January 28, 2022 Panama Canal Full Transit - Live From Emerald Princess

[LACruiser88]

Any idea as to how many, if any, tested positive at the pier???

[Marsupial]

Currently on the emerald for my dream trip through the canal I’m kinda bummed about Niquraga and Columbia and they will both be sea days no port trade but the food and service so far has been excellent 

we sailed about 4 hours late we had to test in the terminal and got a notice we have to test again tomorrow I honestly don’t mind in keeping us all safe but I am tired of having things stuck up my nose lol! 

[Robbie555]

1 hour ago, Shelly97060 said:

No, we will not be getting alternate ports.

Just wondering, did the Captain provide an explanation on the reasons for the cancellation of the ports of call for:

 

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Cartagena, Colombia

 

On other cruise lines, usually a letter is sent to each of the staterooms with a detailed explanation for such announcements for changes in the itinerary. 

[iamaqt2]

1 hour ago, Marsupial said:

Currently on the emerald for my dream trip through the canal I’m kinda bummed about Niquraga and Columbia and they will both be sea days no port trade but the food and service so far has been excellent 

we sailed about 4 hours late we had to test in the terminal and got a notice we have to test again tomorrow I honestly don’t mind in keeping us all safe but I am tired of having things stuck up my nose lol! 

Holy smokes.. that's a whole lot of testing.

And yes, losing 2 ports is a huge bummer.  Hopefully the cruise is stellar and you have fantastic weather to enjoy the ship.

[Shelly97060]

Day 1 - Fifth try posting!  For some reason my posts aren’t making it to the board!  

 

We took a Princess transfer from the airport. The bus stopped at terminal 4 where our baggage was dropped.  We proceeded into terminal 4 for Covid test.  Inside you fill out a form with name, DOB and phone number. Then you check in with your photo ID and proceed to a cubicle to be tested and head to an area where you are seated by test group. About 15 minutes later test results are in and you cross the street to terminal 2 for the normal check in process.  

 

At check in people who did not have medallions or the app were directed to Blue lane were they got medallions. It appeared there were plenty of staff waiting to help ( so don’t stress if medallion app isn’t working for you!).

 

In our standard balcony cabin masks were waiting for us on the bed along with the mask policy, which I tried to post but was unsuccessful.  We also found that the old TV has been replaced with a wall mounted flat screen, which is a nice improvement.  Moving the TV to the wall has opened up two electric outlets on the shelf where the TV use to sit.  The Elite toiletry bag was the basic organza bag with pillow mist, conditioner, shower cap, lip balm and emery board.

 

We headed to Crooners for a beverage and found that you cannot order at the bar there. You have to order from a table, from waitstaff or via the app. Since all the tables were full we headed outside to the pool and were able to walk up and order a drink at the bar. 

 

For lunch we headed to the buffet. A hand washing station is  right inside the door and crew are asking everyone to wash hands. Food is either served by the crew or it is in small grab and go dishes. The majority of food being served is behind plexiglass. No self serve drinks.  The area usually used for Planks was closed off today and there was a sign saying it was reserved for Officers and Crew.

 

Since we didn’t sleep on our red eye after lunch we headed to bed for much needed sleep.

 

[Shelly97060]

3 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

Any idea as to how many, if any, tested positive at the pier???

We didn’t notice anyone test positive during the time we were waiting.  As each group cleared there was a bit of cheering. 

[fpsphil]

Followed, looking at doing a partial transit on the Caribbean in Nov

[coo359a2]

8 hours ago, Robbie555 said:

Just wondering, did the Captain provide an explanation on the reasons for the cancellation of the ports of call for:

 

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Cartagena, Colombia

 

On other cruise lines, usually a letter is sent to each of the staterooms with a detailed explanation for such announcements for changes in the itinerary. 

San Juan was an itinerary cancellation before we left and don’t remember if there was a reason given on the change notice other than it was now a sea day

 

For Cartagena we did get a letter saying that passengers required a test before going ashore and Princess basically said no it would not work for time we were there. We will make a stop there for paperwork  to be completed to meet requirements for going to a far and distant port.  All good so far

[AF-1]

Good luck  on your cruise and hopefully the cruise will sail without any issues.  Is the ship 1/3 full

[jeno]

3 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

Good luck  on your cruise and hopefully the cruise will sail without any issues.  Is the ship 1/3 full

If you get a chance to ask how full your sailing is, please also ask how full the LA to FLL return sailing is (2/12).  I read somewhere that Princess is going to sail full starting in February.  I hope that isn’t true.  
Thanks for all of the updates current passengers! 

[pms4104]

16 minutes ago, jeno said:

If you get a chance to ask how full your sailing is, please also ask how full the LA to FLL return sailing is (2/12).  I read somewhere that Princess is going to sail full starting in February.  I hope that isn’t true.  
Thanks for all of the updates current passengers! 

Sailing full in Feb, seriously?

 

In light of recent passenger loads, I find that hard to grasp.

[jeno]

3 minutes ago, pms4104 said:

Sailing full in Feb, seriously?

 

In light of recent passenger loads, I find that hard to grasp.

Me, too.  
Maybe it means if that many people bought the cruise, they’d let them on.  Can’t be full if people aren’t willing to sail.  I guess my point is that maybe more people would be permitted to purchase 2/12 than would have been 1/28.  I don’t think that if there are 600 onboard now, we could count on 600 next cruise.  That’s why I’m asking. 

[pms4104]

16 minutes ago, jeno said:

Me, too.  
Maybe it means if that many people bought the cruise, they’d let them on.  Can’t be full if people aren’t willing to sail.  I guess my point is that maybe more people would be permitted to purchase 2/12 than would have been 1/28.  I don’t think that if there are 600 onboard now, we could count on 600 next cruise.  That’s why I’m asking. 

Understood.

[LBBLovestoCruise]

On 1/27/2022 at 10:21 PM, gardenbunny said:

Is Princess now requiring that?

 

18 hours ago, gullgeorge said:

We arrived at the terminal at 10:30 and was tested, check in and waiting to go on the ship at 11:15.  Boarding started at 11:50.  Well organized and the line never got very long after the initial rush (looks like they started just after 10).

The dinning room is no longer open for lunch the first day and there are no sharing tables starting with this cruise.  Do not know if this is on all ships.  Captain just notified that we will not leave until to 6:00 pm (operational  reasons) and the stop in Cartagena has been cancelled.

 

11 hours ago, Shelly97060 said:

No, we will not be getting alternate ports.

That is very disappointing. Only having 4 ports out of 15 days is a long time onboard. I wanted to see Cartegena but if they know they know this port is closed going in then they should do something to replace it so we are not stranded at sea for days on end. :(

[Shelly97060]

We received a letter last night letting us know that all guests must take Covid tests again within 2 days of embarkation. We were assigned an appointment time.  Our test was this morning at 10:00. For the test we checked in at Club Fusion and were seated in groups of 6.  The tester gave us vials of solution and a swab and guided us through the test process. We then were instructed to return to our cabins and wait 30 minutes.  If positive we will be called. If not we are clear.   From the time we checked in until the time we were leaving the test site was less than 10 minutes.  The process was well executed. 

[LBBLovestoCruise]

17 hours ago, molly1riv said:

Re: the mandatory Covid testing before getting on the ship: they put about 40 people in each group to sit together, you can see the other groups. Our entire group made it through but in the 30 or so minutes we waited we saw 5 people picked out of their groups and escorted away. I assume they tested positive but I can’t really know. 

I don't understand why they make you order and pay for a test within 2 days and then turn around and test you again at the pier? Seems like a waste of time and money. Their updated protocol only says that you "may be tested" onboard on days 2-3 after embarkation which was updated from "will be tested" recently. That 2-3 days onboard testing makes sense. The pier testing does not. 😞

 

[weedpindle]

1 hour ago, jeno said:

If you get a chance to ask how full your sailing is, please also ask how full the LA to FLL return sailing is (2/12).  I read somewhere that Princess is going to sail full starting in February.  I hope that isn’t true.  
Thanks for all of the updates current passengers! 

On this cruise. About 1600 on this leg, 1690 on the la to ft lauderdale trip (on this one also)

[1char]

14 minutes ago, weedpindle said:

On this cruise. About 1600 on this leg, 1690 on the la to ft lauderdale trip (on this one also)

How are the activities onboard?  Any dancing, nightclub, karaoke, trivia, bingo, etc?    I read in the FAQ pages that these activities have been cancelled for our Feb. 12th sailing.  Thanks

[CineGraphic]

17 hours ago, molly1riv said:

we saw 5 people picked out of their groups and escorted away. I assume they tested positive but I can’t really know. 

 

Often tests are inconclusive, so you have to be re-tested.

I've worked on several tv and movie sets where we're tested daily, and I've had to go back for a 2nd test for this very reason a few times.

 

I've been tested so many times since March of 2021, that I'm surprised I still have any skin left inside my nose.

[Capt Krunch]

Thank all of you that shared your experiences with us that are waiting to cruise again.

The testing 2 days before boarding does seem to be useless because after we get tested we get on an airplane and fly to the port to board the ship.  The airplane is probably were we would catch the covid rather than on the ship.  If everyone is on the ship is vaccinated, why all the testing?

[gardenbunny]

I agree.  

With the new variable being so contagious, obviously those that get rejected at the pier but tested negative 2 days before proves that testing before really doesn’t serve the purpose of trying to keep positive cases off the ship.

I imagine a few that passed at the pier and boarded could still show positive later if retested.

Any even more frustrating, have no symptoms.

I have no answer and can see all sides of the discussion.  

They have everyone vaccinated, some boosted, masks - but new variant is so different from the original Covid. More contagious, milder symptoms for the majoroity..

So they added testing 2 days before - still no guarantee - just a moment at time of test you were negative.  At the pier, viral load is now detectable and you are positive…with or without symptoms.  You may havemthought it was just a cold.

Cost factor of testing every passenger on every cruise line at every port on every day before boarding probably will not happen - unless they charge to your account.

Could upset people, but you or your insurance covering cost of the  2 day before test, so why not just have one test.  And don’t think the cost is “free”. Insurance companies are just going to pass it on into their rates.

And more upset passengers if they only test at pier after having paid to get there thinking you are going to be cruising - only to test positive and you are sent back home.

Cruise ships are the only travel industry singled out.  We  come into more contact everyday going about our daily routines than with the 1,000 or less people on a cruise ship. My first cruise over New Year the ship seemed so empty vs before Covid, it was strangely eerie.  Like where is everybody??

If you want to get on a plane or train, stay at a hotel or resort, wander around the city, go into shops, eat at restaurants etc you only show a negative test (maybe a vaccine but not in all cases) to get there and then free to go about wearing masks where required and never tested again.

I know I sound cynical but going into the 3rd year of this madness makes you wonder when it will ever end.

How many times have we all been told when the latest peak subsides, it will all be good.  Only to have another surge and peak, then subsides.  And another.  And the new narrative changes to “we can’t assume another variant won’t happen” so we all still need to vaccinate, test and mask.

But I still have travels planned every month all year - and 3 are cruises.  So I will not stop traveling.  I will still follow all the rules, and hope I continue to test negative - but fully understand, without having any symptoms, test positive, and get a FCC and try again!

 

 

[Shelly97060]

For those interested in planning for Formal nights ours are the 2 sea day ( day three of cruise), the 3rd sea day (7th day of cruise) and the second to last sea day ( 2 days before disembarkation).

[weedpindle]

27 minutes ago, 1char said:

How are the activities onboard?  Any dancing, nightclub, karaoke, trivia, bingo, etc?    I read in the FAQ pages that these activities have been cancelled for our Feb. 12th sailing.  Thanks

Trivia  bingo still on although explorers lounge has 1/2 the seats blocked and there is no seating at any bar now. Staff says that in 3 days the bar seating will be allowed. 

[beg3yrs]

14 minutes ago, Capt Krunch said:

Thank all of you that shared your experiences with us that are waiting to cruise again.

1 and 2) The testing 2 days before boarding does seem to be useless because after we get tested we get on an airplane and fly to the port to board the ship.  3) The airplane is probably were we would catch the covid rather than on the ship.  4) If everyone is on the ship is vaccinated, why all the testing?

1) Testing two days before boarding allows you to cancel your trip before you fly to the port.

2) Testing again at the dock allows Princess to keep positive cases from even going on board.

3) Testing within two days on the ship detects cases that weren't yet advanced enough to show a positive result during embarkation.

4) Evidence shows that even when vaccinated and boosted, the virus can break through those defenses and still infect a person.

[dapperon]

Thank you Shelly for starting this post.

We will be on same itinerary next January 2023.

We do not have cellphones, so where interested in what to do about the medallion app.

And, of course, wondering about covid procedures.

Both questions answered by your fellow cruisers onboard.

 

So again, thank you and we will be following with great interest.

Kathy & Ron L