cruising in mn

21 minutes ago, kmorg1234 said:

There is another thread that goes into the quick expiration dates of these tests- just another thing to worry about.  I’m wondering whether you have to call to see if your particular test has the automatic extension, and if so,  how long is that extension?  SO confusing and stressful.

 

I got this from eMED today re: exp dates: 

The BinaxNow COVID-19 test kits were originally made in a bulk a in early 2021 and was approved for testing by the FDA under the EUA (Emergency Use Authorization).  All of the test kits have and expiration date of September or October 2021.  The test kit's expiration date has since been extended for an additional 3 months by the FDA until the end of December 2021 or January 2022.  We currently do not have any newer kits in our possession at this time. We do not have an option to send you "newer" test kits.
 
With that being said, we can offer you to return the package for a full refund or you can keep the kits you have, to use at a later time.  It is possible the FDA may grant another extension, and we are currently waiting to see if that happens.  Once it does, we will communicate it to our customers.  
 
If you choose to return the kits, they must be sent back in the original unused state you received them in with 6 un-opened test kits that were not tampered with.  We will not accept partially used, damaged or dismantled test kits.

4 minutes ago, Oceansaway17 said:

 

Some CVS only have 1 nurse assigned and if he or she calls in sick they close.

 

What is also scary is that in the NE a large number of Walgreens did not get enough supplies of medicine and other things.  So they could also be having issues

 

I do have to wonder with the increase in testing for cruising and everywhere else, will we start to see shortages.  

Also I wonder when other companies will emerge beside emed because for tele testing.  Why should they be the only game in town?

 

Next I am hoping is that you could go to your own doctor with a test and have them view and sign off.

 

 

We got cancelled from CVS AND Walgreens! Optum also sells the kits. They are all made by Abbot, so its Abbot with the only game in town 🙂

They did specifically say no Dr notes, but gosh, I'd hope they'd reconsider that as well.. It was so hard for us to get tested, then to get the kits in time, or get them at all, and now we have too many.. not a bad problem to have though, I'm not complaining one bit. 

Time will tell I guess, things change so quickly in this industry.. 

Good luck to you all! 

55 minutes ago, LorraineP said:

Wouldn’t the new expiration date be 12/27/21 (1 year from date made). 

yes, sorry! you are right

21 minutes ago, cruising in mn said:

Good question! They explained to me that although the kits say they expire in October, they are good for one year from the date they were created. So the expiration is Feb 2022 🙂 

Also got this from emed this morning.. 

The BinaxNow COVID-19 test kits were originally made in a bulk a in early 2021 and was approved for testing by the FDA under the EUA (Emergency Use Authorization).  All of the test kits have and expiration date of September or October 2021.  The test kit's expiration date has since been extended for an additional 3 months by the FDA until the end of December 2021 or January 2022.  We currently do not have any newer kits in our possession at this time. We do not have an option to send you "newer" test kits.
 
With that being said, we can offer you to return the package for a full refund or you can keep the kits you have, to use at a later time.  It is possible the FDA may grant another extension, and we are currently waiting to see if that happens.  Once it does, we will communicate it to our customers.  

18 minutes ago, LorraineP said:

Curious what are the expiration dates?

Good question! They explained to me that although the kits say they expire in October, they are good for one year from the date they were created. So the expiration is Feb 2022 🙂 

Hi All

We did get our test kits today, all 8 of them 😞 I only need 2 for us. So if anyone wants to purchase one or more, please let me know. 

I will be in Seattle Sat Sun Mon 9-11, 12th and 13th. And can meet up, or once we're home after the 20th can ship them via UPS. 

Please let me know. 

Thanks!
 

9 minutes ago, crzndeb said:

This is exactly what someone did just recently on a Seattle cruise. Brought extras with her and left her cell on her Roll Call, in case somebody showed up and didn’t know the rules. She figured she might make somebody’s day better.

Exactly! I mean it could be the difference between cruising and not cruising.. I'd hate for someone not to be able to go for this last minute change from the CDC 😞 

So for my test kit saga.. I was waiting on my Optum kits I bought on the 3rd. I called again yesterday they said they were low stock and wouldnt likely get to me by Friday.. so hubby got on last night, ordered 2 kits. I got on eMED ordered 6 kits.. and we waited to see who got tracking info first. 

Hubby did.. his 2 will come tomorrow, I cancelled the Optum 2, and the 6 coming from eMED also shipped. So now we'll have 8! 

I plan on bringing them all with me to Seattle on Sat, and if anyone needs to buy one last minute I will have some to sell. 

If nothing else I keep them for a cruise in Feb if the expiration dates allow. 

Of course, none of the 8 are in my hands yet, so anything could happen. But at least I have tracking info.. 

So thankful for that! 

If anyone needs a kit or 2, let me know. (in Seattle on 9-11, 9-12 or 9-13) 

Just FYI. I purchased on Friday , and still have yet to have it shipped. I have called now 4 times. Today finally someone looked into it and said they are having issues with the warehouse.. cannot gaurantee it will ship even this week!!!

So anyone else that ordered since Friday and got notice it shipped you are dang lucky.. 

I then went to eMED to order the 6 pack, and they need 24 hours to "review" it, then will ship overnight.. 

No idea if I can get it by Friday... 

Im so over this whole thing I cant even tell you.. 

18 minutes ago, SRF said:

 

Haven't you been reading the posts??????

 

You are NOT limited to 3 people. People have BEEN USING them for 4, 5, or 6 people.

 

You don't even need to put more than one person when you order.

I have been reading the posts, of course. No need to be so snippy.

I've also read that 4, 5, 6 people are having issues with that, so I dont want to be the one that sells a test to someone that has a hard time using it. I would feel awful about that. So Im not going to do that. 

48 minutes ago, SRF said:

I don't see the issue with buying the 6 pack.  If you don't need them, offer them to sell to other cruisers.

Or, if getting to the port early, contact those on your roll call to share a 6 pack of tests.

out of 6 tests, they can only ever be associated with up to 3 people.. so selling them, is not an option. Not to mention I dont want to be lugging around 4 extra kits to hope someone buys them, all while staying temp controlled.. No thanks. 

1 hour ago, brookmill18 said:

Economically, the following is the worst option, but at least it might give you a back up option. Not sure what your home airport is, but many do testing at the airport and you don't need to be flying that day--again, not super helpful if you live a distance away from airport, but it's a way of getting the test in time and knowing result before flying to destination airport. Hope it works out--super frustrating! 

We fly out, 6 am Saturday from Minnesota. No testing options open here prior to boarding. We land in Seattle at 8:45 am. So the airport in MN is out. I know about the Seattle airport option, I had an apt and cancelled it b/c it was $250 per person. AND I had 4 apts on the Friday before we leave,  in our town. 2 at lunch on Fri and 2 at dinner on Fri (that was my back up to my back up) but obviously had to cancel those as well since it was 3 days out. 

We totally can do an urgent care option I suppose in Seattle.. if it comes to that. 

We cant change our plans, or move the cruise out, have to work so thats not an option for us. 

Optum said they are "having issues" I've called twice already since Friday. They say its in the warehouse the issue is, they didnt know if that meant the shipping part, or the in stock part, but either way they said they arent sure if we'd get them in time (in our case the 10th) even though we ordered on the 3rd.. 

I asked if they could overnight, I'd even pay for it, they said no. Thats not an option. 

The only thing is, they said once it does ship, I'd get a tracking #, then could see when it will arrive and if its too late, they can see if they can refund us our money (b/c we'd not need the test, and also tests are temperature controlled, so they'd sit on our porch for 10 days while we are away so I'm sure they'd no longer be viable) but 50/50 since they have a no refund policy in place. 

I can possibly buy the 6 pack, its about 200 with overnight fee. Which is probly what we'll do versus do an airport test for 250 each... 

I plan to wait until tomorrow and see if Optum ships, if they dont, I'll go with eMED and pay the $200 for the 6 tests. Which just chaps me to no end.. 

Still! This is the crap we have to worry about now.. And its not easy 😞

So for everyone saying how easy this is, its not for us. We sail on Monday Sept 13th. We fly in on Sat Sept 11th. We were told of the CDC new rquirement on Friday Sept 3rd about 4 pm local time. 

I got online ordered the 2 pack tests from Optum, and they have yet to ship due to the holiday.. The emed tests are only sold in 6 packs. 

The Optum test MIGHT make it to us in time, but might not. The 6 packs I can pay extra for overnight shipping, if I have to, but not until Tuesday (due to the holiday) 

I thought I finally found a test kit at Samsclub. Drove out and bought 2 (2- 2 packs in case we messed one up) only to get home and realize they were NOT the right test. 

The tests can ONLY be purchase online at Optum and eMED. So, since everyone got the news about these at roughly the same time, those cruising in Oct, Nov Dec all went and bought kits, and those of us cruising in 10 days, are stuck. Optum says they are in short supply and hope they can get us ours out, but make no promises.. says however they can help me cancel (gee thanks).

I've tried to find a CVS anywhere near Seattle that does testing, NONE available. No Walgreens either. There are a couple dodgey looking sites that do rapid tests, at over $175 per person. But that might be literally our only option. 

I realize this is a CDC mandate, but 10 days is cutting it way to close for us. We're not able to test until we get to Seattle, and with the Holiday it wasnt enough time to buy and receive the tests in time before we go. 

Its totally got me stressed out. 

In just this instance, Royal could have given those of us effected for this first cruise, and only 10 days option, some sort of testing at the pier, or at least saved some test stock for us so we can legit purchase on our own and get them shipped in time. 

Now its like the TP shortage.. those with cruises way later than ours have bought all the kits and in turn we might not be able to even cruise as a result! 

Beyond frustrating.. 

I've uploaded the app in advance, and when I scanned the QR code on the wrong tests, this pic popped up. I've attached it here, hopefully it will help someone else out to not even bother trying to buy from any store. 

Wish us luck... I hope we can go. 

I am not aware they are testing AT the Pier.. 

Unsure if this helps.. 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates

If you prefer the lower value in a full refund instead of the 125% Future Cruise Credit, we’re happy to process this for you.

• We’ll then deactivate your Future Cruise Credit and process your refund to your original form(s) of payment, which will include any non-refundable deposits.

• To avoid waiting on the phone to cancel, please click here and we will get the process started for you. Note: Please know, once we receive your refund request, we unfortunately won’t be able to accept an FCC request if you change your mind.

• You can expect to receive your refund 45 days after you submit your request.

• Please note: If you used a Cruise with Confidence certificate on this sailing, and you request a refund instead, we’ll refund any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount, and we’ll reinstate your original Cruise with Confidence certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Until when can I request a full refund?

Love it, thanks you guys for the cool links!

2 hours ago, garyl62 said:

For those of you looking to do this weeks survey and didn't get the email, here is the link.

 

https://pages.email.celebritycruises.com/page.aspx?QS=f309f80a0ed2c7084aa90001b6291bfce74d7836bf052e84cffcebad76fa1e2a9caabb3c2b858855dacbd9de16a163b39b8ab42c46ffb7a401d240679e8687c1851817e6d74f4b3244113cdf19954493a97cbc394c4b9610b05acf5e7a66dd70

 

Thank you! I subscribed but never did get an email. So I got the points via your link. Hopefully they see I'm participating and will send me the next one!

Hi, We are going to Puerto Limon Costa Rica next month on the Celebrity Reflection. We are thinking of a private tour for 2 with a company I found on Trip Advisor Called Gecko Tico Tours. Just did a search here on CC and didnt see anything for this well established company. I am wondering if anyone has used them before in Costa Rica?

We are going to do the Sloth Sanctuary and Puma Rescue, for about a 7 hour tour. 

Wondering if anyone has some feedback on this tour?

Thank you!

How was the cabin? We are staying in this cabin in June. How was the noise? Soot? Anything else I should know?

We had 2196 on the Reflection in July. THE. WORST. NOISE. EVER. Highly advise not to book this suite, or even the one next to it, or in the same spot on the other side... 

We bring a sound machine, and still it was awful... 

Oh my gosh, I have no children, Im 52, LOVE turtles, and thought this was by far one of the coolest things we've ever done!. You get to hold as many turtles as you want... honestly. I sat in a pool full of them by myself, could pick them up and play with them. Then you can snorkel with them in a man made giant pool sort of thing, it was amazing. 

I had the time of my life. There was also a waterpark, my husband went there, but I couldnt drag myself from the turtles. 

I guess if you didnt love turtles it could be a tourist trap, but I enjoyed the heck out of it last Feb! 

We are actually going in May. Wondering if you can see northern lights then?

I think pretty much all have a first night discount. You can check your cruise planner and even buy one now. 

I am a TA, and you cannot transfer at 90 days. No agent can. So if one tells you they can, then they are either not telling the truth, or they've found someone at Celebrity that is breaking the rules.