SireDoime

When I got the Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (STEP) alert for Columbia last week, it stated that PCR testing is required 72 hours ahead of calling to port for travelers arriving by sea.

I called NCL and asked how they would handle this. I was told the Bliss has in place PCR testing, should it be required. But details could change, and it was suggested that I ask once onboard. Likely a general announcement will be made prior to arrival in port.

I have an excursion planned in Cartagena, so we'll see. If I can't go, I'll be refunded, in any case I may stay aboard. No real loos for me, I only booked this cruise for the Panama Canal transit anyway.

11 hours ago, mike60707 said:

Anyone Going?  I sooo want to go, but nobody will go with me....everyone thinks I'm crazy for wanting to go on a cruise right now....

This would be nice. I'll be just getting off the Bliss on Feb. 4.

Let look at the pricing...Princess, I'll admit, isn't my choice for a cruise, but I would love to be on a Love Boat Reunion cruise all the same. I watched that show every week as a kid.

@dvalentine823 

@DeweySki

I can say that your videos are far more enlightening than any of the video posted from those two Travel Agents. I guess it takes an guest experience to make the difference. I cannot wait for the next episode.

Also, I just read that another poster had gotten COVID on his current Regent sailing on Explorer (10 hours ago). I felt so heartbroken to read that. and he was doing the Panama Canal. He says he'll have to watch it from the balcony, if he and his Partner don't recover before the transit.

Take care!

8 hours ago, gcorgain said:

but the hotel in Florida did not require masking and so a lot of people didn’t.

🙄😒 Figures.

I live in Wesley Chapel, FL and I feel fortunate that enough people here don't, like me, wanna take any chances - vaccinated or not, & I am vaccinated. So masky-masky everywhere I go.

9 hours ago, gcorgain said:

“a few” employee cases. Then last night they said a few employees had failed their weekly tests.

One thing I have never heard, ever since learning about staff infections: is HOW and WHERE?

I have never read an single article where any cruise line indicated WHERE and HOW their employees got infected.

10 hours ago, gcorgain said:

The shoe fell…

 

This morning Aaron woke up with a runny nose and a bit of a cough. I felt fine. We decided we should get tested and this afternoon we both tested positive. So we get to stay in our room for the next ten days. Ugh. I thought they would move us, but apparently the quarantine cabins are full already. 
 

The medical, contract tracing, and executive concierge are being nice, but this is a bummer of a way to spend your vacation. Especially as I feel fine and Aaron effectively has a cold. Still we don’t want to spread COVID so we will settle in. Happy to answer questions about this experience as we go along…

Oooh... this is horrible to hear. I am hoping and praying you both get well, and are negative soon.

Please stay safe and well. 😊🙏🏿🌈

21 hours ago, gcorgain said:

but that Cartagena would be a technical stop due to their changing rules and no passengers would be allowed off the ship. So effectively another sea day. That is a minor disappointment, but one we were prepared for.

Aahhh, I have an upcoming Mexican Riviera/Panama Canal cruise on Bliss in two weeks. I've been getting travel alerts about Columbia since last November. I just learned that they are now requesting that all sea passengers be tested 72 hours before arriving in port. I called NCL, and they assured me they are prepared for that. But it sounds like Nicaragua: another sea day 🙄. Oh well, I expected as much from both those ports anyway.

My first Regent sailing will be on Splendor this December to the Eastern Caribbean, and I really can't wait. 😆

On 1/5/2022 at 1:19 PM, gcorgain said:

Honestly, this was the area I was expecting Celebrity to be better, and boy was I wrong

I can't agree more. I absolutely hated Celebrity's shows. The sets were awesome, but (to me) the music sucked. 

I loved your post, and am so shocked by the service your friends got for their emergency.

I read that on Regent all guests get the same level service, but guests in Penthouse & Named Suites get more attention, but not better service. I was surprised by the incident with the vodka.

50 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

It's a whole lobster and it's wonderful.

 

I have the dining package.

the bill comes and i see the auto-20% tip on the $10 upcharge for the lobster dish.

when i click on no additional tip, another pop-up appears.

 

to me, that second screen with 0% tip line makes it seem like you havent tipped where as you were already charged the 20% tip!

to me, it seems to mislead you into tipping again!

Just get rid of that tip line on the 2nd screen if you havent left additional tip.

 

How do you see it?

 

I see this as simply a confirmation to the former (screen). 🤷🏿‍♂️

Also, I wish I liked lobster, but...😖

3 hours ago, kdawg954 said:

Water on the ship is accessible everywhere and free.

Exactly. But, is the free water the premium bottled water or is the water by the glass "on tap"?

NCL even forbids you to bring bottled water on the ship :
 

"Effective for sailings July 15, 2016 and beyond, guests are prohibited from bringing any beverages -- including liquor, beer and non-alcoholic drinks such as water, soda and juices -- on board either as carry-on or checked luggage, with the exception of purified or distilled water in factory-sealed containers for use in conjunction with medical devices or for the reconstitution of infant formula; and fully sealed and/or corked wine bottles for personal consumption onboard that is subject to screening and a corkage fee (for guests 21 years of age or older)"

So it seems pretty petty of NCL, to me. I really don't need to upgrade out of the Premium, but this whole affair makes me miss the drink package I had with Celebrity.  Oh well...

Moving on..

Water should be included in ALL adult drink packages.

It's stupid I have to pay 490$ to upgrade from Premium to Premium Plus for water.

1 minute ago, Rob_H said:

 

Well spotted!  There is also a "Travel Advisory" banner at the top of the home page for ncl.com.  Clicking on the "more info" gives the current update, with the correct date.  It's normal for NCL to publish first, proofread later.

 

 

Ahhhh, now I see it...well...the banner should have been red. Just sayin'...

14 minutes ago, GoldenGirl327 said:

i found it on ncl.com/newsroom/media-statements

I did as well, but noticed the date is stated as 2021, so came here and whined about it like salted cheese. 🙄🤷🏿‍♂️

5 hours ago, Cruise Gopher said:

Where (or how) did you get this?

I cannot see it anywhere on their site.

The search function is useless (to me anyway).

I can't see any links suggesting anything close to this announcement.

I ask, because, while my sailing is not effected, I would like to have a hard copy.

Thanks

On 12/19/2021 at 7:46 PM, dvalentine823 said:

Glad you enjoyed the video!

 

J and I are booked on back to back segments in August on Voyager, going from Copenhagen to London to Amsterdam (22 nights). After that, who knows! 

 

 

I transferred a Voyager 2023 Transatlantic to Splendor. What did you like about Voyager? I was a bit concerned about ships' stability to travel across the Atlantic.

On 12/18/2021 at 2:30 PM, dvalentine823 said:

Hello everyone,

 

Cruise was great! And I only put on 4 pounds.

 

The first video from the cruise has been posted to our channel. Search YouTube for:

 

Travels with Daren and Johnetta; or

Regent Splendor

 

and you should be able to find the video. They take awhile to put together, so I will post each Saturday until I get through the 9 days of footage. So subscribe ad hit the notification bell.  I would post the actual link, but for some reason when I do, my posts never see the light of day.

Lovely video. Hope I will be able to get aboard Splendor next December (similar itinerary, 10 days). However, my 2021 vaccinations would have expired, so I may need new shots.

Oooooo, ouch!

🚫🌍🛳️

11 hours ago, mssandora said:

I meant to say January 16. I think this next week or weekend will be telling. 

 

Yep. I sat staring at my PC imaging the news of my cruise being cancelled by NCL 🚫🛳️. The CDC has Bliss graded Yellow ☣️

Then I thought about getting all of my money 💰 back (no FCC for me). 🤷🏿‍♂️

I've never felt this uncertain 🐿️😞...

On 12/31/2021 at 12:25 PM, TNcruising02 said:

For people who are cruising in January or February, have you made a decision on going or cancelling?

 

Our cruise is on the 15th on the Escape and we decided to go for it.  If it gets cancelled, we will choose a refund instead of FCC.  We are meeting family members and have decided to make the best of it.  We do appreciate being given a choice of a full FCC.  

What are you doing?

Well, I have a 14-day coming up on the 21st. For what I paid, it would seem a waste to cancel. When will I ever get to cruise through the Panama 🌚 Canal again, let alone see those MX 🏝️🛸Riviera ports? I have a ziplining thingy in Costa Rica! If many people cancel then the Bliss will be less crowded, and more fun for me. 😁🌈

23 minutes ago, SireDoime said:

Yes, I heard about it on Shipmate app (Cruiseline's app) on Dec 30th, and my Travel Agent sent me NCL's official notice on Dec 31st. It applies to all new and existing sailings booked up to January 2022. Here is it:

 

My embarkation is the 21st of this month.

Yes, I heard about it on Shipmate app (Cruiseline's app) on Dec 30th, and my Travel Agent sent me NCL's official notice on Dec 31st. It applies to all new and existing sailings booked up to January 2022. Here is it:

53 or 54, I don't remember, but I'm on Bliss this month (21st ) for 14 days. I wanted to bring someone along, but no one could go (either no passport, free time, or health priorities). So, now I'm just waiting to see if I will go, and it won't be cancelled by Norwegian.

If you're there, then we'll see..

On 11/16/2021 at 5:47 PM, Sthrngary said:

  I actually was going to take RSSC out of Miami and went on facebook to the RSSC group. Wow, was the snob factor even worse there. 

Which specific group? There are quite a few.

On 11/16/2021 at 5:47 PM, Sthrngary said:

My bucket list was RSSC.  I just could not justify it until I tasted even the low-ed of the luxury spectrum.  Now, I understand about some of the positives which were many and the few negatives.  I actually was going to take RSSC out of Miami and went on facebook to the RSSC group. Wow, was the snob factor even worse there.  

All that being said, I would do Crystal or RSSC or the other brands you mentioned in Europe for my 45th wedding anniversary in a few years.  I just thought folks like myself might like to know my experience.  BTW, some of the folks I met online with Crystal were AWESOME.  

 

Thank you so much for replying.  It was very nice of you.

 

Cruise well.

My first luxury is going be Regent Seven Seas next December 2022. It was supposed to be the Western Mediterranean (Athens to Venice) in 2021, but was cancelled by Regent because of COVID. So now because of COVID, and US International travel restrictions I'm sailing the Southern/Eastern Caribbean on Splendor (for under 19K$, albeit in a Concierge Suite - no butler or daily canapes). I asked to be placed a waitlist for a Penthouse. We'll see...

But your observations were well known to me, from my own research. My Dad (RIP) sailed on Crystal Serenity in 2013 on a 12 day European cruise.

My first (true) luxury cruise will be with Regent in December 2022 on SS Splendor to the Eastern Caribbean, and again a Transatlantic in November 2023, same ship. I was going sail SS Voyager for the Transatlantic, but decided to stay on the Splendor.

My first taste of premium cruising was on Celebrity Equinox, and I liked it, but aside from the restaurants and Hot Glass Class I felt it could've been better. When I sailed on the Infinity I found out that all their ships are essentially the same, and was rather disappointed. I was hoping each ship would have it's own unique personality. Plus, premium isn't luxury...I wanted all inclusive, even my Concierge Stateroom was a dismal 192sqft.

My Dad (RIP 😇🙏🏿) went on the Crystal Serenity for European cruise in 2013. From his pictures and videos he LOVED it! That inspired to follow suit.