Posted on 01/18/2021 10:11:22 AM PST by Capt. Tom
On January 12, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control issued an Order, in effect January 25, requiring all air passengers arriving in the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs.
All passengers will also be required to present the negative result of the test, or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. This puts the US in line with various other countries that have introduced similar measures over the last weeks.
UK Mutation Accelerating Measures The mutation of COVID-19 recently discovered in the United Kingdom has governments scrambling to implement new procedures as soon as possible. The new travel requirements from the CDC are a prime example of that.
While testing 72 hours prior to travel was originally only for those passengers from the UK, the order has now been expanded to all passengers arriving in the US.
From January 25, 2021, anyone flying to the United States will therefore need to have official documentation of a negative COVID-19 test or certified proof of being a recovered patient.
The CDC recommends passengers get tested no more than 3 days before their flight to the US departs. They should also be tested with a viral test (NAAT or antigen test) to determine if currently infected with COVID-19. Not only that, any flight entering the US, even for a connection, will require testing before departure.
International Travel Is A Major Factor For Cruises
Cruiselines have long counted on air travel to bring their passenger to them. The question is now if cruises from the US will be seeing any international passengers on board. It seems unlikely with the list of measures implemented by the CDC.
The list is growing ever longer. A guest arriving from a country outside the US would first need to be tested in their home country. After they arrive in the US, with their negative test, they will also need to be tested after 3-5 days in the United States, again before going on their cruise, and before leaving the ship again. Not only that, guests will be asked to quarantine for seven days according to the CDC:
CDC recommends that travelers get tested 3-5 days after travel AND stay home or otherwise self-quarantine for 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days.
While the quarantine is stated as not mandatory, it could be demanded from those traveling from overseas, as many other countries are also doing currently. Cruising is supposed to be a fun and relaxing activity, the question is now how many people will be willing to undergo the many different procedures in place just to go on a cruise for a week.
What is more likely is that cruises leaving from the US would be out of the question for anyone not in the United States. Not only would four different tests be a strain on the passengers, but it would also be a strain on the entire infrastructure.
For those vaccinated, there is no escaping the new regulation either: All air passengers traveling to the US, regardless of vaccination status, are required to present a negative test result.
Carnival will be next...
For my April cruise I was able to move to a better and near perfect located cabin today same deck same type cabin but one level down 8G to 8F and a wee bit cheaper...since Carnival doesnt usually let us go down to another level when moving to another cabin but the same or higher...
To me thats a big clue...
Plus the perfect cabin and price etc is usually followed by a cancellation...
SIGH
I NEED A CRUISE !!!!!
On any European cruise I will always book the entire enchilada with the cruise line booking. The flights, airport transfers, and tours in port. That is what our family of 4 did and it worked out great. Stress free! That is what you want on a cruise vacation...less stress!
The only port where we skipped the cruise ship tour was for Rome. Rome is not a port. The ship anchors at Civitavecchia. The cruise ship tour price was very expensive for 4 people. Some people on ship told us to just take the train from Civitavecchia to Rome, about a 45 minute ride. The train station is not far from the cruise dock. We saved a ton of money by doing that. We got off the train at San Pietro station which is walking distance from the Basilica and just explored the city from there. Caution: trains in Italy on Sunday’s are not frequent. Do not miss the really good Gelato near the railway station.
entropy12 wrote: “On any European cruise I will always book the entire enchilada with the cruise line booking.”
Do you book the cruise with the cruise line or do you use a travel agent? I use a TA that discounts the Cruise Line Price by at least 8%. You can still book flights, tours, transfers, etc., through the cruise line.
Haha love your tag line!
I always look for prices on vacations to go web site first.
If travel agent can beat that price, by all means go with the travel agent.
For me the idea is to reduce stress. Booking directly with cruise line instead of another intermediary gives me less stress. On a Norwegian cruise to Alaska, the ship mis-behaved, and many people were injured primarily on top decks with nothing to grab on to. NCL gacve all passengers a $500 voucher for next NCL cruise. Guess what, my travel agent lost the voucher, and I had to go through bunch of threatening phone calls to NCL to restore our $2000 credit for 4 passengers.
entropy12 wrote: “I always look for prices on vacations to go web site first. If travel agent can beat that price, by all means go with the travel agent.”
Try Nancy Bogert, Travel Planners. That’s an American Express Affiliate. You’ll have to call or email her for the price. I’ve used her on several cruises and have never been disappointed. Nor, have I heard of any complaints. One of the nice things is this: Nancy is a small business. Her and one other lady. You always get to talk to Nancy or Marietta. And, yes, she does monitor her email after business hours for emergencies.
She gives an 8% discount on some lines. Others won’t allow an upfront discount. She sends a check for the 8% after the cruise. Or you can take an 8% OBC. Costco travel does about the same.
Forgot to ask. How was NCL? We’ve mostly done Princess or HAL but we have a Haven booked on Breakaway in march 2022. Either they will have the covid beat by then or we will cancel.
NCL ships are cleaner than others. We used to love their chocoholic buffets in past years which seem to be absent now. After 3 dozen cruises under my belt, the ship matters more than cruise line. I have cruised on RCCL ships which were really great and some which were not great. In general larger ships are my preference now > 120,000 tons.
I save my miles/points and use them to fly free one way to Europe come back on a B2B Med/TA...
I dont go the day before I usually go about 10 days before the 1st cruise starts...
Haha 10 days before!!
You can never miss boarding the ship ever..
https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3926504/posts?page=41#41
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Did I not say on Tuesday that Casnival would be next with more cancellations ???
This morning (just THRREE DAYS later)I got the dreaded EMails from Carnival that April cruises are all cancelled...PLUS my Med/TA cruises in October 2021 are all cancelled too...
Give a cute ol gal a break cant ya ???
I NEED A CRUISE !!!!
The new schedule for Carnival
Carnival Panorama – May 1, 2021
Mardi Gras – May 29, 2021
Carnival Horizon – May 9, 2021
Carnival Radiance – November 5
Carnival Sunrise – May 13, 2021
Carnival Miracle – April 28, 2022
Carnival Vista – May 8, 2021
Carnival Magic – November 6, 2021
Carnival Breeze – May 5, 2021
Carnival Freedom – May 4, 2021
Carnival Legend – October 31, 2021
Carnival Paradise – November 1, 2021
Carnival Elation – May 6, 2021
Carnival Sunshine – May 6, 2021
Carnival Dream – May 16, 2021
Carnival Glory – May 2, 2021
Carnival Valor – November 1, 2021
Carnival Liberty – May 7, 2021
Carnival Sensation – May 6, 2021
Carnival Conquest – May 7, 2021
Carnival Ecstasy – May 13, 2021
Carnival Pride – May 2, 2021
Carnival Spirit – Unknown, 2021
Carnival Splendor – May 27, 2021
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