Josie201

Planning a cross border shopping trip next weekend, hope this takes effect by March 28!  My luck, it will be March 29....

It is normally held at lunch on the last or second to last sea day.  

1 minute ago, garyl62 said:

If the family time is more important to you than the venue, try to plan something in Oceanview Cafe for an evening.  Less formal, space for kids to get up and move, everyone can be together, and many times the evening menu options are very good.  While you won't have the service level of a dining room, you may enjoy the fellowship much more as everyone can just relax. Just an idea, good luck!

That is an excellent idea that I had not even considered!  The family time is more important for this one evening.  We can do a specialty dining another even with those who can enjoy the experience.  Thank you. 

Just now, upwarduk said:

So, the 14 month old isn’t yet born!!😱

Yep.  Due in September.

This is a new area for me ...  DH and I are taking our extended family on a cruise on Beyond November 2023.  At the time, there will be a 14 month old and a three year old.  I was really hoping for one night special dinner in Fine Cut (or similar).  I doubt the parents will want to leave the kids with the on-board sitters (if they even still exist), so I was thinking between the four parents they could take shifts in watching the kids so that mostly everyone could be at dinner for at least part of the time.  Maybe I should re-think this.  Any suggestions for a family dinner?.  I recognize with young kids MDR dining will not be doable most nights as everyone will have their own timetables.  I was really hoping for one night all together though. 

I believe we have $300.  Can that be used for example on two $150 excursions?   

5 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Do they also provide less expensive antigen tests? While you have better options with Walgreens and Switch Health, if you do end up having to pay a clinic, antigen tests should be cheaper than PCR.

 

I think we'll try and hold out until there is further relaxation of the regulations. 

I only see reference to PCR tests at these clinics.  

I know this is CRUISE critic, with a focus on cruising and our Canadian issues, but I have valued information gleaned here.

After two years, we are planning (hoping) for a weekend trip to Syracuse NY for some shopping, dinner at our favourite steak house, and a general change of scenery.  This is planned for the end of March and my fingers are crossed that the government will lift testing requirements again for the 72 hour or less trips.  But if they don't I'm planning ahead.

I know if can order the Switch Health tests and do those from my hotel room. 

I believe I can get an appointment at a Walgreens for a drive through test, which may or may not be free and results will be accepted for crossing the border.

I know I can pay at a clinic in Syracuse for a PCR test, in the neighbourhood of $125 plus.  Turnaround times vary.

I am wondering if any one has any recent or specific experience with the drive through options at Walgreens and how easy this is.  I would plan to make an appointment in advance for early in the day on Saturday before our planned drive back to Ottawa on Sunday.

Any recent or specific experience with US testing for Canadians (not flight related) most welcome.  TIA. 

Sorry no photos.  Yes it was about four hours in duration and we walked down the pier from the ship.  

You still need a test, just not a PCR test. 

Last night I put six cabins on a courtesy hold for the Beyond as I want six sunset veranda all together.  My agent says Celebrity needs to release them so she can complete the booking.  Celebrity is asking me to complete a "transfer this reservation" form, but I already have six open reservations with my TA and don't wish to create six new bookings, simply complete the bookings she already has for me with this cruise.

Anyone have any experience with this.  I tried to cancel the courtesy holds on-line but that was not an obvious procedure. 

I realise they will expire tonight and I could just wait but... I did the hold because I don't want to risk losing the cabins.

My category is sold out so I’m not sure how to check pricing or if I want to risk this ….  Thinking … lol.  

My category is sold out so that’s not an option unfortunately.  

Mine here.  But I called and was told it was new bookings only.  

Fall 2023 Caribbean has not yet been released.  

The Coastal Cruise to the Pitons has been a favourite of ours for years.... That said, we did this one in November on Celebrity Silhouette and it was not good.  It was a huge "boat" (not a catamaran) a double decker type of thing, not enough seats for the number of people so many have to sit on the floor, the swimming stop was down right unsafe (I realize this may have been due to currents that day but the captain of the boat should know that and have a back-up).  Most had extreme difficulties trying to get back onto the boat.

It was bad.  To the extent that I won't book this excursion again.  And we've done it every year for about 15 years.

1 minute ago, cruisestitch said:

The Celebrity Orchestra is back.

 

the new Cruise Director (Luis? Louis?) will appear an a couple more days

 

meanwhile Jaz, one of the Activity Staff, makes the morning announcements and introduces the evening shows

Maybe Lewis Hamilton.  He’s great.  

19 minutes ago, 39august said:

There are no spring of '23 past late April for Caribbean cruises yet, Kahuna. I finally just booked the last 2 cruises in April '23 a week or so ago. Had to use those future cruise certificates I  booked on board in Oct. 

this is my dilemma.  I bought six for a group cruise on board in November which I have to assign by mid Feb.  I am hoping to get an extension as I would prefer not to book and rebook six cabins.  

Any info on when they’ll be released.  Am planning an extended fam cruise so looking to lick it in early.  And purchased future cruise certificates on board in November which ostensibly need to be locked in by mid Feb.  

We have a four day and a 10 day B2B on the Edge in November, booked separately but in the same room.  We have a very small OBC for the first cruise and more OBC than we can use on the 2nd leg.  Any chance we could have those combined or adjusted?  

I see (barely) in the fine print the language about the 15 drink maximum, seemingly including water and other non-alcoholic drinks.  Have you been able to test that theory?  At some point there was a report that on the EBP the non-alcoholic drinks were unlimited. 

We cancelled our 18 day Hawaii cruise in February as we have no interest in sailing around the pacific or back and forth to Mexico.  Caribbean is different than most other destinations.  IMHO.  

I wonder if the updated Level 4 "warning" from the CDC will further deter or impede Hawaii's reopening efforts. 

18 hours ago, Fouremco said:

After much deliberation, DW and I agreed this afternoon to cancel our March cruise.  We get our deposit back, and our FCC will be reissued. It has to be used for a cruise a maximum of one year from the date of the cancelled cruise, so the hunt is on. We'd originally had a HAL cruise in mind for 2023, but will need to stick with Celebrity to use up the FCC.

 

Ah, sorry to hear this.  I know how difficult these deliberations and decisions can be.  I will continue to look forward to your informative and entertaining posts and hearing about your plans once rescheduled.  Happy New Year.

(I would have posted this yesterday but .... CC problems... seems to be only affecting me on some threads/boards.  Very weird). 

I would strongly consider the Montreal option either with a train or drive to Montreal.  We had to go through Pearson in November and I will be working very hard to never do so again.  It was awful on the return flight.