I thought I would see a lot of excitement over this. I am thrilled not to have to pre-cruise Covid test!

[budmeister]

Updated Protocols: U.S. Departures 9‐Nights or less Below find our updated protocols for U.S. departures that are 9 nights or less — excluding sailings to Bermuda and Canada. Should there be any changes, we are committed to keeping you informed. All Guests, All Aboard Beginning September 5th, 2022 we are welcoming all guests, regardless of vaccination status, on most U.S. departures. Vaccination Recommended If eligible, we recommend that guests joining us be fully vaccinated against COVID‐19. While vaccination is not required, we kindly ask you disclose your status during check-in to ensure we maintain a highly vaccinated onboard population. Testing Pre-cruise Unvaccinated guests aged 5 and older must present a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 3 days of our sail date. Vaccinated guests, regardless of age, no longer need to test for sailing lengths of 9 nights or less. Accepted Tests Guests can now take advantage of at-home antigen tests (even unsupervised ones!) to satisfy this requirement. Proof of a negative test can be the printed or digital results, a clear photo of your self-test result, or your actual self-test in hand. To learn more about our accepted tests, visit our FAQ. Check out our Healthy Sail Center for our full sailing protocols VIEW HEALTHY SAIL CENTER

Edited August 28, 2022 by budmeister

[Ourusualbeach]

Lots of threads last week when it was announced but they have dropped off the main page

[budmeister]

That explains it! I was busy last week and missed it. 

[Cinders411]

I am THRILLED! Cruise Oct 1st on Allure. This really took off a lot of stress! 

[PCWalton1]

Actually we didn't mind the pre-test. It meant most of the cruisers were covid free at least at the start of the cruise. 😀 

[Surfguyxxx]

19 hours ago, PCWalton1 said:

Actually we didn't mind the pre-test. It meant most of the cruisers were covid free at least at the start of the cruise. 😀 

Precisely.  

[Mikamarii]

19 hours ago, PCWalton1 said:

Actually we didn't mind the pre-test. It meant most of the cruisers were covid free at least at the start of the cruise. 😀 

Not quite. It meant most of the cruisers were covid free 2-3 days prior to the cruise.

[SargassoPirate]

20 hours ago, PCWalton1 said:

Actually we didn't mind the pre-test. It meant most of the cruisers were covid free at least at the start of the cruise. 😀 

Just about as covid free as that airplane, train, bus, taxi, airport terminal, grocery store, concert, sporting event, and everywhere else.

[swmichigan cruiser]

I'm glad the pre-test is gone. We have had the original vaccines and also the two booster shots. What bothered me was the fact is the possibility of getting a false positive on the pre-test. I had a false positive on a colon cancer test two years ago and had to have a colonoscopy which came back negative as I thought it would. 

 

[zebra]

Both of our upcoming cruises are longer than 9 days - so no celebrating here...... yet!!!!

[awhfy]

Our stress level dropped considerably as we’ve already started our travel at 2 days out. Our biggest worry (besides lost luggage) was testing positive when we got to our departure hotel & having to go home. We feel so much more excitement now for traveling again. 

[SargassoPirate]

Unless I'm reading this incorrectly, looks to me like testing is no longer required for vaccinated passengers for voyages from the US, UK, and EU, regardless of the length of the cruise.  Here's a cut and paste from the Princess website today:

 

 

Vaccination Status	Definition by Country's Health Authority	Pre-Travel Test Type & When to Take Test Before Boarding Age: 5 Years and Up
		Voyages from the U.S., UK, EU	Voyages with Enhanced Guidelines^
Fully Vaccinated*	Received primary series of COVID-19 vaccines with final dose at least 14 days before embarkation.	Testing not required	Medically assisted Antigen or PCR within 3 days
Not Vaccinated	Not fully vaccinated are welcome to cruise. If cruise includes a Canadian port, an additional medical exemption is needed.	Self-administered Antigen OR medically assisted PCR within 3 days	Medically assisted Antigen or PCR within 3 days

Kids under 5 do not require pre-travel testing. Minimum age to sail is 6 months or 12 months based on cruise itinerary, review Passage Contract for details.

^Enhanced Guidelines Voyages include full Panama Canal transits, Trans-Ocean crossings, special voyages, Greek guidelines (voyages departing, arriving or visiting Greece), Canadian guidelines (voyages, arriving or visiting Canada).

* Note all Alaska voyages include Canada and must follow Canadian guidelines. For voyages departing, arriving or visiting Canada, please refer to the Canada table for Vaccination and Testing Requirements.

**The Greek government has their own testing requirements. For voyages departing, arriving or visiting Greece, please refer to the Greece table for Vaccination and Testing Requirements

 

 

CruiseHealth™ - Vaccination & Testing Requirements by Region - Princess Cruises

[lovescats5]

Guess not everyone is excited because there are still some of us who have to test before.  Going to Canada you have to test and fill out their Arrive Can form. Not really a big deal, just need to get it done. Really looking forward to not having to test for Allure in April next year.

[MommaBear55]

1 hour ago, SargassoPirate said:

Just about as covid free as that airplane, train, bus, taxi, airport terminal, grocery store, concert, sporting event, and everywhere else.

I'm not spending a week with all those other people, however. 

[Ret MP]

2 hours ago, Mikamarii said:

Not quite. It meant most of the cruisers were covid free 2-3 days prior to the cruise.

Yep, it's only a "SNAP-SHOT" in time.

[Ret MP]

19 minutes ago, MommaBear55 said:

I'm not spending a week with all those other people, however. 

Me either.  But, I don't let all 5,000 plus people in my cabin or within my personal space, either.  I am comforted to know that some people took a test at some point in the past, NOT!  But then, I really don't care if you or anybody else tests 2 days, 200 day, 5 minutes before a cruise, it's not going to change MY plans.

 

And most or many people do spend a lot of time in, "airplane, train, bus, taxi, airport terminal, grocery store, concert, sporting event, and everywhere else", post testing, while on the way to a cruise port/cruise vacation.  Testing up to 3 days (or any time frame) is a false sense of security, period.

Edited August 29, 2022 by Ret MP

[Keksie]

I will get excited when the protocols are the same as other land vacations.  No mention of masks at any time during the trip, no vaccination proof needed, no tests needed.  Until then I will wait to book a cruise.

[Ret MP]

4 minutes ago, Keksie said:

I will get excited when the protocols are the same as other land vacations.  No mention of masks at any time during the trip, no vaccination proof needed, no tests needed.  Until then I will wait to book a cruise.

I'm sorry to hear that.  There is so much fun to be had, even with today's requirements (mostly).  We are "fully Jabbed" +1 for which I am completely regretful of, and it is now a breeze to cruise to most locations.  

 

 

[Keksie]

Just now, Ret MP said:

I'm sorry to hear that.  There is so much fun to be had, even with today's requirements (mostly).  We are "fully Jabbed" +1 for which I am completely regretful of, and it is now a breeze to cruise to most locations.  

 

 

We are still having fun going places with no hoops to jump through.  While I am vaccinated plus a booster (waiting for the bivalent version before the 2nd), I don't think it is necessary to have to prove it.  I have yet to feel the need to take a test and haven't worn a mask in well over a year.  It probably helps that we can go to a beach anytime we want.  We are within a short drive of a casino too.

[SchoolNurseMom]

I am with most of you..I am excited about not having to test, but I wonder how many will not be truthful on the precruise health screen and will sail even if they are sick. I am an elementary school nurse and I know how much "willful denial" there is out there that their "cold" or "allergies" cannot possibly be covid. "They were only sick for a day or two and now they feel fine" That does not mean it wasn't covid!

Anyways, I am vaxxed and boosted and Hubby and I will bring masks to wear when we feel we need them and will have a great time I'm sure! Explorer in about 2.5 weeks! 

[Ret MP]

14 minutes ago, Keksie said:

We are still having fun going places with no hoops to jump through.  While I am vaccinated plus a booster (waiting for the bivalent version before the 2nd), I don't think it is necessary to have to prove it.  I have yet to feel the need to take a test and haven't worn a mask in well over a year.  It probably helps that we can go to a beach anytime we want.  We are within a short drive of a casino too.

One things still great about this country, you are free to make such decisions.  I can't remember exactly when I last time I had to put a mask on except to enter an Assisted Care Facility last week.  

 

Former resident of Dania, FL (Now Dania Beach, FL), here.

[klfrodo]

I'm just happy that the world is back to some form of normalcy. Even knowing that this virus will never be eradicated 100%.

2 years ago, the world was hit by a virus that very few people had immunity to. We lost millions of friends and family members. Thru valiant efforts of our scientific community and extreme measures put into place by various entities, the virus is no longer as deadly as it once was.

I'll be happy to be able to visit/sail with friends and family without having to first weigh the risk of said visit.

[TRadle]

My son tested negative before a 3 hour flight. He tested again as soon as he got home and it was positive.  We are talking 4 hours here.  I don't see how the testing helps. 

 

[Diver2014]

Glad to see some of the world is getting back to normal.  Tired of being a sheep being herded into whatever pen they want us in.

[BND]

So happy for our Nov b2b on Jewel.  Testing only caught the few that were in that precise timeframe that it would show up.  Just talked to my mom and the last of my 5 nieces and nephews (all adults 24-32 yrs) have had it now as have both of my sons an dil's (30's).  All in the last 9 months and no one was very sick.  Outside of my oldest son who caught in on a business trip to LA, everyone else caught it just living every day life.  Oldest son only tested because his wife had some symptoms and was positive. He basically had a few sniffles.   DH and I, haven't had it as far as we know.  I saw a story that something like 57% of people who have it don't know it because they were asymptomatic.  

Edited August 29, 2022 by BND