Traveler

There are few sites which do fast antigen tests. Cost is around 60$. Another option is to have the test in you hotel (around 90-100$). If you can get the Emed kits it's the easiest solution. We are planning to be there at the beginning of May and to take the test there , will see how it is going. Please mind that if you do not have the booster your second shoot should be earlier than 9 month from the time you enter Spain.

11:25 usually is OK but not sure with new protocols. The time to go to the airport is around 20- 25 minutes. No real custom coming back. Maybe just to be on the safe side I would choose 12 pm. Going to take this cruise at the beginning of June , will report how fast was the disembark process

I think this is a new system . they give you one certificate at the beginning of cruise and they gamble you will play at least the same or better than what you played last time. They claim it's to give you option to book the cruise while on board using the next cruise office. I did not knew about it during my last cruise and when I came to ask about certificate at the end of the cruise they were surprise I did not got one at the start of the cruise. But as I always claim , it will be easier to understand quantum physics than the club royal system , I do not really think even the club royal people understands it ... The best is to enjoy playing and not play for the points , its always good to ask the host at the end of the cruise if you should get something as many time they might have a glitch in the their "system".

Oh back to the old normal good days of norovirus outbreaks from time to time. I understand the reason behind RC decision (mainly manpower issue) but at least they should add some hand sanitizer on each table or at least spread some stations (and yes I am aware it's not killing every norovirus). Other options is to take pictures of people that touch food with their hands or return food from their plates and hang it out in near the WJ doors , the shame wall.

Thanks for sharing it was interesting to read about such cruise. Did you get to shout Dabo ?

Happy embarkation day , have a wonderful cruise.

I did it twice lately. Booked a cruise using certificate from one of the pervious cruise then got a free offer that also covers this cruise for a balcony stateroom , called them and they switched it without any issues and gave me the money back on the original booking . A week ago again got an offer but this time for a JS that cover the same sale date and many others options. Since could not used the offer for other dates (we still need to work between cruises ) I called again and they switched it , no questions asked. The only thing is they let you know the original offer you used is expired and can not be reused. Another possible side effect might be less new offers , but that's might be just in my mind.

It's the local time in port. Now when I read it again I answered for the real check in time not when the app is opening.

You luggage going to be rewarded a Diamond Medallion status soon.

I have very small amount of FCC.

Hard to understand anything about the Casino offer system. For a while it went down then up again (as some said almost every week) last three weeks it went down again for me, even not the monthly offers. I think it's all about demands , now the demands goes up (with less strict C19 regulations) and they have less free rooms they need to fill.

On Matt's latest post I can see that Wonder will not get its own Broadway show ("https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/02/21/wonder-of-the-seas-arrives-us-her-first-sailings). I do hope it will change in the future as the Broadway show was something extra to wait for sailing the big ships (at least for the first sail). I do hope it's just due to the market this ship was suppose to serve (and might serve in the future) and not a start of trend. Hopefully the own production show will be at leas the same level as Flight production in the Symphony OTS. Well at least one thing is good - no need to worry that they will bring Cats over there .

I am entering my local Zip code (not UK) know I know the UK zip code contains letters so not sure if it will work or not.

It's depends how you count it , even today it's three days but it includes the boarding day...

You have few options. You can try one of the pharmacy , people reported they allow international travelers to get the tests. You can do the test in Miami airport , I have done in December and it cost around 75$ You can order the remote test kits from RCL , you can give your hotel address and they will deliver it to you (or it will wait for you in the hotel) . I also tried it and got it on time.

Cats should been dumped years ago , its just not a cruise friendly musical .

I did the same on our last cruise to Miami. I ordered the at home test sets to our hotel a week before our check in day (in our case they have a FedEx location inside the hotel so its very easy) when we arrived I just went and collect it without any issues. If you go to RCL page were they sell the kits you will see that they encourage international travelers to do the same. Another option is to take the rapid test in the airport for around 75$ per person . WiFI is enough and you can give the hotel phone number if you need.

I think you got it all wrong , yes its with strong walls (also perfect soundproof) and great shape against explosions but it going to serve one purpose only. Please welcome the new pinnacle club .

The EWR 250$ test price is for fast PCR testing , antigen was around 80$ at least few months ago.

Don't get me wrong , we are enjoying the free drinks . I think it is combination of demographics and the fact that when you cruise (or go to other vacations) less you tend to spend more in this vacation but I might be wrong.

Live music - its all depends the the health of the performers . Casino - The Casino was not close , the rumor started since the current cruise was denied from one of the port but the casino was not opened (as it was not planned to be opened during port day). With the current situation , no one can guarantee what will work and what will not , but currently Royal not planning to shutdown dhows yet/casino yet.

The same I can ask if all the non Diamond customer should pay for the Diamond/+/Pinnacles 4/5/6 drinks ? or maybe they should get refund since they are not getting it ? As you said , RCL is a business , I tend to believe international customers spending more on cruise than locals (by the way also people that need to take flight to ports) simply since they cruise less and spend on board more (more packages and other things) as its special vacation and not something they do every second month. Again its just my feeling I do not have statics evidence to support it but we have some good examples of people saying - since I am can not cruise so much when I cruise I will choose better cabin and invest in UDP. For me , its not the money its just the comfortable of doing it on board.

I also suspect that some of them are collecting money and use the free system to analyze the results , sometime the generous enough to call it "handling fees" ... On the other hand I found at least in the west cost a 25$ PCR testing with results after less than 24 hours.

I can tell you that by heaving the test on board I could be on my last trip that contribute money to RCL in so many different way , same for all the down payment on many other cruises + shore excursions , internet and other package. Don't get me wrong , I am OK to pay for testing on board , it just allow us to plan much better and fly back near debarkation. Its not a matter of entitle , I just think from business perspective they can do more money like unless they have enough people to fill the cruise ships without international travelers (which is also OK). By the way , if Royal wants to cut the cost its very simple , they can use the augmentation system which many places successfully do , its also increase the speed of results. You take two samples, one you keep aside, one you mix with 10,20, 30 or more other samples , you check the mix tube , only if it is coming positive you check the individual samples of this batch.

RCL can change the policy and contract any time that true. RCL do not need to pay for PCR testing , that is also true. But RCL is a business and by doing that they got more money when they needed it. For example for the last cruise we took I had to have 5 different tests : 1 before flighting (paid by us) 2, before cruising (paid by us) 3, before going back (thanks you RCL) , 4 when landing back , 5 3 days after to check everything is still OK. We were OK with that but if we could not tested on the ship before going back (even if it would cost money) not sure we would take this cruise as I did not want to have to check at airport 3 hors before the flight and pray that everything will be OK. By testing on the ship I knew I can plan incase something goes wrong and find myself a nice hotel to be quarantine (again did not expect RCL to pay for it). Another example , I am boked on Wonder of the seas from Barcelona , I am flying back the same day as embarkation (otherwise extra vacations day) If I would not be able to do the test on the ship no chance I will be able to catch my flight back and I will need to cancel this cruise. Again , I am ok to pay for it , I am ok that if found positive RCL will not need to pay for my flight back. Regarding RCL do not want to get many positive results , there is an issue here , I think that by doing the testing for the International travelers , B2B cruisers and children they are getting statistical information if the protocol are working or not... By not testing anyone they will miss allot of data and will be blame anyway when people going to be tested post the cruise (just will not be able to prove differently)