yvonnedb

Ah! I honestly never checked to see if they were open for breakfast on this trip! Too many other options to choose from (1st world problems 🤣).

On 5/2/2022 at 2:56 PM, tj_shopper said:

What proctoring service did you use?  Was it iHealth, eMed or Rapid Test & Trace?  Thanks.

We used iHealth before our trip, eMed for the return flight.

On 5/2/2022 at 12:20 PM, SingBill said:

Thank you so much for this helpful information.  May I ask if you used a desktop, laptop, smartphone, or iPad.  The reason I ask is my desktop computer does not have a camera so I will  have to use my iPhone or iPad.

I'm so sorry I didn't see this until now  - only got back a couple days ago. 

The iHealth tests have to be done on a computer or laptop. They will not accept phone or tablet use. We ended up having to use a laptop for the pre-trip tests, then took a couple Binax tests with us in order to test to fly back to the US from London (which we were able to do on our phone using VOOM while in port at Le Havre the day before. It wasn't the greatest connection, but did its job.) There were other in person options for testing according to the documentation RCL left in the stateroom a day or two before, but luckily we didn't need to utilize any of it.

7 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Very sad to hear that they can't make a good milkshake.  If JR's was open for breakfast, which seems to be a Covid casualty at this point, I would have gotten one of the maple 🍁 bacon 🥓 ones.

That would've been an interesting one! Unless I missed it somehow though, it wasn't available - it was just the standard flavors including Oreo (which we both had).

2 hours ago, exm said:

Wasn't a problem on Anthem.

Might depend on the sailing, but it definitely was a problem on the one I was just on a few days ago. 

Just off this one as well, and yep, the coughing/sneezing definitely picked up by the end of the cruise. Hard to say the reasons why, whether it was covid or something else, but it was pretty apparent; however, I know I'm fairly hyper aware of such things now, whereas I wouldn't have paid much attention pre-covid. My husband doesn't know how to sneeze just once either, so I cringed when he'd have his fits. 😅 But we had tested negative for the flight home, already had covid months ago, and are double boosted, so we weren't very concerned, especially since we used every chance we had to wash or use sanitizer, and masked on the busses. It wasn't warm most days, so going in & outside probably didn't help people either. But overall, zero complaints & loved the TA!

Was just on Anthem, the milkshakes were part of the refreshment package, but so not worth it. They were very small, liquidfied & no whipped cream (actually, I don't think the ship had whipped cream at all because they kept apologizing for not having it when getting my frap coffee too). No excuse for being melted either considering it was cold outside.

20 hours ago, iuki said:

I just checked the free tests we received from the USPS.  They are iHealth tests in the orange and white boxes.  Each box contains two tests.  Since the boxes aren’t supposed to be opened until told by the proctor, are the two tests that are inside the iHealth orange and white box are in individual boxes that the proctors are referring to?  The reason I’m asking is to insure we have a total of 4 tests that can be proctored.  
 

Thanks to the poster for sharing this info.

 

 

We just used these early this morning (both negative, thank god).

You can use the two tests within one box. All they wanted to make sure of was whether everything was still sealed in the individual packaging, so having the original box opened didn't matter. 

Do allow yourself some extra time between tests if you're only using one computer for multiple people. My husband's was scheduled for midnight, mine for 12:45am, and my test still ended up starting late due to a few hiccups with his - it wasn't connecting to a proctor for the longest time for some reason. Fortunately he had put his phone number on the sign in page even though it was optional, so they called him to start the process. We were then told to constantly refresh the screen when it was my turn to force the system to connect with someone. Rather ridiculous, but it did work. I only had to wait a couple minutes whereas his was about 20 minutes late. Fortunately the results were emailed immediately while still connected - they had us confirm that all our information was correct before disconnecting. And the results are very thorough. 

Hope this helps!

That couple actually has an awesome travel channel if you're interested in cruising and/or Disney (am a fan). What an awful experience to have to go through, but it seems like RC did well by them.

OK! I was just told that as long as it's a **proctored** PCR or Antigen test, it's accepted. The iHealth tests are antigen (I double checked to be sure), and I specifically mentioned that it was an iHealth test I was planning on using. 

If anyone else receives info that doesn't match this, please let us know of course, but I'm going to move forward with using this option for our trip for now. It was a lot cheaper than the Binax tests & I have a bunch of them anyway. 

1 minute ago, di234 said:

Hi all,

    Considering using I Health, but to schedule an appointment you need a ticket # that they send you when you order the tests from them. If I use the I Health test that I got from the government where do I get the code for the ticket #? I guess I will call them to find out. I will let you know what I find out.

 

 

After you pay, they send an email with the codes.

On 4/8/2022 at 10:15 PM, Coralc said:

I went for it.  I just signed up and paid for the IHEALTH proctored testing for the 2 of us, for the test kits that we already have. We have 8 of them from the government. So, I will be the guinea pig, since no one else has chimed in. From what I have researched, there is no reason why they shouldn't be accepted. CDC compliant, FDA approved and approved for international travel.  I will also try to schedule back up tests at CVS, though. 

 

I plan on presenting the Ihealth printouts though, and will let others know in early May, what occurs. 

We signed up for this too, but leave in early May as well. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 I have time today to sit on hold forever with RC, so I'll see what I can find out & compare it to anyone else's research. 

It's been about a week for me lately, as in as recently as a couple weeks ago.

Is it possible that they have hot chocolate pods for it? I know they exist, but I'm not sure if I want to go & pack some if they're available on board. 

Did an interior once. As someone upthread said of their friend's comments, it was like a sensory deprivation tank for me as well. 😂 I'll admit that I'm curious if the interior view rooms would have that same effect, so I may consider it for a port heavy trip sometime.

I think it really does depend on how you travel - so many of you apparently love being out there! I'm a hermit though, so you're going to find me on my balcony most of the time. Our next trip is a TA so we really are just planning on treating it as a floating hotel more than anything else, which is heaven to me, but may drive someone else crazy. 🤪

But going back to the original question - if I get to control your money, I'd put you in the Royal just because. 🤣🤣🤣

Had bids in place for an upgrade beyond the junior suite I had booked, but when I did a re-price a couple days ago, it'd dropped almost $1500, so I jumped up to a GS 1bdrm/large balcony (ended up being about $150 more out of pocket total).

This change caused all my bids to be cancelled, which I figured would happen, but I got an email letting me rebid, so I did. But those got cancelled again yesterday & I was once again invited to bid on new ones. So I did it again. Now I'm waiting to see if they stay put or if they'll be cancelled a third time.

Has anyone else experienced this? What was the ultimate outcome? Honestly, I'm not expecting to win any of them, although it'd be nice, but I can't help but wonder the logic & if I ended up possibly "losing" because of the cancellations.

Honestly I can see why they'd have this requirement for everyone for a TA cruise? It's not as though they're stopping off at multiple ports if something happens - medical emergencies in the middle of the Atlantic must be difficult unto itself as it is, much less a contagious illness. Yeah, it completely sucks for those who have a booking for a TA right now and can't go due to this requirement, but there are other routes people can take in the meantime, and the Atlantic will still be there for them when things calm down. ❤️

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

I think there becomes a time when is all this really worth it. What a hassle just to get on a cruise ship. I say wait and go another year. To much stress for my likings.

It definitely is a lot to look at for sure. I know that, for us, we're going to jump through the hoops because it's an important trip for us (major anniversary), but I don't know if I'd say the same on a regular year.

55 minutes ago, Kezzie62 said:

Just read that U.K. citizens on the TA will not be allowed to get off in either of the ports of call in France!!!

 

That's awful!!

Just received an email about the rules for vaccinations for TA cruises between NJ & Southampton, so anyone on the May 2nd sailing specifically will see what I'm talking about.

I'm confused about the requirements for proof of the vaccine for Azores & France - it's mentioning a certificate and other information, but I can't determine what we exactly need and when we need to do these things? 🤣 We have our cards, we'll have the testing done before boarding, but are we going to have to be filling out & submitting more docs during the trip?

Thoughts?

7 hours ago, seadog67 said:

I know this was answered but here is confirmation at the machine in Sorrentos

 

You've seriously made this addict's day! 🥰😂 Thank you so much!

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

It is available. 

Oh thank god...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

We're going on this ship May 2nd, and I'm having no success with finding out if Dr Pepper is in the Freestyle machines. If I could beg for that info at some time, I'll be forever grateful? 🤣 12 days is a long time for an addict so I may have to plot & plan to bring my own!

Hope you have a wonderful time! 🥰

Fight it. If "pending" means you had it accepted, I'd be booked for 8 different staterooms for my upcoming trip. 🙄

We didn't feel it worthwhile to get the UDP for Anthem due to the lack of options. I'm good with paying for Chops & Jamie's with discounts - we wouldn't eat anywhere else anyway (other than JR). If UDP was free/included in the trip, we'd just go to those two more often. 

So it really depends on what you're wanting to eat and how often?