K_e_short

30 minutes ago, LuCruise said:

What is strange though...if they added this fine for crossing the border via land if positive....why isn't it all over the news?  You think it would be advertised if the idea is to stop us from travelling out of Canada.

I bet the media doesn't know about it. And no one has been given a $5000 fine, yet.

The first person to get fined will call the media and it will hit the news.

Same thing happened when people were unable to figure out how to use the ArriveCan app and said "i'll just cross without it" and then were put in quarantine. Then it was in the news.

The wording of the website has JUST changed. I printed out a copy of the government website on Dec 24th and it did not say that. It said I could cross over with a positive test and quarantine.

I think you can cancel up to the 14th? Isn't that the current cut off for cancel for any reason?

The issue is you will have trouble getting a hold of someone on the phone.

So yes you can cancel.

14 hours ago, Frank12 said:

That's messed up!  We just sailed little old Elation and they had burgers, dogs, etc. at Lido buffet for late night snacks.

I agree.

Even the Lido Marketplace was shut down at times, middle of the day, and maybe after 7pm?

It didn't ruin my vacation, and I had read reviews so I knew things would be closed. I even brought tupperware and ziploc bags to take food for my fridge for later.

The Javablue Cafe has take away food in the morning as well.

But that requires planning to get food BEFORE the places close down.

19 minutes ago, LuCruise said:

What a horrible kick in the face.  There goes our March plans as we were going to drive to the cruise.

Wonder how long they'll keep this on as this is a huge problem.  We've done everything right and followed all the rules. And it seems to mean nothing.  

I agree.

So if I was cruising now I would need to make sure I have enough money, and time off work to spend 10 days in the U.S., with Covid. Then cross the border.

I would have had to cancel, not because of the cost, but because I can not be off work that long.

54 minutes ago, hubbards said:

In these times things don’t always work as they have in the past regarding testing.  To insure you get your results in time for travel I would only use a resource that knows it is for travel and can insure the results are ready in the time you need them.

I do think the drug store tests are approved for travel.. BUT

I ran into two people at the Orlando airport on Jan 2nd who had to reschedule their flights because the test didn't come back in time.

I will say this again. You need to balance out the cost of a test versus having to reschedule travel plans.

If you are planning on staying a few days after your cruise you can afford to wait up to 72 hours for a test. 

If you are flying out that day I would pay for the rapid test because saving money on a test, but then having to stay over night ($200 hotel), and then changing flights ($200 change fee?), not sure where the savings are.

9 hours ago, IntrepidFromDC said:

K_e, we have anytime dining.  Will you please rank the dinnertime options based on your experience?

 

Does any part of the Bolt ride actually swing out over the water?

 

Thanks.

Cucina had the best food, followed by Chibang because there were so many options, the main dining room is o.k depending on the menu.

We did two upcharge places:

The sushi was awesome. Really good selection of options. The seafood shack had great food but it took almost 30 minutes each time I ordered something, which was not acceptable.

I think you can search online for videoes of the roller coaster. There may even be a go pro video. 

I don't think it does but it goes up and down and goes fast.

12 minutes ago, em-sk said:

 

I think it depends.  I have been on some of the pacific costal cruises from LA to Vancouver.  These usually have a stop in Victoria the day before Vancouver.  You fill out your customs card in LA as you board the ship.  Canada customs clears the entire ship into Canada in Victoria.  Certain if there is anything odd on the declaration they would call you down.  In that case the customs officers just wave as you walk off.  

 

It all depends.  Other times they are very strict.  I think it hard to predict ahead of time.   

I meant US customs, specifically on close looped cruises.

I hav always been happy with how border security in Canada has been fair and thorough.

3 hours ago, DirtyDawg said:

Those are now an essential packing item for international travel!

And at $149 for Aeroplan members, very affordably priced.

 

I agree. Also someone has confirmed the expiry date is a long ways off?? (someone help me out).

I have heard horror stories of Americans buying the online proctored tests that are expired by the time they are delivered.

Meaning you should buy it now, just in case they run out when you do travel.

This is why checking the website is important, as I have continued to repeat.

Now when you go through:

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start#services

It says you will be fined.

O.k then you will be fined. So you need a plan to stay in the U.S. for 10 days (enter on the 11th day as of the 15th).

Things change quickly.

I'm from Canada.

We've been talking about this in our Canadian forum.

We think it's funny.

But we haven't been following the travel warnings since July so yeah.. oh well.

I was on it Dec 26th - Jan 2nd.

I can confirm that Chibang and Cucina is free. You make reservations on the app like the main dining room if you have any time dining.

DO THE BOLT!!!! I am scared of heights and roller coasters but did it to say "i went on a roller coaster on a cruise ship."

It was crowded in that there was always something going on. I was on the Lido Deck most of the days, once at the Summer Landing pool, and once at the Tides Pool. I could also get a deck chair which is important for me.

The others answers are very detailed but to answer in terms of Covid/Omicron. You have to wear a mask inside. Put your mask on as you leave your cabin. Take it off when you are outside. Put it back on when you go back inside. 

That is it.

There is no social distancing. There are no other protocols.

I have amazing cruise. I did not come back with Covid.

2 hours ago, RLK33853 said:

Great service again from Switch - ordered the Lamp tests on Saturday with expedited delivery ($15) and they were delivered in Winnipeg on Tuesday by Purolator.

Now if only they could get their in person test results that fast 🙂

(Sorry I couldn't help it 🙂

I do not have first hand knowledge of this but I can confirm that two Canadian families who were on my cruise did just that.

As mentioned above on the website it says you can cross overy the LAND border with a positive test.

You need to fill out the ArriveCan app. You need to have a quarantine plan in place.

The one family who posted the details said they flew to the nearest border city then drove across.

At the border:

1 - they showed the positive test results

2 - had to do an arrival test

3 - will have to do a day 8 test

4 - had to show their quarantine plan

I'm not sure if they have been checked up on.

I know the website is complicated but it clearly says that CANADIAN CITIZENS can not be banned from entering Canada.

The whole fines etc is in regards to if you don't fill out the Arrive Can app or don't have a quarantine plan in place.

I read the website A LOT A LOT A LOT!!!!!!

I even printed out the sections in case I tested positive on the way home.

2 hours ago, katiecat said:

Why do us Canadians have to pay up to $200 for our test.

 

It's to deter us from cruising, travelling, leaving the country.

It's not meant to actually slow the spread of Covid.

If you have money to travel then you have to budget in the extra costs.

You should have seen the anger when Americans couldn't acces the free antigen tests and had to start buying the online proctored tests. The number of conversations about how to apply for insurance, how to get a free test by lying, etc.

I think the issue is that because Health Care is a provincial responsibility, it all depends on what province you live in. I'm in Ontario and can get a test for $17 at Costco. That is not fair for others.

1 hour ago, skatie said:

My son had Covid mid December and had a positive PCR test on December 18.  He has a screen shot of the positive result from the government website.  Is this screenshot proof acceptable and how does he present this - Arrive Can app or just at Customs?   Also what does he need to fly out of Canada to US or Mexico?  Does he still need to have a negative Rapid antigen test 24 hours before departure or use this screenshot proof of positive result?   I knew exactly what to do when none of us had Covid but now this positive result has me a bit confused! Thanks!

I would start by going to the government website and reading all the information listed there.

There is even a section to put in options (canadian citizen/non canadian, vaccinate/unvaccinated etc.)

That has the most up to date information and is where we are all getting our information that we are sharing in here.

3 hours ago, Fouremco said:

That's correct, it's treated in exactly the same manner. Take a peek here for your allowances:

https://travel.gc.ca/returning/customs/what-you-can-bring-home-to-canada

 

There was an interesting thread a few years ago when an indignant passenger complained to CC at length about how CBSA had ripped him off. He had purchased well in excess of his allowance, but argued that because he had bought it all at duty free shops, he shouldn't have to pay any when returning home. He couldn't wrap his mind around the difference in paying duty at the point of sale and paying it when importing goods.

 

Enjoy your cruise. And your shopping!

Thats because the U.S. isn't that good at asking/checking for things being brought into the country.

My roll call had hundreds of people confirming you can bring back WAY MORE then the regulated amount and no one will check.

I guess they forgot Canada had different rules 🙂

2 hours ago, ads0221 said:

We have a cruise in a week and a half and are scheduled to take the test through carnival. On the website it says "rapid antigen".

If you are talking about the pre boarding test that isn't offered by Carnival. Its an outside agency. Just wanted to clarify.

8 minutes ago, AlbertaCruisers said:

 

I think we are a bit less closed here in Alberta!

 Reading is hard you know.

It's not like your nickname on here is clear about where you are from. 🙂

Woohoo! Go out! Enjoy!

Don't come to Ontario. It's a bit of a disaster right now 🙂

1 hour ago, AlbertaCruisers said:

I finally got my results this morning, so approximately 160 hours from when the test was administered (Air Canada terminal at Pearson).

 Oh thank goodness.

So glad you got your results and can go outside and do things now.. or wait everything is closed 🙂

Thanking you for bringing that up.

When I got my PCR test at the Ottawa airport it was a shallow nose swab and said so specificially on the lab result.

I had the same thing happen when I got tested at the Orlando airport but it just said PCR test.

The at home antigen test kits that I have give directions for both shallow and deep nose testing.

I brought rapid antigen tests for our NYE cruise.

Used them the day before we debarked, to make sure that our PCR test at the airport would be negative (or more like prepare ourselves that the test would be positive if we tested positive on the antigen test).

I also brought it in case my son or I developed symptoms. We didn't thank heavens.

48 minutes ago, maryann2 said:

Sadly I have cancelled my March 18th Costa Firenze Dubai to Rome cruise.  Transferred the funds to the same cruise March 2023.

Now wonder if my April 24th Carnival Pride Tampa to Barcelona will sail. Not sure if Carnival will send a ship to Europe this year.

Also have Celebrity Solstice Sept 2022 Vancouver to Tokyo booked but wonder if that one will even sail.

I am booked on the Pride in July.

I'm part of a roll call on the Book of Faces.

I don't think a lot of them have read up on cruises or cruising or Carnival or Covid.. or anything.

They are booking flights, talking about meet ups, worrying about covid tests..

And I"m sitting back thinking "lets wait to see if 1 - Iceland/Scotland/Ireland/Wales is actually open for tourists, and 2 - if the ship actually makes it way there.

THEN I will start planning 🙂

8 minutes ago, wendycook22 said:

Currently most Walgreens are only booking 5 days out, and appointments are very limited (at least in the Miami and FLL area).  Currently due to high demand you would need to book the morning the appointments are released for your testing date.  It also appears that you will are required to book a separate appointment for each individual being tested, although you may show up all together in one car.  

I would also double check if the appointments roll over at midnight. I figured out the MCO airport appointments roll over at midnight so stayed up late to make my appointment.

1 hour ago, If only said:

 

The act for the PCR test to get back in to Canada is set to expire Jan 31,2022 so should be interesting to see if it is extended. We have a cruise on the Eclipse that also ends in  Vancouver on April 23, now it’s gone off the website & no one seems to know anything other than they are not allowed to sell anymore cabins as it is showing Red code.

Can you post where it says that act ends end of the month?

I just assumed that until things calm down that a pcr test would be required to come back into Canada.

2 hours ago, cmichael1221 said:

People still have attitudes like this and we wonder why COVID continues to spread...

I had to bite my tongue and not get into an argument with someone on the Book of Faces who said "if I test positive I better be able to stay in my balcony room" and then after I indicated how I didn't want them next to me said "well you better not go out on your balcony."

O.k rant over. People are selfish. I get that. I guess since cruising is so expensive you're going to bring out the bratty entitled rich people. 😞