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Hi Matt, Doesn't mention anything about qualifications. Here are some of mine, do you think these will qualify me? Bon Vivant, well versed in the English language as well as Pig Latin, able to walk and chew gum at the same time, highly experienced office worker qualified on most of the Xerox Multifunction / All-in-One Laser Printers, non smoker, non drinker before 12:00 noon, I am a professional amateur, always wading into areas that I hardly anything about and I can make sure nothing ever happens. ?

Congratulations on the Star Class. You will be ruined for life....but that's a good thing ! Officially, the Genie is only able to make arrangements for their Star Class passengers. Unofficially, they will certainly do things like make reservations for the entire group at a specialty restaurant. If dining reservations are made for non-SC pax, just realize that those not in SC will be required to pay for their meals and drinks. What the Genie may or may not do are things like hold seats at venues (theaters, etc.) for non-SC pax. Honestly, it has a lot to do with how many non-SC folks we are talking about. If we are talking about onesies and twosies, I have great confidence that the Genie will go out of their way to include everyone. If we are talking about multiple cabins and many people, it would be much more difficult for the Genie to do. We have traveled with non-SC friends many times and the Genie has always accommodated us....but we were also careful not to place the Genie into a situation where they weren't comfortable. For dining....absolutely, I'm certain it would not be a problem. I will offer one bit of insight that my last Genie shared. The Genies are VERY careful to NEVER put anything in writing that violates their "rules". So, if you correspond with your Genie and ask them to do something that is a violation of the rules, they will NOT correspond back to you with an answer that violates the rules. This also goes for conversations over the phone and texts. Once you are onboard and you can chat face-to-face with the Genie, I have never had a Genie that wasn't completely helpful with my non-SC pax....but again, this was never more than 2 people. My rule of thumb is to advise my Genie that there will be non-SC pax in my group, but never expect or ask for the Genie to acknowledge that or "discuss" in writing, that fact. Trust me....your Genie wants you happy...and they will do whatever they can to make that happen. But don't ask them to take a bunch of non-SC kids to the front of the bumper car line. Probably the best way to include non-SC pax in your party is to have the Genie arrange a gathering in your suite. There are no limitations placed on the Genie to prevent them from having as much food and [applicable] drinks brought to your suite as you could ever want. I say "applicable" b/c, as SC pax, you are entitled to virtually unlimited amounts of water, soda, beer and juice brought to your cabin. However, if you want wine or liquor, you have to pay for that and liquor is only available in individual drinks...no bottles of liquor are allowed. But food ? You can order as much as often as you want. If members of your non-SC group want to enjoy SC benefits, that's the best way and puts the Genie in the least uncomfortable position. Enjoy your SC cruise !

What gets me are the people who think Key West is some sleepy little town that without cruise ships will go back to being Hemingway-esque. You have an international airport, spring breakers up the wazoo, and enough tourists from the Southeast US to make it one of the top tourist destinations in the USA. Every city has its set of problems, cruise ships were not one of them for Key West.

UPDATE: My awesome TA, Kelley, with MEI is looking into it. She suspects they did an internal audit and found the taxes and port fees werent calculated correctly, and corrected it. We shall see!

Walking onto CocoCay on Saturday, March 14, 2020. The last cruise with passengers to visit the island. ?

I think this post has brought the most new members ever to this site!?

All, this isn’t a thread for actually signing up. Just a straw poll to see how many of us would be interested in being a volunteer if the situation presented itself.

I was on the Serenade repo from BOS-FLL exactly one year ago. Returned to have torn retina surgery that same month, a minor stroke this past March and cataract surgery in June. No pity party, though! Losing weight, exercising and ready to meet more new friends in February on the Empress and Allure ?

Or a Maine Coon. Though a Yukon Moose would be a good substitute (though a bit large).

Probably not a good idea to leave your personal info on a public forum here. As @Matt said, this is simply a hypothetical question to generate discussion. It IS NOT a thread for actually signing up.

I feel like this fact has been lost in the excitement.

I once took a Spanish course on a cruise ship And I got lost at si

So, my December cruise was canceled and I had no sailings that I could move it to (there were no itineraries for December of next year) so, the agent moved me to a Symphony of the Seas sailing on 12/11/21. It wasn't going to the same places but it was still out of Miami. Just to let yall know that it doesn't have to be the same itinerary or same ship. Length has to be the same as well as no holiday sailings are permitted.

That'll be addressed on the next ballot.

You can't: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/11/04/royal-caribbean-has-not-determined-yet-how-it-will-pick-volunteers-test-cruises

ROFLMAO at all those who keep creating accounts to "volunteer" even after repeated postings to remind everyone that it's a hypothetical question AND that this isn't where one will go to try to participate.

Wow, Matt! Have you ever had a single post gain so many new users/first time commenters? Impressive engagement! Also, YES, if I lived closer to Florida I would. I am booked on Navigator Jan 25th, if that's a lucky early sailing I will definitely be there!

Actually I was unfaithful. My last cruise was on the Sky Princess. The photo is from Rock Opera.

This is making me laugh today. To all my American friends here. ?

In the end, I don't really care. I am happy to be able to get on a cruise to nowhere at this point. Destination does not matter to me. ?

Really a bummer, but at the same time that island can be really packed (like Saint Thomas, Nassau, others). It's certainly a debatable, subjective opinion and everyone has different preferences.... I agree with the unfortunate sentiment that the real winners are the lawyers (as with a lot of things). I would add that there's another sea faring option and that is to take the Key west Express, a couple hundred passenger catamaran ferry that goes from southwest florida. I am not an employee or anything, I'm not getting paid haha but I can say that I have taken it several times and will again. It's a fun two or three hour trip and you can go down and back in a day or across multiple days. The Catamaran itself is newer, clean and has a great three deck setup with food court, bar, different seating layouts....it's a great option if you're like me and the many other midwesterners who are in Fort Myers/Sarasota/Naples FL often. If you look at a map, the way the keys curl back to the southwest, it's actually a pretty straight shot as the bird flies. https://www.keywestexpress.net/

This site is a private fan site not managed by Royal Caribbean and they do not participate on this site. No one here can answer your question. No one here can perform a comparative analysis between your favorite brands and what Royal Caribbean uses on board. We have tried to illustrate what might be provided on board and it appears that you are looking for a different answer. Suggest you contact Royal Caribbean on social media and ask them your question.

Yup, moved my 3/21 Rhapsody out of Tampa to a 3/22 Harmony out of Port Canaveral. So doesn't even have to be same departure port. And got the new cruise for half price!

Jus call I'm ready can't live in fear...

I guess all I can say is I'd be careful what you wish for. You might just get it. With what's going on these days and the uncertain future, I can't see anybody turning away business. Although I would imagine that the business owners of Key West did not vote for this.

You're perfect, Robert !!!

I'd love to, but my employer won't allow it. ? Hmmmm...Maybe I should just retire!

Absolutely! I am single whose kids are grown and live in different states. I am an essential worker who has worked everyday in the public since the beginning of the pandemic. Yet, I have still traveled and been to public venues, shopping etc. Always taking precautions of course, but not allowing paranoia to consume me. My job consists of being exposed to many harmful things, so I know all too well of how to keep safe and clear of exposure. I have not been sick or exposed to the virus, I'm in good health and I could sure use a nice getaway. My family reunion cruise in September, we had to cancel back in July due to Covid obviously. So with much disappointment, family loss and sickness; I wouldn't mind taking one for the team so not only my family can feel secure in the "New Normal" of cruising hopefully next year, but so that other families can as well. Cruising is an experience that everyone interested should have a chance to do at least once. I've cruised several times before so I am well aware of how exciting and amazing it was. What better judge, then someone who can compare the "Old Cruising Experience" to now the "New Cruising Experience" and report on the difference in safety, security, cleanliness and just overall experience as we adjust to now life as we know it??So after that long winded explanation, Yes! I'd love to volunteer! Tell me your do's and dont's, needs and wants and I'm there!!!????

Yes we would like to volunteer why not

When do we set sail?

Yes, I would be interested in assisting RC in developing a protocol for safe traveling of future voyages. Count me in.

Ohh sure ! I m really interested and excited if I can get a chance to be a volunteer ... Really appreciate

Can I get a fluffy tabby-colored one? ?

This is my opinion too. I can take it or leave it. We have been there a few times and I'm very ok with never seeing it again.

My money's on you'll get to spend a day at Coco Cay now.

Another option would be to Lift and Shift to February 2022. You can do that before November 30.

I was surprised..didn't think this would actually pass....it says they get 7% of their tourism dollars from cruise passengers.....wonder if after a few years they will regret this especially with the hit that tourism is taking worldwide currently....

All of this emphasizes that the cruising public will run into a cluster in the opening months. I don't care about my own exposure to a disease with a flat death rate, but all of this complexity and friction isn't worth it until the perception of overkill kicks in. Cruising will suck for a long while.

Visiting Blue Lagoon

Yep, I just think about my FCC as a savings account to be used at a later date for future fun times. ?

This is me today, while watching all the major US news networks...

I think the cruise lines will still require a pre-arrival lab confirmation or a similar RT/PCR-type test in addition to the one administered on arrival? Why? Because of your assessment (which the cruise lines probably have also determined, and based on all evidence so far that I would agree with) that the CDC very much wants this to fail. If there is only the on-arrival screening, some portion of the guests detected by the RT/PCR test will be people who were infected many days ago, and who are pre-symptomatic but highly contagious. But if they combine on-arrival with a mandatory lab test taken 3-5 days before arrival, they will have a double-layer mitigation that catches people who are infected before they even leave their house, cutting down those infectious numbers at the port. Then, with the on-board test they'll pick up the remaining people who were infected but still too low of a titer before they flew / drove to the port; hopefully most of them are not yet contagious, and the mask wearing / constant sanitizing while transitioning through the screening will keep the other passengers safe. That leaves only whatever tiny number of people got exposed that day or a day or two before. (or more? How many days does a person have to be infected before they have sufficient viral titer for RT/PCR?) One would hope that, statistically, that number is now so low that only one ship in 10 or hopefully 20 or 100 gets that one passenger. As you said, absolutely nothing can get them to zero infections on board 100% of ships. But if they use the two-layer approach to screening they can get a lot closer to that 100% while cutting the risk of passenger exposure to as close to 0% as possible.

Helium Balloon, now that's a gas, gas, gas.?

Price plays a big part in our bookings, so we gamble with our deposit. Other than our first cruise, we’ve booked at Next Cruise every time to get $100 per person non-refundable deposit (then transferred the booking to our agent). If my wife had the personal time to spare, we’d take a chance on an early 2021 short cruise. Prices seem good.

I second that.

If 2021 is a wash and cruises are pushed to 2022, I don't think there will be much of a cruise industry left. So the points will be worthless.

Whew, boy does my head hurt from reading this blog!?

My 5/9/21 (hope) Oasis DBP dropped from $61 to $46 per day, which is the best I've seen in a long while. I cancelled and re-purchased and today it's back to $61. Strike while the iron's hot ?