SpeedNoodles

That doesn't work for us due to the 2 day prior stipulation.  We usually fly out the morning 2 days prior to our sailing before CVS opens.  Home testing works best as we can test anytime before we leave in the morning, or bring the test with us to test in the hotel.

That doesn't work for us due to the 2 day prior stipulation.  We usually fly out the morning 2 days prior to our sailing before CVS opens.  Home testing works best as we can test anytime before we leave in the morning, or bring the test with us to test in the hotel.

Ok y’all have me leaning toward terminal parking…
At least for today😁

Personally, I’d rather pay double or tripe the cost of an off site lot to park in the cruise terminal and not have to deal with waiting in lines to take a bus or van back to another lot.  
 

If you booked with a travel agent we can escalate that. If you booked direct I don't know who you can call, but I would recommend calling in and asking for a full accounting report, and ask for the dates they were supposedly refunded and the amounts, and the last 4 digits of the card that it went to. That will give you a little more to go on.

I sort of laugh (only because it's ironic, not because it's funny) that we came back from our Allure sailing and my husband has the worst cold/flu that he's ever had in his life (currently still on day 9 of it - tested negative x3 for covid).  So we didn't get the vid, but we sure got one hell of a cold, lol.  But yes, we also felt super safe on the ship.

It's always good to have a back up.  Tony from La Lido Loca filmed his first at-home, proctored test and after he'd done the swab and closed the book he accidentally caught the stick on a sleeve and it went tumbling off of the table.  Test over, invalid.  He had to start over.  I'm now paranoid about them (i.e. cats and dogs locked in another room during testing!).

I hate touching the utensils that everyone else touches, and the fact that other people may touch food and then put it back. That being said, I went to the Solarium Bistro once on my last cruise and found it to be more awkward than it was worth to stand outside the ropes and have someone walk me through the line while I try to decide what, and how much of something, I want.  I quickly gave up asking for food and ate almost nothing.  We wandered into the Windjammer another day during lunch and found it to be equally awkward so we ate nothing there.  Suffice it to say that I'm just done with buffets.

Conceptually I prefer the "cleanliness" of the nay vote.
In practice i found it extremely frustrating to stand and wait for servers to become available to do things like "hand me a glass of iced tea". "hand me a spoon" , etc.
 
I could get behind a mixed method, some of the areas of service right now are flat out stupid ... put those back to self-serve and just focus the crew service on actual areas of concern like the food that you can touch with your hands, etc.

I'd love it if there was a lazy river IN the adults area.  They aren't relaxing when there are children in them.

I'd be annoyed with that in the ship pool.  But I don't make the rules (and I'd keep my opinions to myself on board).  It's just that, sure, if one person has one it's not a big deal, but if you start getting several, or if they start floating into other people in the small space (and really, the pools are small), it'd be irritating.  On Coco Cay, that maybe a different thing.  The ocean, and the pool, are large and I'd imagine it wouldn't be an issue.

I hate touching the utensils that everyone else touches, and the fact that other people may touch food and then put it back. That being said, I went to the Solarium Bistro once on my last cruise and found it to be more awkward than it was worth to stand outside the ropes and have someone walk me through the line while I try to decide what, and how much of something, I want.  I quickly gave up asking for food and ate almost nothing.  We wandered into the Windjammer another day during lunch and found it to be equally awkward so we ate nothing there.  Suffice it to say that I'm just done with buffets.

Don't worry - we took ours very early in the morning and it was fine. They only look at the date.

Here's a video of your next-door neighbor in 6666.
https://cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/youtube.php?id=6720

I'd be annoyed with that in the ship pool.  But I don't make the rules (and I'd keep my opinions to myself on board).  It's just that, sure, if one person has one it's not a big deal, but if you start getting several, or if they start floating into other people in the small space (and really, the pools are small), it'd be irritating.  On Coco Cay, that maybe a different thing.  The ocean, and the pool, are large and I'd imagine it wouldn't be an issue.

Seems that it's only Chops (at least in our experience).  We've had multiple entrees at many other specialty restaurants.

You can do quite a bit of the check in from the website.  The rest they'll check at the port.  It just slows it down a little. 
Follow this thread for more information:
 
 
 

I found the bar and restaurant spaces on Ovation to be not as nice as on Radiance class.  I don't relish hanging out on the pool deck.  I remember the Schooner Bar on Jewel having tons of window space, where it seemed dark and lacking in windows on Ovation.  You can't see the ocean at all from Izumi, or anywhere on the Esplanade.  To each their own.

You can do quite a bit of the check in from the website.  The rest they'll check at the port.  It just slows it down a little. 
Follow this thread for more information:
 
 
 

Seems that it's only Chops (at least in our experience).  We've had multiple entrees at many other specialty restaurants.

I sort of laugh (only because it's ironic, not because it's funny) that we came back from our Allure sailing and my husband has the worst cold/flu that he's ever had in his life (currently still on day 9 of it - tested negative x3 for covid).  So we didn't get the vid, but we sure got one hell of a cold, lol.  But yes, we also felt super safe on the ship.

Omg, I wish they still showed fares this way (with the difference between non-refundable and refundable deposits) instead of making you go through the entire reservation process before you see that your refundable fare is $500 more (in my last case).

There's "lowest price" and then there's "best value".  Those terms are different for everyone.  Some people insist on getting Onboard Credit (OBC) from their travel agent (TA) and some would rather have more personalized service (you rarely get both together).
Some of the online agencies do large group bookings and are able to offer a somewhat reduced cruise fare, but using an online agency can have its drawbacks.  For one thing, some of them do not participate in the Royal Up program (Costco, for example), which allows you to bid on upgraded cabins.  Sometimes (but not always) it is difficult to establish a personal relationship with the online agencies b/c they only have a call center number to call and you get whoever you get when you call.
MEI Travel is the sponsor of this blog and many of us use them and love the service that we get.  Are they exclusive to Royal Caribbean ?  No, but they certainly get a lot of business for Royal and they know the ropes.
I use Michelle Cunningham
Michelle Cunningham, CTC
Certified Travel Consultant
[email protected]
Off:         571-479-4775  
 Mobile:  703-881-2727

Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (EST)
        Saturdays by appointment
Sharla is also also a local favorite and frequents these boards.  Someone can hopefully provide you with contact information for Sharla or some of the other GREAT MEI agents.
Website:  www.mei-travel.com
 
Good luck !!

Here’s mine.  
We’ve arrived at a port.  People are getting off.  This isn’t out first port on call.  People have no idea they need to have their SeaPass card out ready to be scanned.  Then they fumble through a backpack/purse/pockets/look at spouse who has all the cards…somewhere.  Meanwhile crew have been loudly announcing to have your SeaPass cards out and ready.  

I'd pick Jewel over Anthem for the itinerary, and also the fantastic window spaces on the Radiance Class ship. I haven't done Norway, but I've done a Quantum Class ship in Alaska and, having sailed on a Radiance Class ship, I'd prefer that for fantastic views.  The public spaces on Quantum Class ships just don't have enough sea views for me.