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HAL updated policy


ilv4cruising
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Good morning. 

 

I took a look at HAL's website this morning.  They have changed their policies but I am a little confused though.  Under the FAQ for Vaccine Requirements it is saying all guests must be vaccinated (with no expiry date).  However in the summary section there isn't any mention of vaccine requirements, just a reference to the CDC guidelines for a booster.

 

I will try to contact my PCC later today (too early for her) but I was wondering if anyone can confirm that all cruises are for vaccinated passengers only moving forward.

 

Here is the section from the summary:

 

Thanks,

 

Updated January 3, 2022

Your health and safety are our highest priorities.
Until further notice, our cruises are available for guests who have ALL of the following:

All guests also will be required to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within 2 days of their embarkation.

All guests regardless of age will be required to wear face masks at all times in elevators and in all indoor areas of the ship, except when eating or drinking or in their own staterooms. This includes wearing face masks prior to being seated in all dining venues and Lido Market, while dancing in public lounges, and outdoors if in large gatherings and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

As advised by health authorities, guests are recommended to use higher-grade masks indoors (such as surgical or KN95) that have two or more layers, completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of the face and have a nose wire.

Until further notice, smoking will not be permitted in the casino.

As the CDC has strongly recommended that all persons over 16 years obtain a COVID-19 booster vaccination when eligible, we strongly encourage all guests who are eligible to receive a booster vaccine to complete the booster at least seven days before boarding.

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4 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

I am not aware HAL has allowed non-vaccinated pax on board AT ALL since the resumption of cruising.

So up until yesterday they policy for vaccinated passengers was set to expire at the end of March.  When I contacted my PCC to see if it would be extended she said she didn't think so and couldn't "imagine that vaccination status will be the new norm".  Since our cruise is in April (with final payment due in the next few days) I've been watching to see if HAL would change this policy.

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If you download the PDF  U.S. Cruise Protocols PDF     which is also dated January 3rd, it states:

 

In accordance with CDC guidelines, our cruises departing from U.S. ports are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and can produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within 2 days of their embarkation

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IMO your PCC is very optimistic to think that the vaccine requirement will not be extended for at least some period. I think it has already been extended, tbh - the current policy is until further notice, I don’t see any reference to the March expiration.  The Update/FAQ is poorly worded but I take it to mean that until further notice full vaccination is REQUIRED, and a Booster shot is “strongly encouraged” 
 

 

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1 hour ago, ilv4cruising said:

…They have changed their policies but I am a little confused though.  Under the FAQ for Vaccine Requirements it is saying all guests must be vaccinated…However in the summary section there isn't any mention of vaccine requirements, just a reference to the CDC guidelines for a booster.…

Agree that they should put the vaccine requirement in the summary, even though it’s clearly elsewhere, so as not to be confusing. I’m wondering when the booster will be a requirement for HAL; some other lines have begun requiring it.

Edited by syesmar
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I too think required vaccination with booster (probably soon) will be with us for at least 2022 and beyond. It will be one of the ways of "living with Covid" . It is in the best interests of cruise lines to prevent serious illness which is what vaccines do.

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11 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

For our scheduled February Hawaii sailing HAL sent an email saying that it was “very likely “ that Hawaii would require cruise passengers to be boosted.

I  believe that Maui has already made the decision that boosters will be required starting Jan 8 for access to indoor dining, bars and gyms.  Oahu is considering something similar.  The state is also looking at changing their definition for fully vaccinated to include boosters under the safe travels Hawaii program.

 

So anyone looking at an Hawaii cruise should certainly be getting their boosters now.

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54 minutes ago, nocl said:

I  believe that Maui has already made the decision that boosters will be required starting Jan 8 for access to indoor dining, bars and gyms.  Oahu is considering something similar.  The state is also looking at changing their definition for fully vaccinated to include boosters under the safe travels Hawaii program.

 

So anyone looking at an Hawaii cruise should certainly be getting their boosters now.

 

You are correct about Maui and I agree that all islands will likely follow suit.  

 

Link:  Maui County COVID-19 News (mauinuistrong.info)

 

And here's the screen shot of what it shows:

 

image.png.b27ef1bc1348827a658f6461313b8438.png

 

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On 1/4/2022 at 8:28 AM, ilv4cruising said:

Good morning. 

 

I took a look at HAL's website this morning.  They have changed their policies but I am a little confused though.  Under the FAQ for Vaccine Requirements it is saying all guests must be vaccinated (with no expiry date).  However in the summary section there isn't any mention of vaccine requirements, just a reference to the CDC guidelines for a booster.

 

I will try to contact my PCC later today (too early for her) but I was wondering if anyone can confirm that all cruises are for vaccinated passengers only moving forward.

 

Here is the section from the summary:

 

Thanks,

 

Updated January 3, 2022

Your health and safety are our highest priorities.
Until further notice, our cruises are available for guests who have ALL of the following:

All guests also will be required to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within 2 days of their embarkation.

All guests regardless of age will be required to wear face masks at all times in elevators and in all indoor areas of the ship, except when eating or drinking or in their own staterooms. This includes wearing face masks prior to being seated in all dining venues and Lido Market, while dancing in public lounges, and outdoors if in large gatherings and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

As advised by health authorities, guests are recommended to use higher-grade masks indoors (such as surgical or KN95) that have two or more layers, completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of the face and have a nose wire.

Until further notice, smoking will not be permitted in the casino.

As the CDC has strongly recommended that all persons over 16 years obtain a COVID-19 booster vaccination when eligible, we strongly encourage all guests who are eligible to receive a booster vaccine to complete the booster at least seven days before boarding.

The CDC released a statement TODAY saying the conditional sail order will be voluntary on January 15th, This would effectively release the cruise lines from requiring vaccines for passengers. Perhaps that has something to do with the change on HAL's website. I'm sure the CLIA folks knew about the forthcoming CDC change before it was released to the public.   That said, we're boosted and praying everyone else on the Ship next week is also.

Edited by cruiseguy56
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What is also interesting is that the HAL website is currently showing all the cruises in Feb 2022 out of FLL as "Vaccinated Cruises".  When I signed up for my cruises they were only for fully vaccinated guests - I don't like the idea that they have dropped this requirement.

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On 1/4/2022 at 8:28 AM, ilv4cruising said:

Good morning. 

 

I took a look at HAL's website this morning.  They have changed their policies but I am a little confused though.  Under the FAQ for Vaccine Requirements it is saying all guests must be vaccinated (with no expiry date).  However in the summary section there isn't any mention of vaccine requirements, just a reference to the CDC guidelines for a booster.

 

I will try to contact my PCC later today (too early for her) but I was wondering if anyone can confirm that all cruises are for vaccinated passengers only moving forward.

 

Here is the section from the summary:

 

Thanks,

 

Updated January 3, 2022

Your health and safety are our highest priorities.
Until further notice, our cruises are available for guests who have ALL of the following:

All guests also will be required to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within 2 days of their embarkation.

All guests regardless of age will be required to wear face masks at all times in elevators and in all indoor areas of the ship, except when eating or drinking or in their own staterooms. This includes wearing face masks prior to being seated in all dining venues and Lido Market, while dancing in public lounges, and outdoors if in large gatherings and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

As advised by health authorities, guests are recommended to use higher-grade masks indoors (such as surgical or KN95) that have two or more layers, completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of the face and have a nose wire.

Until further notice, smoking will not be permitted in the casino.

As the CDC has strongly recommended that all persons over 16 years obtain a COVID-19 booster vaccination when eligible, we strongly encourage all guests who are eligible to receive a booster vaccine to complete the booster at least seven days before boarding.

Can you provide a link to this on the HAL site where a full vaccination is no longer required?  Found it - https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html

Edited by iflyrc5
found the link
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8 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

Can you provide a link to this on the HAL site where a full vaccination is no longer required?  Found it - https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/worry-free-promise/travel-well/frequently-asked-questions/faq-for-cruises-from-usa.html

 

17 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

What is also interesting is that the HAL website is currently showing all the cruises in Feb 2022 out of FLL as "Vaccinated Cruises".  When I signed up for my cruises they were only for fully vaccinated guests - I don't like the idea that they have dropped this requirement.

Where are you seeing that HAL dropped the vaccination requirement? It is not in the link you found.

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3 minutes ago, MTAK said:

 

Where are you seeing that HAL dropped the vaccination requirement? It is not in the link you found.

In their posting dated 3 Jan it does not mention the vax requirement.  It talks about testing and masking and says the CDC recommends a booster but does not require vaccination.  Then in the link to the "Travel Well" PDF the vaccination is still shown as a requirement.  This is confusing.  They need to correct this confusion.   BTW - I am fully vaxed, boosted and have a load of KN95 masks to take on my Feb cruises.

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26 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

In their posting dated 3 Jan it does not mention the vax requirement.  It talks about testing and masking and says the CDC recommends a booster but does not require vaccination.  Then in the link to the "Travel Well" PDF the vaccination is still shown as a requirement.  This is confusing.  They need to correct this confusion.   BTW - I am fully vaxed, boosted and have a load of KN95 masks to take on my Feb cruises.

I'm still scratching my head, nowhere do I see where anything says 'does not require vaccination'.

 

@VMax1700 pointed out the language in the US Cruise Protocols, which is linked directly below the announcement.

 

The very first Question in the Q&A is "What are the current vaccination requirements to sail?" where it clearly states vaccines are required.

 

I must be missing something...?

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This is the quote of the HAL site posted 3 Jan .  It is listed as an "update"

Updated January 3, 2022

Your health and safety are our highest priorities.
Until further notice, our cruises are available for guests who have ALL of the following:

All guests also will be required to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within 2 days of their embarkation.

All guests regardless of age will be required to wear face masks at all times in elevators and in all indoor areas of the ship, except when eating or drinking or in their own staterooms. This includes wearing face masks prior to being seated in all dining venues and Lido Market, while dancing in public lounges, and outdoors if in large gatherings and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

As advised by health authorities, guests are recommended to use higher-grade masks indoors (such as surgical or KN95) that have two or more layers, completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of the face and have a nose wire.

Until further notice, smoking will not be permitted in the casino.

As the CDC has strongly recommended that all persons over 16 years obtain a COVID-19 booster vaccination when eligible, we strongly encourage all guests who are eligible to receive a booster vaccine to complete the booster at least seven days before boarding.

 

I don't see  a requirement for vaccination in this notice - only testing, masking and no smoking in casino.  You have to go to the PDF link to see the requirement

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Yes, it's an update.  And in that update there is nothing that says "vaccination is no longer required" or that "they have dropped the requirement", as you previously stated.

 

It appears to me they are clarifying the testing timeframe, mask usage, smoking policy, and recommending a booster for those eligible.

 

We're seeing this differently, but whatever. 

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17 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

This is the quote of the HAL site posted 3 Jan .  It is listed as an "update"

Updated January 3, 2022

Your health and safety are our highest priorities.
Until further notice, our cruises are available for guests who have ALL of the following:

All guests also will be required to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within 2 days of their embarkation.

All guests regardless of age will be required to wear face masks at all times in elevators and in all indoor areas of the ship, except when eating or drinking or in their own staterooms. This includes wearing face masks prior to being seated in all dining venues and Lido Market, while dancing in public lounges, and outdoors if in large gatherings and physical distancing cannot be maintained.

As advised by health authorities, guests are recommended to use higher-grade masks indoors (such as surgical or KN95) that have two or more layers, completely cover the nose and mouth, fit snugly against the sides of the face and have a nose wire.

Until further notice, smoking will not be permitted in the casino.

As the CDC has strongly recommended that all persons over 16 years obtain a COVID-19 booster vaccination when eligible, we strongly encourage all guests who are eligible to receive a booster vaccine to complete the booster at least seven days before boarding.

 

I don't see  a requirement for vaccination in this notice - only testing, masking and no smoking in casino.  You have to go to the PDF link to see the requirement

In reading this, I think they omitted the first requirement (likely said missing vaccines) based on the first one stating   All guests also will be required to produce a negative viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) result taken within 2 days of their embarkation.  The word "also" indicates that something preceded this statement.

 

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2 hours ago, MTAK said:

Yes, it's an update.  And in that update there is nothing that says "vaccination is no longer required" or that "they have dropped the requirement", as you previously stated.

 

It appears to me they are clarifying the testing timeframe, mask usage, smoking policy, and recommending a booster for those eligible.

 

We're seeing this differently, but whatever. 

MTAK, thank you!  People are muddying the waters when there is no need for muddying.  The vaccination requirements are clearly stated and clearly marked under the FAQ.  They have not been changed or updated so they are not included in the “update” announcement.  Any kind of panic that “vaccinations are no longer required” is completely unwarranted.  

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I recently sailed on the Koningsdam and, in questioning the guest services agent, I discovered that indeed there were unvaccinated guests traveling with us. This was in early November. He insisted that they were following CDC guidelines of 95% vaccinated and tried to reassure me. I was not happy.

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