Updated Canada Specific Requirements From NCL

[ceilidh1]

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/travel-requirements-by-country?fbclid=IwAR0NQPSCq8YF_TOGs1U-j9w8V7bAie_KbIJhEtnf8TiXM2s2k-xgUDiMTZc
 

Now I’m even more confused! Scroll down to the “arrival in Canada” section. I don’t think I’ve read about a negative test requirement before!?

[broberts]

Other than pre-embarkation tests, https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022 only specifies tests for unvaccinated and those with symptoms. 

 

I don't know why NCL would add a test, but since it is paid for by NCL after day 3 it's probably not something to worry about.

 

[ceilidh1]

1 hour ago, broberts said:

Other than pre-embarkation tests, https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022 only specifies tests for unvaccinated and those with symptoms. 

 

I don't know why NCL would add a test, but since it is paid for by NCL after day 3 it's probably not something to worry about.

 

I feel as if both you and @Fouremcohave a good grasp/understanding of these rules. My brain is fried trying to keep it all straight. Am I reading/understanding correctly:

 

I fly to the US on Saturday for a Sunday embarkation (5 day coastal from LA to Vancouver). I can take an antigen test on Friday and this would cover both the flight and the boarding requirement for NCL?

 

The itinerary has Victoria on day 4 and Vancouver day 5 (assuming boarding day is day one). So we would be tested again onboard prior to day 4, even though Canada doesn't require an arrival test (is this unique to NCL?)

 

I naively thought this cruise would be "easier" than the one I took a month ago from Miami...boy was I mistaken. These rules are making my head spin!

[broberts]

I believe you have the timing correct.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about Victoria or Vancouver. I suspect NCL is simply slow with web updates. 

 

Don't forget to submit your ArriveCan data prior to embarkation.

 

Have a great cruise. And let us know how it goes.

[Fouremco]

Two possibilities come to mind. Either NCL has decided to impose protocols above and beyond those required by the GOC, which is unlikely, or as @broberts suggests, they are slow publishing updates.

 

Either way, I don't believe you have anything to be concerned about. If NCL does stick with the plan to give you a pre-arrival test, they are the ones paying for it.

 

It looks like you have dotted all your i's and crossed all your t's, so get ready to relax and enjoy your cruise! 

[ceilidh1]

11 hours ago, broberts said:

I believe you have the timing correct.

 

I wouldn't worry too much about Victoria or Vancouver. I suspect NCL is simply slow with web updates. 

 

Don't forget to submit your ArriveCan data prior to embarkation.

 

Have a great cruise. And let us know how it goes.

 

19 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

Two possibilities come to mind. Either NCL has decided to impose protocols above and beyond those required by the GOC, which is unlikely, or as @broberts suggests, they are slow publishing updates.

 

Either way, I don't believe you have anything to be concerned about. If NCL does stick with the plan to give you a pre-arrival test, they are the ones paying for it.

 

It looks like you have dotted all your i's and crossed all your t's, so get ready to relax and enjoy your cruise! 

Thank you both!

I just returned a month ago from my first post-Covid cruise and ended up taking 4 tests over the space of 7 days (I think I was the "safest" person in all of Canada - lol). I have no issue with the testing and actually think it is a GOOD thing....but it does increase the stress level a little! I'm fortunate that I live within a 10 minute walk of Vancouver port so even if, Heaven forbid, any of us test positive we can just walk home and quarantine at home (I believe 14 days per Federal requirements as opposed to 5 days per provincial...)

[em-sk]

On 4/6/2022 at 6:49 AM, Fouremco said:

Two possibilities come to mind. Either NCL has decided to impose protocols above and beyond those required by the GOC, which is unlikely, or as @broberts suggests, they are slow publishing updates.

 

Either way, I don't believe you have anything to be concerned about. If NCL does stick with the plan to give you a pre-arrival test, they are the ones paying for it.

 

It looks like you have dotted all your i's and crossed all your t's, so get ready to relax and enjoy your cruise! 

 

A third option is they are slow updating their operating manual for one or more ships.  

 

My understanding is they prepare a safety manual.  Submit to Transport Canada for review and approval.  They are expected to follow the manual for that ship.  They may not have gotten around to updating and resubmitting it for that specific ship.   

[Fouremco]

1 hour ago, em-sk said:

 

A third option is they are slow updating their operating manual for one or more ships.  

 

My understanding is they prepare a safety manual.  Submit to Transport Canada for review and approval.  They are expected to follow the manual for that ship.  They may not have gotten around to updating and resubmitting it for that specific ship.   

As they wouldn't be allowed to sail in Canadian waters without the required TC approvals, I doubt very much that they haven't completed that step in a timely fashion. Updating their website is a very different story and much more likely to be the cause IMO.

[broberts]

Error

 

Edited April 10, 2022 by broberts

[dolfan1980]

Has anyone found from an authoritative source yet how this is going to work?  I'm on the NCL Bliss next weekend and it remains unclear what the rules are/will be.  I am understanding three possible scenarios:

 

1. Test up to two days before the cruise and that's it;

2. Test up to two days before the cruise and re-test before we arrive in Victoria or Vancouver;

3. Test within one day of embarkation.

 

In all scenarios I understand that ArriveCan needs to be done prior to embarkation.  

 

NCL website seems to suggestion option 1 or 2 above, but Government of Canada rules seem to suggest 3 is the rule. 

[broberts]

2 hours ago, dolfan1980 said:

Has anyone found from an authoritative source yet how this is going to work? 

 

What would you consider authoritative if not the cruise line and government authority?

 

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022 says test within 2 days of embarkation.

 

If cruise line has a shorter test period that would apply to board one of its ships.

 

As of April 1, 2022 tests are not required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada. Tests are required for unvaccinated travellers with right of entry. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

 

[bigAWL]

7 hours ago, broberts said:

 

What would you consider authoritative if not the cruise line and government authority?

 

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022 says test within 2 days of embarkation.

 

If cruise line has a shorter test period that would apply to board one of its ships.

 

As of April 1, 2022 tests are not required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada. Tests are required for unvaccinated travellers with right of entry. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

 

One problem is deciding which Government of Canada statement is authoritative.  This is from the link you provided (https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022)

 

This is from another government link (https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2022/03/preventing-or-limiting-the-spread-of-covid-19-on-cruise-ships.html😞

 

If the answer is that the first one is authoritative because it was updated one day after the second one, then that's the answer.  But there's going to be confusion here until things get cleaned up a bit more.

[em-sk]

12 hours ago, Fouremco said:

As they wouldn't be allowed to sail in Canadian waters without the required TC approvals, I doubt very much that they haven't completed that step in a timely fashion. Updating their website is a very different story and much more likely to be the cause IMO.

 

It manual for each ship was likely approved months ago.  They now need to revise the manual for each ship and get them reapproved.  That does not happen overnight.  Until a new version is approved they operate under the old rules. 

[Fouremco]

5 hours ago, bigAWL said:

One problem is deciding which Government of Canada statement is authoritative.  This is from the link you provided (https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022)

 

This is from another government link (https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2022/03/preventing-or-limiting-the-spread-of-covid-19-on-cruise-ships.html😞

 

If the answer is that the first one is authoritative because it was updated one day after the second one, then that's the answer.  But there's going to be confusion here until things get cleaned up a bit more.

In addition to the former being the more current of the two documents, it is a Ship Safety Bulletin. Ship Safety Bulletins are issued by Transport Canada's Marine Safety Directorate and are aimed at owners, authorized representatives and operators of commercial vessels, including other interested marine industry stakeholders. The bulletins are a source of accurate and up-to-date ship safety information, paramount to the safety of life at sea and one of the important mechanisms for conveying timely information pertaining to safeguards against identified risks and/or direction to industry. The provisions of the bulletin are both authoritative and enforceable. 

 

On the other hand, the second document is simply a GOC Backgrounder, an instrument used to provide information to the public. Like press releases, Backgrounders have no legal authority, and are intended solely to provide general background information on an extensive range of government activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[broberts]

8 hours ago, bigAWL said:

One problem is deciding which Government of Canada statement is authoritative.  This is from the link you provided (https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022)

 

This is from another government link (https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2022/03/preventing-or-limiting-the-spread-of-covid-19-on-cruise-ships.html😞

 

If the answer is that the first one is authoritative because it was updated one day after the second one, then that's the answer.  But there's going to be confusion here until things get cleaned up a bit more.

 

The current definitive legal requirements are set out in https://tc.canada.ca/en/ministerial-orders-interim-orders-directives-directions-response-letters/interim-order-no-3-respecting-vessel-restrictions-vaccination-requirements-due-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

 

I agree entirely that the current web pages easily lead to confusion. It is also unrealistic to expect private travelers to familiarize themselves with the relevant sections of the ministerial order. Sadly, our bureaucracy backed by over 1,000 years of legal precedent don't agree.

 

Edited April 11, 2022 by broberts

[dolfan1980]

16 hours ago, broberts said:

 

What would you consider authoritative if not the cruise line and government authority?

 

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022 says test within 2 days of embarkation.

 

If cruise line has a shorter test period that would apply to board one of its ships.

 

As of April 1, 2022 tests are not required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada. Tests are required for unvaccinated travellers with right of entry. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

 

It's been updated from a version in late March I saw with the Minister's announcement (which had not yet been taken down and I won't repost since it's older).  This is clear that the 2 days before is enough, though the TC direction of course doesn't speak to ArriveCan which is also required as you've correctly posted.  Seems I just need to get through a test for my flight and cruise departure, covid seems to be closing in on those of us in Ontario right now, everyone I know including both sides of my family have it.  

[dolfan1980]

16 hours ago, broberts said:

 

What would you consider authoritative if not the cruise line and government authority?

 

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-safety/ship-safety-bulletins/measures-support-safe-cruise-travel-canada-ssb-no-18-2021-modified-april-1-2022 says test within 2 days of embarkation.

 

If cruise line has a shorter test period that would apply to board one of its ships.

 

As of April 1, 2022 tests are not required for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada. Tests are required for unvaccinated travellers with right of entry. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

 

Of course in this document from NCL still on their site today says guests will be tested at NCL expense as well.  So there remains no 100% clear response.

[broberts]

55 minutes ago, dolfan1980 said:

It's been updated from a version in late March I saw with the Minister's announcement (which had not yet been taken down and I won't repost since it's older).  This is clear that the 2 days before is enough, though the TC direction of course doesn't speak to ArriveCan which is also required as you've correctly posted.  Seems I just need to get through a test for my flight and cruise departure, covid seems to be closing in on those of us in Ontario right now, everyone I know including both sides of my family have it.  

 

In the Guidance for marine industry, Interim orders section a list of previous orders is listed with current status (repealed in many cases). https://tc.canada.ca/en/initiatives/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-issued-transport-canada/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-marine-transportation-issued-transport-canada#toc2-1

[ceilidh1]

6 hours ago, dolfan1980 said:

Of course in this document from NCL still on their site today says guests will be tested at NCL expense as well.  So there remains no 100% clear response.

So I just looked at my test result from last cruise (planning on using the same one for NCL on Sunday) and realise that the test type is NAT while NCL asks for NAAT. Am I going to have issues with that missing letter A? Same tests? Different tests? GAH!! 

[Fouremco]

27 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

So I just looked at my test result from last cruise (planning on using the same one for NCL on Sunday) and realise that the test type is NAT while NCL asks for NAAT. Am I going to have issues with that missing letter A? Same tests? Different tests? GAH!! 

NAAT and NAT are both used as abbreviations for Nucleic Acid Amplification Technique. You shouldn't experience any difficulty.

[ByThePond]

NCL just updated the Canada guidance to no longer show arrival testing. 

[broberts]

18 minutes ago, ByThePond said:

NCL just updated the Canada guidance to no longer show arrival testing. 

 

Didn't change antigen window to 2 days prior as set out in the Ministerial order.

[ceilidh1]

6 hours ago, broberts said:

 

Didn't change antigen window to 2 days prior as set out in the Ministerial order.

That 48 hour thing is a puzzle. Are we supposed to just "guess" an embarkation time? I'm happy they ditched the testing requirement for Canada, but still confused over the timing of testing to satisfy both Canada AND NCL.

[Fouremco]

The NCL website, in at least one location, has now changed from 48 hours to 2 days:

Universal testing & Pre-Embarkation Protocols

At time of check-in, all guests will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or NAAT test (i.e. PCR) result administered by a verified third party or via medically supervised home test within two days prior to embarkation date for cruises originating in a U.S. or Canadian port and within three days prior for voyages departing from a non-U.S. port.

 

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/sail-safe

 

 

[ceilidh1]

7 hours ago, Fouremco said:

The NCL website, in at least one location, has now changed from 48 hours to 2 days:

Universal testing & Pre-Embarkation Protocols

At time of check-in, all guests will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 antigen or NAAT test (i.e. PCR) result administered by a verified third party or via medically supervised home test within two days prior to embarkation date for cruises originating in a U.S. or Canadian port and within three days prior for voyages departing from a non-U.S. port.

 

https://www.ncl.com/ca/en/sail-safe

 

 

Thank You!!!!! Just took our tests and all negative. Keep everything crossed that NCL actually accepts these!