Kamloops50

We have two Alaska cruises scheduled from Vancouver this year. One is in May on princess (14 Day B2B). Then a 14 day on Holland going Kodiak , Anchorage (proper) , Valdez etc  from Vancouver.

We think it will be a go on both. Prepared to test if required.

You can expect an announcement in Late Feb or early March. GOC said end of Feb for cruising requirements when they lifted the cruise ban last fall.

9 hours ago, Fouremco said:

On the positive side, the current wave appears to be heading towards its peak within the next few weeks, and the record setting numbers will hopefully be behind us in the near future. At the same time, a lot of pressure is being put on the GOC to reduce or eliminate PCR testing for entry. Theresa Tam for the first time said earlier this week that the entry requirements and their impact on COVID could be revisited.

 

On the negative side, the GOC has been very cautious in its approach and will be slow to reduce its requirements. While that might not be a huge issue normally, the Alaska and east coast cruising seasons are coming up quickly. While the GOC has indicated that it is already consulting with the cruise industry over entry requirements, if we are to avoid last year's Alaska cruise season débâcle, decisions will need to be made very soon. I personally don't believe that they'll introduce less stringent protocols for cruise passengers than for other travellers, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there will be an across the board reduction in entry requirements.

The Omicron infections peaked in BC about a week ago. Hospital admissions are forecast to peak in about 14 days. I expect that Omicron infects in BC will disappear by late February or early March. This based on the data coming from South Africa and the UK.

9 minutes ago, Fairgarth said:

 

No, sorry, Serenade of the Seas does Vancouver to Vancouver every Sunday from May through September.

Your right about the Seranade..  The Ovation might be a better deal or price.

2 hours ago, stefndoug said:

you don't need a PCR to get back into Canada...a NAAT one will do.  Rapid Molecular will work.  You just cant use a rapid Antigen.  I am Canadian...been using the ARrivecan app many times already.  I am getting good at answering all the questions already LOL

 

We aren't staying overnight in Seattle, so we would have to find a Rapid ID Now from Walgreens to do first before heading back...thankfully we could stop at the Outlet Disney Store on the way home while we wait for the results...so we do have options, but not sure if it is worth it.

What do you enter as a quarantine plan if you have make a connection.?

On 12/26/2021 at 11:52 AM, Fairgarth said:

What a lovely gift!  Umm...now I'm sounding like Scrooge...wouldn't it be a lot easier to take a Royal Caribbean Vancouver to Vancouver?  Is it too late?

The only RCCL round trip from Vancouver are 14 days to Seward return on the Radience.

I've got seats thru the bidding system four weeks before the scheduled flight. This especially true if your flying at a time and day that business people normally don't fly.

7 minutes ago, K_e_short said:

 

I put a bid on an unpgrade for $195 per person per way.

 

The issue is that when I go and do a mock booking the price difference between my fare and business class is less then $195, so actually it's more then 100% of the difference.

I look at what I paid versus what AC is charging . I've picked up business upgrades for as low as $50 .

20 hours ago, K_e_short said:

I was wondering if anyone has any tips, tricks, or information about the upgrade process with Air Canada?

 

I have flex fare seats booked round trip. I used a buddy pass (which meant I only paid taxes on the 2nd ticket).

 

I was not allowed to buy business class as the buddy pass only allows for economy class tickets.

 

So my question is has anyone bid and gotten an upgrade? How much did you bid? 

RIght now my flights are super cheap (I wonder why)

Could I call and ask to move to business class for the price difference even though I used a buddy pass?

 

Thank you 🙂

If your fare is eligible for an upgrade , you'll have to check your booking on the Air Canada Website.

With AC you actually bid for the upgrade . I usually get my bid to go from Economy to Business class for somewhere between 50 and 75% of the difference between the two class.

On 11/30/2021 at 12:58 PM, nini said:

Can anyone suggest a Vancouver Hotel that offers cruise parking? Then, if close enough, we could walk to Canada Place.

We have parked at Canada Place once before and it was surprisingly inexpensive in 2000. Thanks!

You won't find any hotels near Canada Place with reasonable cruise parking. We used to park at the Hampton Inn near the airport. If you stayed one night ,they allowed 7 nights free parking. The lot was locked , video surveillance and a security guard checked the lot  during the night.

This special isn't online but you had to call.

On 12/12/2021 at 12:56 PM, Scottyren said:

Yikes!!  This thread has me a bit worried.  
my April cruise on Princess gets into the World Cruise Center at 7:00am on a Wednesday and I have a Noon flight leaving LAX. I know no one can predict customs and traffic, but I thought I’d have enough time to comfortably make my flight. 

Princess will get you to the airport on time. Noon is the earliest that Princess recommends for flights within the US. If you enter all your flight info into your cruise personalizer . It will tell  whether you csn make the flight.

Favourite cruises in ordere

1 Panama Canal

2 Alaska

3 Hawaii

4 Hawaii South pacofic (28 Days)

6 hours ago, lx200gps said:

We just did this exact trip a few days ago.  No real problems at all. At check-in at FLL, the AC agent will confirm if you have  your ArriveCan receipts, though ours didn't want to see them. Upon arrival at YUL, as you approach the customs hall, an ADM(?) person will ask you to show them your ArriveCan receipt on your phone. Don't know what happens to those who could not do ArriveCan. Once down the escalators into the customs hall, there are a lot of terminals for the passport scan etc. When we went through, the NEXUS line was a lot longer than the non-NEXUS line, since there were FAR more terminals in the non-NEXUS area. Once in front the CBSA agent, we answered the usual questions, he put a large blue dot on the outside of our passports, and off we went. After collecting our bags (45 minutes after landing, and that with priority stickers on them), and just as we were about to leave the customs area, another ADM rep demanded to see  the color of the dot on our passports. Our blue dots let us get through, but I suspect that some colors were probably the ones who had been selected for the random test? It wasn't CBSA related as we'd already technically left the customs area.  All in all, a bit more bureaucratic hurdles to jump through, but nothing too bad. Hope you had a great cruise.

CBSA is in charge until you actually go, out the doors of the Border Controlarea.

On 11/17/2021 at 8:51 AM, RealBatman said:

Globe and Mail is reporting that it will be replaced by Antigen testing for Canadians returning home (no mention of length of time), but fully vaccinated Americans will still require PCR testing.

 

Looks like we will have to wait for the official announcement for the 'truth'.

This is only for residents of BC that are affect by the Floods that occurred last week. If you live in south western BC . You can cross the border to get essentials like food and gasoline.

Also if you need to drive to the Vancouver area thru the US from the interior of BC to get home. You can drive and a PCR test isn'y required to reenter Canada.

On 11/4/2021 at 11:34 AM, Middleager said:

We'll be flying yyz-ams-fco arriving Rome 2021.Dec.3  for Dec. 5 NCL Getaway transatlantic cruise.  So we'll be in Rome 2+ days and a few ports in Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal.

 

Is it better to buy a EU SIM card at the airport (during transit in AMS, or upon arrival in FCO) or in Rome city (we'll be staying near Piazza Navona)? 

I would check with your Cellphone company . I'm with Koodo , international roaming is $12 Canadian per 24 hours. This means that if I making a call at 12 noon . I'm charged $12 and can make calls for the next 24 hours without a roaming fee and me plan covers the cost the minutes.

I have use my phone in the US , Mexico and even Tahiti without paying the minute charge. Just $10 for the US and $12 for Mexico and Tahiti. This charge was in Canadian  dollars .

On 11/19/2021 at 3:07 PM, eltigre said:

Has anyone flown from YVR to the US and had their Covid test done at the airport?

Would really appreciate any info.

Also can you order the home tests from the US and has anyone done one of those?

It would be terrible to rely on the airport & either test positive, false positive, or not get the results in time.

 

Here in BC we still don't have the SDM, Costco, Walmart tests available that is why I'm asking.

Depending where you live in BC there are some companies that will come to your home and do the Covid test. One company has arranged for Shoppers Drug Mart to supervisor the Covid testing for travellers.

3 hours ago, GeriatricNurse said:

It's unfortunate that you do not live in Ontario as BLUE CROSS is quite reasonably priced, in my view!

In BC unless .Blue Cross is your extended Ed health carrier. Their rates aren’t any cheaper . What is reasonable in price?

On 6/25/2021 at 8:06 PM, Debra_Murdock said:

We are having trouble finding an insurance company who will cover us for cruising. Has anyone had any success in getting medical and trip cancellation? We are booked for a cruise in mid September but may have to cancel if we can’t purchase travel insurance. We are both retired and travelling with my Mom and her friend, both in their 80’s. 
 

Thanks

 

 

We have used Princess and Hollands insurance product for years. Could never find cheap insurance especially as you approach 65+. My BIL( over 80) can even get private so my sister always gets him cruise line insurance.

The only issue we have with Celebrity is getting reasonable cost insurance .  I'm over 70 and DW over 65. Celebrity or third party insurance is too pricey for us plus the coverage isn't as good .

On 9/18/2021 at 10:32 PM, Princess_gal said:

Can anyone tell me are you allowed to be on your balcony when transversing the Locks

No problem using your balcony when transiting the locks.

On 9/28/2021 at 8:06 AM, txjim09 said:

Vax resistors who are occupying the majority of covid hospital beds at this time and who made us question 2022 cruises.  I will feel safer on the ship than many other public gatherings.

Where we live (BC Canada ) 99% of the Covid cases are unvaccinated people . 20% of those are school kids under the age of 16.

We are booked on a Full Transit fro Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale on Feb 12 ,2022. We feel comfortable going but we aren't planning on a going ashore or taking excursion. We have visited most of the ports at least three times some even more.

We plan to fly in the day of the cruise and fly home on the day we arrive in Florida.

I heard on Youtube that Emerald Princess had 69 to 109 cabins added during its pandemic dry dock.  If so where were the cabins added on the ship and if a new Deck Plan is out.

Interested in Alaska 2023 as well.

There are about three or four companies doing PCR and Antigen Tests. Lifelabs is the biggest they have about four or five outlets in the Vancouver Area for PCR and Antigen. They also do Antigen test at Vancouver International.

Cost for PCR is about $200 incl tax (24 to 36 hour reports)

            Antigen is about $100 incl tax ( 15 to 60 minute report )

Don't currently have the names or prices for the other companies.