Process Details for the Celebrity Millennium Sint Maarten Sailings

[cangelmd]

3 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Well I just booked Millie to Alaska in September.😀

GOOD FOR YOU!

We are hopefully on Equinox Aug 1

[lhsail]

I add my thanks. Watched a brief news clip from the Good Morning America coverage.  I’ll admit it brought tears to my eyes. 

[Purplsmurf]

Was the test at Walgreens the Abbott ID Now test? Also, did they say anything about being tested before arriving to Aruba? Not sure about Curaçao, but Aruba requires a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arriving on the island regardless if one is vaccinated or not. Curious as to how they are handling cruise passengers. Doesn’t seem right that some have to have the negative test while others don’t.

[TreeCity]

On 6/4/2021 at 4:33 PM, Seany527 said:

Taxi was super easy. When you exit there will be a bunch of tour operators, car rental companies and taxi drivers. The drivers were lined up and waiting for work.
We are staying at Little Divi Bay Resort which you have to drive past to reach the Millennium. The cost was $20 total for two people. I would imagine from airport to cruise ship it would be around $25 total. 
 

I did some research on taxi costs and it was reported airport to cruise terminal was $9 per person. However, all of those reports were prior to COVID, so it looks like they raised their prices. 
 

For what it’s worth, traffic was pretty bad and it took us about 30 mins to reach the hotel. I thought $20 was pretty good price. 

 

Seany527, thank you so much for the taxi information!

[KKB]

23 minutes ago, stinkyenglishteacher said:

Anyone else stalking the blogs for a new post? Just me? Okay. 😬

🤚🤚 Me!!

[caymancouple]

19 minutes ago, KKB said:

🤚🤚 Me!!

Me too

 

[imtired1959]

12 minutes ago, caymancouple said:

Me too

 

You'd better believe it!

No such thing as TMI when you have $4500 at stake!

[BSR]

1 hour ago, caymancouple said:

Me too

 

Me three. 

[gmjc2]

Several postings on other threads state that the on the spot test for people who did not have time to get the test before under the 72 hour rule is only available for the June 5th cruise. We should not rely on that as a back up plan for other dates.

[cruising teacher]

Are there any Zeniths on board? Please post your experiences. Any Captains Club activities?

[TeeRick]

17 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

I don't know if the border to Canada will be open again by then. If it is and the "Victoria Clipper" is running you should do the trip to Victoria, it's a lovely small town with much to see.

If the border is open I will come there and meet you in a pub for a beer!

[imtired1959]

1 hour ago, gmjc2 said:

 We should not rely on that as a back up plan for other dates.

I could not agree more.  

[Jimbo]

Ut Oh, been a while since the OP last posted, lets hope everything is okay and he is having so much fun no time to post.

[Caribbean Chris]

More reporting on today’s Good Morning America (Monday June 7) from Barbados.

 

This thread has me ready to cruise again soon. Thank you for all the great details and photos!

 

 

[AbbyCruiser45]

Here is the GMA clip from this morning: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/video/1st-north-american-passenger-cruise-sets-sail-start-78127205?fbclid=IwAR1OIVNYXmFbwIPUDpaSn3bWvDuPEB9nh5wASMDhhKLnId7GT2bmlMeiIsU

[cruising teacher]

6 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Ut Oh, been a while since the OP last posted, lets hope everything is okay and he is having so much fun no time to post.

I’m wondering if it’s a case of everyone having internet so no one has it.

[AbbyCruiser45]

4 minutes ago, cruising teacher said:

I’m wondering if it’s a case of everyone having internet so no one has it.

I’ve seen lots of social media posts and live streams from Billy at Cruise Habit, so I’d say the internet is fine and that OP is just having a blast. 

[gmjc2]

Just checked the Celebrity website and even though it states a June2nd update it still says that the 72 hr rule is before arriving in St. Maarten!!  They are so chaotic about these protocols!!!

[Seany527]

Hi everyone-

 

I apologize for the lack of updates. It seems that I lost the ability to post to Cruise Critic while connected to the ships wifi. But we are here in Barbados today. 

 

Yesterday was a sea day and there is nothing really to report that was out of the ordinary.  

 

In the dining room, people are being seated at different tables and not with others who are not in your party. However, the tables are set up in the same manner that they were prior to COVID. The distance between the tables is no longer than the span of my hand. 

 

Outside of the dining room, here are some picture of the new signage on the ship. 

These two signs are posted at the hand washing stations in the buffet. 
 

 

 

These are some of the floor markers scattered around the ship (Guest Services Line, in buffet area, entry to the theater, etc)

 

 

 

Spaced seating at the theater. 
 

 

Next to the stairs and inside the elevator.  Some had asked if Celebrity monitors the elevator capacity. The answer is, not at all. 
 

 

Inside the elevators

 

 

Lastly, the casino. 
 

 

There are some other random signs but you get the idea. 

[mahdnc]

1 minute ago, Seany527 said:

Hi everyone-

 

I apologize for the lack of updates. It seems that I lost the ability to post to Cruise Critic while connected to the ships wifi. But we are here in Barbados today. 

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to post updates.  But, tell me that you are enjoying the cruise?

[Seany527]

On 6/5/2021 at 8:03 PM, bdmagee said:

Thank you so much for sharing @Seany527 !  These posts have been great and certainly making me feel better about our cruise in a month.  Please keep sharing.  Would love to know your thoughts through the different parts of the cruise (including your Tuscan Grille Dinner!).  

 

I enjoyed myself at Tuscan Grille. I hate to say anything negative about Celebrity because I am so thankful for what they have been able to accomplish, but I was within earshot of two other tables and both let the waiter know they were not happy with their meals. Someone said the pasta was over cooked and dry and another person said their steak was chewy and fatty. 
 

I got the lasagna and unfortunately it was ice cold in the center. I’m not talking like room temperature cold, I mean like they took it out of the freezer when I ordered it and let it thaw under a light. But honestly, I kept it to myself because I was just happy to be there. 
 

The other guy I’m sailing with ordered Filet and I had a bite of that. It was absolutely, melt in your mouth, cooked to perfection deliciousness. 
 

Service was great in Tuscan and has been great at every venue. 

[phoenix_dream]

21 hours ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

And from what I've read, you don't need to panic. If you don't get the 72 hour prior to boarding back in time, they'll just test you in port and you won't be denied boarding. I would still make every effort to get it, I just wouldn't let it keep you up at night. 

They said this was being done only for the first cruise - so don't plan to rely on it for later cruises.

[Seany527]

On 6/5/2021 at 10:36 PM, iamaqt2 said:

@Seany527 Thank you so much for taking time out of your vacation to share this with all of us!  I'm going to be on Millie end of July, and am enjoying following along.
I have a couple of questions if you have time to answer.  How are they handling seating in the MDR?  Have they spaced the tables out a bit?  And how are they handling seating in the theater?  Does the daily planner offer lots of activities and evening entertainment?  Or is it pared down a bit from previous cruises?  If you have a chance to post the planner that would be amazing! Thanks in advance!

 

No spacing what so ever in the MDR. There are roughly 600 people onboard and they are seating people at separate tables but on top of one another. I have anytime dining which is on deck 4. The dining room is huge, they have the space to spread us out, but people are seated literally on both sides of you with the tables for 2 a hand span apart. 
 

Seating at the theater is spread out very nicely. I uploaded a pic in a previous post. 
 

The daily planner which is delivered in paper copies to your room seems to have the same amount of activities as any other cruise. The only issue, there are so few people on board, the activities can feel awkward. 
At Karaoke, there was a crowd of maybe 20 people and it was the same 3 or 4 people on a rotation (they did not disinfect the microphone in between).    There was a dancing activity by the pool and 5 or 6 people participated.  There was a guitarist playing at the coffee shop and no one was there to listen to him. 
 

I can post all the planners when I get home. I have been saving them. 

[iamaqt2]

1 minute ago, Seany527 said:

No spacing what so ever in the MDR. There are roughly 600 people onboard and they are seating people at separate tables but on top of one another. I have anytime dining which is on deck 4. The dining room is huge, they have the space to spread us out, but people are seated literally on both sides of you with the tables for 2 a hand span apart. 
 

Seating at the theater is spread out very nicely. I uploaded a pic in a previous post. 
 

The daily planner which is delivered in paper copies to your room seems to have the same amount of activities as any other cruise. The only issue, there are so few people on board, the activities can feel awkward. 
At Karaoke, there was a crowd of maybe 20 people and it was the same 3 or 4 people on a rotation (they did not disinfect the microphone in between).    There was a dancing activity by the pool and 5 or 6 people participated.  There was a guitarist playing at the coffee shop and no one was there to listen to him. 
 

I can post all the planners when I get home. I have been saving them. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.  Sounds like business as usual, but not the usual cruise experience.  I do hope you're enjoying your vacation, and look forward to your next updates.

[Croooser]

Thanks very much for the updates. What is the status of on shore? Are you restricted to Celebrity excursions or free to explore on your own? Does it vary by island?