JerseyGem

Once onboard, you can  book WWRY and Spectras Cabaret (and any comedians, magicians, etc.) by dialing 2323 on any house phone.  Much easier for those of us who were challenged by the app.  

In December, the Solarium Bistro was open for dinner on most nights.   I think it depends on crew staffing.  If too many are sick or quarantined, Bistro crew would be assigned elsewhere, so it would be closed.  We enjoyed our meal there.   

I agree that Celebrity has more interesting itineraries in the Med (than NCL).  We were scheduled to do an  Edge Med cruise in 9/20, which of course was canceled.  It would have been our first time on the Edge but not on Celebrity. Although the lines are different (others will point out how much livelier the night life is on NCL), I suggest giving Celebrity a try.  A Med cruise is usually so port intensive that you won't be spending a lot of time onboard waiting to be entertained.  Although we love NCL,  "remarkable offers" are always important to us.  Take advantage of the offers!

We add and shed layers as the temperatures fluctuate throughout the day.  Bring a smallish (lightweight) day-pack to hold the unneeded layers ( & the gloves, hats, scarves needed early in the day or late at night).  I also brought lightweight long-underwear and wool socks on river cruises in August; mornings and evenings on the upper (open) decks can be chilly.   These last items depend on whether you're acclimated to weather in FL or NH!

Enjoy your cruise,  Lynn

What a wonderful surprise for your DW.  Clever idea for getting her to take a Covid test!  As for lunch on embarkation day, Jamie's is not free (I think it was around $20+), and the Solarium Bistro may or may not be open for lunch that day.  We ate at 270 (limited cafeteria style options).  

Although your cruise may have significantly fewer passengers, the specialty restaurants may be accepting fewer diners for social distancing.  Book your meals and your shows as soon as possible after boarding.  To book shows, you can call 2323 from any house phone.  

Upon boarding the Anthem last month, we couldn't figure out how to make reservations on the app.  Someone said to just call them.  We found a nearby house phone, dialed 2323 (may be different on other ships) and were quickly able to book all our entertainment for the entire 12 days.  As the week progressed, we called back a few times to rearrange bookings.  We eventually figured out the app but would have started the cruise very frustrated if we had persevered with the app that first day.   

Ship -Anthem

Deck - 8

Stateroom # - 8682

Stateroom Category – ? standard balcony

Starboard or Port Side - starboard

Quiet Stateroom?  – Yes, inside the stateroom it was very quiet.  No noise from the hall or neighbors.

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No

Balcony View -   No obstructions looking straight out or to the sides.  The smoking area on deck 5 is  below the balcony, so you see (and hear) that roof when you look down.

Balcony Size? Normal  for class-

Was wind a problem? - not unless it was a very stormy day; normal wind when sailing

Any specific problems with this cabin? -  One of the side panels on the balcony was loose and "knocked" when the ship was moving.  (I'm trying to use a word that indicates a repetitive sound less than a bang- slightly annoying but no big deal).  Also, you will hear people in the smoking area talking and laughing (only while on the balcony). 

Any other comments? -  I would book this cabin again.  The bed is by the balcony.   Good storage. Mini-frig kept our wine and water perfectly chilled. 

We live in Winslow Township.  We had to have a PCR test with a quick turn-around for our October cruise (NCL) and will need additional testing for our RCL cruise in December.  We went to Cooper Hospital's testing site in Camden in October (about an 8 hour turn-around), and I went to their Cherry Hill testing site this past Sunday morning.  My results were back that evening.   You need to create a My Cooper Chart  online to book the appointment and to receive the results.  They email you when the results are available.  

In October, Quest was doing tests for travel, but they just recently stopped doing them (only for symptoms or exposures).  I've had tests at the Rite Aid in Berlin, but the turn-around time is 6 days.  

Jefferson in Washington Township also does PCR tests (if you have a Jefferson doc, ask them for a script for the test).  About a 36 hour turn-around.  Cooper and Quest didn't require a script.

Some CVS & Walgreens stores will do the antigen, but we haven't used them yet.

All of the above were "free"  (they either charged your insurance or the state- under the Cares Act)

There is a site along Rt 73 in Voorhees (next to the diner and the Library restaurant) called Test Here  (the website is www.testhere.com ).  Choose the Voorhees location.  They do several different tests at different price ranges;  supposedly they will charge your insurance first.  

Good luck!

The mini-buses were all different capacities.  You were put on the first one in the queue.  If that one was a 30 passenger bus, the driver would insist on filling most of the bus.  So you would wait and wait.....  Smaller mini-buses were not allowed to take any fares until it was their turn in the queue.   Be prepared with enough cash to pay for a taxi ride back to the dock if you don't want to wait.  After a half hour, we gave up on the mini-bus (30 passenger) and shared a cab.  

I always bring my own- just in case.  Even if they have decaf, sometimes it's a strange brand.  I'm picky.  

9 hours ago, Suetravel said:

Went to a drive in test site, 11am and just got my results in 9 hours. I was expecting turnaround 48 hours. 

Where are you located in NJ?  We are in Camden County and trying to find a place that will do the PCR test with a reasonable turn-around time.  Used CVS last  Monday but still waiting for results (today's Thursday).  So we've eliminated CVS as a possibility for Bermuda regs.  

18 hours ago, irishgirl666 said:

Is anyone beside myself overwhelmed with the covid 19 PCR testing and hoping to get the results in time for sailing?

Travel Testing Frequently Asked Questions | Government of Bermuda

from the top of that link:

Where can I get a test in my home country with guaranteed test results in less than 72 hours? 
The timing of test results will vary by city, state, province, county or even country. Check with the testing facility nearest to you – it could be a COSTCO, a public health clinic or a private lab. Bermuda will accept test results where the test is taken no more than four days before you travel. For the COSTCO option click on the following link https://www.azova.com/test/bermuda/covid_19_testing.html.

14 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

..........:  we both got negative results from Azova and were able to upload them ........

we are considering the Azova PCR test for our cruise to Bermuda.   Did you purchase it locally or order on-line?  The Bermuda website says it's available through Costco.  Of course, not the one we normally go to, but we can make a trip to the one mentioned on-line.   We need a test that can guarantee results fairly quickly since Bermuda has a very tight schedule for testing and reporting.  Thanks (and enjoy your trip!) Lynn

For 9776, your balcony will be just a short ways forward of the deck 8 outdoor smoking area  (along the Waterfront).  If smoke or noise may bother you, I'd chose the other side of the ship.   However, deck 9 is convenient for the indoor activities on the lower decks.  

Is this your first cruise on a BA class ship?  If so, have you considered looking for an angled balcony?  It will have a slightly bigger balcony.

Write your cabin number on the back of your Platinum Dining Vouchers.  We had an incident on the BA (now several years ago) where the hostess said  (after our meal) that we had not given her the voucher, so we would be charged for the meal.  I asked to see the stack of vouchers and found ours- with our cabin number on the back.  She had given the free meal to the table next to ours.  

8 hours ago, sharkster77 said:

Thanks for thinking of us..........  If his adrenals are enlarged, then he'll be tested for Cushings disease and we'll go from there.  Keeping all are fingers crossed that the ultrasound doesn't find something scary in his liver........   Cushings I believe can be managed with medication.  Not a great thing, but would be better than dealint with a tumor...........

Cushings is manageable with daily medication.  One of our Beagles had it for many years (until he died of old age at 17).  The only issue was that the dose for his weight was not a standard dose and had to be compounded at a specialty pharmacy.     We did have nearby compounding pharmacies, so only a slight nuisance (but greater expense).  Prayers that the scans don't reveal anything more serious.

23 hours ago, notamermaid said:

That ship stuck in the Suez Canal !

It looks like freeing the ship in the Suez Canal is major problem, you cannot just quickly lighten the load either.

notamermaid

 

Our local TV stations, when reporting about the status of that ship, warned us to expect gas (petrol) prices to increase.   Apparently, the back-up of ships waiting to use the canal  has slowed the delivery of fuel oils, etc.  Or it could just be another excuse to raise prices.  

You can book either through Princess or Gray Line.  We're booked for August.  Very few spots left!  The land tour is a combo of Princess-HAL-Grayline.  Only one Princess lodge will be used; the others are still closed due to the pandemic.  

We're fully vaccinated and ready to travel!  We'd love to cruise again, but that will have to wait a little longer (for us- December, if all goes well).  

8 hours ago, Bake apple said:

Well CA I think I need your blueprint for your celebrations.  We are celebrating our 50th during mid-May and had all these wonderful plans to cruise the Rhine again and wine taste ourselves into a standstill.  Now of course we are making a new plan and I like your style!!!

To further the demographics of the River Cruise Forum:  we also will celebrate our 50th- next week- by staying home.  Our OAT small ship cruise of the French and Italian Rivieras has been moved to 2022.  Last year, our 49th celebration was supposed to be a nice dinner in Tromso, Norway watching the Northern Lights.  Instead our tour company (not OAT!) cancelled us- abandoning us in Oslo where the only dining venue still open was the pannini kiosk in the train station.  Hopefully the 51st will be more exciting and less stressful!

11 hours ago, Coral said:

Which one did you get? I am allergic to penicillin also. Congrats on getting the jab!

 

I have a severe penicillin allergy (not just as a child but also as an adult).  I have now had both shots of the Moderna vaccine without any allergic reaction.  I did have a sore arm each time (not as bad as the flu shot) and was tired and cold for a day after the second.  But no allergic reaction.  Don't worry; take whichever they  offer you!

3 hours ago, Etta1213 said:

Yes.

Only some NJ schools are still closed.  Our granddaughter is in school two days a week (soon to be three) and virtual the other days.  Each school district decides for themselves whether to open fully, partially or not at all.  Very confusing! 

Just like every county seems to be handling the Covid vaccine centers differently- also confusing.  

We're still wondering about cruising from Bayonne in July and December- more confusion.   

17 hours ago, Bake apple said:

............. or is the reality that our beloved form of travel may not come back as it was? You?

Bake Apple: You make some interesting points.  I don't think river cruising will "come back as it was" for many years.   However, I do think it will come back (hopefully in 2022), even if  life onboard and daily excursions will be very different.  But I can cope with "different" if it means seeing more of the world.  I just  hope  enough people agree to get the vaccine- and are able to get the vaccine- to reach "herd" immunity world-wide.  

8 hours ago, mskaufman said:

Is this the plan post-COVID?  It was like this on Viking pre-COVID.

Since none of the many companies have started up their river cruises yet, none of us can answer this question.  The companies we have used (in the past) did not require you to stay with the included shore excursion (except in Russia- a different story!).  But we don't know if that requirement (to be in a bubble) will be included in any new guidelines.  

If you don't want to be limited to only the ship's excursions, I suggest that you NOT book any river cruise at this time.  By Spring, we should know more about how future cruises will be run. 

3 hours ago, drsel said:

What do you think of the bidding site where many bid for your business?

We have used that site several times. You still need to do a lot of research to narrow down your choice to one specific cruise and cabin category.  Also, have a good idea of what the cruise line itself will charge you (and any perks).  We have received great OBC in the past and sometimes free trip insurance or free tips, etc. as an incentive to book with a specific company.  Before booking, we also check out the company.  

RCL prices are not as flexible as some other companies. But sometimes, you'll find a TA that already has blocks of cabins at a special rate (we currently have a RCL cruise booked with a balcony rather than the obstructed balcony we had intended to book because the company had a block of regular balconies at a better price- group rate).   Any savings helps!

September is a lovely time for a river cruise (and bus tour) of that area.  Not too hot, not too cold and fewer crowds.  Since you live in Tennessee, I assume you are a USA citizen traveling with a USA passport, so you will not need visas for any of those countries.  Of course, the way the world is changing, who knows what will happen in a year?  But whichever cruise line or travel company you use, they will give you updated information if a visa becomes necessary.

Come back with any questions as you plan your trip!  We all love river cruising.