pyrateslife4me84

I was once in the Windjammer late at night and was visited by the Spirit of Midnight Buffets Past. Shook me to my core but I’ve since changed my ways.

We need to be cautious using the term “outbreak.” Most people use it inappropriately. People catching Covid is not an outbreak. That’s 2022.

Does that mean they are no longer doing price adjustments?

I see a huge difference. Before, they were requirements for a program the cruise lines wanted to participate in. Now they are just recommendations. The CDC makes a lot of recommendations that are ignored.

Again, those are quotes from before last night’s guidelines were released. Royal released a new statement today: CDC Guidance for Cruises Departing the U.S. The U.S. CDC recently announced that the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect, and published recommendations to guide cruise lines as they determine protocols. Upon review, we will adjust our protocols and provide guidance to our guests. For now, our current protocols remain in effect for cruises departing U.S. homeports. See current protocols. They await nothing further from the CDC. They are making a decision now and will announce it.

Yesterday was the clarification they will receive. They are determining their policy moving forward as we type and should announce today or tomorrow.

Now when I log in, there is no pop-up message at all on the app or website. Very strange but could just be a glitch. I’ll check again tomorrow.

The way that is worded easily provides cover for a policy like, “we recommend testing for those up-to-date with vaccinations and require test results for the unvaccinated or those who are not up-to-date with vaccinations.” But, we shall see.

Yes, but there is an easy-out for cruises: Ships that allow travelers to use a self-test (sometimes referred to as home test), may consider the following criteria: The test is a SARS-CoV-2 viral test (NAAT or antigen test) with an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the relevant national authority where the test is administered. The testing procedure includes a telehealth service affiliated with the manufacturer of the test that provides real-time supervision remotely through an audio and video connection. Some FDA-authorized self-tests that include a telehealth service may require a prescription. The telehealth provider confirms the person’s identity, observes the specimen collection and testing procedures, confirms the test result, and issues a report that meets the information requirements listed below. Cruise ship operators can review and confirm the person’s identity and the test result details. So, say, “we strongly encourage all passengers to take an at-home Covid test the day before boarding. This can include the free tests provided by the US government. We recommend this test be supervised by a telehealth provider.”

I’m not sure. I’m only aware of them being on Freedom class. I just booked a similar ocean view room in the far forward corner of Anthem. These are all 300 sq.ft. or more!

Wouldn’t Royal insist that, with kids that young, 1 adult be in 1 room with 2 kids and the other adult be in room 2 with kid 3? Even if they allow all 3 kids in one room, most people would put the parents in a balcony across from the 3 kids in an interior. I’d never allow 3 kids to be in a balcony room. But that’s just me. I do think it explains why there aren’t that many adjoining rooms. Disney Cruise Line is known for having many adjoining rooms. And I think they force 1 adult into each room with the kids split. Of course, at night they can’t control where everyone sleeps.

Healthy Cruising Your health and safety remain our top priority. Please review the requirements for a safe and memorable cruise vacation. Check our app for updates to these requirements as well as details for your cruise. SHIP Wonder Of The Seas SAIL DATES August 14 — 16th Preparing for your cruise Here's what you need to know for your upcoming cruise. Vaccination All guests 12 and older must show documentation of their full vaccination given at least 14 days before sailing (not counting your sail date). For the best European experience, we recommend guests be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination. To be considered up-to-date: - guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and their booster if the second vaccine dose was administered over 270 days (9 months) ago - their vaccine dose must be on the list of EMA approved vaccines Children 5-11 who present proof of full vaccination and are up-to-date may follow the protocols for up-to-date guests. Royal Caribbean accepts vaccines that are fully approved or authorized for emergency use by the U.S. FDA or the World Health Organization, with the exception of CanSino. Vaccine FAQs Entry requirements It's critical you review travel guidance issued by each country you'll be visiting on your sailing prior to travel, including your sailing's departure port. Failure to meet the requirements for each country will result in denial of boarding. Port stops Fully vaccinated guests can visit most ports freely. Depending on their itinerary, guests who are not up-to-date with their vaccines/boosters may require multiple tests to disembark in ports of call. Local health and safety guidance must be followed at each port of call. European port FAQ Protocols subject to change All health and safety protocols are subject to change. We are committed to communicating any updates that may occur prior to your cruise. Future protocols may include booster requirements, lowered vaccination ages, and/or changes to testing. While not currently required, vaccine boosters are recommended. Source Information about COVID-19 symptoms presented here is sourced from the CDC. CDC Symptoms of COVID-19 Certificate of Recovery A Certificate of Recovery and a positive PCR test taken between 11-90 days prior to our sail date can be provided in place of a negative pre-cruise test to sail with us. Please note: we will not accept a Certificate of Recovery in the place of a vaccination record. Some ports of call do not accept Certificates of Recovery for the purposes of debarking and enjoying the destination. Cert of Recovery FAQ

The other thread was closed. Let’s avoid the usual discussions of whether we should test or vaccinate and just focus on Royal updates on COVID protocols in Europe. Those sailing on Wonder sailings August have received COVID protocols and they only mention vaccination. If you click on “visit our health center” at the bottom, all mention of testing is gone. Only the vaccination requirement for ages 12+ remains.

Everyone sailing on Wonder of the Seas in August reports the same. This would only impact Europe, of course.

If testing is removed, it will only be in Europe for now.

We sail from Barcelona 14 August and at check-in, the statement about COVID protocols not being announced yet is now removed. Only the vaccine requirement is displayed.

I suspect they care more about 1) the requirements of the countries they sail to and 2) whether bookings will increase or fall if testing is removed. Their statements suggest their statisticians report bookings will rise.

Yes. My point was, no more than 2 deaths out of hundreds of thousands of passengers. Meanwhile, 100s of thousands of Americans have died of CV-19 on land since summer 2021. The fact that Broadway has no COVID restrictions as of 7/1 tells me cruises should move on, as well.

Have you ever heard of the RMS Titanic? There were cruise ships in the 1910s.

We know that since cruises resumed, 2 RCCL passengers have caught CV-19 and died. That’s rather low.

You know, neither communicable disease nor pandemics are a new thing, right?

It only had the “health protocols have not been announced” until yesterday. The change was that they added new language just discussing the vaccine requirement and the wording was updated (it’s clearer). So it is curious that they updated the pop up but only for thé vaccine requirement. It could just be a coincidence but this combined with the fact that they keep announcing Europe protocols last minute and that their competitors are removing testing in Europe suggests something may be afoot. This is Wonder in August. Obviously there won’t be any changes outside of Europe just yet.

So this is interesting—we sail on Wonder in August and the check-in page had simply said that health and safety protocols had not been announced. Today it was updated but only to include vaccinations and the wording has been changed.

We come a week later. It would obviously be much less stressful to drop the test. I’m happy we don’t have to test to fly home, regardless.

Yeah…and lots of people go on Europe cruises in the summer and fall.