Barbara H

Great idea!

1 hour ago, kitkat343 said:

I'd also vote for visiting Olden, Gieranger and Flam.  There are private tours available in all of those ports you should chose if possible (all of that info is in my signature line if you find a cruise that works for you in those ports).

 

Generally the people on this forum recommend choosing the itinerary over the cruise line in the Baltics, but please note  some concerns with NCL.

 

On my last sailing, they changed our itinerary on our sailing after final payment to help save the environment, cancelling one port my kids really wanted (the Dominican Republic) and cancelling the morning of another (Antigua) which prevented us from seeing the giant toirteses because that's only open in the morning.  I called NCL and asked them to let me switch to the same cruise a few weeks later and they refused because they'd made the itinerary changes after final payment.  For an entire month, they continued to advertise the original itinerary on their website after the changes were made and even people who called NCL directly to book after the port was cancelled were not told  of the changes and weren't able to cancel either.  Especially if you choose NCL, please make sure that you are aware of the cancellation policies, and that either your credit card or trip insurance would cover nonrefundable deposits in case you can't dock (this can happen with any cruise line.)

 

 

 

That sounds terrible about NCL!  I'm sorry.

I found a potential Princess cruise that does go to Olden. Flam and Geiranger.  Looks promising.  If I choose it, I won't go with their insurance. I'd had a cruise booked with them last spring and had to cancel due to a total knee replacement.  I couldn't get my money back til I contacted the BBB and Attorney General.  Not good!

Thanks so much all.  As always, great info.  I spent some time looking at the Northern Europe board, as suggested.  

1 hour ago, CCJack said:

If you like scenery, then you are going to the right place !   Norway cruises are beautiful.  I agree with Ine, look for Flam, Geiranger (both long Fjords).    Some stops in Norway are not fjords at all, but still very nice coastal cities (Bergen, etc.).   Be careful with the cruiselines' title of the trip - they like to spin things.    Look and see what each cruise's ports are and browse these boards to understand a little about the ports and see if they appeal to you. 

 

 

That's good info to know.  Thanks!

Thank-you so much!

Thank-you so much!

Hello, sorry if this has been asked before. I searched, but didn't find this topic.  Is there a "better" cruise line for viewing Norway's fjords?  We're not fancy, and care less about the bells and whistles of a cruise ship, than in scenic and wildlife viewing.  Thank-you.

Following

11 minutes ago, echoshipmate said:

I guess no one knows the answer to your question, including me, Why does the drinks package not show on the app, but does on the website. At least, I believe that was your question. 

I know.  Probably just more problems with the medallion.  I did as many suggested and printed off the verification.  I was just hoping to avoid spending time at guest services working it out.  

Thanks all.

11 minutes ago, Tedferg said:

Sorry to be picky, but it was not 'Gifted'. Princess Plus costs more than Saver fare and I think it is a great deal, but there is a cost for it.

 

And Yes, it is strange that you have an option to buy PBP when you already have Plus. I have not seen anywhere on Medallion that it lists items like this or OBC etc.

Sorry if you misunderstood.  Yes, I know the Princess Plus cost more.  It was comped by my travel agent, hence, gifted.  

2 minutes ago, memoak said:

Your travel summary on the website should show the packages you have

It does, but it doesn't show it on the medallion.  Maybe it will once we board the ship.  

Thanks all.  I do see it on the Princess website, but not on the app.  I believe it was gifted through princess plus.  

When I click on manage drinks packages, it just pops up with "Purchase a drink package pre-cruise, please visit cruise personalizer."  

I will print it off, and I can show them on my iPad when I log onto princess.  I'm just trying to have as much ready in advance as possible.  

Hi all, our travel agent purchased us the premier beverage package, but it's not yet showing up on the medallion app.  We get the message to purchase a drink package when I click on manage drink packages.  Anyone else seeing this?  When I log onto princess itself, it shows that we have the package.

Thanks!

On 8/11/2021 at 10:28 AM, FauxNom said:

 

 

This was an antigen test. She needed an appointment, and the schedule was pretty crowded so best to book in advance. They test at the drive-thru window. This thread is about Seattle; that's where I am.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a walk-in site I found through the City of Seattle website: https://www.solvhealth.com/book-online/g5y8Wg   This one is not downtown (where the ships are) but the UW light rail station is right at the testing site. So it might take some time, but it's an option. Results are supposed to be quick. 

 

There's also walk-up testing at Harborview, near downtown, https://www.uwmedicine.org/locations/covid-19-testing-harborview 

 

Note that both of these links indicate they prioritize testing for people with symptoms. 

 

Good luck!

We got our test done yesterday at Harborview.  It was a PCR test.  We got our results within 12 hours.  Good luck!

1 minute ago, PointRoberts said:

They finally opened the border to us 2 days ago. This is the first time in the past 16 months that we were allowed to transit from our little 5 square mile pana-exclave to the rest of the USA without it being for essential service like a medical emergency. This is our first trip away from Point Roberts since the lockdown. I am beginning to thing it may not have been worth all the effort to get thru the border.

Wow!  I've often wondered what happened to the kids who live there.  Aren't they usually bused through Canada, back into WA for school?  I guess with remote it wouldn't matter.

14 minutes ago, PointRoberts said:

  We live in a remote area of Washington that requires us to travel through Canada to get to Seattle for our 8/15 cruise. They only test for Covid is 2 days a week and Sunday is the one day a week that does not fall into the 3 day window for Covid test required for our cruise. We decided to take a test on Sunday 8/8 to make sure we were negative before we made the trek thru Canada to get additional testing within the 3 day window. We did this to so if we had been positive we could quarantine at home since Canada would not have allowed our return with a positive result. We made arrangements to be tested again, today at 5pm to be within the 72 hours originally stated that was needed to board our ship. There are only 2 testing sites available and we choose the public testing site since the other was already booked up thru 8/17 after our cruise had left. We showed up at our appointed time and we found the sign below. No email warning or call even though Whatcom county had all that information. I have searched all evening for an alternative test site that could get the results in before sailing and there are none. Princess should really have had a private testing site in Seattle that was up and running for the 3 days before sailing. It is BS to put us through the stress of doing this. I currently don’t know if they are going allow us to board. We have our test from last Sunday and proof that we tried to get a test within the rules they set. How do you deal with trying to get a Covid test when the local health department shuts testing down and you tried to get tested in good faith. 

 

Oh no!  I'm so sorry that happened to you.  I wondered about folks who lived there.  Were you allowed across the border prior to this?  Take care.

Thanks so much, everyone!  I appreciate your help.

I searched and found different answers.  Are we allowed to bring a power strip with 3 outlets, and 2 USB ports?  It does have a surge protector.  With 2 people, cameras, phones,  an extra phone power bank and I pads we tend to have a lot charging.  Thanks so much!

2 minutes ago, ChangeOrder said:

That would be only 20% capacity, and that seems way too low. The two shows per night would accommodate 50% of a full ship... hmm, it's possible?

Just using my Nancy Drew skills and hoping, I guess.  🤔

1 hour ago, ChangeOrder said:

We can make reservations for the show times in the theater, but not an actual seat number.
 

I wonder if that means there are 766 passengers.  

46 minutes ago, clueless2 said:

You can see the ship from a distance with this one.  There used to be a much better one but it seems to have gone offline.

 

https://www.weatherbug.com/weather-camera/?cam=SALTY

I couldn't get the image to load, but I'll keep trying.  Thanks so much for your reply!

Does anyone know of a port camera?  I've searched and googled, but can't find one.  Thanks!

22 hours ago, drvmywifecrzy said:

I am curious about this excursion as well  NCL lists at $725 so I assume that is for the car not per person.   So anyone think they would slap 2 couple together?

Princess offered ours for $650 for just under 4 hours.  I wonder why the difference in price.  My son and I want to go on a wildlife and scenery search.  

20 minutes ago, don't-use-real-name said:

If you are hiring the tour for a set price - that should be the price you pay -

and then you divide it up by the number of participants.

I.E. Tour costs $500 - $250 for the each of you or $100 for 5 guests

This unless a different negotiated price is set or published.

Suggested tips are extra and could also be by individual or group contribution. 

Perfect.  Thanks so much.  I didn't know if they would put another party of 3 in our hummer.  That would make it harder to meet each group's spots to visit.  I'm looking forward to it.  

I see that the limit is 5 for this tour, but can I book it just for 2 people?  Also, do you know if they would take you to locations where it is more likely that you would see wildlife such as bears?  We're not comfortable with going up in small planes.

Thanks so much.