steverk Posted October 9, 2021 Report Share Posted October 9, 2021 We are now less than 30 days until Explorer sails out if Puerto Rico. I'm on the Thanksgiving sailing and getting a little nervous . Royal hasn't opened check in for my sailing and hasn't published protocols for Puerto Rico at all. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 We are waiting too. Nov 7th cruise out of Puerto Rico and still don't know what's going on. If we have to sign up for Royal excursions to get off the ship we will be cancelling. (we have children under 12 in our party) Hard to make plans. I guess the longer they wait maybe a better chance for better changes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted October 10, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 12 hours ago, Pam W said: We are waiting too. Nov 7th cruise out of Puerto Rico and still don't know what's going on. If we have to sign up for Royal excursions to get off the ship we will be cancelling. (we have children under 12 in our party) Hard to make plans. I guess the longer they wait maybe a better chance for better changes? I like your optimism! I do believe that Royal is slow on releasing these because they are hoping for better news. It's rather frustrating to be this close to a sailing and not having any indication of what to expect. My daughter has talked herself into believing the cruise will be cancelled. I don't think so as Explorer is already catching some rays near Puerto Rico, but I understand her concern. I think they'll have to release something this week. Let us know if you hear anything. Your cruise is sooner than mine, so you'll probably hear first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted October 10, 2021 Report Share Posted October 10, 2021 I don't think they will cancel. We got our edocs including luggage tags on Oct 8, just at 30 days to sailing. But we still can't check in. steverk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKSglitz Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 I too am waiting to hear. Our cruise isn't until early January but I can see that the pre-boarding Covid test could be problematic. I am assuming that there will be multiple cruise lines in port and I am assuming that all of them are following the same protocol to board. That being said, there will be a hundreds of people in San Juan at the same time. The rapid Covid tests are very scarce to purchase at this point and will be even worse, if any, by the end of the year. There are no rapid testing sites (CVS, Walgreens, Airport) with a fast enough turn around to meet the two day turn around necessary to board the ship. Any body else feeling anxious? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKSglitz Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 58 minutes ago, MKSglitz said: I too am waiting to hear. Our cruise isn't until early January but I can see that the pre-boarding Covid test could be problematic. I am assuming that there will be multiple cruise lines in port and I am assuming that all of them are following the same protocol to board. That being said, there will be a hundreds of people in San Juan at the same time. The rapid Covid tests are very scarce to purchase at this point and will be even worse, if any, by the end of the year. There are no rapid testing sites (CVS, Walgreens, Airport) with a fast enough turn around to meet the two day turn around necessary to board the ship. Any body else feeling anxious? Some further info that I recently read regarding your stay in Puerto Rico. If you plan on a pre/post cruise in any motel/hotel/vrbo or any rental you must show proof of being vaccinated. I wish I could remember where I saw that but it just wasn't on a social media platform. It could have been on the guidelines to enter the country (????)We are staying at the Stellaris Marriott and I might have seen it there. Nevertheless, if anybody has concerns if you are unvaccinated, please search out this info before getting there and finding out you can't stay anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Debbie Stephenson Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 I have had this cruise booked since January of 2020. Covid came and everything went to heck. I am on the 30th Of January 2022 Explorer Of The Seas. Got a awesome deal back when I booked. My problem in a nutshell. We wanted to go stay in San Juan for 3 days prior to cruise. Coming from Dallas Texas. If they do the pretest for 3 days we can barely get it here before leaving (Late Flight). If it comes down to 2 or before boarding here is our dilemma. If for some reason god forbid we test positive the day we leave Dallas we can still cancel and almost everything will be refundable. If we leave here and get in San Juan and test there either in San Juan or before the ship boards and again god forbid we test positive we then have no cruise, no hotel to stay in and no way home?? I don't know if I am willing to take that chance. Any thought from anyone? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKSglitz Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but the Covid test that they are requiring now is no more then TWO days before boarding and NOT THREE. The Covid tests that I've found being offered in San Juan have a 24-72 hr turn around results including the ones at the airport. (Taking a slim chance that the results will come back in 24 hrs) From what I understand the Covid rapid tests that everyone has or are buying on line currently requires a proctor to validate the test and those tests have an expiration date the end of December. This is not helping me either as my cruise from San Juan is January 9,2021. So unless Emed, Optum, or the RCCL store has an upcoming shipment of rapid proctored tests with a later expiration date, or the protocols change (which I highly doubt) I'll be cancelling my long awhile cruise (booked 2020) and unfortunately losing my deposit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 Jan 9 is a long ways away at this point. Way too early to be worrying about your testing strategy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristiZ Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 3 hours ago, MKSglitz said: Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but the Covid test that they are requiring now is no more then TWO days before boarding and NOT THREE. The Covid tests that I've found being offered in San Juan have a 24-72 hr turn around results including the ones at the airport. (Taking a slim chance that the results will come back in 24 hrs) From what I understand the Covid rapid tests that everyone has or are buying on line currently requires a proctor to validate the test and those tests have an expiration date the end of December. This is not helping me either as my cruise from San Juan is January 9,2021. So unless Emed, Optum, or the RCCL store has an upcoming shipment of rapid proctored tests with a later expiration date, or the protocols change (which I highly doubt) I'll be cancelling my long awhile cruise (booked 2020) and unfortunately losing my deposit There are Walgreens in Puerto Rico that offer the 1-hour result antigen test. You should be fine. cruisellama and Ray 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 10 hours ago, KristiZ said: There are Walgreens in Puerto Rico that offer the 1-hour result antigen test. You should be fine. Do you know if there is a fee involved for this service for non PR or US citizens? Across here in the UK we get all testing done FOC, this includes packs of 7 Antigen tests sent to anyones home whenever they are requested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristiZ Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 7 hours ago, Ray said: Do you know if there is a fee involved for this service for non PR or US citizens? Across here in the UK we get all testing done FOC, this includes packs of 7 Antigen tests sent to anyones home whenever they are requested. It is actually at the discretion of the offering store. Likely there will be a fee, especially for a rapid test, anywhere from $99-$350. But possibly not. Ray 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho and Barb Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 Our B2B 21 Nov 2021 sailing on the Explore of the Seas registration opened up yesterday.  Started in on Royals web site and uploaded pictures of our Covid cards on the app.  Didn’t see anything on any restrictions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseGus Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 @Psycho and BarbI have a sailing on Explorer soon, so have been watching everything PR. this web site seems to be accurate, when compared to other google searches https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/info/travel-guidelines requires a Travel Declaration Form on the Puerto Rico Health Department’s online portal be filled out before arrival at the airport. Should be no problem if you're fully Vaccinated. Please come back and let us know how your sailing went, Good Luck and have fun     DDaley 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 18, 2021 Report Share Posted October 18, 2021 49 minutes ago, CruiseGus said: @Psycho and BarbI have a sailing on Explorer soon, so have been watching everything PR. this web site seems to be accurate, when compared to other google searches https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/info/travel-guidelines requires a Travel Declaration Form on the Puerto Rico Health Department’s online portal be filled out before arrival at the airport. Should be no problem if you're fully Vaccinated. Please come back and let us know how your sailing went, Good Luck and have fun     The questions I am still trying to figure out and have emailed Puerto Rico about (email address on the site)  1. How early can you complete the travel declaration form? 2. What do you need to do if you are staying in Puerto Rico for one night post-cruise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho and Barb Posted October 19, 2021 Report Share Posted October 19, 2021 16 hours ago, Reigert2008 said: The questions I am still trying to figure out and have emailed Puerto Rico about (email address on the site)  1. How early can you complete the travel declaration form? 2. What do you need to do if you are staying in Puerto Rico for one night post-cruise? We are also trying to figure that out. We are flying in a day before our cruise and trying to nail down our requirements. Lets keep each other posted on what we find out. Reigert2008 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 21, 2021 Report Share Posted October 21, 2021 Still no information, but I’m hopeful that the protocols come in the next few days since they just announced the acceptance of mixed vaccines, kinda makes me wonder if they were waiting on that approval. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puertorican Posted October 21, 2021 Report Share Posted October 21, 2021 Hello, just FYI, the 2 day CDC Conditional Sail Test cruise for the Explorer of the Seas will be this next October 29th. Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted October 21, 2021 Report Share Posted October 21, 2021 On 10/18/2021 at 9:26 PM, Reigert2008 said: The questions I am still trying to figure out and have emailed Puerto Rico about (email address on the site)  1. How early can you complete the travel declaration form? 2. What do you need to do if you are staying in Puerto Rico for one night post-cruise? I know that in Europe these forms need not only your flight details but also your seat number. So unless you pay well in advance for seats on flight you cannot fill out forms until after you have checked in on flight WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psycho and Barb Posted October 22, 2021 Report Share Posted October 22, 2021 19 hours ago, Ray said: I know that in Europe these forms need not only your flight details but also your seat number. So unless you pay well in advance for seats on flight you cannot fill out forms until after you have checked in on flight We did our Puerto Rico Travel Docs yesterday. They only wanted our flight number. But, they also wanted to know where we were staying and for how long...We entered the Pier address and listed Royal Caribbean as our host...Didn't see any other option's. Hope we did it right.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted October 22, 2021 Report Share Posted October 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Psycho and Barb said: We did our Puerto Rico Travel Docs yesterday. They only wanted our flight number. But, they also wanted to know where we were staying and for how long...We entered the Pier address and listed Royal Caribbean as our host...Didn't see any other option's. Hope we did it right.  That's what we did for the Bahamas cruises and had no issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted October 22, 2021 Report Share Posted October 22, 2021 3 hours ago, Psycho and Barb said: We did our Puerto Rico Travel Docs yesterday. They only wanted our flight number. But, they also wanted to know where we were staying and for how long...We entered the Pier address and listed Royal Caribbean as our host...Didn't see any other option's. Hope we did it right.  Thats good to know For my flight to Gibraltar in 2weeks i have to have flight seat number first before i can complete the forms. Different countries Different rules! Always best to check though as things change quickly Reigert2008 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 25, 2021 Report Share Posted October 25, 2021 Puerto Rico protocols released today for November. Â https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center/getting-ready-to-cruise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 26, 2021 Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 Saw this link in another thread and now wonder if this will affect Vaccinated Americans cruising from Puerto Rico.  Link -- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-administration-unveils-vaccine-testing-requirements-travel-u-s-n1282288 Quote from article "Beginning Nov. 8, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and long-term residents will have to present a negative Covid test taken a day before re-entering the country, and unvaccinated foreign nationals will be able to enter only in limited circumstances, an administration official said Monday. Fully vaccinated Americans will have to be tested three days before travel. " Maybe one of the TA's that frequent the boards has an idea. Maybe @Sharla? (sorry I don't personally know her, but i enjoy seeing the information she provides.)  My TA for this Puerto Rico cruise has not been helpful and is the last of the items i have with this agency. I'm reaching out to them for guidance, but am not hopeful for a response.  I've already switched my TA needs to MEI Travel and have used them for 2 cruises and a land based trip, just have to get through this last non-MEI one... WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharla Posted October 26, 2021 Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 I would go with the November protocols that came out yesterday. Puerto Rico is part of the US, but the other ports won't be so Royal and others are subject to the requirements of those countries. Reigert2008 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 26, 2021 Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 17 minutes ago, Sharla said: I would go with the November protocols that came out yesterday. Puerto Rico is part of the US, but the other ports won't be so Royal and others are subject to the requirements of those countries. Thanks! Now that I have read a million things and slept a little, i think my concern was "Do I need to be tested 3 days before flying from Puerto Rico to my home in the mainland" ". Since we have never traveled directly to and from Puerto Rico, our brains have been having a hard time reconciling that Puerto Rico is mostly like the US, but not always. I also saw in the Royal protocols that anyone needing a test to return to thier home country can get one on the ship, so at the worst, that would cover it. We got such a good deal on this cruise, it will be worth the extra steps.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted October 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 I see that this morning San Juan is listed as a departure port. Everything looks pretty much the same as other US ports except 3 of my ports of call require ship board excursions Oh! and you need to fill out the TravelSafe declaration to fly to Puerto Rico! Reigert2008 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 26, 2021 Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 7 minutes ago, steverk said: I see that this morning San Juan is listed as a departure port. Everything looks pretty much the same as other US ports except 3 of my ports of call require ship board excursions Oh! and you need to fill out the TravelSafe declaration to fly to Puerto Rico! Yeah, that's what I see as well. We booked some excursions for Barbados, St. Luca, and St. Kitts last night. We didn't want to have to try and explain to people that "it looked great from the ship" and we still had OBC from a canceled cruise that we needed to spend, so it wasn't a lot of new "out of pocket expense". You can fill out your travel form basically anytime. When you do, you will enter in the date as MM-DD-YYYY, but when it show up on your travel profile as DD-MM-YYYY, so don't get confused.  We are still trying to figure out if we need a new travel safe form for the one night post-cruise that we will be in Puerto rRco and which option to pick since we won't be flying in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steverk Posted October 26, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 9 minutes ago, Reigert2008 said: We are still trying to figure out if we need a new travel safe form for the one night post-cruise that we will be in Puerto rRco and which option to pick since we won't be flying in. That is a bit confusing. I'm doing a 1 night pre cruise stay. Since I really didn't see any way to enter in my full itinerary, I put down the ship as my lodging. That is the major stop, so I figured it was the best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted October 26, 2021 Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 5 minutes ago, steverk said: That is a bit confusing. I'm doing a 1 night pre cruise stay. Since I really didn't see any way to enter in my full itinerary, I put down the ship as my lodging. That is the major stop, so I figured it was the best option. We are also flying in the day before and staying at a hotel, so we filled out a form that lists the hotel as our lodging for the one night. I assume that we would at least find out something on the cruise if we need it post-cruise, but the only options on the form are Flight or Ferry.   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted October 26, 2021 Report Share Posted October 26, 2021 So You can enter PR without needing a test but you need to get 1 anyway to get on ship.  If you’re flying in from the U.S. Vaccinated guests have no testing requirement to enter Puerto Rico All Guests: Required Testing to Board the Ship You’ll need to bring a negative PCR or antigen test result to the cruise terminal to board the ship. It can be the same result you used to enter Puerto Rico, provided you time it right.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.