BrianB

I’m thinking it would be revealing if the infection numbers on all ships are similar. We know from what we’ve seen so far that there are few cruises with zero cases aboard. I’m hoping the numbers are especially similar on ships with entirely different protocols regarding masks. That should indicate whether masking is necessary or not. Also, if ships with 100% vaccinated start seeing similar breakthrough numbers on board, it would indicate that the cruise lines are successfully managing the disease as well as possible…and bolster the claim that cruising is safer than Main Street. But, we really don’t have a comparison. There is no mandated testing in all public settings. Imagine if everyone was tested as often as those boarding or working on a cruise ship. IMO those numbers would be significant.

I also thank you for being a ‘test case’ for us. Your on scene contemporaneous reporting is giving me lots of insight and boosting my confidence that cruising is back to stay! You are right! Expert opinions, facts, science and data are unfortunately being manipulated and muddied by political and personal agendas. The so-called fair and balanced media are the worst offenders! Trust in what are supposed to be apolitical organizations is eroded….it’s a shame.

I checked in to my Sept and Oct cruises on the Oasis before they did the test cruise. Also, I’m checked in to two of my Nov cruises on the Anthem and she’s still in the UK. I don’t know if it is different for each ship…but test cruise completion doesn’t seem to matter. Good luck!

If you are a frequent traveler you should consider an annual plan. Either way, make sure your plan covers Covid related illness and medical transportation…ie, Epidemic Coverage Endorsement. An Embassy letter showing you are covered for Covid is good to have. With Royal’s Cruise with Confidence program…trip cancellation for any reason (48hrs prior) is covered with a future cruise credit. Provided your booking takes place before Aug 31 and your sailing is before Apr 30. The FCC has an expiration date so it’s important to know if you have other cruises planned or not. Royal has been pretty good so far with Covid related issues onboard as far as partial reimbursement and transport. So the big expense potential is if something happens while off the ship…or if you are transported to a medical facility while in another country. Medical care and potential air transport home (especially if it’s a medical flight) can be very expensive.

I’ve had this happen to me. As soon as check in opens, or close to it, I check in and the only time offered is 3-3:30pm. I’m thinking this is a default time…because I kept checking two, three, sixteen times a day and eventually, days later, the list of available times appeared. I was able to choose 1pm. Keep checking!

Don’t just rely on the app! My Nov 14 cruise opened up for check in at the 90 day out point…but only on the website. That was this past Monday. Even today, the app on my phone still shows check in unavailable… ‘we’re working on the fun’. I tried refreshing the app many times, even rebooting my phone, so unless there’s something wrong on my end…the app apparently isn’t working for this cruise. My other cruises before Nov 14 worked fine on the app.

At least now we know why they greased the top of the smokestacks!?

The plank!?

I heard that also…maybe someone medical could comment…that the rapid antigen test administered after an infection would probably be negative well before a PCR test (able to detect much lesser amount of virus) would be negative.

Welcome to the message boards! I am also on that sailing. Unless you opted to pre-pay them…your daily service charges for two will be over $200. The big thing for me is to never inadvertently leave any OBC behind! On a related note; I always check every day to keep track of my spending. Every once in a great while there is a discrepancy and it’s best to never wait until the night before disembarkation because that’s when guest services gets super-busy.

For my Nov 7th cruise on the Anthem, check in became available 90 days out and I checked in right away….but the only arrival time available to choose from was 3-3:30pm. I later discovered that this time appears to be just a default time and some days later, additional times would become available. I checked every day…usually four or ten times a day…and eventually the arrival time choices opened up and I was able to secure a 1pm arrival time. Keep checking! Also, yesterday, when it was 90 days out for my Nov 14th cruise on the Anthem…the app showed check in unavailable ‘We’re working on the fun’ message. But on the Royal website I was able to check in and secure a 12:30pm arrival time. I have been checking the app every day and it still shows check in unavailable.

I have re-priced more than once on several of my cruises. The biggest drop was during the WOW sale. Never had an issue doing this.

I’ve always been a bit of a prude when it comes to keeping my hands clean. I have been through enough Noro cruises to take as many precautions as possible. It annoys me when I see others using the restroom and just walking out without washing their hands…especially guys coming out of stalls! Or those who just make a show of quickly splashing water on their hands and wiping them (sometimes on their clothes). I see this a lot going into the buffet. After trying to bluff their way past the crew member guarding the entrance (Oh! But I just washed my hands a minute ago!…) they give the obligatory splash and wipe. Or let their kiddies do the same. Also, I would definitely not recommend this but a ship’s captain once told me (and I agree) to never touch a bannister or hallway railing. Just be ready to grab on if you stumble. Use your knuckle for elevator buttons, always try to keep your hands away from your face and always use the antibacterial dispensers. Not to mention using hydrogen peroxide cleaning wipes to wipe down my cabin (regular antibacterial wipes do not kill Noro…another reason to wash my hands)…but I digress.?

Not related to the OBC offer…but…when I repriced my cruises, one of them was past final payment so the difference of $422 was given as OBC. On the new confirmation receipt, there is no indication of the OBC but when I went into the Cruise Planner there was a huge banner showing it was available. My only problem was trying not to spend EVERYTHING!!…like a kid in a toy store…?

My friend did the same. Rather than risk getting an extension cord confiscated at check in…or having the ship supply a cord (which is usually extra-heavy duty, like it could power a house…which is safest but unsightly)…he had a new extended length cord attached to his machine. Just like that…no problem!

I have an annual travel policy which covers all travel, including cruises. It’s very important to have a Covid specific rider attached…or Covid is plainly listed as covered. Without paying extra for that rider, then virtually any cost connected with Covid may not be covered. There is cancellation coverage for many reasons should I or my travel partner be unable to sail. Travel partner is described as someone in the same cabin. There is also enhanced coverage for baggage loss or delay, motor vehicle/rental insurance…among others. It covers one of the biggest expenses which would be medical repatriation and also medical expenses in other countries. These coverages are usually applicable only after I receive any other benefit…such as a partial refund from a cruise or my personal health coverage. It’s important to note that each coverage has a maximum benefit for the entire year. So, filing just one claim can pretty much max out a covered reason. In that event, I would need to go find another annual policy. But the price is well worth the peace of mind.

Thank you! It’s not something we really need to work at. It’s a gift!?

My Nov 14th cruise on the Anthem is open for check in. I checked in on the website this morning and got an early arrival time. But the app on my phone keeps showing check in unavailable…‘We’re working on the fun’…even right now. I always make sure I sign out when I exit the app so it refreshes each time I sign in. I like checking in on the app and scanning my passport, but I’d rather get checked in as soon as possible and secure an early arrival time.

Good question. It could have even been the second assistant to the assistant hot dog and soft salted pretzel concessionaire operator. They’re pretty high up the chain, in my opinion. I mean, who doesn’t like extra napkins??

I think it would be easier for them to have just the one system where it’s obvious that the passenger is wearing the tracelet at all times, rather than who has their cell phone with them, or who is still wearing a Fitbit… This would seem to be a simple task for something that may not be a long term requirement. Easier than creating new programs for several devices. Plus, they have to satisfy the CDC…..just sayin’…

When I checked in to my Anthem Nov 7 cruise last week…the only time available was 3pm (and I checked in pretty close to the time it opened)…I kept checking for days and then yesterday the time choices opened up and I got 1pm. I think the initial 3pm slot is just a default time. Keep checking!

I checked in to my Nov 14 cruise on the Anthem this morning (90 days)…I got a 1pm arrival time. I checked in using the RC website. The app on my phone still indicates check in unavailable (We’re working on the fun)…even after logging out and refreshing.

The more comments I read about vaccination cards not having any signatures, including mine…the more it seems likely that there is something other than missing signatures to this story. Is it possible that the reference to ‘the first signature’ was actually the proof of the first shot? If there was no indication that the first shot was administered, then they would be considered unvaccinated. That would seem to make sense…just wondering…

No. I have not had any OBC balance on my cancelled cruises so I can’t comment on how it was handled. But it sounds like you’re having a hard time dealing with them about it. Don’t give up! My cancelled cruises had Cruise Planner purchases (usually The Key and the Dining Package) and in the beginning, they were 100% refunded to my credit card…sometimes it took quite a while to show up but eventually they did. Then, when they offered 125% credit for Cruise Planner purchases, I opted in and they issued me a Cruise Planner Credit which looked just like an FCC form. I think when I had any OBC on my cruises, I used it to make my Cruise Planner purchases and had a zero balance OBC when the cruise was cancelled. Is it possible that remaining OBC was refunded at 100% and OBC used to purchase Cruise Planner items was refunded at 125%?

When I checked in to my Anthem sailing on Nov 7 last week…the only time available was 3pm, so I took it. I kept checking every day and today the time choices opened up. I got 1pm. Keep checking!