MorganClark

2 hours ago, luckyfincruiser said:

Just saw that Royal now wants all of us vaccinated to get tested before the cruise too.  Pretty ridiculous.  And I have my PhD in Microbiology so I feel I can comfortably say that!  Cruising in two weeks.

I just got back from Adventure of the Seas. Royal required us to have a pcr before the cruise. I had it done through my PCP and lab, and it was covered by my insurance. When I checked in at the Colonial Hilton in Nassau for the cruise, my negative pcr test result was rejected for being more that 5 days prior to the sailing date. Only thing is, RCI's written policy stated that the pcr test result had to be 5 days or less from the date arriving in the Bahamas (which mine was).

Turned out to be no biggie; they just sent me to another room in the hotel and administered a rapid antigen test. I had my negative result via e-mail within 15 minutes.

2 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

It's an NCL thing.  Blame Covid (like everything else these days).  I take a crappy selfie and upload it at NCL.com.  When I check in, they see if I uploaded a photo and the agent decides if they like it or not.  If not, then they just take one there (same as always).  Otherwise, they just use the one I gave them.

 

I will probably retake and update for both myself and DW.  I don't want to risk being rerouted to that "special" long line for Covid safe picture taking in the far corner of the building.

I got "rerouted" by RCI when they rejected my negative pre-cruise pcr test because it was done more than 5 days prior to sailing date (when in fact, RCI's own written policy said "5 days before arriving in the Bahamas"). Turned out to be no biggie, they just gave me a rapid antigen test and I had my negative result via e-mail within 15 minutes.

1 minute ago, coastcat said:

Remember, we are doing the minimal contact, extra-speedy check-in these days. Instead of being photographed at the port, you upload a face photo onto the NCL app as part of the online check-in.

 

FYI, I completed the online check-in for my October cruise and it automatically displayed the photo I used for the August cruise. Guess I'd better not dye my hair blue in September.

 

 

I don't remember uploading a photo of myself to the Royal app. in advance. The first photo was done by the security team on the ship when I first embarked. Or, my photo may have been taken when I checked in at the Colonial Hilton in Nassau. To be honest, I can't remember. @HBCcruiser, do you remember? I guess each cruise line may do it a little different.

8 minutes ago, Sorry Muffin said:

I'm confused! Do you have to print out new luggage tags.  I know how to print my tags from my laptop at home, but I don't plan on taken it on the cruise, just my iPhone.  How would I have to do it if I have to print it on the road

 

I just had my cell phone with me, as well. All I had to do was forward the e-mail from RCI (that had my new luggage tag) to the hotel receptionist, who then printed it out for me.

1 minute ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

This ^ ..... they are pretty serious about it too. They always make me take off my sunglasses and have DH remove both his ball cap and sunglasses.

And also, when you're going ashore in a port that requires you to wear a mask (i.e. Cozumel, Mexico), security will have you lower your mask when they're comparing you with your photo.

19 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Thanks.  It sounds like I should retake my selfie after I've had a few drinks to maximize my chances of a "match."  🤣

 

@MorganClark?  @HuliHuli?  @CptBoatface?  Anybody?  Is this thing on??

Yeah, you have one for "tipsy", one for slightly drunk, one for drunk, one for sh*tfaced, one for totally sh*tfaced and one for passed out on the deck.

3 hours ago, Kathy0329 said:

How is photo done online for check in completion?

I'm not quite sure what we're talking about. Are we talking about the photo that security uses to ID when you are getting off and getting back on the ship? As I recall, the security on the ship takes a photo of you during your initial embarkation and that photo is linked to your Sign & Sail card (or whatever NCL call theirs). Every time you want to get off or get back on the ship, you have to present your Sign & Sail card which security scans and it brings up your photo, which security does look at to make sure the photo matches the person in front of them trying to get off or back on the ship.

13 hours ago, Outerdog said:

 

So you just make stuff up and imply authority on the topic then accuse others of censure when called to account?

 

Got it.

 

No do-over there.

On 7/26/2021 at 10:56 AM, complawyer said:

if a 3rd   person  shares a 2 bedroom villa with another couple, can a separate account/ bill  be set up for him/her

How about if a 5th & 6th person shares a bunk room in steerage, can a separate account/bill be set up for them?

@RumRunner2021

1 hour ago, Travelling2Some said:

Weather is always a gamble.  We cruised out of Tampa once and it was so cold that we could see our breath the day we returned.  Froze our butts off cave tubing in Belize.  But that was an unusual cold snap, of course.  As a native New Yorker I can definitely tell you that warm weather in December is not the norm and snow is quite possible.  That said, we are booked on the Anthem out of NJ in January.  Due to "an abundance of caution" (who's not totally sick of that???) we figured we would keep it simple with no airfare complications.  We've been on Ovation out of Australia so we know Anthem is a great cold weather ship. 

When are you booked on Anthem in January? I'm booked on her Jan 20-31, 2022. Glad to hear that Anthem is a great cold weather ship!

2 hours ago, joanne59 said:

We are also on the 9/11 cruise from Nassau…just counting the days!!!

I just got back from the 7/17- 24 sailing. You're going to LOVE it! Fantastic cruise. The crew and hotel staff on Adventure of the Seas were amazing! No masks required onboard the ship; felt like a normal cruise (with the small exception of some social distancing in theaters, no sitting at the bar, etc). Reduced capacity (we were at around 35% pax capacity) gave it "the Goldilocks Effect"; not too many passengers, not too few passengers, the amount was just right.

35 minutes ago, Jarmo said:

No pic with MMA chick/girl/lady?

You mean me & her/him in the same pic? No way man, way too dangerous. I'm safe & sound in Atlanta now.

42 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

You forget dear friend, the rest of us are not blessed with unlimited vacation days. Even if the funds were unlimited, the days off from work are not.

 

We were actually looking at the excel sheet of upcoming friendly cruises to see if there was one we could hop onto to use our soon to expire 10% off coupon that we didn't think we had, but then had, but then only found out about it too late to actually use it. It honestly all depends on what happens with our May 2022 cruise and when we decide on dates for Oktoberfest.

 

Our gut is saying that May 2022 will be "changed" to a new ship to force rebooking, making our deal of the century no longer a deal at all. But the offer stands for anyone who wants to do a RP Land Invasion of Germany & Prague with me in September 2022. First boot of beer is on me 🙂 

What is this thing you call "work"? 😉 Thanks for the invite to drink boots of beer on land but this furry little animal is a ship rodent. Instead of r _ _s off a sinking ship, it me on a floating one. My thrown "gauntlet" still stands. I challenge any little fury animals to get together on a cruise like me and @HBCcruiserdid, to form RP cruise #2!

39 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

 

I already knew the answer to my own question. RCI is just erring on the side of caution. Just like they did a 180 and required a negative pcr test before sail date, even if you're vaccinated. No biggie because I'll gladly jump through those small hoops when we didn't have to wear a mask anywhere onboard the ship.

34 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

 

Have a safe flight back. On to planning the next Adventure... 

Hi. I'm currently at 30,000 ft on a Delta flight headed to Atlanta, where I'll change planes for my final flight up to Grand Rapids, MI. Isn't technology wonderful?

Check out my last post on our freedom.forum. I "threw down the gauntlet" and challenged all those other little fury animals 😉 to get R Pack cruise #2 together and not wait for mine & @Sailing12Away's Norwegian Prima cruise in 2023! We'll see if any of the other little fury animals rise to my challenge, lol. Heck, I'd even go again!

33 minutes ago, RumRunner2021 said:

I think we're just making stuff up now.

Come on, give Sue a "do-over"...

Man, they make you do a "marathon" (carry your checked bag aaaall the way down to one end of the terminal to drop it off (what, Bahamas hasn't invented conveyor belts yet?). Then, you get to walk aaaall the way back to where you just were on the other end of the terminal to "run the gauntlet" of security followed by U.S Customs  You get to go back and forth and back and forth between the line dividers (fortunately, the crowd had dissipated by now).

And...after all that, I'm 2 1/2 hrs early (before boarding time). But, I don't regret being extra early one bit (you saw the pic).

Now, I can relax. This Kalik (Kah lik) is for me! And, I have time for more than one Kalik. Giddy up...

Q; how come I can sit at the bar in a crowded airport but I can't sit at the bar on a not crowded cruise ship (Adventure of the Seas)?

Man, I'm glad I don't have to deal with this Nassau airport the next time I come to Nassau. I'll be on a cruise ship on a regular port call (Celebrity Edge, Oct 8th).

See what I mean?;

Glad I got here 6 hrs early. I might just make it!

I couldn't think of a better way to end this LIVE thread. Thanks again @HBCcruiser! This will be my last post on this LIVE thread.

Let me introduce you to my new Bahamian friend Kenny, who is that 6' 8" (I'm 6' 4" and you can see he towers over me) pro basketball player who plays for the Czech Republic;

Thanks to everyone who followed this thread. Hopefully, I'll be able to "run it back" on Oct 2-9, 2021 from the Celebrity Edge. Bye from the Bahamas!

For my last dinner in Nassau, Bahamas, I had to go "local". So, I'm back at my favorite  beach bar & grill, the Tiki Bikini.

I ordered the Caribbean jerk chicken. So, one last bit of food porn. I guess you could call it "jerk porn". On 2nd thought, don't call it that (lol);

1 hour ago, HBCcruiser said:

Well, I just booked another RCI cruise! The AOS was so great I had to do it. PLUS I do not have to use any vacation days because we already have the days off for President's Day long weekend. Perf! 

I have yet to cruise to the MR, but it is on one of my booked cruises. Norwegian Encore, 21-day "ocean-to-ocean" cruise via the Panama Canal, September 2022, fm Seattle to Miami. Encore stops in 3 of the MR ports (Cabo, PV & Acupolco).

5 minutes ago, mauraoel said:

When we first moved to Virginia we started out in Chantilly, then 5 years after that we moved to Haymarket as soon as the HOV extended out to Haymarket we moved farther out to Linden.  if we try to escape the Metro Area farther we won't be in Virginia anymore. 

 

Besides we have the view of a lifetime from our back deck so I don't see us moving again.  Unless it's to Florida to be nearer the cruise ports.

Yeah, I don't miss that D.C. commute/car pool one bit.

Originally, the receptionist here at the Holiday Inn Express told me that a med team would be here at the hotel at 3 pm, conducting covid rapid antigen tests. But, I called down to the desk not too long ago and the receptionist told me that the med team (nurse) was already here! 

So, I immediately went down to the lobby where I was directed into a vacant 1st floor room, where the testing was set up. $35 and 2 nasal swabs later, I had my negative test result! I can fly back into the U.S and get back home (Muskegon, MI)!

50 minutes ago, kearney said:

I see you live in Linden VA. I had to look that up to see exactly where it is. I grew up in Arlington and have many happy memories of the family driving up to Front Royal and along the Skyline Drive..

I remember Front Royal & Skyline Drive. I used to live in Herndon, VA.

1 hour ago, DonnaMarieNJ said:

I am booked on Anthem in December 2021, April 2022 and January 2023.  I hope!!!!

I just noticed the reason why you book Anthem so much; your CC screen name, "DonnaMarieNJ". How is it departing on a cruise out of Cape Liberty?