Royal Now Requires Covid Test For All Passengers

[CalTexCruiser]

There was a report that a family of 6 tested positive on Adventure of the Seas

4 adults vaccinated

2 children not vaccinated

 

It's getting scary out there.

[klflote]

12 minutes ago, KAE27 said:

Annnnd, now I just received an email for my August 27 Alaska cruise on Millennium, saying a test will be required for all pax, regardless of vaccination status.

Same for Equinox on August 8...just received.

[OT-Miami]

18 minutes ago, KAE27 said:

Dear Guest,

 

We look forward to welcoming you aboard Celebrity Millennium^® for your 7-Night Alaska sailing from Seattle, Washington. Before we depart, we have some important information to share regarding our Health and Safety Protocols. Celebrity Cruises has been working closely with health and government authorities, in each country we sail from, to outline a clear path for cruising with new health and safety measures. As we return to service, we are continuously evaluating all requirements from local government and health officials. Out of an abundance of caution, Celebrity Cruises will be enhancing COVID-19 testing requirements for both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests.

 

All guests over the age two, regardless of vaccination status, will now be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result at the time of embarkation. This test may be taken as either a PCR test or an Antigen test, conducted within 72 hours of embarkation. Each guest is responsible for making their own arrangements with an accredited testing provider as well as all associated costs.

 

Unvaccinated guests and children, under 12 years of age, will be required to take an additional antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation, mid-cruise and on the day before disembarkation. A registration link for required testing will be sent separately.

Should a guest be unable to complete the testing requirements, a 100% refund or Future Cruise Credit will be offered. Additional testing and protocols will be confirmed closer to your sailing departure date in line with the most up to date recommendations from local government and health officials as well as our Healthy Sail Panel. These measures, including vaccination and testing requirements, will evolve along with public health standards.

 

Celebrity Millennium will sail with a vaccinated crew, and at least 95% of guests fully vaccinated. Guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. For details on our current health and safety protocols please visit www.healthyatsea.com. We’re sailing with fewer guests for more space – and more luxury with even more activities to avoid large gatherings in public spaces.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause. We're confident they will deliver a more satisfying vacation experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.

Just received the same email for our Edge 09/04/21 sailing...

[graphicguy]

Same....test for Edge sailing 8/14.

 

All guests over the age two, regardless of vaccination status, will now be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result at the time of embarkation. This test may be taken as either a PCR test or an Antigen test, conducted within 72 hours of embarkation. Each guest is responsible for making their own arrangements with an accredited testing provider as well as all associated costs.

 

Unvaccinated guests and children, under 12 years of age, will be required to take an additional antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation, mid-cruise and on the day before disembarkation. A registration link for required testing will be sent separately.

Should a guest be unable to complete the testing requirements, a 100% refund or Future Cruise Credit will be offered. Additional testing and protocols will be confirmed closer to your sailing departure date in line with the most up to date recommendations from local government and health officials as well as our Healthy Sail Panel. These measures, including vaccination and testing requirements, will evolve along with public health standards.

Celebrity Edge will sail with a vaccinated crew, and at least 95% of guests fully vaccinated. Guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. 

[helen haywood]

Just got this.  So Celebrity is requiring negative tests the same as Royal.

 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS

Dear Guest, We look forward to welcoming you aboard Celebrity Edge® for your 7-Night Caribbean sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Before we depart, we have some important information to share regarding our Health and Safety Protocols. Celebrity Cruises has been working closely with health and government authorities, in each country we sail from, to outline a clear path for cruising with new health and safety measures. As we return to service, we are continuously evaluating all requirements from local government and health officials. Out of an abundance of caution, Celebrity Cruises will be enhancing COVID-19 testing requirements for both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests.   All guests over the age two, regardless of vaccination status, will now be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result at the time of embarkation. This test may be taken as either a PCR test or an Antigen test, conducted within 72 hours of embarkation. Each guest is responsible for making their own arrangements with an accredited testing provider as well as all associated costs.   Unvaccinated guests and children, under 12 years of age, will be required to take an additional antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation, mid-cruise and on the day before disembarkation. A registration link for required testing will be sent separately. Should a guest be unable to complete the testing requirements, a 100% refund or Future Cruise Credit will be offered. Additional testing and protocols will be confirmed closer to your sailing departure date in line with the most up to date recommendations from local government and health officials as well as our Healthy Sail Panel. These measures, including vaccination and testing requirements, will evolve along with public health standards. Celebrity Edge will sail with a vaccinated crew, and at least 95% of guests fully vaccinated. Guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing.  Guests who decline or are unable to show proof of vaccination at boarding will be treated as unvaccinated and subject to additional protocols, restrictions, and costs for COVID-19 testing. For details on our current health and safety protocols please visit https://www.healthyatsea.com. We’re sailing with fewer guests for more space – and more luxury with even more activities to avoid large gatherings in public spaces. We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause. We're confident they will deliver a more satisfying vacation experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.

[helen haywood]

Perhaps now Jeremiah will agree with us?

[Jeremiah1212]

16 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Perhaps now Jeremiah will agree with us?

 

No. You are still incorrect. Requiring all guests to produce a test is also unrelated to your misinformation. Your letter even says:

 

All guests over the age two, regardless of vaccination status, will now be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result at the time of embarkation. This test may be taken as either a PCR test or an Antigen test, conducted within 72 hours of embarkation. Each guest is responsible for making their own arrangements with an accredited testing provider as well as all associated costs.

 

Unvaccinated guests and children, under 12 years of age, will be required to take an additional antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation, mid-cruise and on the day before disembarkation. A registration link for required testing will be sent separately.

 

Here is my email from June 24th before the June 26th Edge cruise. It is also an Update (there was no update). It also says "All guests" must be vaccinated in this section which we know is not true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[morpheusofthesea]

PCR or antigen test now required by Celebrity for vaccinated for September 4 sailing on Edge or Equinox. Just emailed announcement. 72 hrs prior.

Edited July 30, 2021 by morpheusofthesea

[WonderMan3]

9 hours ago, DCPIV said:

I'm all for testing before cruising, but I'm not sold on the idea of rapid testing at the pier.  Boarding can be something of a Charley Foxtrot as it is right now.  Adding the testing steps ain't going to help that at all (get in line to test, go hang out in the bullpen for your results, madness ensues).  Rapid tests are very accurate for asymptomatic cases, so I don't know how much that mess buys you over having passengers do a PCR test earlier.

 

All the cruisers sailing from St. Maartin have had to show a negative PCR test result before boarding.  There's been some confusion on how to time the test (mostly due to some imprecise language from Celebrity), but it's worked out fairly well.  We sail tomorrow and went for a same-day result PCR test yesterday.  I know it's difficult on some and very difficult on others, but that's the price we pay for the life we choose right now.  Here's hoping this is a non-issue soon.

 

 

A rapid test at the pier might help a little, but it won't detect anyone who's contracted COVID while travelling the day of the cruise, and it very likely would not detect a case contracted while travelling a day or two before.

Yes, but many people also fly in a few days before and stay in a hotel and explore the local area. 

[graphicguy]

Look...agree with what Celebrity has posted and updated or not.  It really doesn't matter.  They've made it quite clear to me that the only unvaccinated guests will be those under 12, will be sailing with them.

 

Further, every guest, regardless of age,  vaccinations will be required (all over 12)  and you'll (all over 2) have to have an Antigen test to show 72 hours before embarkation.  If positive, you aren't sailing.  If you don't have the test, you aren't sailing.  

 

If you don't do any of these things, or show up (any passenger over 12) without having the COVID vaccine or an antigen test administered, you will be denied boarding.

 

This is information sent to all of us who have Celebrity Cruises coming up in the next couple of months (at least) as of 5:00 p.m. today EDT.

 

You want to interpret this information another way, or you want to claim anything other than this information, have at it.  Do so at your own risk.   Again, let us know how things turn out once you try to check in without any of these explicit guidelines and updates.  

Edited July 30, 2021 by graphicguy

[morpheusofthesea]

This now includes August sailings as well.

[paulh84]

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

Look...agree with what Celebrity has posted and updated or not.  It really doesn't matter.  They've made it quite clear to me that the only unvaccinated guests will be those under 12, will be sailing with them.

 

I've seen this posted a few times in various threads. There is no ban on unvaccinated guests older than 12 years old. That is wrong information. It's entirely possible you have unvaccinated adults on your cruise. Celebrity has 3 buckets of passengers. All 3 groups have varying guidelines. 

 

1. Vaccinated Adults age 16+  - - - no test/no mask 

2. Unvaccinated Adults age 16+ - - - 2 test prior to boarding/masks required/test to disembark. Guest pays all testing costs.

3. Children not eligible for a vaccine - - - 1 rapid test prior to boarding/masks recommended/test to disembark. All tests are provided for free. 

 

Anyone 16+ was considered an adult. The only change is that on August 1st passengers 12 and older are now considered an adult. So if you are 12 or older or and cannot prove you are vaccinated, you follow the lengthly list of requirements for unvaccinated passengers. Hopefully that clears it up.

 

 

 

 

[oskidunker]

No unvaccinated allowed on cruise from Seattle to Alaska. Only Florida allows. 

[Covepointcruiser]

For those flying in to the port early, most airports have testing facilities so you can get one at your home or arrival airport.   In Miami and Fort Lauderdale there are many locations to get the test including CVSand Walgreens drugstores.   Make an appointment before you leave.

[paulh84]

10 minutes ago, oskidunker said:

No unvaccinated allowed on cruise from Seattle to Alaska. Only Florida allows. 

 

No unvaccinated adults but unvaccinated kids under 12 are still allowed to sail out of Seattle.

[zitsky]

11 minutes ago, oskidunker said:

No unvaccinated allowed on cruise from Seattle to Alaska. Only Florida allows. 

 

What is confusing is that I've seen this 95% number mentioned when doing a test booking for a non Florida cruise.  It comes up in a box at the bottom of the screen.

[paulh84]

2 minutes ago, zitsky said:

 

What is confusing is that I've seen this 95% number mentioned when doing a test booking for a non Florida cruise.  It comes up in a box at the bottom of the screen.

 

They are following the 95% vaccinated guest guideline across the board regardless of departure port. On Seattle cruises they require you show proof of vaccination. In Florida they cannot require that. From Seattle you will be flatly denied boarding as unvaccinated adult, but in Florida if there is space within the 5% window, you can still cruise. 

[zitsky]

50 minutes ago, paulh84 said:

 

They are following the 95% vaccinated guest guideline across the board regardless of departure port. On Seattle cruises they require you show proof of vaccination. In Florida they cannot require that. From Seattle you will be flatly denied boarding as unvaccinated adult, but in Florida if there is space within the 5% window, you can still cruise. 

 

Well I'd say we're saying the same thing.  Unvaxxed pax don't board outside of Florida.

[TXU2]

Celebrity reserves the right to change protocols and they have.  Got the 72-hour COVID test email today for Aug 27 Millennium. PCR or Antigen. Edge now has 7 break through cases by the end of the current cruise. The virus is still in charge. Details below as posted earlier.

 

http://www.creative.rccl.com/e-lite/CEL/Common_Elements/cel_logo.png

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS

Dear Guest,   We look forward to welcoming you aboard Celebrity Millennium® for your 7-Night Alaska sailing from Seattle, Washington. Before we depart, we have some important information to share regarding our Health and Safety Protocols.Celebrity Cruises has been working closely with health and government authorities, in each country we sail from, to outline a clear path for cruising with new health and safety measures. As we return to service, we are continuously evaluating all requirements from local government and health officials. Out of an abundance of caution, Celebrity Cruises will be enhancing COVID-19 testing requirements for both vaccinated and unvaccinated guests.   All guests over the age two, regardless of vaccination status, will now be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result at the time of embarkation. This test may be taken as either a PCR test or an Antigen test, conducted within 72 hours of embarkation. Each guest is responsible for making their own arrangements with an accredited testing provider as well as all associated costs.   Unvaccinated guests and children, under 12 years of age, will be required to take an additional antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation, mid-cruise and on the day before disembarkation. A registration link for required testing will be sent separately. Should a guest be unable to complete the testing requirements, a 100% refund or Future Cruise Credit will be offered. Additional testing and protocols will be confirmed closer to your sailing departure date in line with the most up to date recommendations from local government and health officials as well as our Healthy Sail Panel. These measures, including vaccination and testing requirements, will evolve along with public health standards.   Celebrity Millennium will sail with a vaccinated crew, and at least 95% of guests fully vaccinated. Guests 12 years and older must be fully vaccinated with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing. For details on our current health and safety protocols please visit www.healthyatsea.com. We’re sailing with fewer guests for more space – and more luxury with even more activities to avoid large gatherings in public spaces.   We apologize for any inconvenience these changes may cause. We're confident they will deliver a more satisfying vacation experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Celebrity Cruises at 1-844-418-6824 in North America or (316) 554-5961 worldwide.     Sincerely, Celebrity Cruises

[graphicguy]

12 hours ago, paulh84 said:

 

I've seen this posted a few times in various threads. There is no ban on unvaccinated guests older than 12 years old. That is wrong information. It's entirely possible you have unvaccinated adults on your cruise. Celebrity has 3 buckets of passengers. All 3 groups have varying guidelines. 

 

1. Vaccinated Adults age 16+  - - - no test/no mask 

2. Unvaccinated Adults age 16+ - - - 2 test prior to boarding/masks required/test to disembark. Guest pays all testing costs.

3. Children not eligible for a vaccine - - - 1 rapid test prior to boarding/masks recommended/test to disembark. All tests are provided for free. 

 

Anyone 16+ was considered an adult. The only change is that on August 1st passengers 12 and older are now considered an adult. So if you are 12 or older or and cannot prove you are vaccinated, you follow the lengthly list of requirements for unvaccinated passengers. Hopefully that clears it up.

 

 

 

 

There is no ban.  But, they’ve only been accepting vaccinated passengers that are over the age of 16 (now 12).  THey’ve made it abundantly clear that the 5% rate was for children (under the age of 16, and now 12).

 

I know on my cruise two weeks ago, the unvaccinated number was something like 20-25, all children.  

 

I’ve yet even heard of anyone who claims to have some sort of medical condition that precludes them from the vaccine.  

 

Point being, you can interpret what they are posting any way you want.  Personally, I believe they’re not allowing adults (over 12) on board without a vaccine.  

 

They even say so in the emails they’ve been sending me.

 

“All guests 16 years of age and older must have the vaccine.”

 

Done debating this.  If you want to press the issue with Celebrity, do so.  I’d be curious what they tell you when you try to board as an unvaccinated adult.