mbk999

Thank you for the Allure update.  We sail on her in two months with a similar itinerary, swapping Labadee with Coco Cay.  Thanks for the info on Aruba and Curacao 

They've made beer with Old Bay, which actually turned out pretty good. The original recipe was based off a light ale, now it's a gose which I have not had yet.
 
https://www.flyingdog.com/beers/dead-rise/

Sadly Phillips is but a shell of it's former self but the Mrs Phillip's crab cake recipe with Jumbo Lump makes for a good homemade cake.  

and I thought vaccines would be the most controversial topic on these boards....

and I thought vaccines would be the most controversial topic on these boards....

It won't get back to Florida but if Cunard still runs their weekly trans-atlantic, you could at least get back to NYC.

It won't get back to Florida but if Cunard still runs their weekly trans-atlantic, you could at least get back to NYC.

You're right, they can't operate expecting to have no cases, I don't see that happening anytime soon.   IF (appropriately caveated) they can get rapid testing figured out and have sufficient tests per voyage, that would go a long way towards the mitigation and control while on-board.  You may have to test every day, certainly returning from a port of call.   Increase the medical center, increase staff to ensure passengers quarantine (boy that would be a fun job, staring at a cabin door all day).  
My worry is less about the ship than it is with how the ports react to a ship with cases.  It's one thing for a port of call to deny a ship, but a home port is another matter.   Hopefully I'm not naive in the assumption that the cruise lines are discussing COVID protocols with the home ports.

and hope the other mainstream lines follow suit.  It won't do Royal (or NCL or Carnival) any good if there's another Diamond Princess incident and the ports shut down again.  That's one of my worries, an incident on another cruise line that further impacts the industry.  

Yeah, I liked that one too but it's too late in the month for the school schedule and my wife will be back to work.  

07 August sailing.  I liked the Labadee/San Juan/St Thomas/Perfect Day itinerary.    
Hopefully the family wedding next summer won't be then and MD doesn't go crazy and start schools in early August....

Yeah, I liked that one too but it's too late in the month for the school schedule and my wife will be back to work.  

I just booked a Loft suite on the Symphony for next August.  I wanted a suite in order to get the Sky Class benefits,  Not to isolate but  in today's world, having access to areas that aren't as crowded is a good thing to me.  And if they got too crowded for comfort, whether for covid reasons or just too many people, we'd at least have a bigger room/balcony to hang out in.  We are boring cruisers too and hang out on the pool deck doing a lot of reading.
I originally looked at a Grand Suite but by the time I got with the TA, the last one was gone so I went to the crown loft.  My logic was that my FCC was already a sunk cost so the additional price was the cost for this cruise.  It's our first time in a "real" suite so I am really looking forward to it.  

Yeah, I liked that one too but it's too late in the month for the school schedule and my wife will be back to work.  

Good to hear that it's not a huge issue for folks.   It would have been interesting this week if the industry hadn't been shut down, we'd have been sailing down the east coast through the storm.  
 

07 August sailing.  I liked the Labadee/San Juan/St Thomas/Perfect Day itinerary.    
Hopefully the family wedding next summer won't be then and MD doesn't go crazy and start schools in early August....

I just booked a Loft suite on the Symphony for next August.  I wanted a suite in order to get the Sky Class benefits,  Not to isolate but  in today's world, having access to areas that aren't as crowded is a good thing to me.  And if they got too crowded for comfort, whether for covid reasons or just too many people, we'd at least have a bigger room/balcony to hang out in.  We are boring cruisers too and hang out on the pool deck doing a lot of reading.
I originally looked at a Grand Suite but by the time I got with the TA, the last one was gone so I went to the crown loft.  My logic was that my FCC was already a sunk cost so the additional price was the cost for this cruise.  It's our first time in a "real" suite so I am really looking forward to it.  

07 August sailing.  I liked the Labadee/San Juan/St Thomas/Perfect Day itinerary.    
Hopefully the family wedding next summer won't be then and MD doesn't go crazy and start schools in early August....

I just booked a Loft suite on the Symphony for next August.  I wanted a suite in order to get the Sky Class benefits,  Not to isolate but  in today's world, having access to areas that aren't as crowded is a good thing to me.  And if they got too crowded for comfort, whether for covid reasons or just too many people, we'd at least have a bigger room/balcony to hang out in.  We are boring cruisers too and hang out on the pool deck doing a lot of reading.
I originally looked at a Grand Suite but by the time I got with the TA, the last one was gone so I went to the crown loft.  My logic was that my FCC was already a sunk cost so the additional price was the cost for this cruise.  It's our first time in a "real" suite so I am really looking forward to it.  

My first thought wasn't actually the crowds, it was:  that's gonna confuse some passengers.  It's weird to me but I know there are people that have no idea of what  ship they are on.  They just think the name is "Royal Caribbean".   To have two or three docked at the same time?  
Here's hoping there's not two Oasis class ships at the same time.....

Yep, I've learned the hard way that exercise alone (unless you're a professional athlete in-training) does not equal weight loss.  Calories, calories, calories....   
 
Same here.  I hit the gym every sea day at a minimum (goal is 5x during the week).    Losing 3-4 lbs is a lot less daunting and depressing than 10 lb

Hello! This will be my first attempt at a live blog, and it just seemed right to do it here as opposed to CC. The Blog and podcast have been instrumental in my return to Royal Caribbean. I've been on 4 prior RCI sailings on the Viking Serenade and Rhapsody of the Seas, the last one being in 2007. I was convinced to sail this itinerary by @twangster's wonderful Snowbird Migration blog last year, and have been addicted to all of your awesome Live Blogs. I'll be sailing with my mother, and have been waiting for cruise day for about 367 days, but who's counting? I've taken much of the advice that I learned here and have pre-purchased most everything except Vroom. I'm kicking myself for not buying the Deluxe Drink Package before this last weekend, as it did go up slightly. Two weeks ago my Royal Up bid was accepted for a total of $150 for a Large Balcony cat 1C from a standard balcony. Today is my last work day, and I don't think I'll be able to sleep for the next 72 hours! I'll add more as soon as I get off work.

Wow, the ship really wants to make amends over this.
I got a call from the Windjammer Manager about 20 minutes ago. Got another apology and thank-you for reporting the issue at Guest Services so they had the formal record. Was told not only are they going to speaking to the supplier, but also their own QC team that picks up the shipments.
After this, I was asked to confirm our table in the MDR, and then offered complementary specialty dining in any venue of our choice. Initially asked if we wanted it tonight, but we already had all of our plans timed out around MDR schedule so I asked if it could be a different night. Was told no problem, and that he’d send his business card so I could call him after I had a chance to talk with Cathy and figure out which night and venue.
It arrived about 10 minutes later, attached to this:

Say what you want about Royal; when they are politely notified about a matter like this, with zero histrionics and no demands or even requests for compensation, they seriously go out of their way to let you know it’s being treated with all seriousness, and that you are part of that treatment.

Have a great cruise!

Great recap and details.
Another thumbs up for sea days.   To me, watching the wake and the water go by is a great form of decompression and relaxation.