No more covid testing required on one Carnival line

[BlerkOne]

Carnival's provider charges $100 at the port

 

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[jimbo5544]

12 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

Viking and P&O also has done this recently before Holland ....generally in the same region. I agree though, the mandatory testing of thousands of healthy people is ridiculous and needs to stop ASAP. Forcing families into clinics and urgent cares or pharmacies when they are not sick and also costing hundreds of dollars possibly is madness at this point. Can you imagine 5 years ago telling a healthy family they may have to go to an urgent care to be tested while not sick? Seems unfathomable....

Agreed, would think it belongs in a novel like 1984 except it is reality

[topaz123]

12 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

Viking and P&O also has done this recently before Holland ....generally in the same region. I agree though, the mandatory testing of thousands of healthy people is ridiculous and needs to stop ASAP. Forcing families into clinics and urgent cares or pharmacies when they are not sick and also costing hundreds of dollars possibly is madness at this point. Can you imagine 5 years ago telling a healthy family they may have to go to an urgent care to be tested while not sick? Seems unfathomable....

Yes, ....absolutely crazy.....Looks like the arrow is finally pointing up.....

[mdsgu]

10 hours ago, siestakeys04 said:

I will order binax for my upcoming cruise don’t want to pay how much 128$??

Try CityHealth.  We used these on our European vacation last month.  Proctored and fast results (less than 1 hour).

[Hoosierpop]

See, the virus only affects certain ships in certain ports. That’s why HA can do this. It’s science!

Hopefully, this is an indicator of things to come. When people are far more worried about testing positive because they don’t want their cruise canceled than they are about getting the virus, it’s time to change the policy.

[KmomChicago]

15 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Very misleading subject. Only on a few cruises in Europe.

 

Considering covid is present on every US cruise, and given that the US is the poster child for poor covid response, testing will never end in the US.

 

5 years ago a pandemic was unfathomable. How did that work out? Now it is just a matter of time before the next one appears.

I think the vaxx requirement will continue but testing is not sustainable to the cruise industry now that funding for free tests has ended. I don’t think people will book 3 night cheapo cruises and then pay almost as much as the fare to get tested for much longer. 
 

I’m probably the most cautious, pro-prevention person I have known throughout the past 2.5 years and I’m not cruising again while testing is required. I get that one grumpy passenger doesn’t impact the equation but I don’t see enough passengers putting up with it now that there are additional costs. It already added stress and uncertainty, now you either have to lie about your status to get your insurance to pay for the test, or shell out the $$ yourself.

[Hoosierpop]

16 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

I think the vaxx requirement will continue but testing is not sustainable to the cruise industry now that funding for free tests has ended. I don’t think people will book 3 night cheapo cruise and then pay almost as much as the fare to get tested for much longer. 
 

I’m probably the most cautious, pro-prevention person I have known throughout the past 2.5 years and I’m not cruising again while testing is required. I get that one grumpy passenger doesn’t impact the equation but I don’t see enough passengers putting up with it now that there are additional costs. It already added stress and uncertainty, now you either have to lie about your status to get your insurance to pay for the test, or shell out the $$ yourself.

I don’t think you are alone in not cruising until the testing goes away. I’m not going to pretend to know how many people are in that camp but I know quite a few people who haven’t cruised at all because if it, and know several who have cruised, but now don’t want the uncertainty of testing positive at the last minute. Add in the potential cost, and I can see it effecting bookings.

 

I don’t personally know a single person who would stop sailing if testing was eliminated. If that person exists, they probably shouldn’t be sailing now anyway.

 

My next 3 cruises are protected because I have a positive test golden ticket. But I’m waiting on booking anything further to see what happens.

Edited July 5, 2022 by Hoosierpop

[M&A]

1 hour ago, mdsgu said:

Try CityHealth.  We used these on our European vacation last month.  Proctored and fast results (less than 1 hour).

Did you do your proctored test in Europe?  any problems getting on-line with time difference?

[dltvermont]

4 minutes ago, Hoosierpop said:

I don’t think you are alone in not cruising until the testing goes away. I’m not going to pretend to know how many people are in that camp but I know quite a few people who haven’t cruised at all because if it, and know several who have cruised, but now don’t want the uncertainty of testing positive at the last minute. Add in the potential cost, and I can see it effecting bookings.

 

I don’t personally know a single person who would stop sailing if testing was eliminated. If that person exists, they probably shouldn’t be sailing now anyway.

 

My next 3 cruises are protected because I have a positive test golden ticket. But I’m waiting on booking anything further to see what happens.

 

I have two cruises scheduled, one in 23 and one in 24 and those are ones that had credits to be used up post covid. Once those are in the books, we have decided not to book any more cruises until things are back to "normal". We will do AI's instead. Will miss cruising but it is what it is.

[Hoosierpop]

26 minutes ago, dltvermont said:

 

I have two cruises scheduled, one in 23 and one in 24 and those are ones that had credits to be used up post covid. Once those are in the books, we have decided not to book any more cruises until things are back to "normal". We will do AI's instead. Will miss cruising but it is what it is.

Don’t blame you. Only reason we are cruising are the cheap casino rates, and I’m retired so if something needs to be rescheduled, no big deal for us. We drive to the ports.

 

But there is zero chance I’d cruise if it was a group of us. I marvel at hearing groups of people having to go through the testing process. 

[mdsgu]

1 hour ago, M&A said:

Did you do your proctored test in Europe?  any problems getting on-line with time difference?

Yes.  The time difference was no issue -- I think the proctors are in Asia somewhere.  It was available 24hours/day.  Easy connectivity.  Takes about 30 minutes (20 minutes is the wait time for the test to actually run).

[Lee Cruiser]

16 hours ago, Linda the Book Lover said:

I would love the no testing! As soon as there is a third booster I am running to get the latest one. Sure you can still get whatever you are getting vaccinated for but at least it will not be as bad. 

I think that many people would love for testing to end.  I haven't had any boosters and have no plans to get one.  My wife and I both had Covid again a few weeks ago.  It was nothing more than a cold (no fever, no body aches, just runny nose).  Really, we've had colds that were much worse.  We did quarantine for the five days, but we certainly didn't need it physically.  We both were fine.  On the third day, I went out and mowed and spent the rest of the day painting.  I couldn't just sit around doing nothing.

[biggieboy]

I feel mixed about this. On one hand, testing is expensive now that many companies are beginning to charge for tests. They are not foolproof as well, given that many (including my cruising party recently) all contracted covid onboard despite negative testing requirements. Yet, I can guarantee you that people will go onboard with covid knowing that they won't be tested and so will begin the port closures and all that fun stuff again (nevermind any serious outbreaks). Maybe there is a middle ground somewhere: maybe random embarkation testing free of charge similar to that of random TSA security checks? Maybe stricter enforcement of sickly people onboard? I dont know.

[BlerkOne]

3 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

 I don’t think people will book 3 night cheapo cruises and then pay almost as much as the fare to get tested for much longer. 
 

 

What has to end is the $25 cruise, not the testing. But if people are too cheap to pay for testing for a $25 cruise, Carnival doesn't need them. Carnival needs people with money to spend.

[BlerkOne]

Capacities on cruises are the highest they have been since cruising restarted. Testing isn't going to impact that.

 

What is hilarious is how some think staying away from cruising, or switching brands, is going to be noticed. Nobody is irreplaceable. Only the complaint has changed, the song remains the same.

[ProgRockCruiser]

3 hours ago, Hoosierpop said:

See, the virus only affects certain ships in certain ports. That’s why HA can do this. It’s science!

Sarcasm noted, lol.

 

The majority (all?) of European countries, and hence their ports, have dropped the test requirement for entry, so the cruise lines are able to drop the requirement for cruises to those ports.

 

I do not believe the same is true for (the majority of, or perhaps large minority) Caribbean/area ports/countries.  Therefore, the tests are still a default action to satisfy many of the ports of call.  But I don't track it daily, so maybe things have trended that way in that part of the globe too.  Or maybe those countries have asked the cruise lines to continue "a little bit longer" even if visitors coming in by air do not face testing requirements, perhaps because their health care systems are not as robust as Europe's. 

[M&A]

20 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

The majority (all?) of European countries, and hence their ports, have dropped the test requirement for entry, so the cruise lines are able to drop the requirement for cruises to those ports.

But we are sailing on the Pride in Europe later this summer and not only do we have to be tested, they require proof of booster for Europe saiing.

[ProgRockCruiser]

2 minutes ago, M&A said:

But we are sailing on the Pride in Europe later this summer and not only do we have to be tested, they require proof of booster for Europe saiing.

I cannot comment on why Carnival has not yet dropped the test requirement that you seem to still experience.  I'm just commenting on the general trend (still very recent) for the other cruise lines that have been dropping the test requirement.  Who knows, maybe Carnival will drop it for European cruises sometime shortly.  A month ago the other lines still required it, AFAIK.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

 

The majority (all?) of European countries, and hence their ports, have dropped the test requirement for entry, so the cruise lines are able to drop the requirement for cruises to those ports.

 

On a few - very few test cruises - are trying no testing. Not cruise lines. And not in the US.

[dltvermont]

22 hours ago, Lee Cruiser said:

I think that many people would love for testing to end.  I haven't had any boosters and have no plans to get one.  My wife and I both had Covid again a few weeks ago.  It was nothing more than a cold (no fever, no body aches, just runny nose).  Really, we've had colds that were much worse.  We did quarantine for the five days, but we certainly didn't need it physically.  We both were fine.  On the third day, I went out and mowed and spent the rest of the day painting.  I couldn't just sit around doing nothing.

That was our experience too when we got it back in January. I had a mild sore throat 2 mornings and then a runny nose, not even stuffed up, just watery. Other than not being allowed at work, I felt and did my normal stuff around the house.

[tpooleinjax]

From Norwegian today:

 

EU Healthy Gateways Ends Pre-Cruise Testing Requirements

For sailings beginning August 1, 2022, vaccinated guests sailing on a cruise originating from any port EXCEPT a U.S. port; Canadian port; or Piraeus, Greece are exempt from all pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirements.

 

We'll still have to test in the US but at least they're starting to let up in some areas.

[ontheweb]

On 7/5/2022 at 1:30 PM, BlerkOne said:

What has to end is the $25 cruise, not the testing. But if people are too cheap to pay for testing for a $25 cruise, Carnival doesn't need them. Carnival needs people with money to spend.

Are there really still $25 cruises?

[ray98]

On 7/5/2022 at 1:36 PM, ProgRockCruiser said:

I do not believe the same is true for (the majority of, or perhaps large minority) Caribbean/area ports/countries.  Therefore, the tests are still a default action to satisfy many of the ports of call.  

I can fly to any of those countries directly and not have to take a COVID test.  The ports still have that requirement because they are piggybacking off of the CDC regulations.  Same scenario took place with international flights, they reversed course when the big health agencies eliminated testing.

 

The CDC is the driving force behind this, not the ports.  Pre-cruise testing is part of the CDC's 'voluntary' COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships.  When they relax those regulations the cruise lines will follow suit.

Edited July 7, 2022 by ray98

[BlerkOne]

21 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Are there really still $25 cruises?

I don't know that there ever were.

[ontheweb]

3 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

I don't know that there ever were.

Then why are you always referring to them? 🤦‍♂️