kcmo74

28 minutes ago, 12cruise2 said:

Just to clarify (for others who may be reading this thread), re the Walgreens testing, the Rapid NAAT test works just fine and the results are given by email within two hours.  We got our Rapid NAAT test results yesterday within an hour of taking the tests.  A PCR test is a type of NAAT test.  And in April, we also did the Walgreens Rapid NAAT test and got the results within 2 hours.  Walgreens has never offered the Rapid Antigen test in our area, though they have always listed it as an option.  We've gotten our Rapid Antigen tests at CVS (four times last fall), and now we'd have to do it with a provider's visit at the Minute Clinic. 

Thank you for the info as it matches what I've been seeing here locally, my question is does the Rapid NAAT work for the test for vaccinated adults? On the X site for my particular cruise and region it says Fully Vaccinated Adults must complete a Rapid Antigen test within 2 days of sailing, and Unvaccinated Children must complete a PCR test within 3 days of sailing. So for my 4 year old we are planning on doing the Rapid NAAT at Walgreens for her test since it is a type of PCR test, but for us it specifically says Rapid Antigen, is that accurate or is the NAAT ok for vaccinated adults?

Just now, mahdnc said:

 

Wow, I just looked at our Cruise Planner for our Dec 2022 Equinox cruise and you're right, the prices have skyrocketed.  Hopefully that means that some of the more expensive pieces priced in the case are covered if you buy in advance.

 

Yeah I was perfectly fine with the $120 price tag as long as the item was covered or mostly covered with that fee, I just hoped it wasn't a $120 for the class and another $120 for the item kind of thing. Definitely like the pre-pandemic prices a lot better, but still happy with the $120 for the experience and handmade one of a kind cruise memento.

2 minutes ago, mahdnc said:

 

If you bought the class ahead of time, you got the lowest priced items in the case included in your session.  So you were getting the $75 items for $53.50 (if you took the class for 2 deal) or for $59 if you bought the class for one. 

 

If you wanted to make one of the more expensive items, you paid the difference between what that item was priced in the case minus $75.  My wife made the $100 tumbler.  So she paid an extra $25 during the cruise on top of the $53.50 that we paid in advance.

Awesome thank you, that makes much more sense and what I was hoping it was, still would have done it if you had to pay a whole extra fee for the piece, just wouldn't have been as happy about it.

4 hours ago, mahdnc said:

Here are three photos of the same cabinet with prices that I took during our Dec 2019/Jan 2020 Solstice sailing:

 

 

 

 

Back then, the Hot Glass "class" could be purchased ahead of the sailing thru your Cruise Planner for $59/person or $107 for 2 people.

 

 

 

Thanks for the pics, and the pre-pandemic prices seem to be a steal, it was $120 for a single, and $240 for two this time around on the cruise planner buy ahead deal. Is that just the cost for the class, and the item is all extra on top of that or does some of that roll into the cost of the item?

1 hour ago, LB_NJ said:

Did find 2 places on Celebrity site that lists NAAT.

 

Accepted COVID-19 Tests | Celebrity Cruises

 

Health & Safety FAQs: Find Answers Online | Celebrity Cruises

Glad you found this, while the PCR test is too risky because of the turn around time, I have a 4 year old who is required to take a PCR 3 days before and an antigen at the port. I have been worried the PCR may not be back in time, but it appears the NAAT is the same kind of molecular test so we should be all good doing that and it is a rapid test with results in 24 hrs or less.

For example my wife recently purchased a used LV bag from a reputable source online (it looks brand new, you would never be able to tell it was used), it was a 1 year limited run bag either last year or the year before so you can't find it new anymore. It was somewhere around $2000 new, and she just payed $2400 for it used, that is how much the value has already increased. 

4 minutes ago, Lunesse said:

I believe that is the case, time slots occur on board. Go early on to get the one you want! 😃 

Thank you!

My wife used some of her OBC to purchase a hot glass class on the Solstice, as glass blowing has always been a favorite of hers. My question is will we have to sign up for a specific time slot once onboard? There was no choice for day or time when we purchased so just wondering about how you find out or sign up for the specifics of day and time for the experience. Thanks!

26 minutes ago, ScottC4746 said:

US Citizen cruising Seattle round trip to Alaska and a port stop in Victoria.

This is directly from the celebrity website:

Roundtrip Seattle Sailings

Sailing Testing Requirements:

Pre-Arrival/Embarkation Covid-19 Test

• Fully Vaccinated* or Up to Date** Guests: Must present a negative Antigen test taken within 2 days prior to sailing.
• Unvaccinated Guests: Must present a negative RT-PCR Covid-19 Test taken within 3 days prior to sailing and take an antigen test at the Terminal prior to boarding. The PCR and antigen test may not be taken on the same day.

Mid-Cruise/Port of Call

No test required.

Debark

• Fully Vaccinated* or Up to Date** Guests: No required testing.
• Unvaccinated Guests: Must present a negative COVID-19 Antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to arrival to the United States.

*Definition of Fully Vaccinated: vaccinated with a full dose of a primary series vaccine over 6 months (180 days) prior to sailing and NOT boosted. The last primary dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to embarkation.

**Definition of Up to Date: vaccinated within 6 months (180 days) of final dose in a primary series OR boosted. The 180 days must extend to the end of the sailing. The last primary dose must have been administered at least 14 days prior to embarkation. 

Testing Costs

Testing varies depending on vaccination status and itinerary. Unvaccinated guests will need to cover any cost for embarkation, mid-cruise/port of call or debark/re-entry required testing. These tests cost $55 per test, per person. Celebrity will cover the costs for children who are not eligible to be vaccinated. 

Louis Vitton items also hold their value better than almost any handbag out there, so it isn't surprising that the prices were still very high. LV announced a price increase across the board this spring for their items meaning the resale price is going up again as well. My wife is a full time reseller and she views LV products as an investment piece, they are only going to go up in value over time.

The CVS's in my area have stopped the rapid antigen tests as a standalone, but they are still offering them if you agree to go to a minute clinic appointment to get the test, and it says you will get your results pretty much immediately during the appointment. Walgreens has gotten rid of the rapid antigen as well, they still have the rapid naat, but you don't really see that type listed anywhere so not sure if it counts or not.

8 hours ago, 12cruise2 said:

I do not have experience nor would I want to take an unvac. or vaccinated child on a cruise right now.  If you become ill with covid and have to isolate, who will care for the child, etc.  I know this is not what you asked and I don't want to start a fight, but as I said, I really think this is not the time to be taking a child on a cruise.  At any time, you could be asked to mask, and in fact it would be a great idea, as we are going to do, and have done since last September while cruising, to mask outside your cabin.  I have cruised extensively (9 weeks) last fall, in April for 3 weeks and again this Sat. we will be cruising for two more weeks.  It's more complicated than extra testing at the port and mask-wearing.

If you don’t want to start a fight then it is probably best to just not post. I don’t want to start a fight either but I will say this in response to you and the others saying they wouldn’t take unvaccinated children right now: Some people don’t live in fear of a virus that at this point is comparable to the flu for healthy adults and is even less of a risk for children as long as there are no pre-existing conditions. We have been back out in the public doing our thing since June of 2020, only wearing masks where they are required, and we won’t be wearing masks on a cruise we payed a lot of money for unless they require it. I have no qualms at all about taking my child on this cruise all I’m trying to do is gauge the boarding process and if the extra test has caused any hiccups for anyone. I know something like this is always going to comments from those with opposite views, but if people aren’t seeing what Covid is at this present time and moving on with their lives as normal, then I pity them.

16 minutes ago, hrhdhd said:

To answer your actual question, country-specific requirements are here: https://www.celebritycruises.com/healthy-at-sea/travel

 

The U.S. requirements (separate from Alaska and Hawaii for some reason) state the following for unvaccinated guests:

Unvaccinated guests will be required to bring a negative PCR test conducted within three days of boarding. These guests will be given an additional COVID-19 Antigen test at the terminal prior to embarkation and on the day before disembarkation. The CDC has advised unvaccinated guests cannot be tested twice in one day as it may affect the accuracy of the test results, therefore the COVID-19 PCR test required before arriving at the terminal cannot be taken on boarding day. A registration link for required onsite testing at the terminal will be emailed separately.

 

Re: masking

While onboard, masks are optional but highly recommended for unvaccinated guests.

Thank you for the response, I already know this info and have read the site and protocols thoroughly. This post is more to gauge if anyone has gone through the experience yet and if everything went smoothly or not. 

Has anybody had any experience yet with having an unvaccinated 3 or 4 year old child in their group yet this season? Just wondering about the extra testing they say they have to do at port and masking requirements? Thanks for any insight.

We are staying at the Warwick next month for the one night before our sailing, hoping it's in a good spot to walk to the market Friday morning before we set off that afternoon. We don't have to worry about transportation otherwise our TA was able to set up transportation from airport to hotel, then hotel to port, and then port to airport when we return for a little over $400 for 7 of us, so comes out to about $55 a person for all the transportation we'll need in Seattle for the whole trip.

Just now, baloo75 said:

Apologies yes solstice not sillouette I misread the title of this thread

No problem lol, I'm on solstice next month so more interested in that than the Silhouette, but just wanted to clarify for others.

2 minutes ago, baloo75 said:

On the ship now in Skagway. No evidence of Covid that we have seen. Great cruise and ship is in good shape, was worried because it was old and previous review I read last week. Definitely not at capacity and the captain hasn’t mentioned any numbers.
 

Someone apparently went overboard overnight so the ship turned around and was searching for them for a couple of hours. Haven’t heard any update other than coast guard continued search and ship was able to continue.

 

Embarkation was a nightmare in Seattle, I guess their computers went down so it was slow going and long lines. Make sure you install the ArriveCAN app and fill it out prior to getting to the Seattle port, many people didn’t and it held things up because you had to have proof it was filled out prior to boarding in Seattle.

 

My advice get ready for a great cruise and don’t worry. Dress warm, even when it’s sunny there are cold winds in port.

 

This is my third Alaskan cruise and second on solstice, food is great, entertainment is good and the scenery is priceless.

So you're on Solstice, not Silhouette?

There is a good chance that my hockey team will be competing in the Stanley Cup finals during our sailing in June. Are ESPN/TBS part of the regular in room lineup, and if not do they have any bars or areas of the Solstice that are similar to a sports bar where the TVs might have major sporting events on? Thanks!

24 days to the Solstice out of Seattle.

So I apologize in advance as my questions have probably been answered a thousand times in the past. I was curious about MDR and if it is ok to order multiple different entrees if you want to try many things or don't like your initial order, or want 3 of one thing because it's the best you've ever had. I know with other companies we have done this before, just wondering Celebrity's policy on it. Also, how many "dress up" nights are on a 7 day cruise, and what is the attire like for these now days? Has been over 10 years since we've cruised so I know some things have changed. We will be on the Solstice in Alaska if that matters to these questions specifically. Thank you!