BrianB

On the Anthem they have deck six forward closed…I saw it on the Oasis also…but it’s part of the protocols. They keep a section closed and sanitized to be available for quarantine purposes only. Also, whenever new crew members come aboard to start their contracts (which happens regularly) they quarantine them there as a precaution. That’s also part of the protocols.

There can be differences depending on the ship and the port…I have been on Oasis and Anthem, both out of Port Liberty NJ. I always do self-disembark with my luggage. Pre-Covid, there was priority disembarkation for Key members but not now. They say it’s for physical distancing purposes so Key members don’t congregate in the ShoreEx area like we did before. So now we add to the long line of congregated passengers waiting to walk off. As soon as the ship is cleared, depending on the port authorities, we go. Sometimes this can be as early as 6:45…sometimes later. This past Friday it was about 7:10, and the line was very long, and crowded, by then. Other factors can affect disembarkation such as weather, current and medical emergencies changing the ship’s arrival time. But passengers still line up early. It can be frustrating but I don’t mind. I like being one of the first off, in the garage, in my car and home early. Also, Bayonne has the facial recognition iPads instead of showing your passport to a CBP officer. Lower your mask, look at the screen, get a green check mark …and go!

Eight cruises since September. Four on Oasis and four on Anthem. Leaving again on Friday. You can use anything I posted about any of them. Should be a lot….I’m chatty when I write and I ramble in my posts!

I believe there is no hard and fast ‘trigger’ number…whether it’s the number of total positive, or ratio. I think they are in constant communication with the CDC and evaluate each scenario based upon the number of positives, the total number of passenger and crew, and…most importantly…the overall effect on the medical facility. Having an increased but manageable number test positive…primarily due to contact tracing and not symptoms…where there is no strain on medical services…should be the primary indicator or consideration. Just as on land, I believe this variant has caused a new way of thinking regarding it’s spread versus it’s effect. As we all keep saying…during this time of cruising, changes are expected and will occur. I will continue to cruise and will not be surprised. For me…so far…so good. Just my opinion.

I have been on the Anthem four times since she returned to the US in November. Deck 6 forward is closed as a ‘Crew Only Area’. That’s the area where, as their protocols require, they are maintaining a sealed section to be used for quarantining only. It’s kept sanitized and isolated even though very few rooms are being used at one time. Every time new crew members board to begin their contracts, they are quarantined for two weeks. The first week is a ‘hard quarantine’ where they can not leave the cabin and get examined for symptoms and tested daily. The second week is a ‘soft quarantine’ where they can access certain limited crew areas only. In the event a crew member tests positive, contact tracing results in many other crew members being quarantined. Regardless of them having negative tests and no symptoms. That’s what happened to the entire entertainment crew during the first two weeks. One production cast member tested positive and they quarantined the entire cast and production crew for two weeks. Both production shows were cancelled (We Will Rock You and Spectra’s Cabaret). Other times there were sections of passengers corridors that were closed. The access doors were shut and crew guarded them. This was because they were deep cleaning the corridors. It happened all throughout the ship at various times…especially overnight. It was a scheduled cleaning done as part of the protocols. I was asked to wait for 30 mins before I could access my cabin. Another time, I received a phone call in my cabin informing me they were doing the scheduled deep cleaning of the corridor and asked if I’d rather leave or stay inside for thirty minutes until it was completed. I have been very impressed with their cleaning and sanitizing efforts. But, I can see how someone would reasonably mistake simple routine and repeat procedures with something unusual. It’s an unusual time for cruising. Stay informed and don’t pay attention to those with an obvious agenda. Weigh all the facts and make your choice. After eight cruises since September, I feel safe and choose to cruise!

I have received successful upgrade notifications three days prior and one week prior.

Just got off the Anthem and received an email on the way home that my bid for next week has been successful. I had bid on every category available and hoped something worked. So now I’m solo in a two bedroom grand suite that has capacity for eight. Oh, well…I’ll give my luggage it’s own bedroom and bathroom. I went from a JS to the 2bd GS. I received the notification that my bid was accepted exactly one week from the sail date.

Update; Just got off the Anthem and parking in Port Liberty garage is still $25 a day.

Maybe I’m a little dense but….I’ve been booking nothing but suites…I especially love the Crown Loft Suites on Oasis. I have five booked for next May, Sept and October when she is back in Bayonne. Or I book family JS on the Anthem because I like the extra room, and the longer couch. I’ve never had to get approval…I do it online. Do I need to worry that I can be bumped by a group…even though I pay double occupancy…(well, actually now it’s 150% due to my C&A level…yay!)…again, I cruise solo. **Also, I did book an Aqua Theater Suite, solo, on Oasis without an issue…but then changed it when I read everyone’s comments about how they liked the Loft Suites better.

I didn’t know that. So when I cruise solo in a suite that can hold six…they can move me?

There is no minimum for any room. A no-show doesn’t cancel the reservation for everyone else and the port fees and taxes for that person will be refunded.

Nice compensation! I like that the OBC is refundable back to your credit card. And also, that the FCC will be received via email in three days! Not ‘sometime in the future’. Very fair, IMO.

I corrected my original comment. I was under the impression they were going to designate another area outside on dec 5 forward...closer to the casino. But no...they were referring to the outdoor, glass-enclosed smoking area already present on deck 5 starboard side aft. Sorry..

The Key has changed quite a bit with the restart. The one constant is that you have to purchase it for everybody over 6 in your cabin. Depending on the price, could be a big hit for a small return. I’m usually solo so I may get it if the price is right…because I would be purchasing the Voom internet anyway and that’s included. Different ports offer different boarding options with the Key. I sail out of Bayonne NJ and so far…each time I’ve had the Key (I’m on my 8th cruise since Sept…2 with the Key) there has been no line and anyone who arrived when I did (11:30am) was just waved right into the terminal. I like the carry on drop off and the Chops lunch. The listed perk about early seating in the theater or Two70 on the Anthem has not happened. They opened the doors 45 minutes pre-show and welcomed everyone with a reservation. The FlowRider and Rock Climbing times are limited…and I do neither. There are no Key times for the NorthStar, iFly or Bumper Cars. There is a perk about priority boarding tenders, but I haven’t been to a port without a pier. I do early walk off on the final day but there is no longer a Key waiting area like before. Now we just line up with everyone else. I haven’t taken advantage of the sit down breakfast and Choice Departure. As a pre-shutdown Key regular…so far there hasn’t been much to recommend about the current Key. Hopefully that changes as capacity increases, but for now as @Mattsaid…it’s not worth it…especially for anyone not traveling solo.

"We're really (insert expletive) then"

I've noticed someone on my current cruise wearing a rubber wristband even though we were issued the satin ones. I'm guessing it's from a previous cruise. I'm thinking that's a good idea. I have lots of assorted-color rubber bands from my previous cruises. I'll bring them all with me on my next cruise in case they issue satin again. Hopefully I'll have a rubber one of the same color.

Great! Hope you get the check in time you want! Remember…even if you don’t, keeping checking back as earlier times open as the process proceeds.

The problem with sharing a table is if someone from the other party contracts the virus. Then everyone at the table will be considered a close contact and have to quarantine. Better to stay with your own party. I believe that also goes for sitting at a gaming table with someone who may become positive during the cruise. Everyone at the table for an extended period becomes close contacts.

Quoting myself to add an update….on the Anthem; I was under the impression that they were adding another smoking area on deck 5 forward to accommodate casino smokers…but it looks like they are referring to the existing smoking section on deck 5 starboard side aft. Mea culpa…

I agree that the protocols work. Along with the fact that the vast majority of vaccinated guests who get the virus seem primarily asymptomatic and discovered during contact tracing. The medical facilities are not stressed and the following cruises still sail. The major distinction (on land and onboard) is between the number of positives vs the number of people requiring medical intervention. In my opinion, that distinction seems to be purposely obscured so as to increase the perception of danger in the effort to get more people vaccinated. I still think cruising is safe and will continue to sail...with whatever healthy sail protocols are in place now or in the future. It's my choice.

On the Anthem they opened a new smoking area outside on deck 5. Two decks up from the casino. Inconvenient yes, but closer than the pool deck on deck 14.

They didn’t ban smoking onboard…just in the casino. The ban on smoking in the casino is due to the new masking rule. People who smoke can not wear a mask while smoking. On the Anthem, they announced a new smoking area outside on deck 5 so smokers don’t have to go all the way to the pool deck. Inconvenient, yes…but so is wearing a mask all the time indoors.

I think every passenger who chooses to cruise during this time of transition, change and uncertainty…must know and expect that there are ‘remote possibilities’ that you may experience your ‘worse cruise ever’. From being infected..or quarantined…or itineraries changed…or mask wearing issues…or shows cancelled. Anything can happen and you should be prepared for it. Even if you never, ever expect it. Or you can choose not to cruise now. Either way…it’s your choice.

On the Anthem…delivered tonight…

Included with tonight’s Cruise Compass…