Kaitlyn2

On 8/12/2022 at 10:46 PM, cfelbab said:

Does anybody know if a satisfactory test can be obtained at the Athens airport upon arrival or what other options exist to get the test prior to boarding in Greece?

getting on the Jade Sunday and did our test at Athens airport on arrival yesterday.  We needed the PCR and it was 60 euros each.  Test was back to us via email by 7 pm.  It is on arrivals floor between doors 2 and 3 after you get luggage and exit.  Hope this helps

5 minutes ago, Kaitlyn2 said:

The letter for documentation  of recovery can be written by any public Health official according to the cdc website.  It also gives you the wording that is required for the letter and you need to bring a copy of your positive PCR test to NCL checkin..  She could see if her county health dept will write it.  I had a very mild case of Covid May 19th and still tested positive on June 4th.  I got the letter for our July 3rd B2B out of Southampton from my doctor.  I gave him the CDC wording, a copy of my PCR test and he did the next day.  Good luck.

Here is the wording 

People who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after their infection. CDC does not recommend retesting within 3 months after a person with COVID-19 first developed symptoms of COVID-19 (or the date their sample was taken for their first positive viral diagnostic test if their infection was asymptomatic).

If you have had a positive viral test on a sample taken during the past 90 days, and you have met the criteria to travel, you may travel instead with your positive viral test results and a signed letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel according to CDC’s travel guidance. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as “documentation of recovery.”

A letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that clears you to travel, must have information that identifies you personally (e.g., name and date of birth) that matches the personal identifiers on your passport or other travel documents. The letter must be signed and dated on official letterhead that contains the name, address, and phone number of the healthcare provider or public health official who signed the letter.

The letter for documentation  of recovery can be written by any public Health official according to the cdc website.  It also gives you the wording that is required for the letter and you need to bring a copy of your positive PCR test to NCL checkin..  She could see if her county health dept will write it.  I had a very mild case of Covid May 19th and still tested positive on June 4th.  I got the letter for our July 3rd B2B out of Southampton from my doctor.  I gave him the CDC wording, a copy of my PCR test and he did the next day.  Good luck.

Just now, Kaitlyn2 said:

People who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after their infection. CDC does not recommend retesting within 3 months after a person with COVID-19 first developed symptoms of COVID-19 (or the date their sample was taken for their first positive viral diagnostic test if their infection was asymptomatic).

If you have had a positive viral test on a sample taken during the past 90 days, and you have met the criteria to travel, you may travel instead with your positive viral test results and a signed letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel according to CDC’s travel guidance. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as “documentation of recovery.”

A letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that clears you to travel, must have information that identifies you personally (e.g., name and date of birth) that matches the personal identifiers on your passport or other travel documents. The letter must be signed and dated on official letterhead that contains the name, address, and phone number of the healthcare provider or public health official who signed the letter.

Forgot to mention it must be a PCR test according to NCL.  

7 hours ago, taylortime05 said:

Hi, could you share the link to the exact working needed from a doctor?  I’ve looked on the CDC website but cannot find it.  Thank you.

Hope this helps.  Karen

People who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after their infection. CDC does not recommend retesting within 3 months after a person with COVID-19 first developed symptoms of COVID-19 (or the date their sample was taken for their first positive viral diagnostic test if their infection was asymptomatic).

If you have had a positive viral test on a sample taken during the past 90 days, and you have met the criteria to travel, you may travel instead with your positive viral test results and a signed letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel according to CDC’s travel guidance. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as “documentation of recovery.”

A letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that clears you to travel, must have information that identifies you personally (e.g., name and date of birth) that matches the personal identifiers on your passport or other travel documents. The letter must be signed and dated on official letterhead that contains the name, address, and phone number of the healthcare provider or public health official who signed the letter.

I had covid late May and got a PCR test on June 4th - showed positive still and my doctor wrote the letter the next day.  I had emailed my doctor with the exact wording needed off the CDC website.  We leave July 3rd out of Southampton and I'm expecting (hoping) NCL will accept the test result and the doctor's letter.  The rest of our party will need to get rapid antigen tests when we land in England as we are coming in 3 days early.  

On 5/29/2021 at 2:50 PM, CruiserFromMaine said:

You’re welcome—have a great cruise!

 

If you’ve got any interest in history, I’d recommend the Vicksburg tour. Plus. I don’t know what else you’d do. 

Is their enough time in port to arrange a private tour - say one with Viator?  Did the ship dock & leave close to schedule?

We will be on the Duchess Sept 10th.

On 10/12/2020 at 6:14 AM, Linda the Book Lover said:

I have to admit I was surprised to find that in addition to my Platinum bag, the offspring and I will also have a free bag which works out well for us. When I sail with the husband it is nice that we both have a free bag of laundry. I agree Haven guests should also be offered this rather nice perk. We are thinking about a transatlantic in 2022 and three bags of free laundry would be perfect for us.

My husband and I are both Platinum Plus and each receive 1 free bag.  We also found that on longer voyages to ask the Latitude host if they have added additional free bags for Platinum and above.  On our fated March 2, 2020 Spirit cruise of 21 days it was 3 bags per person.  You just need to ask if they have added extra free bags.  They don't advertise when they do.

On 8/7/2020 at 11:06 AM, julig22 said:

My policy is through my previous employer and as such is negotiated specifically for retirees and isn't available to the general public.  There isn't any specific wording with respect to cruising,  just travel within/outside the US.  Medicare will not pay for services outside the US, so the only way to get coverage (outside of a travel policy) is to have a supplemental or advantage plan with those provisions.  While I think it's a common coverage, many also have a lifetime cap.  Currently, mine does not.

 

The terms of the 2021 plans will be available soon - hopefully it won't have exclusions!

We have a medicare advantage plan thru aetna and it includes worldwide coverage - might be offered only in certain states.

The drinks at Los Lobos are fantastic!  Small, intimate venue and we found the food great on the dawn in February.  Prices are very reasonable and portions were big so we did not use our vouchers there.  Did drink many themed drinks though!

My TA just told me yesterday they are not doing any more new groups after 6/1/18

Kaitlyn2

If you are asking if the cabins that are parallel to the hallway and are on deck 8 near O'Sheenahans are worth it - YES. Quiet area of the boat, bigger bathroom, and more are to move around for 2 people. Obstructed-yes but not bad. Plus so close to food, bar, atrium and elevators. We liked ours so much on a Feb. Caribbean cruise we booked the same cabin for Feb 2019 Sydney to Singapore.

Kaitlyn2

Just got off the Dawn early Feb 2018 and we were in one of these cabins - 8116. It was like having OSheenahan's as our private dining room and bar! Very quiet, right near elevators, and spiral stairs down to atrium were so convenient. Best of all, shower was big, and there was more room for dressing, etc with 2 people in cabin. One negative, no extra shelves in bathroom.

We liked it so much we just booked it on the Jewel for Feb 2019 out of Sydney.

Hope this helps.

Karen

We are doing a B2B Singapore to Venice in Mar 2017. They raised first cruise by $400 for outside cabin BUT did not raise on 2nd cruise for balcony. So we switched from shore excursions to prepaid gratuities on both cruises Much better promo for us!

Which red wine did you like? I'm asking because none of them look appealing and we enjoy a nice bold red with dinner. I didn't realize you could order top shelf liquor or ask for a second shot. Is this true on the

Getaway?

Sorry I didn't answer earlier. Not sure if you can order drinks with top shelf on all ships but assume you can. The red we liked with dinner was from France. Sorry can't be more specific. Wine steward never even mentioned the NCL branded wines.

If one enjoys a wine that complements their meal, the UBP choices are barely drinkable. If one doesn't care about the taste or quality, just wants to get drunk, I guess it works as good as anything.

 

The mixed drinks are also pretty downgraded. We were on Jewel in Jan. There are cartons of "mixers" added to most mixed drinks. The mixers are cheap, sugary and just plain awful. The strategy is to fill the glass with as much ice as possible, pour in the swill mixer and top off with the shot which gives the person a false sense that the beverage has some alcohol in it. The shot is not visibly measured, it is just a pour out of a bottle. We doubt the shot is "standard sized."

 

As for the experience of enjoying a cruise, having a decent beverage is not too much to ask. But the UBP is not the way to get it, unless of course you prefer drinking shots...which is not our preference.

 

We don't think the UBP is worth the cost of gratuities.

 

NCL has become less enjoyable as they continue to try to "upgrade" the cruise experience.

We were on the Jewel in Feb. for the Canal cruise and virtually every drink was great on the UDP. We'd order our drinks with top shelf liquor versus well and still come in under $15. Same with adding a 2nd shot if we wanted it with well liquor - the bartender at the Mojito Bar always measured, was very generous and a delight. Same with the Martini bar. We never had the NCL house wines pushed on us and found a wonderful red on the dining room menu to drink with dinner. We are not wine snobs but being Oregonians we certainly know some great wines! UDP can be enjoyable if you want it to be. Not perfect, but still great.

Thanks for the info. Each ship may be different.

Karen

NCL has different charging dependent on having or not having UBP. If you have UBP a 18% service charge is added to the cost upon purchase(unless you had the TOTALLY free promo). If you purchase drinks onboard an 18% service charge is added onto every drink. Taxes are added dependent upon the port. So far we have only paid taxes ( not service charge) in US ports (NY and Tampa)

Safe sailing

We have promo UBP on Jewel in Feb. Have paid gratuity already - question is with the sticker showing you have UBP do you still sign for drinks? Do they scan your card?

Karen

Thank you. We are doing a full transit with Norwegian next month. Your help is very much appreciated.

Thanks for this great post . We are party of 8 on NCL Jewel in Feb doing the full transit.

Karen

On NCL I love the Goat Cheese Souffle they serve as an appetizer. If not on the menu you can ask for it and they 'll schedule for the next night in whatever MDR you tell them you'll be eating in. This is true of other dishes too.

Thanks for the review. We will be on the Royal on Jan. 8. :)

We too will be on the Royal on the 8th but start as a B2B on Dec 29th. Can't wait to see how they do New Year's Eve.

Wow. Glad I posted this. What an eye opener. Princess is definitely doing some strange things... 7 ships for Alaska vs 2 for the Med? Seriously?! I can only conclude that too many Princess customers on the all inclusive drink package have been booking future cruises while drunk... Don't drink and book people! :p

 

Anyway, after a few great years, they are losing me as a customer if they think I'm going to pay nearly $200/pp/night for an inside. Some other suckers can pay that. Just glad to hear none of them are on this forum ;)

 

I'm going to check out Celebrity and Carnival then I guess.

 

 

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We did NCL Jade as a B2B this past March out of Rome for 21 day. Very port intensive including overnight in Istanbul. I think we only had 4 sea days and it ran about $100 a night per person for mid ship balcony. The crew was wonderful, food always good and sometime great, and the ports outstanding.

Karen

thanks for the info.

Karen

We parked at the dock .. dropped off people and luggage, parked the car and took a shuttle bus back .. very handy.

How much was parking? 7 days or longer?

Thanks, Karen

You can also ask for it as a special request and they'll have it for you the next evening. You'll need to let them know your dining room preference - just let your maitre'de know.

We requested it twice on the Diamond and it was fabulous!

Karen