Scoular

13 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

Can I ask why it matter that your sister is D+ when it comes to lobster?

I imagine to indicate she’s a regular cruiser so knows the typical size to expect. 

23 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

I don't think they serve the lobster tail on the European sailings. You can get a whole lobster - up charge - though.

 

We’ve had lobster on previous European sailings. 

Hi All! 

I’m looking forward to my next cruise, this time with my partner, his parents and his grandparents on the holy land cruise around Israel and Greek Isles. We’re all super excited!

We’ve purchased the UDP. My question is on lobster night can you only get the free lobster in the MDR or can we get it in Chops too? I thought I’d heard it somewhere previously but after searching in this forum I can’t find it. I know if I’m a suite you can get it in CK but we’re in a balcony for this one, hence the purchase of the UDP. 

Thanks in advance for the inside knowledge!

27 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Lavender daquiris or martinis are one of my faves.

Lava Flow with Kracken Rum.

 

What’s in a lava flow? I’ve just had a kraken colada which was really good!!

Hi All!

I’m currently on Ovation completing our Alaska sailing, which has been great! We now have 2 sea days before we head back to Seattle. I need some inspiration for some fruity/sweet cocktails. Please throw any recommendations you have my way!

Extra points for off-menu drinks!

4 hours ago, twangster said:

As someone booked from Vancouver in early May a few days before you (on a different ship) I feel like we will be trailblazers figuring out the testing for Canada requirements.  

At the moment I can't imagine there are many cruise ships guests who are also Vancouver residents who may have dealt with any testing site downtown.   

"Shoppers" is a popular pharmacy in some Canadian provinces including British Columbia.  They have offered testing at better prices.  You can google them and go through the motions of booking a test appointment on their website, assuming they are still doing testing.

I have googled them. They only service Ontario. Looks like BC have stricter rules than the US, not pharmacy’s etc. 

If you hear any other suppliers though, please do let me know! Enjoy your cruise

11 minutes ago, Peter D said:

What about bringing the EMed test kits with you and do they testing remotely using them?  I assume you can do the test over a facetime type smart phone connection.  Is that correct? 

We’re coming from the UK, the RCI ones don’t service the UK market. I thought about doing that with a UK provider but would hate for them not to accept it. 

Hi All,

We cruise out of Vancouver on 5th May on our first Alaska cruise and we’re arriving a few days early to explore and so need to find a reliable Covid testing facility locally. 
 

I’ve found two so far:

1. Fairmont Hotel - fast-test is the provider. They say results of an antigen are received in 15 minutes or less. They’re 131.25CAD each (there are 2 of us). You can book an appointment online. 
2. Go Rapid Test - They say results of an antigen are received in 2hours or less.   They’re 103.25CAD each or 109.20CAD each with a QR code. This is technically drive through but apparently you can walk through too. You can’t book an appointment time as it’s drive-through.

My questions are, has anyone had experience with either of these providers previously? Any other recommendations? Does anyone know if the QR code is a requirement? I haven’t seen this separate before. 
 

Thanks in advance!

Hi All,

I’ve seen the recent release on testing and I cruise on the 5th May on Ovation. What isn’t completely clear is if the antigen test has to be supervised or not. Does anyone know?

Separately, I accidentally miscalculated our cruise length and turns out I booked our return flight 2 days late oh well, 2days extra in Seattle! We’re already going early and flying to Seattle first to explore it, then a few days in Vancouver before embarking on our cruise but looks like we’ll be back to explore further. Any recommendations on what to do in Seattle since we now have so long there after our cruise?

On 1/20/2022 at 5:24 AM, MarvinS said:

I originally had a balcony room on my upcoming sailing on Freedom on 1/31.  I was emailed an offer to bid on a Junior Suite or a Grand Suite.  I didn't bother with the Junior Suite, but put in a medium bid on the Grand Suite, and would have been happy whether I got it or not.  I was notified on 1/15 (16 days ahead of sailing) that my bid on the Grand Suite was accepted!  Whoohoo!!!  Never been in a suite before, so am looking forward to this!  I am keeping this a complete surprise for my wife.  She will be very surprised when we get to the room!

May I ask what won you the bid? I’ve received our RoyalUp offer today and we’re in a balcony and I’m looking to bid of a Grande suite 1BR AND 2BR. 

Hi, you technically don’t need to as all you need to re-board the ship will be your sea pass, but it’s advisable. If something happened that would cause you to miss the ship, you would need your passport to at least get you to the next port to catch the ship back up.

14 minutes ago, meghanh said:

Public transit is very easy in both Seattle and Vancouver! It reminds me a lot of public transit in Japan/Taiwan. It's very easy. I second @Sharlarecommendation for both the Pan Pacific and the Waterfront in Vancouver. Sometimes the Pan Pacific prices out significantly less and they're next door to each other. 

Thank you. That’s helpful! The UK prices of Pan Pacific are expensive but about $260 USD cheaper than going direct so I booked it. The only difference being is the bag transfer isn’t included but to be honest we’ll be dragging the bags all over Seattle to Vancouver anyway, I’m sure we’ll manage down a lift to the ship. 

1 hour ago, Sharla said:

There is also a train that goes from the airport to the hotel, or right by the hotel. You'll go all the way to Waterfront stop I believe (but you can verify that) http://thecanadaline.com/

 

I stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront which was right next to the Pan Pacific. You can walk to the cruise port from either of those. 

Ah lovely!! Thanks Sharla

6 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Pan Pacific looks really nice, but really expensive and the room layouts are not really conducive to more than 2 people (unless you're really short and can fit everyone into 2 double beds)

That’s helpful to know. We are just two average height people I’ve booked it to give it a go but as fully refundable just in case!! 

12 minutes ago, Matt said:

Thanks, I may look into that when we go in May

I ended up booking this place as it came highly recommended on our Facebook cruise group too. Someone also mentioned they also do cruise deals, they have a lift that goes straight into the cruise terminal and also offer to take care of your luggage so you can go straight from your hotel to the ship luggage-free. 

Hi All,
My partner and I are on the Alaska cruise departing May 5th from Vancouver. We plan to fly to Seattle from the UK on 30th April, have a few days there and then either drive or the train to Vancouver on Tuesday 2nd to have a few days there before we board. Does anyone have any recommendations on nice, well located hotels in Seattle and/or Vancouver?

Thanks for your input, @12thmanand @Pooch. I think I might hold off and cross fingers for Royal Up!

19 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I would probably go ahead and spring for the JS for $3400.

To follow up on this, it’s $3400 extra, so just shy of $5300. Is that a lot for a JS? I feel I got my balcony for such a good deal at $1850 for 8 nights. 

@WAAAYTOOOthanks for your input. I really appreciate it!

12 minutes ago, Pooch said:

I think you were warned about the allure of the suite life!!

I was! What I wasn’t expecting was my partner to get jealous of the lack of suite life. I also feel I was prepared to go back to life in a balcony cabin, but as the next cruise gets closer, here we are!

Thanks All! I really appreciate the advice. Does anyone know if JS are now getting all the benefits? I heard they stopped access to the suite lounge for dinner during Covid. Is this still in place? It’s $3400 extra for a JS. Are your thoughts the same on that upgrade? In my head I agree with you all from your comments above and I don’t think he would be able to enjoy many of the standard suite benefits with it being a cold destination, but I know you don’t get many of those with JS anyway, but I’ve never stayed in a JS, so I don’t know a good rate from a bad one! 

Hi All,

My partner and I are due to cruise on Ovation OTS on 5th May around Alaska for 8 nights. We currently have a balcony booked however I recently cruised with my mum in a suite and I’ve been spoiled. My partner is also asking why I’ve booked us to “slum it” in a balcony room when I treated my mum the price difference is around $7K if it was a hot destination I could see using the balcony a lot and so could convince myself of the benefit. Saying that, I’ve never been to Alaska, so I don’t know how often people typically would be outside, bearing in mind we do have a balcony booked already.
 

My question I guess is would you upgrade or would you upgrade on a hot holiday instead? 

They had this policy when I last sailed in October in Europe. It honestly isn’t that bad. If you were at your table with intension to order you could take your mask off. It says actively eating or drinking but they aren’t mandating after every bite or sip. They’re basically doing away with the vaccinated areas where they exist.  We had no vaccinated areas onboard our cruise. If you got up to walk somewhere you put it on. I didn’t feel it impacted my holiday. I’m sure you’ll still have a great time!

Thanks. Yes our cruise dropped too but I’m currently having issues with our TA in getting the difference adjusted. She’s refusing and is now ignoring my emails on the request to escalate it to her manager. 

With the RC excursions they are quite good at detailing if a particular excursion is suitable for scooters/ partial mobility, fully accessible or full mobile. I recently cruised with my mum who took her scooter on excursions to Rome and Pompeii. Generally they were accessible for the scooters, I just had to give her shove up the coach stairs!

As well as cruising with my mum and her mobility scooter, I’ve also cruised with the father in law who is a full-time wheelchair user, so happy to help with any other accessible cruising quest you may have.