Italy cruises testing

[Susanb10567]

OP here…all I can say is ugh…my cruise is not until September…I can’t imagine how many times this will change…I was really excited of the thought of having my test in hand before flying to Europe from NYC…do we know what other cruise lines are requiring in Italy..

[cruisingaussies]

29 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

I haven’t read all the posts here, so not fully up to speed. We are spending 3 days in Civitavecchia prior so had planned on testing at the hotel with our on-line test kits when it was 1 day prior and then 2 days prior, now back to 1 day. 

 

But since they are testing the ‘Fully-Vaccinated’, those that took the vaccines later than 270days prior and no booster At the terminal, I was wondering if that suffices for us who are designed ‘Up to Date’. It says 

 

• Up to Date* Guests: Must present a negative Antigen test taken within 1 day prior to sailing. Testing at the terminal will not be required.

Just asking if anyone knows if we have ‘issues’ with taking our tests the day prior, if we can be tested at the terminal as a back up? Realize there will be time tied up in all that, but would be good as a back up. 

 

den

 

Den, in case you didn’t see this, those of us with a cruise departing on a Monday will have a great deal of trouble getting a test anywhere in Italy, apart from an airport, the day before. Everything is closed in Italy on a Sunday. With difficulty you may find a pharmacy in a town open 0900-1200 only. So if you’re not flying in the day before , like us, it really is a problem. 

I’d like to see them change it to testing for Up to Date available at the pier if required. As you say, that’ll take time so with luck most that can get a test beforehand will do so.

[Denny01]

I was aware of those cruising shortly and flying to arrive the day of departure have a big challenge getting tested. I wasn’t addressing a way for them, i was being selfish and focused on myself….kind of what I do a lot!!

But this and for many other reasons, i fly into a departure port, even living in Fla and departing ‘here’, I arrive at least one day prior. But that’s just me…..and many others. 

 

And I understand the frustration of X changing from 1 day to 2 days to 1 day. Ouch. 

 

Den

[Tipsy252]

4 minutes ago, cruisingaussies said:

Den, in case you didn’t see this, those of us with a cruise departing on a Monday will have a great deal of trouble getting a test anywhere in Italy, apart from an airport, the day before. Everything is closed in Italy on a Sunday. With difficulty you may find a pharmacy in a town open 0900-1200 only. So if you’re not flying in the day before , like us, it really is a problem. 

I’d like to see them change it to testing for Up to Date available at the pier if required. As you say, that’ll take time so with luck most that can get a test beforehand will do so.

Some of us have a cruise out of Civitavecchia on 03 June, so will now require to be tested on 02 June, which is a public holiday in Italy. Most of everything in Italy will be closed with only limited number of pharmacies providing a service, even in cities like Rome. We fly in 2 days prior to the cruise because there are no flights from our local airport day before. We have now paid and arranged a supervised test via video, which we will have to try to re-arrange. Talk about stress! I will need a much longer cruise to get over this, assuming I actually get to go on this one!

[FLCruiser97]

I'm sailing in October TA out of Rome, so I am following. I know by then the testing procedures will have changed about a hundred times. 

[dani negreanu]

9 minutes ago, cruisingaussies said:

Den, in case you didn’t see this, those of us with a cruise departing on a Monday will have a great deal of trouble getting a test anywhere in Italy, apart from an airport, the day before. Everything is closed in Italy on a Sunday. With difficulty you may find a pharmacy in a town open 0900-1200 only.

 

We also depart on Monday June 13rd on Beyond. Landing in Rome Saturday evening [the plan was to test in Israel Saturday morning].

 

Found 2 pharmacies open on Sunday and performing the tests --

 

Near the Pantheon (were we'll be staying): 

 

* Farmacia Tor Millina, Via Tor Millina,6

* Farmacia della Scrofa, Piazza Cardelli, 6/6a.

[PurpleTraveller]

This is getting ridiculous! I am booked on the June 3 Reflection cruise and the day before is a public holiday and most pharmacies and testing centres will be closed. As it will be very difficult to get a test on that day I have sent two emails to Celebrity asking if I can be tested on the day of the cruise and not had a reply. I have rung and been told that I can be tested on the day of the cruise or at the terminal but others have been told that they can not. I just wish that Celebrity would make a decision and give their passengers clear and concise information so that we can plan accordingly.

 

[Purplsmurf]

While I agree that this is VERY frustrating…..we sail next week…..it’s not Celebrity’s fault. These protocols are made by Italy. I was hopeful that since Italy loosened their protocols that this change was originally welcomed. Something must’ve happened to make them change back to testing one day before. Maybe there were too many positive cases on the TA so they felt more comfortable with testing one day before. Who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

[mimbecky]

18 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

We also depart on Monday June 13rd on Beyond. Landing in Rome Saturday evening [the plan was to test in Israel Saturday morning].

 

Found 2 pharmacies open on Sunday and performing the tests --

 

Near the Pantheon (were we'll be staying): 

 

* Farmacia Tor Millina, Via Tor Millina,6

* Farmacia della Scrofa, Piazza Cardelli, 6/6a.

We plan to test over WI-FI at our hotel but if we have a problem this is good to know as we are staying in that area. I understand results must be in English -do you know if they provide in English?

M

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by mimbecky

[dani negreanu]

7 minutes ago, mimbecky said:

I understand results must be in English -do you know if they provide in English?

 

From the pharmacy's reviews [from the last week] --

 

We went here to get COVID testing done the day before we travelled back to the US (which is still required). We stopped by a couple days before to see if a reservation was required and confirmed that there was not. So we went the day before we were leaving back to the US (around 10:30am) and we were in and out (3 people) within 20 min. The staff was very polite and friendly and the cost for testing was 22 Euros per person. We received an email with official documents confirming negative results within an hour or two. I was then able to upload the results to Delta's website during the online check process and received our boarding passes a couple hours later. It's definitely well worth it vs trying to do the testing at the FCO airport last minute. Just make sure you confirm their testing hours beforehand so you can plan ahead.

 

Perfect spot for my COVID-19 test to return to USA. I had my results emailed to me within 30 minutes. The test adheres to all requirements for re entry back into USA. Very kind service, and there was no wait time for me. Highly recommended!

 

We did our rapid Covid test to show for our flight back to the U.S. The staff was excellent in their process. In & out in 10 minutes. Results within the next 20 minutes👏👏👍

 

[Megabear2]

We arrive Rome on the 15th Jun3 which is the next date for Italian protocols to change if at all, ie mask wearing ashore still in place on public transport and in museums etc. until then. We had a reservation at main train station for a test on 17th, cancelled it and made it 16th along with altering all our private tours - to minimise contact we have paid hundreds of euros extra to go completely private which for 2 on a 6 person tour is VERY expensive.  Now 24 hours later we need to rearrange tests and tours again.  This is my first Celebrity cruise and very much looking like my last at the moment with this fiasco and the quarantine arrangements.  My three P&O cruises, two Cunard and one Princess are not having these ridiculous less than 24 hour protocol changes.  

 

No one at Celebrity is taking any responsibility for their inadequate and poor relaying of information.  I'm not in any way impressed and now very angry.  This trip has become a hindrance not a pleasure and is one problem after another.  Absolutely ludicrous.

[Megabear2]

16 minutes ago, Purplsmurf said:

While I agree that this is VERY frustrating…..we sail next week…..it’s not Celebrity’s fault. These protocols are made by Italy. I was hopeful that since Italy loosened their protocols that this change was originally welcomed. Something must’ve happened to make them change back to testing one day before. Maybe there were too many positive cases on the TA so they felt more comfortable with testing one day before. Who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

The protocol has only been altered from 1 May.  You cannot blame Italy for Celebrity changing their website, wrongly it seems.  Checking every other lines sailing and testing regime out of Italy they don't seem to have got it wrong.  Celebrity seem to just be deliberately confusing the issue every 24 hours !

Edited May 3, 2022 by Megabear2

[Denny01]

33 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

I'm sailing in October TA out of Rome, so I am following. I know by then the testing procedures will have changed about a hundred times. 

We are cruising on Edge Oct ‘22 TA. Are you on this one? If so, come join our Roll Call!

 

den

[FLCruiser97]

6 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

We are cruising on Edge Oct ‘22 TA. Are you on this one? If so, come join our Roll Call!

 

den

Hi Den. We ARE sailing Oct 22 TA but on the Constellation...unless they changed the ship without telling me. We are already on that roll call....look at Garry's list....Debbie & Gary from Silver Springs, FL

Edited May 3, 2022 by FLCruiser97

[Denny01]

7 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

Hi Den. We ARE sailing Oct 22 TA but on the Constellation...unless they changed the ship without telling me. We are already on that roll call....look at Garry's list....Debbie & Gary from Silver Springs, FL

Enjoy. we loved the Connie. And the M-Class with the Spa Pool is fantastic. You depart the 22nd, we are right behind you on the 24th. we have an active Roll Call too, one of the perks of a TA! 

 

Den

[Lastdance]

Our hotel shared with us the same information regarding testing on a Sunday; however, who knows what it will be in a few more months...I am winging it with a prayer because I am going, period!   My glass is half full, Covid or not!

 

Come on Celebrity, you can do a better job...

[p18750]

17 cruises on Celebrity and was considering switching to Oceania and I think this fiasco clinches it. If a cruise line wanted a way to alienate customers and incentive them to switch to another cruise line this has got to be it. We are booked on the Edge from Rome to Barcelona in July so this will likely change dozens of times before that but treating customers like this is just unforgiveable. 

Note: We are also booked on an Oceania cruise and their requirement for European departures has been a consistent test 72 hours before departure. This would seem to indicate the issue is with Celebrity and not Italy. 

[Purplsmurf]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

The protocol has only been altered from 1 May.  You cannot blame Italy for Celebrity changing their website, wrongly it seems.  Checking every other lines sailing and testing regime out of Italy they don't seem to have got it wrong.  Celebrity seem to just be deliberately confusing the issue every 24 hours !

It was actually changed April 29

[cruisingaussies]

I just Googled the Costa website, in Italian.

 

https://www.costacrociere.it/ripartiamo-insieme/la-tua-salute-a-bordo.html

 

The translation:

Test antigenico pre-imbarco  (Pre-shipment antigen test)

Finally we return to travel freely and without restrictions.

That's right, from 1 May 2022 the rules change!

 To all guests aged 2 and over, we will ask to show at boarding the negative result of a simple antigenic swab to be done within 48h of departure.

(Bolding is mine)

So this one day before rule is definitely a Celebrity requirement, not Italy - unless there are different rules for different cruise lines, which is unlikely.

I also finally just received an email from my long phone call to X on Friday.  It totally, absolutely, missed the mark and the info they gave was for entry into Italy, nothing to do with the ship requirements.

I'm about to reply with the above info and explain again what I already spent an hour and a half on the phone explaining.  I'll post if I get any more details from X.

 

 

 

[C-Ya]

We leave for Rome in 2 days. We decided to just keep our testing appointments. This means we will take the 2 day test tomorrow. The antigen test Thursday morning. Board plane Thursday evening in MIA. Land in Rome Friday. Head directly to port for Friday departure on Edge.

 

Needless to say, we are quite apprehensive about the changing rules, but this has actually made us happy that we are not flying in day before cruise. That just appears to be a more difficult scenario.

 

Even though we have been on many cruises. This will be the first time we have flown in on same day as cruise.
 

It is also the first cruise we are doing without luggage. Carry-on’s only. Packing for this cruise has been an experience in itself! Lol But we did accomplish it!

[cruisingaussies]

On 5/1/2022 at 2:14 AM, Searanger said:

celebrityengagementcenter@celebrity.com

Why don't we all email them with 'Italy cruises testing' in the subject line?  If we hit them with a mass of messages, briefly stating all the confusion their frequent changes for pre-embarkation testing is causing, someone may sit up and take notice.

If they would just change the requirements to allow anyone, regardless of their vax status, to test at the pier if they haven't been able to do it any other way, it would clear this up.  Sure, it would cause more delays with embarkation but if they can't get their act together with this requirement, so be it.  At least we would all know we have that to fall back on.

[B x]

3 hours ago, cruisingaussies said:

Why don't we all email them with 'Italy cruises testing' in the subject line?  If we hit them with a mass of messages, briefly stating all the confusion their frequent changes for pre-embarkation testing is causing, someone may sit up and take notice.

If they would just change the requirements to allow anyone, regardless of their vax status, to test at the pier if they haven't been able to do it any other way, it would clear this up.  Sure, it would cause more delays with embarkation but if they can't get their act together with this requirement, so be it.  At least we would all know we have that to fall back on.

Excellent idea! Mind you not confident they will answer anyone, I'm still waiting on a reply from my mail last Friday to Specialist Services (medical support) copies to customer relations, so far just the normal auto reply. Are they that short staffed or snowed under with customer queries one wonders.

[cruisingaussies]

5 minutes ago, B x said:

Excellent idea! Mind you not confident they will answer anyone, I'm still waiting on a reply from my mail last Friday to Specialist Services (medical support) copies to customer relations, so far just the normal auto reply. Are they that short staffed or snowed under with customer queries one wonders.

I'm not so confident they'll reply either, but we could all give it a try.   If they're hit with a mass of emails with the same subject, they may realise there is a problem.  Power in numbers and all that.

We had to contact the Specialist Services and received a reply within a few days, so hang in there.

I think everywhere is short staffed, certainly here in Australia no matter what type of company you call, you sit on the phone for ages listening to a recording telling you to go to their website (which never has an answer to the question you have).  I'd make a bet they they are just not recruiting to full strength to save some $$$ to make up for money lost in the pandemic.

[Megabear2]

7 hours ago, Purplsmurf said:

It was actually changed April 29

The rules are from 1 May to 15 June if you wish to be pedantic 

[mimlypops]

10 hours ago, Denny01 said:

I haven’t read all the posts here, so not fully up to speed. We are spending 3 days in Civitavecchia prior so had planned on testing at the hotel with our on-line test kits when it was 1 day prior and then 2 days prior, now back to 1 day. 

 

But since they are testing the ‘Fully-Vaccinated’, those that took the vaccines later than 270days prior and no booster At the terminal, I was wondering if that suffices for us who are designed ‘Up to Date’. It says 

 

• Up to Date* Guests: Must present a negative Antigen test taken within 1 day prior to sailing. Testing at the terminal will not be required.

Just asking if anyone knows if we have ‘issues’ with taking our tests the day prior, if we can be tested at the terminal as a back up? Realize there will be time tied up in all that, but would be good as a back up. 

 

den

 

We are hoping the same as an emergency back-up if there is a problem with the online supervised tests we will now have to take with us to use 1 day prior to cruise. The online tests look reliable but if there is a problem with that testing process then there is no pharmacy back-up in Civi on a Sunday so we will have no choice but to go to the port on the Monday and explain. Surely they wouldn't refuse to test you and let you board ???