OCSC Mike

9 minutes ago, mom2mybugs said:

how much in advance can you usually sign up? 

Check-in typically opens 45 days out (currently at least).

Yes, you need CK reservations for dinner, not for other meals.

Yes, the concierge can make you reservations BEFORE the cruise. I received my e-mail from them 6 days before our 5/29 Harmony cruise. You can ask for your CK reservations then. You can also book the adult comedy club in advance then (highly recommended as this small venue fills up). You don't need show reservations for anything else.

The app has nothing to do with the suite section.

There will be signs but just go to Terminal 1 at the port. It's pretty self-explanatory after that. Drop off your bags with the porters then park in the garage.

11 hours ago, BeckyD said:

We were notified today that we are upgraded from interior to balcony for Sunday's cruise.  I was very surprised, but happy, to get notified so close to sailing!

Congrats! You can actually get notified much closer to the sailing including after you board the ship. You were given plenty of time.

From reading accounts and personal experience, everything to do with RoyalUp varies greatly, from winning bid amounts to the timing of "wins" being assigned. Trying to figure lout exactly how the algorithms work is an exercise in futility IMO.

FWIW, I have a B2B in 9 days. I won a RoyalUp 14 days out from the 1st half but have 2 pending for the 2nd half (now 12 days out).

GL to all who are waiting and hoping.

Oh well, I tried. Sorry. That's exactly what I meant, but when I click on select above it takes me to the normal page that shows available cabins.

27 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Just came across this situation when just playing around with some dates:

Despite "pick your room" the only rooms available are GTY rooms.  Seems odd, but I'm sure there's a reason for it.

Do you mean you clicked on "Pick your own room" and the next screen only showed "XYZ Guarantee"?

If so, try clicking on the XYZ Guarantee button. I was looking at the same thing for 2-3 days before I did and when I finally clicked on it it actually showed me available cabins to choose from. Seems to be yet another Royal IT glitch.

Looks like a glitch to me. Nice catch and enjoy!

1 hour ago, Chaser said:

Just got off the boat. Must say that I’m disappointed because with all the stress of wondering if they would accept the “rapid” NAAT test from Walgreens from our unvaccinated children, they didn’t even check. I asked at several different points in the boarding process and non of them wanted to see theirs, or my wife and my rapid antigen test. 

Not sure why you were stressed, the NAAT test is a rapid PCR test and has already been accepted by many. RC's site even calls it a PCR test.

FWIW, we had to show our tests twice before boarding Harmony on 5/29 and I have read of very few people not having to show their documents.

In any case, I hope you had a good time and aren't focusing on the pre-cruise stuff that disappointed you.

12 hours ago, Priscilla said:

Does RC offer cruises that gives you two days in Coco Cay that leaves Port Canaveral in June or July 2023?

I don't believe so. However, we made our own itinerary out of PC to do this and are leaving in 12 days by doing a B2B 3-night and 4-night. We didn't love the 7-night itineraries this summer and were on Harmony already in early June so we figured let's go to Cococay twice b/c we love it. (There were also a few other factors like a good TA friends & family price, getting to try Playmakers for the first time, going back on Freedom class for the first time in a while, etc.)

Just an idea.

Speaking only for Giovanni's Table (the original version), you are welcome/expected to order one pasta and one entree (I always get carbonara and a filet mignon for example). Never tried ordering multiple apps b/c it's already plenty of food.

At Sabor a month ago, we must have re-ordered apps 5 times b/c our family of 8 loved them so much. We also ordered extra desserts. Sabor is more casual of course.

Just ask. Worst they can do is say no but I have found my limited specialty dining experiences to be very accommodating to special requests.

11 minutes ago, OrlandoDad said:

The cruise went fine and we enjoyed ourselves.

Glad to hear you enjoyed the cruise and things mostly got worked out in the end.

I was following along even though I don't think I posted anything and felt awful that you had to deal with such stress. You handled it better than I could.

FWIW, my 7/15 cruise was showing “Sold out” except for one Junior Suite 15 days out.

The next day, exactly 2 weeks out (could be a coincidence or not), there were a handful of rooms available in multiple categories. I was checking b/c I was hoping to switch out of my assigned GTY cabin. Then, as luck would have it, I received a winning RoyalUp e-mail for a small upgrade.

So anyway, I agree with your conclusion to keep checking with RC (and don’t give up on checking the website). Hope it works out!

3 hours ago, Swar said:

I used them a week ago with no issues. 

That was before they started charging people.

40 minutes ago, Swar said:

I just made a fake appointment with my local Walgreens near Tampa Florida for a rapid test (then cancelled it). Seems the same as usual - free. Except: They REALLY want your insurance info now, but still free to me. Walgreens does appointments about a week out in my area. 

Others have done that and then been told they will be charged when they show up. I would verify it will be free if you actually plan to use them at some point.

4 hours ago, kjones123 said:

 We’ll see Monday if RC accepts it. I do feel confident though. 

No reason they wouldn’t. Glad it went well. Enjoy your cruise!

18 minutes ago, Moby Dick said:

Except pictures.  We don't do pictures at all.  I've got way too many cameras to pay someone else to take a picture of me/us.

We take some for the heck of it just so we can get our 2 free prints as a Diamond perk... then we take them home and toss them in a drawer, rarely to be seen again.

11 minutes ago, luv2sail said:

OCSC Mike, you have made me feel better about the testing situation. Your voice of reason is much appreciated. I had been expecting changes but the Walgreens news surprised me anyway. 

We will be boarding in one week and two hours from now with our RapidTest&Trace results. I can report back if anyone is interested.

Glad to help. I was Walgreens' biggest fan and also surprised. Don't think I was exactly calm and happy about the news when I first read about it, lol. But having prior knowledge of those 3rd party proctor sites helped and after some brief research and contacting rapidtestandtrace I returned to a better state of mind.

I'm as frugal as it gets so don't think I'm happy about spending even $20pp to be tested, but it is what it is.

By all means report back! Those reports are what help people learn and base their decisions on. Hope your party tests negative and you have a great cruise!

*One additional note about rapidtestandtrace... I asked on live chat if my wife and I scheduled back to back appointments could we just stay on the video conference and be tested one after another even though two separate appointments are required. Their response was yes, just inform the nurse at the outset. It was the interaction like this combined with a few things I had read about OnPoint that led to me choosing rapid.

Yes you can use OnPoint or RapidTestAndTrace (amongst others). There have been many reports of each elsewhere in cyberspace.

OnPoint is a bit cheaper ($14.99 vs. $20 right now) but I felt a bit better about RapidTestAndTrace after reading comments and having a live chat with Rapid.

Just one man's opinion of course. Do your own research, wait for Matt to chime in, do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

*NOTE: I have not used either as I don't need to test until 7/13 and previously used Walgreens.

Pants & a nice short sleeve shirt, same as most non-formal nights.

28 minutes ago, Reigert2008 said:

This is great to know!  When we are on our crusie that puts us over the points, I was going to ask the Loyalty Ambassador on the ship if we could get a tour of the Diamond lounge so we can be prepared  

Thanks!

By all means, ask them. You can also find videos of pretty much every DL on every ship on YouTube. And you're very welcome.

A related tip is to bring a travel mug if you drink a lot of coffee. I usually fill mine with cappuccino early every morning and take it back to our cabin to enjoy before breakfast (wife & I get up early).

56 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

They still have the happy hour canapés in the Diamond lounge and I understand there’s a continental breakfast as well, but have never gone.

It's just an assortment of pastries, muffins, croissants, yogurt parfaits, etc. Stuff you will see elsewhere on the ship but a nice quiet place to enjoy with a beverage from the coffee machine. Can also take your coffee and pastries to-go of course.

7 hours ago, Reigert2008 said:

As an Emerald member, we are looking forward to becoming  Diamond… Maybe I get a coffee card to go with my vouchers.

Free coffee machine in the Diamond lounge for cappuccinos, lattes, espresso, etc. One of my favorite D perks.

19 minutes ago, Johar4469 said:

Is it hard to make a account to do the at home test

There are many sites you can use to take an at home test. More specific please.

The vouchers, coffee machine, happy hour snacks, internet discount, etc. are worth it to me but to each his own.

1 hour ago, Qeyton Dude said:

Public Service Notification:
Went on to our local Walgreens site (in NH)to book our test for July 8th and noticed two changes from April

1) Appointments aviabile only 4 days out, down from 7

2) a pop-up notice stating it may not be free anymore, it depends on ....  unfortunately ... is not clearly defined.  There is also no price posted that I could find.   Conclusion:  either they are still free but trying to cut down on testing volume, or I'm going to find out the fee after the fact.

1. They moved to 3 days out (4 if you're counting today) last week. They did this once before and then went back to 7.

2. The price reported elsewhere is $128.99 and it depends on how you answer the questions. I posted that 2nd part about the q's earlier in this thread. You will know after you answer the questions if you are going to be charged or not.

They are still free but not for healthy people using them solely for travel. Read between the lines.