Freightgoddess

 He's how you look from Long Branch

Waving to you from Monmouth beach ( near Sandy Hook)

More random comments:

I preferred the shops in skagway and Ketchikan to those in Juneau.

For knitters and stitchers Aurora Yarns in skagway, had great stitch kits, beautiful local hand dyed yarns and beautiful watercolor prints. also interesting exotic yarns

Many people were dressed more casually than I expected, even on formal night, although others were dressed to the nines.

Some random comments (! Did this post earlier????)

Weather in Juneau cold and VERY rainy. Helicopters weren't flying, we got quick refunds, but sigh. Sled dog adventure was terrific.

Skagway: heavily overcast, foggy but  little rain. Helicopters were canceled again. Fabulous yarn shop and great museum in town

Glacier bay: cool mostly cloudy, we even saw some sun!

App is..... Interesting. It's frustratingly slow and wonky.

We've made dining room reservations, but staff never seemed to check,. One night we just showed up and were seated. 

5 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Thank you for posting this information.  I called CVS this morning to ask the same question.  Her response was surprising.  She suggested that I get the rapid NAAT test rather than the rapid antigen test for travel.  Glad you verified both are okay (but still planning on getting rapid NAAT/PCR test).

 

Glad Carbon Health could squeeze your daughter's family in.  How many?  Didn't the ship sail on Sunday?   

Yes, we tested Sunday early, then boarded late. Three were 4 in their group

masking is not enforced, but very common

On 8/15/2021 at 12:16 PM, Trvlingal said:

Echoing these questions with more.  Was the antigen test at CVS the one people got who used the CVS minute clinic?  If not, which test did you take? Also most posters said it was at no charge.   Did CVS bill your insurance?  Are any of you on medicare and did they accept you without cost?  And did they ask for insurance or did you note no insurance?  And did you only check, the first box about needing it for travel and no on the other answers?  Then the most important....are you on the ship now and did they accept your documentation?  If anyone would post what the CVS results look like (delete your name and dob) it would be helpful to see what Princess accepts.

 

Thanks.  

Sorry I'm late to the party.  

Minute clinic r rapid antigen test was fine.

Daughter's family took PCR test Fri afternoon. Results came in on Monday.

In panic, we found Carbon Health on 220 6th Ave ( near Space Needle). They want an appointment, but we called and they squeezed us in. 

All of us are on the ship and happy.

Sunrise this morning is SPECTACULAR

Just what we need

THANK YOU for the reports and pics of the recumbent bicycles.  Packing gym clothes!

I could not see the video

And as far as lobster rolls are concerned - good ones are heaven. Bad ones, not so much.

Does anyone know if the gym has a recumbent bicycle?  I has a chair with a backrest 

6 minutes ago, Budget Queen said:

My preference is absolutely,    Valparaiso .   :)

why?

On a cruise from Lima to BA, we will have one day in San Antonio.  Recommendation.. should we go to Santiago or Valparaiso?

We were on the 14 day rt Papeete last year. The passengers skewed younger than other O cruises I have been on.

We were on the 14 day rt Papetee

A comment on land tours. They are the only disappointment I had on Oceania. We have since booked our own tours.

Has anyone been on either of these ships? I have gotten a recommendation for them and would like some more opinions, or a preference between the two.

I really don't understand it either, but we were able to take advantage of two opportunities on our last O cruise. Each with a cost reduction and improved cabin. We figured that one more offer and they'd pay us to cruise!

Thanks. I am also thinking about à Ponant cruise and appreciate the info, especially from someone who has cruised Oceania.

We were on the same cruise. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Not only did it hit the high points, but it stayed long enough in them. And with O's food and service.

We also arrived on Beijing early to allow more time for sightseeing. We came just as the "yellow haze" blew out. Out was cold and windy most of the time, but the sky was blue. We stayed overnight in Kyoto, a great treat. Unfortunately we could not spend more time in Tokyo, but we still got a day and a half and a decent taste of the city.

I don't think we went through the Taiwan strait. We had calm seas.

The only caveats are that Nautica is an R class ship and I prefer the O class, and that the ship's tours were weak. We hired or own guides, and were very pleased.

FWIW our adventure with offers, up sells, down sells, etc. did include trans Pacific cruises.

We took this cruise last year. GREAT TIME!

O had made arrangements with several hotels for passengers to hang out. Not a day room, but a large meeting room, and the run of the hotel. We were at the Radisson (I think). It was not great, but better than the airport all day! It would have been much better if we had brought bathing suits.

I thought this was part of the transfer package, but some people who had not gotten the package tagged along.

As the OP noted, the shops in town closed early on Saturday for Easter. We saw at least one market that was open later. We drove around the Island pre-trip and enjoyed it very much, it could be stretched into the better part of the day, and then hang out at the hotel until time to go to the airport.

FWIW - Egypt's main source of foreign currency is Suez Canal tolls.

Agree with above, b but don't forget to try the terrace for dinner. D surprisingly excellent.

I'm with you, Hambagahle - I seldom go to a show, so I could care less what they do! I'm usually reading up about the next day's adventure.

 

I'm curious, however, as to what the "different" management comment by freightgoddess means! Umm...how different?!

Oceania is a high end line - NCL, not so much.

Re entertainment, on Marina last year, the "production shows" were very weak. The singers were not very good and the dancing was just ok. The music selections were ok. We walked out after a few minutes. I forget most of the other evening entertainment, but not brilliant. They did bring some local (Polynesian) dancers on board. Those were the best shows. We have sailed on Azamara, which uses R class ships, but far superior shows.

Cool. The entertainment was my only complaint on O.

I am a little concerned about bringing in NCL management, as their product is ummm different.