, 2022 3:00 PM EDT PRINCESS CRUISES REMOVES VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR MOST VOYAGES, ELMINATES PRE-CRUISE TESTING FOR VACCINATED GUESTS Unvaccinated Guests Required to Self-Test Within 3 Days of Sailing SANTA CLARITA, Calif., Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced updated COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, removing the vaccine requirement for most voyages of less than 16 days so that anyone can cruise, and adjusting pre-travel testing requirements to make it less complicated.     Starting Sept. 6, vaccinated guests sailing on voyages of less than 16 days will no longer have to test before boarding and only need to upload proof of vaccination while getting OceanReady. Unvaccinated guests, or those who do not provide proof of vaccination, on those itineraries will self-test within three days of sailing and upload proof of a negative test before boarding.    These new guidelines apply to itineraries from all departure ports except where government regulations and protocols may vary like Canada, Greece and Australia. Below are the key points for Princess' updated CruiseHealth guidelines for embarkation:  No pre-cruise testing for vaccinated guests on voyages of up to 15 nights (guests 5 and older) with the exception of full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other special itineraries; unvaccinated guests must provide a negative self-test result taken within three days of embarkation (unvaccinated children under 5 years do not require pre-cruise testing) Guests sailing on voyages 16 nights or longer, or sailing on full Panama Canal transits, trans-ocean and other specific itineraries, need to take a supervised test within three days of embarkation (guests 5 and older). Guests on these types of voyages will be contacted directly by an Ocean Navigator to assist. Princess' updated guidelines reflect the cruise line's ongoing commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for all guests and crew. "These updated guidelines help ensure a Princess vacation is available to everyone," said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. "The Princess experience is truly one-of-a-kind and we encourage everyone to take a Princess vacation that offers amazing service at unmatched value." The updated guidelines are subject to the local regulations of applicable homeports and destinations. About Princess Cruises One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the world's leading international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 15 modern cruise ships, carrying millions of guests each year to 330 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries."  In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the Medallion device, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation, giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

Some countries are excluded like Australia and New Zealand 

[cruise2relax]

Trans-ocean the same as transatlanitc?  It is an odd choice of phrasing.

[MissP22]

18 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

I would think that if each leg in under 16 days, then no testing.  Currently in the Med, they are not testing b2b's.   

 

Maybe someone who is currently on or completed b2b's in Alaska can comment on b2b testing.

 

 

 

 

That sounds logical BUT what will Princess say??

I hesitate to call them since their answer depends on who you talk to.

 

[Cruise till you drop]

The biggest question I have that Princess didn’t seem to address was what happens if someone tests positive for Covid during the cruise.  Have they done away with quarantine ?  If they keep quarantine, how long does it last?  Do they grant a refund for those quarantine days ?

 

This is why I think pre testing was a good thing is that you could have a higher likelihood Covid wasn’t being brought on and being spread 

[suekel]

49 minutes ago, DougH said:

Of course my next cruise is 16 days 😢

6 days here

[ebeluga]

Great news for my CCL stocks!

Edited August 12, 2022 by ebeluga