njhorseman

The statement that they're "directly across the street" from the cruise terminal is a lie. They're on West 43rd St. between 11th and 12 Ave whereas Pier 88 is at 48th St and 12th Ave and Pier 90 is at West 50th St. and 12th Ave. The $19.99 price quote does not include taxes and if you have anything bigger than a modest size sedan they'll charge you more than $19.99. The way they compute the number of days you'll be charged means that for a 7 night cruise you'll be charged for 8 days of parking as opposed to 7 at the cruise terminal. If you want them to shuttle you to and from the pier you'll also pay more. Your car will also be subject to being moved numerous times while parked there, while the cruise terminal is a "park and lock' facility so no one will be moving your car and the cruise terminal parking lots are secure and not accessible on days when ships are not in port. So, it really isn't "half price" any more than it's directly across the street. That having been said you will save some money in exchange for a loss of convenience and a greater risk of damage to your car. My preference is to park at the pier. Others may disagree.

No...if you price out certain dates on that itinerary, for example the December 13, 2022 sailing, you'll see that the total of all taxes and fees comes to the $162, just as stated and shown on the screen shot, while on other dates it's higher, for example on the August 29, 2022 sailing, it's $279. In thinking about this some more I seem to recall that port taxes in Bermuda are seasonal so it would make sense that the taxes and fees for a summer high season cruise such as August 29 are higher than an off season cruise such as December 13 . The $162 shown on the screen shot is the lowest possible taxes and fees charge, just as when you look at the same screen shot you see they display a $299 cruise fare, which is the cheapest fare available for the itinerary, but that $299 fare is not available on every departure.

That's incorrect. Except for cruises in Hawaii, which are unique because the state imposes a Gross Excise Tax that is similar to a sales tax, the per person taxes and fees are identical for all cabins, from the least expensive inside to the most expensive Haven suite on any particular cruise. NCL estimates the total non per capita taxes and fees applicable to the ship such as docking fees, tug fees and harbor pilot fees, divides that amount by the estimated number of passengers who will be on the ship to get a per capita value and then adds the charges that are already per capita to get a total per passenger. Pick a cruise and do a mock booking of the least expensive inside cabin and compare that to a mock booking of the most expensive Haven cabin on the same sailing and you'll see that the taxes, fees and port expenses per person will be identical. I just think there's a systems glitch causing the apparent discrepancy in what the OP is seeing.

Two comments. I have no personal experience in doing what you are suggesting but AFAIK the advice has always been that you can't get access on a day when there isn't a ship in port. The guarantee of parking always being available does not mean parking in the garage is guaranteed to be available. The garage can fill to capacity in which case you have to park in the adjacent outside lot.

Yes, they need to put something for cruises departing from the East Coast of the US that call on Canada, but the citation provided by @DirtyDawg , which is also what I was referring to when I said it's on the website actually does have what you're looking for . I've highlighted the sentence in bold print although I'm sure you've already seen it and understand it.. While I understand your frustration with the less than stellar job that Royal Caribbean has done here...obviously it doesn't make sense to have that information only for Vancouver departures...why are you taking it out on @DirtyDawg and me? We're only trying to help. Quite frankly, you posted this on the Canada (Alaska/Pacific Coastal) board, which is why we assumed you were talking about a Vancouver cruise. Until now you never said you were cruising from New York. (Actually you're not cruising from New York either...) If you had posted on the Canada/New England board or the East Coast Departures board no one would have assumed you were cruising from Vancouver, or for that matter Seattle too because as in the case of Vancouver departures Royal also provides the ArriveCan information for Seattle . ArriveCan App or Website: All travelers to Canada, or their legal guardians, must download the ArriveCAN app or complete the mandatory travel information via the ArriveCAN website prior to your entry into Canada. This applies whether you are departing on your cruise from Canada, ending your cruise in Canada, or visiting the country as a port of call. We are working with the Canadian government to make this process easier for guests arriving by cruise ship, and will ensure guests have guidance to complete this process smoothly onboard. Learn more about Canada travel requirements.

Uber/Lyft or a car service such as Carmel Limo or Dial 7.

The Crowne Plaza and the Doubletree seem to be the hotels of choice in San Pedro.

The CVS website lists a number of CVS Minute Clinics in Charlotte that have appointment times available for rapid antigen tests. Also there are several Walgreens stores that appear to have appointments available for rapid NAAT tests. Obviously I haven't tried to actually book to see if the process can be completed but has she tried to do an actual booking?

I'd be more inclined to blame a drop in tourist spending on the stock market woes of the past couple of months and inflation quickly eroding spending power than having to pay $40 pp and dealing with the bureaucracy of the travel authorization process.

That's my take on it. It's really easy to be a cynical wise guy and accuse anyone who makes a recommendation of having an ulterior motive. In this case the agent was presenting a simple fact...that Vista will have more specialty restaurants than Sirena, including two that are totally new to Oceania. I know I would find that attractive.

I've waded through all the regulations several times and IMO the random testing upon arrival doesn't apply to cruise ship, ferry or boat passengers, but only to those arrive in Canada at a land border crossing or by air.

It's on their website. Since filling out the ArriveCan form shouldn't take very long my guess is you'll probably hear something from Royal Caribbean a week or two before your cruise.

I'd like to know who at NCL is giving out this misinformation. It sounds like someone is giving out information for European countries, some of which do require a booster if your original vaccination series is over 270 days old, with Canada's requirements. No one should ever rely on what someone said on the phone. The correct information is on NCL's website, ncl.com. NCL doesn't require any boosters, only a complete primary vaccination series . Your vaccination card is perfectly valid. Here are the details: https://www.ncl.com/sail-safe#vaccines "What vaccines will be accepted? For All Norwegian Cruise Line Ships: Any U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and/or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized single brand vaccination protocol ≥2 weeks after receipt of the final dose. i.e. J&J Janssen, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford (Vaxzevria & CoviShield), Novavax and Covovax, Sinopharm or Sinovac, etc. A mixed vaccination combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO Emergency Use Listed (EUL) COVID-19 two-dose series with a minimum interval of 17 days. Note: Individuals receiving a Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before or after another COVID-19 vaccine are considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19 ≥2 weeks after receipt of the single dose of the Janssen vaccine. Current Unauthorized Vaccines: Sputnik V To be fully vaccinated means to complete the full brand vaccination protocol of one brand of vaccine OR two doses of a mixed vaccination combination, and therefore a single shot of AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Sinopharm or Sinovac after COVID-19 recovery is NOT considered being fully vaccinated. Any guest who is required to be vaccinated must 1) be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to departure, 2) acknowledge vaccination status prior to sailing and 3) present proof of vaccination at the pier at embarkation in order to board. Guests ages twelve and up must be vaccinated per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO)and European Medicines Agency (EMA) in order to sail. As science, technology and government regulations evolve, we will update our health and safety protocols as needed and appropriate. Vaccines received via clinical trials will not be accepted as they do not specify vaccine received. Children and Teens between the ages of 12 and 17: Full vaccination protocol at least two weeks after receipt of the final dose of Pfizer-BioNTech only. For EU sailings, Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be accepted for vaccinated children and teens between the ages of 5 and 17 and Moderna (Spikevax) for children 12-17 years of age." Further, Canada also doesn't require boosters. The first citation below, from ncl.com, says you have to be fully vaccinated (I've highlighted that in bold type.) The second citation below, from the Canadian government, defines "fully vaccinated". As you can see in the section I've put in bold type, no booster is required. https://www.ncl.com/travel-requirements-by-country Canada Cruise Protocols Country Requirements PLEASE NOTE: All guests must complete ArriveCAN submission within 72 hours of embarkation. ArriveCAN receipt must be presented at check in on embarkation day. Vaccination Requirements: All guests age twelve and older must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to arrival. Testing Requirements: Embarkation: all guests must provide proof of negative NAAT test (i.e. PCR) taken within 72 hours prior to embarkation, or negative antigen test taken within 48 hours of embarkation. All unvaccinated guests ages 5-11 will also be required to take an additional test at embarkation. This test will be paid for and administered by Norwegian Cruise Line. Mid Cruise Testing: required for unvaccinated guests ages 5-11. This test will be paid for and administered by Norwegian Cruise Line. Disembarkation Testing (for cruises ending in a Canadian port only): unvaccinated guests ages 5-11 will be tested at disembarkation. This test will be paid for and administered by Norwegian Cruise Line. Face Coverings: Required ashore in business establishments based on local requirements. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada#determine-fully "Check if you qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller To qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller to Canada, you must: have received at least 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine accepted for travel, a mix of 2 accepted vaccines or at least 1 dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine have received your second dose at least 14 calendar days before you enter Canada Example: if your second dose was anytime on Thursday, July 1, then Thursday, July 15 would be the first day that you meet the 14 day condition have no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upload proof of vaccination in ArriveCAN complete your ArriveCAN submission and have ArriveCAN receipt with letter I, V, or A beside your name"

1.833.570.2594

Since that's a Royal Caribbean-specific question you probably should also post it on the Royal Caribbean board.

You need to post this question on the board for the cruise line your mother is on, and read the COVID testing protocols and FAQs on that cruise line's website. Anyone who has tried to give you a definitive answer without knowing what cruise line and itinerary you're asking about is just spitting into the wind . They might be right...they might be wrong...but they really don't know.

I agree.

That was eliminated long before COVID.

You can use the beach because the hotel is obligated to maintain public access to it. No passes, just find the access path and walk on.

In addition to the Visitor's Center in the past at certain hours they've also sold them at a table or booth in the customs buildings at the piers but I don't know if they still are.

I assume you're traveling to the Hyatt House from somewhere in the nearby area such as EWR or Cape Liberty . I'd say UberXL or Uber Black SUV would work.

You still have to upload a negative test for your Travel Authorization before embarking. The test you are referring to is an additional test required for certain itineraries . NCL and Royal Caribbean are doing those additional tests for cruises that require them on board and I have to believe Celebrity will also do them on board. I believe the cruise line will then provide the results to Bermuda as there's no way I'm aware of to upload a second test result once you've received your Travel Authorization.

CityMD is a large chain of urgent care centers with many locations in Manhattan that do COVID testing: https://www.citymd.com/urgent-care-locations Mask mandates in NYC have mostly been eliminated although they are still required on mass transit...subways, buses and trains. There has been mention of the city possibly bringing back mask mandates if COVID hospitalizations rise.

Speaking as a former travel agency owner, IMO a good travel agent would make sure their clients were informed of the process. They don't get paid to just be an order taker.

I don't understand why you're all making an issue out of this. The OP has asked a legitimate question. These products have been around for years. They're called nondairy frozen desserts and you can find them in any supermarket. Almond milk or other nondairy "milks" are used instead of cow's milk. Even high end ice cream manufacturers such as Ben and Jerry's make many flavors of nondairy frozen desserts, aka vegan ice cream. They're not "bizarre' in any way. NCL carries nondairy milks such as soy milk and almond milk. I use them all the time as I'm lactose intolerant and can't digest ordinary milk. All you have to do is ask for it. I've not see vegan ice cream on NCL, but that doesn't mean they might not have it. Not only is there nothing wrong with individuals making "lifestyle eating choices", for some there are legitimate medical reasons why they have to avoid certain foods.