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April 10 -17 2022 Who is on this trip: 7 of us ! It will be my hubby and I and the crew of 5. It was suppose to be 8 but my sister went with us in February because she couldn’t make this one. Itinerary:stops will be St Maarten , St Thomas and perfect day. When we booked it was suppose to be Antigua but it was later changed to St Maarten. We had our covid test today (Friday). Now we are waiting for all results so far 5/7 are back and negative. Travel We are driving to Port Canaveral. Plans for tomorrow night staying 6 miles from port. We will leave early Saturday morning from Birmingham Al. We have plans to stop in Port Orange to eat at Aunt Catfish’s. Our genie for this trip is Alexa. We have received our schedule of shows and restaurants. I’m sooo excited for Grease. It just has to be so much better than Cats.

Port fees and taxes do not qualify for price adjustment. They are estimated based on load factors and historical data. Many of the fees originate from sources that are fixed such as the pilot fees. The pilot(s) charge the same price if there are 1,000 guests or 5,000 guests on a particular ship. Dockage fees are fixed. The unionized longshoreman in some ports charge the same to handle the lines when ships enter and leave port. These don't vary based on passenger count. Most of the port fees and taxes result from charges of the home ports here in the US where labor rates and unionized labor costs more. Most Caribbean nations have low port fees relatively speaking to make that country look appealing to cruise lines. Alaska has higher port fees because there are more US ports. Cruise lines estimate how many people they think might book each sail date and spread these fixed fees across the estimated guests. As time goes on sometimes they up and sometimes they go down. Just as they don't charge more port fees and taxes for already booked guests when they go up, they also don't lower them for already booked guests when they down.

Boarded Odyssey this morning at Port Everglades- all four of my family used the iHealth proctored test. Showed the negative result image file provided by iHealth and had no issues getting on board. They didn’t scan the QR code or anything, just looked at our phone screenshots. Hope this helps everybody considering using this test as we weren’t 100% sure if it would be accepted. Paul

My CVS has changed from a quick visit and swab in the outside pod to a full Minute Clinic inside visit…which is considered a doctor’s visit, with vitals and medical history. Takes much more time. Luckily, my insurance covers it. Then I saw that the CVS locations offering Antigen tests were being scaled back and I had to book one much further away. The day before I had to take the test, I checked the website and found that my usual CVS was now offering the Antigen tests again through the Minute Clinic and had multiple open time slots. So I just cancelled the other one. Another reason to keep doing due diligence and keep checking for changes; schedules, itineraries, tests, masks, and especially protocols… until this thing is finally over!

Out of Crown Royal and now out of Captain?

We are on our way! To say I’m excited is an under statement I have been up since 3:00 am central time. Beat the alarm today!!! Here we come Harmony!!!!!

For the foreseeable future, I’d recommend that you always have a mask. While municipalities may not have any requirements, individual locations may. We were just in New York City and at some stores they required masks to enter. Some places also asked for proof of vaccination, so you should probably carry that with you as well. at the end of the day, it’s easier to have the mask or vaccine card and not use it than it is to track all the rules for whichever places you’re going to be visiting. I suspect things will be more “normal” in 2023, but 2022 will probably be a transition year. Good luck!

If you are in a cabin directly next door or directly across the hall then you can put the 17 year old in with the others. Another way to do it would be to put one adult in one room and then the other adult in the other room.

We are about 80ish days from our cruise and bought our tests the other day. I just want to make sure these are excepted they are Abbott’s BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag At-Home Test Kit 6 Pack thank you all in advance we can't wait lol

There was a medical emergency so the ship had to return to port. EMS was waiting dockside for the patient.

Forgot the Captain?

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, too! I’m doing a mother-son trip the same week, but the thrill park is not sold out yet on the 19th. I was checking the cruise planner pretty frequently for a while, and I noticed that the beach club would vary from being sold out sometimes to having a few passes available, as people canceled, I assume. So I think there’s hope if you check back often.

When booking, there is a distinction between a refundable deposit or a non-refundable deposit. Fares for non-refundable are generally cheaper, but your deposit is at risk. When you cancel a cruise, what you get back (cash or Future Cruise Credit) and how much depends upon such factors as when you cancel, why you cancel, what sort of trip insurance you have, etc. A good travel agent will explain this. Royal explains their refund policy online and on your booking receipt. Example: When my wife's mother passed away, her trip insurance covered the entire cost of her reservation. Royal has certain COVID cancellation policies in affect now, as do certain travel insurance carriers. Generally, when you see a cheap online price for a cruise at Royal's website, it assumes nonrefundable deposit. Some people book a cruise with a refundable deposit first knowing that if their plans change, they can reschedule without paying a change fee or even just cancel. We do this for most of our cruises because we book1-2 years in advance. There are other threads that go into detail about travel insurance, repricing cruises, etc. Bottom line: Virtually every cruise fare is partially reimbursable up to a point, but you lose everything if you wait too long and aren't covered by travel insurance or Royal's COVID policies. The most flexibility is offered by refundable deposits and suitable travel insurance.

We are leaving from Athens, GA in about 4 hours. Overnight in Orlando then an 11:30 boarding on Sunday. Gonna be fun!!

The news on spikes can be misleading, check this article from the philly newspaper https://www.inquirer.com/health/philadelphia-mask-mandate-covid-cases-20220406.html they have a arbitrary formula to bring back masks, if two things happen they bring them back, one being if cases increase 50% in 10 days, another being more than 100 cases a day. Look at the charts, in January they were averaging 4,000 cases per day, it fell to 55 and has doubled to 110 so a rational person wouldn't panic but it triggers their arbitrary and outdated formula for 1.5 million people. Google "philadelphia covid" and you can also see the chart for the entire pandemic. In the lulls, 200 cases a day is a low period, 6,000 plus is the high period, plus they don't report on weekends so there's spikes on Mondays. Those policy makers are making it hard for the rest of the country to navigate the pandemic or if, god forbid, there is another one by being statistically unreasonable and giving credibility to conspiracy theories. The media is complicit in hyping statistically insignificant blips which will cause actual spikes to be dismissed by the public. There's a fable about this, has to do with a boy and a wolf, didn't end well.

We took our tests at midnight last night. I believe they are open 24 hours. It was super quick and easy.

If you follow RC's chief meteorologist, Jim Van Fleet, on Instagram, you will get real time updates on docking conditions for your day if there is any weather that could affect your cruise. He will let you know if there is a question about docking, and what they are deciding It's fascinating all that goes into keeping these ships safe.

Yes, as long as it looks like this and warns you to not open it until instructed to do so you have the correct tests. (They don't have to say eMed on them as Optum also sells them). You likely got them from eMed if you have a 6-pack, though).

On my last cruise, by Wednesday my waiter would ask me, "and which two desserts will you be trying tonight?"

Okay, I'm just relieved that this is direction this thread is headed in...

I used them as our pre-cruise testing in February. Very simple process. Book appointment online. Results in 20 minutes.

Bummer, I never use conditioner. Was hoping it was body wash and shampoo. Might have to bring my own.

I usually get three lobster tails on lobster night. I don't get lobster at home so I go all out on cruises. My wife ordered lamb chops on lobster night and gave me one. They were so good we ordered another and split them. I don't eat desert (on keto) but occasionally my wife will order another desert if she doesn't like the first one.

I believe that they are now only providing a bodywash and shampoo single application. No conditioner. But, I'm old and I may be "misremembering" what I saw

Ignore the percentages. What's the $ cost? If the March 40% off sale cost $60 that would imply the on board cost was $100. Today the 10% off sale could also be $60 implying the on board cost is $66.67. Tomorrow a 25% off sale could also be $60 implying the on board cost is $80. They can change the "on board cost" as often as they want until you are actually on board. The sale percentage is just marketing to get you to buy. Even if the current price is higher than your parents paid, it's better to lock in something because you can always cancel and repurchase if you see a lower $ amount.

This is definitely going to happen, so I wouldn't worry about the app. At check in, they will take a picture of it, if what you submitted is not sufficient.

But what if I’m way, way, way (sheesh!)…over 21 but feel and act like I’m 16? Should I be worried?

No reason at all. That's the way to do it.

So excited to follow along. We will be on Harmony in two short weeks eek! Safe travels and have a great cruise!

Typically 5-10 business days (which is 1-2 weeks).

I had the same experience as @NaturalNine. Cancelled shore excursions on 4/1 but the refund didn't show up pending until 4/7. Its posted now though. I figured it would take at least a week so I was happy. I hope you see it post soon!

I’m following! We are on Harmony next month. Been on Harmony before, but not Star Class. Most curious about port arrival and the process for actually getting on the ship. TIA! Have a great cruise! Enjoy! And safe travels to the port

Yes, I was on that cruise too and was watching us dock, it took the Captain 3 attempts to dock.

Underage vouchers technically are not allowed to be used for alcohol, but some may slip past the gates.

Wifi calling is notoriously hit or miss on cruise ships though.

There are only 2 of us and NO WAY would I have 1, 2 device package to share. We almost came to blows the one time I tried it and we kept kicking each other off when trying to change devices. Now, everyone gets their own plan with their own log-in and peace has reigned ever since. Well...mostly always....some of the time.

Totally agree. We are going on Grandeur in May and very much looking forward to the smaller ship experience. We have sailed out of Miami, Galveston, and soon Port Canaveral, but Galveston and possibly New Orleans will be our main ports.

I say we riot..

Now if we could only impress upon some people that this isn't their own tasting bar. And get parents to watch their kids while at the buffet.

No, only CK at CK. Specialty dining - if you have a package, pick one to go to as soon as you are on board & you can make multiple reservations for any of the specialty restaurants at that one

Sunset Bar is basically right on the sand:

On the free vs fee-based testing at CVS - I would think that for 99.9% of us the first one is a “yes” (as long as you’ve had any contact with other human beings ).

The Golden Room was originally going to be the high rollers section of the casino for the Asian market but when they pulled Wonder out of Asia they had to adapt to fit the American market. It's definitely not a high rollers area currently with reasonable table limits for the three tables in there and a variety of slot machines with low minimums. I would encourage all the anti-smokers to take advantage of this room as a way to vote with their dollars and encourage the separation.

If they were to ban smoking, smokers would laugh and move on. Smokers do not need to pay for a vacation to be inconvenienced and definitely do not need a cruise line to push them to vaping. Most adults like to make their own decisions. Disney has banned all smoking in their parks, and they are getting hit with boycotts from smokers who will not drop a penny there.

Why on earth is Royal Caribbean still intending to port in St Petersburg, Russia in 2023???

I know you won’t be able to enjoy all this ship has to offer but for me who loves to do 3 night sailings, living so close to the port, I can’t wait! After doing Mariner and independence so many times, it will be nice to have a larger ship to enjoy on a quick weekend getaway. It may entice some to do b2b as well. ~Amy

Both of those were what they said when our state was discussing the indoor smoking Bans. Both Bars and Casino's now have indoor smoking banned and not only did none of them go out of business, they make just as much money now as they did before the bans. As someone said while it was banned on the ships the Casino was still crowded.

This is good news and great timing for everyone sailing after February 15th......including ME!!! Wish they would have kept the casino smoke free.

We have solved the hard mattress issue two ways. First - we roll up a 3" mattress topper as tight as we can get it and tie it together. Stuff it in a suitcase and fill the rest of that suitcase with whatever else we are taking. This requires 2 large suitcases for most trips. BUT - the comfort of the softer mattress is worth it. Just remember to take it off of the bed when you come home. Second - if we are flying and can only check one bag - we ask the room steward for 10 extra pillows. We put them under the sheet and remake the bed. We have a "pillow-top" mattress literally!!!