GeriatricNurse

2 hours ago, Fouremco said:

We had an AC flight change yesterday as well, and their system to confirm the change crashed, so there may have been a lot of changes yesterday. All that to say that if you want/need to find a different flight, it would be best to get on with it now.

I had an AC flight change as well; FLL to YYZ!  Same departure time, different plane; changed to AC ROUGE!  My (original) return flight was booked as 'Premium Economy' & my (changed) return flight was 'upgraded' to 'Business', (with a refund of $34.55)!

On 11/23/2021 at 1:26 PM, Manda917 said:

We usually do a spring break cruise with the whole family, including my 6 y/o son.  Since he is the only child in the group I like to make sure he has plenty that he will enjoy.  Usually we book on Royal as that seems to fit well, but we are considering booking Celebrity.  When we travel just us (no kid) we love Celebrity, but I am afraid is won't have a lot to appeal to him.  He does like hanging out with his family and the BIG waterslides aren't really his thing yet.  My husband wants me to book the cruise YESTERDAY...so I welcome any opinions or suggestions. 

Have you considered 'Norwegian Cruise Line'?

7 hours ago, Covepointcruiser said:

This is why we always use a travel agent.   There is no additional charge to use an agent so why would I spend my valuable time on the phone with the cruise line.   Our agent takes care of all of this.

Actually, there IS an additional charge to use a travel 'agent', ('advisor, 'consultant'), because  I was charged $60 by my 'agent' to book my AC flights, (that I could have booked myself, online, from their website, in less than one minute)!!! 🥵

6 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Just as I feared, the first ship scheduled to be back in Canadian waters (Crown Princess, March 27th) just got cancelled. Princess are delaying the back-to-sailing date for the ship...so there goes yet another cruise for me. It will be interesting to see when and which ship actually DOES make it into Vancouver first!

My guess would be the Holland America LIne, 'Zuiderdam'; 7-Day Alaska Inside Passage, Vancouver, Roundtrip, April 27th. - May 4th., 2022!

17 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

100% agree on the cruise passenger. You can't teach someone if they don't want to learn.

As well, you can't fix stupid!

On 11/20/2021 at 7:50 AM, basenji56 said:

What a disaster.  So sorry. One thing I did was purchase an Apple AirTag  and put it in my bag.  You can then track it with the Find My Iphone function.  

 

AirTag - Apple

On 11/20/2021 at 7:50 AM, basenji56 said:

What a disaster.  So sorry. One thing I did was purchase an Apple AirTag  and put it in my bag.  You can then track it with the Find My Iphone function.  

 

AirTag - Apple

I've ordered a 'Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ Plus Bluetooth Smart Home!

6 hours ago, kokopelli-az said:

Well, I have to fess up what happened to us.   We had our one carry-on taken the night before disembarkation for us to pick up in the morning.   The morning we left the ship our suitcase was right there in the terminal so we grabbed it and off we went in a taxi to the FLL airport.   Once we got to the airport, we realized the suitcase we picked up in the terminal was not ours.   So here we are at FLL with someone else's suitcase and we didn't have ours.   We ended up taking the other person's suitcase to the Celebrity area in the airport terminal where the passengers for the next cruise were waiting for the cruise ship transfer from the airport to the pier.  We told the Celebrity person in charge what had happened and to please take the wrong suitcase back to the ship,

So here we are at FLL without our suitcase.   We did not have time to go back to the ship and look for it in the terminal.   

 

However, our suitcase ended up at our house, compliments of Celebrity, the next day.   I'm sure the owners of the suitcase we accidentally took received theirs, too.

 

Actually, this was a good way to get our suitcase shipped home for free. 😄

 

I am attaching photos of the two suitcases (ours and the one we thought was ours).   I now really double check our suitcase to be sure it's the right one (like at the airport baggage pick-up).  

 

The FIRST thing that I do when I come upon luggage that 'appears' like mine is to READ the luggage tag, carefully, BEFORE taking it!

8 hours ago, Kamloops50 said:

The only issue we have with Celebrity is getting reasonable cost insurance .  I'm over 70 and DW over 65. Celebrity or third party insurance is too pricey for us plus the coverage isn't as good .

It's unfortunate that you do not live in Ontario as BLUE CROSS is quite reasonably priced, in my view!

7 hours ago, Kamloops50 said:

We have used Princess and Hollands insurance product for years. Could never find cheap insurance especially as you approach 65+. My BIL( over 80) can even get private so my sister always gets him cruise line insurance.

I'm 71 and I got "cheap insurance" with BLUE CROSS!

46 minutes ago, gmbhardy said:

Flying from YYZ to FLL on Ait Transat next Sunday morning for a cruise on the Norwegian Encore. Our departure time is 8:45 am. How far in advance should we get to Pearson. We have Nexus.cards.

Three Hours!

12 hours ago, DHP1 said:

FYI

From others:-

 

 

(1) I am travelling back to Canada and can report back the process now. Princess outsourced the Covid testing to DocGo, they had a table setup right outside the terminal. No lineup when I did the test, and it took 3-5 min to register for the test. If there are more international travellers on your cruise, it may take a while.

 

DocGo asked for an email address to send the results, and gave you an email address to followup if you don't get it after 2 hours. You're free to go after they swap your nose, no need to wait at the terminal for the results.

 

I got my results after 2 hrs and 15 min. It was a nerve wrecking wait after 1.5 hours as Air Transat won't allow me to check-in without the test results, and my flight was at 1:30.

 

I was sent a link to the DocGo website to retrieve the results. It had my name and DOB. No passport number. Oh, and it was a rapid pcr test.

(2) The timing is not good at all.  Were they short-staffed that day?  The service level promise was supposed to be results within ONE hour.  I can see a follow-up contact if late makes sense.  2.5 hours is much longer than was promised.  Hope we hear more real-world stats on this since that could really affect some folks expecting to fly.

 

I believe that one may receive a RT-PCR test at FLL T2. 

The cost is USD159, with the results available in 45 minutes.

Fortunately, I will be staying O/N in Ft. Lauderdale, prior to my AC flight the following day, so it will provide me a (less) stressful, post-cruise 'testing experience'!

11 hours ago, verizon said:

There are a lot of careless passengers pick up luggage and go.

The only way to avoid this happening is make your luggage stand out.

Who ever touches it will know right away they got the wrong one.

I always put two tags in one luggage.

I put a tag on EACH handle of my luggage; (and my luggage has three handles; top, side & bottom)!

1 hour ago, Froufie said:

Got it - thanks!  Not familiar with onboard facilities...but glad to hear the test was performed onboard! and results were received prior to leaving the ship!

 

'Quasar' is on Deck 4, Forward, Port Side.

18 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

At this point, your travel arrangements very much limit your test options, especially as MSC requires a PCR test. You will probably arrive in Orlando too late for a PCR test taken that night, but one possibility is Fast Test at the airport. Unfortunately, I don't know what hours they are open, or even if they will test arriving passengers. And it will cost you dearly for an urgent test. Anyway, this link provides their contact information and price list for the various tests.

https://fasttestnow.as.me/orlando?_gl=1*1dhk92y*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2MzcwNzQwNzQuQ2owS0NRaUF5czJNQmhET0FSSXNBRmYxRDFlTjAwbzhqZWdaRU9wWXVYMnJtVFlKbllhei1jckx6V2pwckZHNlItcDBSY3E0M3ZQUWVHVWFBa1c4RUFMd193Y0I.

 

 BeeperMD is another possibility for Orlando. They offer a Rapid RT-PCR test but the price is $399 USD, or about $500 CAD.

 

Personally, I would start looking for a Canadian test facility. You say that you live in a rural area, but you should be able to locate a test site within a couple of hours from home. According to the MSC information that you provided in your post #52, the test can be taken "within 3 days before embarkation", which means that you would not need to get a harder to find and more costly rapid test. You could get tested on Thursday, pack on Friday, fly on Saturday and board on Sunday. Here's a list of Ontario SDM stores that offer their International Outbound Travel Test at a cost of $150 CAD:

https://covid-19.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/testing/international-outbound/on/locations

 

How about 'Vector Health Labs'?

 

5 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

Great information, thank you! We are in the Bayridge area so all those locations are very convenient. Next time I’m on Princess I’ll pop into that Guardian…how much are they charging?

Hey, I live in the Bayridge area too!  I would highly recommend 'Guardian Medix Pharmacy', (613-542-5222)!  I just got off the 'phone with the Pharmacist, 'Naju George', to confirm my appointment.  The cost is $20 and no tax!

Does Celebrity have Single/Solo events onboard their cruises?

23 minutes ago, wendycook22 said:

I was advised by my industry travel contact for Celebrity, that flying out the next day (anytime) would be considered within their 24 hour window.  It sounds like they are doing 1 day opposed to 24 hours as stated in their policy.  Again, the clarity of their message sent to clients and the travel industry is vague.  

wendycook22, thank you so very much for this information! 😀

17 hours ago, Froufie said:

Can you please direct me to the FB page where you asked this question?  I would like to address some of my questions to them as well - I am especially concerned, as mentioned, about the 24 hr timeframe... given many of us have made flight arrangements that are slightly beyond that window - how strict will they be?  And if we can't get the test onboard will there be provisions (in the cruise terminal, post cruise) to get this testing done?  I am hoping for as 'stress free' as possible end to my vacation!  Thanks!

 

I would like to know the answers as well as I (will be) in the same situation!

On 8/4/2021 at 5:44 AM, upwarduk said:

Elite breakfast/ coffee break in Tuscan.

Can be plated, whereas it used to be a buffet ( buffet not allowed to be served in carpeted areas).

Tha attached image is of the Ultimate platter, but there are also cheese platters ( not for me, as I am dairy intolerant) and fruit platters.

Also, speciality coffees and mimosas.

 

Were you aware that the pic that you posted is 'upside down'?

Is there a possibility that you could reverse it to 'right side up' as I have issues with twisting my neck!

10 hours ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

As far as I can see the only Rexall in Kingston that does the antigen tests is the one on Montreal…is that where you booked? They’re charging $30

In fact, although the website indicates the Rexall on Montreal Street does the Antigen Tests; when I went to this store to 'confirm' and to book a test, the Pharmacist stated that they did NOT do the Antigen Tests at their store!  I didn't bother to ask why the website for his store indicated otherwise!

I've since discovered that the 'Guardian Medix Pharmacy', located at 2392 Princess Street, on the north side, just west of 'Bennett's Furniture', offers Antigen Testing!

I went to the store, spoke directly with the Pharmacist, confirmed that she does the Antigen Tests and I made an appointment immediately! 🤩

Were you aware that the WalMart Superstore on Midland Avenue has signage posted at their Pharmacy advertising Antigen Testing for $19.97?

As well, both SDM locations at Bayridge and Kingslake Plaza also can be booked for Antigen Testing? 😊

11 hours ago, Fouremco said:

Not a great choice of dates for a COVID test!  

Without being stated, I catch the 'drift'! 😉

I don't have any other choice for a testing date! 😊

1 hour ago, K_e_short said:

 Others on here have reported that you can book up until March with Rexall.

 

I booked December 24th no issues at all.

 

 

I booked April 1, 2022 several days ago with no problem!

3 hours ago, xcell said:

All airlines are the same, I am sure someone has a bad experience with them all.

 

As per the cost, WJ is higher now becaused they have limited flights out in comparison to AC.

 

I am crossing my fingers, that at least we can get down to Miami for the cruise.

 

Step #1 on a long road to get back to some sort of normal (or at least to get out of crazy Ontario)

WestJet also has FAR fewer planes than AC!

2 minutes ago, edrussell said:

 

In our experience and based on what we have heard from others they give you a paper copy only with no option for email.  Some SDM might offer an email option but none that I have personally heard of.

I would recommend going to Rexall and forget about SDM!

10 hours ago, iancal said:

We always price fares as single tickets and return.  We look at flights into FLL, MIA, and PBI.

 

No need to book return on the same airline.

I priced flights YYZ - FLL, return with AC and WJ, and it was far less cost, booking flights both ways with AC than 'combo'/'single' flights!  WJ is far more expensive than AC!