ellipses127

Only 2 days for me 🙂 your 108 will pass in no time 🙂 btw did i say its only 2 days for me 😂 😇

13th March 2022 sailing, driving to Miami from Tampa 5 hours usually tops....but we leave the day before sailing & this time OMG we were so thankful! Half way there Alligator Alley closed due to fires, smoke made the State Police fully close this route. We had to turn around along with EVERYONE else & make our way back way North to drive across the State and then down again, with so many other motorists. If it was the same day of embarkation we could have possibly missed the ship. If I have learned anything even when driving to a Port I make my way a day earlier, period. You just never know, way to much $$ to leave to chance.
* The traffic check in the a.m. was clear, it was only half way there we were starting to see the red, rut row!!
 

COMPLETLY agree!! We are about 5 hours from port and plan on leaving by 6a. I'm sure I'll be up all night doing last minute stuff before we leave so I will add "checking traffic" to that list! 

Dear RC, Please just include basic soda without a package!  I mean really! Fountain soda costs pennies, just roll it into the total price!  ugh!  If you do not opt for any additional beverage package, what you find yourself mostly drinking?  (Non-alcohol)
Thank you for letting me vent!  🙂
 

Check back here on May 13th.  I'll be using the iHealth tests.  Actually, I'll post a redacted copy of my negative report on the 11th and then I'll post a picture of me in the Terminal or ship in Seattle on the 13th.  Just as a back up, I'm also doing the eMed test simultaneously with the iHealth.  I purchased the eMed/Abbott long before I found out about the iHealth on the government issued tests.  So, I might as well use them as a back up. 
To the skeptics, I'm an honest person.  If Royal doesn't accept my iHealth test and I get on the ship because I showed them my eMed test after that, I'll be honest about it.  If I can, I'll show a picture or video of the Terminal person accepting my iHealth report.  And, I've never claimed to be the smartest person in the classroom, I could be very wrong here.  Royal may not accept the iHealth but they haven't said so and nobody, in here or other social media sites, has shown proof otherwise.  
CORRECTION:  I've never said that Royal will accept the iHealth telehealth proctored tests.  I've only asked for Royal and others to show me where Royal will not accept the iHealth telehealth proctored tests.

well I just got a NEW message this time... it says "sorry, we hit a snag try again later." My hopes are like a roller coaster right now 😆. I needed a 1p boarding time so I'm not really sweating it but man it would be NICE to have this completed! 

well I just got a NEW message this time... it says "sorry, we hit a snag try again later." My hopes are like a roller coaster right now 😆. I needed a 1p boarding time so I'm not really sweating it but man it would be NICE to have this completed! 

I hope they keep them. While it can certainly be frustrating to get a “later” boarding time, I think the current system “rewards” people who take the steps to stay on top of the reservation. There are also ways to get an earlier boarding time if you want to pay for a higher cabin class.  As a mostly inside GTY cabin cruiser, I’ve been able to get early boarding times with no issues, by just knowing when the dates of different things occur.  It’s all in the app or from your TA, so everyone knows the same thing.

When we sailed out of our local port in 2017 for 2 different cruises we were in the line for at least an hour. I'm VERY pleased with the assigned times so we hopefully won't be in a crowded small terminal for a lengthy time.

No car pre-pack for us.  We already did the suitcase pre-pack.  We are good.  Only plan on taking carry-ons and back packs on the flight and onto the cruise.  But for a road trip..YES...car pre-pack for sure!

Check in is a few days away.  We have bought pretty much everything we want/need on the cruise planner in advance.  We have bought and planned out stuff to pack (umbrellas, rain jackets, binoculars, meds, outlet adapters, magnetic hooks, binder clips, etc).  We have count-downs on whiteboards, calendars, and anywhere else in the home, office, or cars to remind us how close we are to vacation.  We have pre-planned dining and activities.  We have prepared a centralized information sheet with all emergency contacts and such.  We have ordered our e-med test kits (with extras just in case). We have double checked flight, hotel, and other reservations.  We are up to date on vaccines and boosters.  We have passports and most documents ready.  We watch YouTube and check the forums daily (almost 5 times a day).  Spouse and I have almost caught up with work to avoid vacation work e-mails.  Bills are paid to date and funds available to pay bills while away.  Cash has been withdrawn in various denominations for extra tipping, etc.  Arcade funds deposited onto kids' sea passes.  Already into our second week of dieting and I am at 6 pounds lost so far (for a goal of 15 pounds lost prior to entering the Windjammer 😁).  We check Royal Up and do mock bookings daily (up to 5 times a day).  We talk to our TA at least once a week (she is our friend).  I have pre-printed past Compasses and nearly memorized MDR and specialty dining menus.  We even have our alcohol orders (with back up choices) pre-planned for each day of sailing.  Got new prescription glasses and visited dentist in case any fillings were loose or new cavities.  
WTH....this is STRESSFUL! I NEED HELP. LOL
Anything I am missing?  Please..Calgon...take me away. (BONUS points if you get that reference....and no...I am not old, I just remember those ads from childhood)

Fun... 

Those ranger cookies are my favorite. 

IMHO, what needs to stop is worrying about what someone else is wearing.   The guy in board shorts 2 tables away has ZERO impact on my dining experience.  Don’t like what another diner is wearing? Don’t look at them!  Concentrate on your group and your food.  BTW I am a card carrying member of Judgers Anonymous and this is part of my 12 step program 😁

I get stressed if every single thing isn't checked off on the app.  Not clinical OCD, but it really, really, bothers me.

if it's not open when we go in June I will try to remember to ask & report back! 

Yesssss!!! I am really hoping they open again. I think they just built one in El Paso, Tx recently so there is a smidge of hope!! 

Agreed! Dare I say the best water park ever due to the elevators to take you up to the top slides… sure they smell and are gross on the feet… but when you get tired and want to keep riding the awesome slides and ziplining, it’s a lifesaver. We have missed this park the last couple trips to costa Maya!

Hmm, we were mostly outside at the beach but I did a little shopping.  Maybe I was too drunk to remember??? 😁

My girls had the refreshment package on Allure.  They loved the smoothies at the vitality bar. It was included in the package. 

Thought I saw on one of the videos we watched on YouTube, the fresh squeezed  juices were included..

On Liberty right now, and all the stuff people complain about at self serve all already evident by day 3.  Hard to understand because every person I spoke with at the Top Tier event yesterday thought they should go back to crew serving.  It is not any quicker at self serve like some say, I know as I was on last week also, both sailings relatively saame number of guests, just more kids this week.  It is actually slower, more milling around and more picking through dishes.  No additional single servings that were ever there in the past.  No addtions roaming servers or table cleaners than last week.
Will it stop me sailing, NO, will they get low marks on their survey for windjammer, Every sailing from now on.

When looking  at ship status on the CDC web page there are still cases being detected across all lines. I personally just feel a little safer getting on SOS nest month if they keep the current requirements..

Thanks.
I just don't see the cruise lines getting rid of vaccine or testing requirements. It has worked so well, even during Omicron's peak. That's a safety net I don't see the cruise lines giving up.
Not to mention not one cruise line has even hinted at dropping these requirements. 
I love the CDC dropping the warning. Should have been done months ago, but proof is in the pudding with the lack of cases.

I like the analogy @Matt used on his livestream that getting rid of the protocols is like saying ‘hey our team is in first place, we should get rid of our best players, we don’t need them’. I don’t like the testing either but it is what has made cruising able to happen and keep numbers low.