Jax

Welcome to the boards. Our first cruise with Royal was star class on Anthem last Christmas and we stayed in GLS 10320. Here is the link to my blog that may give you some insights into the genie and some of our favourite star class perks. I can think of several great star class blogs you may want to read...if you search star class, it may pull them up. Soak it all up and enjoy every moment! https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/16651-first-time-star-class-8-night-holiday-bahamas-cruise-anthem-122019/

Yup it’s looking that way. ? Let’s hope some of these exclusions change as more data is gained in the pilot.

I know! Us too as hubby is excluded and Reyd has to remain quarantined until 2nd covid test at day 6 or 7 before he can return to school (so he could potentially cut the 14 day quarantine down by a couple days) Plus the inclusion of “permission of employer” could potentially exclude other employees.

Our first cruise with Royal, Christmas 2019 on Anthem was full of so many great memories! So many pictures I could have picked but this was our first view of Anthem as we arrived at the terminal.

More details emerge as they relate to conditions/restrictions. Here is an expanded list including sectors that are excluded from participating in the pilot. Link to full press release attached. https://www.alberta.ca/international-border-pilot-project.aspx#toc-3 Restrictions for specific settings Participants are prohibited from certain settings during the course of the pilot School and child care Child care programs (for example daycare, out of school care), K to 12 schools and post secondary institutions - attendees, students in schools and staff who work in these settings cannot go back to these settings until they have their second test and have received a negative result. Continuing care, health care and other clinical settings where health care services are provided Pilot participants cannot attend any settings where there are vulnerable people at risk for severe disease for 14 days – this includes all outpatient clinics, acute care, continuing care, long term care, and seniors lodges. This applies to both work and visitation. Workplaces Individuals may only return to work with the permission of the employer and if the employer has implemented COVID-19 measures in accordance with Alberta’s guidelines or direction from provincial or local public health; and provided the worker adheres to the workplace’s COVID-19 public health measures. Individuals cannot return to work for 14 days where vulnerable populations are present as identified above (continuing care, health care, and other clinical settings). Individuals cannot return to high-risk work places for 14 days. These include: correctional facilities homeless shelters or temporary housing facilities food processing facilities (for example, meat packing plants) warehouses, distribution facilities (including distribution facilities supporting grocery stores), and assembly line manufacturing facilities (but does not include other industrial production sites where COVID-19 prevention measures are implemented and adhered to, for example, petrochemical production facilities) Work camps (but does not include associated work sites such as petrochemical facilities). Gatherings Pilot participants cannot attend events where there are more than 10 people (including the participant) for 14 days. This includes: planned or unplanned events where individuals mix and mingle and socialize any location or activity where physical distancing is not able to be maintained at all times, (for example, sports, fitness classes, theatre, dance, music, other cohorted activities) structured indoor or outdoor-seated events (for example, concerts, sporting events, and worship services) Group Living Pilot participants cannot attend or live in group living settings such as homeless shelters, work camps, group homes, student dormitories for 14 days.

? sent...they are working so hard for us. ^^^^THIS^^^^^

Welcome to the boards! Not sure what region you are from in Canada, but Alberta recently announced a joint federal/provincial pilot that starts Nov 2nd at Calgary International Airport and Coutts land border crossing that would see the quarantine reduced to as little as 2 days. You can read more about this in the link below including eligibility requirements. The hope is to expand it to Edmonton in the New Year and from there to other provinces if things go well. Aside from the pilot, there are still hurdles for sure, including school and employer quarantine policies relating to travel. Only time will tell if this pilot may influence some of those existing policies. I am hoping it will. ? https://www.alberta.ca/announcements.cfm?xID=745292BA041FB-0EF1-C209-733CF878164FB904

Alberta recently discontinued asymptomatic testing (exception being close contacts of known cases) due to a very low positivity rate. Only 7 positive COVID cases per 10,000 tests since asymptomatic testing began.

Titled “the trip to nowhere”

Maybe I should take one for the team and book travel just to try this pilot out. ?

I recall several rookie mistakes on our first star class cruise (which also happened to be our first RCI cruise) when it came to tipping. LOL Thankfully it all worked out with the help of members of this community. ?

Additional details around eligibility. Click on the link below to read more. Eligible travellers Eligible candidates returning from international travel: returning Canadian citizens permanent residents foreign nationals currently permitted entry into Canada travellers exempt from 14-day quarantine, including essential service workers In-eligible candidates: have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of entry to Canada have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the last 14 days do not have an acceptable quarantine plan returning Canadians proceeding to other provinces (participants must stay in Alberta for 14 days after entering Canada) domestic travellers (they are not required to quarantine) https://www.alberta.ca/international-border-pilot-project.aspx

At least we didn’t contradict each other. Lol

Here is the latest press release from Alberta.ca https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=745292BA041FB-0EF1-C209-733CF878164FB904

You are required to quarantine only until you get back your initial negative rapid test which could take up to 48 hours.

The 2 day quarantine is the time it could take to get your initial negative rapid test result, which is expected within 24-48 hours.

The $150 mentioned is not associated with this pilot. This is a new option where travellers can privately pay for rapid testing needed for travel through a private company.

Me too! Our province has a low COVID positivity rate related to returning travellers which was one of the reasons our provincial government embraced the pilot.

The pilot is limited to YYC - Calgary International and the Coutts land border in southern Alberta. https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=745292BA041FB-0EF1-C209-733CF878164FB904

More details are emerging. It also extends to Coutts land border crossing in Southern Alberta. ??

Thought my Canadian friends may be interested in the pilot YYC is launching Nov 2nd. This may offer a glimmer of hope to Canadians faced with a 14 day quarantine. There are some restrictions; direct flights being one, but it’s an encouraging step and is intended to promote travel and tourism industries, hit so hard by the pandemic. If it goes well in Calgary hopefully it gets expanded to other Canadian airports. ? https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/rapid-testing

Still one of my favourites ?

This is good to hear. I am thinking this may be a good break for hubby and son from our floating cabana

It’s possible it may be added closer to your sail date. I just checked my cruise planner and the tour shows on my April 2021 sailing but not yet on my April 2022 sailing. Pretty sure I have seen excursions added the closer you get to your sailing so I would keep checking. ?