BrianB

Usually the ship will dock at the port and then await clearance from the local authorities. They will announce that the gangway is open and on which deck. Or, if it’s a tender port, when the tenders are ready to start ferrying passengers to the dock. You’ll scan your SeaPass card when you disembark the ship and then again when you return. Virtually all ports have local security set up to make sure only cruise passengers get back aboard so you’ll need your SeaPass card, and usually a government photo ID such as a driver’s license. Welcome to the message boards!

The tests I have taken from CVS which included the Minute Clinic visit have all been covered by my insurance. But I have very good coverage…I don’t know if other insurance companies charge a co-pay or something else. Or even if the additional cost would be covered elsewhere, like a government program of some sort, if there were any charge at all. I also have to test for a Bermuda trip soon and worry about getting the test results early enough to make sure there is no hiccup getting them emailed to Bermuda Health. I’m sure they get thousands of test results on the same day and don’t want to take any chances. So, I also have the eMed tests available if needed. Always more than one just in case there’s an issue with any of them…better safe than sorry. Also, I did schedule a CVS PCR test as soon as they opened up the available dates. I like to cover all the bases. When I saw the Minute Clinic Antigen test open up three days out, I decided to take it. In order for me to schedule that, I had to first cancel the PCR test. That was easy…just went to the confirmation email and clicked on the ‘cancel visit’ button. Then clicked on the ‘found a better time’ button. Lots of hoops to jump through…but the reward is wonderful!

Today was the first time I had to park in the open lot as the garage was full. Still very easy…dropped off my bag and then drove around the big buildings and into the lot. I was handed a ticket with the usual admonition “take it with you, you’ll need to pay at the kiosk before returning to your car”. Later, I saw the lot was filled to capacity…even with some strategic squeezing…so they started directing cars to park outside the lot on the road leading to it’s entrance. But, it’s all part of the port, so I’m guessing they still handed out the tickets and those people will pay the fee. From the lot, they had shuttle buses standing by if anyone needed them…but for me, it was just an easy stroll with my rolly carry on. The only delay was boarding the Oasis because she had to leave the pier and sit outside the channel for awhile due to a late-arriving container ship which needed to pass. We received an email about this a few days ago and we’re advised to come an hour later than our scheduled arrival time…so my 10:30 became 11:30. Still, I was checked in and sitting in the terminal with lots of other passengers…just like pre-pandemic…no masks or distancing. I was onboard at 1235pm, checked in to my Muster Station and at Johnny Rockets by 1245!

Yes. There’s an attendant with a megaphone walking up and down announcing who can board…then there’s another attendant checking the time on the boarding passes before allowing you to enter.

Oasis…May 1…4224 passenger. 78.2% capacity. 405 Diamond…195 Diamond Plus…26 Pins.

The Witness is a huge container ship that looked like a block of buildings passing by, accompanied by tugs. Very impressive. The Fidelio(sp?) is the RORO which was docked directly across the channel. The RORO was also bunkering with a fueling barge alongside. We entered the port and were checked in while the Oasis was still treading water outside the channel. After checking in, we were directed to the waiting areas and sat in the rows of chairs…just like pre-pandemic. No masks required…no distancing. We boarded right after the Star and ‘special needs’ and were on the ship at 12:35. On another note, this was the first time I had to park in the open, overflow lot as the parking garage was completely full with the Anthem’s passengers. Then the parking lot filled to capacity, even after some strategic squeezing, so the attendants began directing cars to park outside the lot on the street leading to the lot. But, it’s all part of the port so I’m guessing they still charged the $25 a day parking fee. The CD, Mike, made an announcement shortly before we cast off…he apologized and explained about the marine traffic causing us to be late with our boarding, and how it caused a domino effect with check in backing up. Oh, well…checked in at my assembly station and made it to Johnny Rockets before 1pm!

Could the reported arrival time be the time they arrive at the pilot station…or is it time they arrive at the dock? Just wondering if that could be the reason. Also, it’s possible that the times could change again and Royal decided it’s simplest to not send out another email notification risking more confusion. I’ll see when I get there. I have an arrival time of 10:30, but I’ll get there around 11:30. Update….at 0950 according to the Marine Traffic app…the YM Witness is just approaching the lower bay. The port cam still shows the Oasis docked at the cruise terminal.

Directly across from the cruise port is typically where the ROROs dock to offload their cars. Further down the channel is where the docks with gantry cranes are located. It can get pretty tight with a ship the size of the Oasis at the cruise terminal. * the white ‘L’ shaped building next to Tear Drop Park is the cruise terminal.

Ha! I like that!….”You’ve been a naughty ship. Now go float in the corner and think about what you did!”

These were from my balcony on the Anthem.......

The channel alongside the cruise terminal is also used by container ships to pass by and dock further up. There are docking stations with gantry cranes for several container ships and they’re usually busy. Several times I have been aboard the docked Anthem pre-cruise when a container ship passed by and it seemed pretty close. I can imagine how the width of the Oasis can really narrow that space…making it necessary to move for a large container ship. I guess scheduling hit a little snag.

I would think they are because it’s now a full visit which includes vitals (blood pressure, oxygen level, pulse etc….). But I’m fortunate that my insurance covers it all. I don’t know if others would have a co-pay…depends on the insurance.

This is for those who rely on CVS for their Antigen tests. In the past, I have been very successful at getting my Antigen tests done at my local CVS. By the way…I’m in central NJ. It was easy to schedule up to two weeks in advance when the appointments opened…and then walk into the outdoor ‘pod’, get my nose swiped, and then get the results within an hour or so. Then it changed from the pod to a full ‘Minute Clinic’ visit inside the main store. Still, scheduling was opened two weeks out. Recently, CVS seemed to drop the Antigen tests at most locations and the only store doing it was pretty far away. I really don’t want to depend on the results of a local CVS PCR test getting back within the two-day time frame, so I decided it was time to change over to the at-home eMed tests…or search for other nearby localities. But now…because I kept checking the CVS website…I see that there is a new option for a test. Where before it just had a choice between an Antigen or a PCR test, now there is an option for a ‘Minute Clinic Antigen Test Visit’. Clicking on that opened up my local stores three days in advance and I’m back to getting it done at my regular spot. Just putting it out there in case anyone else had the same disappointment with CVS dropping their available Antigen testing.

I wonder how they are determining occupancy percentages right now. I know that ships all have the double occupancy number and the full occupancy number (which means every room is full to capacity…ie; rooms that can hold five, have five). But now I believe most, or all of the ships in service have dedicated passenger room areas that are sealed off to maintain an amount of cabins available for quarantine. Still…it seems the numbers of passengers are actually getting back to pre-pandemic levels. I guess it just shows how the demand for cruising has really been pent up over the past two years. Kudos to the Healthy Sail Panel and all the hard work being done onboard each ship to maintain as healthy an environment as possible, bringing back loyal cruisers…and attracting lots of new cruisers. Keep it up! Can’t wait to get back aboard and add to the capacity count!

I guess they will still offer a choice between the full refund and 125% FCC. I also picked up a lot of the ‘extra’ 25%.

That’s actually a good point!

Mine loaded last week and I already used it. Even though it indicated they would be available to use after today.

For me…on the Anthem, Oasis and Wonder, I had great food and variety in the MDRs. But, I also get the three meal package every cruise. On the Anthem, I absolutely love Jaime Oliver’s. I also love Chops Grill. On the Oasis and Wonder, I’ll do Giovanni’s, Chops and 150 Central Park (veal medallions!). The specialty restaurants are not just for the great food, but the ambiance and the great service. Purchasing the specialty restaurants separately are always more expensive then the usual $109 for three. The only issue I have is I can not make reservations pre-Cruise. I have to wait until I’m onboard and then I go right to the nearest restaurant host desk to make all my reservations. It is a personal preference if you wish to spend more to have a ‘special’ meal…or just eat all your meals in MDR. Oh, and I believe the drinks package covers your drinks in the specialty restaurants…as long as they don’t go over the individual drink price limit, in which case you’ll just pay the difference.

I have a South Beach bed rented for my May 1st cruise. I usually always try to get a Coco Beach Club pass because I love the lunch menu. Inside the club, there are a few beach beds available by the pool, but they are always taken…and away from the beach. But recently I have been doing beach beds at Breezy Bay on Chill Island. They are so much more comfortable than the loungers. The first time, the bed location was assigned and it was in the second row. I’m glad I got that over the first row…I prefer the increased perception of privacy as there are not people constantly passing right in front of me on the beach, and some people think the two loungers in front of the bed are open and have to be told they can’t use them. Last week, the beds were ‘first come, first served’ and I knew I didn’t have to rush because I would pick the second row again. Got there late, and there were still a couple available in the first row. I like the Breezy Bay beds because there is a restroom, a bar and a snack shack very close by…steps away. Plus, the servers are pretty much making the rounds most of the time. I’ll see how I like the South Beach beds this time. Always up for trying something new!

I’ve never waited more that a half hour for the call to be answered. I put my phone on speaker and listen to the annoying recorded commercial over and over…and over. Any longer than that and I hang up and call again. Doesn’t seem like it should work…losing my place in line…but usually I get a quicker answer when I do it. When I finally do get through, the first thing I do is I make sure I give the agent my call back number in case we get disconnected. That’s happened only once…and the agent did call me back. I have repriced cruises where I had already paid in full but it was right before final payment due date. They have always refunded my credit card the difference. If it is after final payment due date, then it’s OBC. Even bookings where I had FCCs applied. I never had to deal with a reprice where the entire amount paid was an FCC. There was always additional amounts paid and that’s where they made the refund/OBC from.

Curious why would a solo in a suite be that much less? Solos in a suite still have to pay double occupancy. Just taxes and port fees are for one person. And a solo in an inside also has to pay double occupancy.

That really makes me wonder. If I have already uploaded my card, and it was approved, that means it’s in their system. I don’t see why they can’t just attach it to my C&A number and have it follow all of my future reservations, instead of just the current booking number. I know there are ports that require showing the card to enter some businesses, but that should not mean I can be turned away at boarding if I don’t have the card. Bringing it to show at those places should be on me. Not having the physical card should not be a reason to deny boarding if I have shown the card for my last sixteen cruises. In the event new rules are put in place and boosters are required, then I should have to produce the updated card or have it uploaded again.

After lots of cruises, I’ve discovered the most important thing for me. I love the planning, scheduling and all the frenetic little details as I count down to the cruise and wish time would pass quicker. But….on boarding day, as I walk onto the ship, I do my best to will time to slow down. I try to take in as much of the sights and sounds and people watch as I can. I don’t let the frenetic activity and planning continue. I know when I need to be somewhere…dining, shows, excursions…but I don’t let my future plans cause me to ignore where I am right now. Even if I decide to skip something planned because I’m happy where I am, I’ll do it. I don’t want to be that person who has nearly every moment planned and anxiously scurries from place to place without taking the time to just stop and enjoy. I have friends who tell me they do that because they want to cram everything they can into their long-awaited vacation, but they end up stressed out, always looking at their watch. Getting very little sleep as they try to do virtually everything listed on the Cruise Compass. Sorry, not for me. Enjoy the time leading up to your cruise, even if it is stressful and anxious…but don’t forget to enjoy your cruise!