FreestyleNovice

We flew to and from Iceland last week (Schengen), on a friday afternoon. Longer lines yes, checking our bags took 30 minutes and the wait for the security filter took another 30 minutes. Coming back on a sunday at noon after collecting our bags (took longer than average) we looked at the check in line which was already snaking outside the temporary tent outside Departures. So it varies, my advice: Be sure to check https://www.schiphol.nl/en/my-travel-day/today for your flights, Schiphol will tell if your day of flight is a busy one. Download their app to get instant notifications on your cell phone, Schiphol and the Port of Amsterdam both have free wifi, the Dutch Railways (NS) ditto. Check in with the airline before you go to Schiphol, use the airline app that way you will have a digital boarding pass so you only have to drop off your bag, use the self service machines if available. I feel sorry for the OP that their flight was cancelled and delayed but bear in mind that those factors are due to other airports or problems with the airline. Airplanes have an average turn around time of 1 to 3 hours between flights (otherwise they are parked at a platform). Once you are passed security and customs (non Schengen flights) and if you are at least 30 minutes pre departure time after all you went through you will make your flight if you keep moving, use the moving walkways and you can get anywhere within 15 minutes of fast otherwise-I-will-miss-my-flight-pace. Schiphol is a one terminal building, pretty much straight forward piers, all information is well indicated. Transfering through Schiphol (Schengen -> non Schengen) takes extra time but those flights originate elsewhere in Europe. The cue at the transfer filter varies a lot but depending on the ammount of transfer passengers. Traveling from Schiphol (and arriving, with understaffed ground workers for the baggage) does take extra time, be prepaired, arriving too early also congests the airport so plan wisely. Good luck to all!

Fincantieri has a yard in Trieste.

Don’t forget Amsterdam!

Nice updates all! I’m kind of off grid on an island that has a particular port of call for Prima, not on courtesy of NCL though! Keep the good news coming!

Now this is a ship that is almost ready!

I hope so too! Planning a trip too in fall... Be sure to have a WiFi package, or a hotel day room after disembarkation with WiFi for taking the test. You will be online around 15-20 minutes in a video call. I assume the ship's WiFi is fast enough to cater to those who might buy NCL's telemed test. Otherwise test on a port day, a shore or when the ship is quiet/low on pax, IF the timeframe (the day before rule, which btw is not 24H but a day) allows you. If you bring an iPad/tablet, which is favourable for the test vs mobile phone (smaller display), practice setting it up slightly tilted so it views your tabletop/desktop where the proctor can oversee the test being unboxed, the test itself and it's progress during the wait for the result. Of course all of this only when the proctor asks you to, in the videocall. edit: https://www.emed.com/products/covid-at-home-testkit-six-pack This is the cheapest per test option for eMed

Buying liquor in expensive Norway? I think we offer your drink for less on our side of the North Sea, haha!

I would assume "or", Italy has only required the FFP2 in the past and will be after May 1st for all public transport. And the KN95 (China), N95 (USA) and FFP2 (Europe) are equal to eachother as far I know so it could be the latter you said, just a listing?

Yep. NCL may offer the exact same test, be sure to inquire because IF they include data/Wifi that would be the easiest way. At Civitavecchia there's mention of a drive in test site, lots of cons: appointment needed (via website), opens at 8am, must have an electronic medical prescription(?) and.. you have to call or email for your result only (hold on..) from Tuesday to Saturday. Source; https://civitavecchia.portmobility.it/en/coronavirus-arrivals-and-departures-port-civitavecchia I am sure that there are better test sites around Civitavecchia but I would prefer the comfort and ease of use of a telemed test and not to worry about it after disembarkation. But.. Hopefully you won't need a test next month, who knows!

No problem, glad to help. Stock up for at home if it's not onboard at the bar..

You will be able to buy Linie Aquavit at one of the Gall & Gall liquor stores in Amsterdam, your port of departure. Gall & Gall is a chain; there are numerous stores around. Other liquor store might have it too. If you walk down the quay (all the way, say 10 ship lengths?) you will get to the Gall & Gall at Veemkade 1266 next to some grocery stores. The other stores closeby are in the city center. https://www.gall.nl/linie-aquavit-70cl-799068.html

For one (or even the first revenue/some 2 or 3 night taster) cruise on Escape we booked an forward facing oceanview, one which seemed larger than others (the ..700 series). NCL thought to do us a favour and "upgraded" us to a balcony nearby, unasked and unconfirmed (noticed it online in MyNCL a few weeks out). I was bummed. But I got to peek into the ..700 around the corner on disembarkation with permission of the steward cleaning it.

He won't like that if he comes here to check the progress of his ship..

Take Keith's advice, be sure to check the airport as testing is scaling down in Europe. Interesting to see they offer a telemedicine kit (eMed perhaps?), I suppose they would give you free WiFi acces to (at least) that URL/domain for taking the supervised test. But that would be another thread.

I am no expert and I know some posters are pessimistic but, it seems she could/should be ready on time to me. We have not seen any recent interior pictures, but if we don't get to see any appearing this month then we should be worried. All the exterior work what is being done at the moment is near final stage breakable stuff like tiling the pools, placing glass railings, within time the final layers on the decks, those details. If they start detailing the Ocean Boulevard with the wooden decor and sculptures you know they are close but that stage might be after seatrials. Here's a photo from this week, not showing details but it gives a general impression I hope:

Viva's upper aft blocks (Haven sun deck) being hoisted:

A Prima evening!

A bit low quality..

@Cruisesfun65 used Nomi and for free as I see it from this thread and there are two providers present but I am not aware where. I only have emailed Fast Lab while planning our past Feb vacation and found out that it is a paid service: Hi Fastlabs, Is Covid testing (antigen, for international) travel free for tourists at your Dolphin Mall location? Heard that it was but can't find confirmation that is actually is. Thanks in advance, kind regards from The Netherlands! Hello. Good afternoon. We are a private laboratory, so we do charge for our tests and provide the results in less than one hour. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Thank you! -FastLabs Team

I think the bus tour is back now (post Covid), that does a tour along the platforms. We enjoyed that very much in 2019. This year we still had fun, without the bus tour but with a live rocket launch (separate tickets for bleecher seats, the Saturn V building was off limits to the general public after a certain time so be sure to check the launch calendar!) in the afternoon. I am most certain that visiting KSC is something people will appreciate and make them admire and wonder about the engineering and complexity that went into it at that time. And especially now with commercial space travel and the new moon missions! It's an interesting place to visit and nowhere else you will get closer to where we, mankind, made the step to the moon. OP just probably wants that too, being grumpy about how it was is not helping anyone.

Try Shore Excursions Group for your cruise.

Now I am confused. I researched Dolphin Mall as an option for our past Feb cruise, the website https://shopdolphinmall.com/events/dolphin-mall-covid-testing?id=21785 lead me to think all test options were run by FastLab (see the 2nd paragraph with a link to them). I emailed them and got of course a reply that their service is not free to international tourist. But in hindsight I see that the first option is a different one/provider?

Not the OP but the Mardi Gras (Carnival) seems to be homeported in Port Canaveral.

I think they closed down security filters due to shortage of staff, upsetting pax in line. AMS (Schiphol) announced today that the problems will continue up to the start of summer.

They were not in Feb (flying back to AMS from MIA after Allure of the Seas), we counted in some extra time and rented a cabana for the day at a Miami SoBe hotel (with wifi). I would expect the surf & stream will do. We resorted to eMed too but because of the lack of any reasonable priced test sites in Miami. https://spoedtest.nl/en/ offers a 40 Euro/30 minute test and we used that on our outbound AMS-MIA flight, with a location near Amsterdam Centraal station (inside the Park Plaza Victoria hotel). People stood in line at AMS security for six hours, the airport had to close down filter(s?) causing some riots. The atmosphere was described as grim.