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SpeedNoodles

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  1. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Lovetocruise2002 in An Alluring Tale of Love … A Blessed 25 Years; A Joyful Return to the Starry Seas - Allure of the Seas 12/19/2021 – 12/23/2021   
    Health questionnaire completed ✅ 
    Luggage tags attached ✅
    All vax/negative tests docs in order ✅
    Tomorrow is cruise day and it makes my heart so happy to say that.  There were some days where I wasn’t really sure when I would make it back here. Thankful and grateful that we finally have, well almost. 🙂
  2. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to smokeybandit in Odyssey of the Seas - What you like and don't like?   
    The problem with the robotic bartender is he doesn't remember you next time even if you give a good tip.
    Not a chance at getting a generous pour
  3. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Matt in Updated Omicron Mask Policy (Dec 17th - Jan 5)   
    Yes. I think @twangster said it best.  Like it or not the pandemic isn't over, we are not done with unpopular protocols and the potential for changes down the road. It could be a lot worse.
    Wearing a mask is something we all thought we'd be doing before any ships restarted. Hopefully it's temporary until omicron peaks.
  4. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to twangster in Updated Omicron Mask Policy (Dec 17th - Jan 5)   
    Given all the alerts that have been popping up on my phone over the the last few weeks and days it's pretty clear this one is different.
    From sporting events cancelled, games being played with no live audience, state after province after country reporting dramatic increases it seems very reasonable for a minor policy update for an already very safe mode of vacationing - cruising.
    Holiday sailings are projected to be very busy, much more busy than we've seen since the restart.  The timing of this variant is pretty lousy with the peak of restart cruising upon us next week.  It stands to reason, all things considered, that something had to change.  Do they start calling people and canceling their cruises to get numbers down?  That wouldn't go over very well.  They can't catch a break.  Something has to change given what we do know and don't know about Omicron.  
    A minor mask policy change seems like a pretty reasonable response.
    I've sailed other lines during the peak of Delta and some of those lines didn't have the concept of vaccinated venues.  It never occurred to me at the time that those cruises were intolerable because of the mask policy indoors and lack of vaccinated venues.
    Like it or not the pandemic isn't over, we are not done with unpopular protocols and the potential for changes down the road.
    It could be a lot worse.  The industry could be shut down again if there are major cases on board.  A minor mask policy change is the least we can all do to keep the industry going.  
  5. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to ChrisK2793 in REALLY ANNOYED …. Would have cancelled if they told us this YESTERDAY when we had 48 hours to go!   
    The 20 points for 5 nights in a suite is the biggest reason I agreed to still go, even more so than the credit they offered.  We’ve spent so much money on suites since early 2019 when we only had 21 points just wanting to get to Diamond Plus and 20 points on this cruise plus 28 points on our February cruise will get us to 178 points.  When I really thought about it, it wasn’t worth the money we’d have to spend to make up these 20 points later.
     
  6. Like
    SpeedNoodles got a reaction from Yesiamthere in Royal Up - Suites   
    Does anyone actually NEED Star?   :::::::::::::::::::::::::: ducking! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
  7. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Lovetocruise2002 in REALLY ANNOYED …. Would have cancelled if they told us this YESTERDAY when we had 48 hours to go!   
    Please keep this thread directly related to cruising. This is not the place to debate covid/vaccines/effectiveness of masking etc. And yes, mods are biased, to cruising. 🙂
  8. Haha
    SpeedNoodles reacted to AlmondFarmer in Starbucks and Star Class   
    My wife had 14 Starbucks deliveries on a 7 day cruise two weeks ago. All brought into room and set on table. This made my 3 beer deliveries seem paltry. Although her drinks only came two at a time. My beers carpooled. 
  9. Like
    SpeedNoodles got a reaction from EasyTarget83 in Will need to do a zoom meeting on ship, will base internet work?   
    Yes, you'll need Surf and Stream for a Zoom call.
  10. Haha
    SpeedNoodles got a reaction from WAAAYTOOO in Royal Up - Suites   
    Does anyone actually NEED Star?   :::::::::::::::::::::::::: ducking! :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
  11. Love
    SpeedNoodles reacted to AlmondFarmer in Royal Up - Suites   
    Same question could be asked of cruising in general. 
    Answer to both is no….but they sure are fun.
  12. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to MrMarc in It's not about masks, it's about the ship and crew   
    I am sure Matt will delete this if it turns into an argument about masks, and that is not what this is about.  I am currently on Adventure and the crew I have spoken with are very frustrated.   If you choose not to wear a mask, all you can do is hurt the crew.  And I am not talking about giving anyone COVID.  If you compliment the crew for not enforcing the rules, that is not a good thing in RCCL's eyes.  If, as they are, other people complain that the crew is not enforcing the mask rules, that hurts them too.  Their job is to enforce it, no matter what you or they think.  Many that I have spoken with, especially officers, are very frustrated.   They can't win.  They see you when you put on the mask, walk ten steps and take it off, thinking you ate so smart and they ate so stupid.  They are not.  They are frustrated and simply trying to do and keep their jobs.  Please, it's not polotical or even science, it's their jobs.
  13. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Sharla in REALLY ANNOYED …. Would have cancelled if they told us this YESTERDAY when we had 48 hours to go!   
    None of this should be about politics. Public health isn't politics. But here we are, largely because of politics.
  14. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to ChrisK2793 in REALLY ANNOYED …. Would have cancelled if they told us this YESTERDAY when we had 48 hours to go!   
    I called and cancelled and posted my annoyance with the LAST MINUTE protocol change on twitter.  I DID NOT ASK THEM FOR A THING other than my REFUND  ……… They’re the ones who contacted me AFTER I cancelled ….. we had already completely unpacked ……. But I’m not an idiot …… I wasn’t going to say no to what they offered.
     
  15. Haha
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Lovetocruise2002 in An Alluring Tale of Love … A Blessed 25 Years; A Joyful Return to the Starry Seas - Allure of the Seas 12/19/2021 – 12/23/2021   
    Well you know, I cannot let @Mattpin earliest start on me again 😄
  16. Like
  17. Love
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Lovetocruise2002 in An Alluring Tale of Love … A Blessed 25 Years; A Joyful Return to the Starry Seas - Allure of the Seas 12/19/2021 – 12/23/2021   
    I am not sure where to begin with this one.  It has been 867 long days since I stepped off Symphony’s gangway.  I don’t even know if I remember how to blog anymore lol.  The lead up to this sailing was precarious at best.  Being a Type A planner like myself, the last few weeks have been quite stressful in terms of having whiplash from the ever-changing travel restrictions (we are Canadians, but we fly out of the US), testing requirements, right down to the, “Will we unknowingly test positive two days prior to cruise day and need to cancel the cruise?”  I’ve had a hard time allowing myself to get excited for this sailing, in fear of devastation should anything go wrong.
         Words cannot describe how much I have missed sailing, what this sailing means to me, and the utter gratitude I will feel stepping onto that gangway in two days time, God willing.  This pandemic has taken so much, caused so much upheaval and uncertainty, but there are several things that remain certain, my love for cruising has not faded, and I will never take another cruise for granted again.
         Allure … captivating, charming, grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go … I could go on and on.  You think I’m talking about sailing right?  I am, but more importantly, I am thinking of Hubby.  This sailing is not only a joyful return to the seas, but a very special celebration for us.  As silly as it may sound, on a cold December day, 25 years ago, a story of love began over a $50 bill, a 1st year university Calculus textbook, Jerry Maguire, and two cups of Tim Horton’s coffee at midnight (Note:  Hubby doesn’t even drink coffee, but he had one that night, already a winner then lol). 
         Tomorrow, we celebrate our 25th “Dating Anniversary" and what better way to celebrate than with our beloved La Bamba, margaritas, queso, fajitas, fried ice cream, and of course…CRUISING!
    Who’s Going?
    It’s just Hubby and I on this sailing.
    Flight
    It feels so good to say that we will by flying out of DTW.  Praise God for the land border opening and staying open! We double-booked flights for this one out of Detroit and Toronto, but we’ve cancelled the Air Canada flights for obvious reasons.
    Pre-Cruise Stay
    Allure sails out of Port Everglades so we will be staying in Fort Lauderdale on 17th Street.  When we have the girls with us, we usually choose a more family friendly property like Holiday Inn Express or Hyatt Place.  Since it’s just Hubby and I, we picked Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel.  We’ve stayed here before when we sailed Allure in 2016 and it’s modern, clean, very close to Port Everglades, and most importantly, a short walk to La Bamba!
    Itinerary
    This 4-night sailing was supposed to take us to Cozumel, but Royal changed the ports a few months ago.  We are now headed to Nassau and Perfect Day Coco Cay.  Personally, I could care less where it goes, I might not even leave the ship! lol
    Cabin
    #teamDeck17 of course! This is the way.
    Pre-Cruise thoughts
    -        There might be major tears when I step back onboard on Sunday.  I already warned Hubby.  He has promised to record it to show the girls so they can see how ridiculous their mother is.  People who are not cruise junkies just won’t understand lol
    -        Once again, in the spirit of a live blog, please do not hesitate to ask any questions.  I will do my best to find out whatever I can for you.
    -        When responding to a post with a series of pictures, please do not include the pictures in your reply.  It just makes for easier scrolling.
    -        Lastly, I will try to post videos and stories on Instagram.  You can follow me @lovetocruise2002
     
  18. Love
    SpeedNoodles reacted to ChrisK2793 in REALLY ANNOYED …. Would have cancelled if they told us this YESTERDAY when we had 48 hours to go!   
    After I posted about it on Twitter with Royal tagged, they made us an offer we couldn’t refuse to still go on the cruise tomorrow …… since what they did when I called technically didn’t cancel the cruise and just put in a refund request and refund approval in the notes if we did a no show.  So, we’re still going to go on he cruise tomorrow now.  We can wear a mask all the time inside for what they offered!
     
  19. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to twangster in New protocols today   
    NCL announced the same policy.  Others will follow.  I hate masks. 
    However I love cruising more.  So I vote with my wallet.  
  20. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Matt in Updated Omicron Mask Policy (Dec 17th - Jan 5)   
    Please keep the discussion on cruise line policy, not Covid in general. Thank you
  21. Love
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Lovetocruise2002 in Canadians, hold on to your seat belts   
    I am planning to go on Allure this Sunday. Just need a negative test. 🙂
  22. Love
    SpeedNoodles reacted to Eggbert in Royal Up Bid   
    My wife and I just got Royal Upped - Junior Suite on Allure for 9 days. Under 4K total - 4K Canadian by the way. Yessssssssssssssssss
  23. Like
    SpeedNoodles reacted to rjweber3 in Have any of you cruised on SilverSea?   
    Thanks. That helps.
  24. Love
    SpeedNoodles got a reaction from WAAAYTOOO in sending large files with voom?   
    The quality of the internet also depends on the ship.
  25. Like
    SpeedNoodles got a reaction from WAAAYTOOO in Taxes and Fees/Gratuities on Royal Up   
    I didn't get charged anything extra beyond my bid when I Royal Upped from a JS to CL.
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