BillNY

On 6/26/2023 at 10:24 AM, beatleang said:

I think so too! I kept it because I got an extended Aft balcony. I've never had a balcony before so I am gonna feel like a queen! 👸 😅

Yes, and once you sail in a balcony, it’s hard to go back. 

If you are platinum or diamond on Carnival VIFP, you can now complete check-in, and secure the arrival time rest works best for you. General check-in starts Thursday. 

21 hours ago, shof515 said:

Here is scan copy all of the fun times from this cruise 

4 Day Bermuda Fun Times.pdf 1.37 MB · 17 downloads

Thanks for sharing these. We will be on the 4 day cruise on July 13, and seeing this in advance really helps with planning. 

It looks like there is a different menu. This was tonight’s menu,
posted by a passenger on the ship right now. 
 

Hello, we just booked and will be joining you on this sailing. We are also booked on the Venezia in July to the Bahamas, so hoping this new ship is as impressive as it seems to be. 
As far as the menus, I think I read somewhere that there will be a few “Italian themed” choices that are new. 

I haven’t seen any specific ones for the MDR menus, but I did see a few special burgers will be offered at Guy Fieri’s. 

We just booked and will be joining you on this cruise. It is surprising that there is so little activity on here. We are looking forward to exploring this newest addition to the Carnival fleet. 

For our April 16 trip, it’s the Vancouver Hilton, but it is our pre-cruise stay. 

On 12/22/2022 at 11:07 AM, blubberwon said:

We're flying to NO, they booked a direct flight leaving SFO at 10:30am to NO arriving around 6pm. Return trip 1 stop in Denver layover 1.5 hr 

Thank you. Those flights sound reasonable. 

On 12/18/2022 at 1:28 AM, blubberwon said:

Yes, we got email 3 weeks ago with the flight info

Thanks for your reply. May I ask, did they provide flights with reasonable itineraries, i.e. not multiple layovers, or long layovers? 

Have a great trip and a Happy Holiday and New Year! 

On 11/7/2022 at 10:25 AM, blubberwon said:

I have the Holiday cruise on AQ over New Year's and the airfare is included, so I find out, and will try to post results.

Thank you. I’m looking forward to your report. Sailing on New Year’s should be great. 
Did you get air travel details yet from AQ?  

Has anyone who booked with the free airfare perk traveled yet? I’m curious to hear of your experience with booking flights through them. We are booked for the April 16 trip from Portland to Spokane. 

20 hours ago, PATRLR said:

And according to multiple reports, in this very thread, YOUR statement does not match the reported experiences.   

This was my experience as well…. I was unable to book any restaurant, MDR or specialty, more than once. I used the chat function and the rep was able to book those dates for us, in multiple dates for the same restaurant, in a few minutes. 

We are sailing on BOTS in 3 days, and our cruise documents are still not available. It also states that luggage tags are “pending”. Is it wishful thinking to think that this means my pending RoyalUp bid will be accepted? 

13 minutes ago, PeabodyMa said:

Thank you, BillNY, for the wifi info.

•  Is there a safe for documents in the room?

I’m• Is there a mini-frig in the room?

Yes to both. There is a safe and a mini frig in every cabin. There is also a coffee maker. 

16 hours ago, bebtwice said:

BillNY how did you find the info for The Empress. We are doing our first AQSC cruise on the Empress on 8/16 so it looks like we will need a Covid test. I can't seem to find the place to schedule the Covid test on the website. Looked under the Health & Safety info at the top.

 

Thanks for the help!

I thought I responded but it seems to have disappeared.

In our docs, there is a website on which to sign up for the pre cruise Covid test (only required now for trips out of Washington state; so, only for the Empress. )

The website is impacthealth dot com /AQSC. There, you will be directed to make an account. A drop down menu of hotels will then be provided, one week before your trip, and then you will be able to sign up. 

You should be receiving your docs soon, and it will all be in there. 

I hope you have a great trip! 

11 hours ago, 40yearcruiser said:

Thanks to all for the updates. We board the Duchess on Aug. 2 so are relieved to hear no pre-cruise testing and that the HOHO are running again. This is our first AQSC cruise and can hardly wait!

We are on the Duchess July11-19. This will be our third AQSC cruise and second on the Duchess. I’m sure you’re going to love it! 

1 hour ago, TinCan782 said:

Just got a call from my AQSC rep regarding our upcoming Duchess cruise. NO testing required.

Vax still required, of course.

Masks pretty much not required onboard, inside or out, (except perhaps during boarding, etc).

Not sure on masking requirements on the HoHo buses (which she said are running).

Glad to hear the hop on hop off buses are running again! They are a great way to explore the ports and get a flavor of what life is like in the visited towns. 

Just an update on the testing or not testing at the hotel discussion:

This is from the impact health website that AQSC directs you to in order to make an appointment for a pre cruise COVID test. It is still required on the Empress, because, as stated above, Washington state still requires a test. 

As local regulations continue to evolve, it is no longer necessary for American Duchess, American Countess and American Queen Guests to register for their PCR (COVID-19) testing on site prior to boarding the vessel.

For American Empress Guests:  American Empress must participate in PCR (COVID-19) test the night prior to their voyage at the pre-cruise hotel.  

On 6/25/2021 at 7:02 PM, VegasCrossfire said:

So far we are having a great time.  We are lucky to be in a heat wave so we are nice and warm.  Make sure you take advantage of the Hop On Hop Off busses at each port. 

The hop on hop off buses are running again? That’s great news! 

I’m glad to hear you are enjoying your trip! 

5 hours ago, Calliope said:

Just got our docs yesterday  for the trip up to Red Wing. We're certainly looking forward to an exciting adventure on an old river by a new boat.

Have you heard that, as of July 1, AQSC is not requiring a pre cruise COVID test, (except for sailings out of Washington state, where it is required by state law)?

Are you sailing right after our trip (July 18)? 

2 hours ago, denamo said:

I was curious about the post of no Covid testing to be done pre-cruise.  I called AQSC late yesterday and the rep I spoke with said that is not true.  She even looked through her email for any update.  I mentioned the American Countess wasn't listed to sign up for an appointment time for our July 4 embarkation.  I told her only boats from Washington state with embarkation dates in July were listed to make an appointment. 

 

She was adamant about the fact that we would be tested.  Checked online today (Saturday, 6/26/21), but still no American Countess appointment times listed for our July 4 embarkation. Our testing date would be a week from today.  It's a mystery! 😃 

 

I'll keep everyone posted here.

I was told, upon calling an AQSC rep, as you may see in my earlier post, that the test was still required. After reading LewiLewi’s post, I called again a few days later and was told that, yes, indeed, as of July 1, testing was no longer going to be done or required. The funny thing was I’m pretty sure it was the same rep who had told me a few days before that it was still required. 

I believe that the hotel is not being listed indicates that the rep you spoke with was confused, maybe because of the Washington requirement. 

I recommended to the rep that the company should send clarifying emails to those of us who gad already received docs with the old info. 

I’m happy to hear that....I’m surprised they didn’t send an update. Thanks for the info. 

We are sailing on the Duchess in mid July. Our docs say we must be vaccinated, and that a COVID test will be required and administered at the pre cruise hotel the day before we sail. The docs also “strongly recommend” that you get tested a few days before you leave home. I called to ask if results of that test in your community was needed to be reported to them, and I was told that they won’t be asking for those results. 

So,  I guess the answer to your question is “No”, but “Yes”. 

19 hours ago, califsealion said:

My mom and I did a trip the New Orleans to Memphis trip on the Duchess in October 2019. I loved that little boat!  If you go outside to the front of the boat just outside the fitness room and Perks, there was a couch there with no rail in front of it because there are stairs going down right there.  I could have sat there all day and watched the scenery go by.  Feel free to come back and tell us all about the trips!

Ahh, we have to check out your “secret” spot. It sounds like a great place to relax and enjoy! 

15 hours ago, Calliope said:

My husband and I will be on the trip from Alton up to Red Wing. It will be our first time on the AD, but have been on the AQ and AE several times. It too will be our first cruise since February, 2020 and we're more than ready to travel the rivers of America again.

Yes, we were on what I believe was the last ocean cruise before the pandemic in March 2020, and it is time to travel again. I see you have a Mark Twain quote in your signature; is your trip also with the “Mark Twain’s  Mississippi” theme? When is your trip?