ALD18

Just did a trial run on new app and it is actually easier and faster to fill out.  Easier and faster are good.

Still working for me at 5:45 pm EST.   I use Firefox and Windows 10.  My Android phone with RCL app appears to be working too.  Good luck and keep trying😀

We're going the other way and leave from NYC May 2 from Cape Liberty.  Fly in a day before direct Toronto to Newark, free shuttle from airport to hotel in NJ, and 15 minute cab from hotel to Cape Liberty.  Factoring in cabs, buses, subways, etc with baggage through New York City sounds like an expensive, logistic nightmare to me.  If you are docking directly in Manhattan or east of it other airports would may be a better choice.  If you plan on staying an extra day or so be prepared for massive sticker shock on hotel rooms as well.  NYC ain't cheap to sleep.  We've been to NYC before and always stay in NJ for cheaper accommodation and take ferry service across to NYC proper.  So when ship leaves from NJ is was an easy choice for us. 

5 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

App working now too. Probably a coincidence.

Final character checks.................😉

I cleared all my cookies again and finally got in at 1:30 pm EST.  I had tried that earlier and it did not work though.  Made changes I wanted and everything saved fine.  Not sure if the clearing cookies fixed it or whether everything back to normal.  Good luck to others having issues.

Tried to get into existing check in for the last 4 hours to make some changes and keep getting error message "Information is not currently available.  Please try again later".  Anyone else getting in or getting errors as well.  Hope they haven't kicked us off already.

It's been bothering me a lot too, but we can get freebie self tests at local pharmacies.  I got a box of them and hope to test every couple of days to make sure all is ok before doing the "real" test by a certified testing sight prior to flight.  Still anxious about it, but not as much.

Wow, did a test run last night and there sure are a lot of questions.  Many more than I expected so can understand how you could be intimidated.  Pretty straight forward, but glad you have the 72 hours to fill it all out😀

I'm getting the sense, personally and viewing other posts, that the majority of people are moving very cautiously towards no masks.  Sure there are a lot of people who are dropping the masks as fast as they can because where ever they are from has said they can.  But I seriously believe "most" people, especially those 40-50 years old and higher are still going to mask up, especially in high concentrations of people.  I don't have an issue, to a degree, not wearing a mask through airports if it is relatively uncrowded.  But as you get closer to check in and especially through customs and on the plane we will be masked up for sure.  Same thing on the ship, outside and uncrowded areas maybe no mask.  To and from the theatre, dinner, etc think a lot of people will keep the mask on.  Maybe just my take on it............

My guess is they will not, but have been wrong on timings before.  Regardless, we're wearing masks in airports and especially in plane.  In my opinion the plane is by far the most "dangerous" portion of a cruise vacation.  Everyone jammed all together with the normal hustle and bustle of the plane.  Sitting side by side with strangers with little or no distancing.  People moving about the cabin in the isles, again in very close proximity.  We are seriously considering N95 masks while on the plane, but that is just us being overly cautious I guess.   

6 hours ago, scottjeanne said:

We were on a small expedition ship-it can take 199 passengers, but we had only 68.

Ahhhhhh, so that is why you had access.  Lucky you😀  Seems like they area being hyper cautious in regards to opening up to the big ships.  Can't blame them.  But thought with Britain's mandate dropping they may have adopted them too, obviously they are being much more cautious in their approach.  We don't go until January 23 on NCL so hopefully they are letting the bigger ships in then.  Regardless, thanks for the pictures and envious of your adventure😀

1 hour ago, scottjeanne said:

We stopped at several landings in the Malvinas/Falklands.  But not  Port Stanley.

Cruise ships can send passengers ashore in other Falklands ports other than Port Stanley?  Didn't know that.  Were you on a small capacity ship?  If so were excursions to see the King penguins available?  Thanks😀

Wondering it anyone on recent SA or Antarctica cruises were able to stop at the Falklands?  Documentation looks like still strictly essential business, no tourism.  Just wondering, thanks.

This sounds like a reinforcement announcement of previous guidelines with more emphasis being put on the children changes and requirements.  Think you will see these requirements marginally change but won't disappear for several months.  I'm intrigued to see if the airline travel requirements will "disappear" soon, but don't think cruise line requirements will change much for a couple of more months.  Thanks for the update.

We're doing a Trans Atlantic so first port is Azores a few days in.  We have a half day free after excursion so may take my Chromebook ashore and see if I can find a restaurant or something with freebie wifi.  Have some lunch or a cocktail and look around that way.  Or buy a single day while at sea and try connecting via Cisco AnyConnect and remote desktop into my work desktop.  If it works so be it.  If not no harm done, I tried.  Thanks for the help and suggestions everyone😀

11 hours ago, Rewind said:

Different IT guy here playing devil's advocate.  If you do log in and see something is wrong, then what?  While the ship internet is ok, I wouldn't want to attempt an RDP session to try and fix anything.  A "simple 5 minute fix" could take more than an hour.

Before you leave, set everything up the best you can and leave an instruction sheet with the next best IT minded person.

I have a lot of contingency plans built into systems for keeping our staff working when things go the wrong way and have certain office staff comfortable with doing elementary stuff.  I have backup 3rd party IT agencies prepared to come in the event something breaks hardware/network wise.  Same thing on the software side.  Even if we had a complete melt down our business could still carry on and perform their basic duties until I got back.  But for me, it's just to pop in quick to keep my mind at ease that everything and everybody is ok.  Not sure what would happen or how I would feel if things were bad though.  I have the full support of upper management to enjoy my vacation, but they fully understand and certainly appreciate my wish to briefly keep in touch.  Nice place to work.

In my case I can expense it😏😀

6 minutes ago, novicetraveller said:

Listen to your boss.... stay off your network. IT issues is someone elses problem whilst you are on leave.

Problem is I am the WHOLE IT department😀😀😀  Small agency.

Thanks, looked at cruise planning page for trip and it only shows whole cruise packages.  Not paying $200-300 for a day or 2 look about. 

Can you get a single day internet connection as opposed to having to book for each day of the whole cruise?  I'm an IT guy and want to connect up to work to look around and see if everything is ok.  Want to do it 1 day, maybe 2 days tops.  Boss wants me to stay off completely, but I'd be more comfortable popping in for a quick peak once or twice.  Thanks.

Glad you had a good trip all in all.  Sounds like you got the expected "snags" here and there and adapted well.  Thanks for the heads up😀

17 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

Living in Ontario, I fully understand why you had the press coverage that we didn’t regarding cruises here. Other than the MS Chi-Cheemaun and the Maid of the Mist we don’t have much in water transportation, and those are not international forms of travel.😁

LOL😃😃

We live near Toronto and always fly.  Have pondered driving, but always go back to plane.  Primary reasons are to eliminate weather issues, car troubles, or major traffic/construction snarls.  Plus with current price of gas, on both sides of boarder, that is a major factor now too.  Going to have factor in timing for your antigen test to cruise as well.  Regardless, have a good trip. 

More good CDC new in regards to further lowering of cruise COVID risks.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/cdc-lifts-cruise-travel-warning/index.html

I think a lot is going to be dependant on the overall global situation as opposed to just the US.  I was researching the stops on an upcoming cruise and pretty much all of them had entry requirements based on testing prior to embarkation to enter their country via ship or air.  Some where negative tests 48 hours prior to boarding ship although we did not enter that specific country until 6 days later.  So until all ports of call globally have zero testing requirements I'd keep all your pre-cruise testing plans on the table and expect on having to do them.