Around the World Cruise with a Twist

By D. Rod Lloyd

This book is from a daily blog kept during our Around the World Cruise on Oceania Insignia.

 

If you are considering taking an Around the World Cruise, I recommend you read this first.

 

If you can not afford to take six months off, read this instead and take the journey with us. You won't be disappointed.

If you are down in the dumps, come with us, and learn about places you have only dreamt of and some you have never heard of. Every stop is described with accompanying pictures. Learn what it is like to live on a cruise ship for six months.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. Rod Lloyd
• Release date: Jan 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215250181

D. Rod Lloyd

As a kid, whenever I saw an old clock at a jumble sale or going cheap, I would buy it and take it apart to see how it worked. I don’t think I ever got one back together again, but I enjoyed tinkering with them. Twenty years later when I was getting married, now living in the USA, Auntie Florrie wrote to me saying I could now have my Grandfathers clock. I arranged to have the clock shipped over and it was proudly placed in the entrance hall to my home. It was built in about 1880 in Maghull England by a local clockmaker, [before the electric light was invented], had a stately mahogany case, hand-painted dial and ran nicely. After a few years, it stopped. I was frustrated that I didn’t know what was wrong with it or how to get it going. I ended up having it serviced by a local repair shop and it ran again. I was fascinated with the clock. In 1995, my family decided to spend a year in England including putting the kids in school. It was a big challenge to arrange to swap houses with an English family. Finally, we were settled, and the kids started school, my wife was volunteering at a local charity shop and suddenly I had time on my hands. I read the paper that morning and came across an ad for a clock course starting nearby at Manchester City College. I called the college and they told me it was a three-year course, one day per week. I explained I was only in the country for one year, so I persuaded them to let me take the course, coming all three days. I enjoyed the course and did very well. The final exam took several weeks, making a ‘suspension bridge’ from scratch to exact specifications, restoring several old clocks and watches. I documented the process and took the extensive final written exam all set by BHI [British Horological Institute]. I did pass the exams and became a Horologist. 25 years later I teach clock repair classes and ‘pass it on’. This is the class workbook.

Book preview

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The following books by D. Rod Lloyd are also available.

The Clock  Repairer's Bench Manual: Everything you need to know when repairing mechanical clocks

The Cuckoo Clock Owner's Repair Manual: Step by Step, No Prior Experience Required

The Grandfather Clock Owner's Repair Manual

Happy Anniversary Clock’s: 400-Day Owners Repair Manual

The Atmos Clock Repairer's Bench Manual Step by Step

My Clock Won't Run Beginners guide to clock repair

Handbell Ringers Bible

Handbell Ringers Bible Book 2: For the Beginner Handbell Ringer

Build Your own Handbell Tree From Off the Shelf Parts

Laundromat Operations & Maintenance Manual

Money from Mobiles: Mobile Flipping, Mobile Loans, Mobile Parks, Mobile Rentals- gateway to Real Estate Investing

How to re-hair your Violin, Viola, Cello or Bass bow

Laundromat Operations & Maintenance Manual

Frederick II - Classic English Narrowboat: A unique Tug / Dutch Barge with a Charming Interior

British to American Dictionary: For Travelers and those who talk to Brits

Home Inspection and Mold Testing Business by an Old Pro

House Flipping for Big Profits by an Old Pro

10% interest

Profitable Rental Property Investing: & House Flipping

How to get rid of MOLD - a homeowner guide

The Care and Feeding of Economy Rental Property by an Old Pro

Toilet Repair or Replacement Without calling a Plumber

Instant Hot Water

To Make End$ Meet: How Not To Be Poor

World Cruise with a Twist

A Walk in my Shoes, Biography by D. Rod Lloyd

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Introduction

We are Rod & Merry Lloyd From Kansas.  We decided to book an Around the World Cruise.  We loved the itinerary for Oceania Insignia.  We liked that the ship is small at 656 guests maximum.  The original itinerary was as follows:

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When we booked the cruise in early 2021, covid vaccinations were readily available and we felt by the start of 2022, covid would be history.  NOT.  As the cruise got closer, it became necessary for Australia and New Zealand needed to be deleted and a new itinerary was announced [before the final payment date]

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We accepted the new itinerary and the final payment was made.  We were locked into the cruise and we were very much looking forward to it.  This book is the daily blog of the cruise, every detail, every emotion, and every itinerary change.  We hope you enjoy it.

DISCLAIMER

We will take this opportunity to make a small disclaimer about this blog. The information presented is what we learned during our travels and, more importantly, what we remember from the guide’s information. Most days, we had a new port and often a new country, one after another, and we did not have a chance to do detailed research or fact-check the content.

We make no guarantee of the accuracy contained herein. It is for entertainment purposes only. For any spelling and grammar errors, please contact ‘Grammarly.’

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Contents

Introduction

The Big Decision

The Preparations

The [starting] Itinerary

Covid Complications

Packing

The Pre-Cruise

Segments

Last Minute Change of Plans

Preboarding Testing

Prairie Day

Cruise Eve

Embarkation Day

San Diego

Sea Days

Honolulu, Oahu

Kahului, Maui

Kauai

Kona, Big Island Hawaii

Lahaina, Maui, and a Big Shock

Hawaii to French Polynesia – Sea Days

Updated Itinerary January 26, 2022

Nuku Hiva

Rangiroa & Tahiti French Polynesia

Moorea & Raiatea

Bora Bora

Bora Bora to the Equator

The Equator to Los Angeles

Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo St. Lucas and Mazatlán, Mexico

Day 43

Acapulco

Sea to Costa Rica

Sea Day and Panama City

Panama Canal

Time for the ABC’s

Aruba

St. Vincent and the Grenadines +

Barbados

St Lucia

Antigua

Dominica

St. Kits

St. Thomas

Dominican Republic – three days

Day 66

Day 67

Jamaica

Sea day

St Patrick’s YES, Honduras NOT

Guatemala

Mexico

Cozumel, Mexico

Bermuda Triangle Vudu

Sailing the Ocean Blue

Funchal, Madeira

The Straight of Gibraltar

Day 90

The Charming Cagliari, Sardinia

Sicily

Fair Winds and Following Seas

Israel

Turkey

Constantinople

Greece

Athens, Greece

Sailing the Greek Islands

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Ancona, Italy

Oh My Gosh

Durres, Albania

Italy, a Trilogy

Rome, Italy

Tuscany

French Riviera

Barcelona Double Header

The Rain in Spain

Cartagena, Spain

Gibraltar, ??

Seville, Spain

Portimao, Portugal

Day 125

Day 126

Saint-Malo, France

Day 129

Scandinavia

Kristiansand, Norway

Oslo, Norway

Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen

Wednesday, May 18

Germany, West & East

Poland

Baltic Nations

Riga, Latvia

Estonia

Two days in Finland

Sweden

Gotland Island, Sweden

Bornholm Island, Denmark

Germany

Netherlands - ouch

Belgium

France

La Rochelle, France

Bordeaux, France

Spain

Lisbon, Portugal

Oporto, Portugal

La Coruna, Spain

Saturday, June 18, 2022

Tilbury, Great Britain

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Southern Ireland

Dublin & Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland, Great Britain

All at Sea

St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

Sail-in to New York

Day 180, Disembarkation Day

Looking Back

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Copyright

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D. Rod Lloyd 2023

First Published 7/14/2022

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The Big Decision

Merry and I made the big decision to book an Around The World cruise. Having been cooked up for the past two years due to covid, we wanted to stretch our legs and get back to traveling.

We contacted our Travel Agent, and he got us a great deal on Oceania Insignia, a 180-day Around The World cruise. He got us an unbelievable price, a balcony stateroom, and plenty of included excursions.

We needed to sell some things that we no longer used to help downsize and cover some of the cost, but we made it happen.

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The Preparations

Insignia is a small cruise ship just under 600 ft, with a maximum of 656 passengers and 400 crew. We know this cruise is not fully booked. About half the passengers are doing the full Around The World, and the rest are just doing a segment of the cruise.

The cruise starts in Los Angeles on Jan 6, 2022, ending in New York on the fourth of July.

You have no idea how complicated it is to be going away for 6 months with no easy way to attend to regular daily business. Six months of medications, upcoming bills paid or on auto-pay, taxes, insurance, utilities, vaccines, boosters, and covid-tests, having the house looked after, mowing, the house plants watered, etc., etc. etc. Such problems!!

The [starting] Itinerary

DAY PORT ARRIVE DEPART

Jan 6 Los Angeles, California 1 pm 10 pm

Jan 7 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 8 San Francisco, California 8 am

Jan 9 San Francisco, California 9 pm

Jan 10 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 11 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 12 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 13 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 14 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 15 Honolulu, Oahu 8 am

Jan 16 Honolulu, Oahu 10 pm

Jan 17 Kahului, Maui 8 am 6 pm

Jan 18 Nawiliwili, Kauai 8 am 6 pm

Jan 19 Lahaina, Maui 8 am 6 pm

Jan 20 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 7 am 4 pm

Jan 21 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 22 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 23 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 24 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 25 Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia 10 am 6 pm

Jan 26 Cruising the South Pacific

Jan 27 Rangiroa, French Polynesia 8 am 5 pm

Jan 28 Papeete, French Polynesia 8 am

Jan 29 Papeete, French Polynesia

Jan 30 Papeete, French Polynesia 5 am

Jan 30 Moorea, French Polynesia 8 am 6 pm

Jan 31 Raiatea, French Polynesia 8 am 7 pm

Feb 1 Bora Bora, French Polynesia 8 am

Feb 2 Bora Bora, French Polynesia 4 pm

Feb 3 Cruising the South Pacific

Feb 4 Cruising the South Pacific

Feb 5 Pago Pago, American Samoa 8 am 5 pm

Feb 6 Cross the International Date Line [lose a day]

Feb 7 Apia, Samoa 7 am 6 pm

Feb 8 Cruising the South Pacific

Feb 9 Suva, Fiji 9 am 7 pm

Feb 10 Lautoka, Fiji 8 am 6 pm

Feb 11 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Feb 12 Mystery Island, Vanuatu 7 am 7 pm

Feb 13 Isle of Pines, New Caledonia 8 am 5 pm

Feb 14 Nouméa, New Caledonia 8 am

Feb 15 Nouméa, New Caledonia 1 pm

Feb 16 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Feb 17 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Feb 18 Alotau, Papua New Guinea 8 am 5 pm

Feb 19 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 11 am 8 pm

Feb 20 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Feb 21 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Feb 22 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Feb 23 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Feb 24 Komodo, Indonesia 7 am 4 pm

Feb 25 Bali [Celukan Bawang], Indonesia 1 pm

Feb 26 Bali [Celukan Bawang], Indonesia 7 pm

Feb 27 Bali [Benoa], Indonesia 6 am 9 pm

Feb 28 Cruising the Java Sea

Mar 1 Semarang [Java], Indonesia 7 am 6 pm

Mar 2 Cruising the Java Sea and South China Sea

Mar 3 Cruising the Java Sea and South China Sea

Mar 4 Muara, Brunei 8 am 8 pm

Mar 5 Kota Kinabalu (Borneo), Malaysia 7 am 3 pm

Mar 6 Puerto Princesa, Philippines 10 am 7 pm

Mar 7 Coron, Philippines 9 am 6 pm

Mar 8 Manila, Philippines 10 am

Mar 9 Manila, Philippines 5 pm

Mar 10 Ilocos (Salomague), Philippines 10 am 7 pm

Mar 11 Kaohsiung, Taiwan 1 pm

Mar 12 Kaohsiung, Taiwan 4 pm

Mar 13 Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan 8 am 7 pm

Mar 14 Ishigaki, Japan 7 am 2 pm

Mar 15 Cruising the East China Sea

Mar 16 Kochi, Japan 9 am 6 pm

Mar 17 Nagoya, Japan 10 am 7 pm

Mar 18 Tokyo, Japan 10 am

Mar 19 Tokyo, Japan 7 pm

Mar 20 Shimizu, Japan 7 am 4 pm

Mar 21 Kyoto (Kobe), Japan 11 am

Mar 22 Kyoto (Kobe), Japan 6 pm

Mar 23 Hiroshima, Japan 8 am 6 pm

Mar 24 Cruising the Kanmon Strait

Mar 24 Busan, South Korea 1 pm 8 pm

Mar 25 Nagasaki, Japan 8 am 5 pm

Mar 26 Kagoshima, Japan 8 am 5 pm

Mar 27 Amami Oshima (Naze), Japan 9 am 6 pm

Mar 28 Okinawa (Naha), Japan 8 am 7 pm

Mar 29 Cruising the Yellow Sea

Mar 30 Shanghai, China 8 am

Mar 31 Shanghai, China 4 pm

Apr 1 Cruising the East China Sea

Apr 2 Xiamen, China 8 am 5 pm

Apr 3 Hong Kong, China 1 pm

Apr 4 Hong Kong, China 9 pm

Apr 5 Cruising the Hainan Strait

Apr 6 Hanoi (Ha Long Bay), Vietnam 7 am

Apr 7 Hanoi (Ha Long Bay), Vietnam 4 pm

Apr 8 Hue (Chan May), Vietnam 11 am

Apr 9 Hue (Chan May), Vietnam 2 pm

Apr 10 Nha Trang, Vietnam 9 am 5 pm

Apr 11 Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam 11 am

Apr 12 Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam 4 pm

Apr 13 Cruising the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand

Apr 14 Kampot, Cambodia 7 am 4 pm

Apr 15 Bangkok, Thailand 1 pm

Apr 16 Bangkok, Thailand 5 pm

Apr 17 Ko Samui, Thailand 10 am 6 pm

Apr 18 Cruising the Gulf of Thailand

Apr 19 Singapore, Singapore 9 am 9 pm

Apr 20 Cruising the Strait of Malacca

Apr 21 Phuket, Thailand 8 am 6 pm

Apr 22 Cruising the Andaman Sea

Apr 23 Yangon, Myanmar 8 am

Apr 24 Yangon, Myanmar

Apr 25 Yangon, Myanmar 3 pm

Apr 26 Cruising the Bay of Bengal

Apr 27 Cruising the Bay of Bengal

Apr 28 Cruising the Laccadive Sea

Apr 29 Cochin (Kochi), India 8 am 6 pm

Apr 30 Mangalore, India 8 am 6 pm

May 1 Cruising the Laccadive Sea

May 2 Malé, Maldives 8 am 5 pm

May 3 Cruising the Indian Ocean

May 4 Cruising the Indian Ocean

May 5 Mahé, Seychelles 3 pm

May 6 Mahé, Seychelles

May 7 Mahé, Seychelles 4 am

May 7 La Digue, Seychelles 8 am 5 pm

May 8 Cruising the Indian Ocean

May 9 Cruising the Indian Ocean

May 10 Zanzibar, Tanzania 7 am 5 pm

May 11 Cruising the Indian Ocean

May 12 Nosy Be, Madagascar 10 am 6 pm

May 13 Mayotte, French Comoros 8 am 5 pm

May 14 Cruising the Mozambique Channel

May 15 Cruising the Mozambique Channel

May 16 MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE 8:00 AM 4:00 PM

May 17 CRUISING THE INDIAN OCEAN RICHARDS BAY

May 18 PORT ELIZABETH, SOUTH AFRICA 10:00 AM 7:30 PM

May 19 Mossel Bay, South Africa 8 am 5 pm

May 20 Cape Town, South Africa 10 am

May 21 Cape Town, South Africa 9 pm

May 22 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

May 23 Luderitz, Namibia 7 am 5 pm

May 24 Walvis Bay, Namibia 9 am 7 pm

May 25 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

May 26 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

May 27 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

May 28 São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe 8 am 5 pm

May 29 Cruising the Gulf of Guinea

May 30 Lomé, Togo 7 am 6 pm

May 31 Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana 9 am 7 pm

Jun 1 Abidjan, Ivory Coast 8 am 5 pm

Jun 2 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 3 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 4 Banjul, Gambia 9 am 7 pm

Jun 5 Dakar, Senegal 8 am 6 pm

Jun 6 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 7 Mindelo (São Vicente), Cape Verde 8 am 6 pm

Jun 8 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 9 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 10 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands 8 am 9 pm

Jun 11 Arrecife (Lanzarote), Canary Islands 8 am 5 pm

Jun 12 Agadir, Morocco 8 am 6 pm

Jun 13 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 14 Lisbon, Portugal 7 am 6 pm

Jun 15 Oporto, Portugal 8 am 6 pm

Jun 16 La Coruña, Spain 8 am 5 pm

Jun 17 Cruising the Bay of Biscay & English Channel

Jun 18 Paris (Honfleur), France 7 am 5 pm

Jun 19 London (Tilbury), UK 11 am

Jun 20 London (Tilbury), UK 5 pm

Jun 21 Amsterdam, Netherlands Noon

Jun 22 Amsterdam, Netherlands 5 pm

Jun 23 Cruising the English Channel & Atlantic Ocean

Jun 24 Waterford, Ireland 10 am 7 pm

Jun 25 Dublin (Dun Laoghaire), Ireland 8 am 10 pm

Jun 26 Belfast, Northern Ireland 8 am 6 pm

Jun 27 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 28 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 29 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jun 30 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jul 1 St. John’s, Newfoundland 8 am 5 pm

Jul 2 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jul 3 Cruising the Atlantic Ocean

Jul 4 New York, New York 8 am

Jul 5 New York, New York 8 am

Covid Complications

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When we decided to take this trip many months ago, we assumed Covid was under control and would not be a problem. Little did we know that covid would drag on and on, and the countries on our original itinerary would need constant revisions.

One of the main attractions to me was a bunch of stops in Australia. It became apparent Australia and New Zealand would not allow cruise ships to visit during our trip. So, let the adjustments begin.

As the start of the trip approaches, many countries are currently off-limits, but it is hoped they will be available by the time we arrive.

The ship is making extraordinary preparations to keep all the passengers safe. Complete vaccination and boosters are mandatory for all passengers and crew, and a covid test will be administered 72 hours prior and dockside before boarding. The worry is that if either of us test positive just before or at the dockside, we will not be allowed to start the cruise or even join later.

You could argue that now is not a good time to be on a cruise, and you might be right; on the other hand, maybe it is the safest place with 100% vaccinated passengers and crew. We wanted to take the cruise for various reasons, so we crossed our fingers and will be super vigilant.

Packing

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Our cruise package included free luggage pickup and return. Two suitcases up to 50lbs per person. They have sent us tags to attach to each case and a local shipping service will pick them up. They will be waiting for us in our stateroom when we arrive. This is very convenient saving us lugging suitcases to the ship and back, especially as flights charge extra these days for checked bags.

The stateroom steward will store the empty cases for us while we are on the cruise so we will not be tripping over them the whole trip.

Selecting what to pack for 6 months is a challenge. This cruise includes free unlimited laundry, so we don’t need to pack a lot of clothes. Of course, we will be seeing the same group of people during the trip so we don’t want to were the same shirt every third day either. There is weather to consider. Very hot days and some cold days will be encountered, but layering seems to be the answer.

This cruise has no formal nights, so no tuxedo or long gown is necessary. Country club casual is all that is needed for the formal dining room.

We do need to consider the normal comfort items like grooming products, laptop, cameras, reading material, extra glasses, sunglasses, medications, charging cords etc, etc, etc.

The Pre-Cruise

This cruise is the first for Insignia since the long covid shutdown. The cruise started in Miami on December 21 as a 196-day cruise, with the following added itinerary:

DAY PORT ARRIVE DEPART

Dec 21 Miami, Florida Embark 1:00 PM 5:00 PM

Dec 22 Key West, Florida 7:00 AM 1:00 PM

Dec 23 Cruising the Caribbean Sea

Dec 24 Cruising the Caribbean Sea

Dec 25 Cartagena, Colombia 7:00 AM 2:00 PM

Dec 26 Panama Canal Daylight Transit

Dec 27 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Dec 28 Puntarenas, Costa Rica 7:00 AM 6:00 PM

Dec 29 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Dec 30 Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala 8:00 AM 9:00 PM

Dec 31 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 1 Acapulco, Mexico 8:00 AM 5:00 PM

Jan 2 Cruising the Pacific Ocean

Jan 3 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 8:00 AM 5:00 PM

Jan 4 San Diego, California 12:00 PM 10:00 PM

Jan 5 Los Angeles, California 10 am

This Pre-Cruise will be a good chance for the ship and its new crew to iron out any bugs.

When we booked, the leg from Miami to Los Angeles was not available so we went with the LA start. Merry would not have wanted to miss Christmas at home anyway. We don’t know if that first leg became available or not.

Before the cruise even started, the stops at Cabo San Lucas and San Diego were canceled giving an extra day in Los Angeles to install a new shore-power hook up for the vessel which allows the ship to run on shore power, in ports where it is available. This will greatly reduce emissions from the ship’s powerplant. Our departure in Los Angeles has been put back from 10 pm on the 6th to 7 am on the 7th and arriving a few hours late in San Francisco.

This is an itinerary change on day one, so we know many more will come along. Our boarding time remains the same at 11 am on the 6th. We are resigned to going with the flow and letting Oceania Cruise line make all the decisions. As long as meals are on time, I am cool.

We have been holding our breath with the latest Omicron variant transmission exploding on the December 21st departure day.

Segments

About half of the passengers will only be traveling a portion of the full cruise.

Los Angeles- Papeete 23 days

Papeete – Bali 29 days

Bali – Tokyo 20 days

Tokyo – Hong Kong 16 days

Hong Kong – Bangkok 12 days

Bangkok – Cape Town 35 days

Also

Los Angeles- Tokyo 72 days

Los Angeles- Bali 52 Days

Papeete – Tokyo 49 days

This will be a good chance to know people from other parts of the world and perhaps some children onboard. A good chance to tell my old jokes to new people.

The latest update from the pre-cruise people tells us 74 ATW [Around the World] passengers embarked in Miami, with about 325 segmenters. Another 176 ATW passengers will get on in LA [including us] so a total of 250 ATW passengers to bond with.

We heard 2 people [not sure if passengers or crew] were put off the ship at the first stop in Key West because they tested positive for Covid. It's a cruel world.

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Last Minute Change of Plans

There are so many airline cancelations and long delays, we decided to change to travel to LA via Amtrack train. If the flight does not run like clockwork, we will miss the boat. There is a direct train from Chicago to LA and we can jump aboard half an hour from our home. The problem is, it stops for us at 3:20 am, so getting a ride is not going to happen. We will drive to the station and leave the car. We have arranged for a friend to go pick it up the next day. Aren’t friends wonderful.

The train ride is 31 hours which will drive me crazy but at least we know we are on the way with little chance of problems. It arrives at Union Station LA at 8:00 am and we are hoping the shuttle to the hotel can be changed [from the airport].

This means we are leaving home a day earlier. Luckily our planning has been very detailed and didn’t expect any problems.

Preboarding Testing

Our bags have been picked up, so the process has started.

The ship will test all passengers before they board. If they test positive they will not be permitted to board the ship, then or later in the cruise. A refund will be issued.

They recommend all passengers perform a PCR test 3 days before sailing. If this is not done and we test positive at dockside, we will not be able to board and no refund will be provided.

The PCR test takes up to three days to get the results, so we probably will not know the results before flying to LA the day before.

For a piece of mind, we have a test at-home kit to use three days before also. This will hopefully indicate negative and give us the confidence to fly. If we arrive in LA, then get a positive PCR result, we will not get on the ship and will have to quarantine in LA until we can fly home again.

Add to this, the new worry is canceled and delayed flights. We have 24 hours to get from home to the ship. If our flight is canceled at the last minute, the backup plan is to drive, which will take 21 hours plus stops, driving straight through. Let's hope