Live Odyssey 12/26/2021 New Years Cruise. (Well, errr, a, maybe????)Pics included

[whitshel]

I should have mentioned to with the embarcation process, as we're standing in the huge line outside they were taking the families with kids under 12 right away inside. They have to be tested etc so I guess they wanted to get them going as soon as possible. 

[vacationlover_mn]

Did you see if there was a separate boarding line for suites?

[MsSoCalCruiser]

On 12/24/2021 at 6:30 PM, whitshel said:

Now for the stressful part.  Testing for covid.  We bought the home test quite a while ago since we knew it would be Christmas Eve and a lot of places would be closed or appts would be tough to come by.  I have read that there have been issues with the home test with AWS being down, droppers with no solution in them etc so we scoped out last night for a testing site just in case we needed it.  

 

We have 4 of us that needed the test so I started about 8am Pacific time and started the whole Emed/Navica thing.  I tried my phone first and as its doing the camera, mic, network check it kept coming up with mic "needs permission" I went into my settings and made sure that the Navica site and chrome both had permissions but still didn't work but it let go to the next page to start the test.  I hit ok and it kept coming up with an error.  I figured it was the permission thing so I went and grabbed my laptop and did the whole process over, had all permissions ok'd and started the test and same thing, error, error.  I'm like panicking now so I just keep hitting try again and it finally worked, said I was in the que but it was at least 40 mins.  Waited the 40 mins plus about 10 more mins, and it came up "you're next"  The tele dr came on, checked my id and said your id has your middle name but your log in info on Navica does not.  I'm like but it didn't ask for a middle name, he said you have to edit it and put a space after your first name and put your middle name in the same space.  He apologized and said I have to start over. 

 

Ughhh back in the que for another 45 mins.  In the mean time I had my FIL and MIL start with theirs.  All of us had que times of at least 45 mins, same errors kept coming up but just kept hitting "try again" and they would finally go through.  Mine came back up as "next up" after about an hour, did the test and came back Negative!!  The other 2 were done with their minute countdown but were still waiting in the que.  After about 2 hours of waiting were starting to get worried, we decided to scheduled the same day test for a couple hours later because they still had availability.  We had to pay upfront $129 to schedule the appt but we figured we might as well and just get these done.  

 

We drove over and after an hour in the car got all 3 other tests done.  Results in an hour.  Results came back for my DW and FIL as negative but my MIL did not.  She finally got the text saying she was negative and an email would follow, it never did.  We called, emailed the testing place but never answered.  So guess what, back to emed.  This time it was 5pm Pacific and it went right through, did the test, came back negative and were good to go!  But what a freaking stressful day!!

We had purchased the EMed home tests and tried to use them on December 16th for our 4 day Princess cruise.  The site would not work. We called them on the phone and they said they were having problems and would call us.  They never did call. I received an email from them (Carol at eMed) after we returned home from our cruise telling me I could try it now. I replied to the email telling her that I was already back from my cruise; I have not received a reply.  In addition to the cost of purchasing two tests I also had to pay $129 and rush to find somewhere to be tested in time for my cruise. Super stressful! 

[whitshel]

3 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Did you see if there was a separate boarding line for suites?

Yes, but not until check in. So the wait outside, and the wait through security was just 1 line then there was a suite/pinnacle just for chec In

[whitshel]

Great meal tonight at Giovanni's Table.

 

 

 

 

 

It was all so good!!

[whitshel]

12 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

We had purchased the EMed home tests and tried to use them on December 16th for our 4 day Princess cruise.  The site would not work. We called them on the phone and they said they were having problems and would call us.  They never did call. I received an email from them (Carol at eMed) after we returned home from our cruise telling me I could try it now. I replied to the email telling her that I was already back from my cruise; I have not received a reply.  In addition to the cost of purchasing two tests I also had to pay $129 and rush to find somewhere to be tested in time for my cruise. Super stressful! 

Yup, sounds pretty close to our experience

[whitshel]

Good morning from Coco cay!! 

 

Pulled up and the Vision of the Seas was already here. Now it looks as tho they are off loading sick crew members??  The Vision looks empty so maybe like a hospital ship. As you can see in the background, Oasis is waiting to dock alongside us. 

 

 

There has been a line for about the last 45 mins. They take them on 1 by 1. Hope they get better soon! Also hopefully they get balcony rooms to enjoy some fresh air. 

 

[Td6462]

Just now, whitshel said:

Good morning from Coco cay!! 

 

Pulled up and the Vision of the Seas was already here. Now it looks as tho they are off loading sick crew members??  The Vision looks empty so maybe like a hospital ship. As you can see in the background, Oasis is waiting to dock alongside us. 

 

 

There has been a line for about the last 45 mins. They take them on 1 by 1. Hope they get better soon! Also hopefully they get balcony rooms to enjoy some fresh air. 

 

Agreed. Just heard an officer call out " I have 69 passangers" . Watching the same from my balcony. 

[EllieinNJ]

Following.

[Cruise a holic]

18 hours ago, whitshel said:

So far it's been about an hour and 15 mins and still not quite on board. Lines were pretty crazy. 

 

 

 

1.9% of the ships population last cruise was positive. Seems pretty high

 

 

[whitshel]

 And there she goes!! 

 

[whitshel]

Not sure how I feel about a Quantum Class and Oasis Class here at the same time. Even at reduced capacity. 

[Kmermaid]

Thanks for the report!  We are at CC (Symphony) with Odyssey in Feb so wondering how that will be.  Atleast you are getting on the island before Oasis.  We will be docking after Odyssey, it is what it is.  Have a great day!

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, whitshel said:

Now it looks as tho they are off loading sick crew members?? 

How about they need crew on the other ships and Vision had some healthy ones to spare?

 

P.S. Vison is listed as green on the CDC web site and has been ramping up crew for a simulation sailing next month.

Edited December 27, 2021 by Biker19

[whitshel]

Our current situation!  It's tough but someone gotta do it!

 

 

[Misbehavin8175]

ENJOY!!

Looking forward to being there early February, HOTS 🙂

[JessyCruises]

Have a great time on the cruise!  We were on a B3B in August on Odyssey and loved it.  We are boarding Sunday on Oasis then the Odyssey on the 9th for a B2B until the 23rd.   I am looking to forward to hearing how it goes for you! 

[whitshel]

Leaving Coco Cay now. Captain just announced the weather etc on our way to St Thomas. So fingers crossed we'll get there. Had a great day today at Coco Cay. I did the NorthStar at 9am then got off the boat about 10. You know, it was just about perfect 😁

 

 

 

 

 

 

[whitshel]

And a few more

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[colesc15]

11 minutes ago, whitshel said:

Leaving Coco Cay now. Captain just announced the weather etc on our way to St Thomas. So fingers crossed we'll get there. Had a great day today at Coco Cay. I did the NorthStar at 9am then got off the boat about 10. You know, it was just about perfect 😁

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fingers crossed you guys get to go to St Thomas! 

[RoyalC]

1 minute ago, colesc15 said:

Fingers crossed you guys get to go to St Thomas! 

Is the casino taking odds?

[Arzeena]

Love all the pictures!

Hopefully you will get to dock in St Thomas and enjoy it!🤞

[kpauley]

Hope you had a Perfect Day at Coco Cay. 😀 By any chance did you get in the pool? Wondering how the water temp is this time of year. 

[Bette And Bill]

On 12/26/2021 at 3:50 PM, vacationlover_mn said:

Did you see if there was a separate boarding line for suites?

When we boarded the Odyssey as well as the Allure, there was a suite, Pinnacle and Key Line. It just sad suites on the sign above your head. There were no ropes just people standing in line. As you look towards the terminal building (where you are entering) it is on your right. 

[relaxatsea]

11 hours ago, whitshel said:

Yup, sounds pretty close to our experience

Same here, we tried everything to get our eMed to work, no connection, errors, and much stress.  Fortunately, I had made appointments at our Walgreen's across the street as a backup, so that is what we used.  Terrible experience with eMed!