IRMO12HD

I have my 6-week checkup on my (fractured but hopefully now healing) wrist tomorrow.  I'm hopeful that I will have progressed enough that the Ortho will say it's all right to go on a cruise or two -- Way back in October I had booked a B2B on Navigator (3N-4N) for the end of January, thinking it would be a nice break.  What an oddly prophetic turn of phrase.  Anyway, when I returned home from my Freedom/Oasis cruise with my arm bound up in a splint, my DH said, "Well, I guess you're not going on your cruise . . ."  Them's fighting words, Mister!  No kidding, I was kind of bound and determined to see if I could heal and progress fast enough that I could still go.  To that end, I started PT (well, it's actually Occupational Therapy with my hand) two weeks ago and it has helped ENORMOUSLY!  As you may be able to tell, I can now type again!  Handwriting is still a bit of a strain, and I have a long way to go in terms of wrist flexibility, but I'm optimistic!  #FingersCrossed #DoingWhateverItTakes

14 minutes ago, lstone19 said:

If that’s all you have, you’ll be more than fine. I did it with a 29” suitcase (on wheels) and a carryon bag. Getting then on the bus was not a problem. It was a Saturday morning.

Thanks!  Was there a place to put your suitcase, or did you bring it to your seat?  I'll be doing this about 3 pm on a Thursday; hopefully there won't be a crush with rush hour. 

2 hours ago, lstone19 said:

 

I was staying the night before in an El Segundo (LAX area) hotel a block away from the Mariposa Green (now C) Line station. It was an easy walk for what I had, Green Line to Harbor Freeway, downstairs to the Silver Line level, and to the port.

Thanks; that's what I was hoping to hear.  I'm flying into LAX and am planning on taking that same route.  Did you have any issues taking luggage on the bus?  I'll have a small backpack and a carryon size suitcase (with rollers).

On 5/3/2021 at 5:52 AM, lstone19 said:

Last cruise out of San Pedro, I took the Silver Line bus to the Harbor/Beacon Park and Ride Stop (right across Harbor Blvd. and Beacon St. from the cruise terminal parking lot) and walked the rest (about 1/4 mile). Looking at the line of cars trying to get into the cruise terminal parking lot, it was a very good decision (two ships totaling 5,500 passengers boarding that day).

@lstone19I didn't see where your Silver Line bus trip originated?  Was it from the Harbor Freeway Station?  Did you happen to come from LAX via the Green Line?

1 hour ago, Lido deck main said:

@IRMO12HD  Can't remember is there is that place just opposite the driver next to where the wheelchair assessible seats are if they have that platform where luggage can be kept.  We often take the bus locally to the cruise ship, we often travel light, such as one carry on each, we are so risk adverse that we keep our luggage with us rather than leaving on the platform.  We usually take the local bus with the many stops.  Sometimes the driver advises us to leave the luggage on the platform, so we keep a keen eye on it.  Hope you have a great cruise. 

Thank you, @Lido deck main.  I agree that I'd much rather keep the suitcase with me; if the bus looks crowded, I may just go to Plan B (Uber). I think I'll call the Metro # and ask.  When you mentioned taking the bus locally, do you mean in Vancouver (BC)?

BTW, if you're looking for an early arrival time, you can skip the other things and just pick your arrival time; it will save whatever information you've put in.  Sometimes this is handy if you've got to get started on check-in at an early (or late) hour.

11 hours ago, Lido deck main said:

We love the Silver Line.  This bus has it's own dedicated lane and is faster than taking a car.  We saw cars gridlock and we when flying by.  When we port in L.A., have done this twice now, and just for the day and back to the ship.  First time went to see the hands prints at Chinese Theatre, went to the old town, then went to see space shuttle endeavor and with the movie, made it back to the ship with 2 or 3 hours to spare.  Second time we were in L.A. we went on bus to Union Station and transferred to Santa Monica Pier, we were with first time guest to L.A. so went also  back to the hand prints at the theatre and went back to old town.  We were at the Theatre when the ships tour arrived.  That bus is awesome.

@Lido deck mainThanks for posting!  Do you think (remember :-)) if there was any place for a (small carry-on) suitcase aboard the bus?  I like using public transportation and am considering using the Green Line/Silver Line to get from LAX to the San Pedro Cruise Port (actually, the Crowne Plaza in San Pedro).  I'll be arriving at LAX about 2-ish on a Thursday.

Just now, taznremmy said:

Wow!  Happy  to hear it was your wrist and not your knee!  Welcome back and hope that you are improving daily.   

 

I'm on board on the 24th, finishing up a B2B that starts this Monday.  Are you on that one?

Thanks, @taznremmy; still have some stiffness but am working on the flexibility.  I begin "strength training" next week.

I'll be boarding on the 28th, the day you finish your B2B.  I have an Interior/Virtual Balcony for the 3-Night, and a OV Balcony for the 4-Night.  I'd love to hear (read!) your  impressions.   This is my first B2B, and I'm very interested in how the process works on the transition day.  Have a fantastic cruise!

Twenty-eight pages of posts later, and I'm caught up!  I know I'm not one of the more active members of the Tribe, but do appreciate and acknowledge all of the joy, grief, and love expressed in all of the posts.  I left on November 27th to start the first cruise of a S2S (Freedom 4 Night, and then Oasis 7 Night).  I posted a review on the RC Blog forum, and will try to incorporate some of it here later -- due to first-hand experience with cobblestones and physics in Philipsburg, St Maarten,  I also got to experience:

1.  The Medical Center on Oasis --- guess what -- they have an x-Ray machine!

2.  A distal radius fracture of my right wrist (yes, I'm right-handed)

3.  The challenge of navigating five gate changes in JFK on my way back to Seattle

4.  The UW-Montlake Emergency Department -- guess what -- they have a mini-C x-Ray machine and resident Orthopaedic doctors who can reduce a fracture!

5.  The wisdom of seizing the opportunity to visit an Occupational Therapist four weeks after a fracture -- do it!!

So I am now just over 5 weeks post-fracture, and am able to type and to use a mouse with a limited amount of pain.  I go for my 6-week checkup next Thursday, and if the Doc says OK -- I'll be cruising again, this time on Navigator of the Seas out of San Pedro (Los Angeles) on a B2B (3-Night, 4-Night) at the end of this month!

So happy to be back in touch with the Tribe!

Diana

@Kitty Ellas Mom I firmly echo what the others have said/typed; to me, a cruise ship is one of the SAFEST places for a solo person to be.  I just finished my first solo cruise in December (a 4-Night on Freedom of the Seas), and am hooked!  As @chefchicknoted, the crew are amazing, and will look out for you.  I had an inside cabin with a view over the Royal Promenade, and it was fine -- lots of room for just one person, and with the pricing promotion (60% off the second guest) worked out to be an amazing deal.  I sat by myself at a two-top in the Main Dining Room, and conversed with the couple at the table next to me, but could have easily dined in solitary splendor had I chosen to.  Being able to choose to do exactly what I wanted to do, when I wanted to, was an incredibly "freeing" experience.  

Looks like you're on a roll with this one...

On 11/18/2021 at 5:10 PM, PCWalton1 said:

Just grabbed an Avis rental car for the day. Just got to figure out whether they have a shuttle since they are over by terminal D

 

Just wanted to relate the experience of someone I just traveled with. She had reserved a car through Budget for pickup at the downtown Budget/Avis location for Friday 12/3 after disembarking from Freedom OTS. I went with her and her son to pick up the car (no shuttle from Terminal A so we took an Uber).  When we got there, there was a line of about 6-8 irate people — and no cars!  The wait was going to be 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  I don’t know if this happens all the time but it appears to be a relatively common occurrence,  She ended up changing her reservation to picking up at the airport — and another Uber ride/cost.

2 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Just when I think things can't get any worse....yet ANOTHER of my cruises just got cancelled. This was the one I JUST booked (after saying I wasn't booking any more due to all the cancellations) and was perfect for our spring break trip - 4 days in Vegas, 3 days in LA and then cruise home to Vancouver. Well, the ship is now not starting back up until May, so bye bye cruise. Since my flights were booked with cruise, I also no longer have flights to Vegas or LA. Sigh. I really don't want to start over again.

@ceilidh1Did you check any of the other cruise lines to see what they have?  Alaska Airlines has some pretty good fare offerings right now . . .

On 11/2/2021 at 7:16 AM, Slainte57 said:

Peaceful sunrise walk

 

 

Now on to planning

Stay well, stay safe💕

@Slainte57 Have you heard of Atlas Obscura?  Its website and "onlyinyourstate" are my go-tos to find interesting things about our destinations in the RV or on the motorcycles.

On 11/15/2021 at 11:39 PM, IRMO12HD said:

Washington state, too -- at least on the Eastern side of the state.

Update -- I was able to schedule an ID Now test with Walgreens here, and answered "No" to all the questions about symptoms, contact with infected people, etc.  So perhaps the guidelines are being loosened somewhat. 

3 hours ago, Qchell said:

Have you stayed in these hotels?  The reviews really aren't the greatest...

I have not, but I have seen reviews going both ways -- I will be staying at Comfort Inn & Suites prior to my 29 November cruise, and will be sure to comment on what I find.

29 minutes ago, mauimary said:

The test you want is either the top one or the bottom one. The rapid antigen. PCR can take awhile but the rapid antigen apx an hour. The home RX test kits from RCCL are proctored antigen ones. Hope this helps. 

@mauimary, I feel like if the Binax Now test is administered/proctored by the Walgreen's, then it is acceptable . . . From RCL's FAQs: (https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/if-need-an-rt-pcr-test-before-i-cruise-where-should-i-go)

"

We get a lot of questions about Abbott tests, the most commonly available COVID-19 test brand. Here’s what’s accepted.

Any Abbott brand test administered on site by a pharmacy technician or other health professional is accepted. This includes the common Abbot ID NOW test administered by many pharmacies. The test provider must provide you with a proper results document (no handwritten notes).
The Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Ag Card Test, which is taken at home and supervised by a telemedicine professional, is accepted. It must be taken under live video supervision. Learn more about our Abbott telehealth home test kit.
The Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test, if taken at home and not supervised by a telehealth representative, is NOT accepted."

4 hours ago, MandyMooToo said:

And I am here to ask a dumb question, I am sure.  Our Walgreens offers three tests, the PCR and two rapid tests.  One that has results available in approx one hour (Rapid Antigen Binax NOW) and one available in approx 24 hours (Rapid Molecular ID NOW).  The PCR takes too long so which of the rapid tests work?  I did read the the FAQs on Royal's site but I am still a bit confused.  It says "molecular, also called PCR test" and then it says antigen.  The 1 hour test is molecular but not PCR?  I am not a complete goober so why can I not figure this out???

@MandyMooTooI'm 99.9% confident that you can use either of the Rapid tests from Walgreens.

Comfort Inn and Suites, and Comfort Inn North Airport both offer airport shuttles and a free shuttle TO (not from) the cruise port.  As I understand it, you sign up for the cruise port shuttle when you check in, so I would imagine to get the time you want, you'd want to check in early.

Florida folks, do you know if you have to be a Florida resident to make a test reservation at a Walgreens or CVS?  Do you suppose I could use the address/zip code of the hotel I'll be staying in?  I'm on a redeye flight that gets in to Miami at 10:40 a.m. the day before I leave on the cruise, so I'm hoping I can use that means as my Plan B.  I still have two at-home (proctored) tests, but want to save them in case I can't get tested onboard before the second part of my side-to-side.

4 hours ago, mauimary said:

In Portland OR we cannot get a rapid antigen through Walgreen unless we lie on the questionnaire!  We have been unable to book a CVS rapid antigen. We can only get it if we answer that we have had a direct exposure to a Covid+ person or that we have symptoms!!  It’s all over the board on how far out you can book. 

 

We can get a PCR but it varies from pharmacy to pharmacy as they get sent out to different labs. They will not guarantee anything less than 3-5 days. Some say they come back in 24 but when you need a 48hr test that’s a bit too unreliable for us.   The only way we can get a test that we can get results from us a testing site by the airport for 175$ each. 
 

We did order the Abbot Binax Now proctored tests that we can do at home.  The OVC Abbott tests are not allowed. They have to be set up with an online proctor. So hopefully those turn out ok and that we do not do something to mess it up. We each ordered one extra test. They were about 35$ each. 
 

Hopefully others have better luck with Walgreen than we did. 

Washington state, too -- at least on the Eastern side of the state.

5 hours ago, brillohead said:

That's exactly why I purchased it -- it was cheaper than Voom, and I'm cruising solo so I only needed to purchase one!

I don't use any of the other Key benefits (Flowrider and rock climbing private session, etc.), but cheaper internet was the clincher for me!

Me, too!  

Just now, brillohead said:

You misunderstood what I was saying.

The "hybrid" is ONLY for people who purchased The Key and were told they weren't getting Chops/breakfast so they'd get room service/specialty discount instead.  Now that they're reinstating Chops/breakfast, they're going to also honor the room service/specialty discount but ONLY FOR THAT SPECIFIC GROUP that got caught in the in-between stage.

But people who purchase The Key NOW for a future cruise aren't going to get Chops/breakfast AND room service/specialty discount.... unless Royal at some point decides to change the program. 

 

Someone reading this thread now and going to purchase The Key should be aware that for them, the program only includes the Chops/breakfast, but NOT the room service/specialty discount.

Got it -- you're absolutely right!  My mistake; thanks for clarifying so well. In this case, though, even if new purchases of The Key don't include the "hybrid" benefits, it's still a good deal at $17.99/day -- right now, it's $0.40 less per day than the Voom 1-Device.

44 minutes ago, brillohead said:

It's worth noting that the addition of room service and a discount on specialty dining is NOT a permanent change to The Key (at least, not yet).

Originally, they took away the Chops embarkation lunch and debarkation breakfast due to COVID protocols, so they added the room service / specialty dining.  Now that they're bringing back Chops and breakfast, they won't be offering the room service and specialty dining extras.

Actually, @brillohead, that's exactly what they're doing in the "hybrid" version that's being offered on Freedom now (for @Chrissit's and my cruises, anyway).  I'm sure it's not a permanent change -- but they are still offering both the Chops Embarkation Lunch/Separate Debarkation Breakfast AND the fee-free room service and 25% discount on onboard dining purchases.  Of course, it's always subject to change, I'm sure.  But for now, for me, it's a great deal!

@Chrissit I got the same Update!  On Freedom at the end of the month.  Maybe they're rolling it out in this hybrid form (the best of both offers, as far as I'm concerned!) until it can be applied to other ships.