Irieman

I have some details based on a conversation that I had on Symphony this September. Those drink cards were at the discretion of the beverage director on each ship and not a systematic "home office" plan. I was told Symphony never or rarely did them and had no plans to sell them. I also got the feeling that they are not going to be as prevalent across the fleet. My back story was that I purchased one the last day of my Empress trip right before the shut down with the bartender telling me that they are good for a year. Well, on Symphony, I tried using it and was told they are not valld in that ship. A trip to guest services to inquire why was met with typical great customer service and a deal was made.

I understand people's frustration. Losing certain ports in the past made me feel like the Apollo 13 astronauts when they realized they lost thier moon shot. Cuba, gone- A,B, C islands gone- etc. With that said every change brought different joys for us. So on to Bimini instead of Key West and Belize instead of Grand Cayman. Looks like Bimini is a beach and water heaven! Still looking for ideas if what to do. Been to Belize twice but always looking for new suggestions. Thanks!

Hello all, just got an email that my Key West stop has been switched to Bimini. That actually sounds enticing but there is little talk of this port. On fact, I have never heard of Royal stopping there. Looking for any suggestions. FYI, the port change is related to Grand Cayman still being closed to ships. The cascading effect switched out Key West for Bimini.

There was a separate line for each checking period. The issue that by 12:45 there were hundreds of people in each the 1:30 and 2pm lines. I personally did not feel like it was a zoo but there were a lot of people just waiting. RC was clear about not showing up early so I can't blame them. The issue is that people want to be first in their time slot so it's worth it to them to "camp" out. Once moving forward, the process is slower with a full document check at the door, then the health check and screening and then security. For us, after security, it was a final vaccine card check and we were on!!

We give it B+ which is great since we were not sure about it at all. For those who don't know, it's access to a relaxation room with heated stone seats, a steam room, suana and fancy showers with rain forest features. You can go any time and any day from 9 to 9. It's truly a sanctuary of calm. We spent about an hour there yesterday and there were only two other people. Although RC says they limit the numbers, I am concerned that it may feel overbooked so I will let you know how other visits go. The current B+ right now is more about how much we will use it for the price. If we go less than three times then it's probably a B. If we find the time and desire to go more often then it will be bumped up to an A. We have our second couples massage this evening with the hot stone treatment. The sail away massage was an A++

Today was a very full day by our standards. It included: Sunrise coffee and tea from the balcony - Our first thermal spa session ever -Breakfast in central park - A manicure for her and a run on the deck 5 track for me - Laying out on the sun deck with a trip to the Windjammer for take out back to the loungers. (Vegan alert that the WJ always has made to order veggie burgers so just ask) - A drink in the Solarium -Reading on our balcony -A formal night meal right off the vegan menu and a relaxing after dinner walk around the ship. What I love about cruising is that on any given ship there are many ways to total happiness. That's the amazing part of the experience. From inside rooms to Sky suites, from gamblers to art actions. To spa and workouts to belly flop contests. I am happy to share our slice of Symphony this week and let me know if you have any questions.

Now on to the food... This is the third sailing with a Vegan menu and the service and food has been amazing on Majesty but lacking so much on Empress that we went with completely plant based alternatives set up with the head chef. Part of the issue was such slow food delivery on the first two nights. So, we didn't know what to expect but had high hopes. As mentioned we were well taken care of with a table for two well spaced from other tables. The waiter greeted us and then also the head waiter who already knew our dietary preferences and assisted us the vegan choices on "this ship" was part of the line and served as fast as any food... It was faster and the head waiter assisted in getting the food to our table. I will screenshot the menu but I couldn't fit the appetizers. I had the falafel, then butternut soup, and the asparagus main course. All were 100% delicious! During the appetizers the head of the dining room and the head of room service stopped at our table to follow up on our concerns about the food and the table location. They wanted to make sure we were happy and wanted to let us know they would use room service to deliver the vegan meals if we felt unsafe. We said we felt just fine. In one single meal, this is why we will always be loyal to Royal!

Yes, first a random 12:30 popped up about two weeks out then a host of additional times about a week out. I also saw that if the half hour line was processed sooner than the next time slot then they let them start early. So the first in line at 1pm slot started the check in process at about 12:45.

Hello from Symphony on day two! Day one was simple amazing to be back sailing and the staff is on their A plus game! First, I have to admit it felt a bit strange. As mentioned we have been hyper careful during the pandemic and there were more crowds and lines then we have been around since we left Empress in January 2020. It was organized but expect lines outside as people form different lines based on your time slot. Yes, even at 12:30, the 2pm timeslots was a hundred or so deep. Still, there isn't another place I am aware of that every single adult you and that deserves pasa by is vaccinated and recently tested. That does give a sense of peace in the boarding process. Now, it was actually a bit emotional walking on the ship with the crew being overly enthusiastic. Not only for us but that these folks have their jobs back. The Maine dining room has the third floor spread out as it is for all vaccinated and not so social distancing is followed. The fourth floor is for vaccinated only and is it set up as normal. We decided to scope out a table for two that was by itself and asked for that one and we slid in right after early dining period. Dinner was a culinary vegan treat and I will post that later!!

Just about ready to start to the port from Southwest Florida. Spent so many years worried about flights from Maine, it just seems to easy to get up a drive to the port from home. We did change our our count down sign this morning! As for plant based eating, having the menus of all the restaurants on the app is a great help. Even the main dinning specific vegan menu for each day is included. Next stop, the ship!

Hello all, We are back. About 18 months ago we disembarked the Empress in Miami with lots of rumors about this new virus and now, fittingly, we are back in Miami to start it all up again. We are super stoked as this sailing on Symphony was booked almost three years ago and a couple shifts. I love these blogs as I learn about all different experiences so I thought I would try to flag those interested in some of our unique things about what we do while sailing. (such as being plant based and taking a careful approach to what we do on the inside spaces) Hope to be informative and also learn from the one or two other blogs going on during the same cruise. Will share more soon and feel free to ask any questions.

Here are the options from the email: Option 1: Re-book any Royal Caribbean International sailing Book any sailing, and we'll waive any non-refundable deposit change fees. Please know, you'll be responsible for any difference in pricing for your cruise fare, taxes, fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items. If your booking was already paid in full and your cruise fare rate decreases, we'll provide you with a refund for the difference. You can expect to receive your refund to your original form of payment 45 days after we move you. Kindly note, refund times may vary depending on your financial institution. You'll receive a credit to spend onboard per stateroom: $50 USD for Interior, Ocean View, and Balcony staterooms | $100 USD for Suites Plus, an additional $25 USD for each third or more guest to spend onboard Lastly, you'll be reimbursed for non-refundable airline charges with receipts (up to $200 USD per guest for Domestic flights or up to $400 USD per guest for International flights). Please email your airline receipts and booking information to [email protected] for review and reimbursement. Option 2: If you can't find a new cruise itinerary that works for you and choose to cancel, we'll be sad to see you go. We'll process a full refund of any paid portion of your cruise fare to the original form(s) of payment, including any non-refundable deposit. You can expect to receive your refund 45 days after you submit your refund request. Lastly, if you used a Future Cruise Credit on this sailing, and you request a refund instead, we'll refund any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount, and we'll reinstate your original certificate.

No they didn't. Two choices, find a cruise and shift your current deposit/payment with extra onboard credit of $50 or $100 based on cabin level or a full refund. No price protection but at 11 months out, I didn't expect it.

Earlier today I had my May 2022 cruise cancelled out of Tampa. Apparently, ROS is being repositioned to Europe. Funny thing is the subject they send says "change" and then you have to get through the entire first paragraph until they tell you it's cancelled. No complaints as long as my two sailings before that go off as planned. 74 days until I walk aboard Symphony in Miami!!!! Apologies of this has been mentioned already.

Well, at least Symphony of the Seas is! Just happy to see it going somewhere even if it's to dry dock in Spain ? We have a cruise on her booked for September 11th. A lift and shift but still think it's a 50-50 proposition if it sails. If it's safe, we are looking to getting back on the ocean. Cruising by far, is our favorite vacation mode! (I may be bonkers when I see SOS sailing back across the Atlantic to start taking on passengers sometime soon!) Be well all,

RBRSKI, good points and questions. Under the current numbers, we would prefer to cruise knowing that fellow cruisers are vaccinated. If the numbers drop in the population then I would say that would change my equation. Having a home in Maine and Florida, I have seen the same large rise in home value in both states. Each state has handled the pandemic much differently so I really don't see it as a political issue but more as an urban exodus, remote work induced freedom. Back to cruising, after many postponements, I am hopeful for a 9-11-21 cruise on Symphony as my personal restart of cruising.

I respectfully disagree with a some of comments that have been mentioned above. I fully support businesses deciding on requiring proof of vaccination since this is a public health issue. At the current level of new cases, I would feel better about cruising again knowing that the person sitting at the row of two person dining tables was vaccinated. (They are ridiculously close) Also norovirus to COVID are not comparable. Yes there are 900 deaths annually but there have been 500,000 deaths COVID related. The level of risk is in a different category. Finally, I wish my governor would spend more time focused on ways to decrease the ongoing death toll from the pandemic. In the last week we lost 450 lives to COVID within Florida. Getting the cases and deaths down is the best way to pave the way to a relaunch of the cruise industry.

We are on the SOS for this September. Like everyone else, it's not a great bet at the moment so maybe another L&S. Funny, instead of recognizing the cruiser with the most Crown and Anchor points I can see the cruise director acknowledging the cruiser that booked the cruise the longest time ago... "Now who has booked the cruise over three years ago? Please stand up" applause from the crowd. ?

As always, thanks for the feedback. Could not pass up the double wide balcony and am happily in 7152. When COVID hit we had three cruises booked for the first time. Cancelling, lift and shifting throughout the year but am now back to three on the books. Let's hope we are in a good place so my September Symphony cruise goes as planned.

In feeling positive about the future, I am exploring different cruises and ships to book. My question is about aft balcony cabins on Vision class especially Rhapsody. As I would assume all have larger balconies but are the aft cabins on the ends on deck 7 also wrap around? Any other pluses or minuses for those cabins. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

I searched the posts but didn't see this news listed yet. Apologies if it's already been mentioned. It is interesting that it's going to a cruise start up especially in this environment. Needless to say, I happy the Empress is not heading to scrap for a while. https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24117-former-royal-caribbean-ship-empress-of-the-seas-sold-to-indian-startup

I have been fairly quiet here just shifting and lifting while maintaining my bubble. Our last two sailings were on Majesty (9-19) and Empress (1-20). We found a new appreciation for the smaller ship experience. Sorry to see them leave the fleet but happy to have had a chance to sail them. Hope everyone has a safe and happy Holidays!!

Hi all and long time no text! Been hunkering down taking care and being smart. For me that meant a current lift and shift of two cruises and a refund of a cancelled celebrity cruise. Just to help with the question, the 90% was early NYC numbers but were only a subset of Covid cases. Latest research has the vent rate from 25 to 50 percent. This is a good article that covers the numbers. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/15/856768020/new-evidence-suggests-covid-19-patients-on-ventilators-usually-survive Be well!

https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/85/royal-caribbean-anuncia-suspensioacuten-global-de-cruceros/ Everyone be safe, smart and calm. We will be sailing again soon.

Although many will be disappointed I am sure that what is happening Is close to worst case scenario for the cruise industry. On the bright side, from past comments, the boardwalk rooms will have a better view of the ocean, maybe the full Sabor stays and is unique. Less rooms means slightly less people. An Oasis class ship as originally intended. Just trying to stay positive as my 2 day romantic getaway on Celebrity has been cancelled.