LIVE/Grand/Oct. 23 - Nov.1, 2021

[HBCcruiser]

We leave Saturday for the Grand Princess on a B2B - LA, San Diego, Ensenada followed by LA to Cabo (overnight). The first leg is with a friend of mine (she is a blast BTW). The second leg is with my DH. He could not go on the first leg due to work commitments.  He is fun too, but leg 2 will be more romantical (my word) not party-party like leg 1. 

 

Normally I start my LIVE reviews a bit sooner to get things going, but I had to wait until that beautiful (-) test result! Yup, used the Binax Now Home test that Princess recommended. It took less than 20 minutes. Sooo easy. I did not have to wait at all for a med person to login. Plus, I got my results immediately. Text and email. 

 

Edited October 21, 2021 by HBCcruiser

[HBCcruiser]

My plan is to take lots of pics and do my normal LIVE review. I have heard that CC has been "glitchy" onboard when folks try to upload pics. We shall see. I will do my best. 

 

The weather looks Meh in San Diego and Ensenada (65-70-ish). Not the HOT temps I was hoping for. Cabo, though will be fab! Nice and HOT! 

 

Someone on another thread mentioned that the crew really love chips. I plan to bring on two big bags of these;

 

Hopefully that will be enough to hold them over for a bit. 🤣

[Level six]

We are on the Nov 5th cruise and the 10th.  Why did you take the covid test now?  Just wondering and so nervous about it.  Hope to see you soon. 

 

Edit: oops just saw it was for Oct 23rd cruise, I thought it was the Nov 1st and 5th.  Have a fun time. 

Edited October 21, 2021 by Level six

[HBCcruiser]

2 minutes ago, Level six said:

We are on the Nov 5th cruise and the 10th.  Why did you take the covid test now?  Just wondering and so nervous about it.  Hope to see you soon. 

 

Edit: oops just saw it was for Oct 23rd cruise, I thought it was the Nov 1st and 5th.  Have a fun time. 

Do not be nervous about it. I have taken many (need to take them weekly for work). You will be fine. Are you doing the BinaxNow hometest too?

[Level six]

1 minute ago, HBCcruiser said:

Do not be nervous about it. I have taken many (need to take them weekly for work). You will be fine. Are you doing the BinaxNow hometest too?

This will be my first test.  I have appt scheduled and I am just worried about the timing of the results.  I should have ordered the BinaxNow, it seems the way to go, but I was not wanting to risk not getting it.  I think it will be okay, at the very worst we can get tested at the port for $150 a pop.....ugh.  

 

But for the future is the Binaxnow a two pack that can be used for 2 different people, or is it just really for one person in case there is a mistake?  Thanks.  

 

I will be looking forward to your live posts.  Let me know every detail!!  Have fun. 

[HBCcruiser]

4 minutes ago, Level six said:

This will be my first test.  I have appt scheduled and I am just worried about the timing of the results.  I should have ordered the BinaxNow, it seems the way to go, but I was not wanting to risk not getting it.  I think it will be okay, at the very worst we can get tested at the port for $150 a pop.....ugh.  

 

But for the future is the Binaxnow a two pack that can be used for 2 different people, or is it just really for one person in case there is a mistake?  Thanks.  

 

I will be looking forward to your live posts.  Let me know every detail!!  Have fun. 

You can still order it. They send them rather quickly. They normally come in packs of 2 in case you have an “oops”. I ordered 4 - 2 for me and 2 for DH. My friend ordered her own. I have to give her moral support this afternoon when she takes hers. 🙄 That should be interesting. 😂 

[HBCcruiser]

Ok so I mention that CC is glitchy and low and behold I start having trouble logging in! 

[dchip]

Glitchy isn’t the word for it. I’m at home and it is making me crazy! One hour it works, the next no way. I can’t even like posts at times. 

Looking forward to your review. 
Cheers, Denise

Edited October 21, 2021 by dchip

[HBCcruiser]

Just now, dchip said:

Glitchy isn’t the word for it. I’m at home and it is making me crazy! One hour it works, the next no way. I can’t even like posts at times

Exactly! And it has nothing to do with cookies like they say. I have to toggle between various browsers. Right now I’m on Chrome. 🤷‍♀️

[dchip]

Just now, HBCcruiser said:

Exactly! And it has nothing to do with cookies like they say. I have to toggle between various browsers. Right now I’m on Chrome. 🤷‍♀️

Absolutely correct. I have no problem with my iPhone. Cookies aren’t the problem but it sounds good. 😆

 

[HBCcruiser]

Just now, dchip said:

Absolutely correct. I have no problem with my iPhone. Cookies aren’t the problem but it sounds good. 😆

 

Oooh yes! I’m going to ask for those peanut butter ones when I get onboard. 🍪🍪

[HBCcruiser]

Just saw this posted at the top of the thread. 😳

[oteixeira]

Did somebody say cookie???

[CruzDayz]

I’m on the ship now. I can always log in to CC but I can’t reply to a post most of the time. The submit reply button goes away. 
 

The pre booking of the internet is definitely non refundable credit. I have gone to the desk twice and talked to them. I will only have $27 credit left so I went to the casino and loaded $30. I played a few hands of machine blackjack and when I got back to $30 I put it my bank. I will cash out tomorrow. I actually wanted to make sure that the casino thing still works. I have $300 OBC in February and nothing to spend it on. 
 

Have fun on your cruises. 

 

 

[CruzDayz]

9 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

Oooh yes! I’m going to ask for those peanut butter ones when I get onboard. 🍪🍪

There hasn’t been one cookie in the buffet. Maybe they are at the IC. 

[HBCcruiser]

1 minute ago, CruzDayz said:

I’m on the ship now. I can always log in to CC but I can’t reply to a post most of the time. The submit reply button goes away. 

Right. That’s what I get. This will be interesting to say the least. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[HBCcruiser]

Just now, CruzDayz said:

There hasn’t been one cookie in the buffet. Maybe they are at the IC. 

 

😱

[HBCcruiser]

If you know, you know…

[HBCcruiser]

@CruzDayz Now that I have you, do you know if they have a late night dance club open onboard? 

[cr8tiv1]

I was up at 4 AM…actually never fell asleep.  Went on to the CVS appointment site and this is what I found for today.  Why? Why!  I had scheduled an appointment with a private vendor for 10:30 AM with distance and traffic weeks ago.  It wasn’t worth the stress.  Does not make any sense to me.  Test results in 10 minutes with email documents.  Well worth the $25 for administration cost and covered by insurance.

[Level six]

15 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I was up at 4 AM…actually never fell asleep.  Went on to the CVS appointment site and this is what I found for today.  Why? Why!  I had scheduled an appointment with a private vendor for 10:30 AM with distance and traffic weeks ago.  It wasn’t worth the stress.  Does not make any sense to me.  Test results in 10 minutes with email documents.  Well worth the $25 for administration cost and covered by insurance.

So are you saying you went to CVS?  Why was there a fee?  I am scheduled next week and it says my insurance covers 100%

[cr8tiv1]

1 minute ago, Level six said:

So are you saying you went to CVS?  Why was there a fee?  I am scheduled next week and it says my insurance covers 100%

 

No, I used a private vendor.  I did not want to take the chance of not finding a CVS with availability.  I did inquire with my vendor and I could have canceled before my 10:30 time and get the $25 refunded.  CVS is free.

 

I hope that my next cruise will not require testing.  Searching for a test is the problem.  Getting it back in a timely manner is a problem.  You USED TO be able to schedule a test with CVS 12 days out.  Now, it seems as though blocks of time are released in the early mornings (day of).

[HBCcruiser]

If you are going to be in LA earlier I recommend this site: https://samedayhealth.com/

For $25 (if insured) you get same day Antigen results (within 30 min). You can book and pay online. There are locations in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Long Beach. All cities are not too far from San Pedro. Lots of appointments available. I’ve used the Redondo one several times. Easy. 

[cr8tiv1]

48 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

If you are going to be in LA earlier I recommend this site: https://samedayhealth.com/

For $25 (if insured) you get same day Antigen results (within 30 min). You can book and pay online. There are locations in Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Long Beach. All cities are not too far from San Pedro. Lots of appointments available. I’ve used the Redondo one several times. Easy. 

 

2 passenger friends went to Sameday in Brea AND got on the Majestic on different weeks.  I took that as validation for making my own appointment.  The traffic and distance was well worth it.  Got there early.  Scanned my QR code.  They did the swabbing as I stayed in the car.  Before I reached my next destination (think traffic again), I had my results.  The OCD person in me continued to check CVS.  I should have just let it go.  I try to find logic in things.  Not always there.

 

I can't say enough about this vendor.  Lots of available appointments.  There was no line/wait time.  Easy Peasy.  You also helped reassure me that this was a good alternative.  I'd do this again before the home test.

 

Mahalo Nui Loa

[HBCcruiser]

Weather so far but we know things change…