les37b

Bingo. I suspect this is the reason and whilst conflict related, ultimately is sales driven. I saw those offers too and gutted I was unable to take advantage as I'd made a June booking already (currently in Stockholm), but definitely would have taken one of those. I wonder if my Osaka to Seward will be amended (other than just a avoiding Kamchatsky.) That's a rather large area of Russian waters it's sailing in!

I potentially had a similar scenario in Valparaiso in January, where we were due to berth at 7 and flights at 2pm after the long taxi ride to Santiago. Usually would have considered this ample time. The unknown being how long Chile would take to clear, during their COVID meltdown at this time, or even if they would allow us off. (We were already 9 days late as it was!) Luckily they were on this occasion quick and from memory we left the port at approx 9.30 and arrived in good time using the toll roads Stress we didn't need, though that this was not a SS created thing. (On the contrary, I cannot fault them for their assistance in getting us home.) Your scenario would have raised huge alarm bells and I'd have insisted it wasn't enough time and at least what they intend to do, if you missed your flight due to nigh impossible scheduling. Without the extra help at LHR you got, this would have simply ruined your wonderful holiday. I've been attempting to get my flights sorted for my next..... And 6 weeks on still waiting. With only 3 choices of direct flights to chose from, it should be straight forward.... Well I'd like to think so....

It begs the question if tests are still required for company policy, why it's deemed ok to pass the costs on, since pierside testing was always included. Annoyingly I just had to cough up £79 each for a PCR on another line, which were fine with up to 72 day results. For several EU ports (and Athens in particular there are test sites in abundance with charges of between €5 and €10 for an antigen test and certificate. But.... Having 3 D2D bookings where nothing is excluded, I now find I may have to locate a testing facility in Barbados, Osaka and Ft Lauderdale. If SS expect test results, they should make sure the "package" is complete If they are no longer testing (and see my comments above about it being an "EU requirement"), if tests are required at those locations, I guess I will need to hope test sites are available still at a reasonable cost and near the pre cruise hotel SS provide me with. It seems potentially to be a logistical nightmare.

I'm not convinced there even is an EU requirement for boarding with a valid negative test result. I once thought there was and sure I'd seen it specified, but it seems it's always cruise lines stating "it's EU policy" Viking no longer test to board and have gone from the strictest testing regime, to nothing needing (outside of general country entry requirements.) For all cruises going forward, I will be passed the 270 days, so probably need a test to enter the country anyway, plus I'm I don't have an issue if all guests had to be tested. (There are loads of cases on the ship I just disembarked and many seemingly disregarding the consequences of quarantine and missed flights. Stupidity in my eyes!) I rather suspect the "it's not us, it's the EU" is to lay the blame for the requirement and cost elsewhere. I doubt they have special dispensation.... Hence my suspicions it's not an EU requirement as being stated. If anyone can show an official EU site that stipulates this extra boarding requirement, I would be grateful. So are tests required for non EU boardings? My next 3 are well into the future, starting in Barbados, Osaka and Ft Lauderdale. I'm assuming the EU has no jurisdiction in these places and no test required? Mine are a long way off and appreciate goalposts move. But would be interested in what the current testing requirements SS mandate for elsewhere since the CDC test change for entering the US.

Personally I don't understand why the penalty for "changing your mind" which is £120 on all my past and current bookings, is not considered an issue to now be increased to 15% of the total cost. (And that was actually refunded when transferred to a replacement.) What about when Silversea changes its mind and amends start and end points and places it visits? Out of interest, at what % to be non refundable would you consider a change too far? Clearly 15% is an acceptable risk for you to book. What if it was 50 or even 100%?

It was poor in Lisbon also, taking 2 1/2 hours to get on from arrival. I initially thought it was the third party staff, but the bottleneck was the final part and getting on the ship. It was a repeated topic I heard guests complain about. Luckily after the first day (massive queues at the MDR), service generally improved. There were some minor niggles, but generally it was fine.

I live in the real world, where there are calculated risks which are managed the best as possible. It matters not that you think Covid is a fuss about nothing. If you are suggesting you would happily travel infected and risk others, then that says a lot about you. There are several people on our current trip who are in isolation. This was the room next to ours, which I mentioned I saw medical staff attending. This is what happens, when you are confined to your room on the ship. The effects will be more costly if you are positive when you disembark. And no, the tests were done because of suspicion and you cannot say "no thank you, I want to be back to normal". I have zero fear from the virus from a medical perspective. The effects in travel are a different matter. If you get unlucky, you might then understand the consequences. I might happy agree with your desires to be "back to normal", but until quarantine and close contact restrictions are lifted, but until then..... Them's the rules and if you court the virus, I'm no doubt you will likely be rewarded. BTW, when you say you have no cases on your cruise, I rather suspect there are. Just because Azamara are keeping it quiet, doesn't mean your thoughts are true. On mine they told me the same. False info. I know there are as there is a positive case posting an I saw a medical guy dealing with the room next to ours with a long list of room numbers.... I suspect it wasn't to say hi.

I wonder how many on your cruise currently have COVID and in isolation and likely to miss flights home. No matter what you feel as being acceptable risks to you personally, the outcome if you do catch can be devastating on your wallet and time away from home. Been there, done it.

I am certain before our current sailing that was the case and the requirement of a 24 hour antigen or 72 hour PCR was an official policy of the EU to board (despite no test needed to enter the country.) However since the CDC US entry changed, that requirement by the EU seems to now have been dropped. That said, it was the Portugal Passport control people in the port in Lisbon who checked the PCR results, not the CL (which kinda suggests it's an official government policy.) So now, it's cruise lines requiring it. I searched for a ages and I can't find anything EU official - it just seems to have vanished as if it wasnt ever there.

From a previous thread from someone on the previous sailing, they had said we would be getting 630 guests on our voyage. I took it at face value. I just went to GS to find out my balance and also asked the sailing numbers. She said we started off with 595 but now had 584.... Not sure if they were COVID disembarks. I did ask if we had any cases of COVID on board and was told no, which is a blatant lie. I will post at some point my thoughts on this cruise - my first on Azamara, which has mostly been positive, but with a few negatives which could and should be taken as feedback for things that I would think are easy fixes. This quarantine thing should however be addressed properly.

I was aware from our roll call there were COVID cases on board Pursuit currently. Seems likely we have another in the room next to ours. I saw a guy this morning in medical gowns and mask looking at a list on some paper near our room. He asked what room I was in which I told him. I said that list of room numbers I could now see looks ominous. I asked how many cases which he refused to tell me. "It's confidential" he said. If I asked what room numbers the positives were in, that would be confidential, not how many on board. He said it was azamara protocol. I'm aware that they are not separating positive and negative guests in the same room. He said she might be negative now, but will be positive soon. How irresponsible. My own experience in January proves that's not a given and effectively continuing to expose someone, they will eventually catch it and the quarantine starts again on the date of that new positive test. The guest concerned is hoping they will disembark in Stockholm when he finishes quarantine. This "azamara protocol" seems to be condemning a further hotel quarantine once the continued exposure claims a new victim which may have been avoided. Quite shocking. I suspect once off the ship it's "not our problem". Meanwhile, it's very noticeable how many people are walking around coughing and hardly anyone wearing a mask.

This was last night on Pursuit sailing Kiel canal. Lots of large tables.

They do... And before 2 or 3 days ago a test pre boarding and each day was mandatory. There was an announcement made a few days ago which coincided with the US CDC announcement. I've still yet to see an announcement the EU has followed suit re-cruises, but if Viking have made the statement no pre tests, then the EU must also have stopped it as a requirement.

There is Rose. Wife has drunk that and merlot and said both are ok. She decided to spend a big chunk of her OBC in the shop.... I went for premium upgrade instead and so not restricted!

They posted a change as of the 10th, so this is a very new development and a result of the CDC US change as of yesterday. "Additionally, Viking highly recommends, but no longer requires, a pre-departure COVID-19 test—unless one is required by the destination." The last part is key. https://www.vikingcruises.co.uk/oceans/why-viking/health-and-safety/health-and-safety-program.html I know there was a link posted about 3 weeks ago confirming it was an EU departure requirement. I've not seen anything saying the EU have lifted it, but it was a requirement 1 week ago. You will probably recall, Greece imposed a higher requirement banning PCR older than 24 hours. It affected lots of Azamara guests needing to take a further Antigen test (given without charge) because their PCR was older than 24 hours. I've searched but can't see.... And as this is just a couple of days old, it will be interesting to see what transpires in Athens if they have any sailings imminent. A bit unfair. As UKtog says, he's not seen anything published by the EU removing these restrictions and neither have I and if they have it's literally just happened like he suggests. Maybe you've seen them? Be great if someone can post a link. Of course something else comes into play (until it's lifted), you will still need to provide a negative test result to enter many European countries (and probably many around the world,) if your last vaccine shot was over 270 days. Lots still needs to be sorted and it's still all as clear as mud.

I did also and never had any problems doing the test. Going forward, I'd be ok with the removal of testing. It kills travel enjoyment when you can arrive in a port and be denied entry because you had close contact with someone testing positive. But it's a case (in Europe at least) Azamara and all CL following the mandate that testing to board is a legal requirement. Our boarding last week, it was the Portuguese passport control officials checking the paperwork.... All of which to me seems to be a money making exercise for testing and hotel accomodation if your luck is out. So until the EU lifts this, European cruises will remain to have a test. For departing the UK, I don't think it's needed... But suspect CL are choosing to make mandatory.

Likewise. Any that decide to stick adverts and promotions to increase earnings inside their videos get instant unsubscribe.

Glad you got that sorted. We would have booked on one of them ourselves, but we booked a replacement as a swap for our cancelled Muse trip to Japan to fill the gap.

It always has been that way in La Terrazza. Buffet not self serve, but was pre pandemic. Personally I prefer this. COVID isn't the only thing than can be spread.

He wants to be controversial. Personally I think he just wants to make money and thinks that putting vibrators in each cabin is a niche unthought of market and a little bit of schoolboy giggle on finding it. Maybe his target is schoolboys? Don't forget the tattoo parlour.... Oops sorry.... Big wave sir.... Lol

Trial run leaving Lisbon.... Ready for Amsterdam, Kiel and Stockholm.... Thanks again..

It was on Scarlet Lady that I met Gary and have to admit from our chat, I was surprised he was more favourable that I expected in his video. In short he couldn't work out Branson's target audience, which I completely get. He never mentioned the half eaten pizza in his room on arrival and bars overcharging.... But guess that's because he don't drink and the pizza was found in my son's room. Met 'Visit with us" on the same cruise. I love their videos but do wonder if the freebies and upgrades make the reviews genuine. Good entertainment nonetheless.

So the + = plus noise? lol Sounds good I didn't get. Incidentally, when the option was first there is was £300 and £420.... The minimum for plus obviously went up as it was £500 when I looked 5 days out. No harm. The £150 each for a balcony for 10 nights is not so sad. Allocated room could have been better, but pleased we got starboard as pretty much the coastline of the whole itinerary will be on that side.

Many thanks, that looks fine. Hopefully a chair will be high enough. I may just ask at GS to explain what I'm doing (with some clips so they understand) and I think it should be fine. Fingers crossed.

I did say "almost full" so not sure what the problem is. 630 is almost full. Are you saying it isn't?