MDTrip

We want to meet other Cruise Critic folks for cocktails the first day, perhaps at 5 PM. Sail away is at 7 PM and that might be in the middle of dinner. It will be too cold to meet outside. I'm not familiar with the Jewel class ships' layout. What bar would be best for this?

I don't want to wait on hold for 45 min to do this. My cabin mate had several bites on our four day cruise. I had my luggage checked by a bed bug dog before bringing it in the house and yes, there were bedbugs. I want to report it, but don't have appropriate contact info. Any suggestions for an email address? 

On 5/15/2023 at 2:20 PM, Mhodge42 said:

Any other ships? Just went on the getaway in March. Trying to book one with my mom and she doesn't fly so we have to leave out of NYC and getaway is one of the few leaving from there.

If you are looking for NY area, Celebrity also leaves from Bayonne to Bermuda and I believe either NCL or Celebrity cruises out of Boston, which might be driving distance for you. 

2 hours ago, skipsaur said:

So the interesting thing about Japan public transport is that the map/physical distance doesn't matter as much as the train station you have access to, due to faster express trains. So even if you stay in Yokohama, chances are your commute could take less time than staying somewhere in Tokyo.

 

To illustrate this, I just used Google maps and going from Ebisu station (fun area near Shibuya) to Sensoji temple, 41 minutes/about 12 km. Yokohama station to Sensoji = 43 minutes/34 km. Much farther away but takes basically the same amount of time. You'll also want to factor in if your hotel is a 2 minute or 12 minute walk from the station.

 

So basically, it doesn't really matter where you stay. Personally I'd probably stay in Yokohama near the cruise terminal to avoid having to move my luggage. It's easier to fit myself on a train than myself and my luggage. Also the Minato Mirai skyline is beautiful, but that's just personal preference.

Thank you. I was thinking the same thing, i.e. transport the luggage once, and the commute to Tokyo really depends on where you are going. 

On 8/17/2021 at 5:02 AM, Miaminice said:

As mentioned above taxis are available but public transport is the preferred method.

 

Maybe our travelogues can give you some ideas: 

 

Japan on Celebrity Millennium:

https://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/Celebrity-Millennium-Japan/celebrity-millennium-japan.html

 

Japan on HAL Westerdam:
http://www.travelandcruise.net/travellove_en/Our-Trips/HAL-Westerdam-Japan-01/hal-westerdam-japan-01.html

 

A local guide for small groups would be a good idea - especially in Shimizu, Kobe and Aomori.

 

Thank you for your great travel log and wonderful photos.

For your cruise leaving out of Yokohama, do you wish you had spend the two nights in Yokohama and just took the train to Tokyo each day, so you did not need to travel from Tokyo to the port with luggage?

We are flying into HND, and spending two nights before the cruise departs, want to see Tokyo and are trying to decide if we should get a hotel in Tokyo or Yokohama.

Has anyone who was cancelled received their FFC email?? 

I called seven days ago to say I would rather get the FCC (I can't manage a lift and shift.)  They said I would receive an email with the FCC in one day. It has been seven days. Still waiting... 

Wow. We are booked for March 2024. Have not looked into it yet.

Thanks for your post.

On 3/31/2023 at 3:19 PM, Halehuaka_i said:

There are eight of us so we have a van through Booking.com. It's Haneda to Yokohama for $22 per person. Driver monitors our flight and meets us outside Customs/Immigration.

I read somewhere they will only wait 1.5 hours beyond the arranged time. Did you find this to be true? I continue to hear that immigration lines can be several hours if there are many planes arriving at the same time. 

On 1/7/2023 at 1:00 PM, hubofhockey said:

We’re taking the itinerary without the northern ports and doing an 11-day itinerary on 4/21/24.  Honestly, a two week vacation is perfect and it’s our first time and we’d add 3 days in Tokyo.  Thought about doing Japan on land and staying overnight in Kyoto.  We are docked in Osaka and not Kyoto, so still considering spending overnight in a Kyoto hotel and getting the night experience there.  Need to research that.

We are on a cruise next April that spends an overnight in Kobe, which is just south of Osaka. We are thinking of staying overnight in Kyoto too.  I think that is going to be my favorite port and hate to waste the time traveling back and forth to the port. Also I think seeing things illuminated at night would be an interesting experience. I would be interested to know what you learn.

I asked NCL about Lisbon. They said no on a chat w an agent. Hmmm.

Ship sails from Lisbon at 9:00 PM. Can we check in, get rid of bags and get off again to explore town?

15 hours ago, steamboats said:

BTW, I currently have a friend from the US self-isolating in a hotel in Amsterdam - organized by the cruise line as this friend has been tested positive onboard.

 

steamboats

Which hotel? Does your friend recommend it? (Just planning ahead.) Thanks.

9 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Our cruise end May 14, would need someone that was on a cruise after that one to see what happen 

check the roll call after the TA cruise to see what happened 

I have decided to go ahead and purchase insurance that will cover me if I need to quarantine in Amsterdam when the cruise is over. So I guess it does not matter as much if they take my passport if I am positive... I won't be going anywhere for a while.

Did you hear of anyone being quarantined? Anyone being taken off the ship in hazmat suits? Just wondering about the current policy. Thanks. 

If you test positive on the ship, does X report you to the Netherlands government, thus requiring you to quarantine in Amsterdam?

I have read about people being taken off ship in hazmat suit and having special transportation, but is this happening for cruises ending in Amsterdam? 

On 6/6/2022 at 5:28 PM, cruisestitch said:

That’s a US phone number which is probably not easily accessible from the UK

With the number "1" in front of the area code, the number can be reached from anywhere. "1" is the country code for numbers in the US. I hope that helps.

The eMed Covid test that Celebrity sells says right in the box to call this number if testing positive: 

1-844-418-6824

On 5/15/2022 at 4:30 PM, bnurick said:

We were on the Edge in late January after I had COVID and we moved our cruise date.  After that cruise my Wife tested positive.  We have an upcoming late June cruise and while we have some increased immunity now, we are considering how to handle a quarantine situation.  If we are not being appropriately taken care of we figured we would strap on our KN95 mask and go to the buffet, get our own food and bring it back to our cabin.  So my question is, what happens if you leave your cabin or in @bananavan case a prison if in quarantine?  A passenger has rights.

From what I have read in other posts, when you are quarantined on the ship, they take your room key card. There is also often someone guarding the hallway. So going to the buffet is not an option.

On 5/23/2022 at 6:43 PM, MDTrip said:

Was your test with eMed (Navica)? We have three people and it will be helpful to know. Thanks.

If you are all using the same phone, you need to log out and then next person logs in to Navica with their ID. Just remember to bring your user IDs and Passwords.

5 hours ago, Tony UK said:

By the way we always do a standard antigen test to make sure we are OK before we do the proctored one!

We used prenetics and it was an easy process to follow. We prebooked an appointment 24 hours a day appointments available. We received a zoom link. 

We watched you tube videos and also practiced zoom meetings with each other pre test.

When we started our 1st test the man said is there more than 1 person, we said yes and he did both of us together which made it easier.

Good luck.

Was your test with eMed (Navica)? We have three people and it will be helpful to know. Thanks.

On 5/14/2022 at 5:45 PM, STLCRUISIN said:

Keep in mind though that the airlines will not allow you fly for 10 days from the positive test (with the test date as day 0).

Do you know how the airlines would know you tested positive? What if I test positive on day zero, and then test negative on day 5. How would the airline prevent me from flying on day 5?  Thanks in advance. (Still trying to figure this out just in case...)

On 5/21/2022 at 11:32 AM, bubbapk1 said:

We are scheduled for Fit-to-fly on the APEX when it arrives in Amsterdam. The email we received says we are confirmed for 6:45 at CEL - APEX - on-ship sampling station. Does anyone know where this is?

Who is the email from? Celebrity?

On 4/25/2022 at 9:49 AM, TeeRick said:

From what I have been reading, the US entry testing requirement for vaccinated, up to date travelers might be going away soon.  Just like what the UK did.  Let's hope!

I wish that were true, but I just heard today that the CDC is now SUGGESTING that passengers flying DOMESTICALLY this summer test three days before their flight. I think this hints that they would not drop the international testing requirement. 

If you reserve the Rooftop Garden Grill specialty restaurant, what happens if it rains? or is very cold? Does the restaurant have an indoor space? Heaters?