Sand and Seas

The up to 3 days makes travel plans a little easier. Requirements around the world are certainly changing so perhaps more countries will update soon. Canada and Bermuda are currently holding but if you have an upcoming cruise you almost want to check daily🤔

I'm looking forward to trying this class. Thanks @BSR for the details!

Great links! I'm feeling MUCH better about this part now😊 Love the Regent guide....it's like they wrote it for those of us who aren't used to down-loading apps without a grandchild's assistance! The Cruisecritic article says (in part): ....Once you reach the 72-hour point, you return to the app or website to answer the remaining health and travel-related questions. At that point, you will need to know the sail date, your flight information if flying into Canada, the ship name, the port of call, and even a quarantine address should it become necessary. If your cruise ends in Canada, use a Canadian address where you would stay if needed. If your cruise does not end in Canada, choose "other" and use your cruise stateroom number. You will have drop-down lists of ships and ports to choose from. Ships stopping in Victoria use the cruise pier at Ogden Point...

We are boarding in Seattle with the one stop in Victoria. (A very short stop....wish we would have more time there!) So do we enter the address of the Pier in Seattle? Or the Pier in Victoria? Thank you!

Yikes! Another process that can't be completed until just before our flight😒 If I am understanding this right, easier to start this whole process from home on our PC? And, our final completion can be at home 72 hours prior to boarding? I would much rather have something printed out than trying to fumble around with the app at the pier.

Sounds fun! What movies did they play? And, was hot chocolate available?

So maybe just go back to a complimentary venue that so many of us would enjoy. They were open-air breakfast and lunch spaces we loved.

Agree! Also loved the same venue on the Flamingo Grill (Getaway) that had Cuban food. And, both the Getaway/Breakaway open air venues had good breakfast food available.

We were in 8146 which is a club balcony. We loved it and the location. I use to laugh when people said they got the club for the bathroom....I was like how can that be worth it? The bathroom is SOOOO worth it. The shower alone was fantastic. Having a double sink was convenient and room for legs for taller people when sitting on the toilet is fabulous. Highly recommend a Club Balcony. @mesci14, thanks for sharing your observations with us! Did your cabin 8146 have a larger balcony? On the deck plans, it appears to be next door to the M6 large balcony Club Suites. Was your balcony large enough to have loungers? We love the Club Balconies too😎

Have you double-checked the SailSafe page? Currently I see that only cruises from US ports, Canadian ports or Piraeus, Greece require pre-cruise testing for vaccinated passengers: EU Healthy Gateways Ends Pre-Cruise Testing Requirements For sailings beginning August 1, 2022, vaccinated guests sailing on a cruise originating from any port EXCEPT a U.S. port; Canadian port; or Piraeus, Greece are exempt from all pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirements.

I believe the GM was referring to Epic only as it is sailing in Europe. That has already been announced. EU Healthy Gateways Ends Pre-Cruise Testing Requirements For sailings beginning August 1, 2022, vaccinated guests sailing on a cruise originating from any port EXCEPT a U.S. port; Canadian port; or Piraeus, Greece are exempt from all pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirements.

Rookie question here....can you get hot water for Tea from these? (Not a coffee drinker)

We have already booked our dinners for our Prima October cruise. We have two Plat meals plus four SDP for our 11 day cruise. I'm not too worried about the unchanging MDR menus. We should be able to find some good options to eat there two or three few nights. There are also several other interesting options to try onboard. We aren't sure yet what the Food Hall will be like in the evening, but it will probably have some nice small plate options we will want to try. I would guess there will be some special dishes that will have a charge. I'm hoping it will be as enticing as a Food Republic menu. May be a good use of OBC🤔

I'm kind of late chiming in, but you made a good choice! We were in 14128 on the Getaway a few years ago and it was a wonderful cruise & cabin. Have a great cruise😎

We have had September Caribbean cruises diverted twice due to hurricanes. It seems to be a peak month for those cruises from Miami south.

Love your writing style! Thanks for posting. We will enjoy following along😊

Good to know! We will have a nice last breakfast and hang out in the Haven lounge until 9ish. Again, thank you for all of the valuable information. Can't wait until our cruise😎

Did you try calling to talk with another CAS agent? I had a 'rookie' agent a few months ago that said they could give me an Ocean View. I called back that afternoon and was offered a Club Balcony. I hate to hear that they are just offering you a 20%.....just doesn't seem right😒

What time did you leave the ship? We have a late flight so we won't be in a hurry. We were thinking we would leave the room for our steward to get a start on and then hang out in the Haven lounge for as long as possible.

There is a current poster that mentions seeing Six on Bliss this week. See post # 17

@MarkJ, have been enjoying your posts! As we will be on the Bliss in a few weeks, DH wants to know something about the Haven's Horizon Observation Lounge snacks. What times of day do they have snacks there? And perhaps more important to him....do they have fresh baked cookies?

Am I reading too much into the letter from 'NCL sibling' Oceania board? I read it as testing from US ports will possibly end after August. On the other board is a letter from Oceania that a cruiser posted there. It says testing will remain in effect but says 'through the month of August'. Copied in part below : Dear Valued Guests and Travel Advisors, We look forward to welcoming you onboard Regatta for your upcoming voyage to Alaska. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) decided to end the COVID-19 program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters. At this time, the testing requirement for cruise ships departing from U.S. ports will remain in effect through the month of August.

I find it most interesting that the letter posted above says through the month of August.....Does that mean it might end for September and beyond? Dear Valued Guests and Travel Advisors, We look forward to welcoming you onboard Regatta for your upcoming voyage to Alaska. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) decided to end the COVID-19 program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters. At this time, the testing requirement for cruise ships departing from U.S. ports will remain in effect through the month of August.

Did they make some kind of official announcement? I've tried searching for it as I wanted to read more about what they are saying. I did take a look at the Oceania forum and read a letter that a cruiser posted there. It says testing will remain in effect but says 'through the month of August'. Copied in part below : Dear Valued Guests and Travel Advisors, We look forward to welcoming you onboard Regatta for your upcoming voyage to Alaska. Recently, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) decided to end the COVID-19 program for cruise ships operating in U.S. waters. At this time, the testing requirement for cruise ships departing from U.S. ports will remain in effect through the month of August.

I actually had an extremely mild case of Covid a couple of months ago. Still missed my cruise and turned in for insurance reimbursement. Spent my home isolation planning for another cruise. You and I look at this differently. If I was sick with Covid, Flu or something else contagious, I feel it would be selfish of me to get on a plane and then on a ship.