twangster

Under the old ways it was common for a bartender to spend a lot of time explaining why this or that package didn't cover this or that drink. When bartenders have to spend more time explaining all the nuances and extras charges it slows the bar down for everyone. One package means it's fast and predictable. I am confident the change for diamond drinks to mimic the deluxe drink package was chosen with this in mind. Keep it simple and easy to implement. Worst case is... "Sorry, you used all your diamond drinks, would like to pay for this one?"

No official word one way or the other. From all accounts and summation of rumors and speculation the answer is favorable or likely.

Not all sailings will see RoyalUp and it can depend on who you booked your cruise through. Some travel agencies such as big box retailers don't participate in RoyalUp.

The latest court action may or not see a change in protocols, even minor changes such as no masks for vaccinated. That is a distinct possibility and also the reason why everything can change one week to the next. The only certainty is that there will likely be change.

Every drink will result in a card being swiped through the PoS machine. That's how each server earns their share of the gratuity. The computer does the rest in terms of any overage and additional gratuity for the overage.

I have seen many people being informed the 3 vouchers were used. This usually followed with some sort of "that can't be possible" and a litany of excuses why. "I was walking the dog all evening, I couldn't have used my drink vouchers"... "this is my first drink all cruise"... On the other hand when a relationship is formed with bar staff, somehow a drink can magically appear in front of you beyond the vouchers. (slides another $5 across the bar)

Pre-pandemic I asked C&A this very question. The response at the time was that you can't move the vouchers from your card to another guest's card but you can obtain a drink from the C&A happy hour menu using a voucher and give that drink to a non-Diamond. When I have attempted to do this in the past, some bartenders freaked out and assumed I was sharing Deluxe drink package drinks but once they settled down and saw the request for what it was they did it. Other's were on board immediately probably because I always tip happy hour drinks and they remember that. However... under the new voucher program where it's any drink <$13, any time, any bar I'm not so certain that gifting voucher drinks is still allowed. Probably worth sending an email to C&A and asking them.

Navigator is through the Suez Canal.

... And why can't courts announce things during the day? Why do all these actions get announced AFTER 5pm. It's almost like it's 1899 and they know the papers are past their printing deadlines.

The only thing that matters right now is... does this mean my simulation cruise on Allure in four days might be cancelled? ?

We are only in trouble once they invite... @Big Dawg Ron

Right now there are somewhere around 20-30 ships potentially saling from the US in the coming month or so, assuming cruise lines cranked it up to full blast. If every ship was at 100% capacity, let's call that 120,000 passengers per week. That's a stretch because it assumes every ship can sell every berth but let's go with this absurd estimate. Round it up to 500k per month. That is really never going to happen, but let's say it did. 328 million in the US right now. So 0.15% of the US population MIGHT sail on a cruise in a month. ALL OF THIS MALARKEY FOR 0.15% OFF THE POPULATION?!?! Come on man! Does the CDC really have nothing better to do than spending endless hours and legal dollars to "protect" 0.15% of the population while nearly ignoring a similar "protection" mechanism for the other 99.85%? In reality it's probably half that with so few sailing right now, so 0.08% of the population "saved" by the CDC from sailing on a cruise ship? Really?

Ever get the feeling you're watching a tennis match?

Working for me. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked/cruise-room-upgrade Maybe I misunderstood on the upgrade status though. For a cruise I cancelled I get this:

The cruise planner is pretty bare but that's expected right now.

Cabin assigned. Ocean View Balcony.

In this thread the access rules for venues for the current restart ships have been posted for August only. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/23966-august-protocols-for-florida-cruises/&do=findComment&comment=258885 It appears all ships currently designate the DL as "Everyone" so masks will be required. Beyond August has not been announced yet.

Pretend there is an international border between you and MCO. MCO is in another country, a circle is around MCO that places it in a foreign country. In this make believe Florida, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale and Miami don't have airports. For airports in your home country the closest airport is Atlanta, or Key West. MCO is so close and much cheaper to fly from, but to get to MCO you have to cross an international border that's closed right now. So Atlanta is it. Landing fees are crazy at Canadian airports so airfare is more costly relative to US airports and for her the closest Canadian airport is a long drive away.

Madly trying to learn the TikTok app as I write this... just in case.

Not sure what their plan is. Probably depends how many are signed up by midnight.