nhilding10

Specific to this latest update, and the Cruise Director hints, on the test sailings for Allure and Symphony, just now at 10:22 am Marc "Bing Bong" Walker has announced on Facebook that there will be a "Bing Bong update soon".

Forgive a dumb question here, but if the law goes into effect July 1st, and their first sailing is June 26th, are they off the hook for this first sailing? I know that doesn't touch any of the issues for the 2nd sailing on, and you're right back at square one, but does this really apply to the 2nd sailing? And then, I agree, probably some negotiating going on behind closed doors, but at least they could get one in, if they had to split hairs?

Are you guys seeing any banners or anything on the website that even reference a sale yet? Mine is not, it makes no mention of a sale or anything yet, perhaps it's just not posted yet? Everything is identical to what it's been the last week, so it makes me wonder if it's just not live yet. Hopefully that's the case!

Yes! My wife made me one just like this but with bright neon. It's always a great conversation piece at the bars and makes for a fun day!

I just went through the renewal process myself. I live in Maine, and mailed my application and everything out on 4/5. I received my new passport back on 5/10 or 5/11, I think it was, so just over a month. I didn't hear from anyone, didn't see anything, but until about 4 days before I received my passport in the mail, the check I sent had finally cleared. So if you factor in a month, you should be relatively good to go, right now. Who knows what summer peak changes?

We know someone working on the Odyssey and they had posted that they were coming to the US. I wonder if they're making stops along the way?

All good points...but I guess what I'm wondering is could this be interpreted into mandating vaccinations for passengers, and then "full steam ahead" so to speak? I see now the difference where they mentioned public transportation, but if you can be inside at a restaurant, seems you can be inside at a restaurant on a ship, right? But the caveat of public transportation...I get it. Just seems like it's a way to put their (Royal's) foot in the door and say 100% vaccinated passengers only until this is all lifted and away we go... Then it would render everything else, moot, in the short term, right?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cdc-lifts-indoor-mask-guidance-for-vaccinated-people-you-can-shed-your-mask-184707179.html I just read this article that states today the CDC is saying anyone fully vaccinated can go back to regular activities, no distancing, no mask. I believe I'm reading that correctly. So with this about face today, what are the arguments of yesterday's hearing? Are they now moot in the sense that Royal can say "that's it, vaccines are mandated, let's sail!" ??? I'm very curious to see how this plays out, since it's from the CDC themselves. It obviously leaves Royal in the very disadvantageous position of having to go down the path of mandating vaccines, and I think we can all agree none of us WANT them to have to do that, but ... is this good news or not? Does anything change, or not?

@Jill and @Lovetocruise2002 I share your sentiment, buying something in the CP right now, seems like a good way to price lock, if you're able to. Assuming that when things return to normal the supply and demand factors kick in, it seems quite likely to see exponential increases in prices of everything across the board, so it is a good short-term investment now, simply to get the lowest price you think you'll be able to. From a cash flow perspective, of course it hurts, but play the long-game ?

THIS! I'm normally a very laid-back, relaxed person anyway, and not too much gets to me. I can go with the flow pretty easily in almost any situation. But when I walk up to the bar, or the buffet in the WJ, or any other sort of line/waiting situation, it's not hard to "read the room" and see who's there, see where the line forms, and see who's probably been waiting a few minutes before you. But I'm always astounded at the amount of people who just walk right up and couldn't care less or don't bother to check around, and expect simply because they are there, it's their turn and no one else matters. That really frustrates me and usually shows me the people I avoid trying to start a conversation with or getting to know, and very quickly points out the nice people I will try to talk to while waiting for other said "problem children". ?

That was my thought exactly. It seems to me, and this is completely my opinion and backed by no real fact, but it seems to me that the only thing that will get this moving is after the summer sailings originating elsewhere, the US realizes how much revenue they missed out on and nothing happened on these sailings...THEN they'll drag their feet a little less slowly and want to fill their own coffers again. So frustrating.

I respectfully disagree, given the circumstances. I think responding to how to best restart an industry after a worldwide pandemic is slightly different than protecting someone from a common cold that can easily be treated and stopped. The decisions doesn't necessarily have to be 100% one way or 100% the other. The decisions based on the two scenarios are so completely different, they have to be viewed and treated as such. I think such leeway isn't too much to ask.

I absolutely understand your position for not wanting the vaccine and respect it. I have family on both sides of the issue and have an appreciation for each decision. However, you can't necessarily discount the age of the vaccine as a reason for not getting it. If everyone said in 2006, 2007 that the shingles vaccine was only a year old, and who knows what it would do, and then they refused to get it, and no one ever received it, how could you get the data 10 years later to know that it turned out safe and then you'd decide to receive it? Somewhere along the line enough people have to accept it to provide that data, right? It's kind of the chicken or the egg, and we all have the right to choose which one we are, and we'll see how it works out! And with that, as a business, Royal has that same right to determine that what they find the safest alternative, for the greatest good, is best for their business, then so be it. So we can all make the choice now, but we all have to respect the others' decisions, whatever they may be. Unfortunately, if your choice not to doesn't align with Royal's decision to require it, that's just the consequence of it. Either way, best of health and luck to you and all of us!

We all believe, admittedly with some of our own bias, just how biased the CDC is against the cruise industry, and just how bad these double-standards are, and how unfair they are, but I know nothing about the legal implications and the landscape this will play out on. Without knowing the proper context of the lawsuit and what it goes after; I still can't but help thinking, how in the heck could the CDC win this one? How could anyone with any sense of reasonable judgment look at that compared to other industries and what they HAVE allowed, and not rule in the cruise lines' favor? I say that with full knowledge of how ridiculous the CDC is, but I'd love to see how they argue this in a court and spin it.

Do you suspect now that Florida has done this, and given if this has any real strength to it, that those other states will feel inclined to join and up the pressure? I know it's pure speculation as I ask...

We all know why 6 was afraid of 7; because 7, 8 (ate), 9...but do we know WHY 7 ate 9? Because they needed 3 "squared" meals a day! ?

We also love the Bionic Bar. The kids get a kick out of coming along (great parenting! ?) and ordering their non-alcoholic versions right along with us. I find myself in the same situation every cruise though, I always order a Bahama Mama. I never drink them all year, but once on the ship, it's all I get. Weird ritual? Who knows. I would like to branch out too, but the Bionic Bar is always a fun way to grab a drink and have some fun.

This will be fun to look back on and see who "got it", strictly for fun! Best guess says we still need all of the proper clearances, test cruises, adjustment period, final go-ahead....let's say Sunday, August 22nd. I mean, why not? ?

I understand my place in the minority for this opinion, but I absolutely love the new style of the name for Odyssey. I think it's just unique enough, just different enough, but still has the look and feel of the RC font and style, that I just really like it. The more I see it, the more I like it, and I'm 110% all for it!

Happy to help! Like I said, it's not as "quick and easy" as PWM, so I understand that point, but the C&J is $24 per person, round trip from Portsmouth to Logan, runs basically 24/7 and has very convenient timing, and has free parking. Works out way cheaper than driving all the way to Logan and paying for the parking their alone, and you get the savings of the flights. Definitely worth a look, if you don't mind the added time and distance of Logan over PWM from home.

Teddy, we have this same problem (we're in Buxton). We found that going to Portsmouth and taking the C&J to Logan is actually way cheaper than normal for getting there, parking, etc. and still allows us to save considerably on the flights. I totally understand this doesn't include the cost of time, having to drive away from home, and the hassle of not being right in Portland after the flight, but it's worth looking at.

This is basically my exact same routine! ?

I think I'm overly obsessed with watching these documentaries and seeking out ANYTHING on YouTube for people's vlogs! I really enjoy watching them, learning the ins and outs of how others approach cruising and thinking of how we could make our experiences that much better for it. I think I enjoy these much more than TV show haha! I've even had the cool luck to spot ourselves in the background of one vloggers trip aboard Harmony! Needless to say I rewatch that one a bit more ?. Do you guys have any regulars, go-to's, that you look for, for vlogs on YouTube that may not be as known?

I have a conflicted opinion. I'm very partial to Anthem simply because it was the first Royal ship we sailed on and I had such a great time that it just will always stand out as "the first". Our second was on Harmony, and to reiterate everyone else's thoughts of the WOW factor and the amenities, the shows, the Oasis class...the Harmony is simply amazing, but that's where my conflict comes in. I'm so deathly afraid of heights that the openings in the middle to look down into the neighborhoods, and the sheer size of Harmony in port, makes going near the railings and doing some of the things on the ship near impossible for me, so I feel like I miss out too...I mean even typing about them now my palms are a little sweaty ? We are supposed to go back on Harmony in January 2022 (a glutton for punishment I suppose!) and my goal is to conquer that fear, or at the very least leverage the beverage package into allowing me to try everything this time!

I sometimes have cruise-related dreams and thought maybe I was the only one! I have these recurring ones where I'm on a cruise, and it's the last day and as I'm packing, I try to remember back each day of activities, what I did, where we were, etc. only I can't remember all of the days, and I realize I missed them somehow, they never happened, and that I didn't get the full cruise, yet they're making me pack and leave. I end up packing still folded clothes, clean clothes, and stuff I never used. I panic because now it will be another year before I can go again and I missed everything. It's very nerve-wracking!