JJ2sail

9 hours ago, Tyskie said:

 

Been on the Regal several times - yes, Princess Live was a big flaw in design aboard that ship.  The Enchanted Princess is open with bistro type tables - much better use of the space.

 

I agree that Princess beds are super comfortable but on Enchanted in February I thought I had one of the old mattresses - asked for an egg crate (wasn't even sure they had them anymore) - helped some but that was a huge disappointment.

 

Thanks for your updates - was able to goof with the "kids" last night (via text) - knowing what they had for dinner.  We were right 3 out of 4 🤪😂

I thought I had read somewhere that they can flip the mattress?  That one side is firmer than the other?  I really dislike hard mattresses I hope this is true!  We will be on the Regal in September.

I believe they changed the medallion platform at some point.   Because it worked great before the pandemic, no problems using it in 2019 and 2020 before the shutdown.     Now in 2022 it's a smaller medallion and comes in different packaging and the app is very finicky.   The internet in general is terrible and it was also fine pre pandemic.    So just guessing they changed something on it.

We (4 of us) were on board 4/23-4/30 and did not get Covid or even a cold.   We did wear our masks most of the time.   But being it was a cold and somewhat rainy cruise it was difficult to social distance as everyone was inside a lot of the time.    I think the shortage of crew contributed to the long lines for dining and also the the fact that the medallion app was not working properly for crew and passengers.

Only two of our four could use the app at all and the internet was achingly slow.  

We had tours cancelled in Astoria and Seattle which was disappointing and the tour in Victoria to Butchart Gardens and the Butterflies was very short and rushed.

I would encourage future guests to get a Covid booster at least two weeks before cruising. jmho 🙂

On 5/2/2022 at 9:55 AM, grak said:

Any reports of covid on the last  week of this cruise?

There were cases on board but they would not say how many.  

I was kind of surprised they didn't test everyone again on board since we were going to Canada.  But Canada has relaxed their protocols.

I was on the Ruby last week.   I believe I did see a country/western line dance event one day or evening.  I brought the Patter's home will try to check.

19 hours ago, 5waldos said:

But there are random tests on arrival and as of about 2 weeks ago I was directed to schedule a test on arrival in case I was selected. Or has this now been dropped?

No mention of random tests or scheduling them on the ArriveCan App.  It does request a designated place to quarantine.   In my case I put the cruise ship and Canada Place Vancouver address.  Since I am on a Round trip San Francisco sailing.    If your cruise begins or ends in Vancouver, you could put a hotel probably?   The cruise lines are supposed to assist with that.

4 hours ago, JT1962 said:

From everything I have seen, ALL travelers age 5 and over will only need to be tested prior to boarding a cruise ship that enters Canada. The April 1 update eliminating the testing requirement applies to every arrival (land, air, water) EXCEPT for cruise ships.The cruise regulations have been updated at least once since April 1, so they are not behind.  Most cruise lines are using these rules for anyone boarding a ship in the US that visits Canada and have notified passengers.
 

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/cruise

Getting an embarkation test before you board a ship that will dock in Canada

All travellers 5 years of age or older must have a COVID-19 test to board a cruise ship in Canada or board a cruise ship that will dock in Canada at any point on the cruise. You must provide proof of one of the following accepted types of test results: 

1. Proof of a professionally administered or observed negative antigen test taken no more than 2 days before you’re scheduled to board your ship
   • the 2-day window does not depend on the time of day the test was taken or the time that you board
   • for example, if your ship is scheduled to leave on Friday, you could provide proof of a negative result from an antigen test taken any time on Wednesday, Thursday, or on Friday
   • it must be administered or observed by a pharmacy, laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth online service
   • the test must be authorized for sale or distribution in Canada or in the jurisdiction in which it was obtained
2. Proof of a valid negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of your scheduled boarding time 
   • for example, if you’re scheduled to board at 11:00 am on Friday, your test must have been taken any time after 10:59 am on Tuesday

 

Yes that's what I was saying, you need test for the cruise.   But not for flying into Canada if you are fully vaccinated.  Details can be confusing.

7 hours ago, Sebbiesgrammy said:

Wondering about this scenario:  4 fully vaccinated and boosted American adults traveling with 2 fully vaccinated pre-teens. Depart NY transit via Toronto where we have short layover before destination Vancouver (requires ArriveCan where we can possibly be pulled for testing and/or quarrentine in Toronto so must indicate a quarantine address  but doesn't require Covid test). Get through that, then arrive Vancouver with no additional paperwork.  Early next morning, HAL flies is back into US to start Alaska land tour, so assume we need negative Covid to renter US less than 24 hours after we left NY. Therefore, we will all need tests before we leave home anyway??  La di da for 10 days while in Alaska,, then HAL provides testing pre boarding in Anchorage or Haines Alaska.   7 days sailing before disembark Vancouver requiring ArriveCan, again. Stay 24 hours in Vancouver before flying back to NY, so need another negative Covid to get back home. Cruise line will provide test before disembark, but staying one overnight in Canada, (because airlines have severely cut back flights leaving us no choice but to stay over) might exceed 24 hour requirement as it is so hour specific. So must bring correct monitored tests with us or waste time in Vancouver to find test site.  It's exhausting to ponder but hope it gets easier in a few weeks when all the permutations and combinations have been done.  We're so anxious to get traveling, like everyone else, but the logistics can, sometimes, dull the excitement.

I don't think you need to worry about the short layover in Toronto.  You won't be leaving the airport.

If you do a test before you leave home in NY it should still be good for arrival 24 hours later back in the US.   Since you are on a cruise tour HAL should be covering your preboard and disembark tests.

Am I missing something?   Just wondering why they are routing you through Toronto and Vancouver on your flights?   Is there not any flights with connections in Seattle?

I think you need to do ArriveCan for the final destination of Vancouver on your first flight and then for disembark in Vancouver after your cruise?    

Sorry this happened to you.  But making a cabin change does not cancel air.  Sounds like she canceled the whole booking and rebooked you.   If she is new or doesn't know how to do cabin changes I guess this could happen.    But very strange.   I would ask her if she has errors and omissions insurance.  She should cover the mistake.   

On 4/15/2022 at 10:55 AM, 5waldos said:

We will be flying into Vancouver the day before we cruise. We are required (I think- it was a wee bit unclear) to schedule a test with them just in case we get randomly selected for a further test when we arrive. So our own tests won't work. 

 

Won't you be required to enter the test results on ArriveCan at the last minute? If so, you might want to double check the Canadian requirements- it was my reading of the Canadian Gov website that the test had to be within 2 days of boarding- whatever Carnival requires. I think that the Canadian requirements trump the cruise ship ones. And I would be wary of what Carnival is saying- someone on CC said that Carnival was saying that passengers did not need to complete ArriveCan despite stopping in Canada. My reading of the Canadian regulations is that if you are entering Canada, including entering Canadian waters, that ArriveCan was supposed to be checked at boarding. 

Fully vaccinated adults are not required to test before arrival in Canada.   The test requirements are for the cruise.    The ArriveCan app is for Canada and requires passport and vaccination information and a location to quarantine should you get sick.  

On 4/18/2022 at 6:06 PM, 5waldos said:

It is up to the cruise line to inform their passengers. I would think it would be right there with the vaccination requirements and other things to fill out. 

Disney informs passengers on everything.   Princess buries the info in the FAQ's on their website and does not have it anywhere in the online check in questions.  

I don't know about the other cruise lines.

On 4/15/2022 at 9:36 AM, 5waldos said:

Anyone actually completed the entire app form- including the part within 72 hours? If you have, could you give us some idea what it entails, and approximately how long it took? Thanks.

I just completed mine for my Pacific Northwest Coastal cruise on 4/23.   It's pretty simple, scan your passport and then recheck that it captured correctly. My name was messed up so had to fix it.

Upload a picture of your vaccination card.   Answer all the questions.     Provide an address for possible quarantine.    Which I used the cruise ship and Canada Place Vancouver Address.    

You can put your whole traveling party on one account, just click on add traveler.    When finished you get a receipt and QR code.

Took less than 15 minutes.

Use this address if your cruise ship is boarding or stopping in Vancouver.

1. To get into the country, use the address of Canada Place Cruise Terminal, 999 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1, Canada

Just don't forget to upload your documents into the ArriveCan App.    You can do it up to three days prior.

6 hours ago, mek said:

The only upcoming cruise I have is in November on Oasis.  I have a NRD, so I'm stuck with either making the final payment in August  and wait for it to cancel or doing Lift and Switch, which is probably the option I will take - moving  it to Nov 2021.  

I personally don't care if they change the itinerary because to me Oasis is the destination, so they can take me anywhere or just float around for a week if they could get the rules changed.  On that ship I just wouldn't care.

If cruises open up and look like they are something I would be interested in doing again I can always book something between then and Nov 2021.  Or for a while, I just might do something else less complicated than cruising.

 

You can change it to any other sailing without incurring a change fee at this time.  Must be done by August 1st.

Q : How are Non-Refundable Deposit bookings impacted by this policy update?
A : Non-Refundable Deposit bookings sailing on-or-before April 30th, 2022 are eligible for the Cruise with Confidence Policy and follow the same guidelines. Prior to the Final Payment deadline, guests with a Non-Refundable Deposit bookings that wish to change to a different ship or sail date can do so with no fee assessed prior to August 1, 2020 - the change fee will be waived.

Thank you.  We went to Pigeon Island.  Was beautiful.  

We will be in St Lucia tomorrow and our catamaran cruise got cancelled.  Is there a good beach to go snorkeling at?

Antigua yesterday was to rough from storms.   Advice?

I was able to purchase the unlimited dining package for our 10 night cruise for $199.00 online.   Three and five night packages were also available at a discount online.  I have not gotten any deals once on board.

Would be interested in knowing how it went.  Would you mind posting when you get back?

Bon Voyage!

We did the Memphis to New Orleans last year right after Thanksgiving.   Memphis was quite chilly maybe the low 40's and high 30's?  We had rain a couple of nights along the river but nothing to bad.   New Orleans was pretty warm 80ish.   

I am wondering the same thing.   I am thinking that the view will be obstructed looking down but hopefully not looking straight out on deck 7.   

Anyone have pictures of a deck 7 midship balcony cabin view?

There is also a car rental desk right at the port. We rented a car and did our own drive thru the countryside. Saw covered bridges etc.. was very pretty.

We sail on both lines. And I think Starbucks is better.

I do not like either choice. Both are noisy and I really missed the ocean view.

Cruise Lines seem to be getting away from the hand sanitizers and are installing hand washing stations instead. We cruise Princess a lot and they have the hand washing stations on the last few we have been on. Usually still someone at the entrance to the buffet asking people to wash.

We cruise mostly on Princess now also since Royal Caribbean left California a few years ago. So we are Elite on Princess and Diamond on Royal. Agree with most everything except I have a really hard time getting a good drink on Princess. They have some of the strangest concoctions. I do like the new beds on Princess a bit better. But overall love the cabins on Royal which most have a sofa and feel a bit more spacious. I also miss the towel animals when we sail on Princess.

Both cruise lines have warm and friendly crew.

Basically happy to be cruising!