Princess Fi

9 hours ago, dukev said:

Just wondering - if two people are testing with Azova - do we need 2 separate accounts with 2 separate emails. Thanks

Haven’t done the test yet but rep said to set up an account for each adult but when doing the first test tell the proctor you have another appointment and you can do it immediately following on same device. We have appointments May 1. 

On 4/14/2022 at 10:46 AM, Jeremiah1212 said:

Hang tight. There is a TA call today about the Solstice/Millennium redeployment and other things. 

Was there any mention of update to this policy?

4 minutes ago, Sjmmclark said:

Update: did my Azova proctored video rapid test using rapid response test. So frigging easy. 2am we hopped online and immediately got representative to observe test.  Watched us swab nose and put in buffering solution and then drop 4 drops in the test. Told us to set timer for 15 minutes and take picture of results and upload in azova app. 

 

After uploading picture of results, had report 5 minutes later. I would definitely use them again. 

Thanks for the update, very much appreciate first hand experience passed on. We are using them May 1. 

21 hours ago, bookbabe said:

As in the problems are with cards that are billed in Canadian dollars versus US dollars, or that have a Canadian billing address versus a US one?  We have a US dollar credit card, but it still has a Canadian billing address.

 

Canadian credit cards billed in Cdn dollars. I have a US credit card with a Canadian billing address and worked fine. Reps at AZOVA acknowledged the issue they were working to rectify. 

Just a heads up if you book AZOVA for testing they are having issues accepting Canadian credit cards. I used my US Visa so fine but others in our travelling party had issues. 

23 minutes ago, Sjmmclark said:

I just booked appointments for Azova for next week with the rapid response home kit. 

Would love to know how it goes. We fly to San Diego April 30 and sail on Celebrity Millennium May 3. Looking at all our options for testing. We have several boxes of the green box test kits. My husband tested positive March 27 and now negative so he should be fine and I the whole time in close quarters with him continued to test negative. 

We are on May 3 Pacific Coastal and checked in but cannot choose an arrival time. I wonder if changes are coming to cruises after April 30? Seems some cruises after that date cannot choose an arrival time. 

We used Walmart testing for our Celebrity cruise in November. No problems at all. 

Booked my first Princess cruise with this promotion. Needed to ensure I saw rates in US dollars to see rates. Interestingly I have had many shoreside issues with Celebrity lately that I registered an account with Princess. I had a call following from a Princess planner to introduce himself. I reached out to him and the whole process has been smooth. After about 14 Celebrity cruises excited to try Princess. 

16 minutes ago, SSAtlantic said:

I checked the fare with the current weekend sale for a cruise that is past final payment. I booked with a refundable fare and the current price is $1500 cheaper. Problem is I booked thru an online agency that no

longer has weekend hours since Covid. I will try on Monday but assume I am out of luck. 

I think we have booked with same. I sent an email with screen shots on Friday afternoon but no response and they are closed on weekends. No longer booking with them. 

I have noticed a price drop for our May 3 sailing plus better promotion. I have paid in full and final payment was yesterday. I called Celebrity and they confirmed I was eligible but since I booked with large online agent they need to request. Of course the online agent has not responded and historically take around 5 days. This is the last cruise I have booked with them. I have two other cruises booked and I reserved directly with Celebrity. If I booked directly I can look after this myself. 

We have successfully had FCCs transferred to another person. There is a specific process but that may be your best option. 

We have a 10 night Pacific Coastal that leaves San Diego May 3. Our last port stop is Victoria before we disembark May 13 in Vancouver. Waiting on news on this and really want this one to go as planned. Our youngest son and fiancé live in Abbotsford and hoping to spend a few days with them post cruise. 

10 hours ago, Froufie said:

WHAT A NIGHTMARE!  I continue to be shocked and disappointed at the piss poor customer service provided by Celebrity and flights as well.

 

1)  Called yesterday Jan 31 to ask about our FCC (cancelled Jan 19 cruise on Jan 7th including flights!) and rebooked for end of March and was provided with an extended final payment of Feb 2nd.  They told me FCC would be issued within 24 hours  - they lied LOL.  I call late this afternoon - and got them to check on it - they said it would be 'issued' I asked when - they asked if I got any emails - I said no.

 

Put me on hold - came back to say they were getting them issued - I said I would wait!  - back on hold - came back told me she had the FCC #s - I said can you not apply them now/immediately to the balance - she said okay ...back on hold.  She came back to say it was done - balance owing...  and trying to say goodbye - I asked can I just not pay the balance now?  She said okay - gave her credit card # - asked for an 0 balance invoice to be sent to me and it was.

 

So that was the good part.

 

2) asked to be transferred to Flights by Celebrity (FBC) and got an agent there as I figure I would ask about my airline refund that I still had not received after cancelling on Jan 7th.  (I have checked back periodically since then and was always told the refund was still pending).

 

I will condense but this second part had me on the phone FOR OVER 2 HOURS!!! I kid you not!

Off she goes to 'check' on status - I am on hold and she is off for a while - comes back tells me to hold some more (this goes on and off for the next 2 hrs)...  she finally comes back and says nope no refund for you?  HUH?  What do you mean?  I cancelled under Cruise with Confidence (CWC) and confirmed with the agent (Dominique) on Jan 7th when I cancelled that YES I was getting a refund to original payment and in fact she put me on hold called FBC asked about this and came back to say yes they were cancelling flights and a refund would be coming.

 

Now she is saying that is incorrect and that I would get vouchers for my Air Canada flights and I can use them....whoa - I say I DO NOT WANT VOUCHERS - i want my $$ back as promised and indicated.  She puts me on hold again...  comes back and then says AC denied my refund (??) and I will have to contact them.

 

I say no way - I paid my $$ to Celebrity and will not be calling AC about these vouchers which I don't want. (and yes I am getting a bit angry now)...  back on hold -then comes back to tell me she will give me the ticket numbers and then I have to call AC and ask for some 'waiver code' for an exception to get a refund - then call Celebrity and give them this code - and then they can refund?  So I ask is there any reason you would not call AC and get this waiver code?  ...and what if AC will not even give me this waiver code?  no good response. from agent...  then I ask for a supervisor.

 

I am upset because I booked 'new' flights for my March cruise and had I known (on jan 7th when I cancelled) that I was getting vouchers and not a refund I obviously would not have booked any flights and would have waited to rebook using the vouchers.  I tell her this (in between holds) and she understands this.

 

She now puts me on hold (total of about 1 hr) - coming back periodically to check saying she it talking to the ticketing office to see what they can do about cancelled flights vs new flights (which I can cancel up until feb 2nd/midnight with no penalty LOL)....and I am freaking out this whole time... super upset about how bad this is and why I had not been told any of this before.

 

I am being very patient (with hungry growling tummy at this point LOL) waiting for some resolution/information on the refund or cancellation or vouchers or waiver code.

 

At the almost 2 hour mark she finally comes back on yet again and says:  BECAUSE YOU CANCELLED UNDER THE CRUISE WITH CONFIDENCE POLICY WE WILL BE REFUNDING YOUR AIRFARE TO YOUR CREDIT CARD!!!

 

ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?  All this for nothing (just stressing me out, and adrenaline and anger coursing through me) - this is what I was originally told and this is what I explained to her over and over again (even telling her I understand that call was 'recorded' so please check for this - Jan 7th approx 8:30 - pm with Dominique to see what transpired)....and she kept insisting nope - no refund for you.

 

Until NOW - wow I was relieved but so upset that this was handled so poorly.  Now SUPPOSEDLY I am getting this refund - and should take 30-45 business days (maybe they are just trying to get rid of me? LOL - like that's going to happen).

 

All this to say this better be the freaking best cruise ever cuz so much heartache with various phone calls, issues, booking problems, no emails, no e docs - I have called them at least a dozen times and each time I have less and less confidence in what I am being told.

 

Sorry for the long rant - but at least it didn't take you 2 hours to read this ( I hope?)  LOL

 

 

 

 

I feel your pain! Similar experiences. We had a girlfriends cruise of 10 March 2020 which of course was cancelled and then 6 girlfriends for January cruise. I was the full planner for both. They wanted to try again so we are booked October 29 but said each person had to book their cabin. The one that said she is now retired would take over as planner ended in tears and a stress headache after trying and said they all have a new appreciation for what I did for them. 😀 good thing the onboard experience is great because the steps to get there can be a challenge. 

3 hours ago, Froufie said:

May I ask how long it took to get your airline refund?  I cancelled January 7 - and I am still waiting - when I call they say like 30-40 business days???

 

Also still waiting for FCC to be applied TODAY I hope as final payment is tomorrow - I called yesterday and they did say they would do this within 24 hours - will keep checking - but expect I will have to be on the phone yet again tonight! 😞

We cancelled with our online TA December 27 but when I got notices to checkin for our flights day prior I called Flights by Celebrity directly.  Our flights were still active so they cancelled while I was on the phone. Received full refund in less than 7 days. I have had Celebrity push final payment to accommodate FCCs to be applied. 

On 1/12/2022 at 3:33 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Many flights are fully refundable by Flights by Celebrity but  a $200 pp after final payment will apply. Non-refundable fares will generally receive a credit with airlines less the $200 pp fee.    I believe the credit has to be used in a year.

 

There is also a $200 pp fee to change to a different date after final payment.   Maybe a good reason to book direct with airline prior to Final Payment and  cancel without fee.

 

Full Policy -

https://www.celebritycruises.com/flights-by-celebrity/terms-and-conditions

 

We cancelled our January 8 2022 cruise and were given full refund of airline fees. No cancellation fees charged. 

Infinity has not been revolutionized as of now so couch is basically a loveseat and older photos show that. The M class ships that have been revolutionized have the oversized chairs. If Infinity goes through revolution it will have the oversized chair when you sail. 

We purchased a day pass in November.  Yes construction but was still an easy walk. We thoroughly enjoyed the facilities and drinks. We did not purchase food so cannot comment. It’s a bit pricey but we would do it again. 

Long way off and many protocols with Canadian government and Celebrity can change between now and May. We have a ten night Pacific Coastal May 3. We leave San Diego but our last port before Vancouver is Victoria. I wonder how they could even contemplate testing all passengers with PCR test. Maybe Canada will eliminate testing similar to UK.  

Living our cruise through you. We were 10 girlfriends that were to sail March 2020. Well that didn’t happen. We were 6 for this sailing but we cancelled. Being Canadians we have so many more hurdles. We need PCR test to return home. CDC changed isolation time (as many provinces) but to fly home if test positive is 14 day quarantine as airlines follow federal rules. I was on Reflection November and wonderful but Omicron has changed so much right now. 

On 1/3/2022 at 2:01 PM, Fouremco said:

So much for Celebrity's "Safe Passage Home" protection. As they are no longer testing you aboard, they no longer have to provide this protection that had been a key element of their Healthy At Sea program for us. Had we not already cancelled, we would have now.

Celebrity’s “Safe Passage Home” was the key factor when on the fence whether to cancel or not our January 8 Apex. We made the right choice to cancel in many ways. One of our party of 6 tested positive last week. I think airlines need to follow federal guidelines related to quarantine. Many provinces have changed these but not federally. 

I have concerns as Ontario has changed guidelines for who is eligible for PCR tests. If you test positive on an antigen test you isolate for 5 days and don’t require PCR test. People previously that recovered from covid had proof they tested. What happens now? 

Well after much thought we cancelled our January 8 Apex cruise. We planned 2 years for a girls cruise (10 of us) March 23 2020. We know how that ended. After transfer of FCCs etc we were 6 of us on this cruise. I just don’t think it was meant to be! Some want to plan again but since I am deemed the “travel agent” for this group not sure if I’m up to planning a third time.  My husband and I have a 10 night on the Millennium booked. Sure hope things are better by then. 

3 hours ago, jg51 said:

.

Hello, "p_d".

 

Ironically, the "tons of international travelers" are the very thing that could cause Celebrity to make the same decision that its sister-line (RCI) has made.  The potential problem is that, if "X" begins to have a huge number of reservations (on, for example, Caribbean cruises) from "international travelers," there would be too many people on board to receive end-of-cruise tests.  The medical staff on a ship could be overwhelmed by the process.

 

We think that Celebrity may eventually make the change that RCI has made, hoping to persuade non-U.S. guests to get their required tests at ...

(1) U.S. airports [e.g., MIA, FLL] ...

(2) debarkation-port pharmacies/chemists or urgent-care clinics [perhaps requiring an overnight stay].

.

We were on the November 6 Reflection and all testing was outsourced to a company called Eurofins so not the Celebrity medical staff. 

18 hours ago, Liverpoolfan181 said:

Identical travel plans and westjet but we are on Allure- what do you think you would for plan b now?

We are 6 of us scheduled for Jan 8-15 Celebrity Apex and on that WestJet flight. So far Celebrity has not announced changes but this concerns me. Have been on the fence whether to go or not. Now leaning towards cancelling.