frankp01

We had the good fortune of having the RSC aboard the July Halifax cruise. I saw three of their events. One was a short original musical on the life of Joan Littlewood. One was an introduction to how the director can affect a performance by illustrating three or four different styles of directorship. And one was an audience participation class on how to warm up for a part. All three were quite good (as might be expected).

We were on the first transatlantic after the re-start, so lots of precautions were taken (especially with respect to the regulations for entering the UK and the US). The only real imposition onboard was wearing a mask, and I was so grateful to be on board that that wasn't an issue. You'll have the entire voyage to look forward to. And, if you were truly scared about socializing during meals, just enjoy all of your meals in your cabin (predominantly free room service [and free laundromats] are perks that I don't think Cunard is given sufficient credit for).

I interpret their website a little differently. Here's the screen I see. Notice, there is a rapid Antigen test. Now, it may not be cheap, because it has to be part of an 'office visit' that incorporates more than just the COVID test. But supervised antigen tests are still available. For a test with no 'provider visit', like the following, no locations are found (at least in my area. That they make the option available it must be possible to get those tests somewhere). But, with provider visit, there are quite a few locations. And notice that it does say 'Antigen' (which is what I've received on every visit). The 'Not accepted for all travel' is simply a disclaimer that Antigen tests usually aren't accepted for travel. But Cunard does accept them.

There are three options when searching for tests: Lab Test with results in 2-3 days, Rapid Test with Provider Visit, and Rapid Test. Searching on just Rapid Test there were no sites within 100 miles. But there are 7 locations that will do a Rapid Test with a Provider Visit. "Provider Visit" gives CVS the chance to take your blood pressure and do a few other rudimentary health checks, meaning they can bill for a more expensive visit in addition to just the test.

Entering the US (and most countries, for that matter) used to mean two steps: clearing immigration followed by running the gauntlet of customs. On one trip I brought home a Dutch bicycle. The customs officer had to look up the value of the bike, and I paid duty on it. More recently, however, there's been no customs inspection at all. In Brooklyn one clears immigration and then goes merrily on one's way. I always assumed that liquor was held until arrival to prevent one from consuming it enroute. But, now that you raise the issue, maybe they hand it to you immediately because US customs is so lackadaisical.

In the past, when I purchased any duty free liquor it was held in the shop and I retrieved it on the last day of the voyage. I was very surprised when, in July, I bought a few bottles and they were immediately handed to me after paying. I was on board in December (virtually the first voyage after the QM2 returned to service), but I didn't buy any duty free on that trip. I'm wondering if the immediate delivery is another change due to COVID, or if it's a permanent change. I was pleasantly surprised, in any case. And I'm hoping it will still be in effect in January.

We always have embarkation lunch in the Golden Lion. We boarded the QM2 for the 1 July Boston/Halifax trip. We headed straight to the pub around 1PM. After ordering a few pints we were told that food would not be available until 2. The fish and chips and the ploughman's lunch were both as good as ever.

Even when it was being offered, I don't think it was advertised. We learned about it through word of mouth, and went directly to the Excursions Desk to sign up when we boarded. It never appeared in the Daily Programme. It can't hurt to visit the desk and ask as soon as you're aboard and inquire.

I don't know why, but your request for vegan menu items just popped into my head. Have you had your journey yet. And, if so, how did you fare - menu-wise?

I was in steerage the last time, so I can't say for sure. But I think I saw those in the grills line proceeding to a different lounge, separate from steerage. Later that afternoon we boarded the ship through the same waiting room. It was identical to the one we had been held in, albeit smaller.

There's always the possibility that Royal signed an exclusive with Starlink. Those details haven't come out yet. And in looking at the Starlink coverage map, there's also the issue that Starlink may not cover the north Atlantic (at least, not yet). For example, much of southeastern United States doesn't have Starlink coverage yet. If the satellites are that location-specific, I would be surprised if Starlink invested in ocean coverage (at this point, anyway).

I believe that is the case. In December there were four 'stations': The first where our testing paperwork was verified, then the luggage xray queue, the third was verifying that the responses to the health questionnaire had not changed, and the final/fourth queue was the actual check-in process: Validating the onboard credit card, taking photos (if required), etc. That final queue had a separate line for grills.

Interes Interesting. It doesn't appear on our January summary, although we have a guarantee for that trip (not that that should make a difference to our tier, since the tier is based on past trips). It also wasn't there in the online summary for our July voyage, which was not a guarantee, or on the eTicket. The eTicket said "(Membership Tier): Not Available". Which, now that I think about it, is why I started wondering how to verify our level.

Of course, Seabourn is part of Carnival, too. Maybe that's why?

We've had the privilege of hearing Stephen Payne speak on board twice. He's the naval architect who oversaw the building of the QM2. So he knows his stuff, but he's also a very entertaining speaker. If you're lucky, maybe he'll be aboard.

Did you not try the CVS you had in mind, after all?

And, as a further sample, I was able to pick up American Airlines miles on a Cunard air purchase.

Because there are only 29 days in February in leap years. If the 'Day' drop-down allowed 29 days for every year there would be a lot of mistakes where folks chose 29 even in years that aren't leap years. Can you start with the year and work to the left? That is, enter the year, then the month then the day.

Much like we did, in Southampton in December. But ours involved quarantining until we received our results! So I sympathize. On that same trip in December, our London-based friend had to be tested in New York in order to fly home. He used Bloom Labs (https://www.bloomlabs.co). They only have one location, near Penn Station, but at least you know they take walk-ins and non-US nationals. There's also a chain of walk-in clinics that can take non-nationals (PCR & COVID-19 Testing in New York | GoHealth Urgent Care (gohealthuc.com) While I haven't had any personal experience with that chain, I have emailed them and they confirmed that they can take walk-ins, as well as non-US nationals. One of the biggest issues you may face is that the results are often sent as a link in a text message. And the clinic may not be able to send a message to a non-North American number. You'll want to make sure that you can get your results on paper, while you're onsite.

Monitor your emails from OnPoint closely. There's a YouTube video posting from someone who had booked two OnPoint tests. Their tests were originally scheduled for 10AM. Overnight, before their test, they received an email from OnPoint moving the tests to 8AM. Since that email arrived overnight, they didn't see it. They sat down for their Zoom call at 10 and learned that, because their appointment had been rescheduled, they were now out of luck. Fortunately, they had a backup plan, which involved an in-person test. OnPoint seems like a great service, but they may have some scheduling hiccups.

Well, I don't have much of an answer for you. While at the CVS clinic I asked why that location did not appear in the CVS booking engine if I were paying out of pocket. The nurse practitioner that was handling my injection said "I don't know". I asked "if I had said I wanted to pay for this visit with a credit card would I have been turned away". She said 'No'. So, while you can't book a private pay visit, it appears you could still be seen, even if you are paying for the visit yourself. Finally, "Could a non-US national get tested for COVID". Again - 'I don't know'. This makes the nurse I was seeing sound like a dummy. She's not new there... I've seen her before, on visits at least a year ago. And she has great technique when it comes to injections. Unfortunately, I was raising issues with which she just hasn't had to deal. So that doesn't make things much clearer for you. You do have to have an appointment to be seen at a CVS clinic, but you can make an appointment by walking in. All I can say is 'good luck'.

I just booked one of my second vaccination jabs for later this afternoon. I'll ask while I'm there about the availability for both UK nationals and those paying 'out of pocket'.

> DId you try to walk in an book in in person at any of them I've not had the chance. I'll try and stop by the location where I had my test done and ask if I can pay out of pocket. I'd like to find out what private pay clients aren't seen.

It looks like the 215 Park Ave S location does testing, but only if covered by insurance. Using the CVS scheduling website, when the method of payment is "private pay" that location doesn't appear. It's not an issue of nationality but payment. I don't know why CVS would care. I just checked for Philadelphia. There are 20 locations near me that do testing. If I specify that I am paying out of pocket I'm told by the CVS website that there are no locations within 100 miles of my location.

I believe so. But there are cheaper places than CVS. If you are paying the test fee, CVS charges $139. But, more importantly, if I search for a location on Manhattan, there are none. This map shows the closest testing locations to New York, with the red arrow pointing to Manhattan.