Jojiboy

Flew into Heathrow August 10 and both of our checked luggage arrived on our flight. We arrived on a United flight at Terminal 2.

We also boarded the Emerald Princess on Aug. 13 in Southampton. We were asked for our passports, proof of vaccination and were asked verbally if we tested negative prior to arrival at the port. We were on the ship before 11:30am, around fifteen minutes after arriving at the port by taxi.

39 minutes ago, DONNAKG said:

thank you everyone for the encouraging posts.

 

 

MILOLI--

 THANKS FOR YOUR INFO!

Could I ask where you are getting your covid test to board your cruise ship?

Princess asked for antigen 3 days prior at the earliest. We are flying in 3 days early  to London, have a hotel. Having trouble finding an antigen test at Heathrow.

Have you or anyone used the BinoxNow /emed proctored??

 

THANKS AGAIN

DONNAKG

As of August 9, 2022, Princess updated the pre-boarding Covid test required for sailings from the UK. Here’s a quote from their website:

“Unless otherwise communicated, all guests ages five and older must take a viral COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) within three days prior to embarkation on the ship. This can be done at any time in the three days before on the day of embarkation. Guests no longer need to provide a test certificate, however they will be asked to confirm that the test has been taken, with a negative result, as part of the pre-boarding health declaration at the cruise terminal/airport. Guests under five years of age are exempt from pre-cruise testing. (Please note that these updated guidelines apply to the UK but not to the U.S., Canada or EU).”

My wife and I ran into the same situation, no appointments available near us. At the time we were living near San Francisco and it was July 2020. We also own a home near Tucson so I looked to see if there were any appointments available at TUS and there were. So we scheduled appointments for a time we would be in the Tucson area. The interview process is painless, we were asked a few questions and had fingerprints entered into their system, in and out in less than 15 minutes. Received the GE cards a week later.

If you have any trips planned in the near future maybe see if you can get an appointment near your destination.

We are also cruising in August. In one of the “Get Ready for Your Princess Cruise” links, one of the bullet points shows:

“Arrival & Departure Groups (available at least 30 days before embarkation)”

I suppose that’s why it shows no slots available in the Medallion app. for our August cruise.

We had 2 carryons and a 24” with us. Didn’t encounter any issues whatsoever.

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

 

Just spent a bit more time with the app. Haven't tried using it again yet but it looks to my like the reason it didn't work before was due to an Eye Dee Ten Tee error. D'Oh!  (Also added my Costco and Safeway Rewards card to the app. Might as well use it right.)

 

I know all about those Eye Dee Ten Tee errors, seem to keep happening more often as I age. I’ve used Samsung Pay in London and in Singapore so was hoping the same would be true for Australia and New Zealand.

With these posts talking about using contact-less credit cards, does anyone know if Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay is accepted as a contact-less method in Australia and New Zealand?

We used the $10/day International Day Pass. Worked out well in Bora Bora, Tahiti & Moorea.

7 minutes ago, satxdiver said:

Forgot about the Sapphire which we were on last year in the UK.  I have never been on the Diamond.  I was talking about those ships that go out of US ports.  

Sorry, didn’t see that part in your post. FWIW, I understand the Sapphire will be doing Alaska cruises from Vancouver and Anchorage in 2021.

1 hour ago, satxdiver said:

After the Golden and Star leave the fleet, Grand will be the only ship with an indoor swimming pool.

Don’t the Diamond and Sapphire have indoor pools?

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Probably not .... it's most likely, it is easier to just take it with you to Vines.  Or ... just empty the bottle into your glasses or take the bottle with you and go sit at Vines.  But, if that doesn't work for you, give it a try.  

Either way, I know that Vines will transfer your wine into one of their better glasses if you ask.  

Thanks, I figured that might be the case. Either way, doesn't really matter. If we enjoy the wine I'm more than happy and willing to shuttle it back and forth if need be.

We've only had one upsell offer and it's for our upcoming 10 day SE Asia cruise. We were in a BD Balcony and were offered an MD Minisuite for $99 pp. We accepted.

58 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

Better yet, if you start a bottle in Vines, they will probably send it to the dining room for you so you don't have to carry it there.  Most of the times, the sommelier (if that is what they are) that works in Vines, is really good.  We've run into a bad one now and again, but that is the exception, not the rule.  

Thanks, something to keep in mind. Do you know if that works in reverse too? Where you start a bottle in the MDR would they send it to Vines if requested?

6 minutes ago, 19cruiser59 said:

I was thinking of doing this cruise in june and have been debating that same question, flight would not be until 11:30 pm.   Really dont want to spend 12+ hours at the sfo airport.  Luggage storage places seem to be about a 1/2 mile walk from pier 35.

I would really hope there is a tour available.

If your ship docks at pier 35 then the walk to the luggage storage service at pier 39 is less than a quarter mile, on a wide, flat sidewalk. Most ships though dock at the newer cruise terminal at pier 27.

1 hour ago, RMMariner said:

You can take a bottle from the MDR to Vines and visa versa. We have done it both ways with no problems. Just that Vines will not normally let you take their glasses with you.

Didn’t know that. Thank you, that’s a great tip.

1 hour ago, Thrak said:

 

We were still able to get a bottle in MDR an enjoyed it with our dinner. We'll have to find another wine in Vines. Fortunately, our next cruise is a 33 day B2B2B with the beverage package so we can experiment to find what we prefer.

Thanks, we’ll probably order a bottle in the MDR. Just not the same as drinking it while munching on tapas in Vines. I guess I’m just being nostalgic about it. There was a Rosé we enjoyed in Vines too. Unfortunately the name escapes me at the moment.

1 hour ago, klsa said:

I am also interested in your question, as we are looking to tour SF and/or possibly do the Hop On/Off after we disembark from cruise. I am not sure what we can do with our luggage if we decide on the Hop On/Off. We will be staying over for a few days after our cruise.

There is a luggage storage service at the California Welcome Center at Pier 39. It’s a few blocks from the Pier 27 cruise terminal. I don’t know what they charge for storing your luggage though.

Thanks for sharing.

11 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

Sadly, it is no longer offered by the glass. On our last two cruises it was offered by the bottle but only in MDR - not in Vines. At the "regular" wine tasting (sorry, can't remember the name of the wine tasting - it's the one that is $9.99 or free if you arePlatinum or Elite) it was by far the most popular wine. I asked the maitre 'd who hosted the thing why it was discontinued while it was the most popular wine on the list for the wine tasting and he pretty much told me "because". He had no real explanation and it seemed like he really didn't know other than "someone else decided" or something of that sort.  He agreed with me that people liked the wine a lot but had no explanation as to why it was being discontinued. I asked if it was just too inexpensive to suit those who make the decisions and his "mannerisms" seemed to agree with that explanation but he obviously can't say things like that. He definitely did agree that it was was very popular choice.
 

Well that’s disappointing, loved having a glass of the Spellbound in Vines with tapas or sushi. I’m not normally a wine drinker but I enjoyed this wine enough to buy a couple of bottles locally.

Redeemed points earlier this week for onboard credit on an upcoming cruise. Already showed up in my travel summary. Have had the card for a few years and haven't experienced any issues with it or Barclay.

No problems using Windscribe VPN on previous Princess cruises. Will use again next month on Sapphire.

Thanks for sharing your review. Enjoying your writing style!

I don’t know of a way to completely eliminate the “fogging” problem. What I do though is keep packets of silica gel in a large bag ziplock bag. I’ll stick my camera and lenses in the ziplock bag, stick it out on the balcony with a towel draped over it. The silica gel packs absorb the moisture so they defog quicker. I find my equipment is ready to go in 15 minutes or so.

1 hour ago, xlxo said:

For most... I would say take the BART subway (30 min) that departs from the cruise terminal and has a station (Powell) across the street from the hotel.  My fav way to get there for $2.60.

 

Question for any SF locals... is the Powell station elevator working?  For the last 3 years I go there for Spring visits... the elevator is broken.

Go to BART.gov, you can see elevator as well as escalator status throughout the system posted there.