stevendom57

Dang, Snotarni, that is an impressive list of upcoming cruises. I hope you can make the majority of them.

You are correct, the test's usefulness is questionable. But RC is a public company, not the government, and they can require anything of you before you board. One point for taking that test is that it protects RC's bottom line. It is already hugely damaged. If it looked as if they did nothing to insure a covid free cruise, and the virus broke out, it would hurt it further. RC has shareholders to answer to. If RC is not around to provide cruises, it will be most difficult to take an RC cruise. And I, for one, want to take more.

My only problem with taking a test is not the actual test taking, it's what happens if I am positive. If I flew across the country and then tested positive, do I lose all my money? What if I had a week stay at the embarkation point before the cruise. I can't take the test at home. What are the logistics of that? There are so many unknowns that I am not vacationing until things settle down.

Just curious, are you OK with everyone else on board, including crew, getting tested to make sure that you are safe?

@Momof4crazytocruise Yes, Galveston is easy. So is Miami

I have taken three cruises in the past and I know that embarkation times have been merely suggestions. No matter what time I had chosen/been assigned I just showed up at about 10:30 and waited in line. My question is about disembarkation times. They always seemed to much more of a requirement than a suggestion. If assigned 9:30 am, I was waiting for them to call the time and I would get off, just like a good boy should. Were disembarkation times really just as fluid as embarkation times? I know it really didn't matter because there wasn't much to do onboard anyway, but I was just wondering. Of course, from what we have heard, embarkation times are likely to be strictly followed in the future to help with social distancing. TIA Steven

How many pounds of bacon and eggs are served daily in the Windjammer? How many gallons of orange juice?

Thank you, @WAAAYTOOO I guess I really know the answer already but for $80 a head, I thought it might be a possibility. It's not the first cruise disappointment I have had recently. And it's certainly not the worst.

I am looking on the website description for the Coco Beach Club — Full Day Pass. In the description it says "Top it all off with a drink at the bar". Does the pass include alcoholic drinks even if I do not have the beverage package?

Yea, I'm gonna call again to get a different agent and double check. If that is covered, I am going to go with that. Thanks Steven

Yes, I am in the US. Travel insurance policies are written to exclude COVID-19 claims. But my normal medical insurance will cover it. That's why I am wondering why I should buy travel insurance.

My normal medical insurance will cover COVID-19, both treatment and evacuation. Plus it will cover any other medical problems I run into, both new and pre-existing. I guess I am trying to decide if it is worth spending several hundred collars to cover things like missing luggage. Of course, insurance is for the stuff that is NOT planned for. If I have the medical covered, I think I will self insure on the others, even if it means the entire vacation.

Another issue that I have run into regarding pre-existing conditions. Many of the policies say that that you must purchase the insurance within 15 days for there to be a waiver for pre-existing conditions. The problem is, very few of them allow me to purchase 600 days in advance. And the ones that are available now are pretty expensive. So it's a Catch-22, buy early if you want the waiver but there aren't any (or many) to buy.

I have had three cruises since I became enlightened and have 2 more planned for 2022. For two of my cruises I have bought cruise insurance, primarily for the medical evacuation coverage. I am not so worried about trip interruption, lost baggage, ad&d, etc. I am not a rich man but I will not be on the soup line if I have a loss like that. But I have heard the stories of large expenses for medical evacuations from the ship. One of my concerns is that I am 62, with normal 62 year old male problems, and I am concerned about pre-existing condition coverage. I have normal medical insurance through my employer. I called yesterday to find out about it's coverage for medical and medical evacuations. According to the person I spoke with, my normal medical insurance covers both of these cases. I would have to pay up front and be reimbursed, but I can handle that. Has anyone out there had to use their normal medical insurance for these types of expenses on a cruise? Was it covered by you insurance or did you have any problems? TIA Steven

What!!!!! ?

I'm 62 and the Flowrider is a blast.

I am very interested. Where did you see these itineraries? I looked on the RC website and only saw the standard 7 day cruises for as far out as the "Find a Cruise" page gors.

I would do a 10 or 11 day on Liberty out of Galveston in a heartbeat.

I just read the article by Matt about RC considering limiting capacity on their ships, at least initially. I hope they do this but I hope it is done fairly. I was initially booked on Allure OTS when it was going to sail out of Galveston. I L&Sed my cruise to Symphony OTS out of Miami for the same price (except for minor port fees). I booked my cruise as soon as Allure was announced and got a really good price. When I moved to Symphony I did a mock booking and the price was $3000 more than what I am paying, for the same cabin. I sure hope that RC doesn't decide to limit occupancy by cancelling my cruise and keeping the higher profit bookings intact. I am probably just being paranoid but that is the first thing that came to mind. After all, they have to get their lost revenue back somehow. Steven

That is why I signed up immediately when I heard Allure OTS was coming to Galveston. Sigh.

I live near Austin, TX so cruising out of Galveston is great for me. The only real problem I see is geographical. The number of interesting ports within sailing range is very limited. Right now RC does itinerary A (Cozumel, George Town, Jamaica), then itinerary B (Cozumel, Puerta Costa Maya, Roatan), then A, then B, ... Some variety would be nice. But unless they have a Star Trek transporter, I don't see it happening.

They apparently have special considerations for Allure since it is not my fault that they can't cruise out of Galveston. Talk to your TA. Mine told me that she spent a lot of time on the phone to get this done.

I was booked on Allure for late Feb 2022. I L&Sed to Symphony OTS out of Miami for Mar 2022. It cost me $60 more (plus flight and hotel). I got the very same cabin on Symphony. Steven

@bjstrand Thank you

I am looking a the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, for potentially booking a cruise in Jan 2021. In the description it says: Trip Cancellation*: up to 100% back if you cancel your cruise for one of the program’s specific reasons yet it doesn't specify the specific reasons. Can someone point me to the list of reasons? Thanks Steven