IMNOFUN

That would be fine with me, but I have no found a reliable option for this method. I'm going by NCL's instructions where they point you to their preferred testing partner. Since we're from various parts of the country, we can't do a "mass" test. Since the test has to be proctored, we have to ensure we get the proper certification....and and and. I went with the method I thought would be most reliable. It's the lab my doctors use and they take reservations for the testing, make sure you have the right test type, collect the samples and then...hopefully they send us our reports. 5 simple steps my foot! The following is direct copy from NCL. Book Your Pre-Cruise Testing Appointment Now Cruise safely and care-free with Norwegian Cruise Line and Inspire Diagnostics in 5 simple steps: Step 1. Register to purchase and schedule the test for your group. Step 2. Provide mailing information where test kits will be shipped. Step 3. Choose your test kit(s). (Antigen Test Kit: $45 USD, PCR Test Kit: $95 USD). Step 4. Review your order and complete purchase. Step 5. Receive your email confirmation and register your entire party using https://www.inspiretesting.com/org/TRAVEL/

I don't feel your pain exactly, but I can imagine it. You have my sympathies for sure. We got BOGO for a VERY SIMPLE 1-hour flight. The times suck, but we figure we can get up at 4am at least this one time. We did request a flight change and got an hour reprieve. My brother is still on the horrible:AM flight. Just this slight inconvenience makes me very sorry for your plight. I might do a BOGO to another continent where the flight is going to be horrible no matter what. But I'll make my own reservations.

I just hope our test results arrive in time. If not, then I guess we'll be cruiseless this time. I wonder if the insurance will refund some of the thousands I've paid. I made this reservation months ago because it is a family reunion and the timing had to fit everybody's schedules. I believe some of them can still make the cruise. I'm having my doubts whether I and my husband will get our results in time. We may just have to stand on the dock and wave good-bye to the rest of the family.

That's exactly what I say. However, our next cruise if paid by the granddaughters' inheritance and they're just fine with that. Of course, they're on the cruise.

Don't forget the people who you wouldn't normally tip, but they gave great service. For example, the "washy washy" lady at the entrance to the buffet. They stand there smiling, practically forcing you to get the hand washing, but, if anything, get only a smile or a frown. How about smile and give them a tip? How about having some bucks to spread around. I tipped the the cleaning lady in the public restroom. She looked confused when I offered it to her, but a thank you brought her around to taking the dollar. I'll remember that bright smile forever. Other housekeepers working in public areas wouldn't mind a buck passed their way. We "rich" cruisers need to remember that the crew is largely from very poor countries. Even a dollar is a big deal. And if it's a big deal to them, it should be a big deal to you. Be kind. Put yourself in their place. I've worked service when I was in college and a good tip really made my day, and possibly something nice for dinner.

I don't believe I said that. I did say: Anybody who refuses vaxing, buys a counterfeit vax card, and never wears a mask are the ones who are causing the problems and should be treated accordingly. I actually am a joy to cruise with and everybody's best choice for Trivia games. However, don't invite me to your team. You don't sound like someone who's a joy to cruise with. I hope we all get through all this and get to take the cruises we have so carefully planned. A little bitching and moaning is allowed for every plane, train, automobile, or ship trip.

I understand. I do not have pictures taken. I do not show my face on Zoom calls. It's a phobia, which is a real disease. Every device I have with a camera is taped over if it's facing me. Cameras are great for taking pictures of flowers, kitties, grandkids. Selfies are simply egotistical. I'll get a test and the test facility had damned well better get my results to me so I can be vetted within the ridiculous 2-day period. I will pay for the BINAX test kits even though I have a stack of 8 iHealth kits which I got free from the government and are certified by the FDA. I would gladly test with my kit at the pier and wait 15 minutes for results. Why isn't that enough? Anybody who refuses vaxsing, buys a counterfeit vax card, and never wears a mask are the ones who are causing the problems and should be treated accordingly. I hear keelhauling was a popular punishment in the 18th C. navy.

The cruise lines MUST have dockside 15-minute testing. This tightened requirement will become so onerous that people will just stop cruising again. I'm seriously ticked off about the whole thing. People can FLY into the US without a test, but we can't put foot on a ship without a test? I have no problem with testing. It's the barriers set up to getting tested within such a narrow timeframe prior to cruising. People are expected to find a testing facility in a city they don't know after a many-hours plane flight? And the cruise lines (looking at your NCL) doesn't even tell you where you can get a test at the last minute. I thought we were all set with a test on the 29th for a 31st cruise. We know our insurance won't pay since it's not medically necessary, but how much do we have to pay at the place we have an appointment? They don't say. Lovely. I'm seriously thinking of throwing away the thousands I've paid for the cruise because I can't reliably find a test site, don't know exactly when a test result will be returned, or how much it costs. Other sites have prices ($79 to $129), but I can't even find the facility on Google maps. The street address doesn't exist!

Just FYI: I got 3 of the 4 cabins I booked upgraded from Ocean View to balcony without even asking. One of the cabins was already a balcony, so no change there. I think if people don't jump on those bids, they might get an upgrade anyway. I guess you have to book in the Anything(?) cabin category. Our last cruise we were upgraded without asking or paying. We went from Ocean View (this is our standard cabin) to a huge concierge inside cabin with a cool wall screen projecting a view to the real world. We didn't miss the balcony. We did like the separate bedroom. If we could ever figure out the coffee machine, we would probably have liked it. We've never had pod coffee before. I think (my guess) is that if you don't bid on upgrades, you might get one anyway.

On my Walgreen site, there's a bubble note that says the tests are no longer free. So much for that theory. Also, test reservations can only be made a few days before testing. Do we wait to find out there are no reservations and it's too late for the emed test (which I personally find invasive) which costs for tests we won't have on-hand? There are way too many gotchas to this. Now, we can't even cancel without losing thousands of dollars (I've personally paid for four cabins). Notes on the site: You will not have out-of-pocket costs if you meet the criteria for no-cost testing through your insurance or a government-funded program. You should contact your insurer before scheduling to confirm the test meets coverage criteria. You may be billed by Walgreens and, if applicable, the laboratory for up to the full price of the test if your insurance denies coverage or you don't meet eligibility criteria for government no-cost testing programs. Test results cannot be guaranteed by a specific time, including for travel. PCR test results turnaround time is an estimate and may vary during periods of increased demand and other factors, such as transmitting and processing delays during weekends, holidays or inclement weather.

I just checked. You order the tests, then have to sit in front of a screen and have somebody watch to verify. The cost of 2 tests (1 box) was listed as $69. Our group isn't in the same place, so we can't even get tests for everybody at one time. Also, it is not entirely clear that Walgreen's drive-up is "free." They'll sell you a jacked-up price test kit, then give you a "free" report. I have plenty of antigen test kits which were actually free from the government. We should be able to use those kits at the pier when embarking. 15 minutes and we're good to go. Should be anyway.

Since when is testing required for somebody leaving the US or entering the US by plane? The entry testing for flights was dropped weeks ago. Our cruise departs 7/31, but it's a US port and testing costs at least $79/person and on an incredibly tight schedule to be tested within the 2 days then make it to the port on time. We are being unfairly penalized for trying to have a nice safe vacation with our family. Color me ticked off and no longer a NCL customer for any future cruises.

Wine and "alcohol." That last is a bit loose for interpretation. How about hard seltzers? Neither wine nor hard liquor (being about beer level alcohol content). I switched from wine to a sugar-free hard seltzer. I'm losing weight and enjoy the seltzers (don't judge me). Even if the ships are carrying White Claw, it's not sugar-free. Anybody have a good recipe for emulating hard seltzer with typical bar ingredients?

Thanks for the clarification. The $260 comes from an official Covid Testing site in our town. We'll definitely try to get a Walgreen's appt. We have filled out the ArriveCan and downloaded the app. I was confused about when the arrival info was needed. If we can enter it just before boarding, that's great! These boards are life-savers again. Thanks to everyone who has the answers. I'm going a little whacko on this because it's a family group and my family always looks at me when stuff needs arranging. They count on me too damned much. That's what I get for being reliable and the answerer of all questions for the past 50 years or so. I think my reign as Queen of the family should end. Both I and Liz II need to abdicate.

My concern is getting the ArriveCan receipt when one can't enter the arrival dates until a couple of days prior to embarkation. The COVID test timing is also pretty tight. Will we get our results in time? Both of these issues make me nervous. Will I get my results from the testing done on Friday before we board on Sunday (July 31st voyage). Why are fully vaxed and boosted people not getting the dispensation for testing. $260 to get a test we should be able to do ourselves for free? We weren't informed of the testing until it was too late to cancel to get a refund. Also, how do you review your ArriveCan information if you can't enter the embarkation date until we're actually on the voyage? The ship doesn't dock at Victoria until the 7th day, yet we're supposed to have a receipt for embarkation. On July 31st, we still won't be able to enter the date for the Victoria docking. What a Catch 22! Enter a date to get the receipt, but you can't enter the date, until after you have to have the receipt to embark. If they do let us board without the precious receipt, will we even be able to finish the app info when we're at sea? This has definitely been the most stressed I've ever been preparing for a cruise. Any tricks or tips to get these things done? Am I misunderstanding the ridiculously tight timing for both ArriveCan and Covid testing?

I agree. I thought of doing that but decided that something would happen such as the staff seeing something odd and reporting it. And who would have the keycard? How about the required drill? Who exactly would go to that? I just figured it was easiest to cancel the whole cabin. I was wrangling 5 cabins with 10 people. My nerves were frayed to say the least. Is everybody vaccinated? Now you have to get a test. No, you can't take the completely valid test sent to me by the government without paying $129 per person for monitored testing. Then ArriveCan put everyone in a blender. Trying to have an invisible person occupy the cabin without them being present was just beyond my capacity to manage along with everything else going on.

That won't quite work (though there may be another workaround). One person originally booked to the cabin must remain in the cabin. So, if both of your parents can't go, then it's considered to be a cancellation. You also can't just put someone else in the cabin from your party. Someone on the original reservation has to be in the cabin. Otherwise, cancellations. Since none of that worked, I reported to the travel insurance company, but got nothing because the cancellation wasn't a good enough "reason" as far as they're concerned. Briefly, my son got a promotion and could not take time off during his probationary period (6 months). Not a good reason. If he'd lost his job, then it was good reason. What we ended up with is a future cruise credit which will shows up after the cruise. I also got a refund for the extra stuff like port fees and pre-paid gratuities. That was refunded to my credit card. Why mine? I paid for the whole thing. If your parents paid then they'll have to do the dance with NCL. It was nice to get some money back and I hope that future cruise credit shows up sometime or other. The FCC was applied to my son/wife, but it's doubtful they'll be cruising any time soon, so my son transferred it to me. Gad this is too long. Final note: I have a suspicion that this whole kerfuffle was the reason NCL upgraded 3 or our remaining four cabins from window to balcony without asking for any upgrade fee. They just did it. That put them back in my good graces a little. Work with NCL, but if you try something tricky, you might not go on the cruise at all. Good luck!

Sorry. Went down a side path in regard to testing via pharmacies. I've been having a lot of pharmacy angst lately.

We're planning on using Walgreen's but I have little confidence in them getting anything right. I went without a couple of my on-going meds for over a week from their mail-order. Actually, I had to cancel them (not very easy) and have my doctor prescribe to a different pharmacy. I'm dropping them from my list of pharmacies. Unfortunately, most of the pharms are low-staffed or just don't give a flying f. I wonder if you can buy BP meds on the street? Some enterprising dealers should steal shipments of BP, cholesterol, diabetes, and other much-needed drugs and selling them at the corner of 34th and Vine.* *Reference to old song "Love Potion Number 9" for you young'uns.

Yes, but it can be a fast test (I think) with a pharmacist administering the nose jab. There may also be more drive-through test sites (haven't checked in awhile). We got drive-through COVID shots, so why not tests? I'm still pondering the ArriveCAN timing. It doesn't work with the itinerary. We'd have to enter data twice one day apart.

Thanks. I was just talking to my brother about this as we struggle through ArriveCan.

Thank you for everybody's remarks and ideas. For some reason, I didn't get notified of the replies. My apologies for not responding earlier. The couple (my son and DIL) will get a Future Cruise Credit which they can transfer to me. That's fine. I'd even have them keep the credit if I thought they'd use it. I'd never ask them to pay me back for the money I am going to lose. It was a gift. I don't ask for refunds. I think it worked out as best it could. They'll transfer the FCC to me. I'm not going to berate my kid for getting a promotion. What kind of mom would do that? Now the next challenge is getting everybody set up for that stupid PCR test. That test company is certainly getting a sweet deal. I can get the test kit free, yet Inspired Diagnostics collects for what would also be a free test. Maybe by cruise time, this will all change. Again, thank you all. Every response is valuable.

ANY IDEAS PLEASE ON THIS SITUATION: I booked and paid for five cabins - 10 people. One couple has to drop out because of a job situation. Makes no matter what it is, but they just can't go. I suggested to the travel agent that we'd keep all five cabins, but add a couple of people to replace the missing couple. The answer was only one person can be swapped out per cabin. I have paid for this cabin to have two people in it. If I had booked a hotel, I'd expect to be able to shuffle the group around and use the cabin for whoever, including adding a couple of people to fill up the beds as needed. If I cancel the cabin, I can hope that travel insurance will pick up some of the cost, but we're at the 75% point. The agent says that best case scenario is the couple dropping out would get a future cruise credit. I have no confidence that the pair could or would ever be able to use the FCC. Since I paid for the cabin (all expenses on it), shouldn't I get the FCC as the payer, not the people who are causing the mess in the first place? Then there's BOGO air fare. The agent says the airport can't be changed at this point (from Knoxville to Denver). Tickets have not been issued and the trip isn't until the end of July. So, two people who aren't even going on the cruise will get BOBO air tickets they won't even use and I will not be refunded the money I paid already. Long, sad story. My question is not how every little bit of the wrongness can be handled, but to ask for ANY ideas on how to handle any part of the mess. Thanks for any help you have to offer.