funatseascott

I remember someone asking if Sushi on 5 being open for lunch on port days.  We just got back on the ship and having lunch.

29 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Last night after dinner we found a little gift from our butler.   Not sure if just upper suites. 
 

Handmade chocolates in a plexiglass box

 

These chocolates were great!!

A new amenity for the suite.  Will try them out tonight to see how comfortable the pajamas are.  Jim, how did you like them?

19 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Try a different location.    We are adjacent to the Library and have a really strong signal.    I was in the same RS about 8 years ago and the internet was so bad in the room I had to go out into the hallway and sit in the chair overlooking the Library to use the internet.   

 

IPhone App Speed Test.      -   Just ran again and getting 3.86 down and 1.90 Up

 

I just ran using Google Speed Test and getting 3.92 / 2.30

 

 

I’m sitting on the retreat deck watching the water pass by and here’s a few speed tests

36 minutes ago, 39august said:

Jim, would you please check if Sushi on Five is open for lunch only on sea days?  Last time we cruised it was open for lunch port days as well.

These are the hours posted in the Celebrity app on when they will be open.

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

It took us quite awhile to get things setup but enjoying ourselves immensely.     Introduce me if you see me around.   We will be at the Captain's Toast today at noon.    One of the obligation of being a Zenith is we have to show up early and then they introduce the Zeniths -   The only other Zenith I know is Wanda but find out at the gathering. 

The usually give the Ladies flowers and the guys a bottle of wine.    

I’ll look for you but not sure we will be at the toast.  Congrats being Zenith.  We started late with Celebrity and do sail other lines, so it will be awhile before Zenith for us.

This was dessert at lunch yesterday.  I can’t remember the name but also very good

Just to add a few pics and comments.  We ate in Luminae last night and the steak was very good.  Duck was bad and Boulud chicken was tasteless.  Heard that passengers from last cruises loved the steak, so this seems to be continually a great choice.

34 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Internet has been stable this morning.   I’m watching our home news on  YouTube TV and perfectly buffering. 
 

I think the internet has been good.  It’s has stopped a few times but handles my data intense activities just fine.

14 minutes ago, travelwide said:

Don't know if you posted this already but can you find out how many passengers are on board. Love following your posts. We will be on board in October. 

I heard it was around 1300.

19 minutes ago, ROYALBOY said:

Mask wearing? Yes or No.

On board, it’s up to you.

Our room looks the same, just opposite of you in 1612.  Added the balcony pics for others thinking about staying in the Royal Suite.  Hot tub will be used often at night.

3 minutes ago, ymncruise said:

The sky looks beautiful. Bon voyage! 

Having water all around us is even better as that means the cruise vacation has started 😜

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

Have you noticed the new Toiletries

Yes, Santal 33 from Le Labo.  To me, manly smell so not sure what the ladies think of it.  My wife brings her own stuff, so it won’t bother her.

Our Butler is Orlando, so guessing we aren’t neighbors on deck 11.

We will be cruising the b2b with u in a royal suite as well…might be neighbors…I’m not a blogger but follow along to learn.  As this is your thread, I’ll stay quiet unless you want a fellow cruiser adding some comments.

On 5/8/2021 at 9:18 AM, caymancouple said:

Add us to that question list.  Coming in 4 days early staying one extra day after the cruise.

 

On 5/7/2021 at 3:14 PM, Borntocruise22 said:

I would like to know this also. We are 2 days before and 2 days after our cruise on 6/19. Thanks!

On 5/7/2021 at 12:28 PM, ZiggyGA said:

Funatseascott - I see that you are on the June 5th cruise out of St Maarten, arriving earlier that week and staying an extra day after the cruise.

 

We are in the same situation but on the June 12th cruise.  I also see that you have experience filling out and submitting the St Maarten Electronic Health Authorization System (EHAS) form for previous trips to St Maarten.  With the introduction of cruising the form has changed and now includes a new option "Air-Sea Travel".  Because we are arriving a day early staying in a hotel, and leaving 2 days after the cruise I am unsure if we should use the "Air Travel", or the "Air-Sea Travel" option.

 

It seems that neither of these options applies exactly to our situation.  "Air Travel" asks for Hotel information but nothing about the ship, but "Air-Sea Travel" asks for Ship information but hotel information for the rest of your stay on the island.

 

Do you have any information on which way people in a similar situation should complete the form?  If not, would it be possible, that after you get your approval back from St Maarten,  posting instructions on how you filled out the Travel Information section of the form?

 

I am sure there are many people in our situation and any information you can provide would be appreciated

Thanks

I'll look into this more and post an update.  Our plans are to arrive 6 days before and leave 3 days after, so I'll see what we need to do for both ends.

On 5/3/2021 at 10:36 AM, elportal said:

Thanks for all the great info. Im cruising on June 19th but will arrive 3 days prior, any recommendations on where to Stay .I've been to St. Martin  a few times on cruises but never stayed longer. I looked at all inclusive but do not want to commit to one place.. Thanks in advanced..

Our timeshare is in Maho, but with us coming down a week early for this cruise, we will be staying in Simpson Bay at The Villas at Simpson Bay Resort.  They have a private beach and easy walking distance to grocery store (Market Garden), restaurants (Avantika-Thai, Zees Best - brunch/almond croissants, Astra-Steak/Lobster, The Greenhouse-lobster, La Sucriere-pastries) and Toppers Rhum.  It's easy to catch buses to Phillipsburg and back.  Enjoy wherever you choose as we love St Maarten and can't talk it up enough.

On 4/26/2021 at 11:46 AM, goldylocks70 said:

 

 

Do we need the PCR and the Antigen Viral test or just the PCR?  I am still concerned about getting the results back in a timely manner.  

Thanks for all the detailed information, it is very helpful.  Have a wonderful cruise 

 

 

 

I believe St Maarten requires the PCR test within 72 hours of your last leg to enter the island.  It was the same requirement to enter the US.  Our flight down to St Maarten was Sunday, so we had the test done Friday afternoon.  The tests we took Friday afternoon had our results emailed to us Friday evening, so timing wasn't an issue for us.  We are planning to do the same this time, as we are coming down early to enjoy St Maarten.  No need to have the expense of airfare just for a 7-day cruise, so we are coming early and staying after.  Enjoy the cruise!!

We spent 2 weeks in St Maarten in March.  The detailed summary of getting to and leaving from a previous person was spot on.  We had our Covid test done Thursday afternoon for a Sunday morning departure.  We uploaded our results Friday morning and had pre-approval within an hour.  We brought printed copies of the Covid test and pre-approval paperwork.  They checked out paperwork at the airport checking in.  They also checked it before boarding the flight to St Maarten (had a connecting flight).  The time to check our Covid test paperwork, get thru immigration, get our luggage and get out to lots of waiting taxis took about 45 minutes.  Easy and probably same amount of time as before, as previous trips had far more people coming in, just without the Covid report checking.  Our resort in Maho had Covid test arranged for Friday when we left on Sunday.  The tests were in our mailbox the next morning at our timeshare.  At the airport, they looked at our printed Covid results while checking in.  Nothing looked at when we got to the US.  We ran into numerous people not wearing their masks properly over mouth AND nose, but since we had been vaccinated before, we didn't feel too bad being around these people.  We had no issues getting in or leaving.

We are on the June 5th cruise, but coming in the Sunday before and leaving the day after the cruise.  I do not know if we will have to pay the $30 insurance for the extra day in St Maarten, but we are planning like we will, bonus if we don't.  From what we are being told, the Covid test on the ship will be done Friday, which allows you to stay in St Maarten to Monday morning.  If your flight home is Monday afternoon, the Covid test on the ship will be past the 3 days from test.  This is why we are flying home Sunday afternoon.  We expect that we will have to get a Covid test to fly to St Maarten, another Covid test before getting on the ship, a Covid test when getting to the cruise terminal and a Covid test to get off the ship to fly home.

Somebody asked about what to do in St Maarten before going to the airport.  I think that is partially dependent on the number of suitcases or what you are travelling with.  You could shop Front and Back Street by the cruise terminal (about half the businesses have closed), but who wants to drag their luggage around.  You could take a taxi to the Simpson Bay area to have breakfast/lunch at Zees Best (we love this place and visit multiple times every trip to St. Maarten) or other restaurants, as dragging the luggage isn't as bad from the street to a restaurant.  You would then just take another taxi to the airport when you are ready.  We have always stayed in our timeshare lobby after checking out, so have never run into this issue.  The airport does have plenty of seating, a few food places and a few shops.  We normally try to get to the airport around 12:30 for our 3:00 flight and don't find the wait that bad.

I hope the above helps.