JT1962

I used CVS for my January cruise and Walgreen’s for my May 2 cruise with no problem. They are still offering the tests for free in my area. The issue is if you are leaving early morning two days before your cruise begins, you either have to try to find somewhere to test along the way or do the home proctored test. Being able to test three days prior to the cruise let you test before driving or flying all the way to the port only to find out you test positive and can no longer board.

I have the same questions / concerns with the recent recommendation change for those over 50 (2nd booster if it has been more than 4 months since your first booster). Based on the CDC change, I will no longer be considered up-to-date, which means I will need to test 2 days, not 3 days, before the cruise. It would be most convenient for me to test 3 days before. My PVP and Carnival Customer Service both say 3 days is fine, but that goes against their policy that refers to the current CDC recommendations, and they will not be the ones actually doing the verification at the pier. I decided to do a self-proctored home test early morning I leave home, which is 2 days before the cruise, just to be safe.

I’m definitely taking advantage. I’m going on my 3rd cruise this year in 2 weeks (1 MSC & 2 Carnival), have the 19 day on Divina in October and probably will do a few more. At an average of $ 40 per day (before port fees / taxes) or less solo, it’s a great time to cruise.

I just completed my 3rd cruise to Alaska (2 one-way between Vancouver & Alaska and the most recent Roundtrip from Seattle) and agree with others that sailing from Vancouver is a better option. In addition to the first and much of the last day sailing in the Pacific with very little scenery (and possibly rough seas) on the roundtrip from Seattle, you usually have shorter port times at most of the ports. That being said, the current Covid protocols, airfare & hotel costs, available flights, etc. all have to be factored into the decision more than in the past. Whatever you choose, you will be hooked and want to return.

I was in ISP and Juneau the first week of May and did whale watching in both ports and saw whales in both locations, but many more in ISP. I have used Glacier Winds at ISP in the past and had them booked again, but one of the Captains tested positive for Covid just before I arrived. Glacier Winds refunded me and recommended Hoonah Adventures, which was excellent as well.

There is no consistency as to how quickly, or if, they will respond. I submitted my request prior to my January cruise and had no response after 2 to 3 weeks, so I resubmitted it again and had approval in less than 24 hours.

Thanks for the review. I was on Meraviglia in January and was pleasantly surprised based on so many negative reviews / comments regarding MSC. I am booked on the Divina for 19 days in October and am looking forward to it. The low or no solo upcharge (at least in the US) is a big advantage for MSC. Most cruise lines charge double for solo cruisers. I’m not sure if MSC is just doing this during Covid or if it is their normal policy, but it’s nice for now.

Even if I had a booster 5 months ago and CDC just recommended a 2nd booster after 4 months if over 50? Carnival says you can only test 3 days prior if you are up to date on all CDC recommended vaccines / boosters. As I read it, I am now no longer “up to date” per the new recommendations. I ask because my upcoming cruise leaves on Monday and I leave home early Saturday to have 2 days to spend at the departure port. I had planned on taking a test on Friday. Now it appears I am no longer eligible to take it more than 2 days prior/

That’s where I think the change is coming. Carnival says “up to date” is all recommended boosters. The CDC just recommended a 2nd booster if over 50 and it has been more than 4 months since your first booster.

Thanks. It sounds like they have possible options with the Spirit Class ships for a while longer. I know that Tampa has similar limitations on ships due to the Skyway bridge. As ships continue to get bigger, those ports may lose their cruise options.

When all of the Fantasy ships are gone, will that end Carnival cruises from Jacksonville or are there other port options they can use that won’t require sailing under the bridge? I have not cruised from there and am not familiar with the ports there.

That does not mention anything that I see about when you can take the Covid test. My question is will you still be able to take your Covid test three days prior to your cruise if you are over 50 and had your booster more than four months ago

With the new CDC recommendation, I wonder if Carnival will immediately require those over 50 who got a booster more than 4 months ago to need a 2nd booster to be able to take the Covid test 3 days prior to your Carnival cruise? “…today CDC is strengthening its recommendation that those 12 and older who are immunocompromised and those 50 and older should receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first.” https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/s0519-covid-booster-acip.html Carnival testing requirements - Except where destination requirements differ*, guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within three days prior to sailing. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose, when eligible. https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols?icid=advisory_cruisehealth_040122

I just used the Weather App on my iPhone and found it sufficient.

For cruises that visit Canada, the PCR test requirements are time specific (72 -24 hours prior to sailing). The Antigen tests are anytime in the 2 days prior to sailing. BERMUDA AND CANADA: Fully vaccinated guests traveling to Bermuda and Canada, including those who are up to date with their vaccines, can take either a PCR test between 72 and 24 hours prior to sailing, or an antigen pre-cruise test no earlier than two days prior to sailing, in order to comply with CDC and destination regulations.

The PCR testing requirement is based on a specific number of hours (not anytime a certain day like the Antigen test), so the time is important. There is a difference in wording between what Carnival (sailing time) has vs Canada (boarding time). I also had to factor in a 2 hour time difference coming from Central Time to Pacific Time. No one could ever clarify the earliest time I could take the PCR test. I took it late on Friday afternoon for my Monday departure, since I had an early Saturday AM flight and wanted the results before possibly flying 5 hours for nothing. The results were accepted by VeriFLY and Carnival, so I’m not sure how close they looked at the time. Carnival says - “BERMUDA AND CANADA: Fully vaccinated guests traveling to Bermuda and Canada, including those who are up to date with their vaccines, can take either a PCR test between 72 and 24 hours prior to sailing, or an antigen pre-cruise test no earlier than two days prior to sailing, in order to comply with CDC and destination regulations.” https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols?icid=advisory_cruisehealth_040122 Canada says - Proof of a valid negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of your scheduled boarding time for example, if you’re scheduled to board at 11:00 am on Friday, your test must have been taken any time after 10:59 am on Tuesday https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/cruise

Make sure to check all of your loyalty statuses, not just cruise lines, since they will match to hotels, airlines, etc. You only get one time to match, so make sure you request the one that gives you the highest match. I was able to get Diamond on MSC in January with HiltonHonors Diamond. Also note that there seems to be no consistency on how quickly they respond. I waited 3-4 weeks after my initial request with no response, then submitted again and got the match within 24 hours.

I was on the Carnival Splendor on May 2 and can confirm this is what was needed: PCR test between 72 & 24 hours prior to your cruise OR Antigen test anytime on the 2 days prior to your cruise. The PCR test date & specific time are checked while they just care about the date of the antigen test. ArriveCAN app completed within 72 hours prior to your cruise.

I have used Glacier Winds & Hoonah Travel Adventures in Icy Strait Point and Juneau Whale Watch in Juneau with excellent results. Their boats are much smaller than the average ship excursions, with plenty of space on deck for viewing without others standing in front of you.

Check the port schedule for Victoria at this link: https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.189/2xl.54d.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/VIC-Victoria-2022.pdf That is for 2022, but will give you an idea of which ships have a longer time in Port and you can check their schedule for 2023. It looks like Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have some ships that stay longer in Victoria.

I departed at a Pier 91 on May 10 and they were basically waving everyone through as long as you held up your passport. I never stopped walking once in line all the way through the checkpoint. There is no way they were even looking at the name or photo.

The ArriveCAN can be done anytime up to 72 hours prior. To be safe with boarding vs departure, time zones, etc., I just did mine 2 days prior to boarding to be safe. It shouldn’t be an issue unless someone is trying to use the website and print the QR code vs just using the App and showing it on your phone and will be in a travel status and not near a computer / printer in the 72 hours prior to their cruise. Based on my experience in Seattle on May 2, most will have no clue what ArriveCAN is and will be standing at the pier trying to download and complete it. If you have your ArriveCAN code (and VeriFLY if used by your cruise line) ready, make sure to tell someone when you arrive so you can bypass the mass group of people frantically trying to download and complete it.

I was at Mendenhall glacier on May 6 and temperatures weren’t bad (upper 40s) at the Visitor Center & on the trails, but will be colder if you are actually landing on the glacier. Layers work best, with a water / wind proof outer layer. Lightweight gloves & hat might be appreciated on the glacier and on deck on sea / glacier viewing days.

I just finished 8 days on the Splendor solo and loved it. It was my 3rd cruise to Alaska and I would go again tomorrow. If your cruise is going to Tracy Arm Fjord, I recommend the small boat tour from the ship. It will get you much closer to the glaciers and is a different perspective being at water level. The excursion usually sells out, so book early. It was actually listed under Seattle excursions on my cruise, not Tracy Arm Fjord.

The railway company could not come to a reasonable agreement with the Canadian authorities related to clearing the trains quickly at the border, so they made the decision several weeks ago to no longer offer excursions other than the summit roundtrip excursions. There have been several discussions here over the past month or so. Princess and a few other lines have been late in acknowledging the train tours past the border will not operate in 2022. You have a couple of alternative options - take the summit roundtrip train excursion only or book one of two Chilkoot Charter excursions - A bus only excursion to the Yukon or the train summit trip and Skagway City Tour. https://wpyr.com/updates/ https://chilkootcharters.com/