gardenbunny

I decided to call Celebrity to find out if we had to bring the original doctor letter or a printed copy of one he sent us by email….it met all the requirements, just a printed copy.

After waiting on hold 1 hr…yikes….she asked her supervisor and I was told printed is fine. We have our printed CVS Positive result document and will show both.

Just did not want to take any chances!

Being a little cynical but the cruise industry became the poster child for contracting Covid…all other travel, concerts, movies, etc is OK, you only catch Covid on a cruise ship. 🤣

But glad to finally see they are all beginning to relax the protocols…Hooray

There have been many discussions on this that I have followed because we are using one to board Eclipse on 8/20 out of Vancouver.

We had our doctor video calls today to obtain letter.

But no where on information about the COR does it say it needs to be original letter.

Anyone who has used one recently, did you print a cooy or go to doctor to get original?

Thanks

I had just read the story and you beat me to posting it. But it all but says “it’s over”.  They realize break through cases are very common with vaccinated and testing isn’t effective. 
Time to move on and deal with Covid just like seasonal flu. 
I hope cruise lines will continue to adjust their rules and get back to normal soon!

I hope for you someone has tried it.  But I was almost in your situation.  Fortunately we did another home test a few days later to see if we were negative yet and we were not!  That was Juky 29.  So we went that day to CVS and got our positive tests.  We have video calls with our doctor tomorrow to get the COR.

We leave August 21 from Vancouver
Good luck - I hope this will all be over soon

Good to hear about positive experiences - we will be using COR first time for Alaska cruise on 8/21 out of Vancouver.  

Thanks

I think it is somewhat confusing but liked to passport makes sense.

I downloaded App today and  filled out all info I could.  We do not fly to Vancouver until Sat. 8/20.  So will complete 72 hrs before - I was never good with the math for 2 day testing before a cruise LOL.  So plane lands in Vancouver on 8/20 - I fill out form on Wednesday the 17th or would that be 18th???

Thanks

Question - we were just recently on RCI Oasis.  We only bought 1 device premium pkg.  They allowed us to change users - so husband would use it for a while, then I would use it.  Same sign in - it just kicks other device off.  Worked good for us for 7 days.

Do you know if Celebrity offers that same function?  

Thanks

Oh yes, already done that!  But I do need to read again…if I read it correctly first I think it requires to check in on App before flight to Canada.  And if you spend the night and then board a ship next day, you have to check in again?

Consistancy would be nice for all these hoops we have to jump through. LOL

We started traveling in Feb 2021 to Maui and began all the testing and apps and paperwork, etc.  I think we have done just about all of them…we are adding for this trip on 8/21 a Certificate of Recovery as we finally got Covid after our last cruise on RCI…but not sure if from cruise or the plane ride home!!

Covid was mild for us - have had worse colds in the past than these Covid symptoms for 3 days.  

Our ship sails out of Vancouver to Alaska on 8/21.  All these notices say except Canada and Bermuda.  I wish Canada would remove testing but I am not holding my breath.

But good news for cruise industry as they start to relax testing

16 hours ago, whirlybird3 said:

It is possible you may still test positive by a PCR test.

The Certificate of Recovery from the online site … is it a letter from a MD?  Or a actual certificate?

I have read it numerous times.  We have a video appt with our doctor.  It has to be a typed letter from your doctor and there are a list of items it must include (ie name, address, phone number and confirmation of recovery and isolation.  You submit it along with your original dated positive lab test.  This allows you to board ship as if you were submitting your negative test result.

Absolutely loved our cruises to Greenland and Iceland in 2019.  In Greenland we did the hikes in Nanotalik, Qaqortog and Nuuk.  All 3 different scenery and terrain -  total of all 3 was 26 miles.  The cities are tiny to say the least but so unique.  

Reykjavik was amazing,  Easy city to walk around in - the church on top can be seen from everywhere.

We did the Golden Circle tour - Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss Waterfall and did The Blue Lagoon - which was so much fun - setting is so pretty and water temp was amazing and relaxing.

Have a great time!

We are doing this cruise Aug 21.  Will enjoy reading  about everything you share.  First time on Eclipse and only 3rd Celebrity.  Really excited - have not been in Alaska since August 1999!

We have previously done short cruise to Nassau on Constellation back in 2015 and Summit to Bermuda in 2018.

Note:  We got off RCI  Oasis of Seas mid July and tested positive a few days aftr getting home.  We will also be getting a LofR.

Back to the magic number day for when you maybe can or cannot get Covid.  

Just like being seated in a restaurant - wear mask to table, take off when you get seated!!  

This variant is highly contagious  - you can be vaccinated and boosted. avoiding large crowds, and wearing a mask and still catch it.

No guarantees …. know your own health risk limits and live your life accordingly.

We did not stop traveling and it finally got us 10 days ago. We are healthy, it was like a bad cold for 2 days and now we feel back to normal.  

Now perhaps with this new natural immunity, we may be a bit more protected until the next variant!

I have an update with my situation and the CofR.  Today we did a home test to see if we were negative yet…Not.

So, we decided to go to CVS and get tested to have an official lab test and have the CofR for our cruises!  Checked the boxes for currently having symptoms! (Which is true since DH still has cough and I have no smell/taste).

Just got my Positive result.

 Husband checked wrong box and got the PCR test so it will take a day or 2.

I know I seem a little OCD on this, but this was our 30th Anniversary trip that has been rebooked twice in  2 years due to Covid!  We have 2 Alaska cruises and a 14 day land trip in BC Canada that is same itinerary as our honeymoon.  

I am doing everything possible in my control to make sure this trip happens.

Didn’t want to take any chances that some nose swab test could have a false positive and ruin it all.

Thanks Rich and Jim for your replies.  You confirmed what I thought.  With so many people doing home tests it is an unfortunate situation that you cannot “prove” it.  And who thinks at the time you find out, to go get a lab test?  Especially if you hadn’t thought about how it would affect a possible cruise and make it your first priority (treating Covid and feeling better took that spot)  to go read all the cruise protocols!

Guess we will just buy a bunch of home tests and keep checking every week that we are negative before getting the “official” test 2 days prior.

Have never used a home  proctored test - would you recommend trying that for the cruise negative test vs CVS?  

Also, does it allow a husband and wife to do them at the same time?

Thanks again

Thanks for starting this topic.  I need some advice, please.

We have cruised 4 times in 2022, healthy in early 70s, all 3 shots.  Yep, finally got Covid just off RCI July 19th.  Got home, thought it might be a cold but decided to use one of the free self test kits (not proctored) and we both tested positive.  Mild symptoms and we are recovered.

We board Eclipse in Vancouver Aug 21 for Alaska.  I am confused about wording for the CofR that you have to have the dated original lab test for the positive result and the doctor recovery letter.  You don’t have the lab test if you did it at home.  We have contacted our doctor for the letter, and they will provide it.  But they said we probably don’t need it since our pre travel rapid test we get on 19th should be negative.
I am thinking we will just self test at home to be sure we are negative and then go to CVS like we always do for their test.

Any thoughts?

Good info. Especially about Canada Place testing.  I have a somewhat confusing situation.  

We fly out of Atlanta on Aug 20th to Vancouver to board Eclipse on 21st for 7 day Alaska returning  on 8/28. No problem to test at my usual CVS on 19th.

But, after we disembark we are staying with a friend who lives in Surrey until Aug 31.

 We will go to downtown Vancouver and stay at Georgian Court for nights of 8/31 and 9/1.  Because we begin a 14 day land tour that starts on 9/2 at Georgian with Globus.

That tour ends Sept 13 back in Vancouver to begin an included Holland Alaska cruise and embark on 14th and get off in Vancouver Sept 21.  We fly back to Atlanta on 22.

We have yet to receiver final documents from Globus about ArriveCAN and testing. I am hoping they will test us before Holland cruise.

I too doubt Canada will lift any requirements.

Anyone wanting to offer advice will be appreciated.  With all my moving parts, all the Covid hoops are a headache.  

Thanks

14 hours ago, bmc alabama said:

The first one can (and should) be Pacific Princess, but I hope the second is Dawn Princess.  That was the first ship I ever sailed on...

It would be kinda of nice to have a 3rd generation Pacific Princess!!

The Love Boat generation, the fantastic small ship generation that we all loved, and the new 21st century LNG generation.

2 hours ago, t&atravel said:

Make the final payment using the credit card then apply your points as a “statement credit” which offsets it.  There is not a direct method to pay for your cruise that I’m aware of.

That is what I do all the time.  The Barclays website has an entire section on the rewards.  Note that points expire.  They always list how many days certain charged entries expire. And you can click on any of them to see the dollar value of those points.  I charged our 2019 WC and got a $4000 statement credit!  

On 3/29/2022 at 3:49 AM, startedwithamouse said:

Wow.  Same happened to us. Reserved Skagway and our family was told no, we have you down for Ketchikan.  Brought up the app, and said Ketchikan.  However, I screenshot last week with Skagway, so they found our missing table. Ha. I guess they did that to others also. 

That happened on our recent Emerald Panama Canal March 13-23.  I did the screenshot also because it had disappeared about a week before boarding and reentered and wanted “proof”.  We took it to original MDR we wanted and the DRM  found us a table and it was great - just like before they did away with traditional seating.  He said they were trying to put the passengers requesting same table and time every night in the rear DR on 6 and leave midship for DMW.  Because they were not using the 3rd DR due to low capacity and also for crew dining due to Covid.

Perhaps it will improve somewhat with Covid restrictions starting to ease.

11 hours ago, cltnccruisers said:

One thing that has really stood out regarding the MDR that I think has a lot to do with the problems is not having the same table and staff each night.  On Sky it didn't stabilize until the 5th night.  On Caribbean it was a little better and by the 3rd night our family of 8 had the same table and staff.  This was a great help since we had 2 teenage granddaughters who were being pretty picky ordering.  We lucked out with our head waiter Fernando.  He worked with them, got to know their tastes and sometimes would just surprise them.  This interaction is one reason Princess should stabilize seating

Absolutely.  We had our first cruise since Covid on Enchanted NYE, and the new Dine My Way.  Which actually was NOT Dine My Way.  Having no idea how it worked, we found out the hard way it was better to select your DR and time before boarding.  We were put at a different table every night (and a bad table location) and it was horrible exceptmfor the last 2 nights.

So when we took Panama Canal on Emerald March 13-23 we booked before. Private table for 5 for 7 PM every night in DaVinci.  So if we liked location and staff we would ask to keep it for entire cruise.  Surprise - once on board I checked Medallian and it was changed to Botticelli!!!  I was furious.  I had taken a screen shot of what I had reserved.  My DH and neice went to DaVinci at 5 to politely “discuss” our experience on Enchanted and get this resolved to our satisfaction.

I must admit Michael, the DRM went over and above.  He let them pick out any table we wanted and made it ours for the entire cruise at 7.  Head Waiter Frodrick and Asst Waiter Red James were awesome.  It was just like the way it was before all these changes.  Michael came by our table every night to speak with us.  It is all about the personal connection Princess has been known for, and I fear they have lost touch with that wih introducing what I call “Grub Hub” cruising.

Frodrick has been with Princess for many years and he was very open about the crew’s dislike for the Medallion system. He said it is very tedious to go through all the many steps to take a passenger order.

We don’t have another cruise on Princess until Sept 22 on Crown.  RT California Coastal from Vancouver.

Will be following CC to see if  situation improves.

We board Emerald on 13th for Panama Canal cruise and this was to be our first port.  Now we get overnight in Cartegena. Better deal

Thanks for info.

We are on the 3/13. With ship capacity at 3,100 and 1,900 estimated, still not too crowded at 60%.  

My cruise is not until Sept 14 and it is included in a non-Princess land tour.  Seriously hope Canada will relax all these jumping through hoops rules by then.

Read that CDC Director said today that Covid will become a seasonful flu - and depending on whether there are pockets of large volume of cases during seasonal outbreak - masks may be required again during that period.

Will it ever end? 

The normal Seasonal flu can still be dangerous for certain groups of people (mostly elderly), and we don’t wear masks for that.  So just because it is Covid you wear a mask?

There is no logic - much less science