mom2miracles

swallow, not-enough-cruising, smokeybandit - my apologies. While I read it as COVID test, for whatever reason, my mind translated it to vaccination requirements. Even in my second post, I knew the conversation was about testing, yet, my mind kept going back to vaccinations. My bad. Apparently, I shouldn't be trying to do two different things at once - my magnet making for my upcoming cruise was clearly more important. LOL! I'm still right about the vaccination requirements though. 😉 ...ignore the rest. LOL!

Not by the Canadian Government you don't. If testing is required, it would be because of the specific cruise line. You also MUST be vaccinated to enter Canada. If you aren't, you have to do a 14 day mandatory quarantine with testing on days 1 and 8 and can still be fined.

You don't have to have a negative test to enter Canada....

That is a very broad assumption and untrue. Yes, if you are vaccinated and boosted you will likely not get as sick as someone who has not been vaccinated. BUT, you can still get VERY sick despite the vaccination. It comes down to the specific strain you acquired and how your body responds to it.

https://switchhealth.ca/en/partners/aeroplan/#collectionKits 🙂

I’m Canadian and we have only used Switch Health. We can test multiple people at a time. They will focus on one person at a time for their test and then move along to the next person. Easy peasy.

This specific cucumber martini at 150 is usually made table side, so definitely not made elsewhere. OP - I don't know if you can do that, but it couldn't hurt to ask when on board. That martini is sooooo good. I could drink those and eat their bread and be a happy camper for dinner. LOL!

Thanks for the clarification. 🙂

I need a sharps container in my stateroom every cruise. My TA requests it on our reservation but on the odd occasion it hasn’t been in the room, we just ask our stateroom attendant and they take care of it for me. Easy peasy. As for the fridge, every room we have stayed in there has been a fridge. Is that not standard (honest question)?!

I have been able to book for our Allure cruise in October, but not for our January cruise on Oasis.

Thank you! 🙂

I ALWAYS forget about the fresh squeezed OJ. Where can you get them on the ship? I don't think they are served everywhere, though I could be wrong.

You’ll either hear from them today or tomorrow. That has always been our experience.

Nope, you can just use one kit for two people. The QR codes are different for each of the two tests. It’s very straight forward and easy to use. The results are emailed to you very quickly too.

“Cruise approved” as in they meet the requirements that cruise ships have regarding these type of items. You’re reading too far into this - it was a general statement, as I’m sure most are when they say “cruise approved”. No need to be snarky.

Why don't you just get tests from Switch Health and test at the hotel? We've done that a few times, and never an issue. You don't have to be in Canada to do the tests, you just have to have access to WIFI.

We got these earlier this year, they are cruise approved and work great! https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B091DW6Q9D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We've been on three cruises this year, two more to go (YAY) and while yes, they do ask to see the documents at the port too, our check-in at port was beyond smooth and it took no time at all to check our information. We stay in Suites though, so perhaps that is why our check-ins are faster and so smooth? I don't know. I guess I just look at it as a helpful tool incase there was an issue. I would be pretty upset to fly to the port (hell, fly to another Country) only to find out my documents weren't in order and be refused boarding. I do agree 100% that if they just used the documents they ask for on the app, it would make things a lot smoother. I hate carrying around all of that paperwork and worrying about misplacing something before I even get to the port. That part is always the most stressful.

I think the main point is for your credit card info and who can have access to it in your party on the ship so you don't have to waste time in line at Guest Services AND to ensure your vaccine documents are up to date. You (not you personally, the general "you") think you are good to go and really, you aren't. I would much rather find out when they don't clear my vaccine info early to be able to try and sort out the issue rather than at the port and getting turned away. OP, you're a brave BRAVE soul for flying in the day the ship leaves, especially with the mass amounts of delays at airports. Most ports do care about arrival time, but more so being early than late. Also, don't forget (incase you deal with delays) embarkation stops at least 90 minutes prior to sailing, so if you get that after that, they will not let you on the ship.

If you're in a suite you'll get separate Shampoo/Conditioner/Body Wash in the shower - big bottles. I love the scents!!

I'm sorry your wife has had to deal with so much. I hope her recovery continues and she gets stronger and stronger. Perhaps you should touch base with her GI Doctor (or whoever follows her for her Crohns) and see if they have any suggestions to better prepare for a "just in case" situation? That would likely bring you both some more comfort and peace of mind while travelling. I hope your fall trip is just as wonderful as your June one! 🙂

If you have a known reason for specifically needing a bolus of IV fluids, likely due to a medical condition, I suggest you get that sorted out with your physicians before you even board the ship. As someone who has some medical issues (including running IV fluids and medications at home, on a pump, on a daily basis), I bring aboard everything I need AND more *just in case*. I wouldn't rely on the cruise ship medical facility to fill in the blanks for a known condition and treatment you would normally get at home. I'm not saying that to be harsh, but you need to be prepared before you go - especially for known medical issues. The medical facility, to me anyways, would be for more acute issues that you are unprepared for. Also, for something that may be a simple fix to you, may mean something different to the staff in the medical facility where they may not be comfortable with you being on the ship. Which would lead to an unexpected stop and you being taken off the ship to a local medical facility.

I've been charged a few times for the lobster at Chops even with the UDP and other times I have not. I think it's hit or miss. I still order the steak and lobster anyway. Even at 150, I do it too, but there isn't an up-charge there. I order the lobster entree and then order the steak for two entree and just tell them I only want the steak (not the sides) and it's never an issue. I tell them to just give me the smallest piece they can find, lol. I'm little, I can't eat it all anyways, but I love me some surf and turf!

Is it possible you missed the final payment deadline already?

Everyone has their own likes/dislikes wth regards to staterooms, just like what people are willing to pay for a cruise/drink packages/excursions, etc. When we stayed in a CLS the first time, it was a stupid awesome deal my travel agent happen to come across and told me about. Aside from one time (because we booked VERY last minute and ended up in an Owners Suite) we have stayed in one. Those are the first suites we look for - CLS and loft suites above those. We love the space, the extra bathroom, the great balcony and views. For US, it's worth the cost. We spend a lot of time out and about and don't find the location to be a hinderance at all, and love the space/balcony for any downtime we want. We've travelled in this room just two of us, but we've also gone with my teenage son and have never had concerns with privacy issues. I can't get naked in the loft because he's there? Not a big deal, that's what the bathroom is for. LOL! He also likes having a bathroom to himself - I'm thankful for that too. HA!