AlohaLivin

While my husband did not like sailing from Canada (there is a lot of extra “stuff” dealing with passports), when we sailed from Vancouver we were able to stay another six days there and make our Alaska/BC trip the most amazing vacations we’ve ever had! For excursions, we loved the Whale / sea lion watching and day trips to the Yukon Territory (we did a private tour, it seemed like it was way better than the train as we got to stop often along the way). And we prefer early June for Alaska - chilly to mild, but not truly cold usually. 
 

While Royal has made direct purchasing of emed tests easier, they are not the only telehealth tests acceptable (for vaccinated guests only however). Below are the criteria per the website:

On the free vs fee-based testing at CVS - I would think that for 99.9% of us the first one is a “yes” (as long as you’ve had any contact with other human beings ).

34 minutes ago, YouthD said:

I have a question for y'all. We did royal up bids on a 2 bedroom aquatheatre suite and a star suite. If we win our royal up bid within a week or two of our cruise, can we add people who aren't cruising to our room? Or if they have a room and refund it for FCC? Thank you

 I hope that someone has an answer for that, because I have wondered about that (and if I’ve seen the answer it was long enough ago I don’t recall ). For example, we often sail in an OS or CL (just the two of us), but there is little reason for us to ever bid on a 2 BR Aqua suite or even larger suite unless we could add others on (and for a reasonable cost).

7 hours ago, TracyRevell said:

This is not exactly 100% true, we have sailed with RC a lot of times and had various sailings moved, cancelled etc etc. I have even moved ship last min and they have always accommodated us without any penalties. Have you asked if you can move the deposit to another sailing? if you are Loyal to Royal we have found them very helpful.

My TA who books strictly RCCL said recently that reservation policies are now more like they were before Covid (e.g., the cruise with confidence policy is now limited to bookings made on or before March 31, 2022 that depart before September 30, 2022 ) - if you book something outside those limits you lose 100pp of the deposit if you cancel (rather than a FCC or refund). It is possible to get refundable fares (which are typically higher priced), but I am referring to the non-refundable ones. I went over this with him carefully recently since we were wanting to book one in August 2023 about which we were tentative. But miracles do happen, it’s always possible to ask.

25 minutes ago, Last Lion said:

So I have a bad back and my morning routine is 30 mins of heating pad then a series of stretches then a short walk/run. This gets me mobile for the day.

It seems they don’t allow heating pads but do allow things like CPAP machines.

If I brought a doctor’s note stating the heating pad is part of medical treatment (it is) would that get a heating pad aboard? Any other suggestions? 

Thanks for the answers.

Never thought about those being “outlawed”! Clearly microwave headed ones would also not work since that would be a lot of effort to get them to warm it for you. Have you considered the Medicated X-Large patches for back pain? I know when my husband strained his back during out recent move these helped him. They stay on pretty well through a full day.  https://smile.amazon.com/Icy-Hot-Extra-Strength-Medicated/dp/B00J2L65YS/ref=sr_1_26?crid=36SQ3SRK6BE04&keywords=Back+pain+pads&qid=1648424837&sprefix=back+pain+pads%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-26

1 hour ago, Pima1988 said:

 

American express will reimburse your annual fee for a platinum credit card....that means when you fly you get to enjoy private lounges in the airport with food, beverages Nd comfy chairs for free. 

The benefits can definitely save a bit of money at times  But to my knowledge the fee waiver for the Amex and Chase cards is for active duty only (but not retirees nor non-retired veterans), is that correct? I would be thrilled if they did since we have both cards, but to my knowledge this is solely for active duty.

On 3/25/2022 at 3:27 PM, YouthD said:

Found this from last week on another blog.

Ummm… that post was written by me on CC - my TA Ken was onboard at the time and let me know the back story since I asked the status. It could change by the time I board on the 16th, I guess time will tell.

11 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Then fill that puppy in!!

Just answering the question about what goes on the third line. Can’t help the filling it in part

35 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Are the first two lines of the card he got with his booster blank?  I mean is the booster listed on the 3rd line?  My brother had exactly this.  I took the information from the print out & filled in the lines for the first 2 shots.  As long as it’s filled in with accurate information (and you have the print out to prove it) they have no idea who filled it out.  Boarding last week, they looked just long enough to see the 2 shots were listed. Although he missed the ship due to weather conditions, his card looked just like everyone else’s.

Yes. The booster or 3rd dose (In the case of patients with lowered immunity issue who had a 3rd dose vs. booster) is on the third line.  

2 hours ago, MeaganCM13 said:

My doctor will not nor will the pharmacy he got his booster from. So he has a print out from his first 2 doses and a card for his booster. 

I don’t know if there’s different rules in different states about this. I know the vaccination registry different state the state. When I got the second booster and my card was in the car I was a little surprised when the NP had no problem whipping out a new one and filling it out. It may be the Luck of The Draw, but I’m sure sorry that anyone has had problems as it is such a big deal when you need it for travel 

16 hours ago, jay1021 said:

Last comment, apparently, at least one Dr's Office didn't/wouldn't.  Just say'in.  

Happy sailing to you!

 

So maybe just use Dr. singular, the office of the doctor. I was just letting you know that many would when you wished for that or wondered about that. How what I said could in any way be construed as argumentative / controversial I can’t imagine, but I won’t spend any more steam on it. Have a nice day.

17 minutes ago, jay1021 said:

Not to make this a pissing contest, I was responding to a person that said the Drs Office would give him/her a print out, not an actual vax card.  Why not just redo the card?  What is the justification for doing just a print out and possibly create questions at the port, there shouldn't be or is very unlikely that a well established "card", would be questioned.  An employee that has never heard of a print-out or never been trained on it, will probably have questions and maybe have to get a supervisor, slowing down the whole process and can be embarrassing.  If you are like me and my wife, we have a specific leather carrying case for Passports and vax cards.  I don't want to fold up a piece of paper and put into the case and have to pull it out and unfold it, whatever.  It isn't too hard to put, the name of the Vax company, date of injections, and one other thing, I believe, and initials for each vax.    

As I said, they can do it and will which your my opinion was directly responsive to your question  (no one was “pissing” best I can tell).

On 12/9/2020 at 5:42 PM, twangster said:

We all have looked down at a pier and have watched dock workers driving trucks and forklifts around.  This dock worker in Seattle proceeded to serenade the ship with his saxophone as we pulled away.

 

Ok @twangster, you win the prize

On 12/7/2020 at 7:11 PM, Hagar said:

mature lady topless sunbathing that should not have been 

Why should she not have been?

19 hours ago, jay1021 said:

I'm just trying to understand something here.  Your Dr., has his/her own records of you (your husband) getting the shot(s).  The card is basically a thick paper form that the shot info is hand written on and the card isn't controlled or have serial numbers on it.  Why can't the Dr's office just handwrite another card?  Seems to me that if he/she or a member of his staff gave you/your husband the shot and they have a record of it, it shouldn't be a big deal, just re-do the damn card.  Geeeeesh, sometimes it's hard to like Dr's.   

They can and do! I actually decided to get a fourth dose since  I’m a healthcare provider and my first ones were so early; thus I was 6 months out from even my booster. I made it my own rule and had a fourth

However when I did this last week my vaccination card was in the car. So instead of me going and getting it the nurse practitioner who did the injection just pulled out the state vaccination database and put all the information on the new card with that 4th dose (lots #’s, etc).  Be nice to doctors, most of us are doing the best we can do (and many of us through a couple of rotten years - my sister is a physician who ended up with Covid twice because she was at the office without cease)

DH is retired military, so is my sister, and it is very rare we find a military discount on RCCL (10% of the time, maybe). There’s some amazing companies that always give a discount… Lowes (Home Depot too, but not if the items on sales so it’s a little iffy), Old Navy, Disney (ahmaaazing discounts, if you need more information just ask because this is something you shouldn’t miss), Kohl’s, Sam’s Club, and others… but not usually our beloved RCCL.

4 hours ago, ellcee said:

came here to write this. You can use everywhere but as someone who breaks out and has sensitive skin this is my first choice.

Many Sunscreens will create a rash on my upper chest / lower neck (a common location if someone is going to react)  - when someone has skin that reacts that way, it can be difficult to find one that works! Supergoop products also tend to work for me regarding sensitivity (as do the EltaMD ones).  

18 minutes ago, jay1021 said:

Coke!  No matter what it is, if it is flavored carbonated water, it's Coke!  

Yep! Exactly

A lot of Atlanta was built on Coca-Cola money, we’re loyal!

23 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

I often wonder what kind of state they have to be in. I mean, a cruise ship isn't as accessible as say a cliff, train tracks, tall building. It's not cheap and most cruisers have at least 1 cruise partner. So there are already a lot of mental "obstacles" in the way. But then you add in the possibility of being seen and stopped and the physical barriers (both the railings and overhanging lifeboats) it just seems like one has to be so so so low that nothing in the way to stop them makes them...well..stop...

 

 

I hope the family is not being bombarded and that they find peace.

It is extremely hard to comprehend. A high percentage of suicide are actually people with bipolar disorder, not when they are low but when they are moving to the “high” (the impulsive behavior can be extreme). It is not uncommon for those with this disorder to have issues with substance abuse which would only enhance the impulsivity. Clearly I’m not diagnosing this person, but this statistic can help explain why somebody would go on a cruise and the situation could suddenly turn.

A couple of years ago we were returning home from a cruise in Orlando and as we were just entering the airport one of the TSA agents committed suicide by jumping from one of the balconies in the connecting hotel to the area between the two main terminals. This is not only a sad situation for this individual, but also for the hundreds of grandparents that were there with their little grandchildren in Disney costumes (I can’t imagine what the little children that watch that felt) and the scores of people who missed weddings and funerals because the airport was shut down for hours (everyone was pulled off planes and the terminal empties leaving a overwhelming mess). It turned out that he worked a full day as an agent and only then jumped in a very public way so many others were impacted. It was impossible to make sense of it.  A difficult topic, no doubt.

We had a server at the coastal kitchen on Allure in Nov. strongly suggest that we give them all 5’s (saying it was very important). I gave him the benefit of the doubt and privately, quietly told him that the surveys do specifically ask if someone has asked us to review in a certain way and that I would not want him to have someone report that he was asking -  he just stared at me. The very next morning, debarkation breakfast, I heard him reminding other guests about that they needed 5’s on the survey The Allure CK has consistently under-performed in our opinion, but this isn't the fix. In all our sailings other than this, we have never once had the survey mentioned.

It is truly shocking to me when people are willing to speak about people in such insensitive and cruel ways (and those who choose to pile on).  No one is your families have a disability, illness, or difference so that you could manage the smallest bit of humanity or at least the sense to realize just how horrible you look to others when you prove you have none? People who say such things are far more disgusting to me than the people they complain about.

People who gladly share their opinion that only certain size women should wear certain types of clothes and the boneheads that laugh with him (notably usually a man who has zero room to talk about someone else or ones that last succeeded at secondary school sports).

I am a Clinical Psychologist in practice for close to 30 years  and it is even difficult for me to explain. Some of these individuals no doubt have some serious mental issues already, such as bipolar disorder;  alcohol doesn’t improve that problem and creates its own. I’ve always thought it was one of the most final ways however. If they think it’s going to be a dramatic situation that they will survive, they are most certainly wrong. So sad for the families left onboard.

7 hours ago, jabberwk said:

Since you all seem to be seasoned cruisers, I'd like your opinion. My husband and I are considering an Arctic Circle cruise or a Panama Canal cruise for 2024. Have you been on either? Which would you recommend?

We never have, although were booked in a star suite for repositioning Cruise to the panama canal that was sadly canceled in 2020 we will get around to scheduling another, but it won’t be until at least the middle of 2023 as we have too many cruises booked and have a daughter‘s wedding