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We just booked the transfer from Clarkston to Spokane for our 5/27/24 trip and it was $69 per person. 

Don't forget all of this is included!

I noticed on the points I redeemed in April, my OBC didn't post until after the credit card statement date.  On 7/20/23 (2 days before my statement date) I redeemed more points and they have not yet posted to my OBC.  I'm curious to see if they will post after my August statement.  

I sail on 9/8/23 so I gave RCL a call.  The customer service rep told me that my points may not post until 2 weeks before my cruise date.  I'll be patient a little bit longer, but at that 2 week mark, I will be calling back if my points haven't posted.  😃

If it's a glitch, it's interesting that it's hit and miss on several Alaska sailings, but not all.  I too am on the September 8th sailing.  Juneau and the Endicott Arm have been removed from our itinerary on our My Cruises page and the calendar now shows "At Sea" on the RCL website.  

This article was shared in the other post and might be the reason behind potential changes. 

https://www.cruisehive.com/popular-alaskan-port-seeking-to-limit-cruise-ship-visits/93569.

I hope to hear from someone after one of the upcoming sailings to find out what they experience.  

There is a September 8th sailing on Ovation out of Seattle.  Have you checked the Roll Calls for RCL.

Following is from the Rewards Program Rules provided with my credit card.

• Earn 2 Points (1 Bonus Point and 1 Base Point) for every $1 spent on Net Purchases of products or services obtained through Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises*

• Earn 1 Base Point for every $1 spent on all other Net Purchases*

6 hours ago, manchacrr said:

All of the American Queen Voyages boats on the Lower Mississippi River stop in Terrene Landing on the southbound cruises and Greenville on the northbound cruises. 

We will be leaving on 3/29 on the American Countess from NOLA to Memphis and received our documents last week.  The Greenville stop has been replaced with Tunica.  

1 hour ago, amoba said:

Hi,  Does anyone know if there is an airport shuttle from New Orleans airport that goes to town, near where the AQ hotel is?  I'm not sure if the info I found on the internet is current.  Also, if there is a shuttle, how late does it run and does it run every day?  Thanks so much, Vicki

When I was looking for transportation I went directly to the Louis Armstrong Airport website and searched under Ground Transportation. Here is link:  https://flymsy.com/ground-transportation/           

I had the same experience as AQJazz with taking a shuttle.  Now I prefer taking a cab. I believe the shuttle was $24 per person and a cab was a set fare of $36 for 2 people. Three people and over were $15 each.  

Good new for those sailing 3/19/22  or after. I received the following email today regarding a change in testing requirements.

American Queen Voyages SafeCruise Update Notification

Dear Valued Guests and Travel Agent Partners, 

We look forward to welcoming you on board for our 10^th Anniversary season! At American Queen Voyages^™, our guests’ well-being and providing the best possible experience from start to finish is our number one priority. It is now time for your AMERICA-tion with American Queen Voyages, across North America’s rivers, lakes & oceans and expedition experiences, less complicated and without uncertainty.

In an effort to streamline your American Queen Voyages’ experience, we will now provide a free COVID-19 test (Antigen) prior to embarkation at the pre-cruise hotel beginning March 19, 2022. You may also provide proof of a negative test by a valid third-party with results from within two days of embarkation. 

Those that do not receive a negative COVID-19 test at the pre-cruise hotel or provide proof of a negative test within the timeframe above, will not be able to board. For more information visit link.

We will continue to follow guidance provided by the CDC, regional and local municipalities and truly appreciate your cooperation. 

Sincerely,

American Queen Voyages

It is great news!  I received the email today and since we leave on 3/26/22 we will not have to get the $150 PCR Rapid test. Yay!  

American Queen Voyages SafeCruise Update Notification

Dear Valued Guests and Travel Agent Partners, 

We look forward to welcoming you on board for our 10^th Anniversary season! At American Queen Voyages^™, our guests’ well-being and providing the best possible experience from start to finish is our number one priority. It is now time for your AMERICA-tion with American Queen Voyages, across North America’s rivers, lakes & oceans and expedition experiences, less complicated and without uncertainty.

In an effort to streamline your American Queen Voyages’ experience, we will now provide a free COVID-19 test (Antigen) prior to embarkation at the pre-cruise hotel beginning March 19, 2022. You may also provide proof of a negative test by a valid third-party with results from within two days of embarkation. 

Those that do not receive a negative COVID-19 test at the pre-cruise hotel or provide proof of a negative test within the timeframe above, will not be able to board. For more information visit link.

We will continue to follow guidance provided by the CDC, regional and local municipalities and truly appreciate your cooperation. 

Sincerely,

American Queen Voyages

6 hours ago, Calliope said:

I just received my documents today for an upcoming Str. AMERICAN QUEEN cruise. Clearly stated within the precruise/check-in information  is the new Covid testing policy. It is now the passenger's responsibility to obtain within 48 hours of boarding a PCR test. And furthermore it must be a PCR test. Antigen tests will not be accepted. 

 

I found a walk-in location, or make an appointment, across the river in Gretna, LA that provides rapid PCR testing 7 days a week. It's not too far, just across the Greater New Orleans Connecter Bridge from downtown New Orleans. It is quite price though at $200.00 per test.

There is another post that would benefit from this information.  It starts with the title English woman...  It would be great if you could share this to that post as well.  😃

4 hours ago, strickerj said:

This is the first I've heard of a cruise line requiring a PCR test rather than an antigen; is this new?

We sailed on Royal Caribbean to Alaska in October, 2021and they also required a PCR test 2 days prior to sailing.  

I contacted AQSC today and was told that as of 2022, passengers ARE required to provide a negative PCR test completed within 2 days of embarkation and that they are not providing this testing for the passengers.  I asked what day I would need to take the test in order to make the 2 day period and was told Saturday. When I asked if they had any issues with passengers not receiving their results in time he said they have had this problem and have a contingency if you show that you have made the attempt to have it done in the 2 day period.  He did not elaborate but said they would make every attempt to assist a passenger with being able to board.  

I asked about CVS and Walgreens testing in the NOLA area and was told that their test results do not usually  get  back in time and was told that a Rapid PCR would probably be my best bet. He gave me a recommendation for Gretna Medical in NOLA, which he said is about 6 miles from the hotel. https://www.gretnamedical.com/same-day-covid-testing-new-orleans  

I started searching for Rapid Test locations in my area and found that our airport has testing at $150 per person; other clinic and pharmacy locations ranged from $150 to $200+.   

Not great news, but I hope this helps.  

10 minutes ago, DaveinCharlotte said:

 

Re the lady on the phone giving you good information -- you mean the phone call 3 weeks ago or did you call them again recently?  If recently, what was it the rep said...PCR 2 days prior, or AQV-administered test day before?

I have not made a second call yet to AQSC, but will do so Monday.  I did send an email through their website last night asking for clarification of the testing requirement.  I'm hoping for a written response, and will share the responses to both the phone call and email response, once received.    

I found this on page 2 of my Guest Invoice which makes me hopeful that the lady on the phone AQSC gave me good information..  

COVID-19 Testing: Guests will check-in at the pre-cruise hotel stay on the day before embarkation. At this time, all guests will complete a health questionnaire and
participate in a COVID-19 test.

On the Ticket Contract it states this in regards to testing: 

1. CRUISE WITH CONFIDENCE
a. Pre-Embarkation
Prior to embarkation, ALL GUESTS MUST COMPLETE A
CONFIDENTIAL HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE AND CONSENT
TO COVID-19 TESTING, which is considered part of the embarkation
process. Any Guest who (i) answers “yes” to any of the health questionnaire
questions regarding symptoms of or exposure to COVID-19 or (ii) receives
a positive test result, will be denied embarkation and will be directed to
nearby medical facilities for further voluntary medical evaluation, testing or
treatment if necessary. For Your peace of mind and to limit the likelihood
of quarantining or being treated away from home, We strongly recommend
that You and Your travel partner participate in COVID-19 testing within
five days of the scheduled embarkation date.

I'm not opposed to testing, it just needs to be convenient for us to do so with such a short turnaround.  In our area it's taking 3-4 days to get PCR test results.   

This is alarming. I do see that on the website under the Health and Safety tab at the top of the page that

• Guests must bring a negative PCR test completed within 2 days of embarkation.

We sail 3/26/22 on the American Countess leaving from New Orleans.  When I spoke with a AQSC rep on the phone about 3 weeks ago she told me that we would be tested the day of hotel check-in which is 1 day before embarkation.  She also said to be sure an make an appointment as soon as we get our paper work which would be sent 30 days prior to our sailing.  I assumed the covid test was an antigen test since it's only 1 day before, but since I didn't ask, I don't know for sure.  

I've got another phone call to make!

Here are a few screenshots from the app with information on the Windjammer for the Serenade of the Seas sailing on September 6th.  It is not open for dinner at all and dinner will be in the MDR.

We too always register with the State Department when traveling.  I have also signed up for the travel warnings for each of the countries we will be traveling in or to.  I still receive the travel warnings from countries we visited years ago but I haven't removed the notifications because it's interesting to know what's going on in another country.  

We sail September 6th at which time 12 years and over will be required to be vaccinated. RC states that we will be notified within 30 days of sailing with the health protocols at my sign in. I noticed the ones posted above are for July and August.  I'm hoping that the percentages of vaccinated passengers and protocols will change by the time I sail. 

I have to tell you that I'm really enjoying this board.  The mapping, the photos and links to the Panama Canal, the excitement and positivity, the friendly chat.  😀  So different from a few others I've read today. 

In my case it was clothes, so not valuable. The thief could have been another passenger or someone in customs as easily as an employee. I think most of us comprehend the risk we take by placing our luggage out the night before. That's why the self-assist has become so popular.

I just returned from the Imagination and found I'm missing clothing that I packed in my luggage and had set out the night before for relaxed disembarcation. So of course I didn't notice it was gone until I got home. I don't like to think that an employee would do this and who knows at what point it happened, but it did happen. I have cruised many times (more than my profile indicates) and this was a first. I have emailed the cruise line just to notify them of the situation.