goldiemom

Hubby & I leave for Tahiti two weeks from today!  Papeete for two nights, Bora Bora for five nights and then back to Papeete to board the Paul Gauguin for 7 nights.  Took a while, but secured covid tests with a doctor in Bora Bora so we can board PG cruise.  I am so ready to get to warmer weather.  It is raining in the foothills of California Sierra Nevada as I write this.  First time on a PG cruise and the islands other than Tahiti.

By update, I meant the PCR test within 48 hours of departure for PPT.  Heck, I would even be OK with "the day before" rather than 24 hours prior.  None of the places I can use locally are open at 10P or later.  SMF airport's testing usually takes 15 hours for results.

Don't get me started about finding a testing site on Bora Bora.  Still working on that.  Nine of us are in Bora Bora for 5 days prior to getting on the PG cruise.  We will get this sorted out, but all the rapid testing is adding about $1000 to this vacation. Sigh.  Everyone keeps saying it will be worth it...hope so.

I still have not seen any update regarding this new requirement on Tahiti Tourism or Tahiti Air Nui.  I do hope it is indeed true since it would let me test using my insurance the day prior to leaving.  Otherwise, have to test at LAX paying with credit card.

FlightMedic555:  PG gave me a doctor's name.  Dr. Azad Roussanaly.  He is the doctor that has retired.  He did recommend another doctor, but he only takes phone calls.  I do not speak French and not sure if the doctors office does either, so am trying to have the resort we are staying on in Bora Bora help me.  Hopefully by June the rules will change.

Another hoop to jump through for our Jan. 29, 2022 sailing.  While I have had a booster, I am in the Moderna trials for a new booster.  As it is experimental and not "approved", I have to go back to the research company to add that I have had a third shot.

As PG Cruises requires a negative RT PCR test within 72 hours prior to boarding and our group of nine will be in Bora Bora for five days prior to boarding, I have spent over 2 weeks trying to find a doctor or clinic to administer a test.  Found one, but he is retiring on Jan. 1.  I know we can take a rapid PCR test at the ILM site in Papeete (only takes 2 hours) but that test is $250 per person.  Sure hope this cruise is worth the hoops we are jumping through to get aboard.  PG Cruises is not really helpful as they just say that the test is needed to board.

I booked a 2021 Thanksgiving cruise for DH, myself, DS, DIL and granddaughters (ages 2 & 4) last December.  This July it became very clear that ALL PAX must be vaccinated on all Princess's cruises.  I was never sent an email.  I heard about it on Cruise Critic.  I called Princess directly and all they would say is that ALL PAX MUST be vaccinated regardless of age.  So, I cancelled and after much research I found a cruise line that would accept unvaccinated children under age 12 with negative COVID tests.  We all have to take COVID 19 tests prior to boarding and all must be negative.  CDC kept changing the rules, port stops where changed, and airline flights changed, but at least we will be able to cruise.

Bottom line is that you have to be proactive regarding specific requirements for any travel arrangements during the next several months.

First time MSC cruiser here.  Trying to check in for our Nov. 20 Seashore cruise from Miami.  Taking toddlers aged 2 & 4.  We will use their original birth certificates as their identification.  When trying to check in, MSC's check in requires an expiration date for the ID.  Since a birth certificate has no expiration date, what do we put in the "expiration date"?

Many thanks.

Thanks for all the info.  It sounds like you had a great cruise.

We are taking our granddaughters (aged 2 &4 so unvaccinated) on MSC in November.  I am arranging tests for prior to the cruise. Not sure if we need one to disembark from the cruise in Miami.

Did you have to get a COVID test to disembark at the end of the cruise?

I'll be on my first river cruise (have been on more than 40 ocean cruises) boarding October 19 for the Burgundy & Provence Wine cruise.  I drink Diet/Light Coke instead of coffee for breakfast.  Yeah, yeah, I know I am addicted. I know they have a minibar in the Panorama Window cabins.  When I asked Avalon on an internet chat, they said there is a charge for the beer and wine in the minibar.  They did not state whether the soft drinks are free.  Their literature states soft drinks for lunch and dinner only.  I pose this question, because I need to know if I should bring my own Diet/Light Cokes on board for my morning beverage.

Thanks for any help or advise.

Cheyshe:  That is what we have been told.  We are sailing on the Seashore Nov. 20-27 with our granddaughters age 2 & 4.  All the adults are vaccinated.  We understand the girls may not be able to get off the ship except on the private island.  I booked suites with a whirlpool tub on the balcony for the girls to "play in".  We had hoped the vaccine would be approved for the toddlers prior to Nov., but doesn't look like it.  Then, again, the rules can change.  They have already changed once since I booked the cruise.

donaldsc:  I like the Princess product.  Also, the other cruises are going to ports that other cruise lines don't visit or the combination of ports were what we wanted and I'm traveling with groups of friends.  Most cruise lines have treated me unfairly at some point in time.  It is bound to happen as we have taken over 50 cruises with various cruise lines over the past 40 years. 

I had a cruise booked for Thanksgiving with all son and his family.  Two mini suites, one with 2 toddlers (ages 4 & 2).  We booked it and the air last Dec.  All the adults have had our vaccinations.  Toddlers will be vaccinated when approved.  After I heard on CC about no one allowed on Princess under the age of 12, I called them and my TA.  All Princess would say is that, "All passengers MUST be vaccinated prior to boarding."  I repeatedly asked if they were saying that even those under 12 years that could not be vaccinated due to it not being government approved.  No direct answer.  Just kept repeating that all passengers must be vaccinated.  But, I should wait because the government may approve vaccinations for under 12 years.  I cancelled the cruise.

Last thing I want to do is tell a 4 year old a week before the cruise  "Sorry, you can't go on the cruise."  We already had to do that because our cruise was cancelled for this past June,  Also, the flights on American Airlines have to be taken by March 31.  My DIL is a teacher, so we are working with her schedule.  However, I was able to grab the last two suites (one with a whirlpool on the balcony) on the same Nov. 20, 2021 sailing on the MSC Seashore from Miami.  With the beverage package, wifi and gratuities, it came out about the same cost as  Princess.  MSC will required the toddlers to have a Covid test prior to boarding, but that is OK.

Do I blame Princess?  Yes.  Their communications was nonexistent.  Will I cruise with them again? Yes, I already have two more cruises booked with them.

I called my TA and he made it happen.  I will add that when my cruise was cancelled (actually two separate cruises where cancelled that I had used the FCC for) and I said I would not be able to use it until early 2023, he said it should be no problem.  He stated that Princess is trying to be flexible due to all the cancellations due to the pandemic.  They really do want our money! 

I just booked a cruise for February 2023 using my FCC that was due to expire on Dec. 2022.  I had purchased the FCC on a cruise in 2019. 

I had an FCC that I purchased in 2019.  I had used it for a cruise I booked for January 2021.  That was cancelled.  I was told the FCC had to be used on a cruise that sailed before the end of 2022.  I just used the same FCC for a cruise in February 2023.  

Pep talk!

Hi lovecruzin!  We have lived in EDH for over 25 years.  Used to live in Fairchild Village.  Now live in new Heritage community near Four Season's south of 50.  Yes, we have a golden.  I have volunteered at Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue for over 18 years.  Our current golden is a rescue.

So sorry you did not get into Victoria on Monday.  Beautiful day in Victoria.  Hubby and I were on Grand Princess docked at Victoria that day.  We saw the Quest as we reboarded and left.  A tug was holding the Quest in position.  That evening our Captain made a remark about how the Quest was having issues.  We will be on her next year.

Group of 4 adults were in Genoa in September.  We took a Segway Tour.  (Not through the cruise line.).  We had a blast and saw a lot of Genoa.  We walked from the ship to the meeting point.  Took about 15 minutes.

https://www.genovasegway.it/  

Group of four adults will disembark in Buenos Aires from the Star Princess and need to get to AEP airport for an 11:30AM flight to Iguazu.  Will there be taxis available at the port?  Is it a set rate or metered?  Or would it be better to schedule a transfer (remis) to the airport?

We have only cruised Princess once and had early dining.  Now that the dining times have changed, we moved to anytime dining.  RCI/Celebrity always allowed us to reserve a specific table at the same time every night.  Does Princess allow you to do this?

I took the cruise in May. Weather was cool to cold and rainy. Layering is the best. Take shoes that are waterproof. Keep an eye on the weather forecast prior to leaving to help decide what to pack. I loved the cruise...breathtaking scenery!

You are on the same cruise that I am on. You can access our roll call with the following link:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2323495

Many of us have joined tours that other roll call members have put together. Welcome aboard!

Last month my husband and I paid $13 for LYFT from the Port of Miami to MIA. Easy peasy! So much cheaper than a taxi fare.

Thank you, Wonderman3!

Looking forward to your daily posts.