LCfromFL

We just got back on Monday from our 15-day Panama Canal cruise on the Encore. The embarkation process was really straightforward and we didn't wait long in the terminal before boarding (we found seats so it made the waiting a bit easier). Our cabin steward now has 24 rooms to service daily - he used to have 15 when he'd service the rooms twice each day. I don't recall a significant delay in getting access to our cabin on embarkation day...but it was really late when we finally got our 3 suitcases (like after dinner - yikes!). I was really starting to stress out about that! The disembarkation was really easy as well. We had breakfast in Savor and then waited in Sugarcane until our color was called. A bit of shuffling through the line to get off the ship and then chaos! HUGE line to get through Customs/Immigration. That process was the one that took the longest...nearly 5,000 passengers and only 7 Customs/Immigration people to process us all.

That's one of my fav beaches! ❤️ Love your updates during the cruise!

I'll be following along, too. We board her in 1 week - doing the Panama Canal transit. Of the ports on the 15 day Panama Canal cruise, we've only been to Miami and Los Angeles - so really looking forward to 2 weeks of relaxation and fun. We've never sailed on the Encore - so appreciate any ship-board tips you'll share. 🙂

Hi Sarlin, my DH and I cruised Alaska on the Bliss 4/30 - 5/7 with two other couples and knew three other couples that were also on our ship (crazy - 12 ppl from the same small town in FL on the same Alaskan cruise). Anyway - none of us developed COVID (or Norovirus) during or after our cruise or cross-country flights (thank you, Jesus!). We took advantage of the 'washy-washy' stations around the boat and used the hand sanitizer every time we passed one. We made conscious efforts to not use the hand rails on the stairs and used knuckles to press elevator buttons. I brought a little hand sanitizer in my purse for use when we'd be in port. We weren't masked unless required - which was pretty much just on the bus tour of Victoria. The idea of COVID is soooo scary. (At one point, my county had more new COVID cases than anywhere else in the US. We know many people who have lost their battles with COVID. Our eldest daughter had a terrifying battle with it during Delta - her hair is just growing back (yes, weird symptom was loss of hair)). May you have peace with whatever decision you make in terms of cruising. ❤️

We were on the Bliss 4/30 from Seattle. As cruiserbear55 mentioned, the casino wasn't open while in port. It was probably for the best as I lost my gambling money super fast! Like crazy fast! 😲 So I'd go up to the Observation Lounge with a good book and enjoy a cocktail instead. 🙂 DH fared slightly better in the casino - meaning it just took him a bit longer to lose his planned gambling money. Those machines were TIGHT! Good luck to you 🙂

We sailed on the Bliss 4/30 (Saturday). I did our ArriveCan on Thursday (4/28) right after I did our COVID tests and before we headed to the airport. We were asked to show the COVID test results and the ArriveCan thing when we were going through one of the 'checks' at the port. It really was easy-peasy. No one actually asked for it when we were in Victoria. Oh...the cabin steward put a form in the room that we had to fill out and sign (almost like the US Customs Declaration form). I thought it odd that we had to fill it out a few days before arrival, but signed it as of the date of our arrival in Canada. The cabin steward collected it before our arrival.

I love, love, LOVE the Thermal Suite! I've been on Bliss, Encore, Breakaway and Getaway and they were all pretty similar. DH is a late sleeper and I'm an early riser - so I love going first thing in the morning. There are usually only a couple of people in there so it's like it's all to yourself! We were on the Bliss last week and I went one afternoon and it was pretty full (I was still able to find a 'normal' lounger). I really prefer the hot tub to myself, so the early mornings are best for me. Have a fabulous time in the Thermal Suite...you will not e disappointed! ❤️