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jeh10641

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  1. This was my COVID testing saga in December for Rotterdam out of FLL.

     

     

    THUMBS DOWN COVID 19 TESTING

         Before we embarked, we were going to spend several days visiting relatives across the state of Florida. That presented us with our first problem: How do we get tested for COVID 19 before the trip? HAL recommended QUEST DIAGNOSTICS through their health protocols on HAL’S website.

         Our boarding date was Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Our boarding time changed several times but finalized at 1 PM. We were happy with the time.  Our cousins had synchronized their boarding time with ours and were happy with the time.

         We booked a date/time for our COVID 19 test through QUEST DIAGNOSTICS.  It was on Monday November 29, 2021 at 10 AM at a Walmart drive through pharmacy in Boynton Beach on Military Trail. The night before we stayed in Port St. Lucie about a 90 minute drive from our testing site. We arrived 15 minutes early for our tests. As we sat in our car, a pharmacist supervised the testing process through the Drive Through window. We were done in about 15 minutes. We placed our test samples in the box indicated by the pharmacist. Before we left, I specifically asked the testing supervisor how long would it take to get our results. He said “24 to 48 hours”.  That meant about 10 AM on December 1, the day of our embarkation. I told him that was IMPORTANT as we taking a cruise on Wednesday. The timing was okay. This is where it all went wrong.

         Through my tablet and the hotel’s computer, I kept checking QUEST’s website and my email for written confirmation. I checked every couple of hours through Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. NO TEST RESULTS were available by 11 AM on Wednesday. Through Cruise Critic, I knew that if we had proof of testing but no results, HAL could test us at embarkation. The stress of not knowing if we would be able to board was palpable. I DO NOT ENDORSE OR RECOMMEND QUEST DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES FOR TESTING.

         Arriving at Port Everglades at Noon on December 1, we left our bags with a porter and entered the terminal. I explained our situation to the greeter at the entrance. She called over another staff member who escorted us to an area for testing. We took our tests and went to a waiting area. After 15 minutes, our name was called and we were given our test results. NEGATIVE!!!! We then were allowed to board.

         My wife finally got her test results Thursday December 2, 2021 when we were on our second day at sea. On Friday, I received a note that QUEST DIAGNOSTICS COULD NOT FIND MY RESULTS!

     

    Jim

    • Thanks 1
  2. I had terrible issues with Navigator on my Android tablet in December. I had purchased the WIFI package just for that. I even tried using the ship's computers. Went to Guest Services for help. They could not login to my account. They went to their IT people. THEY could not login. Finally, after about three days (in an 11-night cruise) they got it to partially work. It was on the Rotterdam.

     

    Jim

  3. Denverbri69,

    In Dec., I brought 13 11oz paper bottles with protein shakes (Premier brand) for dietary reasons. I asked our cabin stewards to empty the mini fridge so I could store them. Done with a smile (and gave them each a cash gratuity in appreciation of the fast service). I had called HAL in advance and was told it was okay.

     

    Jim

    • Like 1
  4. We live about 20 miles east of Seattle. Between Christmas and New Year's, we had a total of 10 or 11 inches of snow with temps in the teens at night and the 20s at night. After the holidays it melted very quickly because of the 6.5 inches of rain in ten days. COVID's omicron variant ramped up in late December but is now starting to tail off. I just ordered my free test kits (01/18/22) from the gov't. (www.COVIDTests.gov). Personally, nobody I know directly has had or tested positive for COVID since March 2020. I go out to lunch (masked) after exercising at our Community Center (masked). We cruised on Rotterdam in Dec. (1-12) masked. No big deal with that. No COVID on the cruise. No norovirus either.

  5. Hello, 0106, 

    My wife and I were on Rotterdam 12/01/21. The food in the Lido buffet was delicious, served to us (in quantity) and with a wide variety. We ate every breakfast and 8 of 11 lunches there. Drinks were brought to our table. We sat in the same area each time and the servers got to know us and brought our drinks without having to tell them (Cranberry juice, ice tea, etc.). I gave a couple cash at the end of the trip because they were so attentive.

     

    In the Main Dining Room (MDR), where ate dinner every night but four (specialty), the menu changed enough so that it was not boring. My cousin, who is gluten free, had no problems with the menus. At times, the staff was even able to make nongluten items, gluten free.

     

    Have fun on your cruise.

     

    Jim

    • Like 5
  6. Hi, All,

    9:14 AM PST. Just logged in to HAL's website. No problem. On my cruise on Rotterdam on 12/01/21, had major problems logging in to Navigator using a new Samsung 8 inch tablet as well as ship's computers. Even their IT department could not fix the problem.

     

    Jim

  7. Copper10-8 - My first cruise was in 1959 on HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam (1938 model) from New York City (Manhattan) to Rotterdam. I think we stopped in Le Havre (France) and one port in England (cannot remember which one). I was on a student tour (Arista) with 30 other recent high school graduates or soon to be seniors in high schools from the New York Metro area.

     

    Jim

    • Thanks 1
  8. Grambler

    The trophy means "thanks".

     

    To all readers: I was on the Rotterdam 12/01/21 and it was a vaxxed cruise. Did not see any kids younger than teenagers. My belief is that vaccinations will be required for 2022 and even beyond. Boosters may soon become requirement as well based on my research. Under Rotterdam reviews you can find my multipage review of the Rotterdam. Here is the link.

    https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=683921

     

    Jim

    • Like 2
  9. kjcognevich

    In December I was on a Rotterdam cruise (sister ship to Koningsdam). Both have Club HAL which is devoted to younger cruisers. HAL caters to an older clientele but in Alaska, it is the natural world that is most important, as well as the ports of call.

    I am 80 and I enjoy the Music Walk venues - Rolling Stone (rock), B.B. Kings (blues and more) and Lincoln Center Stage (classical/international). Time constraints did not allow me to visit Billboard On Board this trip. I have enjoyed that singalong venue on past cruises.

    I attended one stage show, Cantare (acapella quartet with pre-recorded music tracks). The World Stage is a tremendous venue with high tech video capabilities both for shows and lectures. The many bars were okay although drinking is not my thing. The casino had a major problem with smoking; the smoke was all over decks two and three. I have been on Costa and Royal Caribbean cruises but prefer the laid-back offerings of HAL.

    The food is the best afloat. I usually do not go to the specialty dining but I was traveling with cousins and we were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. We ate at all four extra charge spots and were really impressed with the food and service. Worth every penny.

    A word of caution. When you go to Alaska in the summer, the further north you go, the later the sun sets. If sunlight is a problem to your sleeping, book an inside cabin where the sun never shines. Blackout curtains do not always block out the daylight.

     

    Jim

  10. THUMBS DOWN COVID 19 TESTING

         Before we embarked, we were going to spend several days visiting relatives across the state of Florida. That presented us with our first problem: How do we get tested for COVID 19 before the trip? HAL recommended QUEST DIAGNOSTICS through their health protocols on HAL’S website.

         Our boarding date was Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Our boarding time changed several times but finalized at 1 PM. We were happy with the time.  Our cousins had synchronized their boarding time with ours and were happy with the time.

         We booked a date/time for our COVID 19 test through QUEST DIAGNOSTICS.  It was on Monday November 29, 2021 at 10 AM at a Walmart drive through pharmacy in Boynton Beach on Military Trail. The night before we stayed in Port St. Lucie about a 90 minute drive from our testing site. We arrived 15 minutes early for our tests. As we sat in our car, a pharmacist supervised the testing process through the Drive Through window. We were done in about 15 minutes. We placed our test samples in the box indicated by the pharmacist. Before we left, I specifically asked the testing supervisor how long would it take to get our results. He said “24 to 48 hours”.  That meant about 10 AM on December 1, the day of our embarkation. I told him that was IMPORTANT as we taking a cruise on Wednesday. The timing was okay. This is where it all went wrong.

         Through my tablet and the hotel’s computer, I kept checking QUEST’s website and my email for written confirmation. I checked every couple of hours through Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. NO TEST RESULTS were available by 11 AM on Wednesday. Through Cruise Critic, I knew that if we had proof of testing but no results, HAL could test us at embarkation. The stress of not knowing if we would be able to board was palpable. I DO NOT ENDORSE OR RECOMMEND QUEST DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES FOR TESTING.

         Arriving at Port Everglades at Noon on December 1, we left our bags with a porter and entered the terminal. I explained our situation to the greeter at the entrance. She called over another staff member who escorted us to an area for testing. We took our tests and went to a waiting area. After 15 minutes, our name was called and we were given our test results. NEGATIVE!!!! We then were allowed to board.

         My wife finally got her test results Thursday December 2, 2021 when we were on our second day at sea. On Friday, I received a note that QUEST DIAGNOSTICS COULD NOT FIND MY RESULTS!

    SUCCESS LEADS TO BOARDING

         I mentioned to the crewmembers greeting us on board that I felt like getting down on my knees to kiss the deck. I said that if I did, I would need a lot of help to to stand up. They laughed. However, it was true.

         From the time we dropped off our bags at the terminal until we actually entered our cabin (1146, Main Deck, Inside), a total of less than 40 minutes had elapsed. Holland America deserves much credit for their handling of the testing and boarding process. It was an awesome start for what turned out to be an even better cruise. ROTTERDAM VII lived up to its hype.

    • Like 3
  11. richwmn,

    We were on Rotterdam VII from 12-01-21 to 12-12-21. The entertainment you saw sounds like the same we saw except for the comedians. Both of ours were really funny and appeared in B.B.King/Lincoln Center. On our cruise we saw Cantare in the World Stage, a great acapella quartet with prerecorded music. Thanks for the instant memory recall of our trip. Happy New Year.

    Jim

    • Like 1
  12. Hello, cruzin4us,

    We had a boarding time of 1 PM on December 1 (Wednesday) on the Rotterdam in Fort Lauderdale. We took our tests through QUEST DIAGNOSTICS in Boynton Beach FL at a Walmart. We took the tests at 9:45 AM on Monday Nov. 29. However, QUEST FAILED miserably in providing our results. HAL was able test us on boarding day in the terminal. From baggage drop to enter cvabin, including the tests, the total elapsed time was under 40 minutes. DO NOT USE QUEST is my recommendation.

     

    Jim

  13. Hi, All,

    My wife and I have been on a Keto friendly eating plan for more than two years. When we have sandwiches eating out, we get them without bread. We have each lost a lot of weight and have kept it off. We do not ourselves any type of food as long as we can "have it our way". Papa Murphy, a take and bake pizza chain, offers crustless pizzas. Just the toppings and they are terrific.  At NY Pizza, we will probably scrape the toppings of and just eat them (if it cannot be served crustless).

     

    To all, a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving on Thursday.

     

    Jim

    • Like 3
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