WB57

13 hours ago, David Kane said:

Quick Replies!

 

A) The drive to Bayonne is simply not as advetized. Google Maps gets it wrong, somehow, and for a quite literal billion dollar industry no one has yet constructed a decent set of signage that prevents potential spousal arguments from happening in real time. Allocate an additional 15 minutes and when you end up on some weird rural street across of from some stoplights with a "Port" sign the size of a small dinner plate being the only indication as to where to go just have a good laugh about it and move on.

 

B) Arrival: Everyone gets an arrival time, and I did not get asked for it, ever. I know there is the whole 'suite' thing, but Billy McNuts who is directing traffic to the porters has no clue 'who you are' so there is no unloading express line or otherwise. We arrived at 11:38am, 99.4% of the departing guests had already left and there was no line for luggage drop off.

 

C) In terms of parking, we made it juuuuuuuust inside the parking garage. I do not believe there was 'that' RCI ship in port (the...Overlord of the Seas?) so there was still parking in the garage. I think if you arrived by 1pm you would have been directed to one of the exterior lots, from which you would require decent bush-craft skills, a dog of questionable breed, and barter-able goods to be able to return from. 10 out of 10, would parking garage. OH! And take that ticket with you. You pay at the terminal on your way out.

 

D) The Retreat (and Zenith) check-in process is quite straightforward. Once one enters the terminal itself you will walk to your right and pass through a 5 wide set of metal detectors which are more forgiving than the security theatre at airports. You will be required to surrender most of your props to the stage manager, but you can keep your belt and shoes on. If you are mobility limited you will still have to progress through a metal detector gate so be careful if you have a cane - you can't walk through it with it, but the attendants there will assist you. ALSO, note, for the more generous of our readers, one is not allowed to tip the security staff...something something bribery, etc. OH! There is also a Sniffing Transit Police German Shepard on duty. Please do not pet the goodest boy; his handler assures us he is well taken care of when not working. Wow, this post digressed. Where was I?

 

E) OH! Once through security theatre there will be a wide array of desks ahead of you with no lines. If you squint to your left, you will see another set of desks about 30 yards away also without lines that have a Retreat/Zenith sign out front. You may use any kiosk with no line you would like, but the ones to the far left are staffed by the Retreat Managers so it's a good time to get to know your hosts.

 

F) For check-in you will need copies of your Bermuda COVID form, your negative test, your passport, and your vaccine card. I would insert some jokes here, but let's just let them check us all in and move along to...

 

G) The ACTUALfunny part! Right past the Suite kiosks are the restrooms (a good first stop if you didn't feel like getting in a knife fight with a hobo at the Vince Lombardi Rest Area over a trough urinal) and a little area with slightly better chairs and a tensa-barrier separating you from the other, non-suite area exactly 7 steps away. This area will be entirely filled with dutch engineers, because they onboard with the suite levels. However, the upshot is that it really doesn't matter because onboarding happens to darn fast you won't even sit down or get to try a piece of friblinkestaan (it's a dutch cookie with caramel and salt water taffe) (no, it's not).  So here is the hilarious part - to feel a little special, Suite Guests enter the official onboarding hallway just behind that kiosk which leads you....literally right back to where everyone else onboards. So, essentially, you get to walk an additional 90 yards to the far kiosk and then back up the same hallway to board with everyone else. Look at it this way, in will put you closed to those 10,000 steps a day.

 

H) Beyond that there are a few more orderly areas and document checks, but at Suite Level a host just walks you past them! Oh, there is also the onboarding picture, but more on that later, because BOY has that photo package changed!! Then, finally, you are across the gangway and on board, where the staff is literally cheering as you board.

 

Now, did you read of this? If so, you just spent more time reading bad jokes than it will take you to get on board. That is how fast they have this down*.

 

 

*Note: I am a rule follower as is my nature and the above extended onboarding experience reflects rules following. If you are a Teenage Anarchist (like I once was) your experience might be different and you may end up talking to a serious looking Indonesian Man who has no name tag and doesn't smile.

David - thanks for the info (and as always, your humor).   Just one point of clarification (and/or your sarcasm and wit)…so was there ‘plenty of room’ in the garage at 11:38 AM - or did you snag one of the last spots?  We will be arriving around noon the day you are getting off the ship (unless of course, you decide to do back-to-back in the PH suite…in which case Party in your PH!).

Thanks and enjoy Bermuda!

cheers

1 hour ago, David Kane said:

Quick Reply!

 

'What's with the Bin?'

 

HEY, it's Totes McGoats, thank you very much.

 

Basically, we bring a lot of props on board and after 7 suitcases we just ran out of luggage. So XZ tied a bin shut, slapped a label on it, and the port, uhm porters? did not blink an eye. As opposed to the LAST time when she packed everything into a 200 lbs. titanic-themed railroad trunk and the porters...continued to not blink an eye. Say when you will about Bayonne...and there is a LOT to say about Bayonne, but the port side staff if accomodating as heck!

Hello - as you will be driving to Cape Liberty, please let us know what time you get there - and what the garage parking situation looks like (how full/empty) - and the Retreat check-in process. 
 

Thanks - be safe and have fun - and look forward to your ‘live’ comments!

cheers. 

Excellent recon job!   I am assuming you mean the ‘garage’ (referenced as the parking deck).  Also, how were the crowds about that time?  We will be arriving right around 1100 hrs ourselves.   Thanks again for the info.  

That’s very interesting.  We are leaving on the Summit in a couple of weeks.  Please let us know what you learn.  Thanks. 

Got it.  Thank you - will look for it when it gets posted.

Hello EarlyDiner - where did you post the full cruise review?

Thank you.

Thank you…and concur there is ‘no guarantee’.  I am just trying to do some ‘expectation management’ in my head.  A friend of mine was on an early May Summit sailing that got there around noon and didn’t have an issue with Garage parking.    Now that we are about to start Sunday to Sunday sailings, I wanted to get a read on the current situation.    Thanks again. 

Hello - and if I may add another question on this topic….how early does one need to get there to insure parking in the garage (vice in an outdoor lot)?  We are on the Summit in July.  Thank you.  

Just now, dkjretired said:

Yes

Thank you.  That's what I thought as well.  It's interesting that the Celebrity agent said that it was 'not' because it is considered an 'A la Carte' menu - and thus not a specialty restaurant.  Glad to hear that is is included.

Hello fellow travelers - is Sushi on Five complementary for Penthouse/Royal Suites?  Thank you.

4 minutes ago, JFontaine said:

The first Celebrity cruise since the start of the pandemic is leaving from Cape Liberty this week, I believe,  so you might not get a current response. Pre-pandemic: shoreside host contacts you a few weeks before the cruise asking what time you want to board (among other things), tells you where to get dropped off, and sends you a placard for the car (which is nice but not necessary).  You pull up to the designated area and a Celebrity rep checks you off on a list, your luggage is taken for priority delivery (hit or miss on this working) and someone is assigned to escort you through checkin (they offer to help with hand luggage). Usually you are handed off to someone near the entrance for boarding and escort to either your cabin or the Retreat. None of this is necessary and it hasn't always worked as described,  but this was the procedure. 

Thanks for the info JFontaine.  Will look to see what the 'current/new' procedures will look like.

Hello -

Can anyone comment on the current Embarkation process at Cape Liberty?

Thank you.

On 4/18/2022 at 10:49 PM, Hawaiidan said:

anything .... no limit  beer  wine  booze... at boarding and at every port as well....    

Thank you.

Hello - am a Oceania newbie.  Are you allowed to bring on hard liquor bottles as well - or only wine?

Thank you.

Hello -

We are about to do our first Oceania cruise in the Fall.  'If' there is still a testing requirement at the time, does Oceania not offer testing at the pier?

Thank you.

Here is the face mask guidelines (also received yesterday) for the 17 March Transatlantic:

Face Masks and Physical Distancing

• Following the Vaccination Standard of Excellence guidelines as per the CDC's COVID-19 Voluntary Program, indoor mask wearing although optional, is recommended. Masks might be required in the ports of call we visit. 
• You'll find the entire ship and boarding process set up to allow for physical distancing, which is encouraged whenever interacting with those outside of your traveling party.

Does anyone know what the ship will be doing during this time off?

5 minutes ago, JWayne60 said:

Exact same approach taken on the Quest 23-Dec to 7-Jan cruise. 

Thanks for the info.  Quick follow-up...if one chooses to 'not get off' at a port that requires negative test, can you opt-out of the test?  Or does 'everyone' have to do the mid-cruise regardless if you plan to get off at a given port (e.g. Barbados)?  Thank you.

Hello - can someone confirm if Azamara performs a COVID Test 'mid-cruise' even if one is asymptomatic?  Or is it only at the beginning (prior to embarkation) and end (prior to disembarkation)?  Also, if the cruise starts and ends in the US - do they perform the test prior to disembarkation for 'all' - or only for folks that need a negative test to board their flight?  If the answer to this is cruise specific, I am inquiring for the possible Feb 3 Quest journey.  Thank you all in advance.

My old card has a 'Voyage Date' on it.  It is handwritten and it simply says '713' (there is also a handwritten 'Ship - Regal' on it as well.  I will be going on CB in August 2019).  And I don't even remember what '713' number/date refers to.  Will this card work?  Thanks.

Thank you all for your response.  We are new to Princess cruises so I really appreciate the feedback.  Our cruise is going North so generally cooler weather.  And we will definitely consider moving more towards the back - and perhaps a deck down to take advantage of 'shadier balcony' (and less ship noises).  Thanks again for all the tips.

Hello All-

We will be on CB in August and are currently in D110 (Mini-suite).  It is pretty much all the way forward.  For people that have been in that room - or in that part of the ship, please comment (good or bad) regarding that location.  Also, any other recommended locations on this ship will also be welcomed.  I did several 'searches' on this forum and didn't come up with anything worthwhile.   However, if I did miss an old topic, please direct me to that so I don't waste anyone's time.   Thank you all in advance.

10 minutes ago, Host Grandma Cruising said:

Unlimited internet is $19.95 a day, so the cost depends on the cruise length.

 Thank you for the quick response HGC.  I was hoping that there would be a discounted rate for weekly or bi-weekly commitment.   

Cheers....

Hello - does someone know what the Unlimited Internet costs for a Transatlantic cruise?  Thanks.