libert1
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Posts posted by libert1
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17 hours ago, dmms said:
Thanks for a great review!
Very organized and informative- enjoyed your objective comments!
We are staying in the Prima Haven first week of February with our adult son and your review was very helpful- will definitely listen for the loud person when we get to the pier!
One question I did have - even though your debarkation was smooth, did you encounter any undo traffic trying to leave the port area?
We are flying out of Orlando and making plans for transport.
Thanks again for an enjoyable read!
As Karaboudjan said, we had no issues with traffic. It moved smoothly.
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8 hours ago, Karaboudjan said:
Restaurants are pretty subjective... We were on the same cruise as the OP and thought the food at Onda was excellent. My issue was that it seemed cramped; we were very close to the adjacent tables. I felt the same about Cagney's, except that we had an aisle on one side. Palomar seemed more spacious.
You are so right. Restaurants are very subjective as is food. I thought the exact same thing that it looks cramped. We were seated in the center at the back of the restaurant and didn't have the problem you did. But we were worried about that going in. It seems my worries may have been true based on your experience. Glad you enjoyed your food there.
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12 hours ago, PhillyTravelBug said:
Thank you for the review. I am hoping you may have gotten an off day for Onda. The restaurant looks beautiful, but the review is consistent with La Cucina food on the other ships. Did you have a hot tub on your balcony? I just remember seeing them on the renderings, but haven't seen a review of them at all. 231days until my Prima sailing!
Philly I too hope it was just an off day. Even though I say I won't likely return, I probably will. I always say give everything 3 tries and if you still don't like it then you don't like it but at least you really gave it a chance. I really liked La Cucina on the other ships.
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Here is my review of our 7 day cruise on the NCL Prima of the Caribbean out of Port Canaveral.
This is my 10th cruise on NCL and my 6th in the Haven. Once you go Haven you won’t go back. We have done two previous cruises with Disney when my daughter was little. Other than that we have one cruise with Oceania and have not tried any other cruises.
I am a planner. I don’t have to have every moment planned out but I hate to idea of missing something if I haven’t researched it. If I know about it I can decide to miss it or change my plans based on an informed consent. What I don’t want to do is to find out later that I missed something because I didn’t know about it. As such, I read every forum on CC and watched as many videos on You Tube as possible before the cruise.
There were three of us travelling in a HE suite Haven penthouse with balcony, my wife of 35 years and our 22 YO daughter, who graduated with her Master’s degree the day before the cruise. Yes it was a graduation gift and a chance for all three of us to unwind from the stress of school and work. This cruise was meant for too much drinking, too much eating, and too much sleeping. We did not get off the ship at any of the ports. We succeeded in accomplishing all three goals and relaxing as much as possible
PORT
We arrived at Port Canaveral around 11am, about an hour and a half before our scheduled arrival time. We dropped the three bags with the porter and he directed us to parking. No issues with the signs or following directions. We were at a different dock than I thought we would be based upon my research but the signage was good and easy to follow. We parked and I took the parking ticket with me based upon the signs that said pay at the machine before leaving. If you have been to other ports you pay for parking at a machine before getting in your car to avoid lineups at the exit gate. Upon our return, it turns out that we had to pay at the exit gate due to signs that looked like they were just put up that day. No issues and no lines. We just used my CC, paid and exited.
After parking we walked across the ramp, where my wife was waiting and headed to the terminal. There were no signs for the Haven or no tents. But upon arrival at the Disney Q, there was someone loudly yelling out for any Haven gests. All Haven gests were directed to the left and the masses were sent to the right to join the line. We went to a separate security line where we were the second group in line. We got through security in 2 minutes.
After passing through security, there was a large sign and a person at a podium for Haven guests. We were checked against the list and escorted to a sign in sheet. In this room things seemed a bit unorganized and chaotic, but there were the usual snacks and drinks. However, it was more of an impression as everything went smoothly. After about 10 minutes we were called to the front desk to go through the usual health questions, take new pictures if needed, my wife and daughter needed new pictures but mine was fine, and were issued our cards. We were then sent to the next room where we waited 60 seconds till enough of us were ready to be escorted on the ship. From the time we pulled into port till we were on the ship was about 45 minute’s maybe.
Boarding
As you board the ship, haven guests were taken directly to the private Haven elevators and taken to deck 16. Upon arrival there one of the butlers went through the usual Haven spiel and we looked around. Wanting to go to the Indulge Food hall we went and dropped off our carryon bags in our room. Our room was ready. We dropped our bags and headed downstairs. We got there a little after 12 but couldn’t find a table. We ended up at a bar seating behind the Seaside Grill. That was fine as they served everything from all stations there but my wife does not like sitting at a high top table so we hoped for a regular table. I will cover the food later.
Room
After lunch we went back up to the room. The room was great. It was one of the largest balcony rooms we have ever had. It was almost as large as the PH suite on the Oceania ship we were on. There was plenty of room for the three of us. There were enough drawers available for all our clothes and all of us tend to over pack. My daughter used some of the drawers under the main bed and in the entertainment center. There were plenty of empty drawers. One thing I liked was that we never had to turn sideways to let the other pass when going around the end of the bed. There was lots of room.
If I had to find a negative of the room, I would say it was in the bathroom. There is no need for such a large sink. Two smaller double sinks or one smaller single sink would have been preferable. There was not enough room for toiletries to be left on the counter. I had to put everything back in my bag and put the bag in the drawer each day instead of leaving some of it on the counter each day. And there is enough room for another shelf in the room. Somewhere to put my clean clothes and towel during my shower would be nice. Again, these are VERY minor issues and may not be issues for some.
The bed was very comfortable and I had no issues getting my required too much sleep. My daughter did not complain about the pull out sleeper sofa which I fully expected to hear about as is her custom. The power curtains were nice and only took a second to get used to as did the lighting controls. The butler told us about the balcony door and the wind tunnel effect. As others had not heeded his warnings, the glass door on the back of the entry door had cracked on a previous cruise. As such we did not have a full length mirror in the room, which is apparently a problem for my wife and daughter. Close your balcony door. This was one of the nicest rooms we have had in the Haven, not counting the two bedroom suites.
Service
Prior to Covid, I noticed a difference in the staff of the different ships. I liked the Escape as the staff seemed happier and like they enjoyed being there. That was apparent on this ship. I was extremely pleased with the performance of the staff on the ship. I can say that only once, at the Local bar, did I encounter a staff member who did not seem like he wanted to be there. I understand that they are working and I do not always like to be at work, hence the vacation, but I do my best not to let it show to the “customers”. My fellow employees may know it but the public does not know if I am unhappy. I could tell he didn’t want to be there.
Our butler was great. I will discuss tipping later, but on embarkation day he introduced himself, explained the room, explained his services, and made sure if there was anything we wanted all we had to do was ask. If he didn’t know, he would find out the answer or provide another solution. I have had butlers in the past that I never saw until the last day when they expected a tip. Jefferson was great. I asked him to provide us three chocolate croissants and a pot of French press from the Haven restaurant daily at 0730. Within a minute of 0730 each day, the doorbell would ring and he was there with the requested items and the croissants were warm. We didn’t have any other requests. However, my daughter was getting over a cold, not Covid as she was tested, and all week long he brought her hot tea and honey prior to the end of his shift at 2130 hours each day, at his suggestion. Again, Jefferson was great.
Bar Service
Yes I purchased the Premium Plus package. I prefer the top shelf items. I really liked the Haven Bar. It is much larger with 12 bar stools plus the usual lounge seats. I enjoy talking with the bar tenders while they let me try different stuff. One of the staff was Ravi, who I had met on previous Haven cruise on the Escape. He is great and it was a pleasure getting to know him again. These guys are true mixologists. Ravi loves making classic cocktails. One night I tried several different drinks and he enjoyed himself as much as I did and I learned about a couple of new drinks. I learned that his family owns a coffee farm and he worked it during Covid. The Haven bartenders are worth their weight in gold compared to other bartenders on the ship. Tell them what you like and let them make a suggestion.
As for the drink package, the plus is definitely worth it for me. You will have to figure out what you drink and what you like. A few years ago, it definitely would not be worth it for me but as my tastes developed it became more important. I was exposed to a couple of new wines during dinner that I really like. And I tried a couple of different whiskies that I did not like. I do not like scotch but heard that Blue Label was so smooth and good that I would love it. I hated it. I love Whistle Pig Rye and had most of my old fashioned made from it. At $25 extra per drink, it paid for the upgrade quickly. We had the Veuve Clicqot at Le Bistro by the glass and finished a bottle with the appetizers, plus it makes great mimosas. Look at the menus and decide if it works for you.
Food (sorry no photos)
The reason I tried Oceania is because I am a foodie. They claim to have the finest cuisine at sea and I believe it from my limited experienced. Pre Covid, NCL was going downhill, even the Haven. They have redeemed themselves. The food in the Haven was very good to great. There were only one or two items we did not like. Remember food is subjective. What I love, my wife likes, and my daughter hates. I believe that the quality of the food was much better than in the past.
Almost all our food was from the Haven. We ate in Indulge for lunch a couple of times and once for a late dinner. We never ate in the main dining room. We had a late night snack in the Local, and we ate at the buffet once for breakfast. We also ate at Le Bistro, Palomar, Food Republic, Nama, and Onda.
I was disappointed in the buffet. The food was average. The problem was the usual with food left out under heat lamps. It gets hard, and overheated. The eggs benedict were overcooked as were the scrambled eggs. The food was not bad and was edible, just not great. Again, it was only one breakfast so do not judge the full restaurant on one visit.
The Local was ok. The wings are not fried and were again average. The beer cheese sauce for the pretzel bites was nacho cheese sauce not beer cheese sauce. It was good, but not beer cheese and not as advertised. The pretzels were very good.
Le Bistro was excellent as usual. I had the lamb; my wife had the duck and my daughter the chicken. All were excellent. The service was fantastic. I was kind of done with Le Bistro but my wife wanted to go there and I was glad we did. It was definitely worth the visit.
Onda was a disappointment. I felt like they had prime ingredients but failed to execute. We started with a pizza. The crust and dough were excellent but the toppings seemed to lack flavor. The same thing occurred with the pasta. It tasted like the pasta was homemade but the toppings were lacking flavor. Appetizers were ok. The octopus was tough. Service was good. Overall, it was a miss for us and I would not return most likely
Palomar was a huge HIT. Everything we ate there was outstanding. We ate several apps and every one was great. The octopus was amazingly tender and tasty as was the crudo and the oysters. My wife and I had the fish for two. WOW. The presentation was great as was the flavor. My daughter had the monkfish, which was also great. Desert was excellent. I would go back there again and again.
We also went to Food Republic. We have been there in the past at least three times on other ships. I am not sure if the menu has changed or if anything else changed. However, this was a miss of us. Something just seemed off. The food was just ok but seemed to lack the wow factor it had in the past. I will give it one more chance but it seems to be on its way out.
Nama was very good. We ate there for some appetizers early one evening. I have had sushi in Michelin stared restaurants and while this was not that good it was much better than the local sushi joint. The menu is limited but it was tasty and different. I will definitely go back there again.
Indulge food hall is the sleeper. It was outstanding. While we did not love everything, everything was good and above with most being excellent. Everyone found the Pad Tai to be too spicy but the presentation and ingredients were very good. That may have been the only thing we did not eat. The bbq was ok, I smoke my own brisket. The bbq sausage was excellent. The seaside rotisserie was excellent as was the Indian food. The crowds died down on later days and getting a table was not always a hassle. On sea days it is best to go before 12 or after 1. I could eat there almost every day. Worth multiple visits.
Finally, the Haven was excellent. The service is impeccable as usual. I have read about the same menu becoming old. I suppose it is possible if you are not open to other items but there is enough on there to satisfy most for most cruises, especially with a specialty dinner thrown in there occasionally. For example, the last dinner I had the surf and turf and surf and surf with the potatoes from the steak instead of the baked potato. Yes I had three lobster tails with the fillet. You can mix and match if you like. I had salad instead of fries with lunch a couple of days. All you have to do is ask. If I wanted something off menu, I would give them the courtesy of asking ahead of time. I didn’t ask for anything but I assume it wouldn’t have been a problem. The Haven is back.
Entertainment
We only went to one show, Noise Boys. At arrival, we were given a list of shows and registered for three of them but only went to the one. We met at the concierge desk about 30 minutes early and were escorted to the front row center right in front of the stage. The show was amazing. Definitely one of the better shows I have seen on NCL. We didn’t really do anything else. We did plan on going to galaxy pavilion once and spending the full day pass at $49 each but when we got there on the second to last day almost everything was broken in some way. I did try one VR shooter game. The video quality was poor compared to the one VR experience I have had with the Verge. For $8, it was ok to try. My wife and daughter did not try anything. Too many problems to work out.
Tipping
There are too many treads on this and I do not want to add to it but I do find it helpful when I read what others have tipped so I have an idea of what to give. In general, I am usually a generous tipper. Pre Covid I was usually around 20% and post Covid, to help make up I would tip between 20 to 25 % at a restaurant. I did ask one of the waiters, If I was drinking top shelf and more expensive drinks, if they got a larger tip. According to him, the 20% that is included in the drink packages gets shared worldwide, not just on the ship or to him. According to him, the same occurs with the prepaid service charge. It is not shared just with the ship stewards and waiters but worldwide.
I made all my own dinner reservations and the only thing the concierge did for us was to make a couple of show reservations, escort us to one show, and have the pool server escort us down the elevator to get off the ship. They did nothing else for us. They only got $20.
Our Butler, Jefferson, got $100 upfront when I asked him to get us coffee every morning at 0730. As mentioned he got my daughter tea every evening and did get us some bottles of Flow water a few times when we asked. I don’t know that he did that much more but he was always asking and offering his services. I believe he got another $60 as we left.
That should be everyone not included in the prepaid service charge.
Our room steward got an extra $40 halfway through and another $40 at the end. Our room was spotless and tidied up every time we left it, or so it seemed. The bartenders shared in an additional $120. They earned it with me. I made them work. My wife likes gin. We did a gin tasting one evening, of every gin they had. My daughter wanted some classic cocktail that required them running to the kitchen to get egg for egg whites. They worked.
Leaving
We did the priority disembarkation. We put the bags out the night before, had breakfast in the Haven at 0700 and walked off at 0800. Customs was using the facial recognition so from the time we got in the elevator n the Haven till we were in the car was 10 minutes maybe. Simple and easy.
Overall
The Prima is a different ship. It is beautiful. It is not laid out like other NCL ships. It may require you to think a bit about which way to go. It did not seem to be crowded but the ship was full. I do like the way things seemed to be segmented into smaller sections. In the Haven lounge I spent a couple of days reading a book and drinking mojitos in a quiet corner without being bothered. I will definitely sail on her again. I will try to answer any questions you have.
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Does any one know if you still get a discount at the food republic on the first night if you are in the Haven. During the past two cruises I did in the Haven we were told that we had a 50% discount in the Food Republic only on boarding night. We are sailing on the Prima in December and really enjoy the FR and it works with our dining plans for the rest of the week.
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23 minutes ago, LaCal said:
any word if there’s a 3rd Platinum guest in the cabin?
Latitude FAQ's state:
For 3rd and 4th Platinum, Sapphire, Diamond, or Ambassador members in the same stateroom, an additional Welcome Back Card will be delivered. If there is only a 3rd Platinum, Sapphire, Diamond, or Ambassador member in the same stateroom, an additional Welcome Back Card will be delivered but this guest will be treated as a solo traveler who get one dinner only. The benefit is only if there are 2 guests dining on the same visit.
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So, we have been on 9 NCL cruises including 5 in the Haven. Obviously I liked them. We just finished our first O cruise. We wanted to try to upgrade a bit. We did a trans-Atlantic in a PH suite on the Marina. My wife and I are mid 50's, still working hard for our money and paying for our daughter at an expensive collage. I am a big foodie and my wife is getting there. So here are some of my thoughts.
Please remember, opinions are subjective and what I like, or what bothers me, may not be the same for you or others.
On this TA cruise, with the exception of a few people, we were the youngest couple on the ship. Not really a big problem but if you like to socialize a lot, this may not be the cruise for you. I have read that it depends on the time of the year and the itinerary. We did meet some very nice people and had dinner with one couple one night.
Food. Outstanding. Think Haven quality but everywhere and much better choices. Even on the buffet they had all the grilled lobster made to order I could eat. I think there was only one meal the whole time that was average. Everything else was above average. Buffet much much much better than NCL.
Service. Outstanding. This was the first time I have really used our butler, even on the 5 Haven cruises. One evening we came out of our cabin for dinner and our butler was doing something in the hall. He escorted us to dinner giving us suggestions and introducing us to the maitre d'. Rooms were spotless and we hardly ever saw our room steward. The room was just cleaned pretty much every time we left it, or so it seemed. The service everywhere was GREAT!
Shore excursions. We only did one. it was organized but definitely not worth it. It was in Funchal and was not as advertised. The market was good and interesting. The lace museum was just a store, no history or anything. The Port wine was just a store with a couple of small samples. Guide was good. Just not worth the money and definitely not what was advertised and expected. When we booked the excursion, only ship based tours were available. Just before we sailed it changed and you could use private tours or just go ashore.
Entertainment. Very good. We didn't take in any production shows, just because we never seemed to make it there. We did see the comedian twice and he was good. We did the cooking class twice and really liked that. The enrichment series speakers were very good and interesting. One much better than the other. The second guy was all about space and stars. I think you had to be interested as he was very well informed but not the best speaker.
The one thing I felt was a little disappointing was the bar. We had the drink package so most everything was included, except the sake at the Asian restaurant, go figure. The selection was mid level. Having been in the Haven 5 times and moving up in class and service level, I was expecting about the same level of drinks as the Haven. They only had one type of bitters, Angostura. Can't make a Sazerac without Peychaud's. There was only one rye whiskey, Jack Daniels, not counting Crown Royal. I personally prefer Whistle Pig, which they have in the Haven. No smoking gun for smoked old fashioned.
If you are not into enjoying finer or different drinks, then the selection is good. If you prefer cocktails or mixed drinks then it is fine. If you prefer sipping different whiskeys or experimenting with top shelf then it may be a bit disappointing. The bar tenders were amazing. They would try to get you anything or make it for you. One evening I asked for an Irish Coffee. They told me the coffee machine was being cleaned so it would take a minute or two as they had to go downstairs to get the coffee. In this case downstairs was all the way to the back of the ship at the bottom. But they did it without question and quickly. Again, outstanding service. You can bring your own alcohol onboard with you or if you don't drink much this may not be a problem.
Room. Excellent. We had a PH suite on Oceania which was bigger than the average room in the Haven. Well appointed and lots of room. I really liked the walk in closet. Just seems more luxurious. I know some may say that is wasted space but it is nice to have.
I really liked that there were NO pressure sales to buy more. We did spend some money but we didn't have to and we weren't pressured to. No photographers bothering you at dinner. No sales folks outside the shops trying to get you in. It was pleasant.
The size of the ship was much nicer. Our ship held up to 1250 guests. I was told we had about 950 onboard. It seemed like there were never any lines or issues with crowds. Even on the couple of days we had sun we had no issue getting a lounger. The size of the ship was perfect and it never seemed crowded like the large ships can.
Overall, I greatly prefer Oceania. If the cost was right and I needed to get away at the last minute and the ports were right, I would cruise on NCL in the Haven again, never in the main ship, but I much much prefer Oceania. Oceania was more expensive than NCL and at times I felt like the poor cousin invited to the rich family Christmas party but that was on my part not on how I was treated in any way. Most people at the bar we were talking to had multiple O cruises booked. I wish I could afford that. Again, on my part not how I was treated.
I came back from my cruise having read two books and very relaxed. We did buy a cruise credit onboard, because of work it was impossible to choose the specific cruise we will go on next. Oceania is more expensive than NCL but not by much and I feel it was definitely worth it, especially if you like to eat. I definitely prefer Oceania and will be cruising on them again.
Hope this helps you decide. I don't think you will be disappointed with O.
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Art
O's Travel and Entry requirements page states:
REQUIRED TESTING DURING YOUR VOYAGE Any testing that may be required by authorities to enter a port of call will be carried out aboard the vessel and will be complimentary. Additionally, Oceania Cruises will conduct complimentary antigen testing for all guests on the final day of the voyage. PCR testing will be available for those destinations that require it. This testing can be used to satisfy any requirements for onward travel after your voyage.
Here is the link that answers many of your questions.
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No not an upgrade. I had the OBC. I will call my TA Monday if it doesn't clear up. Just wondering if there is some rule about purchases I am unable to find.
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Does anyone know why I would receive the notice "Due to beverage restrictions you can not shop at this time"?
I have been trying to purchase the beverage package for our upcoming Nov 19th trip and it has been like this for a couple of weeks now. Before that I was able to purchase it but hadn't completely made up my mind till now.
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Thank you for the menu's. 🙂 Much appreciated. Now I can dream in more detail.
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5 hours ago, annandme said:
libert1 - Thank you for the Eurofins Barcelona information. I called their Ramble de Catalonya 120 office at +34 932 18 70 91 this morning using Google Voice (1 cent per minute) and spoke with a nice english speaking person who booked our appointment. I think we're all set now.
Glad to help. Are you on the Nov 19th sailing? If so, see you on the ship.
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3 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:
Many international airport labs can deliver PCR results in under 4 hours.
Also, read carefully your specific cruise line/air line/country/state requirements: some do require that the specimen must be collected at the lab (as well as analyzed there).
A perfect example is the State of Hawaii. If not fully vaccinated, your PCR test and a specific analysis process both must be done by a lab provider that is on their approved list.
We are fully vaccinated otherwise we wouldn't be going on O. While I haven't officially checked with O, from their Sailsafe documentation it states "The PCR test onboard for cruises from Europe will be administered by Eurorfins." So I would hope that a test from Eurofins lab would be acceptable. I could be wrong and if I am shame on me for not calling O beforehand.
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https://eurofins-megalab.com/en/products-online-store/
I chose the PCR test Self-collection through gargling, and made an appointment.
Eurofins Laboratorio Sarró, S.L.U.
Rambla De Catalunya, 120
08008 Barcelona
They say that 95% of PCR test results are delivered in 19 hours.
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mauibabes
Any chance you could post some updated menu photos. Just curious.
Enjoy your cruise.
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I agree that these tests may be perfect for many people. But for us, I found a local testing option that works much better.
We are flying into Barcelona four days early. I did a bit of research and found a testing site within walking distance of our hotel. The test is with Eurofins, the company that O uses for their PCR tests and the company at many airports in Europe. They have over 1000 testing sites in Europe. They will have the results in 24 to 48 hours. I booked our test about 53 hours before boarding begins and 58 hours before departure. For $100, it is a lot less headaches. Plus it is a saliva test so no swab up the nose and out my but*.
This just works for me. Less headaches and less worrying if I do it right or is it acceptable or whatever. O uses the company so there will be no question if it is acceptable. And if for some reason the results do not come in on time I will go there and do a rapid antigen test the day before as they have walkups.
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Again, this just goes to show how much things are changing and how accurate information is so scarce. I did look at the October 13 version of Oceania's "Travel & Entry Requirements" PDF for Madiera. However, here is the link to the Maderia government web page on Covid.
https://www.madeira.gov.pt/Covid19/DecisoesExcecionaisCovid19
After Google translate and much digging around you will find under the "Air and Maritime Mobility" section, the following exceptions to the Covid testing and or isolation.
b) Travelers who are in possession of a medical document certifying that the bearer has recovered from the COVID-19 disease when disembarking in the territory of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, issued in the last 180 days, or a document certifying that the bearer has been vaccinated against COVID-19, in accordance with the recommended plan and respecting the activation period of the immune system provided for in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC);
Obviously, this is from the government website and should prevail but since we are on an O ship we will have to do what they say. 5 plus weeks away and a lot can change in that time. I just hope we are informed enough just before to complete any requirements or better yet, since we are all vaccinated that we don't have to do any testing or fill out any more forms, ect.
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So my wife and I are on the same Barcelona to Miami cruise. I have been looking for more information because of what was posted above.
I did find this site.
http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/useful-info/corona-virus-(covid-19)/information-covid-19
Look at section 9.
The way I read this is if your vaccinated, cruise ship passengers do not need any additional testing.
As for the PLF I'm not sure yet if we need to complete that. I am sure that O will give us more information on the requirements. But since this is my first O cruise, I have no base of knowledge to speak from. I will keep looking. The 12 to 48 hours requirement may be difficult at sea.
And since I have never been to this port before, I would really like to go ashore and do a tour just to see something.
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2 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:
That FAQ has been there for quite some time and several CC threads have mentioned that it differs from the established T&C doc. However, the T&C doc (a months old PDF in the O “legal” section) also stated that the most current O web info takes precedence.
True. This version was updated on September 3, 2021. You are right, I do remember reading that the current web takes precedence. But as the FAQ says, CURRENT AS OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 AND SUBJECT TO UPDATES, I will not make any FINAL decisions on testing till we are much closer. Everything is changing constantly with covid.
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44 minutes ago, annandme said:
libert1 - We arrive in Barcelona on the Tuesday before the cruise, too. Have you done any research on how available testing is in Barcelona, the location of testing facilities, and possible testing costs?
In another topic, others have suggested that their hotel will be able to help. I plan on trying that route. However, I have done some reading. It seems that there are testing sites everywhere in Barcelona. Some need appointments and others are walk up. There is even a come to you testing service. Generally PCR tests seem to be 99 euros but can be more expensive if you want rapid results. With everything changing so fast I will research but finalize as we get closer.
By any chance are you on that American Airlines flight 66 out of JFK on Monday night?
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29 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:
72-96 hour window per O’s website Covid FAQs
The FAQ's are subject to change. The current one says:
Even if the country where your cruise embarks does not require a negative Covid-19 PCR test for entry, Oceania Cruises strongly recommends you obtain a PCR test not more than 72 hours prior to travel. If a PCR test is not readily available, then we encourage guests to at a minimum take a laboratory administered COVID-19 Antigen test not more than 72 hours prior to travel. Guests that fail to test prior to departure or cannot provide proof of a negative laboratory supplied test result and subsequently test positive for COVID-19 upon embarkation will not be reimbursed for quarantine or return travel arrangements.
I will check the requirements just before we leave to make sure we have the latest information. Things are changing too rapidly now. Almost hourly instead of daily.
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We are on the same cruise but will be in Barcelona on Tuesday before the cruise. I plan on getting a PCR test in Barcelona on Wednesday. That should give us enough time to get the results and will be within the 72 hour window.
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I am spending thousands of dollars on a cruise / vacation. I am flying on Monday, arriving on Tuesday, boarding the ship on Friday. I am fully vaccinated. I will get a booster as soon as I am able to, before I travel. I will do a test two or three days before I fly and I will probably do one a couple of days prior to boarding the ship. Plus the test at boarding, if O requires it.
The cost and inconvenience of testing is minor when compared to the cost of the trip. It is really cheap insurance. Plus, I would rather know, and hope everyone else knew, that they are negative. It will make for a much more relaxing vacation where I can forget that Covid exists for a few days while I cross the Atlantic.
Just my opinion. Please do as you feel right.
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I'm on the Nov 19 TA. Most of it will be in international waters. I have no problem wearing a mask in public before the ship and on the ship in territorial waters. Like Rrehfe4969, I too wear a mask a lot right now. I have to at work. I just hope we don't have to wear them in the middle of the Atlantic. If so I will gain so much weight with the CONSTANT eating and drinking. 🥩🍺
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Prima Haven review Port Canaveral Dec 16 – 23
in Norwegian Cruise Line
Posted
No hot tub. I believe those may only be on the top suites but without looking I am not sure. I do know that we definitely did not have one. Enjoy your trip!