SharonN

We are currently on the first leg of a b2b on the Nieuw Amsterdam and there's been nothing said about needing to be tested. We just got our letter with the In Transit Passes for tomorrow in Whittier and it says we can get off and back on any time tomorrow after 6 am. There's no customs or Immigration since we did that to get on the ship so should be easy. And now that they've dropped the test to fly back to the US we don't need to worry about one next weekend when we get to Vancouver.

We had the Surf Package included with the Have it All package and it was $40 to upgrade for the 7 days but we got a $30 discount because we are 5 * so only cost us $10 to upgrade for the entire week. I was surprised it was so low but obviously ok with that price. The upgrade allows us to watch a daily podcast on YouTube which the Surf Package doesn't support. I'm not sure I could upload all of my photos and videos to the site I use for our blog without upgrading either.

We're pulling in right now 🙂 and the weather looks great.

We're currently on the Nieuw Amsterdam and it was $40 to upgrade from the included Surf Package to the Premium one but since we're 5* we got the $30 discount on it so it was only $10. Good deal. And it's working pretty well as I've been able to upload photos from the first few days without any issues.

Good News we got the testing done at the Fairmont across the street as Coquitlam suggested and it was very organized and quick. Negative results received and we are now ready to sail tomorrow. Thanks again for letting us know about the site at the Fairmont. So we definitely recommend it to anyone else that had their Convention Center apt canceled.

This has nothing to with getting a test when we leave Vancouver to fly back to the US. I'm ok with that and will deal with it and hope they don't close down the airport test site the day we fly home. Though I agree it's time for the US to drop that requirement. My problem is with the Vancouver Convention Center closing their test site with 2 days notice when we had scheduled tests there to get on the cruise to begin with and then expecting us to spend our 1 day there going back to the airport to get the test. If they'd given us more notice we could have had time to order the proctored tests to bring with us. But expecting everyone who scheduled tests there to rearrange their plans at the last minute is totally unacceptable.

Thank you so much! Was just able to make apts for tomorrow morning. We asked the HAL rep at the airport if we could go get one there tonight but he said to check with the concierge at the hotel and they'd be able to help. It had been a very long day of travel and the though of waiting in line (the line we saw was fairly long) was just too much to think about at that point. Then at the hotel they told us the cruise lines set up sites the day of sailing but we'd rather do it tomorrow so this works out great. It is $120 but that's ok since it's convenient and saves us a lot of time. Thanks again both Coquitlam and Storylady!!! So glad I took a moment to check this thread again.

We took the Sky train to the airport from the port last time we ended a cruise in Vancouver so that's probably what we'll do if we need to go back on Sat.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. We leave too early on Fri to be able to get the test done here and have too many other apts scheduled to try and get the PCR done tomorrow. So I think our plan is to check when we get to Vancouver on Fri to see if we can get it done there before heading to the hotel assuming we can find some way to notify HAL and see how that impacts our getting to the hotel. We booked our flight and hotel with them to make things "easier" which it would have been but... If that doesn't work then we'll see if the hotel has any other ideas and if not we'll head back to the airport on Sat. One site would have let me book 1 apt but not for 2 of us. Maybe if we go early when they first open it would be better. Who knows. As for our return flight (we're doing a back to back) from Vancouver we have apts scheduled at Canada Place that morning since we have a late flight. Have booked the "tour" that includes luggage transfer, the HOHO (knowing we won't have time for that part) and Sky Train tickets to the airport. So will probably cancel that and take a HAL transfer to the airport. I guess I forgot to mention that the email indicates our apts will "automatically' be transferred to the Airport site at the same time (though it would be nice to be able to confirm it but they're not answering the phone and returning the voice or email messages) and that we'll be refunded our pre-payment and the tests will now be free so at least they aren't keeping our payments if we find another way. I'd rather have to pay and get them where/when I scheduled them but... we'll get thru this I'm sure. Thanks for letting me vent and giving me a few ideas.

All the Drug Store sites I saw were only open or taking apts Mon - Thu, and Sun afternoons. Guess they didnt' want to deal with the weekend cruise crowds 🙂

Not sure how to work that out with the HAL transfer to the hotel. doubt they'd wait a couple of hrs for us to got thru that and we don't get in till late afternoon. Just bad timing all around.

Sorry I know I'm venting and am trying to calm down (it's been a crazy week in general). I don't have a problem with having to get a test before boarding. I think it should be required so not blaming the US or HAL. The problem is that Vancouver set up a test site, took appointments and payments, and then at the last minute closes down the site with little to no alternatives. They are not answering emails or phone calls about the rescheduling. We're staying at the Pan Pacific and they aren't taking apts. At this point my husband is insisting we just go back to the airport since they've (supposedly) reschedule us there so I guess that's what we'll do. Sure not the way I wanted to start our first trip in over 2 years but hopefully we'll get past this and the cruise itself will be good.

Tried those already neither one is allowing scheduling apts for Sat. Guess we get to spend our one free day in Vancouver going back to the airport. I used to like Vancouver, but I think it's off my list of cities to ever visit or start/end a cruise in again.

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Did anyone else just get an email that they are closing the Testing Site at Canada Place? They're automatically rescheduling them for the Airport. Well that doesn't work for us. We're flying in on Fri to sail on Sun so need the test done on Sat and going back to the airport seems a bit out of the way. Anyone know of anywhere near the port to get a test on Sat? So much for all the planning I did.