snorkel2

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

This is my favorite patch of the trail. 

That would be beautiful to ride my horse down. 🙂

I just bought these hooks also. 🙂 We are Equinox B2B Sept 5/17 so will be moving in for 21 days. Yay. It will be nice to have some more places to hang stuff. Also got some chair clips. Getting more and more excited as each day goes by.

Just FYI since it came up about the type of test used by Covid Clinic and if they were accredited and using FDA tests - this is from their website. Also I don't work for them or get anything from them. I was just happy with their service when I used them for travel previously and have scheduled our tests for September with them. They have locations around the US which may help others. 🙂 

I had no problem traveling to Curacao with Covid Clinic Antigen test. If I remember right they provided a laboratory/test accreditation sheet with the test. Wish I would have saved what they sent but it was over a month ago and I shredded all that when I got home. I was pleased with their service and the cost wasn't bad @ $99. My insurance won't cover travel related. My friend who I traveled with from Dallas had a hard time finding even a PCR (could not find an Antigen) that would come in within the 72 hours time requirement of Curacao. I think she was charged over $300 for the test but the lab billed her insurance (Medicare I think) and she only ended up paying $39. We about went crazy trying to determine all the different tests and time requirements and many of the places themselves gave incorrect info. I booked what I thought was a PCR at a local urgent clinic but when they called to verify appointment I re-asked to make sure I was getting the right test and it was not. After that I just booked with the Covid Clinic and it was done. All their different tests, timelines and costs are spelled out. They will NOT bill insurance.

I totally get people's confusion and frustration trying to figure this all out. When you are under last minute time pressure it is even worse.

5 hours ago, atexsix said:

That's what happened to me, lol, I was hoping someone that was sailing sooner than we were would know. 

 

I'm having no luck with Walmart pharmacies, despite having gotten both my vaccine shots there. 

We are in Portland, Oregon. I used Covid Clinic. They have lots of places around Oregon and Washington. $99 for an Antigen test. Register online. Go to location. They verify some info, do test and you have results email and text in under 30 minutes. I used them when we went to Curacao in June and already made appointment for us for September 3 before flight to FLL. I highly recommend. Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS and others (at least in our area) could not guarantee results within 72 hours.

We took the FCC for our April 13 Reflection cancellation. Received that about 3 weeks ago. Today we got our final refund of port fees/taxes and our air that was through Celebrity. The cruise got cancelled March 24. Have faith it will all get refunded eventually. The amounts were weird but in the end totaled the correct amount.

We received our FCC in email today for the cancellation of April 13 Reflection. Refunds have been coming in for our Celebrity Air and port taxes. I expect we will be 100% complete by end of next week. Weird amounts but when all in it will be 100%. It's hard to be patient when it concerns $$$ but they will get it all taken care of eventually. Crazy times right now for the cruise industry and the credit card companies trying to process all this. Those people have to be losing their minds.

We have NEVER received a $100 credit on our Royal Caribbean B2Bs. Ever. We are Diamond +.

On 4/15/2020 at 12:53 PM, ipeeinthepool said:

As for excursions, if you enjoy a catamaran sail and snorkeling I would make a reservation with Calabaza (1st choice) or Silver Moon in Barbados.  Silver Moon is fine, I just like Calabaza a little better.   As far as St Vincent is concerned, not a very nice stop.  Just plan on staying on the ship.

Calabaza is THE BEST. We go with them every time we are in Barbados. Top notch.

1 hour ago, mr walker said:

This story is very unlike the experiences we have had in similar circumstances.

 

On one cruise I had a severe gastro illness - I can only guess it was noro. I was infected it seems before boarding as others who had attended a party with me, got the same sickness - they weren't going on the cruise with us. I only learned that after returning from the cruise 10 days later.

 

When the symptoms started (on day 1) I presented to the medical centre. I was given medication, a handout on 'noro' diet and quarantined to cabin. I was instructed to call room service & they would deliver food from the 'noro' list. They provided a hazard bag for the trash & I had to call again to have them collect the tray & was told specifically not to put the tray in the hallway. The free room service extended to bottled water & 'sports' drinks to replace the electrolytes lost. They also provided free movies.

 

Our cabin attendant cleaned our room after the initial sickness, and each day did a thorough clean, suited up in protective gear. The cleaning included wiping all surfaces, including walls. Bedding was bagged separately. He apologized each day for servicing our room 'late' as he was required to leave our room to last to avoid infecting the other cabins.

 

I received regular phone calls from the medical centre & guest services enquiring on my condition. The nurse advised that I needed to stay quarantined for 24 hours after the last episode. After a couple of days the illness subsided and 24 hrs passed without incident & they called me as normal & asked me about time since last incident and released me to resume my holiday.

 

I received no charges for the medical, including the medication provided & received a FCC equal to the value of the days quarantined. 

 

The whole situation was very well handled by all RC staff & crew, in a professional and empathetic manner.

I got sick on a cruise a few years ago and it was handled exactly as stated above. It was early morning the 8th day of our cruise and after seeing the doctor for a shot and some pills I was good to go next day after I had a re-check. My husband never got sick. We were treated very well. Royal went above and beyond. Our stateroom attendant was awesome. 🙂

We stayed at AC Hotel San Juan post hurricane. It was nice. New. Modern. Staff was super nice. You can walk from the hotel to some nice restaurants. We enjoyed a Cuban restaurant (twice) that was fairly close. After the hurricane there were a lot of places closed. Some say it was economy driven BEFORE the hurricane but I could not say. At that time, even in Old San Juan quite a few of the shops that we had previously been to were closed or closing. Someone said that opening up Cuba had taken a lot of tourism away from San Juan. Not sure if that is accurate or not. We love San Juan and given the choice we always sail from there. We go in a few days early and usually stay at Condado Plaza Hilton or Courtyard Marriott Isla Verde. Those hotels were pretty damaged from the last hurricane which is why we stayed at AC Hotel. There are many places to enjoy without going into Old San Juan should there be problems. You're on vacation. Enjoy the sun and the beautiful sea. 🙂

We had booked this for our upcoming Panama Canal Cruise beginning October 9. Celebrity just cancelled it yesterday. I was looking on internet for possible snorkel tours and saw your post. I am SO glad we didn't waste $199 per person for that. We have always had decent excursions on Royal and Celebrity. Can't imagine how they got that one so wrong. OY.

Snorkel2 and TXRainman are at AC Marriott since Thursday. It is OPEN for business. Newly renovated. Very nice hotel. They were happy to have us and everyone we have come in contact with has been super nice. Rooftop pool. Close to restaurants on Ashford. We saw the Condado Plaza and Caribe Hilton today when we went to Old San Juan. They are closed we are told by taxi driver due to damage from storm. They are trying to get things repaired and open as quickly as possible. A lot of places on Ashford are closed but we think more from economy rather than hurricane. Old San Juan - many stores posted only open from 10-2. I believe full power not restored their yet. Island looks pretty good from what we saw going from airport to hotel to OSJ and back. Taxi driver said half hour out not so good but that things are progressing every day. Everyone we have talked to has been positive.

Trying to narrow this down! I just want to be able to get off the boat and get a ride to a really good snorkeling beach (I hate off the boat snorkeling). This would be at the beginning or middle of November!

 

• 1. St Croix, Virgin Islands - U.S
  
• Philipsburg (St. Maarten), Netherlands Antilles
  
• Roseau, Dominica
  
• Bridgetown, Barbados
  
• St George's, Grenada
  

OR

2. Grand Turks

St. Thomas

OR

3. Harvest Caye

Costa Maya

Cozumel

OR

4 St. Thomas

Tortola

OR

5. Grand Turks

Philipsburg

We are avid snorkelers.

St. Croix - you can walk off ship, down dock to left (head towards the fort) and snorkel right from the beach. We saw a ton of fish there. Even lion fish. You can also take quick taxi to Sandcastle on the Beach Hotel and do a cheap day pass for chair and umbrella and snorkel from their beach. It was good too. They have nice restaurant.

St. Maarten - nope. Have never had any significant wow we have to go back there snorkeling.

Dominica - take taxi to Champagne Beach. There is a small fee because it is a park. Walk down to water is fairly rocky but OMG the BEST snorkeling ever. We have been here many times by boat and by taxi. Best is to go by taxi.

Grenada - nope. Another place that we didn't have much success in 3 tries. Just not our cup of tea.

Grand Turks - never been.

St. Thomas - take taxi to any of these: Sapphire Beach - been there many times and it is good. It can be rough swimming at times. Coki Beach - good snorkeling. Secret Harbor Beach between the hotel and restaurant. We had the best snorkeling here of all 3 places in St. Thomas. Going back there in about 1 month. :-)

Harvest Cay - never been.

Costa Maya - we did the ruins instead of snorkeling.

Cozumel - go to Xel Ha Park. Requires a boat ride and bus ride. Is an all day thing but well worth it. There are lockers for your gear and food and drink are included in the park pass. Really good snorkeling. Will go back there again for sure. Worth the travel time.

Tortola - we went with the ship to 2 different sites. Saw TONS of fish. Schools of fish. It was really good and memorable. Have not been on an itinerary that has taken us back there but we would go again if we could.

We are die hard snorkelers. We snorkel everywhere we go. Have our own gear and have been to Caribbean many times over the years and have found some really great places. St. Maarten -The reef we found at Dawn Beach was OK the first time but last year (2016) it had declined a lot so after the hurricane probably worse.

Asked a friend that works for the government, and was told that the higher cost suites or luxury type rooms are outside the per diem rate for FEMA, Contract & government employees to reserve. Otherwise, every room is fair game.

 

 

Check out the www.fedtravel.com website for more details.

We were also told suites were out of their cost range so booked suite with our travel partners at AC Marriott for 11/23-24. Had one of my co-workers who is from Puerto Rico call and verify our reservation is good. Will re-verify again when we are 2 weeks out. American Airlines totally removed our original flights this past Monday. They sent an email to our travel partners that their flights (from Dallas) were changed. We are from Oregon. No notice. I checked their website and our entire reservation was gone with a note to call American. Everything is now re-set for all of us and we are looking forward to taking off for DFW early morning (12:30 AM) on 11/23, meetings our friends and heading to San Juan. This will be a trip to remember. That is for sure. We LOVE LOVE LOVE San Juan. Have cruised from there many times on Adventure and Jewel and totally look forward to being there a few days pre-cruise. BTW our original hotel reservation was at Condado Plaza Hilton which got cancelled about 2 weeks ago. Bottom line is to always have a plan B. :-) I will be SO happy when they open that aircraft door in San Juan and the heat and humidity hit me!!! We will know we have arrived!!! Looking forward to a great B2B cruise (again) with our friends from Texas.

Asked a friend that works for the government, and was told that the higher cost suites or luxury type rooms are outside the per diem rate for FEMA, Contract & government employees to reserve. Otherwise, every room is fair game.

 

 

Check out the www.fedtravel.com website for more details.

We were also told suites were out of their cost range so booked suite with our travel partners at AC Marriott for 11/23-24. Had one of my co-workers who is from Puerto Rico call and verify our reservation is good. Will re-verify again when we are 2 weeks out. American Airlines totally removed our original flights this past Monday. They sent an email to our travel partners that their flights (from Dallas) were changed. We are from Oregon. No notice. I checked their website and our entire reservation was gone with a note to call American. Everything is now re-set for all of us and we are looking forward to taking off for DFW early morning (12:30 AM) on 11/23, meetings our friends and heading to San Juan. This will be a trip to remember. That is for sure. We LOVE LOVE LOVE San Juan. Have cruised from there many times on Adventure and Jewel and totally look forward to being there a few days pre-cruise. BTW our original hotel reservation was at Condado Plaza Hilton which got cancelled about 2 weeks ago. Bottom line is to always have a plan B. :-) I will be SO happy when they open that aircraft door in San Juan and the heat and humidity hit me!!! We will know we have arrived!!! Looking forward to a great B2B cruise (again) with our friends from Texas.