Gears

OK…here’s the skinny on using Switch Health antigen telehealth testing to come back to Canada.
+ Overall it worked out OK
+ You will need the streaming Internet service, no question. It won’t work otherwise. The service in your stateroom will need to be solid.
+ Doing the schnozzle swab with the ship rolling left and right was an…adventure.
+ In general, if the streaming Internet service on your ship is iffy or inconsistent it may NOT work for you. Your mileage may vary.
Would NOT recommended this route if you are on a ship with older Internet facilities and support.
Hope this helps.

OK…here’s the skinny on using Switch Health antigen telehealth testing to come back to Canada.
+ Overall it worked out OK
+ You will need the streaming Internet service, no question. It won’t work otherwise. The service in your stateroom will need to be solid.
+ Doing the schnozzle swab with the ship rolling left and right was an…adventure.
+ In general, if the streaming Internet service on your ship is iffy or inconsistent it may NOT work for you. Your mileage may vary.
Would NOT recommended this route if you are on a ship with older Internet facilities and support.
Hope this helps.

So if you buy 10,000 kits you'll earn enough points for a one way flight from Toronto to Montreal?  

The flight to the US so far. Switch Health is mentioned on the CBSA site as a provider of tests and partnered with Air Canada (sorry...not Delta! 🙂) 500 Areoplan points for each kit purchased (the $79 + HST includes shipping via Purolator). AC accepted the tests in online submission for US entry (complete with green 'accepted' moniker) and they are the organization doing the tests on-site at Pearson Airport.

@Lovetocruise2002 Switch Health done no problem for the way down complete with acceptance for flight online check-in. Each kit is currently $79 ea (still I think) and comes with two tests that can cover two people. No trip to SDM required.
Will see how it works for the return leg in 12 days...
Oh...couldn't get it to work on an iPad. Need to use Safari for an iPhone or Chrome for an Android phone.

Well our Prime Minister IS going crazy right now so anything is possible 😞
 

I got an extra kit to take on our Celebrity cruise which leaves on Friday next week. I will be doing this exercise on March 6th...the 'day before' our flight back. If nobody else gets this done before me, I will have an answer for you on or about March 7th. 

I got an extra kit to take on our Celebrity cruise which leaves on Friday next week. I will be doing this exercise on March 6th...the 'day before' our flight back. If nobody else gets this done before me, I will have an answer for you on or about March 7th. 

I got an extra kit to take on our Celebrity cruise which leaves on Friday next week. I will be doing this exercise on March 6th...the 'day before' our flight back. If nobody else gets this done before me, I will have an answer for you on or about March 7th. 

Basically all 'refill' stations and similar have been shut/removed (we asked on a cruise in Feb 2020 for the same reasons you are asking). This was done before Covid due to measures to limit norovirus transmission.

It really struck me when certain countries closed their doors early in the pandemic to their own citizens such as ship crew trying to get home.  Canada has all but tried to do the same and still has been trying to effectively do that.
I just can't fathom a country refusing entry to its own citizens regardless of infection.  Turning away foreigners is one thing.  Turning away your own citizens is a massive red flag and I'm not going for a play on words with the red flag comment.  Scary country that would refuse to allow a citizen to come home, especially one who has no symptoms.  Presumed guilty, prove that you are not.

Your quote is from Global News.  The quote I used is direct from CBSA.  I think I would lean more towards the government source...

Honestly this is a typical Canadian government bullshit make an announcement without actually changing anything. The inconvenience of a test is still required, still doing ‘random’ testing upon arrival. This is not a great announcement at all. If they don’t change anything this will drastically affect Canadian ports again for the Alaska season. Are the cruise lines going to go back to providing antigen tests on-board for each passenger the day before they get back to Vancouver? Or before the PSVA required stop in Victoria for ships sailing from Seattle? Expect the Alaskan governors to be in the news shortly looking for an extension on the PSVA exemption

Silhouette on Feb 25

We sail on Celebrity Silhouette on February 25th. Of course we are watching the changes in protocols and requirements. Sailings embarking February 12th and after...masks only required in the Theatre or Casino. YYYYEAAAAHHHH!!!
This was published yesterday for US embarkations:
++++++++++
Effective for all sailings departing February 12, 2022 forward, masks will not be required onboard for vaccinated guests unless attending activities in the Theatre or Casino.  Masks will continue to be required for unvaccinated guests, under 12 years old, at all times indoors except while eating or drinking.
Masks are not required in ports of call unless required by local governments.
++++++++++
Link: https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/celebrity-healthy-at-sea-protocols.pdf

We sail on Celebrity Silhouette on February 25th. Of course we are watching the changes in protocols and requirements. Sailings embarking February 12th and after...masks only required in the Theatre or Casino. YYYYEAAAAHHHH!!!
This was published yesterday for US embarkations:
++++++++++
Effective for all sailings departing February 12, 2022 forward, masks will not be required onboard for vaccinated guests unless attending activities in the Theatre or Casino.  Masks will continue to be required for unvaccinated guests, under 12 years old, at all times indoors except while eating or drinking.
Masks are not required in ports of call unless required by local governments.
++++++++++
Link: https://www.celebritycruises.com/content/dam/celebrity/pdf/celebrity-healthy-at-sea-protocols.pdf

Exactly how we feel!

I definitely agree with @Lovetocruise2002. You will cherish the experience and memories...and have a distaste for any regret. Follow the rules, stay cautious and mindful of your surroundings. One thing we won't do...is lock ourselves in the basement and miss out on life's experiences. That's just us, others, cruisers and non-cruisers, will see it different and your mileage may vary.
We did a cruise at the end of November, and we leave for another in three weeks, no hesitations.
But...we have also done the drive thing. A number of years ago we drove from Ontario to Baltimore to get on the Enchantment. The drive down didn't seem like a big deal, but the drive back was PAINFUL (just two of us). It just seemed to take forever and kind of put a damper on the whole vacation. In the end, we wouldn't do it again.

You know what I am going to say.  I say YOLO and go.  Life is too short, time with the kids is limited.  My girls are around the same age as yours and it saddens me that I will only have 3 more March breaks left with my 15 year old.  I am not cancelling unless we get covid.  That is what we have decided.  The rest (quarantine, potential fine, etc.) we will deal with it if it happens.  
A wise person once told me that regret is the worst feeling.  Everything else I can live with and deal with.  I don't want to be sitting at home over March break regretting the fact that I did not do everything I could have done to get us there.

As most people know, the Royal Caribbean Group of companies made some modifications to their final payment deadline policy (likely to be temporary). They changed the policy of final payment required no later than 90 days prior to sailing to 60 days prior to sailing.
Yesterday evening, we received a detailed communication from Celebrity regarding all the Covid policies, etc. for our upcoming cruise at the end of February (booked back in the day of February 2021). Standard stuff and not much different from our RCL cruise six weeks ago.
However, there was one thing off.
Celebrity is offering complimentary home country re-entry testing (important for us Canuks) for guests with cruise reservations booked and paid in full prior to November 16, 2021...the old 90 day final payment deadline. But...they changed the payment deadline to 60 days. So, if we made final payment at the 60 payment deadline...we're SOL??
Let's see if our TA earns her stripes. 🙂🙂

Here's the announcement...
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates

Heard from passengers on Freedom and Harmony that smoking banned in casino as of today.

This is a major change. And a big logistical problem for some...!!

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/when-to-take-a-test-if-traveling-to-us-from-another-country
It's in the FAQ.

I have always enjoyed Labadee and looked forward to some anticipated updates.
The nearby village has prospered from the economic impact and employment in the immediate area.  Royal built a school in the village.  The issues of Haiti run long and deep.  It's more complex than we can get into here but this one little corner of the country is a small example of Haiti moving in a better direction, at least for this somewhat isolated area of Haiti.  It may not be perfect there but the local area is better off because of Royal's presence.   
Once all cruise lines are hitting on all cylinders again they'll need every port they can call upon to fill itineraries.  Looking down the road to brighter days Royal needs Labadee in the long term plus every other Oasis/Icon capable port they can find or build.