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One of the reasons the CDC dropped the notice for cruising is because of all the precautions the ships were taking. Because of Royal's strict policies, this is why the positive cases have been greatly diminished. I feel that if they go back to normal procedures, like pre-covid, we will be back to a high positive rate, which will enact more restrictions by the CDC again. I personally would rather have a couple, than all, back in place.

Just do a Google search for "ships in port" and you'll find several websites.
This is the one I typically use:
https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports

Super excited! Originally had a large balcony room,  which I was perfectly happy with.  We are traveling with our 14yo grandson.  This cruise was supposed to have taken place in 2020 for his 12th birthday but of course the world came to a halt! I heard about Royal Up and thought what the heck, I'll put minimum bids in on all the rooms offered through Royal Up not expecting to win any of them. After all, I only offered the minimum. Yesterday I received an email congratulating me on my win of a 2 bedroom Sky Class suite! Talk about excited!  We cruise out on Symphony in 8 days!! March 26th is going to be the start of a wonderful memory for us and our grandson!!

WHO:
Myself (mid-30s M)
Wife (mid-30s F)
Nanny (early 20s F)
Kids (5F, 3.5F, 2M)
 
WHAT:
Cruising on Anthem!
Two (2) connecting interior staterooms (2U and 4U)
One (1) Deluxe Beverage Package
Chef’s Table for two (2) (me and Wife)
No cabanas, no excursions
Other than Chef’s Table, no specialty dining (MDR and Windjammer all the way!)
 
WHERE: 
Day 1: Port Bayonne, NJ
Day 2: Sea Day
Day 3: Port Canaveral (not sure of gantry is 12pm or 2pm)
Day 4: Nassau, Bahamas
Day 5: Coco Cay
Day 6: Sea Day
Day 7: Sea Day
 
WHEN:
5 December (Sunday) through 12 December (Sunday)
 
HOW: 
Driving from Maryland the morning of embarkation (11:30am check-in)
 
WHY: 
I will try (and fail) to keep this brief. I’m a Disney Parks nut. I love planning, logistics, fast passes, dining, touring plans, and everything that goes into a Disney Parks trip. My first cruise was 2015 on Grandeur out of Baltimore, 7-night to Bermuda. I had never considered a cruise beforehand, but it was an invite from the Wife’s extended family. About 2 months out, I started researching cruising the same way I researched a Disney trip, and I was hooked on cruising. I started looking at cruise compasses to get an idea of activities, dining, etc. Fast forward to the cruise, and it completely changed my life. Looking back, I’m really glad my first experience was on Grandeur, because I’ll likely never sail on something that small/old again! 🙂
Not long after that cruise, we found out about another life-changing event: a baby! The next several years zoomed by: a blur of babies, jobs, houses, etc. 
When the Wife and I hit our 5-year anniversary (2020), we decided to do an adult Disney trip - just the two of us. Unfortunately, COVID hit and 2 months before our flights was when quarantine struck, parks shut down, and we’re dead in the water. 
This past summer (2021), we (Me, Wife, 3 kids) took a trip to Florida with the Wife’s extended family. It was hard. 3 kids, one condo, no car, limited things to do in walking distance. We had the beach and a pool, but during COVID times, there’s not much else. We cooked, we kept the kid entertained, but It’s not something we’d do again. 
When we got back, we needed a REAL vacation - what about our adults-only Disney trip? Perfect! I worked on a plan for flights, hotel, food…only to find out everything was at a premium price. None of my tricks were working. For everyone following Disney, you know they took advantage of COVID to restructure FastPasses (Genie+), Annual Passes, pretty much everything. Our 2-person 72-hour trip was becoming WAY more expensive than we wanted. Thus begins disillusionment with Disney, but now I need a new hobby…
Back to the drawing board: What’s something the whole family can do, that includes activities, but we don’t need a car, don’t have to cook, or don't have to worry about groceries? The Wife says, “What about a cruise?”. After some quick pricing, it turns out 6 people for 7 days on Anthem isn’t much more than 2 people for 3 days in Disney. We locked in a date (same date as our failed Disney trip), and I’ve been following everyone’s adventures here ever since!
This has been an incredible community to be a part of, and I can’t wait to give back! We’re already (loosely) planning another cruise in October 2022 - same route, but on Oasis, and having another family join us!

Preboarding test.  As someone who is immune compromised, and work along side of many in the medical system I'm taking a break from on my next cruise (come on April 29th) - I want to not only protect myself, but others since even with being triple vaxxed (sing this along to ... I Love 🍬Candy <lol> ) we could still be carrying the virus (asymptomatic).  I'll be one of the passengers who when feeling abit stressed in crowded areas, etc.  I'll be wearing a mask.  I was wearing a mask, when going on my last cruise, out of LA in February 2020.  Meet ups with folks that share the same immune problem as I do, pulled out of meeting up, since Covid was starting to rear it's ugly head up there.  I learnt a lot from a Mum of an immunocompromisedd child ... and was glad that in 2019 before on a cruise in B2B Japan cruise ... made me aware of how important mask wearing is.  If you feel ill, wear a mask to protect others, or visa versa.  And yes, it was on that Diamond Princess that was stuck in Japan in March 2020 that I was on for a B2B.
Also, Pfizer is working on a YEARLY shot ... much like our flu shot that most of us get. 
Okay, off to watch the next episode of Picard (Trekkie fan here)

View coming in to St. Marteen , what a special treat!

I brought a bluetooth speaker and used it in our cabin, but didn't take it out anywhere. I would say to invest in some nice comfortable waterproof ear buds so you can have the music when you want it and not worry about disturbing anyone 🙂

I am also watching to see if Liberty of Seas adds excursions for August. Wanted to go to Stingray City in Cayman, so hoping it gets added to RC portal. 

My cruise is leaving in 23 days and they are adding items everyday not sure covid had anything to do with lack of options until now or they add them when you get closer.
We had checked everyday for the perfect day beach bed options on the website then finally they added it and only 5 beds left. So check daily if there is something you really want

I brought a bluetooth speaker and used it in our cabin, but didn't take it out anywhere. I would say to invest in some nice comfortable waterproof ear buds so you can have the music when you want it and not worry about disturbing anyone 🙂

The knife set cracked me up 😂
I mean I understand you may have done some pre-cruise shopping and came across a deal and didn't have a car to store it in during the cruise...but I really hope that's the scenario here.
 

I just found a new excursion for our July 1 sailing last night. So there’s hope!

Sometimes.  I am sailing March 25 and new excursions were added last week and this week.  I would suggest if you have an opportunity to book an excursion with RCL that you want to book, book early and you can always cancel.  You can also use a 3rd party that has a 24 hour cancellation policy and book and keep watching the RCL site.

On my Navigator of the Seas cruise last month, they definitely added more shore excursions as we got closer to the cruise. Some of the best options were added within 15-30 days of sailing. I get the sense that the pandemic is making it take longer for Royal to confirm excursion availability with the local tour providers. 

I'm REALLY hoping they open for our June 5th cruise, we did this water park before and it was great. My dare devil daughter did every level of the zip line with her dad. AND it's super close to the port! 

My TA just sent me an updated Booking Confirmation because he repriced our cruise and saved me $714.04!  Needless to say I am doing my "Happy Dance!" 

Lift and Shift sounds too much like cosmetic surgery procedure.
 
I would have called it what it truly is Save Your Bacon.
 
 
 
 
 
 

HA! We have been on 4 cruises never ONCE got Norovirus... first time in WDW it ran through our entire family... ? 

HA! We have been on 4 cruises never ONCE got Norovirus... first time in WDW it ran through our entire family... ? 

HA! We have been on 4 cruises never ONCE got Norovirus... first time in WDW it ran through our entire family... ? 

Well, Disney didn't announce anything.  that is just one analyst speculating...  no?

I worked in a call center in college. We couldn't, not we shouldn't... but there was no way to, dial out from the phones lines connected to the computer that had all the contact info on it. Once a call hung up - on the customer's side or mine - all info disappeared from my screen and the next caller's info popped up on my computer. I had a regular old desk phone that I could use, but I wouldn't have had the customer's info written down to call them back. 

#1) the value of having a travel agent
#2) I'd arrange to call back another time before ever waiting on hold for multiple hours.
#3) it's very easy to accidentally disconnect a call that you pick up - I've done it myself without ever meaning to.  That's not poor customer service, that's simply human error.
#4) they are insanely busy!  I can't believe people are judging them harshly during this cluster**** (choose your own word).

I just got set up with Sharla and she is AMAZING... she was handling stuff for us late in the evening on Friday! I booked our trip myself but with all the COVID-19 stuff going on I switched it over to her to be sure we were covered. Really a fantastic experience so far! 

I just got set up with Sharla and she is AMAZING... she was handling stuff for us late in the evening on Friday! I booked our trip myself but with all the COVID-19 stuff going on I switched it over to her to be sure we were covered. Really a fantastic experience so far!