Did you have to provide a negative COVID test when you boarded the Jade in Athens on Sep 25?

[Ken the cruiser]

Just trying to confirm if what the new passengers embarking on the Azamara Journey experienced yesterday (Saturday) with regards to the Greek Port Authority eliminating the negative COVID test requirement was also experienced by guests who embarked on the Jade today (Sunday) in Athens. Any first hand experience would be greatly appreciated. 
 

See posts 61, 68 and 75 in the below thread. 
 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2873309-covid-testing-cruises-visiting-greece/page/3/

Edited September 25, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[Bennyboats28]

Hi Ken, 

 

I have just got back today from our Jade cruise which started last Sunday 18th September. 

 

Last Sunday we had to do a negative test 2 days before embarkation and when we got to the port it was being checked very carefully by the check in staff. People who had not done a test where being sent to the tent to do a covid test at around the 60 dollar mark. 

 

Not sure we heard anything about testing being eliminated this week but fingers crossed it's true as that is one less hurdle. 

 

On a separate note the Jade was fantastic and I will post a brief trip report in the coming days 🙂

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, Bennyboats28 said:

Hi Ken, 

 

I have just got back today from our Jade cruise which started last Sunday 18th September. 

 

Last Sunday we had to do a negative test 2 days before embarkation and when we got to the port it was being checked very carefully by the check in staff. People who had not done a test where being sent to the tent to do a covid test at around the 60 dollar mark. 

 

Not sure we heard anything about testing being eliminated this week but fingers crossed it's true as that is one less hurdle. 

 

On a separate note the Jade was fantastic and I will post a brief trip report in the coming days 🙂

Thanks! So glad you had a great time and I look forward to reading your review. We will be boarding the Jade on Nov 13th for a long B2B. We have our proctored eMed test kits ready to take 2 days before we board. But it would be nice too if the Greek Port Authority actually lifted their Athens pre-embarkation testing requirement this past Friday. 

[Treasure Hunter]

I thought proctored tests were not accepted In Greece 

[Ken the cruiser]

11 minutes ago, Treasure Hunter said:

I thought proctored tests were not accepted In Greece 

NCL updated their Greece guidelines last week to include proctored tests as noted by the additional phrase added. 

 

Country Requirements

Testing must be administered by a verified third party.

For cruises originating from a Greece port (i.e. Piraeus and Crete😞

 

http://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country

 

When I saw this I immediately started a Chat with an NCL rep on their website to confirm what I was reading was hopefully correct, and here is the text of that discussion:

 

Kiore A (9/21/2022, 12:08:11 PM): Hello Kenneth. Thank you for chatting with Norwegian Cruise Line. My name is Kiore A. I would be happy to assist you today. 
Kiore A (9/21/2022, 12:08:19 PM): Hi Kenneth. I am more than happy to assist you with your request today. How can I help? 
Kenneth (9/21/2022, 12:08:58 PM): https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country#greece I noticed this new addition today -  Country Requirements Testing must be administered by a verified third party. 
Kenneth (9/21/2022, 12:09:58 PM): Does this mean the eMed online proctored antigen test is now accepted when boarding the Jade in Athens? 
Kiore A (9/21/2022, 12:10:01 PM): These testing companies are still accepted at this time:
EMed- https://www.emed.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw6MKXBhA5EiwANWLODCGqWiVotIusH5unj6uyMPBntXAIXNIqmaoZF5FCKM7fRHKp-b4aoBoC4KYQAvD_BwE

Inspired-https://inspirediagnostics.com/ncl/

Scarlet BioReference Lab-https://www.bioreference.com/

Searching for Local testing Centers- https://testfortravel.com/
Kenneth (9/21/2022, 12:11:06 PM): That is great news that the eMed test is accepted when we board the Jade in Nov 2022. Yay!!! 
Kiore A (9/21/2022, 12:11:22 PM): Correct!  Is there anything else I can assist you with? 
Kenneth (9/21/2022, 12:11:44 PM): No. Thank you so much!!!!! 
Kiore A (9/21/2022, 12:11:47 PM): You are welcome. Please ensure to visit our travel requirements by country page at: http://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country for the most up to date protocols for your itinerary. If there is nothing else I can assist you with at this time, but you think of something later, you are more than welcome to reach back out to us. Thank you for using Norwegian Cruise Line Live Chat. Have a great day! 

 

Edited September 26, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[Yesimapirate]

Hope you had a wonderful cruise.   I've heard mixed things in masks on Greek departures.  Do you mind sharing your experience?   Tyia 

[Yesimapirate]

4 hours ago, Yesimapirate said:

Hope you had a wonderful cruise.   I've heard mixed things in masks on Greek departures.  Do you mind sharing your experience?   Tyia 

Sorry,  meant to quote @Bennyboats28but I apparently didn't. 

[Bennyboats28]

20 hours ago, Yesimapirate said:

Hope you had a wonderful cruise.   I've heard mixed things in masks on Greek departures.  Do you mind sharing your experience?   Tyia 

No problems, 

 

In terms of mask wearing it's now completely optional in Greek ports as to whether you wear one or not. It's also not required in the cruise terminal building either.

 

The cruise compass will stay say about wearing masks in Greek ports but that's because they haven't updated this since the start of the season. 

[Yesimapirate]

25 minutes ago, Bennyboats28 said:

No problems, 

 

In terms of mask wearing it's now completely optional in Greek ports as to whether you wear one or not. It's also not required in the cruise terminal building either.

 

The cruise compass will stay say about wearing masks in Greek ports but that's because they haven't updated this since the start of the season. 

What about on the ship?

[Bennyboats28]

Just now, Yesimapirate said:

What about on the ship?

Not required on the ship either 🙂

[TRUEBLUE66]

I am hoping this will apply to NCL shortly but Princess have just updated their website with no test now required prior to boarding in Athens if fully vaccinated. A number of people are reporting receiving emails confirming same for the Regal departure from Athens on 8th October.🤞

This is from the Princess website:

 

 

Voyages Departing from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Greece & Europe*

Updated: September 28, 2022

Vaccination Status	Definition by Country's Health Authority	Pre-Travel Test Type & When to Take Test Before Boarding Age: 5 Years and Up
Fully Vaccinated	Received primary series of COVID-19 vaccines with final dose at least 14 days before embarkation.	Testing not required
Not Vaccinated	Not fully vaccinated are welcome to cruise.	Self-administered Antigen OR medically assisted Antigen or PCR within 3 days