hapster85

Tested positive after lunch today at the Mt McKinley Lodge, on day 6 of our land tour. The testing was conducted by Beacon Health, here at the lodge. Received the first email within 30 minutes of testing, showing positive result. Bummed to say the least. Two more emails arrived a few minutes later, also from Beacon. The first advised us to isolate, that we would be transferred to Anchorage as soon as they could arrange it, and that we would be clear to travel again on July 6th. The second advised that they would put us up in one of the hotels they are working with, or we could make our own arrangements. Either way, we would need to pay for the room, and seek reimbursement. A young man arrived at our door a short time later with printed information from Princess on how to get reimbursed. We will also have a $100 per day per person allowance for food. Again, paid out of pocket first, and reimbursed later. Also included was a number to call to get our flights rebooked, if we had used EZAir, which we had. Took a couple of hours on hold, but wasn't like I had anything else to do. Was a relief to get that squared away. Also received a menu for ordering meals while still at the lodge. Not many choices, but at least we won't starve. Meanwhile, we received a call from the front desk advising that our transfer to Anchorage would be at 1 o'clock tomorrow. No word yet on where they are putting us. Received another call from from them this evening confirming the time of our transfer, and asked if we needed anything. No complaints so far about the process. Hopefully that remains the case over the next 5 days. Haven't heard how many other guests have tested positive, nor have we asked. Anyway, guessing the masks aren't going away on the Alaska north/south bound cruises anytime soon.

We were in a similar situation. Outbound flight on Delta ticketed around the 50 day mark. Inbound flight on United not ticketed until 19 or 20 days out. I was my own worst enemy by checking multiple times per day until it finally happened. It's easy for me to say now to just relax, and they'll get to it. But I totally get it.

Yeah, that really makes no sense. Why leave one ship idle, while continuing to operate one that's not up to the task? Sapphire could've been moved into position weeks ago. Smh

In all likelihood, the person you talked to on the phone when you rebooked was not an air department employee, even if you chose EZAir on the phone tree. The air department is swamped, so calls are being handled by regular reps, who pretty much just have the same tools available that you do for booking flights yourself. You really have to push to get an actual air department rep. Even then, depending on how far out you are, they still may not transfer you. Unfortunately, you should have just left it alone, until the air department eventually rebooked you. Your original price was guaranteed that way. By calling and asking to book new flights, you were subject to the then current fares, just as if you'd done it yourself on the EZAir site. It is highly unlikely that you will get any refund of the difference at this point, certainly worth trying. We were in the same situation, when American cancelled our return flight back in February. EZAir continued to show the original flight, with the same schedule change message when you clicked on "add or modify flights". American put us on a new flight that was incompatible with the cruise; they actually made multiple changes, each one earlier than the last. Anyway, I was my own worst enemy by checking the EZAir site daily to see if they'd taken care of it. It took 3 months for them to resolve it. Like I said before, they are swamped, and our flight wasn't a priority until closer to departure. We were about 50 days out when EZAir rebooked us on United. No additional fees required. Good luck. 🤞

The booking window was extended. Previously had to be booked by May 31st, now September 30th. But yeah, the dates covered haven't changed. If they extended it for Holland America, it's certainly possible they will for Princess, too.

The masking was added as a precaution, until they determine that the pre-travel testing is reducing the number of positive cases at the end of the land tours. Testing only those individuals who did land tours when they get off the ship would do nothing to catch others on the ship the land tour folks might have infected during the cruise. So no, not ridiculous. Would I rather go maskless? Of course. Is wearing a mask going to ruin my trip? No. If it's going to ruin yours, you might want to consider staying home. Round trips out of Seattle.

As volatile as things are in the airline industry right now, I don't think you're safe from anything, regardless of how it's booked. I continue to check our flights daily, usually more than once, to hopefully avoid surprises.

That's not correct. On the Princess EZAir page under Flexible fare rules: Prices are not subject to increase, except for charges resulting from increases in government imposed taxes or fees. (Bolding mine.) Once you book a flexible fare, your price is guaranteed, unless you choose to rebook your flights. What would be the point of "book now, pay later" if the rates weren't guaranteed once you book? We booked our flights for our June 25th cruisetour last September, for a flexible fare rate of $1250 per person in first/business class. Prices only went up from there. By final payment, our same fights had more than doubled. But we still paid the $1250 rate at final payment.

Isn't it a new booking if you cancel the old one first?

You can select seats on unticketed flights on American using the Personalizer. Just click "Add or Modify Flights", then click "Request Seats". Must be done on a desktop machine. The option isn't available on mobile for some reason.

Free is definitely cheaper! Lol

Curious why you chose to book the extra night on your own instead of with Princess? Our land tour starts the 26th, but we are flying up on the 25th, so we just added a night. We now know we'll also be at the Westmark. I think I had to make 3 calls before getting someone who could actually handle it, but thought it was really nice that you could do so. Prices were very reasonable, too at $200 for the two of us. Which from what I see on their website, is cheaper than the going rate at Westmark.

I don't know if you've gotten this resolved, but as far out as you were (are), I wouldn't do anything. It took EZAir 3 months to get us rebooked after American cancelled our return flight and put us on one that was much too early. The rep you talked was absolutely wrong about no price protection until ticketed. Anyway, I would just leave it alone and let them sort it out. I'll be there first to admit I got impatient with the whole process, too. But they did sort it. Had I tried doing so on my own, it would have cost us a lot more.

Received our assignment yesterday for the same facility, starting 6/25. Using Google Maps, there seem to be quite a few restaraunts within a walking distance of about 15 minutes. Pretty much everything looked local, although I did spot a Pizza Hut on the map.

Not particularly thrilled with the idea of having to mask up for our upcoming cruise. We don't actually board the ship until 7/2 and things could certainly change back by then. But either way, we'll deal with it. I do find it odd that they haven't implemented the same protocols on their Holland America ships, as far as I can tell, on the same itineraries. They are still operating under encouraged, but not required. That could change at any moment, of course. It's also me assuming that they have been having similar outbreaks on those cruisetours.

No status required to pick seats on Delta, American, or United. Delta and American we were able to pick from their websites. American, we had to use the EZAir website. Others have reported being able to pick on American. The biggest advantages to booking with EZAir would have to be: 1) Reserving flights now, and paying later. 2) Being able to rebook flights as often as you like before the 45 day mark. Helpful if the price drops, or you find better flights. Since covid, the domestic airlines have been allowing booking changes without change fees, so that advantage is deminished a bit. 3) If you cancel the cruise before final payment, the flights are also cancelled, and your out-of-pocket is zero. I have no idea if the airlines are currently issuing refunds for cancelled flights.

We fly out on 6/25. Still waiting for our inbound flight on United to be ticketed. I've tried calling, the regular Princess number, and pressing 2 for booked guests and 4 for EZAir, but that is not currently getting you through to them. You just get a regular customer services rep who reassures you that it will happen, but at this point is less than reassuring. The reservation on the United website does contain a phone number with a 206 area code that I tried calling, which is for Holland America Group travel services. Selecting the option for booked cruise guests, the estimated wait time was "less than 5 hours", so I hung up. Going to try the email.

Replied to the email. Waiting to see if it bounces or someone actually responds.

Got the same crazy email from Princess this morning. Fairbanks hotel with a Seattle, WA address. 🤣 Google maps shows a nice office building at that address. Zooming in on the entrance, I see "Holland America Line" over the door. So it's not a totally random address, but someone was definitely asleep when it was copy and pasted into our emails. 😂

I think Princess now requiring a negative test before the land portion was a good move. Still doesn't eliminate risk, of course, but should help reduce the number of cases. 🤞

It took them about 3 months to get ours rebooked after American canceled our return flight in February. Now I'm just trying to get the return flight ticketed. We're 26 days from departure. If your cruise isn't until October, I wouldn't be worrying about it, or hassling the EZ Air department, at this point. Your flights could change multiple times between now and then, which is no doubt why they aren't rushing to make changes.

I think you'd have to not read the notification email at all to not know what it's about.

Also surprised it wasn't already required. Guessing more than expected were testing positive at the end of the land portion?

Couldn't get a screenshot, but here is the text from the notification: Important Acknowledgements for Your Cruise Vacation Before entering Cruise Personalizer, read and acknowledge these notifications Updated Covid-19 Testing Requirements For Your Cruisetour Please be advised that we have implemented a new requirement and cruisetour guests 2 years of age or older must now produce a negative COVID-19 test at the start of their pre-cruise land tour. The test must be medically observed and can be an antigen test taken within two days of the start of your tour or a PCR test taken within three days of the start of your tour. You will not be able to begin your cruisetour without proof of a negative COVID-19 test. At-home medically observed antigen tests such as https://*****/optumtest are allowed. All guests over 5 years of age must also be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and bring acceptable proof of COVID-19 vaccination to present at cruisetour check-in. Boosters are encouraged for eligible guests. You will also require a negative COVID-19 test to board the ship for the sea portion of your cruisetour, which we will provide at no cost to you. For health and safety guidelines for your voyage, visit https://*****/pc_usfaq.

I've been checking ours at least once a day for weeks now. No changes recently.