ExCentriX

Welcome back!

We are finally going on our first Disney cruise next week!  Excited!  But feel like I can't fully be all in until we get that test over with and get that OK to board!  Telling my kid she better not take off her mask this week until she gets on the ship!  😉

How are the buffets now?  They still serve it or you can take it yourself?

I read somewhere the kids can hug the characters now?  Or is that just Disney world?

On 3/15/2022 at 11:17 PM, Shmoo here said:

It somewhat depends on the type of guarantee booking you have (*GT or a specific category, like 9B GTY).  Typically the last minute restricted fares (IGT, OGT, VGT) are assigned around 7-14 days out.  The standard GTY is typically assigned around 30-45 days out.  Most assignments happen on a Tuesday.

 

That said, any guarantee assignment can be made at any time from original booking date all the way up to, and including, embarkation day.

Great!  Thanks for this detail!

Hi!

Not able to wait 3-4 hours to have any luck reaching disney, and wrote to them 4-5 days back, but no response yet.   So wondering maybe some have experience here.

I booked 2 rooms the same time, for my family and my brother in-laws.   My brother in-law received his room number 4-5 days back.  But mine still says Stateroom GTY.  My said date is april 16th.    Wondering if anyone have any experience when do they usually assign the rooms?    Odd that one of our rooms got assigned, but not the other.

Thanks!

10 minutes ago, jules181 said:

Lots of Walgreens in San Juan have NAAT available. 

 

It was never free for people who were not American residents/Citizens. 

 

However, you don't tell them.  The beauty of having a democratic president in, is documentation or proof is not required to access federally funded programs. Use a local address.  The pharmacy doesn't care, they get reimbursed for the cost of the test.   That being said, if you tell them you're non-resident, you will have to pay.

 

Thanks for the tip!  😉   Will do as you suggest!  

On 1/29/2022 at 2:51 PM, jules181 said:

Fellow Canadian here who is extremely pissed off that NCL will no longer be providing us with included PCR tests onboard for our travels home as was advertised at the time of booking.

 

There are two options I would recommend:

 

1.  Find the nearest Walgreens that offers testing and register for an ID NOW test.  This is a NAAT test which is accepted for entry into Canada, it is also rapid.  Typically Walgreens gets results out within 45 minutes (or has been the experience of myself and many friends who have done this).  Oh, and did I mention it's free?  Most pharmacies don't open until 10am, but would be easy to have your uber take a detour for a good tip.  Just make sure you book your appointment ahead of time.  

 

2.  SwitchHealth RT-LAMP kit.  This is a self administered test done via videolink with a SwitchHealth rep.  They will then send you a testing report.  The plus is the kit expires in 2023 so you can buy it ahead of time and use it when needed.  ($150CAD + HST)

 

Now that I have to source my own Covid-19 test in Puerto Rico on the 20th of Feb, I have purchased one of these RT-LAMP test kits as a backup but am hoping that either a)I'll test positive and get a free PCR courtesy of NCL (and 10 days of extra vacation in Puerto Rico) or b) I'll be able to get a test done at a local Walgreens saving my RT-LAMP kit for another day.

 

 

Thanks for the info!  I don't seem to see NAAT test on Walgreen anymore.  Just the PCR test.  But I still see it on CVS.    So have you tried it recently?  I had a colleague who came back hawaii, went to Walgreens, and said it's not free for non american citizens anymore?  Supposedly it changed recently.   But another friend came back from the California, and got it for free.  Hit or miss?

Hi Djsmrs.  Did you do experience the Walgreen/cvs tests lately?  A few of my friends this past week came back from the us, and said it wasn't free anymore for non us resident.  Supposedly Biden changed that in late December?  

21 hours ago, K_e_short said:

 O.k so why did I pay $49 and earn aeroplan points?

 

Weird

I don't think you Earn.  I believe its 49$ Plus you have they will deduct 14000 pts.  

Any other international travellers requiring a PCR test before flying home, please feel free to write dcl.guest.communications@disneycruise.com to request this service.  

Chatted with a Disney rep, saying that many other cruise lines offer this service, and they suggest us to write to this email, requesting Disney offering this service.  Will give a lot of us a peace of mind, and not having to worry about staying a few days in the city, waiting for the pcr results before able to take the flight home.  

17 hours ago, Shmoo here said:

I did some looking around on another forum I'm on and came up with this:

For Canadians worried about a tight turrnaround time around testing, Air Canada is now partnering with Switch Health for a "take with you and no need to mail" COVID test, which is valid for re-entry into Canada. All you'd need is a decent connection (wifi or regular cell data) for the supervised portion of the test, and upload your results. 

 

log on to a computer the night before you disembark for a telehealth appointment to supervise the taking of the sample and then the reading of the test. These tests are approved by the Public Health Agency of Canada for returning to Canada. The results are available within 30 minutes.  they were about $125

RT-LAMP self test kits from SWITCH Health

Appreciate you checking!  Seems like out of stock.  Cruise is in February.  Hopefully they restock by then, or even better, rules change.  Thanks again!

1 minute ago, Shmoo here said:

Currently DCL is only offering disembarkment tests on 5 night and longer cruises.

 

From the DCL website:

Debarkation Day COVID-19 Antigen Testing
All unvaccinated Guests on 5-night and longer sailings are required to take a COVID-19 antigen test (paid for by Disney Cruise Line) on the ship the day before debarking.

Hi,

Yes, saw that too.  But seems like it's only for those who are unvaccinated.   We are doing a 6 night cruise, but fully vaccinated.   I wrote to disney, hope they can clarify if they have that option to be able to take a pcr test.  

Thanks for checking!

Hi,

Going on a Disney cruise for the first time in February!  Excited!  

Canadian here, and was wondering if anyone is on the same boat.  No Pun intended.  😉    But planning to take a flight back to Canada from New Orleans the same day we disembark.  I know New Orleans has alot of Free PCR test centers set up, but take 24-72 hours for results.   Otherwise, I found one so far that takes 15 minutes, but even then, it might be tight for use to catch our early afternoon flight.

I see Norwegian offers PCR tests before disembarking, and will be ready by the time get off the boat and  head to the airport.  Can't seem to find it anywhere, but anyone knows if Disney Wonder offers this as well?

Thanks for anyones help!

Jason

Here is a very detailed chart of what is included with each level of suite:

http://cruise.expedia.com/pictures/microsite/1274/pdf/NCL%20Suites%20and%20Villas.pdf

On the list of special touches, it says Wireless Internet access. Included? Why put that if it's not, since the whole ship has Access to wireless internet for a fee?

IF it is included, then I would be tempted to bid for the upgrade to a haven suite.

Thanks for any info you guys may have!

Just got off the ship this past Sunday.

I know quite a few said the problem with the propulsion will not affect the maneuvering of the ship, and most have said in past review before the propulsion problem, that you feel almost no movement from the ship at all. Even to the point where you even forget that you were in a ship.

I have not sailed on many cruises, a total of 6, and this was by far the one that rocked and rumbled the most! It was like that for almost the whole time. But was worst during the first day and the last 3 days. The weather was clear, and the waves looked relatively calm the whole time. For those who were on the this trip, I'm sure they can tell you during the last 2-3 days, the pool water rocked back and forth like you were in one of those wave pools!

The 1st night I see the room attendant, I ask him "It's rocking alot than normally?" He said "yah man, we just trying the rush to Nassau." 3rd day "Still quite bad hey?" Him "Yah man, we trying to make up time and trying to get to St-Thomas." The last 2-3 days where it was the worst, I was walking back to the room, seeing him leaning his head on his laundry cart. He looks up with some daze, and I then said "Come on, now tell me this is not normal." He again said "Yah, rocking more than usual, but we just rushing to get home." LOL!

I don't get motion sickness, and Propulsion problem causing this or not, I was just disappointed to feel a ship of this size rock and tremble so much, after hearing so many great reviews of how you practically do not feel anything.