bmatrose

9 minutes ago, MuttMutt said:

With kids (especially boys) might i suggest a can of air freshener as well. Never a fun day when the boys are hitting the bathroom and the smell of their visit lingers for an hour,  lol.

Luckily we have 3 rooms so the boys can live in their own filth

It looks like the consent form that Royal provides has a section for medical consent on it. 

We were on the first sailing of Odyssey back in July and the testing requirement was implemented the Thursday before our Saturday sailing.  So we had to run out Thursday night and find a test and had a backup rapid test down Friday morning before we flew to the port Friday afternoon.  That was super stressful.  At least this time we have the tests in hand and just have to worry about the negative results.

Thanks for the responses!  I do feel like im over thinking it, as long as they have the documentation and know what to pack they should be fine.  The COVID testing is giving me the extra stress.   I bought the 6 Pack from EMED so I should be all set but we will need to test people from 3 different households.

My family and I are experienced cruisers but our next cruise both my kids are bringing friends who have never cruised before.  Cruising as much as we have I know what to expect and what to pack but I don't know what to communicate to the parents of the kids coming with us.  I found the consent form that is needed to be signed by the parents but other than that I'm having a hard to figuring out what they need to know other then the basics like itinerary.  Anyone have experience with this and can give some advice?

Any ideas when shore excursion for these two ports will start to be released?  They have a couple excursions for return day in NY but nothing yet for the two stops in Bermuda.

As long as the rooms are next to each other or across the hall the kids do not need an adult booked in the room.  We have our 14 and 12 year olds booked next door on our next cruise .

I'm sailing on Empress next June and since we live driving distance from the port, my wife and I plan to bring our golf clubs so we can play in Bermuda.  I understand its easy getting the ship on board the first day, just mark it with luggage tags for the room.  But does anyone have experience with taking them on and off the ship at Port.  I would think its a pretty awkward process to get them back on the ship.  Does anyone have experience?  Thanks

So in reality you can book one of these Suites with just two people and purchase a interior room for the other two people and have everyone stay in the Suite.  RCCL allows that?  I would think they would want to charge everyone at the Suite rate.

2 hours ago, RatedPG said:

Could they have given the low price in anticipation of Dorian?  I read something about discounts during that time.

i booked it in March and Dorian had zero effect on the sailing.

Prices seem out of whack on this cruise.  Key is $24.99 and VOOM SURF + STREAM Voyage Package - 1 Device is $21.99 a day.  Would be a no brainier to get key for only $3 more a day.

It was actually $22.39 a day.  See attached screenshot

I defiantly paid like $24 a day for 4 devices last month

The cruise planner just added internet for my June 2020 Empress cruise.  The VOOM SURF + STREAM Voyage Package - 4 Devices package is priced at $75.96 a day!!!  I just was on liberty in August and the same plan was about $24 a day.  Is this normal for Empress?  

41 minutes ago, JohnK6404 said:

Our limited experience is that Next Cruise will charge you the prevailing rate on their (Royal Caribbean's) website which will include the current sale.

They usually offer onboard credit (OBC) based on length of cruise and cabin type and/or a reduced deposit to entice you to book. Sometimes as part of the Next Cruise promo they will also give you maybe 60 days or so to change the ship and/or sail date without penalty (allowing you to apply your deposit and keep the OBC for the new ship/sail date). Always read the fine print and ask questions first! The OBC amount also varies depending on non-refundable vs. refundable deposit.

I'm looking at 2 interior rooms on a 7 night cruise. Is it really more of a hassle to go thru next cruise?

50 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I would be very skeptical if a TA tells you that their price is lower than Royals.  Royal Caribbean does not permit agents to discount their prices.  The only way that a TA can have a price lower than the published rates is if they (the Agency) have group space on hold that has been negotiated with Royal.  So be very careful when an agent claims to have a lower price than Royal.  Make sure that you are comparing apples to apples.

I think it's a group rate.

1 hour ago, cdixon22 said:

To add to the above. I was told by rccl I had to book directly with them to use my myVEGAS rewards. 

I booked thru a ta for my upcoming cruise and was able to apply myvegas obc to the booking. Is it different for the % off?

I'm considering a cruise on oasis next summer and was trying to figure out the best way to book. I will be on liberty in a few weeks so I could book on ship for an extra discount. My dilemma is currently my TA is offering a lower price then purchasing straight from RCCL. Also I have enough coins in myvegas to get a 10% discount on my next cruise. How can I stack these 3 discounts and get the lowest price possible.

13 hours ago, twangster said:

There are a number of teens on this Empress cruise.  They tend to hang out together in the VCL around 4-6pm.  Also see them in groups in other areas.  The Teen Cruise Compass appears like most other ships but I have no knowledge or exposure to the Teens programming on board.

You know your kids best.  When I sailed a smaller ship with a teen a few years back we presented as "It's a smaller ship.  You can stay and we'll find a sitter/family/etc and go by ourselves or you can come but if you come don't complain it's a small ship".  Mine said okay, she wanted to come.  Of course that is the answer I expected but since she made the choice it paved the way for it to be okay, not like she was being forced to come on the cruise.

Adventure Ocean and Teens Cruise Compass for the first leg of the Empress B2B attached.

 

AO and Teens CC Jul 27, 2020.pdf 875 kB · 1 download

This was great, thank you!!!   We have taken the kids on some of the smaller ships(Enchantment and Majesty) already and they have been fine.  I was just a little concerned they didnt have their own space like on the other ships but from the teen cruise compass it looks like they take over part of Boleros Lounge for them to hang out in.

I have concerns as well about my two teens 13 and 15 being bored.  I see they don't have a designated teen area but from looking at cruise compasses they seem to do a lot of teen activities.  Im currently booked on the June 29th sailing and i'm going back and forth on if I should cancel.

7 minutes ago, Hoppy2cruise said:

There is a link in your RoyalUp email to the terms & conditions that includes the following Q/A:

Q: If I have two reservations can I bid only once through RoyalUp℠ and if accepted, cancel the second reservation and move the guests into the upgraded cabin?

A: No, if you have two cabins you will need to submit two separate bids and they will be considered independently. RCI cannot guarantee that both reservations will be upgraded. In the case that one of the reservations gets upgraded, you cannot move the other guests into the upgraded cabin. All reservations cancelled within the penalty period will be subject to cancellation fees

Thank you, I looked and couldn't find it

thanks for the info....we are at 46 days before departure.  My wife and I's cabin got the ability to bid but my kids room did not.  I wouldn't upgrade unless i knew they would come with us or near us.

My family of 4 is currently booked in 2 balcony rooms.  I just got the email for bidding on Royal Up.  If I bid and won a 2 bedroom Grand Suite, would it be possible to have all 4 of us in one room and cancel the other balcony?  How would it work?  What would I end up paying?

Check your cruise planners.  Sailing Liberty in August and my deluxe drink package dropped to $46 a night.  Lowest I had seen was $49.  Saved my wife and I $50

Just now, Skid said:

@bmatrose Take note that @Lovetocruise2002 is usually right about EVERYTHING..If I was you, I'd find a different surprise---this seems like a lot of work!

My only real concern is check in.  The other stuff is easy enough to handle.  My wife doesn't help with the vacation planning or really care about the cost.