JC Pats

12 minutes ago, Marlena said:

The UDP has gone from my cruise planner for our Symphony sailing. 

Can it possibly be sold out? Or does it reappear? I'm confused, and sad.

Could be either or both. I would presume sold out for now, but also could be a IT glitch.. I would keep checking back. 

11 minutes ago, starbrat said:

right now it still says Labadee which i’m guessing will change but if it doesn’t I am trying to be prepared 

Labadee is also a Royal Caribbean Private Destination - The same rules in effect at Coco Cay apply for Labadee. (don't need to purchase an excursion to depart the ship)

13 minutes ago, LonB said:

I'm currently Emerald -- I will hit 78 points on my next cruise (mid-Sept).   I'm taking another in December (Solo, so 4 points a night). I will hit Diamond after the first night of the December cruise (technically). Will it kick in on the December cruise or do I need to wait until whatever is my NEXT cruise to be 'fully Diamond'?    Does anyone know?   Thanks, I appreciate it. 

New C&A level benefits kicks in on the cruise AFTER you change status, except for Pinnacle. So for you, Your Diamond benefits will take effect on whatever cruise you have after your December cruise.

Played more blackjack? Seriously tho.. 

If I knew then, what I know now, I would have definitely linked reservations with friends and planned dinners out better.

49 minutes ago, PG Cruiser said:

My next three cruises are for Freedom (October 18),  Odyssey (November 15), and Oasis (November 21).  I have been able to check in for all three cruises but I can only see the SetSail Pass for Freedom and Oasis.  Other than a glitch, what could be the reason why the one for Odyssey is not available yet?

Sounds like your OD cruise had/has limited check in times (usually starting at 3pm) and those slots have filled up. Until you get a check in time, you won’t be able to get a setsail pass. I don’t know why they’re doing this, but it’s what’s happening. My advice is to keep checking back for additional check in times. That worked for the Harmony Group Cruise tge sane week as your Oasis cruise (it started with only 3pm open, then 2 days later, they added times starting every 30 minutes at 1pm.) I’ve also heard they may/will open up the 12pm and 1230pm times around the 45 day mark. As with all things now a days.. YMMV. Hope this helps!
 

Well.. that’s one crisis averted.. what will today bring us.. 

15 minutes ago, Jonathan kantor said:

I agree. We always cruise b2b but no more if this is the protocol. How will they provide for our safety  and comfort? This latest protocol sounds like a knee jerk decision. I thought we would either get direction from guest services or attend the b2b meeting as usual and then get tested onboard, and escort us through the terminal and back on board. How do they expect us to wait in the heat for several hours with our baggage? 

I would suspect you'd wait in the terminal - I can recall pre-covid that there were times we were escorted off the ship, through customs and into a special seating area in the terminal, where we were the 1st to re-board. Now how long this wait would potentially be now, is a good question.

My question is, aren't they testing onboard already? Why wouldn't this suffice for testing requirements? 

1 hour ago, MikeK said:

 I signed up for this cruise months ago.  Didn't know it was a group cruise.  

It was just announced as a group cruise last week!

10 hours ago, Matt said:

Group Cruise Time!!

3 hours ago, 0_0 said:

I'm looking at my options for exploring Nassau since I'm coming in the morning of the cruise. I love exploring new ships, but I'd hate to waste a whole day in Nassau if it's available.

Hopefully someone who was on this or the next AOS sailing can answer.

My questions:

- Can you disembark after checking-in and entering the ship in Nassau on embarkation day to explore the island?
     If Yes,
     - What time do you need to be back on board?

     Regardless,
     - Luggage is, dropped off/taken to the ship, at check-in (British Colonial hotel)?
     - Are you required to immediately board after check-in?

Currently on the 6-12 sailing - no you cannot disembark after you board. And yes, once you complete the check in process, you’re required to go to the ship. 

If you’re flying in the morning of, you should be able to drop your bags with Royal at the airport.

What I would do in this scenario, is select a later check in time, you can drop your bags at the airport, then explore, then you can check in at your designated time.

The only downside is if you have specialty dining. The times were quickly filled as they’re limiting capacity in the restaurants, so if you have the UDP or 3 night DP, get on board early to make those reservations.

2 hours ago, 0_0 said:

More questions that might come up:

- With how bags are being handled in a non-traditional way, how would someone carry on wine?
- Can we still bring 2 bottles onboard?
- Do we have to handle anything at Bahamas customs by bringing 2 bottles of wine in checked baggage?

I carried on 2 bottles of champagne- no issues from anyone. You will have your carry on X-rayed as you board the ship. 
I was asked nothing by customs, but a friend said she was asked if she had alcohol.. so ymmv

1 hour ago, steverk said:

We've docked in st. Maarten.  It's hard to believe we are at the end of the cruise. 

We fly out this afternoon. Unless something happens, this will be my final post on this topic.

It's been a great cruise and celebrity has worked especially hard to make it a success. I want to thank them for all of the hard work and bold step to be the first ones back.

Thank you! Have a safe trip home! 

11 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

Do you think they'll close the bars, etc. for a ; like about 15  min. before and after the actual time to start the muster drill? ie drill was to start at 4, so from 3:45 to 4:15 they wouldn't serve?, but you could still sit there if you had been to check in at the muster station.

I don’t.. we’ll know for sure Saturday but my understanding is that you can check in at any point in the designated time frame and they’ll scan your card, put a sticker on it and you’re done.. I’ve heard.. the timeframe is a couple of hours but might be longer due to the extended boarding process. If that’s the case, I don’t see why the bars would close.

17 minutes ago, Plumlee2028 said:

At this point, I think thats how they are verifying everyone arrived at the Muster Station.  Visiting the station is part of the requirement I believe.  The smart ships (Quantum class etc) may have an ability to do that electronically.  Im not sure about that.  But this definitely beats going in a big group.  Watch the videos, get started on the drink package, head over to the muster station real fast, and done.  

Yes, we have to know where our muster station is by actually going there. If that’s the biggest inconvenience of muster drill.. I can live with it, especially since I can keep my drink

1 hour ago, BarbieBell said:

Just singing RCI blues today!  I hate even checking my email these days as it usually has some kind of run around about my upcoming cruises. We are the unfortunate ones that got the crappy itinerary change for June 19 and God only knows what they will do on our B2B June 26. The thing I don’t understand is their statement blaming this on the CDC, hello we are not sailing from a US port so where does their input come in here?  Just saying, after all of this last year this seems to just be an extension of the aggravation they are willing to heap on the heads of their customers.  

Per the CDC.. Two ships can’t be at a private island at the same time. Freedom of the Seas will be there on one of the original days for her test cruise. That’s why the change was made. At least you didn’t lose a coco cay day, it was just moved. 

2 hours ago, Matt said:

Yours is better than the June 19 itinerary change, if I had a choice

 

I presume for the Freedom Test cruise??

7 minutes ago, Matt said:

Regarding the scaling back of FC, I thought food and drink has returned? 

In general, it’s slowly being rolled back out on major carriers. Not where it was pre-covid, but better than what it was during 2020 - early 2021. YMMV depending on each airline. 

Anthem, Harmony and Jewel are currently in Europe, and all 3 have a winter season in the US/Caribbean. I am positive all 3 had transatlantic sailings previously scheduled, and if my memory is right, I think Anthem (Southampton/Bayonne) was in Mid-End October, Jewel (Barcelona or Civitavecchia (Rome) to Miami) and Harmony (Barcelona to Port Canaveral) was at the end of October to Mid November. 

10 minutes ago, MicDay said:

Husband and I are going to Alaska this August 27,2021   (thanks to Kelley our TM from MEI and her group rate!)

We are flying from Greensboro NC to Seattle Aug 25th and flying back home Sept 4th.

It was our 25th Wedding Anniversary this past May.

When my husband I were just married (three months) we got bumped to First Class from Tampa Fl to Charlotte NC.

My husband told me we would only fly first class, we have never flown first class since.

I'd like to surprise my husband since the Alaska trip is all for me, he just enjoys making me happy (I'm very lucky).

So is it worth the money to fly first class, our longest leg is 5.24 hours (ATL to SEA)

The difference in price is an additional $1200-$1400 total

One of my main concerns is the "extra" amenities are not being offered due to COVID 

Is this a YOLO movement

Thoughts?

This is my travel splurge, I'll stay in Inside Cabins, but fly 1st class all day long. 

First Class has a lot of benefits that are still in effect, such as additional bags without charge, priority lines for security, priority boarding, saying nothing of a lot of extra room and if you get a pre-departure beverage and meal - that's just an extra bonus. Additionally, if there's an issue, you get taken care of first (pun intended). Here's the link from Delta on their Domestic 1st class benefits. First Class | Delta Air Lines 

As for the cost, to quote @Matt YOLO Book It!!

7 minutes ago, LovetoCruise87 said:

We will be on Allure Aug 22. 50% would be great!! Not sure if they would go that low on an Oasis class ship

I recall RC saying at some point during the Pandemic that the break even point was lower on the newer ships - so financially, I would think it’s certainly possible. 

I remember the 50th Anniversary cruise (2019 Presidents cruise) was very Bold centric (50 Years Bold) so I would presume they were heading that direction when the shutdown happened. 

9 minutes ago, LovetoCruise87 said:

I'm not sure if anyone knows the answer to this question. Has RC stated anything concerning if the ships will be 50% capacity, 75% or 100%?. Not including the test cruises. 

I do not believe they have officially, but they’ve definitely hinted to a 50% max on Adventure. 

1 hour ago, 12thman said:

No it was Rory...just accepted the challenge. Matt is worth every penny. He knows why I do it.

Yes and Yes.

1 hour ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I think it started with Josh and @12thman upped the ante, lol.