Virginia100

I’ll find out on September 5 if a 7:15 am Rome cab pick up from the port for my 11:05 am American flight is sufficient. By then I hope things improve some.

I wonder if the rise in Ba4 snd Ba5 variants will change everything? Study in Israel today suggests they both pretty much evades all vaccines and boosters and the cause in rise of cases in Europe and Asia. Anyone changing their mind on cruising this September and Fall in Europe?

2 hours ago, barneymag said:

pre-book with Romecabs (or dozens of others offering private transfer) online and it works out approx 130 Euros from port to FCO

Yes I just booked Rome cabs both ways for my 8/26 & 9/5 transfers and each was 140€ and payable to the driver by cash or credit card. I didn’t see the need to prepay which was the other option.

That after final payment any reduction in price due to current sales cannot be repriced with additional OBC credit bring added. For me my June 10 reservation did not qualify for any repricing under the current 60% off second person sale. Lost $400. Not good.

We have on Sept 5 an 11:05 am flight out of Fco to the US. We plan to walk off the Reflection at 6:30am and Roma cabs will pick us up at 7:15 am. With on line check in the day before I think this should be sufficient time as it is after the July/August vacation crush and on a Monday, not a weekend which is a holiday in the US.

21 minutes ago, latserrof said:

I favor pre-cruise testing. I've done four 7-day cruises this year, but not as comfortably as I would like.  I would be even less comfortable if the pre-cruise testing were dropped. But I don't see that happening anytime soon. Even if the CDC did drop the requirement, the cruise lines know that testing helps protect passengers and, more importantly, crew, so they might try some test-free trial runs (ala P&O) to gauge the impact first.

Without stats from the cruise line as to the actual number of passengers that failed the 2 day pre cruise test (and therefore needed to be refunded or FCC) no one really has a clue of how effective or necessary it is. It’s all conjecture, which is all too common these days. 
I think the CDC will eliminate the pre cruise testing within 2 months. Those up to date in vaccination need no test. Those only fully vaccinated or less may well still need the test to board.

Tap air has quite a few negative comments on the internet. I initially  had Tap booked for my Europe cruise this August and changed to US carriers.

4 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Oh yes, the Covid hazmat suit, but I understand, for most the smoke and mirrors makes them feel safe

 

It’s the China Syndrome’

9 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

How would cruise lines know?  People that test positive simply often cancel using CWC.

Using the general population seems somewhere under 1% might fail.  But sadly a negative test doesn't mean you don't have covid.

Also pre-cruise testing requirements are not just Europe.  Canada effects EVERY Alaska cruise for example. 

Under CWC who issues the refund or FCC, the cruise line. They know or could easily calculate it (if not already done). Cruise passengers have a significantly higher level full vaccination or up to date vaccination then the US general population. If I remember correctly the US is 65% on one and 50% on the other. Cruise passenger are well over 95% I’m sure,  so if the US in general would have a fail rate of 1%, most likely skewed to the unvaccinated, then cruise line rates would be quite small.

True a negative  test doesn’t mean you don’t have it. Another reason why vaccination is more important than a test. It’s why a poster above is correct that any change in pre cruise testing by the CDC would almost certainly apply it at certain tiers of vaccination. Don’t want 1 or 2 boosters? Fine, but a test will be required in a shorter period if under or non vaccinated.

2 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

 

Ok, let's say we're going to cruise together.  😀  Let's assume I test positive before we board.  Would it be better for you if I am denied boarding?  Is it better for me if I am denied being Covid positive?  Even though I know you will be sad, I'll suggest the answer to both of those questions is yes.  That's why pre-cruise testing continues to be valuable.

As an old accountant , a test only has merit if it has valid supporting data from a significant database that verifies its merit. Right now I don’t know how many passengers are failing their pre cruise Covid tests and what percentage of total booked passengers that represents. Any other conclusions on the effectiveness of the pre cruise test to significantly improve onboard health is a guess and based on one’s opinion. 

2 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Once you’re already on board why would it matter?

The idea is to see the overall impact that’s incurring over time. If it’s been the last two months on cruises, say .1%, then the pre cruise test are not preventing very much. If 10% are canceling on average then the tests have done merit.

14 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

The real question is:  How many people are identified with Covid with the pre-cruise testing?  Does anyone really want to sail with more Covid positive people on the ship?   As long as pre-cruise testing is finding a significant number of people, pre-cruise testing is a good idea.

That’s a very good question and I have never seen any cruise line disclose that stat. It would be very helpful if each cruise upon sailing issued the percentage of passengers canceling due to failing the pre cruise test. Should be simple as each positive test results in a required refund or FCC. Does a body know the answer to this?

The last message is confusing. When I use FBC I have already listed the flights I want thru  research on other sites. I know the times and $. I then call FBC to book, get final $ amount, then I get them to get my seat assignments.  It’s all set. I use the locator code to check occasionally to see if a flight change the FBC might be slow to email me.

42 minutes ago, PatC said:

The 2 original shots are considered "fully vaccinated".  I won't do boosters, I don't trust them.  If those coming from across the pond do not need the boosters, neither do I.  We were told the 2 original shots were sufficient.  We sailed Equinox in May,  My friends had the boosters.  My son, daughter-in-law and I did not.  THEY got covid and a really bad case of it.  No boosters for me.  

Somehow a sample size of 5 people is a little light. The boosters are the same vaccine as the original except Moderna which was 1/2 strength and Pfizer was full strength. Of course I’m sure your aware at this point the original 2 shots if done more than 6-9 months ago have a very reduced effect now and the boosters are not nearly as effective if is older than few months. We are scheduling our 2nd booster 4 weeks prior to our cruise. Getting Covid has a lot variables, how old your shots are, how close your contact with infected persons was, your own personal immunity system which varies widely by each person and more. There not a simple answer.

On 6/18/2022 at 11:45 AM, canderson said:

Sadly, ditto.  Been there, done that, and got the T-shirt.  I still have my T-shirt from 1997 that shows a guy on a scaffold painting over the British flag with a mainland Chinese flag, and a house full of rosewood from Queen's Road East.

 

So much for the one country, two systems nonsense. That was always a sidewalk shell game gambit. Same for independent and sovereign Taiwan.

needless to say the Chinese Communist party is as honest and reliable as loan shark!

3 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Way back in the very beginning of the pandemic, we were all told that the goal was to manage the virus and not overwhelm hospitals, staff, equipment (ventilators), ICU beds, etc.  That obviously did happen in parts of the country (and world) for sure.  Nursing homes were hit hard. Then we got tied up in reporting positive test numbers as the key metric.  That metric is useless now as we have come a very long way since those early days.  In particular, Omicron and variants are not overwhelming our medical facilities.  We have vaccines to reduce severe illness and various drug treatments.  The numbers do not lie.  Vaccinated people on cruise ships follow this same general trend.  Probably even better since everybody is vaccinated and most are Up To Date.  So pre-cruise testing should be eliminated.  But people with symptoms on board still do need to be tested - no way around it.  But maybe in the future a self test if they are feeling lousy- just like what most people would do at home.  If positive, stay in your cabin - again just like staying at home.  We will eventually need to use the honor system and hope most respect that.   We need to learn to live with this virus forever.

I couldn’t agree more. In the beginning we were worried about hospitals being overwhelmed and people on ventilators. Then mysteriously it all changed about positive cases only. Not severity or symptoms for the large majority. I would say if cruise lines would just require passengers being  up to date by age (3 shots under 65, 4 if over 65) the need for pre cruise tests is significantly irrelevant.

Airfares are constantly changing based on demand. I always keep checking. If the demand slackens, the price drops. Demand is the key. My RT to Rome in late August is less $ than my RT to Ft Lauderdale in February!! Both with one stop. My only direct flight is Jet Blue to FLL. The most outrageous price I have ever seen. The one way is almost as much as others RT with one stop.

With an 11:05 am flight I’m off at 7:00AM.

11 hours ago, neverlaysup said:

This is one of the many reasons I will not book FBC anymore. Maybe if the deal is exceptional for business class but otherwise, no thank you. Hope you two aren't separated but I wouldn't put it past them to make you both middle seat warriors for the flight. I would cancel the flight if i got stuck in the middle seat.

 

Odd, I booked and paid for the Reflection out of Rome on August 26. All air done thru FBC and no problems at time of booking air getting all my seats RT. Outbound was Delta snd inbound American.

Reflection. Been on it 3 times. Been on Edge, Silhouette, Summit, Equinox, & Millenium also. Like them all but Reflection is my first choice.

5 hours ago, emmas gran said:

The UK and a lot of Europe schools are out mid July to early September so you could have lots of kids!!

 

Hopefully not on no activities Celebrity! Go to Carnival!

4 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

Actually your cruise coincides with the U.S. summer vacations.   The unofficial end of summer is on 9/5 this year and many schools start their Fall semesters on 9/6.

Actually many states now start before Labor Day. Here in Virginia most schools in the last 2 years changed to before. All Southern states I know of start before. And all colleges I know of start in mid August. Would be interesting to see those states that start after Labor day, I suspect the Northeast may, unsure about the others.

On Reflection August 26, returning September 5. Be interesting as it ends after August vacation period in US snd Europe if it is a little less full. 

I always use Celebrity for my flights. I check Kayak for flights and best prices, Celebrity always has beaten those prices snd except  for ITA I select at time of booking my assigned seats. And changing due to a price decrease or a change in times is no problem.

12 minutes ago, latserrof said:

Wrong. It prevents a wider outbreak of covid -- the bigger the outbreak among passengers and (moreso) the crew, the bigger the headaches for the cruise line.

The impact on cruising is requiring up to date vaccination to vastly reduce its health impact  not a 2 day old test that lets infected on board anyway.