Mike & Zen

I tried to send the post below last night but due to slow connectivity with the satellite at that time at this high latitude I couldn’t. Connectivity seems to be better this morning. Thanks for starting this separate thread for 14 May Crown Princess cruise. Briefly, we were on the first back to service cruise for the Crown Princess that started 7 May, and were affected by loss of vacuum in our toilet on and off for 2 days, in our cabin located on deck 8, port side aft in E702, which is in zone 7. Each deck has 7 zones starting with zone 1 forward to zone 7 aft. If your cabin number starts with a 7, you are in zone 7, starts with a 5, you are in zone 5, etc. The toilet issue affected some cabins in zone 7, 6, 5, 4, and 2 mainly on deck 8, and also zones in deck 10 and some other decks that others have already explained. We had approximately 2,200 passengers and about 1,500 of those were either newbie cruisers or newbies with Princess. The toilet issues were passenger generated and not ship systems related. There were passengers who threw baby diapers, sanitary napkins, banana peels, apple cores, brown paper towels, etc, into the toilets, which plugged the lines that in turn caused loss of vacuum and overflow. The few plumbers worked relentlessly on the cabin decks and in engine room spaces to clear the pipes and valves. Just when you thought it was over, we lost vacuum again within an hour and at best a few hours of relief. Unfortunately, the passengers causing the blocked lines could not be pinpointed. We were moved to a cabin on deck 11, Baja, starboard aft, and remain in that cabin for this cruise. We have not had any issues in this cabin. Once the passengers disembarked 14 May, there have been no issues. I spoke with a plumber today and he said it was a quiet night last night with the new passengers. And I spoke with our old cabin steward tonight, and he stated the same. We have over 1,321 days with Princess, sailed in all their ships with the exception of the new ones that started sailing since Covid, the Enchanted, Sky, and Discovery, which we will sail in next week for two weeks. We’ve rarely had toilet issues in the past but never to this extent that affected almost whole deck zones and different decks at the same time for a long time. Soon after, the hotel management had notes placed into our cabins that stated what not to throw into the toilets; however, problems still persisted. That major issue is now behind us, and flushing is as per normal. Now, this cruise has about 700 fewer passengers at 1,512, which I got from the passengers services desk crew chat feature in the Medallion app. The ship is still making good at about 20 knots. In addition, the engineering department is continuing with their trials sometimes slowing speed and increasing speed with the engines. We were down to about 14 knots this morning while the engineering department changed some injectors. As I stated last night, the ship has a good “feel” with the increased speed. (I’m an old crusty salt from way back). As others have stated, the crew is outstanding in all regards. Yes, they are short staffed as most of the cruise ships have been.. Last cruise our waitstaff were slow after not serving for two years but picked up and got their rhythm after a couple of days. This cruise we have new waitstaff that just arrived the day before sailing and joined the ship yesterday. Our new waiter has served for 22 years, and he had found his groove in about 15 minutes. Tonight his service was quick, attentive, and just happy to be back at work after two years. Now keep in mind, over the last two years, most cruise lines have had their ships at bare minimum manning of about 150 or so crew vice the normal 1000 to 1200 or more. Food is subjective, but last cruise and this cruise our choices have been very good, and tasty. A quick tip if you just want to quickly eat in the Main Dining Room and exit. Read the menu on the TV and know what you want to order. Soon as you sit down tell your waiter you want to be finished in one hour or whatever time you want to finish. When your waiter brings you the menu, tell your waiter you are ready to order now… do not hesitate or you’ll be there complaining about how long it took to be served! However, if you want a slower meal service, say nothing. Normally, it’s just the two of us at supper time. So your mileage may vary. Ok, that’s it for now. Any questions, please ask as there are a few in this cruise now that can answer. Cheers, Mike

We are making approximately 18 to 20 knots, which is about 2.5 to 3 knots faster we were making at this time last week. In addition, there is less vibration. I had heard from a non-engineering department manager that one repair needed for one of the engines had been made and would be trialed. Perhaps that’s what we are doing now. The ship has a better “feel” at this moment in time, with this speed, but we shall see. If there’s any changes in schedule, etc, we onboard will update.

Thank you again Paula for doing an excellent job in organizing two meet and greets, and for your “live” postings with great pictures! Mike

You are welcome. You didn’t mention if your cruise ship is coming directly back to Vancouver or if you are re-entering Canada in Prince Rupert, Victoria, etc, first. ArriveCAN asks for your FIRST port of entry in Canada. For example, if it is Victoria then that is the port you enter. Nothing for Vancouver is required as you have already Arrived in CANada. Of course if your arriving directly back to Vancouver, then that is your first port of entry. You have a good grip on how to use ArriveCAN, and I commend you on that as most don’t. We are currently sailing in CROWN Princess out of Seattle, and have flown from Canada to the USA a few times to board our cruises starting in Seattle and San Pedro near Long Beach. I don’t know of any app your country uses to enter COVID tests (or proof of vaccination), or we would have used it. The US immigration/customs agent at YVR did ask to see our negative COVID test result that we had printed out that was within one day of boarding our plane. I also took a picture of it, too. Enjoy your cruise!

You cannot enter “tests” in ArriveCAN effective 1 April, 2022. Since 1 April, 2022, there is no COVID test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers to enter Canada by air, land, rail, or water (marine). And effective 25 April, there is no requirement to submit a quarantine plan in ArriveCAN. Therefore, you only need to scan in your passport (travel docs) and proof of vaccination when you sign up for your mandatory ArriveCAN account in advance. COVID test results were eliminated from ArriveCAN on 1 April, 2022, and the next ArriveCAN version on 25 April, eliminated entering a quarantine plan. Then when you are within 72 hours entering Canada by air or land, or 96 hours of boarding your cruise ship that will eventually have a port of call or disembark in Canada, the ArriveCAN app will allow you to enter the rest of the required data, submit, receive your receipt in ArriveCAN and by email, take a screen shot of your receipt in your device, and print out your email receipt as a back up. The last part takes no more than 1 minute to complete. However, if you enter Canada by air or land, you might get selected for random COVID testing. We were randomly selected twice when we entered by air…delayed us by about 15 minutes. Your mileage may vary. And there are other reasons you need a COVID pre-entry test such as not fully vaccinated, medical, etc. Also, if you are doing a one way cruise originating in Canada and sailing to a foreign country, for example USA, Japan, etc, and disembarking and ending your cruise in that foreign country, ArriveCAN is not required. Simple one way West coast examples are sailing from Vancouver to Whittier, Seattle, California, Hawaii, Asia, etc, where you end your cruise. Do not confuse a pre-entry COVID test, which is no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers to enter Canada, with a pre-embarkation COVID test, which is required to embark your cruise ship for a cruise that originates in Canada, for example in Vancouver, Quebec City, Montreal, etc. ArriveCAN is so easy to do in the app, but you will find a few posters over thinking and complicating this simple process. ArriveCAN website https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html ArriveCAN help https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan/help.html

Prince Rupert, BC, is about 90 nm south east of Ketchikan, AK, and both had economies of fishing, canneries, and forestry. If you enjoyed the small coastal towns in Alaska, I think you’ll enjoy one of BC’s small coastal towns, too. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Rupert,_British_Columbia

Thank you for the compliment.

Thank you to CC member erber for informing us regarding this change in the Covid testing thread today, 22 April 2022. Effective 25 April 2022, fully vaccinated travellers to Canada DO NOT have to complete the Quarantine Plan section in ArriveCAN. You still need to fill out the other information in ArriveCAN though. "Starting April 25, 2022, the following people will no longer be required to provide quarantine plans when travelling to Canada: fully vaccinated travellers children aged 5-11 (who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent/guardian) those with a medical contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination..." https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/arrivecan.html Today's news articles: https://globalnews.ca/news/8778158/canada-covid-19-border-rule-changes-kids-5-11/ https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/04/22/no-covid-test-unvaccinated-kids-under-12-entering-canada/