DJsMrs

The buffet is one of the most disgusting places I've ever been and I cannot fathom going back to self serve yet.   The things that people do - not even realising that they're contaminating food/plates/cutlery and the like is over the top.   

I've seen people take two or three plates and return the ones that they've touched to the stack, multiple pieces of cutlery touched, tongs falling handle-first into food and people continue to use them, then lick their fingers and go on to grab another set of tongs...  doesn't seem like much - but 

And the amount of food people take is obscene sometimes and perhaps a bit more self-control is exercised when food is served to them.   My husband and I once saw a woman sitting at a table with one other person - pretty sure they had 10 different plates of food all heaping up and they literally took one bite of everything and wasted the rest.   It was horrifying.   

And the quality of the handwashing is never really enough to really disinfect hands - we're all guilty of this... pretty sure 99% of people do not actually wash their hands for 20 seconds, like actual rubbing.   Most (including me) are in and out of that hand washing station in 20 seconds.   turbo.

9 minutes ago, Rene Desmarais said:

 

Ok, so My 11yr old will require the following tests

1) prior to the flight   - antigen test at home (day before the flight to Miami)

2) when we land in Miami, we stay at a hotel(overnight) 

3) at embarkation day he gets a PCR test...

No

One test before boarding flight (antigen for all of you will suffice)

One test at embarkation - the cruise line will give him a PCR test

No need for a test when you land.

Unvaxxed kids under 12 may only leave the ship on a RCCL excursion.   

Vaxxed parents/siblings can leave the ship without the unvaxxed kiddo (kids club or stay on board with someone)

When  you go on the excursion they're pretty strict about people wandering off "out" of the excursion... so you may have to bring your child back on board to stay with an adult, and then head back out.

5 hours ago, Pooch said:

Just curious as to why you think everyone at the airport would have a negative test and be vaccinated?  I’ve been flying every couple months since late last year and have never been asked for test results or my vaccination card.  Flying requires wearing a mask and is not restricted in any other way that I’ve seen.

To fly even domestically in Canada you have to be vaccinated.   

Does anyone know how it works getting kids (under 12) tested at port?    Do they schedule you based on arrival time?   Do we need to book something?

When I did my check in it didn’t ask for vaccine info - is this the norm?   Or do we do it closer to sail date?

Check in for our Dec 12 departure just opened today.  45 days out

I've cruised multiple times with littles - my eldest (now 13) was 9 months old on his first cruise.   To be honest, we never used any transportation on any of the islands because of the car seat issue.  St. Maarten is a dream - you can take the water taxi over to Great Bay Beach for 7 bucks round trip and bring the stroller and spend the day on the beach with food and drink service.  You're also right off the main strip in St. Maarten if you want to wander and do a bit of shopping (I'm not sure what shape everything is in after covid if stores are even still there?).  Don't take the first guy that offers you a chair - stand back and take it in and pick a spot you're happy with.   They have umbrellas too, so it does lend itself to a nap with a little one during the day.   

St. Thomas - I don't have anything to offer as we never went to a beach with the kids there until they were older.   Typically when they were little we would wander around town and shop and eat.

Keep in mind, that currently on RCCL kids who aren't vaccinated aren't allowed off the ship unless you're booked with a RCCL excursion.  This has been a small hiccup for us as we are about to sail with our 11 year old.   It could all change by February - but I mention it in the event that it doesn't so you can keep it in the back of your mind.

Have a great time!   We really loved cruising with our kids when they were little.  

Agreed - apparently the kids' dose is 1/3 of adult dose... and they can't pull it from current adult vials as there is concern about whether the vaccine would have all the correct bits in it that you need (think of shaking up your OJ before you drink it).   So the kids' doses need to be manufactured and distributed.   They're going to need about 8-10 weeks before we see kids being fully vaxxed after its approval.

This is so helpful.   Thank you!!!!!

12 hours ago, woodman1 said:

How early were you able to book the shows on board? We set sail on March 5  and have yet to be able book anything.  Now  booking shows are new to me so maybe it's closer to sail time I'm not sure.  I've cruise before but never bothered to book shows. Going with my sil & bil which have never cruised and want them to get the most out of the cruise. 

 

 Thank you

woodman

If you’re looking to book on-board shows I think they  open up much closer to your sail date.    We’re about 50 days out and shows haven’t opened up yet in our planner.   Hang tough - they’ll show up though.   I remember previous cruises I think it was about a month’ish before they showed up in the planner

3 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

They’re also cancelling or changing Cozumel sailings

They are?   We just got re-routed from Labadee/Falmouth to Cozumel and Costa Maya.   

Why would the route out of Cozumel?

I'd be happy to hit St. Maartin or St. Thomas personally....

3 hours ago, UNCFanatik said:

On a related note of child documentation. My step daughter is 13 and naturally has different last name than her mother does now. My sailing in Nov stops at St Thomas, ST Martin and Cococay. Is it necessary for us to carry a signed consent to travel form from her Father that has been notarized

Does anyone have any experience with this and if that would be an issue at the ports listed above?

 

Hi - a friend of mine has had this exact query whenever she travels with her kids and 95% of the time she is not asked for documentation.   But she has been asked.  It just takes one agent/TSA officer to have a bad day and decide to go by the letter of the law to ruin your trip.   I would say get it, bring it, and if you never have to use it - great.   But if you do need it I guarantee it'll be the best $50 you ever spent to get a letter notarized.  You would only need it at boarding.

4 hours ago, Rene Desmarais said:

listened to CBC news this morning, vaccinating kids won't happen till the new Year.   Well that's the plan they said.   We'll see

Hopefully it's an "under-promise and over-deliver" situation.   It would be nice to get them going before they go back to school in January.  Nonetheless - it's huge progress.

4 hours ago, Rene Desmarais said:

81 days for me, now if we can squeeze my 11yrs to get his vaccinations before the cruise that would be awesome

Omgosh.   It’ll be close for you - but completely doable!  
 

I’ve got my fingers crossed to get my 11 year old one shot before we go - but it’ll be limited shore time for him this cruise.  #FirstWorldProblem

Literally the best news I've had in 20 months!!!

53 days !!!

I’m guessing you live in America.    Yes - rules are different elsewhere around vaccines that were never used in the states.   

OMG - this is fantastic news!!!   Thanks @smokeybandit    I imagine RCCL will be soon

We did the Turtle Bay in 2019 and loved it.   No bus ride - we walked off the ship and onto the boat that took us to a couple of different snorkeling locations.   The snorkeling was OK - saw some life for sure (turtles and rays), and the guides were really great.   I'm always hesitant about too much booze when on a boat and headings snorkeling as I fear , but they did offer drinks after we were done swimming (maybe before... but I can't remember).    But we had a great day... and to top if off the sun was setting as we were heading back to the ship and it was spectacular.   Then after the sailboat docked it was a 2 minute walk back to the ship.

Heads up - make sure you have something warm to wear for after snorkeling and returning the boat to the marina - it can get chilly and a wet towel doesn't really cut it.. my littles (11 and 9 at the time) were chilly and wished they had a hoodie or sweatshirt.

So the CDC now recognizes those who have had mixed vaccines as fully vaccinated for the new travel requirements beginning in November. I wonder how long it will take royal Caribbean to modify its vaccine policy to match the CDC recommendation!   This is such good news for us!  There are a fair number of us up here who got Astra Zeneca & Moderna (or Pfizer)!!   So happy today

Quote from CDC site:

Interpretation of vaccine records: CDC has not recommended the use of heterologous (i.e., mix-and-match) primary series. However, the use of such strategies (including mixing of mRNA, adenoviral, and mRNA plus adenoviral products) is increasingly common in many countries outside of the United States. Therefore, for the purposes of interpretation of vaccination records, individuals can be considered fully vaccinated ≥2 weeks after receipt of the last dose if they have received any single dose of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO EUL approved single-dose series (i.e., Janssen), or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series.  The recommended interval between the first and second doses of FDA-approved/authorized and WHO-EUL listed vaccines varies by vaccine type. However, for purposes of interpretation of vaccine records, the second dose in a two dose heterologous series must have been received no earlier than 17 days (21 days with a 4 day grace period) after the first dose.

Check to see if your credit card has been charged - that's how we've found out about our royal ups in the past... even before an email from RCCL

I always put one person on the purchase and it then applies to everyone in my stateroom (my family).

If you want a stellar hotel experience (miles and miles better than the Pan or Waterfront) try the Fairmont Pacific Rim.   It’s a block away from the pier and is head and shoulders better than any other Fairmont property in town. 
 

The Pan is nice but dated and in need of an upgrade - and same with the waterfront.   Pacific Rim is relatively new and the facilities and rooms are spectacular.    

Hey fellow cruisers.   Our ports of call for our cruise in December have just been changed and we are now skipping Labadee and Falmouth and stopping in Cozumel and Costa Maya.   

I was looking forward to Labadee for a true "beach-do-nothing-day" and especially because my youngest was able to disembark as he's unvaccinated, so Labadee was easy.

Now, in order to have a beach day we will have to use an RCCL excursion (so my unvaxed sone can come) - which doesn't thrill me.  I resent having to pay to go to the beach when we could get there on our own, but I completely understand having to protect the bubble.

With that in mind - does anyone know of any good beach/beach club excursions offered by  RCCL in either Cozumel or Costa Maya?   We don't have anything listed in our cruise planner yet...  beach club would be ideal... pool and ocean would be the penultimate

Thanks in advance.

We are scheduled to be in Labadee December 16 and haven't heard otherwise and our tickets are still showing as valid for the Dragon Tail.  Luckily in this age of Covid we're learning to be super flexible when it comes to travel - ugh.