misha1

1 minute ago, RichYak said:

I don't think that they're actually "sold out". I seem to recall reading somewhere that iHealth simply stopped taking future appointments and got out of the proctoring business. I could be wrong.

So this is different than E med

On 5/5/2022 at 2:46 PM, Ellemill said:

 

 

 

I know people have mentioned IHealth for proctored Covid tests but they appear to be sold out right now for appts. 
 

Has anyone used On-Point Testing Company? It says you can use any test and they proctor it for you and provide official results needed for travel. 
 

has anyone used them? Looks like $25 each. Still cheaper than trying to use EMed?? 

We are sailing in September, our first since Covid shut downs.  The 'sold out for appt' confuses me.  Am I to understand that if we purchase covid tests for our sailing that we have to make appointment for proctoring?  

On 6/28/2022 at 9:54 AM, David Kane said:

The only useful point of information to be had here is each guest has to complete the muster on their own device. 

 

 

May I ask a clarifying question?  DH has to download the Celebrity app and watch the muster drill seperately from me?  We, being in the same cabin, are not able to watch the video together on one device?

TIA

2 hours ago, mauimary said:

No he and his wife are very much onboard the Solstice. We have listened to three of his lectures so far.  He narrated out to Dawes Glacier yesterday.
Somebody was mistaken that he was on the Eclipse. 

Yay!

2 hours ago, mauimary said:

We are on this cruise now and have a 7yr old grandson with us.  He loves Brent Nixon nature lectures.  He is not bored.  He has taken advantage of having the heated outdoor swimming pool practically to himself.  We have done some excursions too.  There are also teens on board. We have seen a group that have eaten together and attended the show.  We have seen this nice group in the coffee shop too. This is the second time he has been to Alaska with us. 

So...is Mr. Nixon on Solstice?  I heard he moved to Equinox

Touch your mask, then near your eyes, mouth, nose. .fuggeddebout it...you are contaminated

3 hours ago, Fly and Sail said:

Nothing has been done on Solstice. I'm on it right now and this ship is patchwork wherever you take a detailed look. My AQ cabin had three severe defects within one week. They still use magnet striped key cards that have to be replaced every 2-3 days because either the foil with the data peels off or other faults. I wouldn't book it again until it has undergone substantial renovations.

Fabulous

On 5/10/2022 at 7:40 PM, lovecruzin said:

Would you mind telling me which car service? I would like to do the Eclipse Alaska itinerary but the thought of testing onboard, etc..is more than I want to deal with. Thanks!

kjlimousine out of Vancouver.  And, I agree that the testing or lack of testing is becoming ridiculous.  When the mask mandates were dropped was the appropriate time to drop the re-entry requirements.  We can all see how well the removal of mask mandates is working.  I don't want to have Covid, and I sure don't want to give someone Covid.  Unfortunetly, there is no solid way of preventing and protecting it short of never leaving one's bubble...and even then, not sure you are 100% safe there.  

Because of this very debate, we have changed our flight home from Vancouver to Seattle and will hire a car service to Seattle.  Expensive?  Yes, but no more than trip insurance and we do not need to test and risk either missing our flight or having to isolate in Canada.  If we are symptomatic, then we test onboard and take it from there.  It was just too much stress after a vacation.  It's enough to cancel...once again.  First world problem

My TA did not know how long one has to quarentine in Canada if positive.  She told me to call the Canadian Consulate...um, no.  I am still leaning toward private car service from Vancouver to Seattle.  Cheaper than trip insurance for our group of 4.  It would require us to switch our flights and add a night in Seattle or Minneapolis.  Still better than quarentining for any length if time in Canada.  Travel, and its complications are not for the faint of heart anymore.  With the significant uptick in Covid cases, we could see additional disruptions down the line

25 minutes ago, Algebralovr said:

I have been able to participate in Zoom meetings while on Celebrity ships with the Stream internet package.  I tried for the first time on Solstice in Alaska in 2018.  Been using it ever since.  Always fun to show my work colleagues where I’m working from that day. 🙂

 

So, the proctored eMed tests should work fine.  If a sea day, you might need to use it super early or late. 

Good to hear

36 minutes ago, lynncarol said:

Five of us, all USA citizens, did a 10 day cruise with Celebrity out of Tampa Florida this past March.  Even though we went to 5 different islands (none of the private ones) before returning, no ship employees onboard or at the Tampa port ever said one word about testing when we got off the ship back in the States.  Fastest disembarkation ever! If anywhere Celebrity was offering Covid tests, we never saw it.

You started in the US and ended in the US.  No need for pre-flight testing

2 hours ago, Babr said:

I can’t say how likely one is to test positive, but just the possibility along with the difficulty of testing and getting to the airport in time was enough for us to rework our return plans.

 

We’ll drive to Seattle and catch an early flight the next day for what turns out to be a better flight than we had from YVR. The new flight is nonstop arriving mid-afternoon for an easier drive home. Fortunately we were able to change with no fee - just the cost of the rent car, which is fairly significant for one day, but it is worth it to me. It just takes a lot of wrinkles out of that last part of the trip.

 What rental agency did you use? When I looked this up it said no  one way rental that included a border crossing was allowed. I went ahead and got a quote from a limo company that would take us from the cruise ship pier in Vancouver to seatac. Wondering how comparable a rental of a car is versus their price quote.   Plus it would be nice with someone else driving us, since we do not know the path so to speak.  This whole bit has really ripped a hole in our travel sails.  (No pun intended).  Enough so that we are considering cancelling.  That would be #10 since our 8/2019 cruise that would go into that file

20 hours ago, MadisonMom said:

Thanks so much for this information!  This was exactly the kind of information I was looking for since my son and I are on a RT Alaska cruise out of Vancouver.  We also have travel insurance, so we are covered.  Looks like Canada's isolation/quarantine is longer than the US - 14 days instead of 5.

 

-Molly

You would stay in Canada for 14 days?  I can drive home in 3

3 minutes ago, Babr said:

Not sure about logistics of quarantine at testing sites, but you will not be able to board your flight with a positive test. Your options for other forms of transportation are likely to be limited at the last minute. Reservations for the shuttle bus to Seattle or a rent car need to be made ahead of time.

Exactly.  I find this with sketchy WiFi and potential of no cell service to be ridiculous.  How can anyone truly plan?  

This ALL makes my head spin.  I had a post on as well regarding the timeliness of disembarkation testing and cell service or ship WiFi functionality.  Our flight to USA is at 12:45 on day of disembarkation.  I fear missing the flight due to delay in results.  If one tests positive at disembarkation, who forces them to quarentine?

What an excellent discussion.  I am very appreciative of everyone's expertise.  While September seems like a long ways away, I feel like it will be here very quickly.  And how do people navigate a quarentine?  This would be a huge added expense, not to mention worries about home responsibilities, ie job.  Renting a car can get me from Vancouver to Seattle but then what?

1 minute ago, 5waldos said:

If you are referring to ArriveCAN here is a link  https://arrivecan.cbsa-asfc.cloud-nuage.canada.ca/en/auth?returnUrl=%2Flanding-page

I found it on google previously, but thanks for the link.  I guess I was wondering or thinking more about the thousands of cruisers who don't know about this, like me.  IDK...I gotta just chill about it right now.  

Just now, bEwAbG said:

I would wait until a few cruises have happened before worrying about what the requirements will be at the end of the season.  The one agent who said the protocols are not out was the closest to the truth...until ships start sailing and people have real world experiences, it's all pretty much theoretical.  And of course the protocols can change at any time, so I think you're just getting yourself worked up over something that is still very much in flux.

Words well said.  

Do they provide the form on board?

Surely, we are not the only travelers returning to the US from a foreign port.  I called Celebrity...after being transferred 3 times, and was waiting for the 4th "expert" to come on the phone only to be disconnected.  Before that happened I was told Celebrity's protocols are not out yet for September.  One rep said the re-entry covid tests are provided the day before disembarkation and can be accomplished via a guide...lovely, except what if I do not have calling capability.  No solution offered.  

40 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

If I were in your situation, I would also be very nervous about taking a test and making a noon flight. Any chance you can change your flight to leave out of Seattle? No testing required at the border if you drive in and there are lots of shuttles running from Vancouver cruise terminal to SeaTac (at least there were pre-covid). Or maybe leave later from Vancouver? 

These shuttles you mention...one would not need a covid test to re-enter the US using this means of transport to the US?

34 minutes ago, Dancing Shoes said:

You said your flight was changed.  Did the airline offer you a chance to change at no cost?  If so, I would rebook a later flight.  My flight changed by 45 mins. and they offered me anytime I wanted free of charge.  

Yes, we can change flight time but that has a significant domino effect.  Not ideal

From the Celebrity page on travel requirements 

"All fully vaccinated guests requiring a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be provided the opportunity to receive testing in the cruise port during disembarkation. Proof of return travel scheduled within 24 hours of disembarkation will be required. Details on testing registration will be provided onboard. Testing will be complimentary for guests with cruise reservations booked prior to November 16, 2021.  For new bookings made on or after November 16, 2021, testing will be available for a per person fee. The cost for onsite cruise port testing starts at $99 per person.  Prices vary by port and test type." 

2 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

I fit the criteria either way.  I'll go back and check that other section.  Very frustrating that they can't have all the info in one place.

Me too, but I worry about getting a solid and straight answer from Celebrity.  Seems like they are having the same trouble navigating this as I am...if you can even speak to anyone.