Latest Recommendations for Cruising

You're not being a downer at all...just recognizing that there are other forces at play affecting what would have been a purely scientific/medical exercise. Trusting governmental and quasi-governmental agencies is more "problematic" than it ever was.....complicating the issue is the certain knowledge that no matter what conditions/rules they put in place, I believe "they" know there will be outbreaks, guaranteed, and therefore they will be blamed...this is a lose/lose....

All the elements of the health panel plan are "recommendations" and not "requirements" at this time. Not to say that they all might be adopted, but still early. The pre-travel test can be problematic from a timing perspective. The recommendation requests a test taken between 24h and 5 days prior to embarkation. I you are cruising on a Saturday or Sunday, that provides 3 to 4 business days to have the test taken, and a result received.

One test has a 15 minute processing, but not widely available. Most tests are 24 or greater - up to 72 hours. So as stated, the recommendation could be unattainable for many travelers who would not have access to the 15 minute test.

Give it some time. CDC will need to weigh in and of course the line providers will need to adopt things that are practical.

At least they are finally putting things out there. However, it my newspaper today, the CDC is backtracking on non-cruise related information. My guess is, for them, the cruise industry is the pesky fly that keeps buzzing in their ear. So they will just shut it down so more to postpone any decision. Sorry to be a downer (not my normal state of mind). I am happy about all the positive steps the cruise industry is setting out, I just don't trust the CDC.

This is a piece of the report I read in its totality yesterday, and we commented on....."testing and getting of a report may be problematic..." no kidding. Careful reading of that report leaves all kinds of loopholes and grey areas. This morning we got an email from NCL offering additional medical insurance, geared towards coverage in case you get COVID...its clear they EXPECT to have outbreaks onboard....

In some areas the testing and getting of a report may be problematic. They also do not go into details regarding testing requirements and what is or is not acceptable. There are a number of tests available and not all are the same accuracy.

Good article but still it is a process that keeps unfolding.