chawkjewel

1 hour ago, mayleeman said:

Just curious--how did you find out?

She's a friend.  I asked her via another site.  I'm sure she will come on this evening and update everyone.

1 hour ago, cruisetorelax44 said:

May mean ours is closed for some reason for dinner. I've seen that happen before.... 😞 i guess ill have to just enjoy it on oasis in January instead!

We made the reservations via the cruise planner. I never really checked the app. 

She got her results and is on her way!!  No rapid antigen needed. 

4 minutes ago, cruisetorelax44 said:

I'm on Odyssey in November.  Right now, the app shows Solarium Bistro is open for only breakfast and lunch. Is it the same for you? Or is there a dinner option as well? Thanks!!

We were able to make reservations for a dinner in Solarium Bistro for our cruise in October.

Just now, AustinCruise said:

Just cruising tomorrow, in a pandemic and near a hurricane. 🙃

If you are leaving from Galveston, you should be just fine.  the hurricane is tracking further east and they will likely hug the coast of Texas to stay out of it.  

1 minute ago, AustinCruise said:

Ha. I’m an idiot!

Not an idiot.  Just moving too fast.

1 minute ago, AustinCruise said:

Btw - you said test on Thursday and boarding tomorrow (Monday?). That’s 4 days if those days are correct. Must be within 3 days. 

Tomorrow is Sunday. 3 days.

48 minutes ago, suizas said:

Eeek!  nerves are kicking in... I am boarding Symphony tomorrow.  Had the PCR test done on Thursday and still waiting for results.  In the meantime should I go get a rapid test? would Royal even take that as a back up if for some reason the PCR is not in by noon tomorrow when I am supposed to board?  

and yes, I am vaccinated..

 

Thanks! Susan

Get the rapid antigen test and enjoy your cruise!!

1 hour ago, HicksRA said:

For those taking CVS COVID tests, have you taken the PCR test and gotten timely results (3 day window), or is the rapid test a necessity?  
Ive just scheduled the PCR test but having thoughts about needing a rapid test instead. 

We did this back in June. Took it late on a Wednesday afternoon (to fly to St. Maarten on Saturday). My DH and I went to two different CVS’s. He had his results by 6:30 a.m. on Thursday morning. I got mine at 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t receive it in time so I had an appointment for a rapid antigen test on Friday as well. I ended up canceling that when the PCR results came in. 

1 minute ago, sandebeach said:

This may be something to consider when the ships are back to full capacity and the pool deck is crowded. 

I don't think there are very many of them and they will probably go fast.  For my cruise in October the price is $149 for port days and $199 for sea days.  I bet that price goes up over time.

6 minutes ago, Thenagers said:

I did not see any bloggers posting. I did here Ovation only has 800 passengers. Curious if any you tube people are aboard? Matt from the unofficial blog? Madis Gras has over 4000 passengers. Not sure how I feel about that?!

I think you don't see them on this inaugural because many of the blogger/vloggers went on the simulation cruise.  Yes, I would not be too happy with over 4000 passengers on Mardi Gras right now either.  I'm sure they are all having a wonderful time though - at least until any testing starts.

35 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Obligatory picture of Bella by suitcase

Is that her suitcase or yours?  Sweet.

6 minutes ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

Glad to hear you enjoyed yourselves.  Was occupancy also low like the first cruise?  Was it easy to dine when you want and where you want?

We hear it was a little less.  The first sailing had press, etc. that aren't on this cruise.  I think we have right about 500.

1 minute ago, LewiLewi said:

What would happen if your husband or anyone else tested positive? Would he/they be quarantined on the ship, denied getting off the ship? Any idea?

I believe they are quarantined on the ship and then moved to a facility on St. Maarten until they test negative.  Can't be certain but I think that is the agreement with the port that has been made.

40 minutes ago, SbbquilterUT said:

Several bloggers have posted from the ship - seems to have been a great trip.  The two patrons with positive COVID were isolated and no other positives noted.  

They just started testing this morning.  I haven't heard of any positive results yet.  Hopefully all is well.  (I'm negative, my husband hasn't received his results yet).

It has been a wonderful cruise.  It is very sad that it ends tomorrow 😞

11 hours ago, Seany527 said:

Ok here’s the pictures of Sunset Veranda 8172. I can’t see them but I’m posting about the overall experience in another thread and people said they are able to see the pics. 
 

 

 

That's sad that they took the big table away.  We always enjoyed having our breakfast out there at a normal table height.

13 hours ago, Seany527 said:

No problem. The post is actually obnoxiously long. I should have broken it up a little. 

It's fine.  At least you have paragraphs, etc.  I know you have seen some that appear to be one long sentence/paragraph.  We appreciate you doing this!!

47 minutes ago, DWhit said:

Have they communicated anything about shipboard mask wearing or un-supervised shore excursion requirements?

 

We are going out in a couple of weeks from Nassau on RCL, and still no word on these issues.

For Celebrity, they announced no masks on board and no distancing.  Apparently, the only ports we are able to do non-Celebrity excursions are St. Lucia (although they never mention that location at all), Curacao and Aruba.  These are fully vaccinated cruises as well with a lot of covid testing going on.

So very interested to see how things go.  We are on the 12th sailing and very anxious about timing.  Thank you for posting all of your experiences.

54 minutes ago, seatrial said:

This is total BS. Testing vaccinated passengers is anti-science at this point. Even St. Martin is planning to drop the testing requirement for entry in the coming weeks. Celebrity is stupid. I am stupid for considering playing along with this crap; it's just not worth the effort for what is really a crappy cruise with really expensive airfare.

 

Thank you Celebrity!!!

i wonder how many people will cancel within the Cruise with Confidence program. I agree that these testing requirements are getting ridiculous. Too close to the cruises to be making changes now!

9 hours ago, lizord said:

Did the ship dock in Galveston? Were they doing a sail by salute to the cameras a la Captain Schettino?

Docked so crew could be vaccinated.

She’s on the move!  St. Maarten bound now. 

1 hour ago, djh said:

If anybody finds out when she is due in Galveston would you post the info here? I would love to head down to see her!

VesselFinder says 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday but doesn’t specify (that I noticed anyway) if that is central time. I may have just missed it. 

21 minutes ago, Jeremiah1212 said:

 

Celebrity's requirements may exceed local requirements. In this case they do. They just reiterated again yesterday that a negative PCR test is required 3 days (or 5 days for US and Canadian citizens) prior to boarding, antigen test at the terminal and a second antigen test again 1-2 days before debarking. 

I think the website is confusing because it is trying to combine both requirements for St. Maarten and Greece in one statement.  The requirements for Millennium is 5 days and for Apex is 3 days.  Hopefully they will amend the site to reflect the separate sailings.

On 5/8/2021 at 5:17 PM, DallasGuy75219 said:

Their website still doesn't have it right🙄 

 

St. Maarten's requirement is RT-PCR test 72 hours before departure to SXM, or 120 hours (or antigen test 48 hours before) for US or Canadian citizens.  Celebrity's website says 3 days/5 days, respectively.

I think the website is confusing because it is trying to combine both requirements for St. Maarten and Greece in one statement.  The requirements for Millennium is 5 days and for Apex is 3 days.  Hopefully they will amend the site to reflect the separate sailings.