JeffB

I know lots of cruise enthusiasts need to be connected to the internet for work and social purposes. So this won't apply: I'm not going to book a cruise ship on the basis of their internet service. We all need to be disconnected for a time. It's like working out. It's good for you.

On your first question, No. The weather has been fine. Second question, no it's not a bandwidth issue per se'. The main problem, I'm told, is that the Satellite that the ship tunes to for it's internet connection is low on the horizon. That induces noise and a less than clean internet connection. There's not much the tech staff can do about it. It's a problem on all the cruise ships and is affected by where a ship is located. Third question, I don't know. I'm not an Apple user so I'm not paying attention.

Left Tenerife on Sunday, 10/16 for the crossing. First thing that went down that evening is an announcement of no more masks inside. That was the ongoing measure I described up thread and probably the result of 7 positives and 56 contacts (crew + guests, quarantined, all negative x2 and released in 5d) on the Greek Isles itinerary out of Piraeus ending in Barcelona immediately prior to the Apex Translant from there. Masks inside is also a typical requirement for dining inside in some EU countries. Those are easing. Ports in Southern Spain are very nice and accessible from where cruise ships port. We experienced lots of port and date changes. In the end we visited Alicante, Cartegena and Cadiz. The Cadiz port call required Celebrity curated tours only. They were inexpensive and pulled off pretty well. No complaints except you could not leave the tour group to dine or shop. Both these tours had a restroom, coffee and snack stop. The venues where we stopped in for around 30 minutes each were nice. One drink and a snack were included. Both port calls in the Canary Islands - Santa Cruz and Tenerife - specified curated tours. Again, they were pulled off nicely. Tenerife, the largest Island in the Canary islands, is stunningly beautiful. Both of these islands are off the NW African coast. You have to hunt for itineraries from the major cruise lines that visit them. They are European country destination vacation spots. Just starting to reemerge from the pandemic that was tough on these places as their economies are about 90% tourism based. Visiting them is totally worth it. It's just too bad the COVID restrictions limited shopping and dining. Hopefully, these will be coming to an end going forward. No one on Apex staff that I have inquired about this is the question of what happens to sailings on Apex from US ports after the CSO expires on 10/31, assuming it's not renewed. It might be but I'd say it's a 70/30 proposition it won't be renewed. This sailing is not involved as it ends on 10/24 in Fort Lauderdale. The next sailing is a 4d media event promoting the porting of Apex in Fort Lauderdale. You can book it but that's what will be going on. After that it's 7 or 9d Caribbean itineraries. Something of note on this west bound translant is the presence of a persistent swell from north to south, typical this time of year. We're sailing on a course of 277 degrees. The swell hits the forward starboard side of Apex. It makes the ride a bit uncomfortable with a combined, but gentle, pitch and roll motion. The weather though has been nice with clear skies, low winds and temps in the mid 70s. Food has been of high quality and presentation. Service very good with only 1280 something guests. I like the 4 main restaurants with different themes thing. Each has a signature entr'e and desert but they essentially all have the same menu. There are other specialty restaurants that we booked a dining package for on our last Apex sailing out of Piraeus, not this one though. Worth a visit but not 2x. The food in the mains is really good. Edge class ships feature the "Magic Carpet." This is a platform the moves up and down from the middle of the ship. It's a bar and restaurant and also a debarkation platform on port days. On offer was a 5 course meal with wine service on Saturday evening while in the port of Tenerife. It was $125pp. A tidy sum, indeed. We didn't partake but comments from those that did thought it was worth it. Each to his own. It is a neat feature but it's windy at sea, not in port or just leaving port like it was scheduled in Tenerife. The internet is not good. A combination of satellite position and something affecting the network aboard has produced poor service and several outages. Adjust your expectations. There are naturally occurring limits to satellite based internet that cruise ships can't completely eliminate. The iLounge staff aboard Apex has been very accommodating in either refunding the cost of internet packages or restoring minutes. Classic Celebrity ..... if something is wrong, they'll try to make it right. Entertainment is unique to Edge class ships. Full production shows are in the main theater that is an almost in the round venue. The stage is round, seating is unchanged but it changes the sight lines. All of them are fine. There are also limited production shows in what is called the Club (a small venue with limited sight lines. OK if you are sitting right on the center stage but poor everywhere else). But the shows are quite good featuring more dancing and acrobatics than in the main theater. Eden also features limited production shows. In all three venues, even with a less than 100% guest load, you need to be in the venue at least 30m before show time if you want a good seat with good sight lines. Overall, this is a beautifully appointed and technologically very modern cruise ship with excellent food and a level service in all areas across all departments that is pretty high. Pricing has gone through the roof in the last year with the appearance that this company is shooting for cruisers that want exclusivity (the Retreat) and have a lot of money to spend. Among building in two story suites and private pools that go for $20K on a 7d itinerary on Edge class ships, Celebrity also moved to an "everything included" concept that covers gratuities, classic beverages, and unlimited internet. For us, I've done the math and the everything included options saves money compared to buying the base fare and adding the extras. If your on a strict cruise budget you can save without any of the typical bar or internet costs. If you are Elite, Elite Plus or Zenith on Celebrity, one can manage the base fare and taking advantage of the bar perk which is classic drinks in any bar from 5 - 7pm and the internet perk that is 120, 240 or unlimited depending on status. We're Elite Plus and doing that on this sailing. We also booked a Deluxe inside cabin (they're bigger) when this sailing was first booked in the spring of 2019 as cabin fares were high on this ships planned inaugural season that got COVID'ed. Maybe should have had the TA that booked this pursue an upgrade to a balcony but by the time it seemed certain this cruise would go, bookings and pricing had increased. But instead of a 7d cruise in a balcony cabin for 2 costing around $1200pp (not including your bar tab, internet or specialty dining), the new Celebrity fare concept now cost a shade over $1500pp. That's $170/person/day with the old fare structure compared to $215/person/day with the new one. Just a slick method by Celebrity to get more money out of your pocket up front. I'm fine with that, others may not be. Inflation is a fact of life if you want to continue cruising.

Apex Translant Sailing Update removed and reposted as a new topic in this thread.

I didn't see any children but am not aware of specific rule preventing it. No European passport holders because they can't enter the US (until 11/8/21) probably drove no kids aboard. IOW, it's not a no kids rule. It's hard to get into and travel in Europe as US passport holding adults. Traveling with US kids in Europe is hard hard and expensive giving testing requirement.

I'm aboard this sailing. We're currently ported in Gran Canaria, having started in Barcelona and porting in Alicante, Cartegena and Cadiz. This is day 6, we have one more port call in Tenerife on day 7 (tomorrow) then a 7d transatlantic crossing ending up in Fort Lauderdale when Apex will cruise this winter in the Caribbean . There are around 1300 guests - US passport holders only. European pass port holders can't get into the US so, can't sail on this crossing. I am told that the last three Apex sailings from Piraeus all had less than 1000 passengers due to poor sales. I originally booked this cruise in 2019. It was L&S'ed from '20 to 2021. I've lost count of how many times the dates and itineraries were changed on this sailing.... .something like 6 or 7X. Required patience and flexibility. Had tours scheduled with local vendors (Tours by Locals) in Seville (Cadiz) Gran Canaria and Tenerife that I had to cancel after we had already boarded. Celebrity mandated only ship's tours in all but Alicante and Cartegena. The reason for that as closely as I can determine was based on the cruise immediately preceding this one and sailing from Piraeus to the Greek Isles. This sailing experienced 5 positive COVID cases early on in the cruise -those infected - all Europeans - most likely became so while traveling to Athens. Celebrity sent all five home and identified 56 contacts among passengers and crew. These were quarantined and tested (2X, 4d apart) and none of them were positive on either test. It's likely this experience prompted Celebrity to impose additional COVID mitigation measures on this Apex sailing. Masks were required indoors except when eating or drinking or in your cabin. Tours were restricted...... you had to stay with the group, no shopping or dining. We took a ship's tour in Cadiz that included a Flamenco performance. Strangely, two tour bus loads of guests (around 60 guests) were crammed into a very small venue with poor ventilation and masks not required. That process was a serious compromise of the mitigation measures that Celebrity imposed on Apex for this sailing. Frustrating...... and these are company, ship specific imposed measures. They aren't coming from local or national health authorities. Also, and I posted about this up thread, he local or national health authorities. The Flamenco performance made all of these inconveniences worth it all risks considered. I'm not sure Celebrity condoned the large number of guests in a small venue but will ask this question of the Shore Excursion manager. The indoor mask requirement and the tour restrictions stand out as major inconveniences but understandable given Celebrity's pursuit of a zero COVID outbreaks goal. One can argue that none of these restrictions were sensible given Spain's low viral prevalence and high vax rates. I'm not allowing myself to get worked up about it. We're cruising on Apex. I'm not a big Edge class fan. The Apex build tried to overcome some of the Edge issues. Most of these were behind the scenes stuff that involved placement of serving stations and storage. Apex also changed some of the seating in Eden. The Club - a small performance venue - is functionally inadequate. Sight lines are poor unless you are seated right next to the small stage area. I don't like the "in the round" set-up in the main theater but that's my problem. I think my wife would disagree but I've heard some grumbling from crew - at least the ones in contact with guests. I rarely hear this from Celebrity crew and never from officers. The first one I heard was the quarantining of crew from the incident I mentioned above that lasted 10d and during which 2 AG tests were conducted before they were released back to work. Other general complaints include being on the ship for 5.5 months without being allowed to get off the ship (there are exceptions). Compared to our recent Apex sailing out of Piraeus in early August, the crew friendliness and willingness to engage with guests, truly genuine, we experienced on that sailing, there seems to be less of that on this sailing 2.5 months later. Crew not as happy and buoyant. I get that. These are minor nits but nonetheless make me think less of Edge class ships compared to Millennium and Solstice class ships. Given the option to sail from Fort Lauderdale between Apex and Equinox, both home ported there this winter, I'll chose Equinox every time. Price would also dictate my choice. Apex doesn't sell well and discounted fares are common. I'd book Apex for the right discounted fare. Also, and I mentioned this up thread, travel in Europe during COVID is tricky. You need to do a lot of pre-cruise work and planning to make sure you are in compliance with the COVID regulations for the airline you travel to Eruope on and the countries you visit for anything other than transit. The EU has recommended to member states is to not accept the CDC record of vaccination as proof of it. Too many forgeries. You'll need a digital COVID certificate with a valid QR code to move freely within the Schengen region. I applied for an received a Swiss COVID Certificate. If you don't have a digital COVID Certificate with a QR code, you can still travel in Europe, you just have to get tested every 2-5d depending on the country's COVID rules. Any questions on this sailing just ask.

Here's some good news about that: The G7 met a week ago to discuss a full recovery of the global travel and leisure. The recognized that the mess that are variable entry requirements between countries and no uniform way to verify vaccination status to travel and pledged to work to obtain these core principals: These seven core principles are: — Future-proofing the transportation sector against future health threats — Ensuring the fair treatment and safety of essential transport personnel —Respecting privacy and data protection in implementing vaccination certification solutions —Reaffirming the pre-eminence of scientific evidence in planning international travel policy —Ensuring fairness and equity in respective national responses —Maintaining regular international and multilateral engagement —Delivering a safe, sustainable and resilient recovery It's political theater at its best but that's what comes out of these meetings. The real work is behind the scenes with lower level officials representing the interests of their particular countries and hammering out details. I don't think there is any doubt that PH officials around the world believe, and the science supports that belief, that vaccination against SARS2 is the way to prevent it from being transmitted in conveyances and venues that typically are a part of the travel and leisure economies. The cruise lines certainly know that, other conveyances will undoubtedly follow suit despite the revenue deficits actions that require vaccination to board an airplane, train, ferry, etc. might produce. What follows then is, like a passport, a mechanism to create a forgery proof vehicle to certify a travelers vaccination status. There are plenty of these already out there. All that's needed is interoperability and in these times, that is not hard to achieve.

Yes, this definitely applies. The problem that I have with FAQs is that the question asked (formulated by RCL) either is too narrow and doesn't cover all the intricacies that you might find in an appropriate algorithm or doesn't answer the question thoroughly ....... those two points account for most of the questions asked in this thread. A perfect example of that is that it appeared that some posters were unaware that a monitored AG test via telemed will provide either an email or, if you're using the NAVICA app, an entry into your profile certifying the result matching your name. That's rather important to understand when one walks into a retail pharmacy to buy a "self test" or wonders which "self test" is going to be accepted by the cruise line to board. Another thing that might be unclear is how the country within which the port you are sailing from may have different entry protocols although I'll grant this is usually made pretty clear in emails from every one of the last 4 sailings I've made from both foreign and US ports with Celebrity.

This may be entirely clear to those reading this thread but I'll reiterate it here. There is a difference between organizations or groups that use "home self tests" (e.g., BinaxNow) to screen for COVID positives and the cruise industry doing that who are seeking an as close to zero probability of having a COVID outbreak onboard ship as they can get. Let's just stick with the cruise industries use of "home self tests." I'm only familiar with the Abbott product BinaxNow, there are others out there. BinaxNow comes in two versions: A self test that is not proctored or monitored by a person trained in administering it and evaluating the result and one that is. The self test without monitoring has two tests per box, the monitored version has one. The self test without monitoring has two tests to lower the probability that the test produces a false negative. You are instructed to do the 2nd test at least 36h after the first. There's a booklet in the kit containing instructions on how to do the test. If you're using the associated NAVICA Phone App, instructions on how to do the test and a process to record the result are on the App. After you do that there is a permanent record of each test you take. These tests are all "uncertified." My view is that these tests are great for family or small group gatherings where attendees want to insure everyone is COVID free. Not perfect for doing that but a step up from nothing. The monitored self test follows the same process as the unmonitored. The difference is that with the monitored test a trained test administrator, via a telehealth visit, walks you through the testing process and will read the result card, then certify the results in your NAVICA App. At the result tab in the App there will be a "Certified" designation as well as all the required information about the test. That designation is not in the unmonitored self test. Ok, now that we have that cleared up, here's RCL's position on "self tests:" For fully vaccinated guests only, we accept self-administered COVID-19 tests taken under live video supervision (or per recent change, RCL will administer the test for you at the terminal). Telehealth self-tests taken at home must meet these requirements: Per U.S. CDC guidance, only vaccinated guests may present self-administered telehealth COVID-19 test results at the terminal to satisfy the pre-cruise testing requirement. The test must have Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. FDA. The self-test process must happen under live supervision on a video call with a telehealth representative. The telehealth provider must issue you a result document that includes all the necessary information. If you're fully vaccinated, you'll get an antigen test from RCL in the terminal prior to boarding depending on the cruise port you're sailing from. If the cruise port your sailing from does that, there is no need to obtain "self tests." If you aren't vaxed, you can't use any kind of "self test." The AG test has to be administered and resulted in a clinic and by a health care professional. The result is good for 48h. Plan accordingly. The reason for these protocols is that it's easy to forge your test result using the unmoniotred self test, less so with the monitored one but most agencies aren't accepting either of these self tests as proof of being COVID free if you are unvaxed. The EU membership does not accept any self tests for vaxed or unvaxed passengers and the cruise ships operating from EU ports will follow that rule. In this case only clinic administered AG tests are accepted. For vaxed passengers that can use a clinic based AG test, this can get tricky planning when to get these. I'd recommend only the Rapid PCR (molecular) tests available in 24h or less with a 72h life if you are cruising from a a European port. See my post (link below) on traveling within or embarking or debarking from a European port. Also note that in the case of cruises from Athens (Piraeus) and Barcelona, if you have proof of vaccination (the CDC Card will work for now) you do not need to get a pre-boarding antigen test. The line will test you at their cost (takes about 20-30m in my experience) at the terminal. This protocol may differ from the port's country protocols. Make sure you are in compliance with those when arriving by air and before boarding at the terminal. NB: RCL has recently announced that in the case of a required antigen test to board, they will test you only if vaxed ..... for $99..... at (outside) the terminal. Results in "an hour." Getting an antigen test on your own is usually less expensive and if your insurance covers them for travel purposes, they are free. See the home page for more details with pros and cons from Matt. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/25542-traveling-to-and-within-europe-to-begin-or-disembark-from-a-cruise-in-the-covid-era/ Matt, please correct or validate any of this at your leisure.

I made a post in another thread about "The New Travel Realty" precipitated by the pandemic. Some dismissed the idea that travel had become more difficult, especially within the US for US Citizens. When I suggested the US should adopt the EU's approach (Vaccine Passports and Track and Trace protocols), that idea received howls of disapproval. The facts support significant barriers to global travel that did not exit prior to the beginning of the pandemic almost 2y ago. I read an article today that globally the airline industry alone is losing nearly $2 million dollars A DAY year on year. The reason is the mess of COVID related travel regulations and restrictions imposed by different countries. My sense is that there is significant pressure coming from travel and leisure industry organizations for international cooperation between countries to arrive at coordinated and consistent COVID related travel regulations between countries. Right now, these are non-existent. Some of this is political and what is going on with regard to travel between and within the US, Canada and Europe is definitely being influenced by politics with travelers as collateral damage. Many may say this isn't going to happen. I still think it will and there are plenty of signs that the unvaxed are going to be in a class by themselves as travelers at some point in the not to distant future. Follow the money. The vax requirement to dine indoors, go to shows, enter gyms and sporting events and a whole lot more are already present in most of Europe despite protests against them. Studies I'm reading suggest when it comes to a financial cost to not get vaxed (losing your job for instance) people get vaccinated. I believe that when your travel life gets complicated and you want to travel globally but can't do that easily without getting vaxed, people will get vaxed or stay home. YMMV. The most disruptive recent change is a move by the EUC or EU member states to not accept any record of vaccinations other than the EU authorized and issued COVID Certificate. That's because forgery was rampant and there were plenty of documented leakers - infected with forged proof of vaccination (not breakthrough infections). Not just US passport holders. These EUC directives are recommendations and Spain, for example, among others still accept the CDC vax card. If you are un-vaccinated, you can travel to Europe and within it but you have to get tested at regular intervals varying by country from every 2d to 7d depending on the test (AG or PCR) to participate in most of anything resembling travel life. Your test has to be administered by testing units authorized in Europe to do so. Exceptions are common (e.g. recovery with proof of it). There is also this circumstance involving variance in enforcement of the travel restrictions by gate agents and even by immigration control agents. It's incredibly hard to keep up with it all. Best advice I've heard is know the travel restrictions for the country you are going to and comply with them. If agents don't check your docs good for you. If they do, you're prepared to not get detained and delayed. See travel restrictions by departure and destination points here here: https://www.iata.org/en/publications/timatic/ We traveled by air between Miami and Lisbon on September 27th, spent 2n there and left again by air from Lisbon to Geneva Switzerland and are, as I write this, in Lausanne. Next stop Barcelona Spain. Portugal is adhering to the EU Guidelines but are in a grace period (that might be indefinite but don't count on it) allowing acceptance of the CDC Vaccination card as proof of vaccination. To enter Portugal you have to complete two on-line entry forms: One, the report of your vaccination status; two a track and trace document - on this form you list your flight, arrival date and seat number. Once you submit the application, you'll get an email with a QR code on it. The information is held securely for 14d then destroyed. You can still travel to Portugal if un-vaccinated but have to conform to specific COVID testing intervals while in country (unless only transiting). When you are tested under these testing protocols, you get an email with result and QR code. On entry to venues, including restaurants, you may be asked to show your vax or testing status. The best proof of vaccination or negative testing is the EU COVID Certificate (QR code kept in a phone app). While I had to show proof of vaccination (my CDC card) and the QR code on paper that I had completed the arrival document as well as my Passport to the airline gate agent on check in, that's the last time I showed the entry form or results of COVID testing. Boarder agent at the entering Lisbon airport asked for passport and proof of vaccination (the CDC card, again). He noted he could not scan the CDC card into a central registry. Apparently that didn't affect our travels in Portugal but could have and suggest health authorities will get stricter as time pases While in Portugal, we dined in multiple restaurants and stayed at a hotel in Lisbon both stating they required proof of vaccine to be inside or negative COVID test. I never had these documents checked although it is required to mask indoors and we were reminded by proprietors or staff if we forgot. People following masking rules indoors was particularly noticeable. IOW, compliance rates inside venues appeared to be high. The mandated indoor masking rule will be dropped on November 1st in Portugal. That is because the vax rate in Portugal for those eligible 12y and up - same as everywhere else - approaches 90%. 99% for over 65s. The 2d we were there, I was told that the entire country had just over 300 new cases reported in the past week, no deaths in several weeks and a percent positivity rate under 1%. When I told that person FL was cheering a drop to 4500 new cases per week and a positivity rate of 11.5%, with around 200 deaths in the state, he was stunned. On to Switzerland. Entry screening for the Swiss is strict as you'd expect. Boarder agents will not accept the CDC card as proof of vaccination. You have two options: One, apply for a Swiss COVID certificate in advance on-line (hard and I'll get to that) or two, follow the prescribed testing protocol. Either way, there is a Swiss COVID app to record your vaccine or testing status. You must submit an entry document on line. Same as Portugal. Switzerland is not an EU member state. You can apply for a Swiss COVID certificate unlike the EU COVID certificate - only EU citizens can apply for one. Its not hard to submit the application on line. The problem is that the typical French to English translation presents circumstances that do not mean the same thing. For example do you need to have your vaccinations certified by stamp or seal? By an MD or by anyone responsible for administering the vaccine. With multiple emails flowing back and forth between the Swiss Health authorities and me indicating I was being denied even though I thought I submitted all the required documents. My daughter, a Swiss resident, told me to call. One phone call with an English speaking health agent solved everything and I now have a Swiss COVID Certificate in my Swiss COVID Phone App certifying my vaccine status (Pfizer). Some pointers to applying for the Swiss COVID certificate if you want to go that route to make European travel easier. You have to provide proof you are traveling to Switzerland and spending some time there (how much time I don't know). I sent copies of my flight tickets and said I was visiting my daughter and gave her address in Luasanne. No dates certain just that I was arriving on September 30th. The Pfizer vaccine administration has to be exactly 21d apart. Moderna is at least 4w (28d). Not all vaccines are approved. I think the AZ and J&J vaccines are. Get your vaccination record from a certified registry - forget the CDC card. Certified registries exist in your state and within digital heath records in large health care systems. Mine was from the U of Miami Health Care System. I had my vax record signed and stamped by an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner (no raised seal required). My two Pfizer shots were 19d apart, not the required 21d. The life saver was my booster that I received on September 15th. That cinched it for my English speaking agent from the Swiss Health Department. She remarked I was the first US passport applicant for the Swiss COVID certificate to have a booster. Hooray. That I have the Swiss COVID Certificate is a big deal - it's good for a year and works throughout the EU Economic Region (that's everywhere in Europe) as proof of vaccination. That certificate means no quarantines, no testing to enter any European country and no problems entering any venue by showing my Swiss COVID Certificate. Enforcement of the requirement to be vaccinated to enter most venues in Switzerland is legally enforceable on the proprietor by Swiss Public Health authorities. Fines for failure to do that are steep. I was fully prepared to show my newly obtained Swiss COVID Certificate to boarder agents upon arrival in Geneva. Instead, we walked off the plane, into the main terminal, got our baggage and went to the train station! No Checks for documents at all! I learned that once you are in the Schengen region and have cleared your first entry point, in our case Portugal, you're done. You can move freely - as far as boarder crossings are concerned - within the Schengen region. Next stop is Barcelona Spain where we'll board Apex for a 14n translant back to Fort Lauderdale. The easiest and least stressful part of this month long trip ..... as it should be. Readers can scoff at these Vaccination Certificates and requirements to be vaccinated to participate in near normal life but health authorities, at least in Europe, don't care about the myriad reasons people give about why they can't get vaccinated either in Europe or travelers from the US. They are tolerant when there are legitimate reasons present but just because you don't want one in the presence of no legitimate reason doesn't fly. Proof of the value of this approach is found in comparing COVID deaths/100,000 population, new COVID cases and any other metric you might wish to use to measure the impact of COVID between the EU nations with high vax rates, Eastern European nations with low vax rates and the US, somewhere in between explains why Europeans are safely returning to a semblance of normal and places with low vax rates may be returning to "normal" but not without continued viral spread that is hard to control with so many hosts still left to infect who may also develop COVID.

Self tests are worth talking about. First, there are several approved by the FDA for use in the US only. The question of timing the execution of these self tests has been answered above. Even though personnel checking you in to a cruise may not know the difference between a self test and a proctored and certified self test, I would recommend not using any self tests unless they are proctored and certified. The BinaxNow self tests both pair with the NAVICA App - easy to use and reliable as long as you have an internet connection and battery power on your phone. Carry paper copies of the result and QR code. Things are different in Europe. The EUC Health Committee "recommends" only one self test - Abbott PanBio and THIS TEST MUST BE ADMINISTERED BY A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL. I am assuming that this test is similar to the on-line proctor monitored, Abbott BinaxNow test kit and is an acceptable self test within the EU. The PanBio and BinaxNow proctor monitored self test are identical except for packaging - same reagents, same process. Still, the BinaxNow is by the letter of the rules an unacceptable self test even when it is proctored and certified. You can only obtain a PanBio test within Europe so, if you want to use these, plan your arrival and testing timing accordingly. They do cost around $30 per test kit (only one test per box on the proctored and certified self-tests). Better yet, get a PCR test - in the US you can find a rapid one (under 24h) for around $120-150. 24-72 for less some may be covered by your insurance (another topic altogether). As far as I know any molecular (PCR) test will be sufficient to prove you don't have COVID. Test either before leaving the US or once in Europe. There are readily available testing sites in Europe but few of them speak English. Keep in mind, the EUC "recommends" that member states follow their COVID related health guidance. They don't mandate it. The problem with that is that COVID testing entry requirements may vary by country or even airport and change frequently. Talking to EU citizens, enforcement of the strictest rules is mixed - best advice they give is go with the strictest rules. Here's the most frequently updated travel site. The in country US embassy sites are also pretty good. https://www.iata.org/en/publications/timatic/ If you plan on visiting Europe for a cruise. I'm about to post my travel experience getting there and within three nations; Portugal, Switzerland and Spain in the Celebrity/Silver Sea Thread.

I'm not confident that US airlines won't impose a requirement to show you've either been vaccinated or tested negative for COVID to board. The cruise industry has taken the lead here, doing just that. Others will follow if they are following the science and the facts on this. Other venues, some already doing it, will require proof of vaccination to enter. Here's the problem for the US. As a nation, we are woefully unprepared to leverage technology to insure people moving about aren't spreading SARS2. This isn't rocket science. The EU has been doing it since July. EU citizens can't get around and experience unrestricted mobility and/or behaviors without an EU COVID Certificate. It's digital, has a QR code and can't be forged. A system like this should be in use in North America to better control the spread of the virus. I'm also an advocate for track and trace apps. The EU has implemented both measures and despite the usual suspects complaining about privacy and big brother, the system is almost universally used. Stupidly, the US can't get it's act together here and make this technology widely used. There is going to be resistance; there's the politics at play ..... again. The legality of this approach here isn't entirely clear (that's already been tested in Europe and it's legal).

You cannot obtain the EU COVD Certificate unless you are an EU citizen. You cannot travel within most of the EU countries without an EU COVID certificate. Each country, though, has separate COVID protocols for entering and traveling within it. Spain, for example, will accept the CDC card as proof of vaccination for entry. Throughout Europe countries have different protocols for both entering the country and entry into venues, e.g. restaurants, bars, shows, etc. Enforcement at the entrance to a venue may be good, e.g., Switzerland that is very strict about this or Greece which may be less so. What is required is thorough preparation on your part to travel in the foreign countries you plan to travel to and within. That includes looking at the US State department's Embassy web site for the countries you plan on traveling. Tourist web sites can also be good resources. Your airline usually has up to date entry info. I've found this site to be reliable with respect to current information. It changes frequently. https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

Good as place as any to write this post. We leave Monday for Portugal then Switzerland, then Barcelona to board Apex on the 10th. We'll be traveling through 3 different countries all of them with different entry protocols (Spain is the easiest and stil will accept the CDC vax card for entry. For guests sailing from Europe this summer, there have been some changes to country entry requirements, some just two weeks ago. Celebrity protocols have not changed but they are taking pains, in my case and sailing out of Barcelona on Apex (translant to PEV), to make sure I understand Spain's entry requirements when I arrive at the airport and head to the cruise port. First, the EUC's Health body has essentially made it impossible for travelers entering from outside the Schengen region to show proof of vaccination to get through immigration by means of a card or piece of paper. That includes US passport holders having the CDC's Vaccination card. Without the EU's COVID "Certificate" - most EU citizens have their vaccination and/or testing records on an App. The App accepts a scan from an officially administered and recorded test and/or vaccination. The App also displays a QR code that when it is read by a scanner that can read it and recognizes the QR code as being on a valid, official EU document, it stores it to use to get around to the usual places that are otherwise restricted to unvaccinated. The purpose of all of this is to prevent the massive amount of forgeries and cheating being done globally. It's not just a US problem. In order to pass legal muster within the EU, if you're not vaxed, you have the option to get tested at least every three days. IOW, no one is forcing you to get vaxed. Test results go into the app via a legit QR code and you are free to go the same places as the vaxed can go as long as the test isn't expired (72h or 36h for AG/PCR). These tests are covered by health insurance for EU citizens unless you are traveling (I assume that to be across boarders). If you are traveling and want a test to do so, you pay for it (varies by country usually under 50 EUs for the PCR less for the AG). Testing sites are ubiquitous throughout the EU. Some speak English some don't. The EU (by country) makes extensive use of tracing and tracking apps. IMO, this has been predictable for about 6 months. The US is waaaay behind in doing this sort of thing, absolutely essential, IMO, if we want to get back to traveling outside of the US in COVID circumstance .... that's going to with us for a long time and the next one will be just as impactful. That we don't have compatibility between EU and US (others) in the technology that makes this stuff easy is just bafflingly stupid. One outlier: Switzerland. First, they are not an EU member. Second, they are doing their own thing. Seems more straight forward and fair. For non-EU citizens traveling in the in the EU, you CAN'T get an EU COVID Certificate, period. In Switzerland, if you have a vaccination document that the Swiss health authorities will accept (not the CDC card), for example, one with an official seal, non-forgeable, on it, they'll issue you a Swiss COVID Certificate that will get you across boarders in most EU countries. I was unsuccessful in doing this online. I will try again in person once we are in Switzerland. They may need to see the vaccine document from my health record that I have that does have a seal on it. Fingers crossed so I can avoid testing but I'm prepared for that if I need to do that. Bottom line, if you are traveling to Europe pay close attention to varying entry requirements. I think this is going to improve for travelrs in the coming months. EU Restauranteurs and hoteliers are up in arms about this. Even EU countries are carving out exceptions (Spain still accepts the CDC card properly filled out), I expect others to follow but, it tough to move around if you aren't vaxed and can't prove it legitimately. I think that's the way it should be right now.

It is complicated. I think if I had the option, Id' rethink all of this. I don't. This travel was scheduled in mid-2019 for October 2020. It's already been pushed forward a year. Airline reservations were refunded in part in the form of a voucher for future travel. ....... issued almost a year to the date later after I had made a second set of reservations at my expense (long story). So, I'm going!!!. OTH, I have a particular viewpoint of the SARS2 pandemic .... that is the risk is out-sized esp. for the vaxed, that feeds a negative media narrative, that, in turn produces fear and low confidence levels for safe traveling among the folks. I'm bucking that trend. That doesn't mean I'm not taking precautions to prevent myself from getting ill or if I do become infected to protect others.

When scheduling you'll fill out the reason for the test, it should be for travel (preferably) or symptomatic (alternatively). Insurers are starting to get picky about paying for testing - a factor if you have health insurance. You might want to check if this applies. By law this is supposed to be covered. Not surprisingly, insurance companies are trying to get out of paying for it.

Speaking of planning ........We leave for Lisbon Portugal on the 28th then travel to Switzerland then via Zurich to Barcelona to Board Apex on October 10th. That's a 14d translant back to PEV. We travel to/through/from 4 countries including the US all of them with dissimilar entry requirements. Moreover, I've built in a self quarantine to our trip that will allow me to self test (BinaxNow) 72-96h post travel and after our arrival in Switzerland. I'm carrying 6 tests (box of 2 each X3). We'll be staying in a hotel close to my daughter's residence in Laussane. The purpose is to make sure I've not contracted a break-through SARS2D infection while traveling from the US and 3d in Lisbon. That is to protect my daughter's unvaxed children under 12. If we test negative, we'll stay with my daughter. Most EU countries won't allow entry to US passport holders that don't have proof of vaccination. Most don't require an antigen test to enter (Apex does to board but they do it for you in the terminal). Some require digitally accessed forms that have to be filed before entry. I've found these easy to locate and complete. All of this is subject to change. I'll go with the flow and feel good about the game plan. I relate this here to help others think like this. If you want to cruise/travel, you have to and not let the grind of the process bog you down. Keep goals of travel - seeing the beauty of life and the world - at the forefront. BTW, I've insured this trip at a level I've rarely done. The most important thing and most likely to happen is testing + for COVID in a foreign country and having to quarantine at your expense (notable that some countries pay for that). If that happens enroute to BCN/Apex, the cost of the flight from Zurich (booked with Celebrity Air for that purpose) and the cruise will be covered by Celebrity. Delays, alternative travel requirements as a result of COVID related quarantine expenses are explicitly listed as covered in the policy I bought. It wasn't cheap but the huge costs of a COVID + in a foreign country - an entirely likely possibility - make it worth it.

I'd offer you may be overthinking this although I get your point. Look at it this way: The risk of an inclusive result is low but the implications of getting that result given the new windows is high. Do an evaluation of your own risk tolerance, If it is low, go get a PCR test 72h before you sail. I don't know what availability is in the area you live in so that could be a show stopper. Alternatively, schedule an antigen test 24h before you sail and run your home test at the 48h mark. If you get an inconclusive, take the antigen test you scheduled, If you get a solid negative on the home test, cancel the scheduled test. Backing up the testing requirement to board with alternatives tends to reduce the risk of the thing you're worried about - not being able to board - a lot.

Correct ....... I'm realizing, actually more accepting, it is also the new travel reality. Look, it's been nearly 2 frigging years since SARS2 first appeared on the planet. Democratic governments and scientists advising them don't agree on most things pertaining to SARS2, it's spread, how to prevent it without crushing economies or restricting social mobility and basic freedoms. They can't get their shit together to either get their messaging right or provide guidance. Uniformity in managing the pandemic? Non-existent between states in the US and countries globally. Selfish nationalism is pervasive and prevents arriving at common solutions. Everyone is confused then political polarization rising globally sets people against each other and that prevents rational discourse and problem solving. My solution? I know how to keep myself healthy and protect others from COVID. My personal opinion is that SARS2 isn't going away and the primary reason for that is that more than half of the planet either can't get vaccinated or refuse to. That's reality. I can't change that. OTH, in addition to accepting inconvenience and change in the pandemic environment, if you take basic health steps, and avoid unnecessary infectious disease risk taking, avail yourself of available therapeutic protective measures including testing, you can travel safely ANYWHERE. I'm acting on that belief and pretty much ignoring what our own governments, federal, state and local, are telling us.

I'm realizing that the pandemic will continue to create a myriad of travel problems. This is the new travel reality and it's not going away for a while, maybe ever. It seems most of us here are obsessive about planning and being prepared to not be surprised last minute, including myself. Up until just recently, it created a lot of stress that made the thought of traveling during the pandemic unpleasant. Surprise ...... things work out. This isn't to say throw up your hands and don't care. That's dumb. Do your research on the places you want to go and how you're going to get there. Know that there will be changes before you're traveling and probably while you're traveling. The most important thing is to get excited about the beautiful places you will visit and see getting there. Don't let the hoops you have to jump through to get there get you down or make you consider cancelling. Don't let changes that occur doing your travels upset you. Go with the flow ..... have a martini! Having said that, since July, I've been to Greece and sailed Apex out of Pireaus in the Greek isles for 8d and sailed a B3B on Equinox out of PEV for 28 consecutive days in the Caribbean. On September 27th we leave for 3d in Lisbon, on to Lausanne Switzerland for 10d to visit my daughter who lives there. She's had a baby, Elysa (my 12th grand child), who is now over a year old whom I have not yet held (current trip moved up from 2020). From there we fly to Barcelona and sail back on Apex to Fort Lauderdale, our current residence. So far, all the hoops jumped through have been totally worth it. For the trip to Europe coming up there have been multiple changes in flights, cruise itineraries and dates, health protocols for country entry and cruise ship boarding requirements. One good thing is that every carrier has been on top of these and kept me informed of what I need to do to comply. Like I said above, things work out. Testing in Europe is available all over, easy to locate and in some cases it's free. Traveling between EU countries almost always requires proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test (Molecular or Antigen). I'm ignoring the politics of COVID and most of the MSMS' reporting about it. Besides almost all of it having hidden agendas that bend their reporting on it to fit that agenda, It just causes me to get angry. Instead, I'm focusing on the joy of travel. It's there. It's just become more complicated to get to where you want to go ...... but rest assured, governments want their travel and leisure economies to grow and thrive while at the same time coming up with reasonable ways to keep COVID at bay. In some places, the travel and leisure sector IS that place's economy. The things I have to do to get to Europe and back this coming trip ARE complicated but easy to find what you need to know and do. Lots of testing and we are adding even more to protect my daughter's un-vaccinated little ones in case we were exposed during travel before we stay with them. We'll arrive from Lisbon, stay in a nearby hotel for 3d (a self imposed modified mini-quarantine; we'll visit outdoors or masked indoors but not stay overnight at their place), then test (easily available in Switzerland). If we're not infected, we'll stay with my daughter unmasked then test again at the airport to enter Spain/Boar Apex and on to Barcelona. This sort of thing is the new travel reality. Don't stress out over it. You can either let COVID keep you home or you can travel using the right approach to doing it safely. It's possible.

On Celebrity, clearly using the same platform for the app, this is what I found: You can download it before you board but the only thing that is truly functional is the check in process. You cannot make main or specialty restaurant reservations until you're onboard and signed into the ships wifi. If you buy a specialty restaurant package you cannot book times in advance - only on the ship. I inquired about this with a CSR and was told that the restaurant managers know who is booking specialty restaurants by package and will reserve space for you - seems like you get some sort of priority when selecting times. Never had a problem dining when we wanted to and where we wanted to - we are anytime diners but dine at the same time in the mains. I used it for and found it easy to check in. One of the nice features is that using your phone allows you to snap pictures of your passport and the photo ID picture you'll use aboard. The web site check in looks a bit different but has the same process. You just have to download pics you snapped of your passport and yourself to your computer and then upload them. If you have a camera on your PC or lap top that works too. Once on the ship, the app works without an internet plan. You create an account, select the options you want (e.g. free wifi only or an internet package) and sign in. Once signed in to the ship's wifi the app works really well. There's a Daily Planner that lists everything going on aboard the ship. You can select events you want to participate in, check "schedule," and it will show up on the My Calendar section of the app. You can also follow your guest account spending and a bunch of other features. Its easy to use and fairly intuitive.

Day 24, Celebrity Equinox, B3B, W, E, S Caribbean itineraries. Just departed our last port Curasao yesterday evening headed back to PEV (2 sea days) to arrive on Friday. Equinox will turn around and do a 9n S. Caribbean itinerary and then alternate 9n and 12n S. Caribbean itineraries through the end of the year. Keeping in mind that I'm a Celebrity loyalist, this extended, 28n COVID sailing on Equinox could not have been more enjoyable. I highly recommend a cruise on her. Fantastic crew, ship's character and culture, food, activities and how ports and itinerary changes were handled in difficult circumstances. Entertainment, especially production shows, are Vegas equivalents. There were quite few port changes one two weeks in advance, one last minute and one (Coz and Costa Maya) where apparently ship was wrongly advised no touring in either on your own (note Twangster reported in another thread he was there a few days ago and both ports fully open to tour on your own). We booked 3 ship's excisions on this our 3rd leg of a B3B and all three were very good and reasonably priced. Of special note, Celebrity broke all it's tours down by groups of no more than 20. No giant buses with 80 of your closest friends. I'll just mention one and that was the tour in Roseau Dominica - The Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls. Maybe 10-12 years ago we were in Dominica and did this tour. Both of these venues are in nicely maintained State Parks. Last time we were there both parks were mobbed with tourists on dozens of huge buses. This time, we were it! This is one of the reasons you want to make the effort to cruise this year. It looks likely, barring the unforeseen, that the industry will return to around 75% operating capacity in the Caribbean by end of December. The only thing holding that back is going to be continued COVID restrictions implemented by governments in the ports of call. With an understandable cautious approach to start, I think benefits of restoring local travel and leisure jobs and revenues will outweigh the risks of COVID spread. So far, from what I know, cruise ships aren't causing spread of the virus. Ports will start to lift restrictions. One not so good thing is that among Caribbean locals vaccine hesitancy is high. That alone poses risks of rapid spread. That could keep conservative approaches to dealing with COVID in place. Back to Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls. Getting to and from the sites themselves involves a 30-40m van ride. To get to and from the viewing platforms of these two sites is physically challenging. Pathways and stairs are well maintained but there are steep inclines and declines to traverse. Lots of elderly were on this tour and struggled. Keep that in mind. If your in good shape, regardless of age, you'll be fine. One interesting adventure and side note. Last week, I developed some left leg pain from over-doing cycling. The symptoms were consistent with muscle strain and spasm that can be relieved with muscle relaxers and NSAIDs. I went to Medical never having sought medical care on a cruise ship before. First, I was very impressed with the services. The only problem was that they were out of muscle relaxers in their pharmacy. They were "on order." The provider I saw was frustrated about supply delays. I was treated with alternatives but these didn't relieve the muscle spasm. The visit was a simple one but not cheap. I was charged $170 for the visit and another $80 for the three medications used in my treatment - 2 of them injections, one oral. The $250 was charged to my guest account. I got on line to find a a clinic in Curasao yesterday. When we tied up in port I phoned. The clinic catered to tourists needing medical care and were very helpful and friendly. I explained my symptoms and what care I was seeking. The nurse I spoke with took my number, said she would talk to the doctor and see what they could do. Got a return call in about 10 minutes and was told the Dr. would call in a muscle relaxer to a local Botica (Pharmacy). The nurse did ask me to stop by the clinic and I jumped a cab and went there. The best part was that the staff in the clinic phoned multiple pharmacies close by to make sure they had the drug I needed, located it, wrote down the address and the waiting cab took me there and I picked it up. I paid $45 for the clinic visit and $17 for the medications at the pharmacy. The cab with waiting time and a nice driver that was helpful in finding the pharmacy inside a big mall was a bit pricey but, hey, I got a city tour and the medications I needed. Score!

I'm in general agreement with you @cruisellama. OTH, one should be cognizant of the exceedingly low risk of an unvaccinated child under 12 becoming infected with SARS2 and subsequently testing positive on an antigen test. I posted elsewhere that the calculated risk of that happening is quite low. This is especially true if you follow the most basic mitigation measures. It is certainly a personal risk/benefit assessment. Also keep in mind that RCL has gone to great lengths to protect your financial interests with various protocols to do that should you be unable to bard secondary to a positive COVID test. You could be putting airfare and accommodations at risk. Either insure that risk with an appropriate travel insurance policy or buy refundable air.

Were you able to explore either port on your own? Two weeks ago with Quintana Roo State in a "red" condition (based on viral prevalence) business openings and mobility restrictions applied. We received letters in our cabins at the start of our cruise from PEV (Equinox) that included Cozumel and Costa Maya that guests could only debark on a ship's sponsored tours. Nothing was open in the immediate port shops at Coz. Some of the port shops at Costa Maya were open, mostly empty of customers. The pool, pool bar (beautiful btw) and dolphin adventure were open. After our ship's tour we were dropped off at the entry to these shops. You could not go outside though. Both ship's tours at these ports were reasonably priced and excellent. Celebrity limited group size to less than 20. Pretty nice.

Correct ...... from about the June time frame, people I trust with enough background in the sciences I talk with, felt that boosters would be needed before the end of the year. This position was based on a very detailed understanding of how RNA amino acids substitute. There is a pattern to this process. Some of you may have heard of the term, "gain of function" experiments where specially equipped labs modify a virus to predict future transmissibility and lethality. That's what the Wuhan lab was involved in that started this pandemic. It's legitimate science when done safely. Multiple public and private agencies around the globe were involved in these studies. Scientific papers began to emerge in June predicting the need for a booster. I have no problem with boosters. I have no problem with Pfizer and Moderna advocating for them. The miracle of the mRNA vaccines is that they can be updated easily - in weeks - at scale when mutations demand it. The process to do that for typical viral vector vaccines takes a year. Sure, it can certainly be about money. I don't care. In defeating this thing I don't care how much it costs or who profits. The problem I have with the Biden administration announcement was that it was not presented in enough detail to make it clear the benefits of getting started now, logistically, so as to be prepared to distribute boosters at scale in a time frame that made sense .... the end of the year. I just did that in an understandable and simple way that makes sense and doesn't allow for people to take a position that vaccines don't work. Instead what we got, IMO, was fear producing narrative augmented by the media as well as an underlying message that vaccines don't work. This approach stems from a decidedly liberal administration with a paternalistic view towards its citizens. I don't like that approach at all.