Just when I thought covid testing was over…

[Mollari]

I live in Australia and had no idea that testing was still a thing (obviously if I had symptoms I would test but I didn't know it was a requirement anymore), although I've never been on a cruise before so I've never really payed attention, I guess it's just one more thing to add to the 'to do' list

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

You left out the third largest nation in the world, China.

EDIT: And Brazil.

And until a few months ago the US was in that category too. Awful. I went to Europe and back 2x last year— no requirements period, but Europeans coming to the US had to be covid 19 vaccinated until like the middle of May? Talk about a joke. It’s like no one in the US government has any analytical ability whatsoever. Zero.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

The third largest nation on the planet, and they aren't an example?

No, they aren’t. They have people locked in concentration camps there.

 

[rainbowredpanda]

What a mess Australia is

You can always just not come? This information has been readily available and cruising here in Australia post Covid has always required vaccination and testing

 

[rainbowredpanda]

I live in Australia and had no idea that testing was still a thing (obviously if I had symptoms I would test but I didn't know it was a requirement anymore), although I've never been on a cruise before so I've never really payed attention, I guess it's just one more thing to add to the 'to do' list

It's been protocol since cruising returned in Australia. It's not that bad. If you're within NSW, you can get free tests from Service NSW. We test several times a week all the time.

 

[rainbowredpanda]

No, but they were mandated by many local and county governments and by many businesses. Orange County and Osceola County both had mask mandates, as did Disney World. Disney cruises also had mask mandates.

Anyway, that doesn't matter anymore. Australia will remove its mandates when the Australian authorities think it's safe to do so. There's nothing that any of us can do about it.

Australia had a significant problem with a cruise ship at the beginning of the pandemic, from the very port that DCL will be sailing out of from Sydney. It's unlikely they will remove the mandates, as they are taking infections rates on cruise ships very seriously.

 

[wendlle]

What a mess Australia is

no we are not. We got thru the pandemic great and we were all pretty happy about it on a whole.
You've been able to look up the Australian Cruise Requirements since we opened cruising back up.
All the info you need is here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel/cruising-rules/advice-for-the-cruise-industry
Sorry but don't like it, don't come.

We actually dropped our International Arrival protocols BEFORE the USA did, these new ones only apply to cruising TBH I don't know why they're sticking with it, all of our mandates etc went out the window over a year ago and we have been living with it just fine. They need to let this one go, but until they do...

 

[mousefan73]

Just my opinion but the past three years have changed the way we travel. For me it’s common sense still at this time to assume that a region like the south pacific and Australia that was shut down and had so many restrictions almost comparable to China, that Covid restrictions and or vaccine requirements most likely COULD be a given. so those who booked this sailing and are not vaccinated I just have to ask - are you living under a rock?

Cruise lines have Legal responsibility in communicating some information, but in the end, it comes down to us, as the traveler, to make sure that we are aware of our requirements when we are travel overseas.

 

[elsawasajedi]

Just my opinion but the past three years have changed the way we travel. For me it’s common sense still at this time to assume that a region like the south pacific and Australia that was shut down and had so many restrictions almost comparable to China, that Covid restrictions and or vaccine requirements most likely COULD be a given. so those who booked this sailing and are not vaccinated I just have to ask - are you living under a rock?

Cruise lines have Legal responsibility in communicating some information, but in the end, it comes down to us, as the traveler, to make sure that we are aware of our requirements when we are travel overseas.

I'm on the fjord cruise in 20 days.

I have been hyper vigilant about possible changes to UK entry and testing and last year when testing to get on ship was required I made my family isolate 3 weeks in advance in order to mitigate risk. I tested positive first day of isolation for the first time ever.

So this year I said because I didn't know if testing requirements would shift in the UK, that I would do the same isolation protocol. We started this past Monday. My boss teased me. His wife and dad has covid, my husband's friends we visited a week ago just got over covid, everyone's doctor is saying covid is on the rise and there have been articles all over this morning saying hospitalizations are up. We are going to mask on the plane.

zero regrets about decision to do isolation protocol again. and if things change about testing in the next two weeks I feel pretty good about being able to adapt.


then again I have a spreadsheet planner for trips, start prepacking months in advance and am about 60% actually packed for this trip. so....I'm insane.

 

[DCLMP]

no we are not. We got thru the pandemic great and we were all pretty happy about it on a whole.
You've been able to look up the Australian Cruise Requirements since we opened cruising back up.
All the info you need is here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/travel/cruising-rules/advice-for-the-cruise-industry
Sorry but don't like it, don't come.

We actually dropped our International Arrival protocols BEFORE the USA did, these new ones only apply to cruising TBH I don't know why they're sticking with it, all of our mandates etc went out the window over a year ago and we have been living with it just fine. They need to let this one go, but until they do...

Restrictions in our country varied a lot by state. That's why you see varying opinions. In my state everythings been normal for a couple of years now. Covid restrictions seem like ancient history to some of us. Why the US kept its international protocols so long is embarrassing. I'll agree with you there.

 

[ggfred32]

My biggest issue with requiring our cruise to test is that we will literally take a test FOURTEEN days prior in Honolulu and three port stops before entering Sydney. There is absolutely ZERO common sense with that whatsoever. If Aus was really concerned about Covid coming in off of our ship, we would test a day or two before actually getting there.

That said, we are vaxxed and will test and enjoy a fabulous cruise regardless!

 

[DCLMP]

My biggest issue with requiring our cruise to test is that we will literally take a test FOURTEEN days prior in Honolulu and three port stops before entering Sydney. There is absolutely ZERO common sense with that whatsoever. If Aus was really concerned about Covid coming in off of our ship, we would test a day or two before actually getting there.

That said, we are vaxxed and will test and enjoy a fabulous cruise regardless!

What happens if you test positive?

 

[Habitatnal]

According to the DCL website, it seems like you will upload your test/vaccination results before the cruise. That seems like a waste of time and money to build out the website to accommodate that when I’m guessing that the requirement will not be there that long. You could have the port workers check vaccination/test results.

 

[lanejudy]

According to the DCL website, it seems like you will upload your test/vaccination results before the cruise. That seems like a waste of time and money to build out the website to accommodate that when I’m guessing that the requirement will not be there that long. You could have the port workers check vaccination/test results.

I'd expect they'll contract that out as they did previously, whether it's Safe Passage or some other company (maybe one based in AUS).

 

[tvguy]

And until a few months ago the US was in that category too. Awful. I went to Europe and back 2x last year— no requirements period, but Europeans coming to the US had to be covid 19 vaccinated until like the middle of May? Talk about a joke. It’s like no one in the US government has any analytical ability whatsoever. Zero.

Covid finally caught up to my wife and I in April. Got a text yesterday from the state health department asking for information, so in the U.S. they are still tracking covid.

 

[tvguy]

No, they aren’t. They have people locked in concentration camps there.

Shades of our immigration situation.

 

[Hubie]

What really scares me is the chance of testing positive once we arrive in Hawaii. What a nightmare that would be. We've already paid in full for the cruise, purchased our visas, and paid for tickets from Qantas to fly back to Hawaii. Then there's the problem of getting home from Hawaii. Obviously, we'd have to stay there somewhere until we would be allowed to fly back home.

 

[DCLMP]

What really scares me is the chance of testing positive once we arrive in Hawaii. What a nightmare that would be. We've already paid in full for the cruise, purchased our visas, and paid for tickets from Qantas to fly back to Hawaii. Then there's the problem of getting home from Hawaii. Obviously, we'd have to stay there somewhere until we would be allowed to fly back home.

Allowed to fly back home?? There are no restrictions on flying.

 

[mousefan73]

if testing really is so that it’s basically an honor system where you just send a picture of your test results how would they know if let’s say someone would it take a test today? Just save that picture? Just saying.

 

[tvguy]

if testing really is so that it’s basically an honor system where you just send a picture of your test results how would they know if let’s say someone would it take a test today? Just save that picture? Just saying.

Yup, and the important message is if you are traveling, be prepared for the possibility of a covid test being required for the coming years.