Bermuda Travel Requirements

[bombarc]

So Bermuda is going to allow unvacinnated travelers into the country now.  Yet, it still requires an approved Travel Authorization for $40.00 per person and a negative Covid Test.  Both will cost up to an extra $110.00 per person.  What is the point?  Why not just require a negative Covid Test to board the ship and forego the Travel Authorization?  My husband and I went to Bermuda last October, did all of the applications ($75.00 per person then), went through all of the Covid Testing before we were approved by Bermuda and had 2 tests at the terminal ( one rapid, one PCR) before we could board the ship.  We had a great cruise and we love Bermuda - we don't mind going through the hoops to get there. The Travel Authorization is not an NCL requirement - it is just a Bermudian travel tax.  If they are going to allow unvaccinated travelers to enter the country, they should do away wih the Travel Authorization requirement.

 

[FJB]

Government officials lost all common sense 2 1/2 years ago!

[DeanneB]

The extra fees when stacked up can really be expensive.  I really do plan carefully all my travels for the rest of the year.  I try to write all known fees so I won't be caught by surprise. 

[Richie]

To me, this is just a money grab…

[New Member]

We are cruising to Bermuda next month - The Bermuda Travel Authorization is now $40.00 per person 

[bombarc]

NCL and another cruise line have cancelled all of their stops in Bermuda for their transatlatic and other cruises.  This is because Bermuda is one of the last stops. not the first.  Passengers on these cruises would have to have the Bermuda Travel Authorization,  a  negative covid test upon embarkation, and anoher negative covid test 2 days before arriving in Bermuda (taken aboard the ship) all at the passenger's expense.  This is likely a day stop - not an overnight. 

Cruise lines have been negotiating with Bermuda all season to try to ease entry requirements. At least the travel authorization came down from $75.00 (when we went last October) to $40.00.  But nothing else.

We love cruising and we love Bermuda.  We are cruising there this month on a 5 night out of NY and it has cost an extra $220.00 just to enter the terminal.

CB

[HuliHuli]

A sovereign nation has the right and ability to regulate who and how people enter its borders and whether or not a fee is charged pursuant to that entry.  If you don't like it, don't go.  We all pay port fees when we cruise.  Bermuda's is really no different than any other nation's individual reasoning for a port fee.  The issue has/is being debated in Bermuda's Parliament and changes are coming. See: https://www.gov.bm/cruise-travel-authorisation 

[DeanneB]

That is logical, I think some people are forgetting they are visiting another country with its own rules.  NCL or any other cruise line has no say regarding entry requirements to the country.

[Barbara Nahoumi]

My husband and I are fully vaccinated and boosted.  It's not the$40.00 that bothers me, but the uploading, and waiting for approval from Bermuda for the T.A. which caused us a great deal of stress.  All we should need to do is show our vax cards to someone at the pier & be able to board the ship.

 

 

[bombarc]

I have been cruising to Bermuda since 2020.  The TA was implemented when Bermuda began to allow travel after COVID.  We pay port fees in the total cost of the cruise.   When travel began ro Bermuda after COVID it was extremely prohibitive. It has been 1 year since cruise ships have returned to Bermuda.  Bermuda was hit very hard during COVID and had many restrictions on its own residents.  A small island with a small hospital - they needed to be strict.  When we were there last October, Jet Blue had announced that they were suspending flights until 2022.  Many people we spoke with were upset because Bermudians come to the US for medical treatment.  They come to Boston and Worcester, MA to go to our hospitals and visit specialists.  We are not charging anyone $40.00 a pop to enter our country for any reason.  Enough is Enough, COVID is a money grab now.

[Blue Shirt]

On 10/17/2022 at 11:16 PM, bombarc said:

 We are not charging anyone $40.00 a pop to enter our country for any reason.

Actually the charge for entering the USA with an ESTA is $21. So America is also making tourists pay to visit the country.

[HuliHuli]

"Effective November 14 2022, travel authorizations will no longer be required to enter Bermuda. Visitors travelling to Bermuda from November 14 onwards do not need to apply for a travel authorization."  Check the Bermuda Govt. website for confirmation.

[FJB]

On 11/5/2022 at 4:19 PM, HuliHuli said:

"Effective November 14 2022, travel authorizations will no longer be required to enter Bermuda. Visitors travelling to Bermuda from November 14 onwards do not need to apply for a travel authorization."  Check the Bermuda Govt. website for confirmation.

Finally! 

[DeanneB]

Bermuda will drop TA starting Nov 14 https://www.cruisehive.com/bermuda-will-finally-drop-its-travel-authorization/86617 

[HuliHuli]

And for those that claim NCL's customer service never responds to passenger inquiries, I received a call from corporate yesterday acknowledging my message to them wherein I pointed out NCL's communications with Nov. 19th Joy passengers was incorrect regarding Bermuda's travel policies.  They acknowledged their mistake and indicated their intention to reach out to passengers with a revised update.

[DeanneB]

Wow, a call from corporate, is rare but does happen.  I mean ideally, they should respond to everyone who contacts them via phone and chat.  I imagine it is going to be a nightmare to be able to respond to everyone.