PurpleTraveller

We flew out of Sydney on May 31 and landed some 24 hours later in Rome on June 1. Combined with the travel from our home in a country town west of Sydney and getting into Rome it was around 40 hours of travelling from our home to the hotel in Rome! Upon landing we were through immigration in a matter of minutes and hopped on the Leonardo Express train to Termini train station in Rome. We bought the tickets at one of the ticket machines using a credit card. The cost was €14 each. From landing to getting to Termini train station was about 90 minutes and the train journey was 32 minutes. Our hotel was walking distance from Termini train station so we were able to check in and drop our bags. But even though we were exhausted we couldn't stop now! Before the cruise the Celebrity requirement to get a Covid test prior to boarding the ship had change from one day prior to two days prior then back to one day prior. Normally it wouldn't matter whether it was one or two days prior but for us it was a problem if it was one day prior to the cruise. June 2 in Italy is Republic Day, a national holiday when most pharmacies and testing centres would be closed. The changing requirements caused much angst for us and our fellow cruisers but fortunately Celebrity changed the requirement again to two days prior to the cruise. So before we could sit down we had to go and get our Covid tests done so that we could enjoy our day in Rome tomorrow. We walked to Farmacia allo Statuto and paid €22 each. We waited about 30 minutes to have the test and another 15 minutes to get the results. We were both Negative! Back to the hotel for a much needed rest and we then headed back out for a walk. We have stayed at the hotel on previous trips to Rome so know the area well. It was lovely to just wander and stretch our legs. A stroll past Santa Maria Maggiore, our local church, and the surrounding streets was just what we needed before dinner.

This is a delayed review of my first Celebrity cruise on the lovely Reflection that departed from Civitavecchia (Rome) on June 3, 2022. Previous to this cruise I had only cruised with Princess (ten times) so I was really looking forward to trying the Celebrity cruise experience. But first an introduction. We are an Australian couple in our late 50's and early 60's. We usually travel to the northern hemisphere during our winter to escape to warmer temperatures for a month or more. We love cruising but don't like large bus groups and usually combine a cruise, doing as much DIY as possible, with an independent land tour. Like many of you we had a number of trips cancelled for 2020 and didn't even try to travel overseas in 2021. 2022 was the year to try to enjoy an overseas trip again! Originally we had planned a six week trip starting with a flight from Australia to Milan, a number of days in Venice, then embarking on Celebrity Infinity for a seven day cruise of the Adriatic leaving on June 4 from Ravenna, before going to Bologna to fly to Madrid to continue our trip. Those plans had to be changed when Celebrity Infinity was redeployed to the Caribbean and our cruise was cancelled. A mad scramble later we were "lift and shifted" to the ten day Celebrity Reflection cruise departing from Civitavecchia on June 3. It was the only cruise that we could fit in with our flights without enormous penalties and still get to Madrid for the next part of our trip. Fortunately we were able to change our flight from Sydney to Milan to Sydney to Rome and our flight from Bologna to Madrid to Rome to Madrid at a relatively small cost. The great thing was we got an extra three days on a beautiful ship and even though we lost Split as a port we still had Dubrovnik and also picked up three Italian ports. If there's anything I have learned in recent times it is that to travel internationally at the moment you need to be flexible and adaptable! So let's get started!

We probably should have but I think we were in such shock we didn't even think to. We were so busy trying to contact Royal Caribbean that took all of our attention. We have now tested negative but I feel that we may have been positive five days ago because I'm sure we'd been exposed somewhere with all the coughing and sneezing here in Spain with almost no mask wearing, even though we have been wearing our masks.

Just wanted to update everyone who has been so kind and helpful. I just received a reply to one of the many emails I have sent in the last few days apologizing for the delay in responding to me and they will process the cancellation of our reservation and the refund will take 30 - 45 days. It doesn't excuse the appalling lack of assistance but it is definitely a relief to have some contact and a refund on the way. Thanks to everyone for your comments and advice. 😊

Yes, the ship has sailed. During one of the many phone calls made yesterday I said that I would go to the port and I was told not to. I would never risk endangering anyone else's health but it could have been interesting!

After three days of going in circles and sitting on hold for hours I have just about given up trying to contact Royal Caribbean. I am so disappointed at their complete lack of care for two passengers on the other side of the world from their home who have tried to do the right thing and are not able to go on their cruise. It should not be this difficult or frustrating to try to speak to someone who can help us. Luckily we have no symptoms but I hate to think how bad this whole situation would be if we were really sick!

Thanks, but I don't think I'll be getting any help from Royal Caribbean any time soon. After spending three days going around in circles and sitting on hold for hours and still not achieving anything I don't expect anything to change. I am very disappointed with Royal Caribbean's total lack of care for two passengers in a foreign country unable to board their cruise. I will be contacting my Travel Insurance company soon.

We were supposed to sail today (Thursday). Even if we are Negative now, since we have no symptoms, we still had to say we had tested Positive within the last ten days. We were denied boarding but still keep getting requests via the app to do our safety briefing! I still haven't managed to speak to anyone after spending hours on hold. I did get a reply from Royal Caribbean International via Facebook Messenger who told me to email Royal Customer Service in Australia and provided the email address, which I have done. I will contact our travel insurance and deal with any claim when I get home. I am keeping all receipts and keeping track of all the phone calls made and emails sent. This whole situation has been a nightmare without any assistance at all from Royal Caribbean and desperately spending days trying to get in touch with someone at Royal Caribbean who could help. It has all been so frustrating! Just imagine if we were really sick and dealing with all this!

Thanks for this. I have just spent a number of hours on hold and now the office is closed. I will send an email. Thanks again.

Thanks. It has certainly been a very bizarre experience and not a good one for us to discover the lack of assistance from Royal Caribbean.

Unfortunately I booked direct with Royal Caribbean.

Thanks for this. I have just spent hours on hold and now the office is closed. Will try again tomorrow.

Thanks, I'll give Facebook a try.

Thanks. I have tried ringing the Barcelona office but keep getting cut off. I will try again in the morning and will also try emailing. I knew there was a chance we might get Covid while overseas but never did I think that all emergency phone numbers provided by Royal Caribbean would be useless and we would be on our own. The most annoying thing is that everyone I have spoken to tells me that the International Help Line can't help Australians. Hope you have a great cruise in November and that you don't have any problems like this.

Our son in Australia rang them and they were of no help at all. Even the phone number they gave him is invalid.

Hi, I am hoping someone might be able to help me. My husband and I have both tested Positive to Covid during our pre cruise Antigen test. We are already in Barcelona. I have been trying to inform Royal Caribbean of our Positive result but have not had any success. The emergency number on our cruise paperwork 18002566649 is for US bookings only and they can not help. The other number listed 13055394107 is only if our air is booked with Royal Caribbean. The International Help Line 13053410204 can not help with bookings made in Australia. The only number they can give for Australians is a toll free number that can only be rung when in Australia. I have emailed cruiseadmin.au@rcclapac.com twice but not had a reply. I have completed the Health Questionnaire on the app to state our Positive Covid result. Does anyone have an idea to help me cancel my cruise so I can then get a refund? Many thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I was on Reflection for the June 3 cruise. We had many sign up for the Cruise Critic meet up but no-one received any information about the time or location of the meet up. Someone on the roll call made enquiries with the Captain's Club and was told that the officers were waiting for us on the first sea day but no-one turned up. A definite miscommunication.

I was in 8106 on the June 3 cruise out of Civitavecchia. The room was very spacious and quiet from passing traffic and neighbours. Very little movement could be felt during sailing. There was also a great view over the front of the ship. The only downside was the noise heard when docking from the thrusters and ropes being deployed or the anchor when tendering. This did not worry us as we were usually awake before the noise started in the morning and were not in the cabin for sail away. It was a great location and I would book a cabin there again.

I am really sorry that you tested positive after the cruise. We were on the same cruise and it wouldn't surprise me if more have also tested positive since disembarking. With the captain announcing that there were 19 cases on 9 June and then announcing on 12 June that there were more cases but didn't give a number, I suspect that Covid cases may have been higher than we will ever know. We also had a fabulous cruise but unfortunately not everyone did take precautions. During our shore excursion in Kotor we were the only people on the bus wearing masks. We also noticed that about 75% of passengers waiting in the theatre for their shore excursions did not wear masks, unlike when everyone wore masks and socially distanced during shows in the theatre. There were many people coughing and sneezing towards the end of the cruise who were not wearing masks, including on the shuttle bus in Livorno. Of course there were also risks in picking it up while on shore. It is such a shame that you took precautions and still ended up with Covid. I hope you recover quickly.

Agree with everyone else. Ephesus is wonderful and not to be missed. We still had time after the tour to wander around the market. Store holders can be pushy and the price you pay is dependent on your bargaining skills. It is amusing to see shops advertising "Genuine Fake Watches".

Thanks! So much easier with luggage!

Thanks. I want to go from the train station to the ship. Was hoping it was direct to the ship rather than having to change shuttles at the shuttle stop.

Thanks for this information. Do you know if the shuttle buses from the train station go directly to the ships or do you have to change shuttles at the new stop to get to your ship? Thanks.

I have been to Kotor twice by cruise ship. Firstly make sure you do not miss the sail in as it is very scenic and one of the loveliest sail ins I have done. Of course there is the sail out but depending on what time you leave it may be dark or you may be sailing directly into the sun. Most ships moor and tender the passengers to the dock which is quite small. The old town of Kotor is very close to the dock and it is flat and very easy to walk around. On our first visit we walked up the walls to the St John Fortress which is not for the faint hearted as it is a hard walk as the steps are uneven and quite steep. The views though were magnificent. The second time we got the local bus to Perast (cost €1 per adult each way in 2016), then a local boat (cost €5 per adult in 2016) to Lady of the Rocks island to see the church. Very pretty town and lovely views of the bay. Both times we had time to also walk around the old town of Kotor before getting the tender back to the ship. Hope you have a great visit to Kotor.

I think you may be correct that this is a Celebrity requirement rather than an Italian requirement. Italy's requirement may be that all cruise passengers be tested prior to boarding but I wonder what they have stated the timing of when the test should be taken. Two other cruise lines without the one day testing are Cunard with 2 days and Oceania with 72 hours.