barbeyg

Of course, it’s a fluid situation, and at some point they could require boosters….or do away with pre-cruise testing all together. I expect the latter at any time, since I ordered our 6 pack of video-monitored tests from eMed today.

Your comment reminded me of a tip for rental cars. We use Enterprise, and they had no cars available at the airport. But the Enterprise Exotics nearby did. So, for just a few $ difference, we will be driving a Mercedes, Porsche, or similar. Apparently there is a market in Seattle for exotics.

We cruise AK as well, later in May. Current protocols, which are subject to change, require tests that are administered locally, or video-supervised. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center/pre-cruise-testing And we will be around after our cruise. We will be driving out to Mt Ranier National Park. There is also Whidbey Island and Snoqualmie Falls. Then there is Woodinville for wine-tastings at the different wineries.We aren’t interested in downtown Seattle ourselves, but there are the tourist spots there as well. Enjoy your trip!

I personally think every ship has something to offer. We’ve sailed Grandeur, Rhapsody, Jewel, Radiance, and a few other smaller ships. We sailed Sovereign within the first year of her sailing, and I remember thinking she was the biggest ship I’d ever see! While there isn’t as much to do on the smaller ships, they have their appeal, especially with sailing to ports that the larger ships don’t. I hope you aren’t disappointed either. We never have been. That said, for the transAtlantic we will be booking, we definitely want a larger ship because of the number of sea days onboard. Lots more to do on all those days at sea.

We live about 20 minutes from the TN end of the Dragon. We love the area, and moved here 17 years ago because of the Smokies, since something kept bringing us back here. We have never regretted the move. The attached pic is the view from our home. All these years later, the view still amazes us. Thanks for the heads up on the Dillard House. Will have to check it out.

Thank you! We are sailing Ovation too, on 5/20. Our last time to AK was a one way trip (our preferred type AK sailing) but I think the travel would be too hard on both of our sassy seniors. I hope yours surprises you (in a great way). Have a wonderful, memory-making trip.

Our next cruise is in 55 days. Right now, I’m trying not to get too excited, since this is our 3rd year trying for AK out of Seattle. My hope is that all is a go, but I’m braced in case something comes up. We are taking my oldest sister and Aunt, and will drive down 9 hours the weekend before to fly out with them 2 days ahead of the cruise. Then hopefully we will all test negative, and the flights will go off as scheduled. After that, everything can be dealt with as it happens. Most excited for? To see their faces every day, as they marvel at the beauty around us. Both of them helped finish raising my brother and me after our Momma passed. I could never repay them for that, and my deepest desire is for this trip to be amazing for them and to see the joy on their faces. Second most excited for? The private whale-watching tour we scheduled for Juneau. Then driving to the Yukon from Skagway…if Canada’s entry rules don’t include testing again.

‘Everyday’ cruises, we look at ships sailing from all the ports we prefer, then look at itineraries and ship, and price JS and above. We then select based on a combination of ship, itinerary and price, with ship and price having the edge over itinerary. So for these, embarkation port, then ship, and itinerary/price, in that order. For special sailings, like the retirement cruise we will be planning for 2024, we want to sail one way back from Europe, after spending a week to 10 days on land first. We will only consider Quantum class, Oasis class, Icon class, and Celebrity Edge class. Since we have whittled the choices down to those classes, we will choose the sailing based on itinerary first, then price for a JS or larger cabin. For special longer sailings, class of ship, then itinerary, then price.

When pressured to give positive reviews, I check the box that asks that. I don’t mind someone mentioning the survey, but please don’t try to push me to give an excellent rating. Let your service speak for itself. That said, this past December NO ONE even mentioned the survey, and when I filled out the survey, I was able to mention by name several employees who provided truly excellent service.

As an adoptive mom to a (now adult) child with special needs, I wanted to say that people like your brother are amazing. I know several families that adopt only special needs and/or terminal children, and they truly humble me.

I saw this a lot on Oasis. I hope that the majority of us don’t ever forget the shutdown of the industry and how grateful we were to cruise again. I had tears in my eyes as I boarded. I knew I missed sailing, but didn’t realize how much till I was there. And maybe I had my rose colored glasses on thru that voyage, because I don’t really remember much negative behavior around me.

But they ARE going to waive penalties for moving to different sailing. Thought that was either poorly worded, or someone thought we would buy into that being a ‘benefit’. In all fairness, they will cover any flight change fees, so there is that. Option 2: Rebook any Royal Caribbean sailing. If you prefer to re-book a different sailing, we’ll waive any non-refundable deposit change fees associated with the move.

The onboard credit is only if you take the choices they list. Only one alternative for the same week if you don’t want to change your vacation time, a 6 night on Jewel.

What a great itinerary! We will be trying to sail something similar in 2024, after early retirement.

Just booked our 2nd Celebrity cruise today. It will be our first, though. RCI cancelled our Wonder OTS cruise, so we are making lemonade out of their lemons. Celebrity Apex, 12/3/2022, here we come!

Right?

Well phooey. We knew it was coming, but the alternative offered for the same week is....lacking to say the least. Guess I need to finalize a cruise on another ship, or maybe plan something for a land vacation. My husband will be so sad. He was so excited. Ah well.

Have a great time! You will be a pro at the suite life before we board. lol This is our first Celebrity cruise, and if life goes as we hope it will, our last vacation of the 'working years' before an early retirement at the end of 2023. See you in the Retreat!

IF you treat your partner’s booking as a no-show at the dock, you can still go for the price that was paid. If your partner cancels, your booking will reprice. I believe port charges will be refunded if a no-show at the dock. If I’m wrong about the port charges, please someone correct me.

Not to mention all the NE sailings. Sigh.

If you are talking about the Malin & Goetz products they changed to, I prefer them.

I feel the same way. We will stay on the ship if Canada is requiring additional testing. It would be nice to see Victoria, but no loss here. My husband is half-Canadian, courtesy of his parents border romance. He has Canadian relatives that have stayed in the US for months to get some relief from the hoops the Canadian govt makes them jump thru.

AND it would require all passengers to have a molecular test pre-cruise, since if the antigen testing is 2 days out from boarding, the antigen test wouldn't be accepted since it is more than one day before arriving in Canada.

I really hope Congress gets off their butts and passes this extension to bypass Canada. Having Canada hold the entire season hostage based on the whims of their government is ridiculous. #CovidFatigueHere

Unfortunately, government works the same way here too.