Rose City Cruiser

Select Costco locations in Canada offer Asymptomatic Rapid Antigen Testing for Travel for $16.99.  
https://costcopharmacy.ca/

Yes, February!  This is the dreaded week where I pray myself and my kids do not test positive a day before our flight! Fingers crossed...

I also spoke to Blue Cross in Canada.  They will cover COVID-19 medical emergencies even while on a cruise.  BUT to eligible for quarantine expenses, you must be symptomatic.  So close-contacts and/or asymptomatic cases will not be eligible for quarantine expenses.    

I believe if you did the Family Coverage for the Pandemic Plan, they charge premiums only for the adults and the dependents are at no additional charge.  

I spoke with a Manulife rep.  They told me their standard All-Inclusive plan will not cover COVID-related quarantine expenses while there is an official travel advisory issued by the Canadian Government states, "Avoid non-essential travel/ avoid all travel", prior to departure.  That's why we went with the Manulife Pandemic Travel Plan.  We also have a credit card that will cover Trip Cancellation & Interruption for other reasons.
 
We were going to go with the Multi-trip All-Inclusive plan before speaking with the rep.  Will explore those options again once things calm down a bit.  Going with the Pandemic Plan for the next few trips.  Saves us some calling back and forth to the insurance company when/if Canada lifts/re-instates those travel advisories.

Here's wording from my policy on the travel advisory - you would still be covered for covid-related expenses.   
 
2. Any expenses due to an official travel advisory issued by the Government of Canada stating "Avoid all travel" regarding the country, region or city of your destination, before your departure date. To view the travel advisories, visit the Government of Canada Travel site. Exception: This exclusion does not apply for claims due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and related complications that you suffer or contract while you are on a cruise or any destination included in your cruise itinerary if you have received the vaccine. Children 11 years old or younger who are not eligible to receive the vaccine, are covered when travelling with at least one parent or guardian on the same cruise booking who has received the vaccine.

Thanks, everyone, just purchased the Manulife Covid 19 Travel Plan. I appreciate all the help, there is so much logistics to organize now before travel!

We purchased Manulife Pandemic Plan.  Covers up to $200/day for quarantine expenses even with "Avoid All Cruise Travel" advisory.  

The last minute whimsical rules of international governments is a big reason why I deferred my European cruises until a hopefully better time in the future.  
I chose to sail close to home and avoid flights for now.  I know that doesn't help Canadians very much right now and I can absolutely see why some would do the same thing I'm doing with European cruises.  Canada really seemed to lose its mind with Omicron and tried very hard to make it unattractive for Canadians to leave Canada.  Mission Accomplished.    

Since borders are opening up and vaccines requirements easing I thought I'd share my experience on Allure of the Seas getting tested for travel to Canada after the cruise.  
In my case my booking appears to be a standard one cruise (no B2B) US booking.  This means that testing for me normally wouldn't be required.  I had communicated with the guest services team before boarding given my unique scenario of not appearing to need a test yet actually requiring a PCR test for travel to Canada.
I knew that guests that are known to require a test would receive a QR code and instructions sent to their cabins.  Since that didn't apply to me I waited until day 3 and visited guest services where they produced a QR code for me to use.
I've obfuscated the QR code in the photo below since I don't know that it is the same for each ship and sail date so don't try to scan this code with your device.

When using an iPhone the camera recognizes the QR code and pops up a link to follow based on the QR code.  You have to be connected to the ship's wifi but you do not need to purchase a Voom internet plan to use the QR code.
The link from the QR code opened in my phone's browser.

Scrolling to the bottom there is a button you can tap to proceed.

This opens a new page where you enter your details.

 
For the purpose of this demonstration I chose a fictitious address in Manitoba.

The next step looks for the closest location.  Since this was on a sea day I was very curious what it would offer for locations near me.  Picking another random address in Canada very far from the Caribbean where I was at the time it found the Deck 3 Conference Center some 3,337 miles from Whitehorse.
For the purpose of setting the location of the ship they had given the Deck 3 Conference Center the address of the terminal in Port Canaveral where I boarded the ship.

After selecting the only option presented, the Deck 3 Conference Center, I was able to select a time for my appointment.

In my case I had been told that normally PCR testing for international travel is done at 6:30am and the antigen testing for other guests required for other purposes such as consecutive cruisers would occur later after the PCR testing.  Surprised to see the 8am time being the earliest time offered guest services assured me they would look into it and let me know.
They did follow up with me and the next day I received a call on my cabin phone to let me know they have adapted the process so that all testing starts at 8am, at least on this voyage.
I do have a Voom internet plan on this sailing so I was able to receive the email confirmation for the test once I had completed the scheduling steps above.

This isn't a requirement.  I was never asked for the confirmation code.  It is not required to have a Voom plan but it was comforting to see the process work very similar to how pre-cruise testing appointments have worked for me in the past on land.
I am an early riser by nature so on the morning of day 7 I dropped by the deck 3 conference center at 6:30am just to make sure I was good with my 8am appointment.

 
At 6:30am there was no one around so I breathed a sigh of relief that the process was working as guest services said it would.
At 8am there were crew on hand at a kiosk with paperwork ready for the guests that needed to be tested.  They asked for my cabin number and handed me a paper with stickers attached. The stickers had a barcode, my name and birth date. 
On this occasion consecutive cruisers or anyone needing an antigen test were directed into the conference to the right while guests requiring PCR testing for international travel where directed into the conference center to the left.  I didn't take any pictures because there were other guests present including children.
There are several testing stations and I was directed to take a seat in the section for Accula testing.  Accula is an approved FDA test with an emergency use authorization.  I handed over my paperwork and watched as they applied one of the stickers to a vial that would later contain my sample.
When instructed I removed my mask and tilted my head back.  The lab worker ran a swab around the ring of each nostril without going deep.  If anything it tickled slightly but was in no way painful or difficult to sit through. 
With that I was done and directed to exit.

After testing I went to breakfast and carried on with my day.
It was a very easy and straightforward process.
As I await my results my only advice for anyone from any country that requires a PCR test onboard is to keep an eye out for the testing letter with QR code and instructions.  If you don't receive it by day 3 call guest services or drop by and ask them.  

Have you considered taking a helicopter from Windsor to Detroit?  And then a taxi service from DTW back to Windsor when you return?  
https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/some-windsor-travellers-use-helicopter-to-get-across-border-to-detroit-1.5467057

if you delete the app and re-install it after approx 90 days, they will give you a "welcome back" reward.  I have received between 100k-500k Loyalty Points each time.  I cycle through their other mobile apps such as Konami, Blackjack and Pop Slots.  It is the easiest way to collect enough Loyalty Points for the $100 OBC voucher.

If you are driving a Tesla, there is a 250kW Supercharger in Elizabeth, NJ approx 11 miles away.  There is also a 75kW Supercharger in a parking garage approximately 8 miles away.  I would choose the 250kW charger for the faster charging speeds.  If you are planning to park in long-term lot, I would recommend charging the vehicle to 70%-80% prior.  Turn off Sentry Mode so that it will not eat up battery while you are away.  This should minimize "phantom drain". 
 
 

You missed some steps
 
2a - eat lunch
2b - do laundry
2c - cut the lawn
2d - read War and Peace
 

Someone on another Blog gave me the FIX for not having access to your eDocs:
1. Call 1-800-205-9812 Press #4.
2. Then press #3 and wait for a rep.
3. When the rep comes on the phone explain that you do not have your Docs yet and ask them to contact Appalone (phonetic spelling) in Resolutions.
4. Appalone will then contact Documentation and you will have your Docs emailed to you. This worked for me. 
 
Good luck! 

Will Royal accept mixing of vaccines (AZ+Pfizer, Pfizer+Moderna) as being fully vaccinated?

Wow.  Let's dust this one off.  It looks like this cruise actually WILL sail and they did not shortened it....and at this point it doesn't look like they will.  It was in hibernation for a VERY long time and I thought for sure it was doomed.  What they HAVE done, unfortunately, is completely re-do the itinerary which is a much less interesting itin than it was.  We are now going to Nassau, St. Thomas, St Maarten and St. Kitts.  So no more Aruba and Curacao...which completely sucks but I will just be happy to be back on a cruise, so I will make the best of it.
I am very, very disappointed that I will not be cruising with @Lovetocruise2002and her family.  We planned this one together and now we will have to go alone.  I will miss sailing with you, but we have other cruises planned together for later on, so I will just have to look forward to those !!
As most all of you already know, Dan and I are not taking the COVID injections so we will be among the unvaxxed on this cruise.  I think it will be of benefit to present this live blog from the unvaxxed perspective, providing information for any who are interested in what the unvaxxed "rules" and experiences will be.  It is NOT my intention to debate the virtues (or vices, as it were) of the injections.  I will not respond to any discussion relating to the injections or our decision not to receive them.  This is about our cruise experience and how it may differ from cruise experiences we have had in the past. I hope that respondents will respect that and allow this blog to live.  Thank you for that.
Just to be up front about everything, there are still a couple of situations that could derail (I guess I should have said "sink" LOL) this cruise for us.  In addition to not being injected, we also refuse the deep nasal swab...so if we are not able to find a PCR test that will satisfy the pre-boarding requirements, we will not be able to go.  We also need to find out for SURE that they are not mandating the deep nasal swab at the pier or onboard.  Those are questions that our Genie can answer for us (hopefully) so we are moving forward with plans to sail until we have information that would have us do otherwise.  The good news is, if we decide that we cannot cruise due to vaccination requirements/restrictions, we will get a full refund for this cruise...so it's kind of a no-lose situation for us.
Royal has made it clear that there are certain situations/locations where unvaxxed will not be welcome.  We still do not know what those places/activities are but again, our Genie will be able to help us with that information, I'm sure.  Short of not being allowed in the casino (which would also be a deal-breaker for us) we will comply without complaint.  Even if we aren't allowed off the ship at the ports of call (due to ports of entry requirements, for example) that will be a-ok with us.  We likely wouldn't get off at any of the new destinations anyway.  Once I have some intel on what restrictions will be in place, I will be sure and provide that information.
And speaking of Genies, we have not yet been contacted.  It's been so long since we sailed that I cannot remember exactly how far ahead of time they reach out !  I can't remember if it is 30 days or 60 days.  Of course, I suspect there will be many things that are different now from what they were 16 months ago, so nothing will surprise me, truly. Today is 57 days out and we still are not able to check in but I understand that many people are unable to check in for their cruises at 90 days right now.  Won't panic about that.

This is what I have heard from those who have mixed and matched...After your second dose, let's say you got AZ first and Moderna second, your second paper and pdf (email) will say Moderna - 2 valid doses.  It won't show that AZ was your first dose.  I supposed if they looked into the COVAX system (here in Ontario, don't know what they are using in other provinces) they could find out, but your second copy definitely does not show the mixing.

My first sunset whilst in quarantine.
 

I am happy to announce that I will be joining the brand new Odyssey Of The Seas this week.
 
I look forward for the opportunity to go back to work, and once again help create vacation memories for Royal Caribbean passengers (you guys)!
 
Watch out for my upcoming videos on YouTube.
 
Chris Wong

I'm not going back to delete posts, but this is your reminder THIS IS NOT THE FORUM TO DISCUSS IF THE VACCINE WORKS OR EFFECACY. 
Also, if you don't agree with someone else's take, leave it be. You're not going to convince someone here of anything, other than the best cocktail at the bar.
Another pro tip, you don't have to get the last word! Leave it be.
Going forward, I will delete and lock threads.
"Why do you have to delete? Why can't you let us talk like adults"
Because it ends up being a war of words, and everyone gets annoyed and upset. 
KEEP THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CRUISING. 

Victoria, BC do not want cruise ships.  This is win-win!

Victoria, BC do not want cruise ships.  This is win-win!

Victoria, BC do not want cruise ships.  This is win-win!

Thanks everyone for your support!