CanWeGoYet?

No weighing of bags, as the other posts indicate.

We had 1 checked size bag & 1 carry on each, we gave these bags over to the driver and then I carried the Rxs and real valuables in a gym sized bag that had a trolley sleeve.  Easy to wheel up to the National Express on top of the luggage.  It was small enough to pass as a personal item - I stuck my handbag in it and was able to keep it with us for security.

On 12/22/2022 at 3:51 PM, Diver2014 said:

We just took National Express bus.  Cheap and runs often.

I had bought tickets in advance (only going to our hotel in town, but the flexible tickets are an option for southampton too I would think) and booked the fully flexible fare.  It wasn't much more and that way I didn't have to worry about making a specific time for the bus or how long customs would take.

Well good thing, I wasn't bright enough to use the passport scanner properly & got sent into another line out of sight of my son.  We got separated, I couldn't see where he was despite looking / asking staff etc.  Huge delay before we found each other in that airport.  The bus was no problem but it would have been a big issue if I had a private driver waiting for us.  

I really enjoyed my stay at Park Plaza Victoria.  Close to the theaters, Victoria Station and only about 4 blocks from National Express.  I watched for price drops and ended up paying a very  reasonable price, signing up on the Radisson site & booking  through that instead of the routine hotel booking sites helped.  Location & service was excellent.  

I can tell you from first hand knowledge that the travelodge on Castle Way has no room safe or telephone in the room.  I had made reservations 6 months earlier for a very nice room at the Holiday Inn (herbert walker ave).  They cancelled my res. 5 days before I was scheduled to be there.  Apparently burst pipes and no way to accommodate in any sort of room, let alone the one with the twin beds & ocean view I wanted.  So that hotel does have a room safe, apparently the travelodge ones don't so I would skip that.  It was a shock.  I didn't know there were hotel rooms without safes or phones.  Other than that, and having to ask for a room that wasn't scary looking & right off the alley - the stay was fine.  

It was pretty overwhelming trying to find a place I hoped would be decent, with twin beds, that close to the night before Sky Princess embarked.  Anyway best of luck.  I've stayed at a premier inn with a safe, but in was years ago and in Dover.  

I went on an Alaska cruise last May.  Not Princess, but obviously we had the whole ArriveCan thing to deal with and there was definitely no mask mandate.  Most I saw on the cruise did not mask.  Very few wore masks, even in the elevator.  What would happen routinely is people who had been riding the elevator with no mask on, would then turn around and face the wall of the elevator if someone got on to ride the elevator with them.  It was baffling - did they believe the covid germs would be confused as to not seeing a face and not know how to infect them?  LOL.  I mean the germs are likely there hanging in the air in the elevator even if you ride alone.  Unless you can hold your breath the entire elevator ride- you are pulling the air into your lungs along with any droplets suspended.  People going to crowded comedy club or seeing shows in the theater, most not masked.  Not surprising that on the roll call, there was a lot of reports of people coming up positive after getting home.  

We stayed at the Premier Inn Dover on Folkestone Road.  I was really happy with the room, liked the restaurant next door and the price was so reasonable.  Not close to the port, and there are several local hotels in this chain so I've read it's important to have the address of the one you want the taxi driver to take you to.  This one was set in the country across the road from a pasture with sheep.  

I had been unable to get into my cruise personalizer or log in.  After seeing advice to delete cookies, I just switched my browser to an incognito window.  Worked like a charm after that - no trouble accessing anything!

That's what they told me, cheesecake factory.  Only I had no idea where cheesecake factory was at this mall, and it covers a lot of ground.  It's in the southwest corner of the parking lot, I believe Sears was the biggest in mall store I saw labeled passing by.  Just look for the huge temporary tent in the parking lot, across from the mall with a bunch of orange traffic cones.   In the middle of a bunch of parking spots.  My son saw it, I was so busy looking for cheesecake factory I could have driven right by it.  There is a trailer next to it also.  

Glad if I was able to help.  I was so mad after planning carefully & then having the whole thing fall through right before the cruise I could have spit nails.  The testing and arriveCan etc just added a whole dimension to boarding a cruise.

4 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

I am fine with paying.  Carbon Health Southcenter Mall/230 Strander Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188?  Correct address?  You may be my hero!

That was it.  Couldn't have been quicker or easier.  Well, except for the drive from Queen Anne but even that didn't take any longer than dealing with in Seattle traffic.  

Travel Clearance - Tukwila, WA230 Strander Blvd Tukwila
WA 98188
(253) 656 4807
Billing Inquiries: (415) 200 2133  Download the Carbon Health app on the iTunes Store or Google Play.

When my PCR test at walgreens come back without a result by wednesday (tested monday) for a thursday cruise, I called Carnival to find out what my last ditch options were.  I asked if I could get a test at Smith Cove terminal, I was told no because I needed an appointment and there were no more available appointments for this cruise.  I was able to book an appointment that evening at Carbon health for a rapid test, cost $60 each but that was far less than many other pay for options.   Drove to southcenter mall for the test, they have a tent set up in the parking lot at the southwest portion of the lot.  There were no free options for testing within 100 miles of Seattle, and that had been the case in the previous days as well.  I had the appointment at walgreens because I had booked it days early.  

We were the only ones there for the test, they ran it while we waited and we had the printout 15 minutes after an MD did the test.  I really could have done without the stress of dealing with walgreens, I was told the results would be emailed to us in 48 hours or less.  Called several times, told my specimen had been logged but no result available.  They would not tell me any info on my son's specimen even being logged because "they can only check on one specimen per phone call."  By the time I called back, it was past 5PM Eastern time and they were closed for the day.  I never did get any results for either son or me emailed to me.  Whether they could have come up with the results on embarkation day when they were open again is possible, but I was glad to have got a printout the day before & it was definitely worth the cost to be free of the uncertainty.  

By the way, for those flying in to Seattle for the cruise / staying near the airport, southcenter mall is not far.  I don't know if you can get there by light rail, but it shouldn't be a bad fare by ride share.

5 hours ago, Moviela said:

 

 

If fully vaccinated you do not need to test before entry, nor quarantine for ten days.  

 

You do need to register details 72 hours prior to sailing, and get your QR code before they will let you in the terminal. I would also print out the permission from Canada in case your phone dies or refuses to connect when they want to see it. 

While the requirement to test for ArriveCan has changed, Carnival does require testing to embark.  And for Alaska it is a little more strict than for most other cruises - if one is fully vaccinated they may get a rapid test, but it has to be no more than 2 days before embarkation.

On 4/25/2022 at 8:12 PM, JT1962 said:

Yes, several of us had been trying to tell Csrnival for a couple of weeks that it was required, but for some reason they didn’t seem to think it applied to them.

My PVP was saying this as well, that it didn't apply to cruise ships.  It was clear from reading the wealth of statements in print from the government in Canada that it did.   But he's a great PVP and far too smart to be coming up with anything like that on the fly.  I am certain he was just being consistent with company policy, which he had to do.  

Still waiting for any sort of official communication, like a direct email, considering I have a cruise booked that is coming up.  Absolutely nothing so far from Carnival.  Seems odd, I mean what purpose could it serve to wait until shortly before the cruise is here to let people know they have to do this thing?

On 4/20/2022 at 7:51 AM, JT1962 said:

 I sail on Carnival in 12 days and my Carnival PVP just assured me yesterday ArriveCAN was not required and the Carnival website mentions nothing about it.
 

 

Hopefully you've seen that there has been an update - John Heald has since changed the plan on ArriveCAN.  Carnival is requiring it now.   

Celebrity's website may have improved since the cruise I took a decade ago, but back then I recall it was just as bad.  Possibly worse.  

Well, sorry this is happening to you, thundercrack, but I'm  relieved I'm not the only one.  Had a heck of a time logging in, then it shows only a countdown to my soonest embarking cruise but nothing else.  I have 3 cruises booked with Carnival.  

Of course Canada can require whatever they see fit to address Covid and ensure a level of safety they wish.  But why put all this in place a month before the cruise season begins?  My sense is this is going to be a huge cluster.  I hope I'm wrong, but with Carnival saying it doesn't apply to cruise ships, other lines saying yes you must download the App - this could be a mess.  And it's the passenger who suffers if their documentation turns out to be inadequate to board.  

14 hours ago, Zach1213 said:

 

Meh...in economy, you won't notice much difference between AA, DL, and BA to be honest. But it does sound like you'll be on BA the whole way, which means you'll stay within T5 the whole way. Even AA has started using T5 for their LAX/JFK/DFW/MIA flights (other AA flights remain in T3). 

 

Anyways, an all T-5 connection will be easy. It guys BUSY BUSY BUSY in T5 in the mornings, and expect a bit of wait to re-clear security, but with three hours you'll have tons of time. This is a much better connection. 

Awww, well I did hope it might be better.  If not, at least I'll stand better odds of making my connecting flight.  I had read, years ago & on a different flight forum, how a transatlantic flight in coach on United or AA could qualify as one of the 7 degrees of hell.  LOL.  

7 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Couple of points:

 

Your flight from LHR to FCO will not be on American.  AA does not fly that route.  You are on a code-share, operated by British Airways.

 

British Airways operates from both T5 and T3 at LHR, so you may have to change terminals there.

 

 

6 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

Also:

 

You don't say if you are flying from SEA straight to LHR, or connecting before you fly to London.  If on the flight from SEA to LHR, that too is not on American, but also is a code-share operated by BA.

 Yes, I  actually hoped it was BA.  Haven't flown that airline before but my friends who have prefer it over the US based ones.  

At least if I have  to change terminals, I have a bit of time to do it on this layover.  Found a flight connection tool on Heathrow site, that should help.  It's still a bit too early to input the flight info, but it should help provide a plan in time. 

Flight from SEA to LHR is nonstop, no connections on the way.  

It was a long time on hold, but I was able to change my flights.   Not sure about the penalties - it's before the 60 day penalty phase & I bought the flexible air option - not restricted.  So I'm able to change flights, or cancel up until the 60 days is up.  Got a flight to LHR on American, which won't be plush I'm sure but probably no worse than what I had.  This time a 3 hour layover, and the next flight is on American as well to FCO, so it should be far less stressful.

It cost a little more, maybe just because it's several months later & fuel has risen.  But should be far less stress.  

I really appreciate the helpful advice.  

5 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

Checked DL.com.  They sell that as a legal connect - from T4 to T1. (I think the MCT is 70 minutes)

 

Get your track shoes ready.

 

PS:  One of the many joys of buying cruiseline air.

I think I will try to get some better flights - this is sounding like a worse plan all the time.  

Thank you all for the feedback, I appreciate it!

2 hours ago, FlyerTalker said:

Checked DL.com.  They sell that as a legal connect - from T4 to T1. (I think the MCT is 70 minutes)

 

Get your track shoes ready.

 

PS:  One of the many joys of buying cruiseline air.

I think I will try to get some better flights - this is sounding like a worse plan all the time.  

Thank you all for the feedback, I appreciate it!

2 hours ago, Zach1213 said:

The only airlines operating JFK-FCO are AA, DL, and ITA. If you could provide a flight number, that would help clarify. 

Sure, thank you for the detailed info.  Flight numbers: DL3428 SEA to New York Kennedy arrival 8:22PM

                                                                    and Flight 611 departing 9:40 pm. 

Both flights lists Alitalia but I understand it must be ITA.  The  flight from SEA lists Alitalia but operated by Delta.

22 minutes ago, Twickenham said:

 

That is not the official JFK website - this is: https://www.jfkairport.com/flight/airlines

And yes, they list ITA rather than (now defunct) Alitalia. Although in fairness to the other site, the change is quite recent, so I'm sure it will take some time for everyone to ajust (heck, people still talk about Swissair, and they've been out of business for 20 years...!)

 

Anyways, to get back to your original question...

 

Cruise air gives at least a bit of protection, against all the uncertainty with the pandemic.  I priced refundable flights from SEA to FCO and the prices I found put the whole trip out of reach for us.  I don't have significant points to use to get the tickets that way.

 

What kind of protection are you looking for? If it's keeping your options open in case of change or cancellation, which your search for refundable tickets seems to indicate, that is probably a plus for cruise air. 

 

 

Just looking for a way to get a refund, instead of a credit - if the cruise is cancelled before final payment.  

Mainly looking for those who know the airport whether they thought my connection time was ok, or if I would be better off finding different flights.

It's the verbiage on my flight information.  

The two names may still be getting used interchangeably?    I see "alitalia" on the list of airlines on JFK's terminals.  http://jfk-new-york.worldairportguides.com/terminals.php

2 hours ago, kona_wahine said:

So, I guess I’m confused as to what Canadian official I will need to show the app to….. Since I will not be standing in front of one. 

It sounds to me like it is all still being hammered out.  John Heald basically said Alaska cruise season will happen, with or without Canada.  https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/6787/