A Canadian takes on a S2B2B on Oasis 1/2/22, Odyssey 1/9/22 & 1/15/22 (hopefully)

[JessyCruises]

5 minutes ago, fonz623 said:

Thanks for the play-by-play and the photos of the food. Great fun to look forward to.

Will be on Odyssey with you next week. Allure January 16 and will do Oasis February 27th.

Is there a meet and greet? Would love to bump elbows with you all.

 

I am not sure if there is an official meet and greet but we can always arrange our own 🙂

[JamesEM]

Following along, great food porn.

[Maitaivegas]

13 hours ago, JessyCruises said:

Yes!  We are on UDP and we used it today 🙂

Thank you so much. 
What’s funny is I live in the South and we eat BBQ off of a platter. Seeing the BBQ plopped on a tray is something else.

🥰

[JessyCruises]

Apparently there was a family of 8 that missed the ship yesterday after being an hour and a half late in Nassau. I had no clue!  I knew we were late leaving, but I was working at the time and was not paying attention to the announcements. 

 

According to the thread I just read the ship was just leaving when they arrived.  Lesson learned!!

[fonz623]

16 hours ago, JessyCruises said:

I am not sure if there is an official meet and greet but we can always arrange our own 🙂

Will touch base next week😃

[fonz623]

36 minutes ago, fonz623 said:

Will touch base next week😃

Rain forecast for Roatan and Cozumel next week. Might be hanging out in Solarium or 270.

[A&L_Ont]

1 hour ago, JessyCruises said:

Apparently there was a family of 8 that missed the ship yesterday after being an hour and a half late in Nassau. I had no clue!  I knew we were late leaving, but I was working at the time and was not paying attention to the announcements. 

 

According to the thread I just read the ship was just leaving when they arrived.  Lesson learned!!

You probably didn’t understand it or hear the message clearly while it blared out at you. 😉🙂

[JessyCruises]

30 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

You probably didn’t understand it or hear the message clearly while it blared out at you. 😉🙂

 

I know there was repeated announcements but I was on a conference call.  I remember at least some of them were in Spanish, so maybe that is why I was not paying attention because I could not understand them and was trying to block them out so I could hear my call.  🙂

Edited January 5, 2022 by JessyCruises

[Virtopia]

On 12/29/2021 at 3:57 PM, JessyCruises said:

TESTING

We ordered proctored antigen tests from Switch Health to use to fly and board the cruise.  We used these same tests when we cruised on the Allure and had no issues.  They are $79 CAD for 2 tests.  We will be taking the tests on New Years Eve.  We fly to Florida on Westjet on the 1st.

 

On 12/20/21 Royal announced it would no longer be providing PCR testing for international guest that needed it to fly home for cruises leaving after Jan 5 and that we would need to find our own PCR test either at the terminal, or another venue.  I tried to get the cost of the testing at the terminal, but RCL was unable to provide me any information.  I ended up buying some RT-LAMP tests which are proctored online like the antigen tests but they are accepted by Canada for re-entry.

(https://switchhealth.ca/en/partners/aeroplan/#collectionKits).  I only ordered 2 to start so my husband and I would have them before we leave this weekend in hopes we would be able to get more information on the terminal tests while onboard before the others had to pay for tests.  The cost of the tests was $149 CAD per test.  I ordered them the same day Royal made the announcement which I believe was a Monday and received them by Wednesday.  They do not expire until July.

 

On Sunday 12/26/22, Royal came out with additional information.  They are now providing the in terminal testing for cruises departing 1/5/22 to 1/31/22 at no cost to passengers.  For cruises after January, guests will need to pay $105 USD for antigen or $210 USD for PCR.  These are starting prices and will fluctuate based on the port.  We will be saving those RT-Lamp tests we bought for one of our other cruises this spring and using RCLs testing for this cruise.  If the pricing at the ports is going to stay that high, we will continue to order the tests through Switch health for future.  $210 USD x 5 = about $1365 CAD.  That is a lot of unexpected expense, so I am glad RCL decided to grandfather us January cruises in.  Results should be received within an hour and our flight on the 23rd is not until noon so if we get off early, that should leave us plenty of time to get our results and load them onto the ArriveCAN app in time.

 

These is lots of speculation about why RCL is no longer providing the tests.  I am assuming it is a combination of 3 factors:

1) To save $$ for the cruise line by reducing testing costs

2) If the test is not given onboard and a guest test positive, that guest and their party would no longer fall under the cruise line’s responsibility (ie quarantine hotel, flight home, food, etc). 

3) I assume since the guest is no longer onboard when they get tested, RCL may not be required to report the positive tests to CDC?

 

I may not like it, but I guess all these reasons make sense to me.  To combat #2, we are bringing some rapid antigen tests with us.  We are planning to test the 5 of us onboard on the 22nd.  If any of us are positive, then we will report it onboard on the 22nd and request a full test from the cruise line.  We would then fall under their positive covid policy.  Paul and I will have been onboard a ship and in RCLs hands since Jan 2 with testing for our S2S and B2B, so if either he or I get Covid and test positive on that last cruise, it will be pretty clear we got it on their watch.

 

More to come

 

Thank you for these very specific details. I just used Switch Health to order my tests. I have a couple questions if you don't mind (or any Canadians, for that matter!)

 

1) Do you have to book an appointment for doing the video testing or do you just go online and join a queue? I'm flying out the afternoon of Sun Jan 30th and plan to jump online early in the morning to get it done.

 

2) Based on the email that was sent, my impression is because my sailing leaves on January 31st, we would still be covered by Royal for our testing. Is it possible to ask if that's the case?

 

Appreciate your help and have a great sailing!

[MamatoJack]

18 minutes ago, Virtopia said:

 

Thank you for these very specific details. I just used Switch Health to order my tests. I have a couple questions if you don't mind (or any Canadians, for that matter!)

 

1) Do you have to book an appointment for doing the video testing or do you just go online and join a queue? I'm flying out the afternoon of Sun Jan 30th and plan to jump online early in the morning to get it done.

 

2) Based on the email that was sent, my impression is because my sailing leaves on January 31st, we would still be covered by Royal for our testing. Is it possible to ask if that's the case?

 

Appreciate your help and have a great sailing!

 

1 - just join the queue

2 - you will be fine testing on the 30th for a cruise on the 31st.

 

have fun 🙂

[JessyCruises]

39 minutes ago, Virtopia said:

1) Do you have to book an appointment for doing the video testing or do you just go online and join a queue? I'm flying out the afternoon of Sun Jan 30th and plan to jump online early in the morning to get it done.

 

No there is no appointments required.  Make sure to go to the ASMO site and set up an account if you have not already done so.  When you are ready to take your test, logon to the site and it will say approximate # of people ahead of you in the queue.  We just had to wait a few minutes for the agent to join.  They say they are open 24/7 but we did ours during normal business hours so I am not sure what the wait time will be if you do it super early on sunday.  I assume they have less agents working early AM. 

 

If your flight is Sunday and cruise is Monday, you can actually do your test on Saturday if you wanted to because the time of day does not matter. Sunday would be good if you are worried about getting a cancelled flight and having to rebook one early Monday, then a Sunday test would still have you covered for the flight and cruise.  If you tested Saturday and had to fly Monday, your test would no longer be valid for the flight.

 

39 minutes ago, Virtopia said:

2) Based on the email that was sent, my impression is because my sailing leaves on January 31st, we would still be covered by Royal for our testing. Is it possible to ask if that's the case?

 

That is my understanding too but I will see if I can find out for you.  To me, "sailings through" means departures on or before 1/31/22.

 

If you are sailing between January 5^th through January 31^st:

While we transition from onboard testing to our new terminal testing partner, we will cover the cost of this test for our international guests on sailings through January 31^st, 2022. Once you debark, our vendors outside will be waiting to provide you with either a PCR or antigen test based on your home country’s testing requirement. You may also test at other locations outside the terminal, such as at the airport or a local pharmacy – the arrangement and cost for tests outside the terminal will be the guest’s expense and responsibility.

Edited January 5, 2022 by JessyCruises

[JessyCruises]

17 minutes ago, MamatoJack said:

2 - you will be fine testing on the 30th for a cruise on the 31st.

 

 

They are talking about the PCR test at the end of the cruise, not the pre-cruise test.  For cruises after 1/31/22 the cost of the PCR test will no longer be covered by RCL.  They want to make sure they will still have their test covered if they leave on the 31st.

[A&L_Ont]

1 hour ago, JessyCruises said:

 

I know there was repeated announcements but I was on a conference call.  I remember at least some of them were in Spanish, so maybe that is why I was not paying attention because I could not understand them and was trying to block them out so I could hear my call.  🙂

I look forward to your next leg of the cruise to when you are not working. More time to keep us entertained.😁

[JessyCruises]

Day 3 Cruise Compass

 

 

 

[JessyCruises]

Day 4 Cruise Compass

 

 

 

 

[JessyCruises]

Captain just did a quick public health update.  He said “zero point five of one percent” of guests have tested positive.  So does that mean .05% or .5%? 😂

[JessyCruises]

For lunch today we did take out from Port Side BBQ. I ordered a turkey leg and some burnt ends.  The leg was inedible - very tough.  I would not get it again

 

 

 

[JessyCruises]

So the cruise compass for yesterday AND today say formal.  Not sure which one is right but we made ourselves presentable just in case it is tonight and not yesterday 😂

[JessyCruises]

26 minutes ago, JessyCruises said:

Captain just did a quick public health update.  He said “zero point five of one percent” of guests have tested positive.  So does that mean .05% or .5%? 😂

Just spoke to some pinnacles at the casino bar.  They are saying it is .05 of a percent according to a conversation they had with the captain. There is almost 3000 guests onboard so do the math.   I really have no idea but I feel safe as we can in these times. Fingers crossed we test negative on Saturday and can continue our journey.

 

If I hear any updated numbers I will update!

[JessyCruises]

Dinner this evening was at Giovanni’s table.  It WSD very good but I much prefer the menu at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen in the Odyssey.  Will will probably do a BOGO there next

 

oil/vinegar for bread service

 

 

We shared a Meat & cheese Plank

I had the mussels as an appetizer - delicious!

 

Paul had the caprese salad

 

 

for entrees we ask for a small portion or mushroom risotto to share

 

Paul had the Osso Buco & really enjoyed it

 

I had the tagliatelle carbonara. Good, but not as good as the fettuccine Alfredo on Odyssey!

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by JessyCruises

[A&L_Ont]

MMMM, those food photos. 

 

Side note; Giovanni knows how to get mushrooms during the great shortage of 2022 VS Chops . I guess he can thank his cousin Mario for the long established relationship with the fungi family. 

[JessyCruises]

21 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

MMMM, those food photos. 

 

Side note; Giovanni knows how to get mushrooms during the great shortage of 2022 VS Chops . I guess he can thank his cousin Mario for the long established relationship with the fungi family. 

Well played sir!

[Ott_CanuckSpouse]

Following from Ottawa.  Enjoy!

[steevee]

Following from New York, but originally Toronto so always Canadian. 
 

You have a knack for telling a story with so much detail in so few words. This is one of my favorite “live” threads and echoing many others, yours pictures leave me salivating. They should hire and pay you to promote UDP!

[JessyCruises]

I just stopped by Guest Services after lunch as we have still not received a letter about the consecutive cruiser testing and shuttle to get to Port Everglades.  I do not think they had us on their list and the agent had to go out back and get them to do a letter.  He said we should have it in our room tonight or tomorrow.  While I was there, he scheduled our test for us.  It is 8AM on Saturday 🤢.  He said as of this cruise they have moved the testing from the conference center to the main dining room deck 4.

 

While I was at the desk, a woman and her kids came up to the agent next to us.  From what I gather, she is also Canadian.  She had a print out of the testing protocols from BEFORE the latest charges.  She told the agent she has been trying to get her PCR test booked to get home and has been getting the run around.  She was already in a fighting spirit and I could just feel the tension.  The agent kept trying to answer her but was cut off repeatedly.  The agent was eventually able to show the guest the new protocols explaining they would still be covering tests through cruises sailing by end of January but it would be at the terminal. The guest then asked who would be responsible for taking care of quarantine if they tested positive and the agent obviously was not able to answer that question with details, because it would not be Royal.  The guest then said that does not work for her and she expects an onboard test and asked to speak with a supervisor.  She was still waiting when I left.

 

Seeing as I was standing there scheduling a test and had mentioned to the agent I was Canadian so my Phone # would not be working on Sunday, I am totally surprised she did not ask me how I was managing to get a test onboard as a S2S when she could not get hers.  Maybe I am just nosier than her.  Kind of glad I did not have to get into that conversation!!

 

If I recognize her out and about later, I will ask her how she made out.

Edited January 6, 2022 by JessyCruises