NCL WILL TEST YOU AT THE PORT, INCLUDED IN YOUR BOOKING

Agreed...so whats the point of going?...thats a rhetorical question...if you have to go thru all that, that was the driver behind my first paragraph....the cruise lines would have to cancel the cruise, and you KNOW they won't do that..Like going on a Med cruise because you want to "do Rome"...and then its cancelled....I'm reasonably sure a ton of folks booked that cruise BECAUSE of Bermuda...and I'm also reasonably sure very few anticipated or understood the hoops they'd have to jump thru to get to wander around there...

Bermuda is not just a stop. In most cases it is the main destination for the cruise as a 1 week cruise is in port for almost 2 days having 2 overnights.

Yeh...I know just how important stopping at Bermuda is...folks are willing to jump thru any hoops, bear any cost, endure any inconvenience (or risk) just to stop at Bermuda..(bah!)..its clear the Bermudans don't want cruise ships there, which REALLY begs the question of who is driving that particular bus...translated..."follow the money.."

And yes, I remember the good ol days when you were handed a slip of paper to "report" your health status...every cruise terminal wound up generating cartons of em...everybody was truthful, and all of those slips were duly collated, entered someplace, and inspected....riiiiight.....I wonder what % of passengers were stupid enough to "report" a health issue back then that would prevent them from cruising, with the gangplank a few feet away...assuming of course, that anybody actually looked at them...that norovirus observation is spot on...we've never had it, but I've had my suspicions over the years thats more due to dumb luck than any particular process the cruise lines did...or claimed to do....

Over at the Shipmate App plenty of NCL passengers at complaining about the hoops that they have to go through to be tested to the satisfaction of Bermuda. Apparently even though arriving by ship because of the length of time the ships will spend there the Breakaway and the Gem passengers must do a PRC test and apply for a Bermudian Travel Authorisation (not misspelled that's how it is spelt at the application website) within 96 hours of arrival. Apparently the test being done at the terminals by NCL is only a rapid antigen and not accepted by the Bermuda.

SO if their ship leaves on Sunday and arrives Tuesday at 1pm the earliest they can have a test sample taken is Friday after 1pm. Unless the passenger ponies up for the rapid PRC (usually not a free test, unless prescribed by a Dr.) they won't have their results until sometime on Sunday at the earliest. This means 2 things they will 1) be on pins and needles waiting for the PRC test results to match the rapid test results, and 2) need good access to the internet once on board to fill out the required application, transmitting financial data over the satellite service for the $75 application fee. My previous NCL internet experience (on the Breakaway) has been it doesn't work well at all if not in a public space.

Personally I have not read anything if the PRC test comes back as positive and the passenger is already on the ship, so I don't know what specific protocols the ship or port will follow if that happens. At worst I imagine the whole cabin, per NCL's current policy, would get quarantined for the rest of the voyage, as the PRC test is more accurate.

But that begs the age old question will the effected passenger even let the ship know they have conflicting test results. Just think at how many in the past didn't disclose on the old pre-boarding health form if they recently had a bout of diarrhea, or went to the ship's doctor if they started stomach problems on the ship out of fear of being quarantined for Noro.

If true, that's an option all of the lines should "offer". As there is a testing requirement for all lines, I would like to know before I board a flight as fair cancellation policies are in place. But if I were driving to port, I would certainly partake in the line sponsored test.

My Dad has been saying the same!

It a weird old wacky world.

Yep, we got the email from Carnival with the 2 day prior test notice. But who knows what will change by Octber 30th.

You are 1000% correct...matter of fact you said EXACTLY what my wife said a little while ago when she heard me pounding keys.....nothing anybody can do about it anyway.....

You are quite busy Yankee and we appreciate your info and effort. BUT .. unfortunately everything from the various cruise lines that is valid this week may be obsolete next week. Some of the lines know not what they do therefore are constantly making changes. Some on the other hand seem to have a good handle on it.