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Bruce & Jeff booked this cruise/tour last week, anyone going?

Sept 28, 2022 sailing from Vancouver

Thanks for allowing us to follow you and Barb after we departed the NS.  Enjoyed spending the day with you in Curacao Blue Bay Beach.  Rondi and Bruce

We heard the Captain’s announcement as well. An ambulance was waiting and they put a guy on the stretcher and left with lights flashing. I sure hope the man is doing ok. 

I am on the ship now and I would like to know where you found garlic bread at lunch to go with your salad in the Lido buffet.  I have been looking all over for some. 

40 minutes ago, iflyrc5 said:

The LONGEST 30 minutes of our cruise so far.  Today was the day we get our Covid test before our turnaround day in Ft Lauderdale on Sunday.  We got a notice last night to report to deck 3 MDR at 0930 for our test.  Got there at 0928 and about 8 couples in line ahead of us.  Checked in - they put a sticker on our hand with our information - got in line - 2 medical people doing the testing (from their badges they were contractors from Matrix) - it took just a minute to be tested - they put the stickers around the swab and said to go back to our cabin. That was at 0936. IF we did NOT get a call in 30 minutes we were good to go for the next cruise - it is now 1015 and no call so we are DOING THE HAPPY DANCE.  😁 

Congratulations.  We take our covid tests in 4 1/2 hours here in California.  I sure hope we get the same results you did so we can be doing the happy dance this afternoon.

I think I read that the Nieuw Statendam was having azipod issues.  That is why the next cruise will be late getting into Bonaire. 

Thanks for the info. on the stretch class.  My husband and I will go every morning, so there will be a couple more in the class.  Maybe we can talk the instructor into running it for at least 1/2 hour.

Will be joining you on Sunday.  Can't wait.  Quick question...Are they offering a morning stretch class on Nieuw Statendam?

Are they offering a morning stretch class on Nieuw Statendam?

The Nieuw Statendam visited both islands last week.

Another question:  We board Feb. 13th.  What I don't see on the Navigator App is anything scheduled for the Rolling Stone Rock Room.  Is there a band playing there or have they come down with Covid?

Can you explain exactly what is the Clothes Line Bacon?  Is there an additional charge for it?

We board Feb. 13th.  What I don't see on the Navigator App is anything scheduled for the Rolling Stone Rock Room.  Is there a band playing there or have they come down with Covid?

Hope to meet you on board starting Feb. 13th.  Thank you so much for posting this thread.  Bon Voyage!

We are sooooo happy for you two!  Hope to see you on board when we get there for the Feb. 13th sailing.   

Has your husband shown any signs of catching Covid from you?  If not, how have you managed to keep him Covid free in the same room all week?

Was this the Mushi Mushi catamaran?  We are signed up for it in a couple weeks.  Have made tons of scuba dives in Bonaire so this is really disappointing to hear since there are so many great reefs around there.  Thanks for the heads up.  How many people were on the catamaran?

Were passengers able to get off the ship in Aruba today?

 Do you know what they charge for a one day rental of the Retreat?  Different price for port day versus sea day?

31 minutes ago, AFNavigator said:

The cruise lines aren't running scared of the CDC.  They are running scared of losing revenue paying passengers due to perception that they are the "floating petri dishes" many politicians keep accuse them of being.

 

The CDC decided to let its Conditional Sail Order expire and are now only issuing recommendations--as has been the case most of the fall anyway.  Cruise lines aren't trying to do less than those recommendations.  Rather, many going beyond some of the CDC recommendations in the interest of minimizing COVID spread onboard.  The last thing they want it to be the lead story on network news about having to turn around due to having an outbreak and being tagged as a "petri dish".  That's the sort of press that kills thousands of future bookings. 

 

If proof of vaccination is good enough, think of how many stories on this forum alone have been told about being denied boarding due to testing positive prior to the cruise.  All those people would have unknowingly (or knowingly apparently for some) boarded if testing had not been required.  Why then, some may ask, don't the cruise lines test at embarkation.  The answer probably comes down to cost and logistics of processing thousands of tests during the relatively short embarkation window.  Who pays for that added test and the workers to carry it out?  Likely us as a portside cost or rolled into higher booking prices. 

When we went on a Crystal Cruise last year, they tested everyone (free) at the port.  You waited for your results in the terminal and you could only board if you were negative. There were no cases of Covid on board but there were only 173 passengers on our cruise.  As you can see, they could not sustain this kind of service without going bankrupt. 

I was really hoping that someone would do a LIVE thread on the current NS cruise.  Thank you for starting it and I look forward to your posts.  We board Feb. 13th with the same schedule of ports (in reverse order).  If you don't mind, would you be willing to say how much the upsell to the Neptune Suite was?  We are already in a Vista Suite and we felt like the upsell to Neptune they offered us was too high (and our travel agent agreed).  Enjoy your large cabin and bathroom (with tub).  Have a wonderful cruise!

7 hours ago, jbecker6469 said:

I had pretty much the same experience on the Dec 12 - 22 Rotterdam sailing.  Never heard of a passenger getting quarentined, but they kept that pretty quiet.  I stayed on board all ports except Grand Turk, then I only went to the port buildings, then back on.  Nice, uncrowded cruise.  Service was excellent, food was a little boring (repeated entrees mostly), but still good.  Will be on the Nieuw Stat Feb 13 - 23 doing the same itinerary.  Going for the sailing, not the ports of call.  Not to mention a few Pina Coladas and some casino time.  I feel safer on board a HAL ship than at my local grocery store!

 

Sign in on the Feb. 13 NS Roll Call. Two Cruise Critic get togethers planned, day one and two.

Mary Ann, just reading back your post for the 3rd time because I still am in denial...they put you in room 5163 on the ship.  We were originally suppose to be in room 5145 in that same row.  I wonder if there is a fire door somewhere in that hall.  Seems a little close to have the quarantine area near the other occupied rooms.  As it ends up, we got upgraded to a suite so now will be on deck 7 so no longer a concern.  Again wishing you well.  Are you at the Marriott?

I look forward to your posts every day.  I cannot believe you tested positive.  I am soooo sorry!  I'm hoping to meet you when we board the NS on Feb. 13th.  You should really have great immunity by then!  What a far cry from what you were expecting this week.  I hope it goes by quickly and you have mild symptoms.  Best to both of you.