sunviking90

No mask mandate of any kind, and I wouldn’t expect that at this point. My DH was able to be out and about with a mask while I isolated. I didn’t have to wear a mask on my release, and I didn’t as I had no symptoms by this point. When I got out I actually think I was healthier than most around me by the sounds of it. There was no mention at all of Illness, staying healthy, etc, at all. I saw a few stools in the halls, but I think they want to believe it is all over. It is “endemic” now, and for most a mild cold, but it would have been nice if they told people to stay away from others if not well, coughing, etc, and I was told by another that they had masks available at the front desk. The crew really don’t care either. I was surprised that every time they brought my meals, they would knock on the door, I would mask up and open it, and the unmasked crew would hand it to me. I was expecting them to put it on the stool, knock and run. I guess they have all had it so many times they have great immunity and don’t care anymore. Hopefully I get my FCC, but as I said, we spend so much time in our cabin, on the balcony, etc it really didn’t impact my cruise. I was able to enjoy the Panama Canal transit from my balcony.

A few of us on our roll call were isolated during our recent Emerald Princess cruise (ended yesterday). My isolation was only 4 days as the medical centre counts from when your symptoms started. We were all told by guest services that we would receive FCC for the 4 days regardless of any insurance, PVP or other. Mask up everyone! I didn’t attend the meet and greet, we generally keep to ourselves, take stairs, etc and still got it. Mine was very mild and felt like allergies. I had tests with me and tested myself on a whim around day 10, or I wouldn’t have believed I had it. Judging by the sneezing, coughing and sniffles I heard around my on “release” about half the ship had it. No exaggeration. Many cruises since the restart and this is the first time I’ve caught it on a cruise.

We’ve never been able to have our medallions mailed, but based on my recent experience, I wouldn’t pay to do it if I could. The Blue lane line was perhaps 5-10 minutes, but the main wait just as before was in the “holding pens” while you wait in the chairs to board. I’ve never experienced much of a wait at the check in lines in all my years of cruising, so I don’t see the difference.

We left San Pedro Aug 21. We arrived around 10:30 am and were on the ship by 11:30. About a 5 min line to get our medallions (blue lane), then to the wait area. We were directed to the Plat area but it was full, so we sat elsewhere. Elite area had some space. Boarding was the most crowded I’ve seen here and we’ve done about 5 cruises from here in the last 2 years, but this was not due to green/ blue lanes or medallion pu. Everyone had arranged to arrive earlier to to weather, and princess had sent an email the day before to allow for flooding (Hilary) in travel time. Roads were fine for most, by then.

It changed in August with the plus package “enhancements”. We have always been able to be in the green lane even though we had to get our medallions at the pier, until this cruise we are on now. We were in the green lane and it bumped us back to blue when the changes happened. I think only plus/premier package people who get the medallion shipping included or those who pay for it can be green now. Honestly, it made almost no difference in San Pedro.

Until they see our money.

They are still on the stateroom TV.

We have usually received it the morning we disembark or the following day (most recently from the Crown in July). Currently on the Emerald, so we’ll see how it goes.

I love watching them when we are on our cruises. I especially look for the season premiere episodes that were often 2 parts and filmed on location and really on the ship. Last night we watched one from the 80’s (with the new cruise director) filmed on the Vistafjord from Genoa to Lisbon. For some reason the Vistafjord needed Captain Stubing and the gang to world that cruise 🤣

They were recommending reservations, but it wasn’t at all full.

I don’t remember, but that does ring a bell. I have it printed out at home. I do use regular limes, not key limes though. They’re a little scarce in Vancouver!

A few more comments: had our 4th dinner in the MDR last night and DH and I were both commenting on how pleased we are with the food. I’ve had lamb 2 nights in a row (along with mint sauce, yum) and it’s been great. DH has enjoyed the fish dishes he’s had. We have been cruising since our 20’s over 30 years ago, so we have realistic expectations and have seen and accepted the declines in food, but we are pretty happy with everything so far. Last night I had the BEST key lime pie! I sometimes make my own with an authentic Florida recipe and this was almost as good. Planks and Steamers is now open on this ship and it is $14.99. Last night was Planks, and we were told it will be open every 3 nights. Tonight Steamers will be open on the other side. We may try Planks one night as we will have “just” enough OBC left to cover.

Currently on the Emerald Princess and very happy! We were on her last November after her dry dock and everything still looks as fresh to me. We are in a balcony stateroom and the carpet is new, the bedding is firm. Yes the ship is older and we all know Princess stuck with their 1990’s decors a little too long, but the ship is lovely. We were happy to see an additional $180 usd credit in our account for port refund. Nicaragua was on the original itinerary but had already been dropped when we booked, but apparently that is what it is for. We have a standing reservation for 5:40 every evening in Botticelli and have been given the same table and told it is “our” table, which I like. Food has been quite good. Hazelnut Bar last night has shrunk a bit, but maybe that’s ok? Lunch in the MDR has had huge lineups from 11:45-1:30. I think this is a direct result of the new room service charge, with many who would otherwise order lunch (and don’t like the buffet) are heading to the MDR. The ship will have to adjust to the higher demand in the MDR for lunch. We don’t recognize any crew from our last time in the ship, but all that we have come across are great. Overall they seem to be a more experienced bunch than we met on the Crown in June. I’ll be happy to answer any question, but may not be fast as we don’t have wifi, but use an Esim in port only.

We are at an LAX hotel hoping to board Emerald tomorrow and it’s been rainy and slightly windy here for an hour or so.

We are on this cruise. Just changed our flight from Sunday afternoon to tomorrow at 6:15 am from YVR. Really hate early AM flights, but I’ll feel better to be in LA early.

Agree.

This is surprising. We literally bought our shares 2 weeks before our cruise last January and only submitted the purchase transaction statement. I have it saved to my files and that’s all I’ve used ever since, most recently for our April 2024 cruise.

Sapphire Princess is our favourite! A little new than the Grand too.

A lot of great advice already, but I do want to add a vote for the Grand. It sounds like many in your party are excited about the scenery and the Grand will cruise through the lower part of the inside passage on your last day (between the mainland and Vancouver Island). This is beautiful scenery and we always see whales on this last day too. The Royal Princess is too large to take this route and will take the route to the west of Vancouver Island, meaning you will see mostly just open sea on the last day.

Yes, this is what we do too if we occasionally use the buffet. The hand washing is especially important as it will help protect against noro too which most sanitizers won’t. Not a fan of gloves in this case either as any of us who used to work in medical/dental fields can tell you a lot of cross contamination can occur if not following correct practices. Hands can be washed.

I am also retired from the dental field. Those habits stay with you. I also wonder about the stewards entering the cabin. We always do a Lysol swab of all the high tough surfaces, but then the steward is entering our stateroom daily and unlike us, probably not washing hands each time. We can only be sensible and then cross our fingers.

This is a great reminder to all of us that Covid hasn’t gone away. We have been on 10 cruises since the restart and haven’t caught it on a ship yet. DH did catch a nasty respiratory virus while travelling in London before one of our cruises tho. We caught Covid last summer while at home and still not sure how. I think our general cruising habits help, as we tend to keep to ourselves and avoid crowded areas like the Piazza and buffet. We also use the stairs exclusively. Less guilt for the desserts. We leave Monday for a 19 day cruise and I guess I’ll be packing a few of those N95s that I thought I no longer needed for crowded times. Sigh.

I have the silver metal bracelet. I agree it fits very small. My wrists are tiny and I had to exchange mine for the larger size as the smaller one fit, but wasn’t comfortable. I liked the looser bangle fit. It is pricey, but I have worn it on 6 cruises so far and generally wear it all day, every day. I switch to the lanyard if we are ashore (tucked away 😜) as the medallion is only held into the bracelet by a magnet, and I don’t want it to get lost ashore.

No elevators here either, but can’t resist the bread and desserts. We keep saying we’ll tell the waiter not to leave the bread basket, but we always take it anyway.

I’m glad you’ve found a resolution. I did want to mention that Air Canada has non stops from Newark to YVR currently.. Your cruise is almost 2 years away, so schedules could change but they’ve flown this route for a few years.