Jill

Just watch the sales. Last sale wasn’t a bargain at $160 which is what our travel friends ended up paying. 
 

3 sales or so ago, I got it for $106. Still high as the sale before that was $96 but our 125% OBC hadn’t been posted yet. 
 

Hope you get a deal! 

55 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

Now that looks good!

Best way to end the night. A chocolate martini in Central Park 

So I need to save all my vouchers for chocolate martinis and not blow them on a $9 glass of wine

We did it on Mariner. It was fun. I found out I’m not good at Escape Rooms! Lol 

It is in a very small room (you go up a flight of stairs from Dazzles/Diamond Lounge/former Viking Crown) so I’d imagine if the virus is still a concern, they may not open it or limit the number of people. I think we had about 20 people. 
 

I booked through cruise planner in the onboard activities section. 

I don’t think this will be permanent. Depending how the summer goes, I would imagine by September it may change. Worst case until the CSO expires November 1. 
 

Then We’ll all complain that they took the extra drink away!

12 minutes ago, Matt said:

Clearly their goal is keep the Diamond Lounge from becoming overcrowded, and if you had unlimited drinks there, lots of people would go there to maximize their free drink benefit.

By making it 4 or 5 drinks per day across the board, there is little incentive to go to DL, thus achieving their goal.

So it makes sense from a social distancing standpoint, but obviously it could be a reduction in free drinks for some.

Full disclosure, I have the drink package so doesnt bother me all that much, but I certainly understand the concern.

We’ve always gotten the drink package as well but with 2 port intensive cruises coming up in 2022, sure will be nice if they keep it at 4 drinks. Heck even if it goes back to 3, I still likely won’t get a package. I can’t imagine hiking with a hangover lol 

1 hour ago, DJsMrs said:

This is so disappointing and incredibly frustrating - I absolutely feel your pain.   And I hear Matt when he talks about cancelling...  

In May 2020 we L&S a cruise booked in April 2021.   My husband thought I was crazy and that everything would be sailing by April of 2021... boy was he wrong.   I'm super glad we moved it (especially now that I see the price is 3X what we paid).

This whole situation is so fluid and so disconcerting and SO frustrating.   We all want it to be over and have our regular lives and schedules back.   Someone reminded me the other day that "re-opening" will be a series of baby steps.   And be prepared for one step forward and two steps back.   There WILL be covid on cruise ships.   What will that mean?   Will they be prevented from docking?   What will happen to passengers?   Quarantine on land?   Who knows - but all of these details need to be sorted out and addressed before the cruise lines can hit it with full force.

It's a process...  I keep reminding myself that it's not forever.   It's just for now.

I realize not everyone is up to date but to ease your fears....the cruise lines have had to enter into port agreements per CDC CSO to handle ships with a possible large outbreak including local hospitals if needed. Ships will not be turned away from ports they have agreements with

I hope this stays in place through my Alaska and Holy Land cruises. We won’t need the drink package. 
 

Still buying the package though for our October symphony as that’s a “different” type of cruise if ya know what I mean

Awesome! Congratulations! 

7 hours ago, sk8erguy1978 said:

Out of all the agents & bloggers, I (as I'm sure most) assumed you'd be on their exclusive list. 

I suppose it might not be something they want immediately blogged tho.

For all we know @Matt HAS been chosen but can’t tell us! If he disappears for a few days in the next couple of weeks........

9 hours ago, Matt said:

Odyssey means you can sail out of USA, and you get to go on the newer ship in the fleet. 
 

Adventure will cost you much less for the cruise (airfare not withstanding), get you two days at Perfect Day at CoocCay, and that ship does not need approval from the CDC to sail. 

I’m not so sure I’d switch this late only because Adventure is a guaranteed sail. If odyssey had already passed her test cruise, I’d move but with the way the last few weeks have gone, who knows what tomorrow brings, heck even the next few hours! Lol 

So if you go in and do mock bookings, all outside view cabins are “sold out.” I looked at about a dozen dates. 
 

There are a few interiors available. 
 

Months ago it was speculated that only cabins with balconies would be available. It appears that is mostly the case. What stumps me is why not take all interiors off the block and offer outside view? Unless outside view cabins would be used for quarantine purposes? 
 

I only looked at Symphony. Off to look at other ships

edit: odyssey august has all interior and ocean view as “sold out.” Come September, all available 

No. Not to that level. It mostly deals with mask wearing. I’d entertain having to wear one in a crowded area (promenade, leaving a show etc). Never outside, never between each bite of food/drink. That’s just ridiculousness. 
 

Risk to me is low and getting lower everyday. My daughter got married 16 days ago. No masks in church or indoor reception. 100 people in roughly a 50x100 ballroom for 4 hours. Dancing our butts off, woo-hooing, laughing. Not one case. I’d estimate maybe 25-30% were vaccinated. 
 

That was the 3rd wedding we’ve been too with no masks (November and December) and a crowded funeral in April. 
 

I’m not vaccinated, yet. Waiting until a month before my October cruise, then I’ll decide. I have a hyper autoimmune system and cautious about “stimulating” it since it tried to kill me 5 years ago. 

I highly doubt Royal made a Willy Nilly decision. They’ve done their research. (Surveys) They know their protocols work (Singapore). 
 

They have the ability and have said they will disembark a positive case along with their travel party and pay for them to get home etc. 

If enough cases (threshold) are onboard, the cruise will end. This is what people are most worried about. However, it appears Royal has done their research, has followed the science their panel of experts has presented and feels this is low risk. 
 

Remember, ships will be reduced capacity at least until November 1. 
 

Royal has said their survey results have 90% vaccinated or planning to be vaccinated. 
 

After the last 15 months, they know the risks of this decision and obviously feel it is low. 
 

I do see however fairly strict protocols for those who are not vaccinated and it will be these protocols that will weed out many of those people. Many do not want to cruise with masks, period. They will wait a bit longer until masks are waived for everyone. 
 

I do not think this is as big a deal as some are making it out to be. 

54 minutes ago, rcdave said:

Maybe this as been covered before - but why isn't RC not sailing out of NJ? I would think to get started they would move a couple ships into Port Liberty and start fully vaccinated cruises - no test cruises required.  If I understand correctly if they did this cruising could start before July or at least early July. 

Most likely there is not a port agreement yet

41 minutes ago, Jim S said:

RCI are not consistent with the new TC’s. We also have two other cruises booked for May 22 on Allure out of Barcelona and October 22 on Odyssey (maybe the same cruise that you are on) out of Rome and they have not applied the conditions to those cruises (yet).

We’re on the 12 night Holy Land October 7

56 minutes ago, Matt said:

Nice! I cant wait to hear all about it.

I think everyone warns you Alaska tours/excursions are expensive, but until you see the checkout total, it never really resonates 

Yeah kind of regretting that corner aft JS (not really lol!) Upside is we should get 40 C&A points

10 hours ago, CGTLH said:

Great selection, this is the only land tour where a majority of travel is via train. The last leg from Anchorage is via motor coach. If interested you'll have a chance to enjoy all three meals on the train. Each of the three train segments were during one of the meal times. 

Side story: In Anchorage we broke off from the group first thing in the morning and took the train to Seward. Had to buy tickets on our own and did info the tour leader of our plans prior to arriving in Anchorage. One person in our group did stay behind to do the motor coach leg. If they hadn't stayed behind we would have had to deal with bring luggage to the train terminal in the morning. 

I read @twangster blog report and really loved reading about his train ride from anchorage to Seward. We were planning to do that but if the land tour is mostly train, we may take the bus. However if hubby falls in love with the train, we’ll do it. Our daughter will be with us as this is her college graduation present so the train just may happen.

9 minutes ago, dandi799 said:

I've been wondering the same thing. My 8/14 sailing of Symphony is no longer available to book (at least, I'm not seeing it), but there were a lot of cabins available when I looked earlier this week, so that made me think that they might be limiting capacity, at least for a bit?

I looked at my October Symphony the other day and there were 60 cabins left. Interestingly, there were some connecting interiors available. Outside view is listed as sold out. I figured there would be no interior cabins available only balcony 

8 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

1375 Odyssey crew got vaccinated today. Man they really were behind in Haifa

Well they did have to dump a bunch of crew that didn’t have US visas and pick up new crew that did. But still that’s a lot of vaccines 

Thanks everyone! We are going with the Wilderness Express Land Tour! A little sticker shock but YOLO! 
 

5 months later we head to Rome for our 12 night Holy Land/Best of Greece on Odyssey. 
 

I better start playing the lottery! Lol 

9 minutes ago, dandi799 said:

So, how confident do folks feel that the sailings that have been confirmed as going will truly go? I feel VERY lucky to be on the 8/14 Symphony sailing, but given that it is the first one out, I'm still really cautious about getting my hopes up. But, this seems like a big announcement that has been a long time coming, so.....are people feeling good about this being a pretty solid plan, and not just another delay that will end in more cancellations? 

I feel confident this is the real deal unless there happens to be a horrible virus apocalypse that sinks them once again. 

I’m October 23 Symphony. It’s my 4th try. Been cancelled 3 times. It’s gotta go! 

1 hour ago, MrK1ttens said:

RIP my Aug 7 Symphony of the Seas cruise. The week after mine gets to go though 

I’d call and see if you can move to that one. 

I have an October 2022 on Odyssey out of Rome and I’ve received nothing. 

1 hour ago, Elnoz said:

I just checked her profile and she hasn't logged in since May 7th. I, too, hope all is ok with her and her family. 

Someone else pointed out that @twangsterhas been silent lately. 

Check in guys, your people are worried about you!!

I noticed @twangsterwas MIA too