Did HAL just change their Covid rules???

[DaveOKC]

I just checked my 16 day Panama Canal cruise for Oct on the NEW program on the HAL website and it indicates that I do not have to undergo Covid testing!  This is a major change from the pdf sheet on the website from Monday (now removed).  Can this be true or is it a problem with the new program???

 

[0106]

I believe the question you should be asking is: Does Panama still require cruise ship passengers to test before transiting the canal? I did a brief search and was unable to find the answer.

 

I would also like to know if the HAL rules have changed.  I am doing a 14 day transatlantic departing from Spain. Spain does not require a test if you are fully vaccinated.  

[Seasick Sailor]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

I just checked my 16 day Panama Canal cruise for Oct on the NEW program on the HAL website and it indicates that I do not have to undergo Covid testing!  This is a major change from the pdf sheet on the website from Monday (now removed).  Can this be true or is it a problem with the new program???

 

 

Hey Dave, I just checked our first leg of our 45 day cruise beginning Dec 11th. Carribean. We had anticipated needing testing since it's 17 days. But we looked it up by booking number and it now shows no testing required. We are double dosed and triple boosted.

[DaveOKC]

Can someone call their HAL PCC and check on this?

 Mine is on vacation so I cannot do it.

 

[DaveOKC]

I just noticed that CCL has earnings out after the bell today, so perhaps they will announce something at the following conference call.

 

[kazu]

I got the same thing, Dave and I’m concerned that this may be an error.

 

When I put in the voyage # instead of my booking it is telling me that the protocols are not available yet and to check back.

I am a bit of a Doubting Thomas on this so far.  

[WyKnott]

I checked RCL to see if they say the same for their Panama Canal cruises, yup. no testing for vaccinated, protocols updated today. So cautiously optomistic.

[*Miss G*]

51 minutes ago, kazu said:

I got the same thing, Dave and I’m concerned that this may be an error.

 

When I put in the voyage # instead of my booking it is telling me that the protocols are not available yet and to check back.

I am a bit of a Doubting Thomas on this so far.  

 

Mine’s doing the same so I took a screen shot of the standard protocols response when I entered my booking #…. just in case I have to escalate it at embarkation.  I will double-check and screenshot, again, within two days of embarkation.

[Seasick Sailor]

This is what my booking shows:

 

[AncientWanderer]

4 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

I just checked my 16 day Panama Canal cruise for Oct on the NEW program on the HAL website and it indicates that I do not have to undergo Covid testing!  This is a major change from the pdf sheet on the website from Monday (now removed).  Can this be true or is it a problem with the new program???

 

 

I believe it to be true because our Verifly also dropped the testing requirement.  We have vaccinations checked off and it just shows us needing to answer the health assessment 72 hours before sailing. (Ours is for Oct NA Panama Canal)

Happy happy!

Edited September 22, 2022 by AncientWanderer

[DaveOKC]

I just relooked at the new program using the Voyage number only (some people reporting issues with this) and my result still shows NO TEST for me!  Lets hope this holds up.

[Dismomx5]

47 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

I believe it to be true because our Verifly also dropped the testing requirement.  We have vaccinations checked off and it just shows us needing to answer the health assessment 72 hours before sailing. (Ours is for Oct NA Panama Canal)

Happy happy!

My Verifly is still showing that I need a test. 😞 Oct 2 on the Rotterdam.

[Noesja]

10 minutes ago, Dismomx5 said:

My Verifly is still showing that I need a test. 😞 Oct 2 on the Rotterdam.

Mine does not and I'm on the same cruise. Actually my Verifly never did ask to upload a testresult. From the start it said vaccination OR test 🤔

[Roz]

Oct. 2 on the Noordam still showing vaccination and negative test required.

[foodsvcmgr]

Certainly hope this is true as I’m booked in a transatlantic and looking at a Trans Canal!

[DaveOKC]

28 minutes ago, Roz said:

Oct. 2 on the Noordam still showing vaccination and negative test required.

Could be due to Canada rules

 

[echoshipmate]

I also just checked health protocol tools and our Oct 7 Panama canal cruise from San Diego to FLL shows no test required if fully vaccinated, wonder if we can really trust this new info. Site says updated Sept.21.

Doug

[*Miss G*]

HAL clearly has a credibility problem with both their online presence as well as with the information provided to their customer service department.  I get that rules keep changing but they are missing the checks and balances and clarity of communication which is needed to build confidence in their product.  This isn’t just covid-related as it’s been an ongoing topic of conversation on this board since the before times.

 

[seapad]

5 hours ago, WyKnott said:

I checked RCL to see if they say the same for their Panama Canal cruises, yup. no testing for vaccinated, protocols updated today. So cautiously optomistic.

May I ask where on the RCL web page did you see this? This is great news, but I'm not able to see this same verbiage. 

[Seasick Sailor]

I'm definitely bringing a bunch of tests on our 45 day Dec/Jan cruise. We took them last year but had required testing each time we entered FLL. I also have my covid kit. Coughdrops, Tylenol,  Advil, Mucinex DM and antibiotics. 

[StLouisCruisers]

10 minutes ago, Seasick Sailor said:

I'm definitely bringing a bunch of tests on our 45 day Dec/Jan cruise. We took them last year but had required testing each time we entered FLL. I also have my covid kit. Coughdrops, Tylenol,  Advil, Mucinex DM and antibiotics. 

Bring a thermometer too.  I had a pulse oximeter in our Covid kit and used it a few times so take one if you think you will need it.

[BermudaBound2014]

1 hour ago, DaveOKC said:

Could be due to Canada rules

 

 

It's official. Canada no longer requires Vaccination, random testing, or the use of Arrivecan. 

 

I suspect HAL's relaxed protocols are, in part, in response to this news.

[BermudaBound2014]

1 minute ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Bring a thermometer too.  I had a pulse oximeter in our Covid kit and used it a few times so take one if you think you will need it.

 

I agree. I travel with both a thermometer and pulse oximeter. The only thing I'd add to the list is NyQuil. 

[seapad]

4 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

It's official. Canada no longer requires Vaccination, random testing, or the use of Arrivecan. 

 

I suspect HAL's relaxed protocols are, in part, in response to this news.

Are you sure? Last I looked, still pending Prime Minister Trudeau to sign off. Until then, it's not official yet. But we all think it's coming though.

[BermudaBound2014]

I believe it became official this afternoon:

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-lifting-pandemic-border-measures-1.6591883