elleluv

We now get our small bills before we leave on a trip - we've had a couple of cruises where they were out of them at both guest services and the casino

The Main Dining Room does a great job dealing with that sort of thing.    There's a real advantage to having the same waiters every night that know your situation.     They'll take your Sister's order for dinner the day before so they can have everything prepared according to her needs.

We have had good luck in the Windjammer as well, but it's a little tougher because they don't have that same advance preparation time.    If you speak to someone there, they'll probably grab a Chef to talk to you about her dietary requirements.

We were just on Venus and one of our traveling companions had her nails done onboard...    she was really happy with them; they looked lovely, but she did say it was expensive.

It would probably be a lot more likely to get seated quickly at 7:00 PM without a reservation if there were two of you...     it's going to be tough with a bigger group; I suspect you'll be waiting a while if you aren't able to get a reservation once you are onboard.   

A lot of the ships aren't even sitting MTD guests until after early seating leaves, so it's usually extremely hectic around 7:00.    

If you do a proctored covid test, you need to make sure the test kit you use is FDA approved.    I'm not sure how available they are outside the U.S.

Thanks for posting the departure schedule, John.   I really appreciate it!    😀

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Sure, but we're still not halfway done😇

I know, but if I didn't ask you now I wouldn't have remembered until about 2 days after you got home.   😂    Thanks - I really appreciate it.  

Not to hurry along your cruise, John, but could you please post a copy of the departure schedule when they provide it to you?

13 minutes ago, iuki said:

So, when we schedule an appointment with CVS, we need to tell them we need a Binax Now AG PROCTORED test for a cruise.  Correct?
 

Thank you.

Nope...    the Binax Now AG Proctored tests are the home tests that you can order if you want to test at home (via video call).    If you want to get the test at CVS, you need either an Antigen or a PCR test.    I would recommend getting a rapid test if they offer them where you live.

That being said - things could change between now and your cruise in May.    You should probably check back a little closer to your cruise to see what's required at that point.

2 minutes ago, iuki said:

We ordered the free home tests (4 per address) that the postal service is sending out at the end of the month.  Can they be used for our cruise at the end of May?  

No...   those won't work - the only home tests that are acceptable are the Binax Now AG PROCTORED test (not to be confused with the Binax Now OTC tests which aren't proctored)

40 minutes ago, Ashland said:

That doesn't sound right. We tested at our CVS and had the email results in less than 1/2 hour.

We tested on a Saturday Jan 15th for our Monday Navigator Jan 17th itinerary. 

It varies....     here where we live CVS (or Walgreens) don't offer the Rapid Test at no charge.    It generally takes the 30 hours that the other poster mentioned to get the results of the free test back.      

To the OP - We've gone to the Proctored Home Tests here....    With the shortage of tests available and delays in getting results it really seems to make the most sense to me.   I've had 3 tests that I've had schedule at CVS and Walgreens cancelled due to lack of tests.   Then last week my 2 day PCR test took 5 days to come back.    

If you are going to test at the port, I strongly recommend you make an appointment...    you certainly can't count on them to have enough tests and staff available to manage walk in appointments.

3 hours ago, SG65CB said:

 

Yes 6 people. Thanks for the advice, it would not be fun to have a problem and be short one test. I'm ordering the two pack from Optum. 

 

Definitely better safe than sorry - the people that I've known that have had issues with the test kit have been able to get a replacement test shipped to them, but that doesn't help when you need to test to board a ship in two days!

2 hours ago, SG65CB said:

 

Sounds great, thank you. Placed my order now.

 

 I had to take a questionaire to see if I qualified to purchase the tests. It asked for the names and birth dates of three people even though I purchased the six pack. I hope this isn't a problem later since I wasn't asked for all six names.

 

 

 

Everyone has done a great job answering the rest of your post.   

It isn't a problem if you can't list all the names - each adult does need to have their own Navica account, however.    You can set those up anytime before you take the tests.

Do you plan to use this 6 pack for 6 different people?    If that's the case, I would actually purchase a couple of extra tests...   

I have known people who have had problems with their first test - one that had a test the proctor deemed unusable because the sticker "appeared to be tampered" - one that had an "inconclusive result" the first time - and one who got a positive result and had to take a second test (unfortunately also positive).

They do have a two pack from Optum - if you are planning to use this for 6 people it really would be a good idea to have those as a back-up.

Ordered ours Monday morning (3 January) - shipped same day, received Tuesday via FedEx.   

Placed an order for a 6 pack from eMed last week - shipping was $38.36 for FedEx next day air.    I'm not sure if the price has gone up for everyone, or if it's dependent on location.

I got my booster 10 days prior to our recent cruise...   no problems.    I entered the date of my second dose when I provided my vaccine information and that was the only date the agent was interested in when I checked in for the cruise.

I highly recommend using the proctored home tests...    order them before the cruise and bring them with you.     If you aren't familiar with them, there are a lot of threads on the subject.     The 6 pack through emed is currently on back order, but they have indicated they will have more available in November.     https://www.emed.com/

2 hours ago, Wineojim said:

Good Day everyone, this is my 1st post in a long time. does anyone know or can confirm the Antigen Covid test I took today is good for my cruise. it shows as LUMIRADX SARS-COV-2AG TEST with Negative results. Thank You in advance

That type of test is good...     When are you sailing?    The test needs to be taken no more than 2 days prior to sailing, so as long as you are sailing either tomorrow or Wednesday you'll be fine.

I have 3 AmEx cards...    no RCCL offer on any of them.     I do wonder if you are more likely to get an offer if you don't have RCCL charges almost every month   🙄     I know similar RCCL offers have been available several times over the years...    I haven't ever received one.

I think you just got some bad information....     I'm seeing transfers available for that sailing; cost is $34 per person each way.     

Someone else on the thread mentioned Port Valet in Seattle.     We took advantage of that option on our cruise a couple of weeks ago, I highly recommend it.     You check your bags through to your home airport from the ship.   They aren't charging anything for that service in Seattle.

The airport was an absolute zoo flying home...    really long lines to check bags and for TSA, so be sure to allow plenty of time on your return.

Yep....     got three bottles of wine on Ovation a couple of weeks ago.

8 minutes ago, cruiselvr04 said:

I ordered from emed a few hours ago but still haven’t heard that it’s being sent or a confirmation email.  How long was it after you ordered that you were emailed that they were on their way?

 

Not in a rush just don’t want them to arrive Saturday while we are not home….

We ordered from Emed Sunday night...  

Got an email asking to verify our email when we set up our account pretty quickly.     Received a "Thanks for your Order" email a couple of hours later.   

Email saying the order was approved as sent Monday morning.   

Email saying order shipped was Monday around noon.

Delivery scheduled for this afternoon  (Wednesday).

My BFF ordered from them Sunday afternoon...    hers were delivered yesterday

On 8/20/2021 at 9:44 PM, mike123abc said:

I went to the "Concierge Lounge" on Ovation this evening.  It was empty before 5pm, I was the only one in there.  A few trickled in after 5pm happy hour started.  The waiters asked cabin numbers when taking drinks.  The concierge said it was suite only, pinnacles excluded.

 

It seems like it would be better if on a sailing by sailing basis they decided who would be welcome.  If there were too many pinnacles on a sailing exclude.  Empty sailings let in D+ perhaps.

We were on the 13 August 2021 Ovation sailing; there were a total of 5 Pinnacle Members onboard.     They could have easily accommodated that many, but there is often a much higher number of Pinnacle members onboard and I'm sure they are going for consistency.

On 7/25/2021 at 5:37 PM, Blizzard54 said:

We will be on the test Sailing.

I wondered if we'd see you and Marilyn there...    it's been way too long!

I'll be there!    🙂    Looking forward to it after this forced hiatus from cruising!