BrianB

Keeping in mind that things can and usually do change during these Covid times….. I filled out the Bermuda Health form and paid the ‘non-refundable’ fee. Two days before boarding day, I received an email from Bermuda Health advising me that some of my documentation was missing. In the email was a link that would issue me a provisional certificate that would allow me to board the ship. Then, upon arriving in Bermuda, I would need to provide the missing documentation (negative test result) to them prior to entering Bermuda.

One of the Key benefits is being able to drop off your carry ons, backpacks, jackets etc, with the crew and they have them sent right to your cabin. This way you don’t have to carry them around with you until your room is ready. You can then go enjoy the Key lunch. Your cabin will most likely not be accessible until later, at the same time everyone else’s cabins are ready. The Key doesn’t give priority accessibility to your cabin. So if you want to change and use the pool while waiting for your room, you’ll have to use a restroom.

Yep. Hopefully this thing will be getting weaker overall, less infectious and more of a seasonal surge issue…like a cold or the flu. Then we can cruise without having to worry about……wait…..Monkey Pox?

Better to ask this question on the Roll Call page for this cruise. Better chance someone on board will see it.

I’m guessing cruise lines may not feel the urge to start shifting schedules and itineraries until they’re sure they can go there. Also, will adding Cuba as a destination add to bookings…..will it be a sustained destination, or will it get cancelled again. Just got to wait and see.

I get the survey each and every time I cruise…usually on disembarkation day…late that afternoon, or the next day. I always fill it out completely…including the comments sections. Maybe that’s why I keep getting them. Sometimes it feels like I have homework! Multiple choice questions and essays! Due to me doing lots of cruises over the winter on the Anthem, I hear from the crew about my surveys. Usually on the next sailing. Every time I mention a venue, or individual crew member…they subsequently tell me how their supervisors received my comments from upper management and post them on message boards in the crew area. As I understand it, they don’t identify the passenger who submitted the comments by name…so I sort of made it a game by using certain key phrases so they would know it was me. The crew members may receive certain perks for being mentioned in the comments…especially job/position security and consideration for advancement. Bottom line…I believe the company takes the survey seriously. It’s an important metric in customer satisfaction and continuous product evaluation. I believe they read the comments and forward them…good and bad…to the individual ship and onboard venues. I would urge everyone to send in their comments…good and not so good. They do make a difference.

I usually get them ten to fourteen days after the cruise. Once in a while, they miscalculate and I have to to call the C&A line to get them corrected. I’m usually solo and in a suite so I should get three points per night…unless I booked prior to the end of the double point bonus…then six per night. But, every time I had to call…they corrected it right away. Takeaway from this is; always keep track of your points!

Oasis! The ship is really a destination…a resort. Especially with kids. So many different neighborhoods that spread the passengers out. Lots to do…so many choices to make but never really feels overwhelming. I’m more ‘been there, done that’ as far as ports so I really appreciate being onboard the ship. Except, of course, for CocoCay. Love that place!

In the event that there is an issue uploading your negative test result, or any other required documentation…Bermuda will issue a Provisional Approval which will be accepted to board the ship on embarkation day. Then upon arrival in Bermuda, you would need to show the missing documentation to the Bermuda Health Authorities before you will be allowed to disembark.

I did!

Yep! Annoying how something can both blow AND suck at the same time!

@Cbb That time is fine. You can go online and check out the available rentals, prices and companies. Then you can call and make a reservation. You can also research reviews and check out the experiences of others. The thing I like best about Bermuda is that it is a safe, clean and very visitor-friendly island (actually group of islands) with honestly nice and welcoming people. Of course I take nothing for granted and am always as careful as possible everywhere I go…but I feel the most comfortable in Bermuda. We have explored much of the beautiful islands on our own, especially on cruises that dock over two nights. Bermuda is our favorite destination! Enjoy your cruise and the Bermudian experience!

Enjoy the boat rental. We usually rent a 13’ Boston Whaler…or, if there’s a lot of us…a 23’ pontoon boat. Fantastic time motoring around the Great Sound. They provide a map with photos showing how far you can go, which is virtually all of the sound. Including little tiny islands where you can anchor and just hang out on your own private beach. There’s a few water sports companies you can use, including one just as you get off the pier. Enjoy!

Okay....I'm on the Adventure May 12.

I'm on the Oasis now...Suite/Pinnacle/Key reserved seating in the theater and Studio B is either up in the balcony (theater) or way off to the side in the upper rows (Studio B). Much better picking your own seats. If you're boarding the Oasis in NJ, Sky Suite and Key both have early boarding so you can get in the terminal, checked in, and onboard together. You can switch internet between devices. You'll be prompted to switch devices when you log in with your password.

Sometimes I have been prompted to upload my vaccine card to the app...and sometimes not. It didn't matter either way. I just produced it at the terminal where they more often than not took a photo of it during check in.

I filled out my application weeks ago...as soon as it opened for my cruise...and paid the non-refundable non-Amex $40 fee. I will get my usual pre-cruise Antigen test two days before the cruise. I'll upload a copy of the negative (hopefully) result to Bermuda Health. As I understand it, they will then email me my approval form which I will print out and bring with me to the pier...along with the usual copy of the negative test. So, just another form to produce; Boarding Pass...Passport...Vaccine Card...Negative Test Result...Approved Bermuda Health Form.

I’m a bit of an outlier….If I’m going to stay a few days before my cruise from Fort Lauderdale, I like to stay at the Deerfield Beach Wyndham. About thirty minutes away. Beautiful hotel pretty much on the beach, they have three restaurants, an outdoor heated pool with hot tub, patio bar, live performers each night (low key singers…not annoyingly loud…and they end by 10pm). Not a young, party going place. Beautiful neighborhood with many restaurants and bars within a block radius…all easygoing, calm and comfortable places. The hotel rooms are beautiful, standard sized with a mix of kings and two beds, many are connecting so good for a family. Floor to ceiling windows with sliders that open onto a French balcony. The Deerfield Beach fishing pier is right next door. Loungers and clamshells are available to rent on the beach. However, if you’re looking for something close to the airport and the cruise terminal….this is not it. There is no shuttle. Taxis and Ubers are easy to get, but pricey. And the hotel itself is somewhat expensive. I go here when I want to spend a few days vegging out prior to going on a cruise to veg out. Wherever you decide to go, I hope you have a great time!

I have bought the Key many times and have learned some lessons. Here’s my take; I would watch the price fluctuate and if it came close to the price for purchasing Voom internet, I would snag it as I would get Voom anyway. Even though the Voom price also dropped at that time…I still convinced myself that it was a good bargain. I’m usually going on ships from Port Liberty in NJ and mileage may vary at other ports, but…in NJ, Key members are allowed to check in and board early. The Guardian of the Portal announces through his handy dandy electric megaphone that Key members may enter through the hallowed doors pretty much as soon as they open. Regardless of the time on your boarding pass. This is, of course, to ensure we get the benefit of the Key luncheon (which ends around 1:30pm) and we get to drop off our carry ons. As far as early entry to the shows…this usually never happened. A lot of people show up early and begin to line up. When the doors open, they just admit anyone with a reservation. Only once on the Anthem, did they open the doors and announce, “Suites, Pinnacles, Diamond Plus and Key members first!”. So far on the Anthem, Wonder and Oasis…the ‘reserved seating’ for Key, Suites and Pinnacles at the shows was in less-than-ideal areas of the venues. Usually way up in the balcony of the theater and Two70….or off to the side in the upper rows of Studio B. I felt more like we were being hidden away rather than given good seats. I never took advantage of the ‘private times’ for the Flow Rider or the Rock Wall…but the times offered were pretty slim. Usually very early on one or two days of a seven day cruise. Since the restart, Key priority disembarkation at the various ports was nonexistent. Just had to join the line. On the Anthem, on the final morning…disembarkation for Key members was usually prioritized. I always did the early walk-off with all of my luggage. Sometimes they would take Key, Suites and Pinnacles from the line and place us up front. Other times they had us wait near the Excursions desk directly across from the exit and we were the first to move off the ship. It seemed to change depending on who was the supervisor in charge at the time. It was never consistent. Bottom line…I would get it mostly for the Voom. Plus, I usually sail solo so I only had to pay for one. Early boarding and the Chops lunch were pretty good, along with dropping off my carry on and jacket. The only other perk for me was the priority disembarkation on the final day. But, then again, I was usually one of the first in line anyway. Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

Bookings are available all the way up to a few days before the cruise…when they need to provide a passenger manifest to the authorities. That’s why CWC will allow cancellations up to 48hrs prior to sailing. There really is no way to know how many will be on a cruise until the ship sails. Some cancel due to positive tests…and some just don’t show up. I ask for the ‘final passenger count’ the day after we sail...when they’re not too busy…either from Guest Services or the Concierge. They have the number on their computers.

Was on the Wonder two weeks ago...and now on the Oasis. I love both! For me, it's impossible to choose one or the other! Sorry.

Yes. Depending on the ship. Some suites have larger safes that can accommodate laptops.

I'm on the Oasis on cruise number seventeen since my personal cruise re-start in September. I haven't changed a thing pre-cruise during that time. But, then again...I've been 'social distancing' before it became a thing.

@Pooch That stinks! But I hope this catastrophe doesn’t turn you or your family away from cruising. I also hope you are able get some reimbursement for the lost money. This is like hitting the Crap Lottery. You won the perfect storm of disappointing circumstances hitting at exactly the worst time. And it really stinks thinking you did everything right by protecting your expenditure with insurance…only to find out about the limits of the policy after you try to file a claim. But who would think there would be such a prolonged shutdown of air travel due to storms at both destinations?…at the exact time that would make them miss the cruise. I really hope you can get some satisfaction and try for a do over family cruise vacation…and I hope it’s the best cruise ever! Best of luck!

Me too! I like to be sure that I’m aboard and settled so I can watch sailaway. Also, sometimes it can get very busy later and there may be long lines waiting to board.