rch3

Great fun. Narrow gage RR although we went the other way!

Dear old Delta! Our 2 hr. layover in Boston before flying to Lisbon is now 6 hrs and 5 minutes! Had the option to change but all alternative flights (using same departure point per the change rules) have virtually the same total travel time, and include 2 stops. Plotting how to make up for it in the Sky Club!!

Just received word the Coastal Classic is up and running!

On 5/19/2023 at 9:12 PM, olya1972 said:

Any updates on this situation? We are scheduled for next Friday, May 26 th.

Interested as well. We’re scheduled for June 2. Calls to Alaska RR give you the electronic run-around with no human interface.  The best option is to touch “3” which is supposed to provide the anticipated arrival times. When you do that and then select the option for the Anchorage/Seward route, it circles back to the select option message.  Seems kind of ominous for those ticketed in the near future.

On 5/25/2023 at 4:38 PM, LisaAtlCruiser said:

Question for those that have done the early train option from Anchorage to Seward.  How easy/challenging is it to get a taxi from the hotel at 5:30am????  That is my only concern.  While 5:00am is pretty darn early to be getting up - given my body will still be on East Coast (Florida) time, I figure it won't feel so bad.  I could switch to the later train directly with the cruise line - but I would like time in Seward to do some exploring.

 

Had the same concern. Used the Uber app to reserve in advance.  Locked in a ride leaving 5:30 a.m. from mid town hotel to Alaska RR station for $38.  A little pricy for a couple of miles, but locked in.

Delta is a mess. We booked months ago for LEX to ATL to FCO for a June Med sailing.  On the return trip, delta canceled the ATL to LEX flight we were ticketed, requiring a 5 hr. Layover in ATL and return to LEX at midnight. Ugh.  Rebooked FCO to ATL to an earlier flight to arrive for an earlier flight to LEX.  Then, that flight was canceled so we’re back to 5 hours in ATL.  Couldn’t change back to later flight from FCO—sold out.

Then part 2 of this saga begins.  On outbound journey, 3 p.m. flight to ATL from LEX gets canceled.  Now leaving at noon insuring a 5.7 hr. ATL layover.  (We can drive to ATL in less time than flying and laying over.) Then, to add insult to injury, Delta changes the equipment for the ATL to FCO overnight flight so that the Comfort+ configuration is no longer 2x4x2, and is now 3x3x3.  Having been in a row of 2, and not wishing to spend 9.5 hrs in a middle seat in a row with a stranger, Delta was “kind” enough to permit us to purchase up to what they call premium select, at pretty significant expense.  

All first world problems, I know, and the airlines are struggling to get their schedules back in order, but I have NEVER in 45 years of flying Delta, my preferred airline, been jerked around like this. 

Saevan has the same problem as do we—same sailing.  July 2, the “one day” before sailing is a national holiday in Italy and there is great uncertainty as to testing locations being open in Rome.  We purchased the Binax proctored test kits just in case.  There is a link on page 58 I believe of the roll call that reveals a centrally-located testing facility that will be open on June 2, and allows appointments to be made.  Might take a look at that.

10 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

The proctored self test may be a good option.   Buy in advance via the Celebrity Link and you can take the test using you PC or Smart Phone.  I've done 4 of them and if you can order something on Amazon you have the skill set required to perform the self test.

 

******  From the PointsGuy

 

As of Monday, Dec. 6, the U.S. is requiring all incoming air travelers over the age of 2 to submit a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of departure. To ensure you get test results in time, consider using an at-home COVID-19 that can be administered remotely while abroad.

 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently accepts three major at-home tests for use by inbound passengers: Abbott’s BinaxNow COVID-19 Home Test, Ellume’s COVID-19 Home Test and Qured’s video-supervised rapid antigen test.

 

Each test can be taken from wherever you are in the world, as long as you can access the internet to have your test proctored.

Yes, and we took advantage of this before departing.  Somewhere between boarding the aircraft for departure, and the expiration of 4 days (5 day trip), Omicron (I think) made an unwanted appearance.  We are in that susceptible age group and completely symptom-free.  To the extent we didn’t avoid one-another during the pre-quarantine period, it is curious indeed that only one tested positive.

The bigger problem for us here in the U.S. is the requirement of a negative antigen test within a day prior to boarding an aircraft to return home.  Hoping things change (likely when the “authorities” come to grips with the endemic nature of the virus) but right now, Covid is Covid without regard to symptoms, mild or otherwise.  Should take our lead from Italy.  Since we are asymptomatic yet quarantined in Mexico for 5 days, not sure I’d take that risk in relation to our 10-day Med sailing in June.  Fully-vaccinated and boosted, yet here we are because one of us tested positive despite no symptoms whatsoever.  

We have a similar problem.  Though things may change before our sailing in June next year, we’re flying from the US to Rome on May 31, arriving June 1 for a June 3 departure from Civitavecchia.  I suspect, but don’t know, that securing a test overseas might be an adventure in its own right.

Guess I should have been more clear to avoid the lecture. Always pre-pay grats. Question pertained to bartenders/servers, specialty restaurants, sommelier, etc. Dollars it will be.  Thanks

Searched and no luck so apologies if previously addressed.  But I have a “habit” of collecting small bills over the few months in advance of every sailing to be able to tip staff as services are performed.  It occurred to me that dollars might not be as well received as euros by staff who are on the ship for months in the euro zone. I don’t want to pay the exchange rate/fee for a bunch of small denomination euros, but at the same time, don’t want staff to have eat the fees.  Does X have a conversion option for staff that is fee-free, or will it charge a premium for the service?  First time this occurred to me.  Thanks.

Nothing from X. TA let me know the day after announcement.

Hope springs eternal I guess. Still holding it out for July 11!  My cruise planner didn’t give me the avoid final payment advice. But Italy is open to vaccinated/tested travelers, and starting July 2, Delta starts Covid free flights from JFK to VCE. The ship is woefully undersold though.

We’re booked on Infinity on July 11 from Venice.  With all the “good” news about Italy opening up for tourism, the imponderables are whether crew availability can be accomplished, and enough cabins sold to warrant sailing. A mock booking on a discount TA site shows very few S1 and S2 cabins sold, and all but two AQ cabins unsold. Maybe things will pick up, at least for US passengers with Delta just announcing 3x/week flights from JFK direct to VCE.  Requires negative Covid test not more than 3 days before travel, and the same in order to return from FCO, but vaccine rollout and administration here should lower the travel bar somewhat.

And yes, we made final payment April 9 without a clue from X, despite calls to obtain better info.  Sailing is still up on X’s site for booking, and the solicitations to purchase dining/spa/shore excursions continue hot and heavy.

13 hours ago, Cat4158 said:

Unfortunately these countries are stating  that they’re open but still have high rates of infection. I think I’ll be checking their current levels rather than their declarations. That might sound harsh but, as consumers. We all need to check things out thoroughly and consider why such decisions are being made. Many countries are declaring themselves open but, as travellers, we might still have to quarantine when we arrive home. 

Much can change in 70 days, including vaccine distribution where, until now, it appears quite woeful. A quarantine requirement upon returning to the U.S. by vaccinated citizens (who presumably will have tested negative before boarding their flights) seems contrary to CDC guidance. But that seems almost whimsical lately. In the midst of all this we’ve been twice to Mexico and once to the Bahamas pre-vaccination without quarantine requirements or adverse consequence. We’re in our 60’s and not the least bit concerned about contracting the virus or spreading it if, despite being vaccinated, we somehow become asymptomatic carriers of the virus or any variant. As before, we will use common sense so as to not imperil others even though there is little to no risk, if the CDC is to be believed.

We’re on the 7/11 Infinity sailing.  Crossed our fingers and made final payment. No news from X but the usual solicitations to purchase specialty dining, spa treatments etc. Have progressed from crossed fingers to holding our breath.  Some positive news out of the EU this week about reopening for tourism,  but restrictions on travel to/from still unclear. We’re fully vaccinated and ready to go if X, Italy, Croatia and Montenegro share the sentiment! We know Greece is ready for us!

13 minutes ago, jelayne said:

In our experience most passengers had selected the beverage package as a booking perk.  It was unusual to see anyone signing a receipt at a bar.  

Ours too, except bottles of wine. Just thinking out loud.......... trying to rationalize the new marketing hook beyond just enhancing revenue.

I didn’t read every post here but wonder if the drink package inclusion is intended to compensate for reduced staff and to remove the back and forth of receipt signing and collecting. Seems post-Covid smart except for those who wouldn’t encounter it in the first place. Fewer bartenders bogged down by printing, distributing and collecting receipts?

Yeah, in a seemingly futile exercise in wishful thinking, visited the checkin page for our Infinity sailing from Venice July 11.  “Checkin not available.” Between COVID and recently announced prohibition of large ship entry into the lagoon, my optimism is quickly fading.......

Don’t mistake the term “vaccine passport” and the federal bureaucratic oversight it connotes, with proof of vaccination. It is an entirely different thing for the government to require issuance of a health-based passport in order to travel, and private sector requirements for safe access to services. I don’t view the governor’s actions to be inconsistent.

Having said this, and being fortunate enough to have received my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine yesterday, my concern is with what the EU will require of U.S. citizens as we continue to rebook again and again.

Kind of in the same boat (pun intended). Have a July Med cruise booked with final payment imminent. Got a decent rate (not great)and have been monitoring all the options (incentives?) offered in response to cancellations made by X.  Since airfare is 100% creditable, we’ve decided to ride it out to see if the 125% fcc is offered to compensate for the future cruise price increase I’ve been reading about.  Interesting ploy by X to say, “For your inconvenience we’re pleased to offer a fcc of 125% to apply to a future sailing which, if you’re really lucky, might come close to the fare for the rescheduled trip.”  Of course, if future fares are outrageous, can elect to receive a full refund.

.’;

Yesterday we received casino promotion offering free balcony stateroom (or below) requiring a non refundable deposit of $200, $200 OBC, “Free drinks on us, everywhere on the ship,” and $200 in “FunPlay Credits.”  Limited number of fall and winter sailings.

Many of the offered sailings were sold out of balcony cabins,  but several were open.  Booked Horizon 6-day Western for Feb. 2022. Balcony cabins available “free” were Coves or unassigned.  Was able to “buy up” to an 8T spa balcony for $20pp/day.  Best offer we’ve ever received, but screen-shot taken to be safe. Seemed too good to be true.

Horizon Nov. 8. Keeping fingers crossed although at least one port, Grand Cayman, is off limits to cruise ships. An extra sea day would be fine with us!

Being the optimist I am, and pretty sure that excursions will be restricted to ship sponsored/controlled, booked and paid for 2 connected with our 11/8 Horizon sailing. I have no information concerning cancellation or sailing, just that CCL “allowed” me to deposit more funds yesterday and the excursions are confirmed in my cruise manager. Of course no interest loans to CCL have proven to be common!