BrianB

I saw a family arguing over who was knocking who off the internet. “Stop logging in and knocking me off!”…”It was my turn!”…fortunately cooler heads prevailed and fisticuffs were avoided. *yes, I said ‘fisticuffs’. I know……I’m old.

I do lots of b2bs…mostly from Bayonne, NJ. I have experienced different turnaround days on different cruises. Sometimes we gather in the theater where we are issued new cards and get checked in, wait for a zero count (or nearly zero) then file off the ship. We go through customs and then stand in line in the baggage hall for a short while until they get to zero, then we re-board. Sometimes we’re instructed to go to a specific venue while they ‘fog’ the ship…but most b2bs just go where they want. Once on the Oasis, I went to the Music Hall as instructed. Although there were over 120 b2bs, it was only me and three others…the rest went their own way, many back to their cabins…some to the pool deck and others to the solarium. Another time, we filed off the ship…through customs…and stood in the cold of the baggage hall while Public Health did a surprise inspection of the ship. That took over a hour. The port workers and our crew escorts were pretty good at scrambling to find chairs for some who really needed them…there are no seats in the baggage hall. This past spring, we gathered in the theater where we were checked in…and then as we left the theater after zero count, customs officers were at the theater entrance and did the obligatory glance at our passports as we passed. Then there was a ship’s security officer manning a scanner where we scanned our new cards and walked out of the theater as new passengers. That’s the best scenario…not having to disembark, past the customs facial scanners, and then re-board. The best advice I can give for b2bs is….have patience and hope for the best. And If you’re in a cold weather port, bring something warm to wear.

In the event someone has difficulty uploading their negative test result to Bermuda Health…a Provisional Health Authorization would be issued allowing the passenger to board. That makes sense because they wouldn’t be able to board without a negative test. Then, upon arrival in Bermuda, the passenger would need to show the negative test result prior to being able to disembark.

Keep checking the price as it sometimes drops quite a bit during sales or as the trip gets closer. Maybe it will be a more attractive purchase at a much lower price.

All persons 6 and older in the same cabin need to purchase the Key. Each purchase includes one Voom surf and stream. If you have family or companions in other cabins, you can share your login and password with them…but only one device can be logged on at a time for each Voom. When a new login happens, the other is logged off. So, if you have two passengers over 6 years old in a cabin, both must purchase the Key…both get Voom internet…both can share their internet with others, but only one device can be logged on at a time.

@JSB_Z51…I took these photos from behind iFly during sail away in March. It was cold! The FlowRider was flowing. You can zoom in and see most passengers were wearing wetsuits and some of the crew members were even wearing parkas! Even one brave(?) soul was wearing just a bathing suit.

I tip my server when he/she delivers my dessert. I want to make sure they get it themselves and not leave it on the table where anyone can just pocket it. I guess I’ve always tried to treat my server with respect, look them in the eye, say their name, and express my thanks for their good service while I hand them the money. Makes it much more personal. It doesn’t take much to please me and on the other hand it takes really bad service for me to be unhappy. Even then, I’ll make the effort. It’s surprising how many times the server, who probably had been having a bad day, wasn’t expecting anything…but lit up like a tree when I tipped.

I know it won’t happen, but I think CDC should take into consideration the ebb and flow of the current positivity rates (along with related hospitalizations, including the involvement of co-morbidities) on land and apply them to their calculations concerning percentages on cruise ships. Even if they adjust for their determination that cruise ship passengers and crew are more susceptible due to being in a congregate setting. The time has past where a single set point…such as the 0.3% threshold for passengers and 1% threshold for crew be more flexible to represent what’s actually causing a concern for cruisers. Maybe a set point of cases involving onboard medical intervention would be more appropriate. The current CDC cruise ship dashboard tool shows virtually all ships in orange status, with a few yellow and just one green. It seems to me that this tool, in it’s current form, does not provide sufficient information for vacationers contemplating a cruise. Even posting actual numbers of positive cases would be more informative. JMHO…

I prefer to tip at the end of my cruise. But, if I’m doing a back to back…I’ll tip at the end of each week. Sometimes cabin attendants change assignments after each cruise and although I have the same room, it may be a new attendant. Also, even though the concierge usually stays the same, I still like tipping after each week. Same with the CK host/ess and manager.

@Eddy There is a man made beach a short stroll from the ship. Not as nice as the pink sand beaches that Bermuda is famous for…but convenient. There are water sports rentals on the pier, such as wave runners and small Boston Whalers you can rent. Nice places within the Dockyard area to visit and eat…such as the Clocktower Mall, the Frog and Onion Pub and Restaurant, Bone Fish bar and grill. There’s swimming with dolphins (pretty expensive)…or just wandering the grounds of the National Museum of Bermuda inside the largest fort, The Keep. I recommend you just google ‘things to do at Bermuda Royal Navy Dockyard’ and you can check them all out.

I book early because I know when I want to cruise and to lock in specific cabins. Then as the date gets closer, I’m usually successful in repricing…sometimes multiple times prior to final payment date. I also book my Cruise Planner items early because I want to lock in those purchases as well. I then monitor not only the cruise price, but also the planner prices for the items I booked. I love that Royal allows me to reprice not only my cruise fare, but also the Cruise Planner purchases. Also, if the price of the planner item doesn’t drop…and I decide I don’t really want to spend that much…I love that Royal allows me to cancel the purchase and receive a timely refund to my credit card. I’ve learned it’s less complicated to pay for my planner purchases rather than using OBC. In the event that I do have OBC when I cruise, I’ll apply it to my daily service charge.

He had to leave. He couldn’t produce a negative antigen test.

Me. Did back to back with RoyalUp bids on both. One time my first leg was approved and another time the second leg. Had to move between suites each time. Although the suite I moved to was larger and much less expensive going through the bidding process, for me I learned it’s really not worth the hassle of moving…even though the cabin attendants make it so easy.

In the event that there is an issue with transmitting the negative antigen test via email…such as a computer malfunction…Bermuda Health will issue an Interim Travel Authorization which will allow passengers to board the ship at the terminal. Upon arrival in Bermuda, the negative test result must be presented to Bermuda authorities before the passenger is allowed to disembark. Makes sense as a passenger wouldn’t be allowed to board without the negative test.

If you cancel your trip, the fee is non refundable. Once you pay it…it’s theirs.

Me! First half b2b.

I always get the three night package. As soon as I board, I go right to any restaurant host desk. I make all three of my reservations right there. But…if I really want a restaurant at a specific date and time, I’ll make that reservation in the Cruise Planner to make sure I lock it in. I’ll pay a little more for that reservation, but I don’t worry about rushing to get it booked after I board and may be disappointed when the particular time is unavailable.

I like to stay aboard most of the time. Been there, done that. But, I really like port intensive cruises because a lot of people leave the ship. Also, there’s less chance of high winds at port…there’s more to see, including other ships…I like the ship’s arrival and departure process…and sometimes I’ll take a quick stroll around the port. The only port I spend the most time ashore is CocoCay. Love Perfect Day!

If you booked online or by phone through Royal, you can call them directly. Be patient and expect to be on hold for up to thirty minutes or more. Speaker phones are best. You can also rebook Cruise Planner purchases if you notice a price drop in something you reserved. Such as a drink package, dining package or excursion. You can re-price as many times as you want prior to the final payment date.

Me! Second part of a b2b! Love cruising on the Anthem out of NJ in winter. The Solarium is the best place to be during sail out…fully enclosed in glass, heated, surrounded by tropical plants and trees, sipping a cool drink, maybe lounging in the hot tub or the cascading pool. Beautiful view at the very front of the ship as we sail out of the harbor, under the Verrazano Bridge with just meters clearance. Or, if you have kids under 16, in the family pool just behind the Solarium…heated, covered in glass, large space with hot tubs and the pool bar. The Anthem is a beautiful cold weather ship with lots of inside activities…and then, as the weather warms, the outside pool and sun decks are beautiful! The NorthStar, Rockwall, FlowRider and the iFly are great activities. And the SeaPlex is great! Don’t miss the shows…We Will Rock You in the Royal Theater and Spectra’s Cabaret in the fantastic Two70 venue with the robot screens are wonderful. Enjoy!

Keep in mind that staffing issues can be complex during these times of Covid. A ship can sail with a full staff, but during the cruise…if one crew member tests positive, then not only is that crew member placed ‘out of service’, but also a whole group of ‘close contacts’ can be sidelined. As most crew members are in close quarters, and the company exercises due diligence by liberally defining close contacts…one positive can result in a dozen, or more, quarantined. This is most visible to the passengers when entire production teams are affected by one positive test and shows are cancelled. I have learned how to be patient and understanding over this past year as the restart has proceeded. So far, I think Royal is doing an excellent job…and I have no qualms about cruising with Royal again and again. Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

Generosity begets generosity.

Favorites...Rock of Ages, We Will Rock You, Burn the Floor. Least...Cats.

….Klaatu barada nikto…

Just keep in mind masking protocols can change at any time. However, the ship will supply face masks if they are required at a port.