cot427

13 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Never, you have to do them on the ship.

11 hours ago, Sealily22 said:

We were not able to book any activity / show reservations until we were on the ship’s wifi. We also noticed that show availability changed constantly, so keep checking even if something is booked up. 

Wow, thanks for the info! I assume this is the new way due to covid, which I totally understand. Just was trying to coordinate dinner and shows. But got the UDP so days 2-7 will have to be done on the ship too, so both being done onboard will be fine. 

Now I can stop checking cruise planner!

When were your show reservations open online? Is it 30 or 45 days? I can't remember but am sailing on Oasis in March. 

I just got 3 in the mail today (I tested using one from a different shipment over the weekend) and mine appear to the the same as yours. You can tell some have damaged edges. 

What number should I call? I don't want to get to test day prior to the cruise next month and have damaged tests. 

And are they having you send those ones back?

16 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

So folks are not confused: the kits are not purchased from Celebrity nor are they Celebrity’s tests.They are made by Abbott. If you use the Celebrity link, it will take you to the Optum Store, Optum being one of two on line sellers of the Abbott BinaxNow Covid-19 Ag test kits. The other is eMed, the folks who actually proctor the tests. Anyone can go directly to either of those web sites and purchase the test kits. 
 

As for the proctors being “medical professionals,” I think it’s safe to say, looking at the videos I’ve watched of people taking the tests, that the proctors are trained observers. (In fact, eMed uses the term “Certified Guides,” as does Celebrity.)

 

 

This is exactly correct. 

They are not from Celebrity, but rather Abbott. I purchased mine through the Optum Store. I actually used one over the weekend because of a scare/symptoms.

I followed the directions exactly. I went to eMed and they proctored the test via their Certified Guides. Once I logged in, I waited less than a minute to be connected to the first Certified Guide. They verify your information first, including personal information and the test itself and then watch you do the test. They then place you on hold online with a 15 minute timer. Once that timer is over, you click "I'm ready" and another Certified Guide (likely different than your first one) will come on and verify your results. I waited about 3-4 minutes for the second Certified Guide to appear after I said I was ready. 

Very easy process and Abbott/Binex was one of the most studied at home tests, so I believe their results. In fact, I did a PCR test at a local place too and both results were the same. 

Per a cruise port schedule website, Saturday Sept 18 was to have 6 ships:

-Adventure of the Seas

-Crystal Serenity

-Celebrity Equinox

-Freedom of the Seas

-Mariner of the Seas

-Disney Dream

Adventure was just dropping off guests, I think it was her last sailing from Nassau?

For the next 9 night on Equinox October 8th, it is all of the same except Adventure. Maybe they can accommodate 5 ships with construction but not 6?
 

Assuming all of these ships are actively sailing and this isn’t old info. 

Anyway, to confirm what we've been expecting, the wonderful, amazing, intelligent, iconic Captain Kate McCue will be departing the Edge this Saturday, 9/18 per her recent social media posts. She stated that via Instagram and then on TikTok, she stated her vacation on land will be for 3 months. Would expect her back around Christmas, give or take a few weeks. 

-Kindly, Kate's blind lemming 😉

Thanks everyone for the valued information, I really appreciate it. I am leaning towards the June 13th on Rhapsody, that way we get added time in Barcelona and Rome at the beginning and end. And the rest of the ports, besides Pisa/Florence are walkable/short bus rides. 

I did just see Wonder is taking over for Allure. One of the reasons I didn't pick Allure in addition to the higher price point was I want this trip to be about the ports and not the ship. More savings on the cruise fare can be passed along to more experiences and excursions on land. 

I did order the Rick Steves Med Cruise Port book - it's coming today!

Love cruising, but mostly have done the Caribbean (outside one Alaska and one Hawaii). Looking to go to the Mediterranean for the first time next summer, cost-effectively. Now the ports are the most important part, I don't have a preference on ship, which is why I have narrowed it down to Rhapsody and Vision. I have been on Enchantment and Grandeur, so I am familiar with the class and know what to expect, ship wise. From a cruise/port perspective, I just wanted to get some thoughts as to which itinerary for a younger, upper 20s something couple who enjoys cruising/traveling, exploring new places for sightseeing and culture/food/drink.

I realize a lot of the ports in Italy are further away from the actual destination (what's worth seeing). So based on this, I would expect a lot of time in a car/bus tour? Can anyone elaborate on this for this particular cruise?

June 6th, 2022 - Rhapsody - Venice (Ravenna), Italy | Cruising | Sicily (Messina), Italy | Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy | Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy | Monte Carlo (Cannes), France | Barcelona, Spain

Another option is also on Rhapsody. No Venice or Sicily but you gain a stop in France and Northern Italy. 

June 13th, 2022 - Barcelona, Spain | Cruising | Monte Carlo (Cannes), France | Nice (Villefranche), France | Genoa, Italy | Portofino, Italy | Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy | Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

Finally, this third option is on Vision. It is more France/Spain focused. I am wondering if these ports are more walkable, as in walk off the ship and the port is right there or at least a shorter drive/distance to see things. Of course, this would only be ideal if these ports are worth visiting based on my interests.

June 10th, 2022 - Barcelona, Spain | Sete, France | Provence (Toulon), France | Ajaccio, Corsica | Sardinia (Cagliari), Italy | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | Cartagena, Spain | Valencia, Spain | Barcelona, Spain

Thanks for your help in advance. I realize there is a ton of research to go into this but I figured I'd get some of your thoughts before narrowing it down even further. 

Captain Kate was on the Edge for a large portion of the shutdown for cruises, I'm pretty sure she said she didn't leave the ship for a year or so. Anyway, she is a great asset to Celebrity. A fantastic captain and a genuine good person. She is most likely taking her well-deserved 2-3 months vacation and will return afterwards. 

To grandgeezer and LouChamp - why make those types of comments? Simply move along and don't say anything. 

Does anyone know the exact sailing that SIX will debut on the Getaway in April? All the updated press release said April 2020 for Getaway. Sailing April 12 and still shows MDQ as the show, but that could always be wrong. 

Edited: Kept reading: April 23rd it says, so April 19th sailing. Darn it! 

Ovation - Aysy was on as of the Vancouver to Honolulu sailing 9/20. (Not sure if she was on prior or if this was her first for this contract.)

In fact, the Johnny Rockets Express on Navigator was never that busy at all when I was on a 9-night in April. Instead, across the deck El Loco Fresh was bumping as soon as it opened and all throughout the day. Fresh quesadillas, tacos, nachos, etc. and it was actually hot and tasty. My favorite new add to the Navigator. I hope to see it on other ships! 

What a lame inaugural too...4 nights to Nassau and Cococay. 

I mean I'm certainly not surprised by Cococay since they are pushing it as hard as they can. 

Unrelated to ship v. ship, but to the route: do we go through immigration in Vancouver at Canada Place before heading out (Seattle, Sea Days, Hawaii)? That would be similar to what we did when I did the northbound Alaska route. 

2 minutes ago, Crism said:

Did you find the upper pool deck more crowded with the addition of the whirlpools taking up some lounger space?

Was on in April (9-night) and I didn't see this as much of an issue as the segregated space for star or suites or whatever deck 12 forward. It's roped off and at least for our sailing, I only saw 2-3 people in there during sea days. Maybe its sailing specific and I understand they should have their own space, but I think they need downsize or monitor and notice it was way underutilized. 

As far as Navigator's flops, I agree with the 3. It is a shame that the Bamboo Room is a flop because it is my absolute favorite RCI bar. The problems are this: dark room/no ocean view at all, under-trained staff (was talking to them and nobody wants to work there because of the extra prep work and length of time it takes to make drinks), and quite honestly some of these drinks are over people's heads, unless you're into tiki drinks/culture.

On Navigator, I had Truly (only mixed Berry) and Henry's Hard (Lime). Only found them in the carts that the bartenders were pushing around the pool deck and maybe the pool bar (but can't remember).

Was on Navigator in April - also only offered the fixed menu online for prepurchase. We booked it the day of embarkation and it was all a la carte pricing. They do not offer Hibachi tables but do offer some delicious hot rock dishes that we took advantage of. Izumi was not busy - however this was back during the 5/9 rotation, so maybe demand was different. 

Only Mariner and Navigator. I am interested to see if they will add it to remaining Voyager class ships, as it doesn't look like they are to Freedom or Oasis class. The thing is, the drinks take semi-skill and knowledge and time to make...so I while I absolutely loved it on the Navigator and spent many nights there on the 9-night, I know they had a hard time keeping bartenders happy there. They just don't want to learn it and do all of the prep that it takes to run a successful, semi-authentic tiki bar. 

I would definitely say Seattle versus Vancouver/Anchorage. 

You have that seasonal nonstop on Frontier and close by here in Pittsburgh, we have a daily nonstop on Alaska Air, which is amazing. 

If you did end up doing the one from/to Vancouver, as others have said, the Amtrak Cascades is a nice, beautiful and cheap option to get to Seattle.

I would say no more than any other cruise. I sailed over Easter (ending on Easter) and we had a ton of kids, even with it being a 9-night (before it switched to 3/4). There were times where there were a lot of kids in the hot tubs, especially on the pool deck. On deck 12, one above, less so. And those ones are bigger!

Alaskan Brewing Co. has some great beers! I love their Icy Bay IPA and Freeride Pale Ale. 

Would be great if they had some of those! 

If you do the 3-night package, you can also probably use at least one of your D+ BOGO dinners. Why not use the package the 1st night and then 3rd, 4th, etc. and use the BOGO on the second? There's nothing about the 3-night package that says it must be used the first three nights, only that one needs to be used the first or second night. 

Oasis repositions to Bayonne in early May 2020. 

Allure has drydock for her amplification in March/April 2020.

Harmony is obviously stays in PC.

Navigator does short 3/4 sailings. Mariner is in PC doing the same. Freedom stays in San Juan. Liberty stays in Galveston. Independence does the short sailings from FLL. Explorer seems like she's also in dry dock for March/April, after sailing 5/9. Obviously Voyager stays in the Pacific. Adventure does 6/8 from FLL. 

So it seems like it's mostly due to the fact that Allure and Explorer are dry-docked at the same time...can anyone confirm that? 

Isn't Dazzles essentially the same thing as Music Hall? Bands, DJ, dancing? Maybe just more focused on those cover bands and not a genre of music. 

My Time Dining likely begins around 5:15 or 5:30 and yes, you can absolutely select the same time for everyday, as long as that time is available, which, if you do it early enough, it will be. And if you do that, you are pretty much guaranteed the same table and wait staff every night. 

Each time I've time MTD for a larger group, we've kept it at the same time and always had the same table and wait staff. When I've done it for 2, however, I've picked different times and so the table was not the same.