vistapat

We were on this year's Honolulu to Vancouver repositioning.  As Deb says above, the weather, even at sea, was moderate.  I took some heavier clothing and didn't need it.  It was "sit out on the balcony" weather the whole trip, and pretty warm in Hawai'i. 

One thing to note:  the embarcation in Honolulu was the worst by several orders of magnitude that we have ever encountered.  It was disorganized chaos, with no attempt at helping from staff, and in an un-airconditioned warehouse of a building with no air circulation, and with several hundred people all swirling around in the heat and humidity.  It took over two hours to get to the head of the line, when there even was a line, and most of us were drenched in sweat and dizzy from the heat and the tension.  I would never, ever embark in Honolulu again unless I knew that the situation had been remedied.

We're on Quantum of the Seas next week for the last leg of the Transpacific, Hawaii to Vancouver.  This is actually a separate cruise, but Solarium Bistro is available to book for us, and we're not Pins.

Pat

Just got this no-testing required email with regard to our Hawaii to Vancouver cruise next month, April 28th.  It's good news, but I just wish they could get their act together and keep it together!

Pat

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

Today from Royal. 

Healthy Sail Center

COVID-19 Vaccination is no longer required to sail, with a few exceptions. At this time, only the following sailings have COVID-19 vaccination requirements:

Guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to sail:

• Cruises from Australia
• Transatlantic and Transpacific Sailings
• Cruises from Hawaii to Vancouver

• For Cruises From Hawaii to Vancouver

  All guests age 2 and older must bring a negative test result for a PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than 3 days prior to sailing or an antigen test taken no more than 2 days prior to sailing.

• Required testing can be completed using any type of PCR or antigen COVID-19 test. It can be professionally proctored at your doctor or drugstore, or it can be a test you administer to yourself at home without supervision.

  Guests under age 2 do not have any testing requirements.

Well, that seems to answer the question, doesn't it?

Our TA still hasn't gotten back to us to verify, but it seems plain that it is required for the Hawaii to Vancouver cruises, and in fact they're specifically listed.  Seems kind of unfortunate that it has been updated after final payment, and in fact, for our cruise, check-in opens March 14.  I heard from someone on our roll call that he is part of a family party, and some are not vaccinated and will have to decide what to do.  It sounded like they will be given the option to cancel, even after final payment.

Pat

Transpacific Testing - Part 2.  We just got an email today regarding our "Transpacific Crossing" and stating that testing is required.  Others on the roll call also received it.  I forwarded it to our TA and asked him to verify yea, nay, but not maybe.

Pat

3 hours ago, crzndeb said:

That is not considered a TP cruise. The Sydney to Honolulu is the TP portion. So leaving from a US port, Honolulu, no test is required. 

And the winner is ---- cruzndeb!  My TA just got back to me saying that because this cruise originates in Honolulu, no testing is required.  However, being the belt and suspenders kind of gal that I am, and having several home tests lying around, we'll probably take one the day before anyway.  Thanks again.

Pat

Thanks to all of you for your replies.  I just sent off an email to our travel agent asking him to find out the answer from Royal.

Pat

I have a related question.   I went on Royal's website with updated health protocols yesterday, and it says that Transpacific cruises need a negative test to board.  We are going on Quantum from Hawaii to Vancouver, which is in reality the last leg of the transpacific.  Does anyone know if this cruise requires a test?

Thanks, Pat

38 minutes ago, tommy47 said:

i will be going on my first card player poker cruise and wondering if i need to bring cash or can i put any money i use on my cruise bill? thank you

Card Player Poker Cruises are a separate company (and travel agency, meaning we are not allowed to mention them on Cruise Critic) with no connection to Royal Caribbean other than booking cruises on their ships.  You should address your question to them on their website.

11 hours ago, bonsai3s said:

The coffee machine is nice, but I'm a bit careful not to use it early in the morning (so not to wake up my neighbor)...it gets loud when the coffee is brewing

As in: a 747 just landed in our cabin loud.

We'll be there mid-August, and I sincerely hope the new terminal has a better layout than the current one.  I've waited in line outside many times, and the heat and humidity was truly memorable.

Pat

8 hours ago, broadwaycam said:

How long ago was it you had the issue?

About a month ago, IIRC.

Pat

I needed to have DH's number looked up for a booking.  I got the same message as you, on two different computers and three different browsers.  I ended up calling C&A and they were able to look up his number and give it to me.  Since we're both D+ and the site was insisting that he didn't exist, I was starting to get panicky thinking that he didn't have status and we would have to start all over.  Not saying it was rational, just.......😬

Pat

We debarked Navigator on March 25, which is a Friday.  The ship was fairly full, though not sure of exact number.  We had number 9 and were able to leave the ship at 8:45.  Picking up our luggage in the big hall, and going through immigration, were a breeze.  So we were at our car, ready to drive home, at about 9:00 or a few minutes later.  I don't think I would have been comfortable trying to make a 10:15 flight.  Traffic is crazy, and LAX is in a constant state of flux.

Pat

10 minutes ago, cruzfool said:

As a new D+, don't forget to contact C&A & let them know which in room amenity's you'd like, unless you want all waters. 

Thanks for the reminder.  Another question.  We're both now D+.  If we chose a bottle of wine, are we both entitled to one, or is it for the room?  Same with other choices.

Thanks,  Pat

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

Usually, yes, though you could book for one now and change it for two on board.

Thanks, I think we may do that.  This is an Alaska cruise and I suspect will be quite full.  I'd like to get the time and date we want.

Pat

18 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Or you can use one coupon and your other half gets to eat free.  Just depends whether you want to do one night or two nights of dining

Thanks, Ken.  How do we reserve this?  We would probably want to eat at Chops on night 2, one of us at no charge.  Do we wait to board to reserve it?

Thanks,  Pat

We'll be new D+ on our next cruise.  Is the BOGO 1 pays and 1 is free for one night, or is it both pay on 1 night and then both free on second night?

Thanks,  Pat

4 hours ago, Baowen said:

May is now the cruise director in the Navigator. Bill is off the ship

We were just off Navigator two days ago.  Mey is very high-energy, but not obnoxiously so, IMHO.  She also takes the time to say a brief hello to people when she is out and about on the ship.  Her intros for the various acts in the theater were fairly brief, which we appreciated.

Pat

And it truly does sound like a freight train moving through the room.  The first time it sounded off I nearly had a heart attack.

We were given as many of the standard or decaf pods as we wanted at no extra charge.

Pat

We're on Quantum August 29, 2022, and many of the helicopter type excursions are showing sold out, which wasn't typical in the past.  I do believe that many cruise excursion operators are having the same problems finding staff that everyone else is.  I hope that by late summer the situation will be better and there will be more choices.  I surely don't want a trainee helicopter pilot!

Pat

1 hour ago, Joseph2017China said:

I'm never worried about a cruise being canceled because one excursion was canceled.  Excursion come in go, and it happens when the tour people say, sorry, we can't go this at this time and all the money goes back.  The things in Alaska is a side gig for many places.  They offer tours because it's easy money but it is not necessary their business.  So the hatchery said they can't handle tour, this week, or maybe a few weeks, because they need all hands on deck for a large fishing season and they were just shut down for two seasons. The reality is, that RCCL, may not actually know the reason because the contract, may not require a reason.  Or maybe the company does not want the reason to be disclosed because it can affect the future bookings in a negative way.  

I absolutely agree with you that excursions come and go.  However, lately all of us are gun shy about cancellations, with good reason in some cases.  Until this uncertainty is all the way in the past, I still think more clarity would be good.

Pat

RCL canceled our booked excursion in Cabo San Lucas about a month ago, like you, without an explanation.  I started worrying that our cruise had been canceled, but we sail one week from today on Navigator.  That excursion has never come back on the Royal website, so I suspect that staffing issues are the problem.  I know the excursion went in December, because someone on the b--g mentioned taking it.  

The thing about Royal canceling without explanation is it gives rise to a lot of speculation about the cruise itself being canceled.  I think they need to be a little more forthcoming when they have to do something like this.

Pat

I made appointments with CVS for DH and me for next week, for the rapid test.  I answered "no" to all the questions about exposure, work situations, etc.  There was no box for travel, as noted above.  They made the reservation without any questions.