SpeedNoodles

Mine opened up exactly 90 days prior to sailing, so who knows these days.

How far ahead of sailing are these emails going out?

I did log into my Vault account (the company that administers the saliva PCR testing in Minnesota).  I was able to download an actual report for my 'vid test.  These are done at home under Zoom supervision.  Nowhere on the report does it say it was taken at  home.  It lists everything else (name, DOB, physician, type of test).  That being said, while I've reliably gotten results back in 3 days for these, they rely on UPS overnight shipping and I'm not sure I'd be comfortable chancing that for a cruise.  Walgreens or CVS it is.

4 hours ago, Matt said:

Anywho, which one of you will bail me out of jail? Asking for a friend.

Ha, no worries - you've seen the Insiders' ability to pull together funds in a short amount of time.  

I hope nobody canceled any arrangements already.

Welcome to the forums!  

1 hour ago, MicDay said:

@SpeedNoodles what company did you use in Juneau if you don't mind sharing.

 

We booked it through Royal, but it was operated by Allen Marine Tours.  The boats were good sized, but not as large as the one in the photo that Twangster posted above.  The employees were fantastic (but I'd imagine you'll find that with the majority of tour operators up there).

The whale-watching tour that we did in Juneau was very good.  We saw a lot of whales.  One, "Sasha", even breached directly (about 75 feet) behind our boat (about 5 of us saw it, everyone else was looking at another whale in another direction).  Even in Juneau, where there are more boats, the captains still share information for locations of the whales.   I'd do it again in a heartbeat (from either port of call).

1 hour ago, michelle said:

Howdy!  nice to meet you - It Means awesomesauce, lol - welcome to the boards

As one of the happy people that @michelle takes care of, I can say "SHE'S NOT WRONG!".

Reason #879 to have a travel agent.

16 minutes ago, BrianB said:

I’m curious if they want a PCR test (which can usually take 1 to 4 days to get a result) or an Antigen test (which takes minutes).  The PCR is more accurate in that it can detect minute amounts of virus, where the Antigen is less so and more susceptible to a false negative. As the Delta variant spreads, testing is ramping up and turn around times for test results are getting longer.  I’m assuming the testing at the pier is Antigen as you wait for the results before boarding. Also, what documentation are they accepting? Is a simple email from CVS stating ‘negative’ enough…or do they want something like a paper report? I’m hoping they recognize how difficult it may be to get a PCR test for travel completed because labs are probably prioritizing those with symptoms. Maybe they will extend the 72hr time limit.

It's either.  I've had several tests (all PCR) over the past year and I've never received anything other than an email stating positive or negative, so I don't know what else they could possibly ask for.  I've never had access to any sort of paper report.

9 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

 

A man made canal loop where you sit in an innertube and calmly float around with your drink in hand

They are SO relaxing.  And cater to my most prominent skill.  Laziness.

They'd have to drag me out of a lazy river at Coco Cay.  (A precedent has been set - I had to be coaxed out of one at the Westin Scottsdale at closing time by hotel staff.  I was unhappy about their decision).

12 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

My Oct 31 has this itinerary, as we really only planned to get off at CocoCay and are all vaxxed, it isn't a big deal. But I can see this reducing Allure to that 30-ish percent capacity...on top of the 3 day-before negative test, mask and other things that will spring up. 

Agreed - I'm totally ok with that.

10 hours ago, MrK1ttens said:

I just checked into my Oct 30th cruise. And I’m unsure if I should ask for a refund? We are essentially forced to board by the earliest 1:30pm (due to covid), which is fine. However it removes some key benefits. Like early boarding, and I’m assuming the Key lunch. 
 

I am unsure why they are still selling this as is. 

You can just cancel it on the Cruise Planner.

Godmother is TBD at this point.  I believe the "christening" took place during a virtual ceremony, which I watched (there was champagne and toasts via a bunch of big wigs on a Zoom-type format), but I don't remember the date.

https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/33/odyssey-of-the-seas/

I'd drive 9.5 hours in a heartbeat over flying right now.    I wish this was an option for us (it's a 23-hour drive to our next cruise's port - which ends up being at least 2 days tacked on to both the beginning and end of the cruise). 9.5 hours is a walk in the park.

I wonder if you can use HSA money for travel covid testing.

I think Virgin Voyages is using a sort of dual-purpose type bed - not sure it's Murphy style, but it's practical.

12 hours ago, Baked Alaska said:

OH MY! July 25, 2019, roughest seas for whatever reason. The Captain came over the PA and apologized. Sick sacks were everywhere, and the crew offered meclizine like candy. (Side note: remember when the sick sacks on airlines also doubled as film developing envelopes? That always made me laugh. We mainly flew TWA and Eastern Airlines when I was a child.) We were in the sushi making class at Izumi. Everyone was green. Half the class had to leave. I had taken some meclizine prior, so I was wiped out but enjoying my sushi nonetheless. It was not a good day sailing the inside passage. 

I've sailed the Inside Passage of Alaska three times now - we always have one night that's questionable (where sea sick bags get pulled out) and it's always between Vancouver Island and the actual passage - where the ship is more out in open sea.  I've always experienced very calm waters when actually in the protection of the passage.  (and to keep with the theme of the thread - Inside Rooms make me sleep too much of Alaska away, and I can't watch seals on ice floes whenever I want from an inside room.

2 hours ago, wstephensi said:

Check in this morning for 24 Oct. sailing on AOS.  Got a 1 pm check in.

Me too! See you on board, hopefully!!

I think the OP meant that they booked a Guaranteed Balcony and if they reprice they will be bumped down in the order in which guaranteeds were booked, therefore getting a worse location. But I'm not sure that's how Guaranteed assignments work.  In any case, the booking number and booking date doesn't change, so I don't think the reprice would affect anything.

9 minutes ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

 Of course maybe I had such a a reaction because I was coming from our Grand Suite

Nope, same reaction I have to the inside cabin even when coming from a Promenade View Inside (where there's at least a window, but since I can't see outside I don't count it).  I'd take it over an inside cave, though.

2 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

On another note (I think I can hijack my own thread) I am continuously getting hate mail from RC via Bioreference which is the company that schedules the PCR tests at the terminal. I have received multiple emails basically telling me I still need to schedule my kids appointments even though I did this the same day the first email was sent to me and have the documentation. I called RC and told them that I am receiving these emails and the IT department can’t figure out what’s going on. It’s just annoying. Yesterday I received emails basically saying “this is your last chance”. Really aggravating. 

I can't remember which thread this is on, or if it's on the FB Insider's Group page, but lots of people experience the same thing.  I believe the consensus was "annoying, but don't worry about it" ?

40 minutes ago, basil said:

Inside cabin. It is to dark. I need light to wake me up. I would sleep the cruise away.

This exactly.  I did do this on my first cruise (Alaska), and lost a good part of one sea day that way.  It really pissed me off.