armwinder

4 minutes ago, YVRteacher said:

Yes, I’ve done the mixology experience.  It is booked through CruiseNext, not through the concierge.  I was so tipsy afterward I had to have a nap.  All the drinks were really, really sweet.

We just use the concierge and they looked after it. Not sure if we will do it again on this trip, depends on the timings. 

On 12/15/2022 at 9:40 PM, YVRteacher said:

We are Diamond with NCL and this is my 29th cruise on NCL.

Have you tried the "mixology experience" we just did on the Epic, very different way of using up fruit.  We may try it again on the Jewel next week, ask your concierge about booking it.   

We are noticing a trend amongst the ball cap wearers now, they turn their hat backwards to appear more formal. 

We have not cruised out of Pan Am pier for about 4 years.  There was not a real designated lounge for Haven pre boarding rather an area to one side where the folks who purchased the priority boarding package congregated along with Haven guests. We were only waiting for around 10 minutes or so, real fast boarding. Like I said this was about 4 years ago things may have changed now.  we were on the Epic back then. 

I hope NCL recognize Veterans from Canada and other countries eventually. The previous program did we saved a few bucks on some cruises back then. 

A revised version of the old military discount is to come into effect next year, apparently available on all cruises not just select sailings. So far it looks like only United States Veterans and serving members are eligible not other nationalities. I hope this is just an oversite on NCL's  part and the rest of us Veterans can benefit from the 10% discount along with other benefits. 

1 hour ago, Travelicious said:

Other than the butler, won't the person in the balcony room still get Haven perks?  Personally, I'd probably rather be in a balcony room by myself than sharing one cabin with 4 other people.  

I agree, 6 people in one room 4 too many for me.  

We sit at the end of the row so we can leave when it gets too loud. I carry earplugs but sometimes it gets so loud they are no help. When you leave the theatre it takes a while to get our hearing back to normal. Kind of like when I used to work in ships engine rooms without proper hearing protection. 

50 minutes ago, leugerst said:

THey just cancelled all of the Getaway cruises from Copenhagen

. 

That’s too bad, where did you read this please. 

We have a cruise booked on the Getaway out of Copenhagen this October.  All cruises on the Getaway in October/November 2022 have disappeared from their website. Could be just a glitch. It still shows up on our account though, (for now at least) 

There is also the issue of needing a negative antigen test before visiting Canada. That would have to be done  within 24 hours. Sounds complicated if you are on the ship. It would be worth downloading the ArriveCanada app before the cruise too, at the present time it has to be completed by anyone visiting. Let’s hope these rules change in the next little while. 

We do this all the time, including boarding passes and the like. Nice to have a hard copy with you just in case. 

Not sure how the cruise lines will handle the PCR test that is required within 72 hours of visiting Victoria BC, or if the ship sails from Vancouver a test would be needed to enter Canada before sailing unless you live here. Then another PCR test within 72 hours of returning to Vancouver. Hopefully the rules change or it does not look like any fun. 

4 minutes ago, Sixtytwo said:

Could a test not be done at the airport? I understand most airports have the rapid test available.

Looking on the LAX website a rapid PCR test is $199. Not sure if you need an appointment or you can drop in. 

Very stressful for sure. We sailed on the Bliss over Christmas and were tested onboard Christmas Day at 9:00 am. Got the results at 7:45 that evening, we flew out the next day. That in itself was very stressful, can’t imagine having the test the same day as flying after suitcases are packed. We worried about if one of us tested positive and the spouse had to fly home alone. Not worth the stress and effort for us to travel out of Canada right now. I wrote in another post as to what happens when the Alaska seasons opens up. Sailing out of Vancouver and especially the return testing could be a nightmare. How about any stops in Victoria on Vancouver Island how are we going to handle that. Maybe it’s time to rethink the PCR test? 

3 hours ago, Yo Adrienne said:

Yes, I asked in another forum whether the Canadian ports did reopen as they were supposed to back in November (even though the cruise season for 2021 had ended and the 2022 season hasn't begun yet)...and a person responded that they did open. 

 

That being said, I wonder if they'll have to do a waiver again...just cause of the volume of ships/passengers that come through Victoria to satisfy that current required stop. 

That would be the likely solution I would think.  It is not that easy to visit here or for Canadians to return from a trip. We have to download the  "arrive Canada app" and fill in a questionnaire as well as taking a PCR test within 72 hours of arrival. Then at the airport in Vancouver BC a monitored home test was issued to us and had to be returned within 24 hours. This traveling is not for the faint of heart right now, lets hope things calm down in the next few months. 

1 hour ago, Middleager said:

In the days leading up to X-mas and new years, the labs were overwhelmed.  Most tests did not come back for days.

 

Not only that, most places did NOT have any appointments available.  People needed to be online just almost as soon as the appointment slots were open, and book right away.

If you had tried to make any bookings, you'd see that.

 

On Dec. 22, we did actually make 2 bookings at 2 different Walgreens.  On arrival at one of them, the pharmacy was closed.  No reason, just closed, despite we getting a reminder email just hours before.

After we arrived at the airport in Vancouver Canada we were given a home test kit to be completed within 24 hours. The test had to be monitored online. We could not make an appointment until the next day as they were so busy.  

31 minutes ago, Yo Adrienne said:

 

We're doing Alaska from Seattle in May, too (assuming it doesn't get cancelled)...and I hadn't even thought about the required port stop in Victoria.  It's a short, evening stop...so we may just stay on the ship, but I'll be very curious to see how they handle this.  

They could just bypass Victoria like they did last year.  

8 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Read the information from the cruise line specific to your cruise. They will inform you of the requisite testing for your specific cruise (i.e., whether there are special accommodations for a port call). I think that we're a bit far out from the start of the Alaska 2022 cruise season for that level of detail to be defined.

 

For ships leaving Vancouver, guest will have to enter Canada on their own for embarkation and comply with entry requirements at the time of embarkation. wrt return to Vancouver, again, follow the instructions from the cruise line wrt your specific cruise. 

 

For example, when we sailed from Nassau, we had to apply for a Bahamas Health Visa (and provide proof of vaccination or testing) and pay for Bahamas COVID health insurance to enter the country and board our ship. That was all on our own. When we took a subsequent cruise that called in Nassau as a port call, we were not required to apply for a health visa and pay insurance - there were separate rules for cruise ship port calls. 

 

Again, it is a bit far out to see how cruise ships will be handled for the Alaska 2022 season (we are sailing to Alaska in May with a stop in Victoria, so we'll see how things are handled then). 

Yes a very interesting read on their health and safety info for sure. At present it will be a daunting task to try and test everyone at sea before Victoria and Vancouver. We just came off the Bliss a couple of weeks ago and the PCR test was given Christmas day at 9:00 am, we got the results at 7:45 that evening.  As NCL along with some other cruise lines are not offering on board testing who knows how the testing will be handled if needed. True April is a few months away but final payment is due soon.  We are on the Bliss out of Seattle in May we hope. 

If cruise ships are allowed into Victoria BC this coming Alaska cruise season I wonder how passengers will be able to get the required PCR test 72 hours before visiting the Island? We are Canadian and the test is around $150:00 - $200:00.  It will also be a challenge for ships leaving and returning out of Vancouver BC if the PCR test is still required in April and beyond. There could be some special exemptions still in the works.  At this time time I do not see any exemptions on the Canadian web site pertaining specifically to cruise passengers.  

17 hours ago, Sand and Seas said:

Very interesting! 

We have been Platinum Plus since they created P Plus.  I highly doubt we will ever make Ambassador even though we will probably cruise four times each year.   

 

Something fun to watch for....Thanks for posting!

Yes we got to Platinum the hard way too.  15 cruises to reach Platinum no matter the length.  We have also been P Plus since it was created. No way we could get another 300 points for the next level . Not many more benefits anyway, apart from a "free cruise" that would undoubtedly end up costing a bundle. Its nice to be recognized though.  

We sail on the 19th December, received our tags a few days ago about 10 days before the cruise.  No big deal if they had not turned up really as I had already printed off the generic ones. 

18 minutes ago, kpjb said:

At time of booking, mine showed PIT-CLT-LAX and LAX-DFW-PIT.  Paid in full yesterday, and now it doesn't show anything.  I was worried, but I guess this is across the board.  Honestly, I don't care as long as I'm there in time to get covid tested and on board in time.  The only thing that worries me is January weather in Pittsburgh.  I tried to divert the flight in to a day earlier but they said for my sailing they only offer flight diversions post-cruise so I had to fly in day-of.

After we paid the original flights disappeared too. We are 50 days out. 

22 minutes ago, Russ Lomas said:

Getting tested at Pearson was dead easy.  It was actually done in a parking lot garage at Pearson in the stairwell (sounds weird, but was fine and set up well).  They open at 5 am, so we were there when they opened since we had an 8 am flight that morning and wanted to ensure we had the results in time for our flight (we needed them to board the plane back in August).  After our tests, we went to our vehicle, drove 5 minutes to McDonald's for breakfast and got our results while we were still in the parking lot waiting for McDonald's to open) - fast and easy.  Not sure if it gets busier later on, but you can make reservations for your test time.  If you opt for drop in, you are taking chances.  Since you no longer will need this to fly to the US starting November 8th though, I would check to ensure they are still offering the services after the 8th, assuming that is when you are flying.  Have a great trip.  Our trip was incredible in August.

I thought we still needed a test to fly even after November 8th.  

We are flying out of YVR  on December 16th down to LA for a cruise on the Bliss.  The Okanagan testing clinic in Penticton are asking $150 + GST for the antigen test.