SFO Peter

For flying in to Japan see below. If you do not do fast track you probably will still need the same documents required here. Also you probably will need to do a virus test in Japan to board the ship (this is the Cruise ship requirement).

Jacqui so glad you are getting back to cruising. We like the GasLamp Fish house restaurant near your hotel. There is a small outside patio if you get there earlier enough. We share the Fish and Chips and Crab Cakes. These are the best Crab Cakes in my opinion. Peter

test

As of today our Koningsdam sailing to Hawaii on Jan 31 says no testing required on the Booking/Voyage Lookup. What date is your sailing? Peter

yes Westerdam April 10 protocols have not yet posted but someone on Westerdam Japan cruise before us said their protocols was posted. Peter

==== Westerdam April 10, 2023. There are other Westerdam Japan cruises before mine. Japan has installed a rule that if ships have more than 10 percent Covid cases the ships will not be allowed to sail in Japan. I believe that is why the >>Cruise Lines<< have adopted measures to screen Covid cases so they can satisfy this requirement. Peter

This is great. You are going to be our saviors. Thanks Peter

Our Cruise requires a Covid Test and certificate three days before boarding. Tried Googling places in Yokohama but kinda confusing. Maybe Bruce Muzz or someone who knows have the answer. Helps if the test site speaks english. Thanks Peter

Below is my Chat with a HAL representative. Note that the Promo states Prepaid Crew Appreciation. ======= [P] Welcome to Holland America Line. Chat service is available in English only. Please hold while we connect you to the next available agent... [P] Thank you for contacting Holland America Line. My name is P and I would be glad to assist you today. How may I help you? [PETER] dont see Crew Incentive on Have It All promo [P] Good morning Peter, not all forms of Have it all would have it. Let me take a peek at yours. Can I get your date of birth? [PETER] April [P] So it looks like you are on a non refundable deposit booking and not on have it all. [PETER] it has to be on new booking? [PETER] Also if want a new different booking where can I find HIA with Crew Incentive? [P] If you want to change over your booking for that, You will need to contact our Reservations Department at 800-426-0327. The hours are Monday - Friday 5am -7pm Saturday and Sunday 7am - 5pm (PST). Any agent who answers the phone is always happy to help you set up for have it all and/or Crew incentive. [PETER] I dont want to change booking. I am looking for new booking with Crew Incentive [P] You would still need to contact the reservations desk to set that up.

I wonder why the full photo from Flickr did not post???

add. I remember now. If negative and opted to quarantine and stay in cabin you will get Credit for days in quarantine. If you do not quarantine - no credit. Peter

==== Interesting that they allow you to go out with a mask. When I opted to quarantine in August with Harry who had Covid they did not say that I could go out with a mask when I tested negative. Would have been much better if I could have gone out and pick out items we wanted to eat. We were in Neptune Suite! Eurodam tested me every day and I tested positive on the fourth day. Peter

So sorry OP got Covid. My recent August Eurodam Covid experience is if you get Antigen swabbed and it shows positive then they swab you a second time the ship takes the sample back to the lab to do PCR test. If you get a call on the phone to say you have Covid - you have Covid. I asked about PCR and the Nurse explained it to me. Also some people are eligible for Paxlovid cost $750. Harry used Covid and it worked without any rebound. I think next cruise I will carry several self tests for each person. Two per person was not sufficient. Peter

Somewhere I read it is all about moving towards being environmental conscious and that single use plastic like plastic straws and plastic bottles are banned. Medicine bottles are not single use and hopefully your bottle of mouthwash is not single use. HAL no longer has plastic water bottles but you can buy one liter Aqua Panna water in glass bottles. I take a hiking water bottle to fill with water when going off the ship. When embarking and going through security the cap of the bottle is off. No problems whatsoever. Peter

Somewhere I read it is all about moving towards being environmental conscious and that single use plastic like plastic straws and plastic bottles are banned. Medicine bottles are not single use and hopefully your bottle of mouthwash is not single use. HAL no longer has plastic water bottles but you can buy one liter Aqua Panna water in glass bottles. I take a hiking water bottle to fill with water when going off the boat. I always make sure the bottle is uncovered when embarking and going through security. No problems encountered. Peter

==== should have said "may" instead of will. This is all based on my experience. Peter

If you are required to stay on the ship to the end of the cruise they will test Dave every day and quarantine you in a quarantine section. If you are still required to quarantine after cruise tell them you have made your own arrangements to quarantine in Boston and you have someone who will pick you up and take you to your arranged place. When the ship docks they will escort you off the ship last and place you in a Lot away from where the other passengers disembarked. You will need to do some disembark planning such as transportation and changing airline flight etc if not staying in a quarantine hotel. Please wear a mask and try to distance yourself from others when possible until test negative.

====== Hello Roy I read your posts frequently. I believe you may have WiFi only IPAd and Mini. Firm believer of paying the extra to get IPad with Cellular not WiFi only. Don't have to do Cellular although I use Keepgo all over the world prepaid sim with data which does not expire if you top up yearly. Used it for more than several years. Days of me spending vacation time looking for free WiFi are gone. Peter

Thanks to the OP for posting. This is very useful information. My recent Aug 2022 Covid experience on Alaska cruise dictates that one should carry several Covid tests. You can take them out of the box and place in plastic bag with the instructions. Yes we were quarantined on board but once we tested negative we flew home with masks at disembarkation rather than stay in a quarantine hotel. We made our own flight arrangements so we had to be creative to find our way home. I am traveling with a 98 year old with Alzheimers. And this is all the information I will provide. Peter

Everyone's got choices. We wore our masks diligently on our Eurodam Aug 13 Alaska cruise unless we were in our Cabin or dining. We got Covid. Perhaps we sat too close to many others in the terminal that were not wearing masks. We do not know. Anyway we were quarantined in our Neptune Suite since they had moved us once before from another no heat Neptune Suite and I am traveling with a 98 year old with moderate to severe Alzheimers. Also we are five star mariners. We had one day ashore before going into isolation. My main objective here is to show the type of masks that was in our cabin.

Thanks Harry is feeling better. We started in a Neptune suite with have it all. Dont normally do suites or Have it all. We are five star non drinkers but our credits expire Dec 2022.so here we are.

Got Paxlovid from ship medical center. It is not available to everyone. Depends on age, health and what meds you are taking. The Doctor decides. Peter

Got Paxlovid from ship medical center. It is not available to everyone. Depends on age, health and what meds you are taking. The Doctor decides. Peter

Now on Eurodam Aug 13 for seven day. We did PCR test before boarding. Harry my companion has covid. Yesterday I tested him twice since could not believe my eyes. Ship swabbed him in room and he tested PCR positive. We were diligent wearing masks during taxi, airport , hotel and ship. Masks are highly recommended but not required on ship. Fortunately(?) Harry has Alzheimer’s and since ship moved us from one no heat Neptune to another that had heat we are allowed to stay isolated in our Neptune cabin. Best place to be isolated. They will disembark us last. Oh yes because feeling worse the soon to be 98 year old is now taking Paxlovid which cost $750. Well you cant take “it” with you. Recommend bringing about eight free covid tests with you. We have one test left. I brought four. Peter