When I went at the end of April the nurse practitioner said they weren't going to be doing many more as Funding as decreased from the government as well as demand. They would still do the testing through insurance if you met criteria. 

https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/mdcovidalert/

MD COVID Alert

MD COVID Alert pairs seamlessly with Maryland’s traditional contact tracing efforts by using Exposure Notifications technology to notify users who may have been exposed to an infected person. Opt-in today to participate in protecting all Marylanders from COVID-19.

I know that some states have the enabled on iPhones from the health department that tracks where you were location wise for how long and notifies you from the health department. Not sure on full logistics of it because IN doesn't use it could be that.

23 minutes ago, cusematt4 said:

Here is the latest - the restaurant receipts we provided covered meals for the 4 of us.  Insurance is ASSUMING that since a meal for the covid + family member was part of the same receipt as the other family members, that the covid family member therefore violated quarantine guidelines and dined out and left his hotel room for meals.  This is absolutely false.  He did not leave quarantine and remained in isolation per CDC guidelines.

 

When the 3 negative family members dined out and ate meals, they ordered food for the covid + family member and left it in front of his hotel room door where he was isolated.  I"m unsure how or why they would assume he left his hotel room, but they are assuming he joined and dined out and therefore claim is void.,

 

I am unsure how they can prove that he dined out vs us prove that the family members ordered for him and brought back in a to go box and left it outside his hotel room door - but that's literally the truth.  He had to eat, they were allowed to leave, and they brought him food back each meal.

The best way to have avoided that would have been to have the three dine order their meals and paid. Then ordered the COVID+ person their meals separately with dineout/carryout on a separate bill.  To me this would be the first choice and most logical to me as it makes it easier for the food to be fresh and not cause confusion in the kitchen with having to wait for them if it was a sit down location. 

Sorry, but when I read the thread that was the first thought on how to do it and most logical. 

1 minute ago, hazeleyes46 said:

Are people running to the medical to get tested? 

I mean not that I saw when I was there on Freedom on Sat/Sun. I had to have 2 tests done because I was severely sick. They do not go far up into the nose either when you like they barely go into the nostril at all TBH.

On 4/18/2022 at 2:30 PM, Laszlo said:

Their is no way any Captain will chance docking. If it goes sideways they can easily damage the ship along with damaging the pier. If the pier is damaged it could be closed for weeks if not months to be repaired

I am sure they are also being super cautious after what happened to the Escape last month and the amount of damage, refunds, etc. I will admit I don't know the class of ship is different or not, but I am sure the captain is also in contact with others on if they should or shouldn't go in.

On 4/12/2022 at 5:05 AM, luv4cruises said:

I used CVS for 2 previous cruises.  So when the booking window opened at midnight two weeks before my 4/24 cruise I tried making appointments for 4/22.  There were no appointments available in all of San Diego at CVS for the rapid antigen test. 
I tried various times during the weekend- made several calls to no avail. I finally talked to the Health Concierge at my local
CVS yesterday.  She said they are reprogramming the website as they will no longer accept insurance for travel from 4/22 onward because the government is no longer covering those tests. In the future the rapid antigen test will cist 150/pp.  

 

Luckily my proctored at home Binax Now tests have a 6 month extension on their expiration date.  I ordered more just in case.  Happy testing! 

That is actually not true for any testing past April 22,2022 due to federal funding not being renewed. In the Celebrity cruise form there is a discussion on this. 

11 hours ago, poocher said:

Answer “yes” to the very first question.  Testing will be free.

32 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Michael Bayley's comments at 2022 Cruise360 conference when asked about testing.

 

“I think from everything we’ve learned about the CDC, who tend to guide a lot of this, is that when they really believe that it’s really moving from a pandemic to endemic, when they really believe that the positivity rates have declined to such a degree that it really poses no risk, I think that’s when we’re going to start seeing the government and governments start removing these testing requirements ... I think we’re going to see that probably by the summer.”

To be honest I don't trust the CDC with anything about COVID. I follow multiple epidemiologist who are saying it is far from endemic at this point, but starting that way. They also have also stated that with the new updates to the community transmission levels they are hiding the actual rates of transmission at this time. 

While I don't like having to rely on going somewhere for a test and think that they should provide testing on the ship. I don't mind having to be tested before. But then again I also work in healthcare.

As long as the rapid test is proctored "observed" then it is acceptable for cruising.

I would take the advice I have read. Buy it at the price you like and if it goes down. Cancel and rebook if it goes down. That way you get a low price if they do go up you didn't miss the opportunity.

57 minutes ago, hogwildcruzers said:

We are leaving this Sat for Galveston to board the LOS on Sunday, our Walgreens is only doing the rapid NAAT test, is the accepted at check in?

Yes. It is a lab test rapid antigen test. I have read multiple people have used this option. I plan on signing up for it as backup for my CVS appt.

12 hours ago, caribill said:

Sorry your family was affected by Covid.

 

One surprise to me in the letter you received is that smokers are permitted to smoke on the balcony of the quarantine cabin.

Maybe because they are unable to go to the designated smoking areas??? But that's just a really really wild assumption.... But things are kooky as it is.

Yup the vaccine exemptions I have read are not being granted if at all. Since RCI is in the CDC's voluntary COVID-19 protocols they need a ship 95% vaxxed... Which others have been told is being reserved for those that are kids and unable to get vaxxed. 

https://crew-center.com/cruise-ship-passenger-arrested-after-police-find-46-pounds-meth-his-luggage

"In French Polynesia, a gram of ice sells for more than $US 2,200, while the price in Mexico is "5 to 6 dollars per gram," said the Public Prosecutor, Hervé Leroy."

11 minutes ago, OlsSalt said:

Good thing he did not try this stunt in Singapore - penalties are little harsher than 10 years in jail. What on earth would the small island population do with that value of drugs?  Must be linked to a much wider distribution system.

According to the article 

"More than four kilograms of the drug were found in the suitcase.

A subsequent search of his cabin turned up a further 15 kilograms of methamphetamine in other luggage."

It appears that this port was only in line for around 4 kgs..... 

14 hours ago, twangster said:

MLife is a casino program.

 

Crown and Anchor is a loyalty program.

 

Completely different and no interaction between the two.

 

 

Not fully a casino program. I don't gamble much, but I do have MGM Rewards (formally MLife) to get points and benefits when I stay at their hotels or dining venues or Southwest. 

I am very much a newbie when it comes to cruising with only 1 7-night Alaska cruise with Princess in 2019. I am going on my first RC cruise April 29th. I was looking into the C&A benefits and information and I found that they have matched MLife status points. I have put in a request for that, but I didn't know if like in Las Vegas and some other places they match with status match with other lines. While I don't have a lot of nights at all any help IMO for points and just trying to get the most of out of my stays. I am planning on taking another cruise soon as I had so much fun on the last one but COVID hit... 

TIA

2 hours ago, alistairg said:

Thanks, I discussed exactly this with my TA, they could easily apply the money to the other booking that we have.

 

If people want to go by the letter of the MSC contract, they have not informed us now of two changes to the itinerary. So they are in breach of their own contract.

 

The reality of contracts is that they can only be fully tested in court should people wish to go to the hassle of doing so. This is even more difficult with cruise lines due to the number of jurisdictions normally involved.

I totally understand.. Just was looking at it and wasn't sure. I figured you'd probably read it or knew of it. At times I find it interesting what they put into the fine print, but other times I know they probably have little things I missed to put it in favor of them.

Reading the MSC Terms & Conditions (14. BOOKING CHANGES EFFECTED BY THE COMPANY
)

" BOOKING CHANGES EFFECTED BY THE COMPANY
Arrangements for the Cruise Package are made many months in advance by the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right to change the arrangements for the Cruise package, should such changes become necessary or advisable for operational, commercial or safety reasons. Changes to one or more ports on the vessel’s scheduled itinerary may occur from time to time for a variety of reasons including but not limited to storms or hurricanes, rescue of others at sea, medical emergencies requiring vessel diversion, strikes or civil disruption or medical quarantine ashore. Changes to one or more ports shall not be considered a booking change under this Section.

In the event of a significant alteration to an essential term of the Contract, the Company will inform the Passenger or the Passenger’s Travel Agent of such change in writing as soon as reasonably possible. In such circumstances, the Passenger will be offered the choice of (a) accepting the alteration; (b) booking another Cruise package from the Company’s brochure and/or from the Official Website of equivalent quality, if available; or (c) booking another Cruise package from the Company’s brochure and/or from the Official Website of lower quality, if available, with a refund of the difference in price."

Now it does mention that YC deposits are non-refundable, but it doesn't say that it can't be transferred to another. I am also not a lawyer, but just reading it.

21 minutes ago, nini said:

I appreciate the info about testing in London. I have gathered those locations, companies through research and our hotel. Dealing with the test before boarding is easier.

 

However, the point is that Princess has been doing them for passengers and now they write "subject to availability" and serious planning is required before disembarkation and flying home.

I would hazard to guess that the "subject to availability" would be to cover the butts in the case that they have a shortage of test due to some reason (i.e. maybe they had a large outbreak and needed to test all passengers multiple times, there is a general shortage of tests due to land outbreak, etc.)

As you did not mention where you are disembarking. I would also guess there may be testing site at the airport or near the ship, but I dunno about other countries.

Maybe just call Princess customer service or Point of contact. 

3 hours ago, zeroed said:

I’m convinced that some of the people posting things like they’re relaxing on the boat this morning and everything is fine are full of it. Pics and reports from actual passengers posting on twitter paint a significantly different picture. 

 

 

Yes I am thinking that people were doing well and having a "fair" time before the last couple of days. They kicked all the passengers off the ship this morning at 9 AM with no word on when they would get to the airport (reported 2090 people) and leaving at 8:30 PM. I think they tolerated a day but when they started with the "you are leaving at 8 AM" then "but only the kids" then "oh all are leaving at 5 pm" but wait nope that is the adults....... 

One flight only had 75 people. Passengers are landing in MCO and they have no options from there because now NCL reps present. Someone said their insurance isn't even sure what is covered and had to pay out of pocket for an Orlando hotel

https://twitter.com/hashtag/NorwegianEscape?src=hashtag_click&f=live

20 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

No technicalities here. They are *actually* in that other country right now. 

So sorry... I got it now.. that was why I mentioned I had not traveled internationally.... Goodness now I am just feeling attacked about both document needs and everything.... 

26 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

Um, no. Not even remotely similar. 

Yes not in the types they ran into. But also geez... 

22 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

 

Both dickinson and I were on the ship last month and the Regal has been on the CDC list for some time.  It's really weird that it's not listed now.  It's got to be a glitch.

After posting that I did go and see where it was at to see if maybe it's because it wasn't going around close to the US, but then remembered other ships are listed that aren't cruising around the US. But it is still not listed today either. I am guessing glitches

17 hours ago, dickinson said:

I wonder why I don't see Regal Princess at all on the list.

They may not have re-entered service... but in that case I would think they would go with CREW-ONLY