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Project-College

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    Until they CANCEL pre-cruise COVID Tests… do this:

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

     

    I believe that was OnPoint.

     

    FYI, you can reschedule with RT&T using their website, no human interaction needed. That said, they are also very responsive via live chat. The wait was minutes, not hours. That was part of the reason I shelled out the extra $5 even though I'm as frugal as it gets.

    Was not trying to disparage ANY Online Protocol, as RT&T was not treated very will on the other RC Blog.  Point was if you put ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.......

    Until they CANCEL pre-cruise COVID Tests… do this:

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Until they CANCEL pre-cruise COVID Tests… do this....... for as ‘risk free’ a planning for this can be, I would suggest the following:

     

    PLAN A:

    Schedule your first target to get a ‘Proctored Covid Test’.  This can be in-person (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) or online (emed, Rapidtestandtrace, OnPoint, etc.)

     

    PLAN B:

    Set up some kind of backup… just in case.  This could be another ‘cancellable’ in-person testing later that same day, or something else online (again after the time of your PLAN A)

     

    PLAN 😄

    As long as you use two different methods in PLAN A and PLAN B…. you should be ok.  Some say ‘U can test at the pier’ as a PLAN C but, at least at Bayonne NJ, I went to check it out and told they were so so busy with Kid testing that often they can’t even get to u.  NY may be better but ….. again u take that last minute risk)

     

    If you choose online for PLAN A or PLAN B, have a backup of the backup:

    I have Optimum Cable as my Internet Provider.  I sail in a week and it went out three time today. 😮

     

    If this had been a week later… I would have been ABSOLUTELY SCREWED as 1)Getting in touch for rescheduling has been reported as TOUGH for most online PROCTORS. (some cc'er reported hours on hold)

     

    Since there always is a possibility that I would not have been able to get online, from home internet, to my ONLINE PROCTOR… need a backup!!!!

    If you have a smartphone, make sure you have ‘zoom’ capability is setup (if u have an iPhone get the zoom ap) and send a text to yourself with the zoom link you got when u bought the online test!  This makes it a lot easier than trying to type it in later.

     

    Yes, this might be overkill for some but I have always used the PLAN FOR THE WORST….hope for the best!

     

    Hope this helps... and if someone want to say I am paranoid...PLEASE DON'T

    • Like 2

    Has ANYONE been 'temperature checked' at Bayonne, Cape Liberty in the last few months?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Bound4Bermuda said:

    No, they are not taking temperatures in Cape Liberty.

    Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you... Thank you....... one less stresser!!!!  If I might ask, when were u there?

    Has ANYONE been 'temperature checked' at Bayonne, Cape Liberty in the last few months?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Based on a filing I just read, it appears that BOARDING can be denied by RCL if you have a temperature readings that equal or exceed 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

     

    https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/are-there-other-reasons-to-not-be-able-to-board

     

    That temperature can be caused by MANY things other than COVID and kids can be at 100.4 as a normal range?

    https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/normal-body-temperature

     

    Unfortunately, the CDC defines a FEVER (regardless as a cause) as anything => 100.4 so I guess you can' blame the Cruise Lines.... THIS IS WHY I AM WONDERING IF THEY TAKE TEMPERATURES?

    When did the gratituites increase?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I do THANK those veteran cruisers who suggested I prepay the Gratuities!

     

    I don't need any other 'surprises' hitting me once I sail in August!

     

    Don't take this as a stupid question but.... for those that prepay, have GRATITIES ever gone down later?   (Think I know the answer but wanted to throw it out there just to see)

    • Haha 2

    Why I am so stressed about testing!

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Those that say we are Paranoid.... view https://www.elliott.org/cruises/carnival-cruise-line-denied-boarding-mardi-gras-mistake/

     

    Check this out as well....

    https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-happens-if-i-have-symptoms-at-the-terminal

     

    Having a temperature could AND HAS been a reason for denying Boarding... check out https://www.flcourts.org/Florida-Courts/Online-Public-Docket for pending suits on the topic.

     

    STRESS is not STUPIDITY or PARANOIA if it is rooted in FACT!

    Why I am so stressed about testing!

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Just now, handbellplayer said:

    Thank you!!!!

    Get a PLAN B AND A PLAN C.   Risk is ALL about probability and impact.  Many of these Proctored online firms firm most of the time so probability may be low of a default BUTTTTTTT IMPACT, ....well can you afford to donate your cruise fees to the Cruise Line and not go?

    Again, make a Plan B & C.  The smart move!

    Why I am so stressed about testing!

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I ABSOLUTELY agree it is stressful! 

     

    I am a 30 year Project Mgr who specializes in Risk Management so my first target was to have our law firm contact a PAC in Florida (a small group that has has the ear of the Cruise Industry) find out my options and second was to create a Plan B and a Plan C! 

     

    I also posted the issue here on cc, received a bit of ridicule that I was paranoid, but still worth it. (Topic:  ‘Cruise with Confidence Program & COVID Pre-travel Testing PROBLEM?’)

     

    WRITTEN Response from RCL was this:  (I sail on a Friday)

     

    ‘Testing is required and 100% our guests responsibility so if they do not test, they will be denied boarding and would be in 100% penalty.  Perhaps they could buy a "Guided" test from Walgreens or their local pharmacy to alleviate all concerns.  

     

    Cruise With Confidence requires cancellation 48 hour prior to embarkation day so if they sail on Friday, Wednesday is too late to cancel via Cruise With Confidence.

     

    All of that said, we can offer a very limited amount of tests at the terminal on embarkation day’ …’

     

    Ref:  https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-if-i-dont-find-a-pre-cruise-test-or-get-test-results-in-time

     

    I was concerned that with CWC you MUST Cancel before the 48 hours of sailing BUT with the COVID Testing Policies you MUST test within the 48 hour period!   What I consider an RCL ‘catch 22’!

     

    My Plan A was on online Proctor, my Plan B was to have a ‘cancellable’ local Pharma (CVS) for a test within the 48 hour pre-cruise period (EXPENSIVE), Plan C was to use (if Plan A & B failed) an alternate online Proctor (as many let you book a same day appt).

     

    I have very choice words for the ‘veteran cruiser’ who ridiculed me and dismissed my deep concerns as again RCL has confirmed you are 100% in default and will lose 100% of your payment if you don’t do, as they call it, YOUR responsibility of getting a Proctored Covid Test!  I am not rich in any way and cannot afford loosing $10, let alone $6K!

     

    • Like 2

    Cruise with Confidence Program & COVID Pre-travel Testing PROBLEM?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Also... this was RCL's formal response back to me:

    Testing is required and 100% our guests responsibility so if they do not test, they will be denied boarding and would be in 100% penalty.  Perhaps they could buy a "Guided" test from Walgreens or their local pharmacy to alleviate all concerns.  

    Cruise With Confidence requires cancellation 48 hour prior to embarkation day so if they sail on Friday, Wednesday is too late to cancel via Cruise With Confidence.

    All of  that said, we can offer a very limited amount of tests at the terminal on embarkation day.  Please click on the link below for more information. 

    In my opinion... LESSON HERE- Have a Plan B just in case unless you are willing to cancel MORE than 48 before OR donate 100% of your cruise costs to RCL!

    Cruise with Confidence Program & COVID Pre-travel Testing PROBLEM?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

     RCL just announced a new COVID Testing Policy:

    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/royal-caribbean-group-reports-second-120000818.html

     

    Doesn't help me at all as we leave before as it says:

    "Starting Aug. 8, testing will be required for unvaccinated guests on all voyages and for vaccinated guests only on voyages that are six nights or longer. "

    I am 9 days so we lose out and we leave before 8/8.... ☹️ 

    On a bright note though.... did a test run with Online Proctor and all went well so I now have a PLAN A and a PLAN B.

    So my mixed Paranoia about the testing has moved from SEVERE to only MILD.

    OnPoint Testing Pre-Cruise

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    9 hours ago, Superflyisme said:

    The Zoom information will come in your email after you pick out your time and fill out the covid information for all parties attending the covid test.  It will have the link to click on to the "room" that you will be doing your telemed covid testing.  As long as you have a device (phone, pc, etc) that has the zoom application on it, it will work.  So, you will need to download zoom.  

     

    Somehow, they had my reservation, but NOT the extra step that included everyone in my groups name/information.

    Did they still do them all?  I see now they allow up to 4 people at once, when I made the appt I set it to 2 appts with 2 each.  Would be easier if I could do all 4 at once...let me know

    Cruise with Confidence Program & COVID Pre-travel Testing PROBLEM?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    25 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

    I think the RCI lawyers went to a better school than you.

    Pure quantity beats me and I am sure they are better.... that's why I try to document first then speak to others smarter (which is probably 99% of the legal field).

    PS:  Better School does not equate to Better Lawyer!... but  get ur point 🙃

    24 minutes ago, mjkacmom said:

    If you are in NJ I believe citymd does rapid antigen tests without appointments.

    will check...thanks

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