Sarahjane001

14 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

eMed does not require an appointment. We have never waited more than 30 seconds for a proctor to join the line when we test. 

 

You need one (1) eMed account and one (1) Navica account. On each account, you can set up a profile for each person being tested. Each person must do their own test (can't do multiple tests simultaneously). 

 

eMed testing is fast, easy, painless. We have done it for 7 post-restart cruises sitting at the kitchen table sipping coffee. You get your results in email within 30 seconds of showing the proctor your negative results. Far easier than making appointments and running around town looking for a pharmacy that still does rapid test (that is just silly). 

Hi - why do I need both accounts? Sorry to ask but trying to make it simple. What is each app for?

also are you saying my account I can also add my husband and both nephews?

One more question: So if I have my test and then log out, I can then go back into the app and select the next person and wait for a proctor to come online and so forth?

Thanks everyone 

Leaving on Symphony on July 30th. Having a panic re Covid tests. I ordered four for us from RCCL. They arrived, there’s two of us that live in the USA and my two nephews who are coming on the cruise from the UK.

Firstly, am I right in thinking the supervised test is through the Emed app. If so Do we all need separate accounts with e med? Because it also says download the Navica App before my appointment on the box but emed says you don’t need an appointment … lol

Secondly,, it appears you don’t have to pre book an appointment to do the test, you just log in and press “start test”. Will someone just join in from emed to supervise?

To be honest, The whole testing procedure has changed since I last used it, I used to have to book an appt for a supervised test from home, also I have used CVS a lot for Covid tests, now that’s all changed and Walgreens seem to not be scheduling any tests at all in my area ( SWFLORIDA)
im starting to get really stressed. I just want a simple procedure and I don’t even care about the cost anymore. 
So any advice will be great. 

Hi everyone,

First ever cruise with Royal, Symphony of the Seas in an owners suite on July 30th.

Traveling with my two nephews who are in a boardwalk view balcony room.

Having never sailed with RC before but have travelled with other lines in suites I feel like I’m floundering around trying to organize myself and usually by now I have had some contact from a shore side concierge team member who helps me organise my trip.

Do RC have shoreside concierge or do I have to wait until onboard?

Can I leave dining and shore excursions until onboard ? I’m looking at this now and it appears a lot of stuff is sold out or specialty restaurants are already booked. Does onboard concierge hold back dining slots at specialty restaurants and spaces on shore excursions for suite guests?

Can I bring my own sodas and alcohol onboard?

Do owner suite guest get free Voom internet? If so is it one device per suite or one device per person?

Is the onboard shop that sells spirits etc really overpriced or no? Asking because I’m not buying drinks package, it’s extortionate and we don’t drink a lot but would like to have cocktails in our suite with the family.

What other perks do you get for being in a suite like priority seating at shows etc?

sorry for the ton of questions but so far I am under whelmed by my RC experience. When I call I seem to get agents from overseas who just don’t have a clue, it’s irritating when you are a newbie and you don’t know what you are doing . 😆 

Hi - my nephews are coming out to cruise with us, and I need to get a Covid test booked for them to board Symphony of Seas at end of July.

We live in Florida so for myself and my husband it's no problem but who do I use for them seeing as they are UK citizens? I will be using CVS as I normally do, and it would be easier if I can take them with us and we all get the tests done at the same time, but CVS (Minute Clinic) seem only to allow people with insurance and obviously they don't have that being that they are visiting from overseas. So, who do you all use for this sort of thing? Would I need to do the video type test at home?

Hi, we are celebrating a birthday whilst onboard symphony of seas in July. Who can I talk to at RC re special arrangements? I really want to celebrate in style so looking for ideas. 
Also we want to decorate the suite. Can we do this ourselves if we use non damaging attachments?

Can I also have helium balloons delivered to the ship for the suite? If so can anyone recommend a company that does this?

The birthday girl is gluten free/lactose free so can I bring a cake of our own or, no?

Anyone used the private tours advertised on RC webpage?

We have booked Chops for the celebration dinner, what other specialty restaurants do you recommend?

We are in an owners suite, will there be a concierge that can help us book restaurants etc? I see there seems to only be early or very late dining available, do they block off tables for guests in suites? Never having sailed RC before I am unfamiliar with the process.

sorry for all the questions but I need to get organized. Lol

Hi everyone.

I am needing some help and tips for our First Royal cruise. Symphony of the Seas. July this year. We have cruised other lines, Seabourn, Silverseas, Celebrity etc.

I have two rooms booked. Owner suite for myself and Husband. Boardwalk Verandah for my nephews.

I have called RC a couple times to find out more about the perks of being in the suite but can’t really get clear info, then today they said no drinks at all included with Owners suite?

So, I guess I am looking for others opinions, advice on what to expect. Dropping what I call a decent amount of money on a suite but no perks included. They didn’t even know if there was a concierge service or a butler for the suite. Beginning to wonder what I am paying for.

‘Also my nephews are in a regular room ( Not suite) so wondering how it will work being that we want to eat with them and board together etc. 

Is there a suite only sun deck? Can I get my nephews passes for this being they are linked to my reservation?

Can my nephews dine in Coastal Kitchen as our guests if I pay a cover charge?
Whats the best way to get a drinks package if there is nothing included?

My nephew is 20. He’s a UK citizen. Am I right in thinking he can drink alcohol aboard once in international waters?

Any advice welcome - we can’t be the only people who booked different categories of rooms.

Also are tips included?

Thanks

56 minutes ago, jwlane said:

No test required.

Nothing at all? I thought everyone who enters the states has to have a negative covid test. Did it change?

Following on from my post about covid testing pre cruise we booked our tests at CVS. Thank you to everyone that answered.

my next question is what about testing to enter the States. We are uk citizens on a visa living in the states year round. Do we need to get a test when entering the US  from a cruise? If so where do we get tested ? Is it on the boat or at the port? How do I arrange this? Sorry for all the questions but it’s my first cruise since before the pandemic and I’m finding all these procedures a little stressful 😑😑leaving March 10th

Hi,

I've left this a bit late. leaving on 10 March and I am trying to find out the best way to get the covid tests done. I was going to use CVS, but they send you to a testing site (not in store). Thats fine but the site says they don't ask for any ID - does anyone know if they give you a certificate? Surely the documentation has to be in your name so we can prove its our own test results.

Secondly, I was going to order the at home supervised tests through celebrity website. they do a two pack - this may sound obvious, but I guess my husband and i can use one each? also what about the supervised part - do I make one or two appointments (one for each of us?).

What are you all doing for yours?

Thanks

Sarah

Thank you everyone 

Last night I booked my shore excursions and a dinner at Petite chef for our upcoming cruise. The prices was deducted from our onboard credit.

Today I look on my account and. My itinerary and there’s no sign of the bookings I made and even weirder only the shore excursion is showing as deducted from my on board credit and nothing has been taken for the restaurant booking…

it’s my first celebrity cruise so I’m not sure how I follow up on this.

I now don’t seem to be able to book a table at LPC  - maybe because I have a reservation somewhere in the system already?
we are in the retreat, does this make a difference ? 

Also, do I need to inform them in advance of food allergies?Sorry for all the questions, I hate not being familiar with how the system works. Lol

44 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Congratulations on booking your first Celebrity cruise and in the Retreat for Suite guests. For dinning you will be in the exclusive suites only Luminae restaurant which is our favorite venue with Celebrity that has service and special upscale menus not found anywhere else. You do not need to prebook in Luminae, just walk in when you want. In addition to the concierge service for the Retreat, you will have your own Personal Host (Butler) who will and can take care of most requests, like booking specialty restaurants and even shore excursions, We always have our Butler bring us breakfast every morning and they will set up your table and eve pour your first cup of coffee. He can also bring an afternoon appetizer to your cabin, we like having a shrimp cocktail. You also have exclusive use of the Retreat Lounge with a full service (free) bar and bartender. In the morning and late afternoons, it also has appetizers and cheese plates. You also have exclusive use of the Retreat sun deck.

 

We love the Retreat and the experience of all of its venues, and this is what keeps up sailing with Celebrity and not going to more premium and luxury lines. We have 5 Celebrity cruises booked in the next 2 years, all in suites.

The Summit is an older ship but in 2019 it was completely revolutionized with new furnishings and the addition of all the Retreat facilities I covered above. 

 

If you decide to book again if you book while onboard, you can get an additional OBC onboard credit and a reduced deposit of $200.

Thanks for this info - can I ask about dress code? Seabourn and Silverseas are jackets for men in evening and black tie on other nights. Evening gowns or cocktail dresses for Ladies. Whats celebrity like? I don't want to pack a ton of stuff if not needed.

Thanks

So just booked a four night cruise on Summit. We chose a celebrity suite # 6104. I have not sailed with Celebrity before only Seabourn, Silverseas Disney and Royal.

I have so many questions so going to dive right in.

Do I need to pre book dining ? We have retreat benefits ( whatever that includes). I think we have like a concierge service that deals with this for us?

I didn't get a choice of cabin - I think the one we have is ok?

To be honest this is a chill vacation for us - I'm not bothered about the excursions as we have done them before - I just want to relax and enjoy life on the ocean wave again - its been so long. If anyone has tips and experiences they want to share please do - I'm unfamiliar with this cruise line and how to get the best from the ship so any input is welcome. If we like it we are going again at Easter. Our trip is on March 10th.

Thanks 

Sarah

My consultant just emailed me and said she had heard that we could go ashore independently in St Barts. She’s waiting for clarification. 
fingers crossed.

Hi, 

This has probably been discussed before but does anyone know what the likelihood is of us being able to go ashore in St Barths ( Gustavia) to shop independently?

we have a stop in St Barths. My fave port but there are no excursions. Seems odd we would stop there at all if there are no excursions at all. Seabourn cannot give me an answer…which I find quite odd too. I realize things are changing all the time but they just don’t seem to have a clue about this. 
‘I hear that Barbados set the rules for the cruises in and out of there , so wondered what the general opinion is on this. Also they just dropped the quarantine requirements in Barbados so thought that might be a hopeful sign.

Im a little miffed my consultant did not tell me this PRIOR to paying in full for the cruise. I probably wouldn’t have done this cruise had I known. We love Seabourn excursions but we also love shopping in St Lucia and St Barths and doing our own thing and so this is quite important to us. I may cancel and rebook for a later date.

thanks

On 7/18/2019 at 8:43 AM, rols said:

 

You know we all want to hear that story 

Well - we Love Seabourn.  Last year at Xmas they did not have a Florida to Florida cruise so we decided to book with Silverseas.

Our Cruise consultant with SS ( Lets call him A) booked us a Veranda V3 as no Silver suites were available.  He said no -one was on a wait list for a Silver suite so we had an almost 100% chance of getting one as an upgrade.We paid in full and were happy. From that day forward whenever we tried to reach A he was never available. We left messages and tried calling about several things we needed help with.  Also he could not provide anything in writing about the shipboard credit and other "perks" he had said we were going to get on-board.

The cruise got closer and no sign of the Silver Suite upgrade mentioned - Of course that never came to fruition nor did the other perks promised..

Fast forward to the actual cruise....

We arrive at Ft Lauderdale port - no clear signs as to where we should go - got to the check in - not offered a warm greeting or a welcome drink ( unlike Seabourn who couldn't get the alcohol in us quick enough :-)).

Very miserable check in staff. Boarded the boat and went to our suite - Veranda suite was adequate - actually spacious and we fitted the 6ft Xmas tree in fine. :-)

Room butler was fine - accommodating but became overbearing as cruise went on, he actually walked in on me naked when I was in the shower as he had knocked the door  and I did not answer quick enough.The tour excursions seemed to change with no notice, on-board entertainment was not great. 

Xmas night. NO ATMOSPHERE at all. We sat at a table with a cheap printed menu - no festivities really. My husbands dinner was good - I am vegetarian - they served me 1 tomato cut in quarters, 2 slices of zucchini, 2 slices of carrot and a pearl onion!!!! Well i guess it was arranged real pretty on the plate and drizzled with a herb sauce..... This food offering went on for quite a while, until I saw the Chef and had a word.

On Seabourn both Xmas night and NYE were massive. All ladies were escorted to their tables. Very festive food offerings and lots of warm cheer. Very memorable evenings.

Anyway overall the SS cruise was nice (not $18K nice)- and were were left with a taste of " they have had your money and now not interested" kind of thing. 

This year again Seabourn not offering the Florida round trip cruise so we decide to give SS another go - got lumbered with A again as he is "our consultant" according to SS.

This time we booked a suite, but as soon as we had paid - A became unavailable again - the final straw was I called to ask A about changing my cruise from a 9 day to a 17 day and he actually had the nerve to tell me " he was slammed dealing with customers and I would have to wait as he was "very busy."

That was it for me - I emailed him and told him to refund me all the money with immediate effect and guess what? Within minutes of receiving that email he was on the phone - I didnt answer - just followed it up with another email requesting the refund.

Its taken SS 2 weeks to refund my card - they tried to hold onto $400 as a "future cruise credit".... not a chance - a swift email strongly worded to A's supervisor has sorted that. In the meantime I called Seabourn and  booked us on the San Juan to Miami holiday sailing, got into a penthouse spa suite for the cost of SS veranda with no stress and BS.

Only got to figure out how to get the 6ft Xmas tree and all the decorations to San Juan now.........if thats my biggest issue then I think I can live with it.

As a customer the only way you can respond is to take your $$$$ elsewhere in this instance and thats what we have done - i feel happy and confident our Xmas cruise will be great!

Hope to see you on-board one day.

On 7/18/2019 at 8:43 AM, rols said: