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19 hours ago, MuttMutt said:

Another was a guy who instantly said one thing in my mind.  Roid Rage.  Big beefy burly muscled guy who couldn't reach a post it note in the middle of his back, the type you would see in the gym every single day for hours at a time.  What made it worse is this guy had on a shirt proudly stating he had the unlimited get drunk pass package.  The first thing that popped into my mind is this guy is going to get drunk and end up in a fight.  It just made me cringe to even be around them.

 

I'm really at a loss at here.  Did this guy actually get drunk and behave obnoxiously?  Did he actually start a fight?  If he did either of those things it's not okay but I'm sure it's more about him as a person and nothing to do with his appearance.  This type of behaviour has been observed amongst all sorts.  If he did neither of these things you instantly thought of I'd suggest you are the problem.

I am the type of person that spends a lot of time in the gym to be healthy, compete in powerlifting, and to be in shape for my physically demanding career.  Truth be told I could not reach a post it note in the middle of back.  But I don't use steroids, I don't drink very much, and I don't fight people.  I'm a loving father, husband, and a fan of cruising.  While I'm way more interested in enjoying time with my family than what others think about me I find it "cringe-worthy" that there are people in the background being so judgemental about things that instantly pop into their minds. 

Your post has some validity about behavioural issues but you have seriously missed the mark by judging people based on their appearance or attributing an individuals poor behaviour to having a direct correlation to how they happen to look. 

One thing we can agree on is elevators that stop at every floor.  Take care!    

I have only sailed Royal and don't really see a need to change at this point.  With that said I have an interest in some other line's ships and I'd be curious about how they do things.  Not entirely sure I could handle "wasting" the time and money if it didn't compare to what I know I'll get with Royal.  Curious how many people are loyal to one brand  compared to who just is content to cruise and will mix up lines.  

I was just on Odyssey and never saw a scale near North Star.  I'm a muscular 240 at 5'10" and as such don't meet the requirements for I Fly which are under 230 if under 6 feet OR under 250 if 6 feet+.  I asked if they would just turn up the van speed which I knew is possible.  What I will say is that one instructor may have agreed to right until their supervisor/team lead came in.  He provided me his card and told me to call and ask for him.......he'd let me know when the coast was clear.  Also saw a very tall man weight over 250 go as well.  

Bonaire, Grand Cayman, and Labadee.  Also would really like to hit one that went to Cartagena, Puerto Limo, and Colon.  

I recall seeing a place to check the weather and forecast for Perfect Day but can't find it.  Anyone have a link?

I'll respond to my own post for info purposes.  We got off Odyssey Jan 23 in Ft Lauderdale.  There was zero signage on where to go but the pier staff pointed us in the right direction.  The company was still Bio-reference who we have seen multiple times.  The process was quick and the results came in about an hour.  This was still free for the time being but like @Vancity Cruiser said I think when it comes time to pay for this service I'll just do it at the airport.  If there are any issues with the test or emailing results I'd rather have someone to go talk to you as oppose to being at the airport with the testing location being else where.  

On 1/23/2022 at 4:06 PM, cruisellama said:

Samba is one I have not tried, but plan to in March.   Any favorite dishes that are "must try"?

Samba Grill is a Brazilian Steak House concept so there are no dishes so to speak.  If you are not familiar with this concept here's my quick explanation.  The Gaucho (waiter) comes to your table throughout the service with different cuts of meat on a large skewer.  You get a little two sided token on your table that you use to indicate if you would like them to keep coming by or if you are taking a break/eating more slowly.  You can accept or pass on any offering and they just keep the rotation going.  There are usually about 7-8 different options so once around plus an additional favourite is usually good for me.  They also brings some incredibly good sides to your table that pair with with each cut of meat.  The meats a re usually a couple different steak cuts, some bacon wrapped chicken, sausage, pork cut of some sort, etc.  

one time bump on this thread.  surely someone has tested pier side this past week??

Just starting this thread since the post cruise test are moving pier side (and will soon* be at your own expense).  Luckily RC is cover the cost for another month or so.   

Hoping people will post their info/experiences here to shed some light on how this process rolls out.  We sail Jan 15-23 on Odyssey.  

We are Canadians requiring a PCR test to head to the airport and fly home.  This has been described as a test go but specifically I'd love any info on how long results take.

Is it still Bio-reference?  A different company?  Anyone have any tests completed or info to share that would be helpful.   

1 hour ago, BB1 said:

I'm wondering if the cancelations are due to ports rejecting ships. Why else would they cancel?

My best guess is to cancel these ship's sailings to bolster the amount of crew available to cycle on to existing sailings that need crew replenishment........

.........or maybe that's too many moving parts, i'm not sure.  Just a theory

1 hour ago, Dal said:

It says this will be effective on January 5th sailings. We embark on January 3rd and disembark on the 7th. Will we still able to get the complimentary PCR for re-entry in Canada if we book it before January 5th?? 

You're good to go I believe.  The change comes for cruises that begin after Jan 05.  

We watched it a few times on our Nov 22 sailing.  So far Aqua 80 on Oasis has been my favourite.    

Do some ships have two different Aqua Theatre shows?  I don't mean multiple performances I mean two distinct productions.

My son and I wear pants (khakis, slacks) and a collared shirt usually untucked (including short sleeve, flowery /tropical shirts or basically anything with a collar) on regular nights.  On "formal" or "dress your best" we wear anything from suits to dress pants with long sleeve dress shirts right up to three piece suits and ties.  Not once I have ever really cared what anyone thought about what we were wearing....that's the great thing about cruising.  I have to agree that I don't really care what others wear but with the said it just strikes a chord when you see somebody in shorts and tank top in such a classy looking venue.    

I was listening to the Always Be Booked Podcast where it was stated by the host there is a rumour that Labadee has been completely over run by the local population taking refugee.  I have not done any real checking to verify but thought I 'd throw it out there if anyone has reliable information on that claim.  Most importantly I really don't want to start any conversation about that being right, wrong, or otherwise if it is true and not get involved in socioeconomic politics.  I'm not trying to compare vacation destinations vs human suffering.  I just think there is big difference objectively speaking in how soon Labadee returns depending on if they are avoiding the area due to instability or if they need to do a clean up, rebuild, etc to any intentional or unintentional damage as well.  

We Enjoyed Samba, Chops, Izumi, 150, and Sabor in that order on our Nov 14th Sailing on Allure.  Not saying they would always be ranked that way but perhaps just what we ordered combined with our mood.  

On a side note the Restaurant manager at Samba told us that Samba Grill was going to be expanded to other ships............ I was kind of under the impression that Samba was dying breed.......

We are taking our first holiday away from the kids and want to be able to video call.  Is Surf package enough or would Surf and Stream be more appropriate?  We have iPhones as do my parents.  Does anyone recommend FaceTime over WhatsApp or Messenger.  Any info would be sincerely appreciated!!  Thanks!

We are looking at a summer cruise to Bermuda and there are multiple 5 and 6 night sailings.  Yet on the 6 nighter day 5 is not accounted for as both sailings show arrival on day 3 and then leaving day 4.  If day 5 is an extra sea day then nothing changes but if the 6 nighter is meant to stay 48 hours in Bermuda compared 24 (roughly) well that makes it more attractive.  Any insight?  

We sailed at the end of Aug on Indy from Galveston and are sailing again in Nov on Allure and Dec on Oasis.  It was a bit of a process to book tests and coordinated how many days we had to get in and out of the country.  The biggest problem was coordinating getting our PCR test to get back to Canada.  At every turn everyone at Royal seemed to give a different answer about the availably of PCR test on board.  This literally included right up until the moment we actually got our test on Board!!!!!  We booked an extra night in Houston just in case but clearly we didn't need it!  However to say that it was confusing for the staff to comprehend that both me and my wife and my kids needed the test is an understatement.  They were very pleasant and accommodating but we had to explain it about 5 different times.  If you have sailed with kids recently (or B2B) you'll understand the cards they leave in your room to book tests.  The process on the app makes it impossible to schedule a PCR and they actually run those first thing in the morning so it was redundant to have our son booked for a late morning antigen test.  They even left a message on my SeaPAss card to come to guest services.  Even arriving on deck on day 7 required some explaining.  In the end they left our negative tests letters for us and CBSA barely looked at them.  

Thank you so much Royal for providing the test and at no cost!!!!!!  I simply wish it was more widely understood by the crew but they were fantastic.  Now.......for how long will they offer his service??? 

@Marlena @KWong @Leahanne67

Still pretty tough to tell what will be taking place in the space where the second flow rider usually would be.  

confirmed Canadians can get PCR test on board free of charge out of Galveston.  @Marlena @KWong

24 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Looks like Royal's protocols out of Texas will be the same as those out of FL.

Dear valued Travel Partners, This is memory maxing from the Gulf Coast. Your clients can take thrills to the next level from Galveston, Texas onboard Independence of the Seas® and embark on island hopping journeys. And there are plenty of Texas-style adventures to be had even before they board — from Galveston’s amusement park thrills to spicy seafood sensations.  Before we welcome booked guests back onboard with open arms this August, we would like to share some important details with you. Please ensure you carefully review the enclosed message to assist your booked clients.  The information below applies only to sailings departing from Galveston, Texas on Independence of the Seas this August. We will continue to update these protocols as public health situations evolve. Your booked clients will be provided full details specific to their port of departure prior to sailing.   Pre-Cruise Requirements Vaccination Requirement All guests 12 years and older are required to bring proof of vaccination, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 vaccination record card, with the final dose of the vaccine completed at least 14 days before sailing. Testing At the terminal: Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 11 years are required to take a PCR test for COVID-19 when checking in.  Registration details for this test will be sent via email in advance.  Prior to disembarking: Unvaccinated guests ages 2 to 11 years are required to take an antigen test onboard within 24 hours of the end of voyage. Vaccinated guests who require an antigen or PCR test for entry into their destination country may receive one onboard at no charge. Registration details will be provided during the cruise. Both of these tests are complimentary. No testing is required for guests under age 2 years. Going Ashore At ports of call, fully vaccinated parties have the choice of booking a shore excursion or visiting freely. Parties that wish to go ashore and include any unvaccinated guests, including parents traveling with unvaccinated children, must book a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean that is provided by an independent local tour operator that has agreed to comply with recommended health protocols. Vaccinated parents wishing to go ashore freely can visit our youth facilities once onboard to learn about drop off program hours and availability, and reserve time for their child on the day they wish to go in port. Shore excursions may be purchased in advance on the Cruise Planner website. Once onboard, they can be purchased at the shore excursions desk or by using the Royal Caribbean app. All guests are also subject to restrictions and requirements as defined by local authorities in the ports we visit.      What to Expect Onboard If guests have cruised with us before, they will notice some changes. Royal Caribbean, like all cruise companies sailing from U.S. ports, is guided by CDC regulations which currently govern many aspects of our operations. On the sailing, guests 12 years and older and all our crew will be vaccinated. While we are ready to give all our guests an amazing vacation, we do want to share some details about the experience, so your clients know what to expect.Please note, a guest’s SeaPass card will be required to access lounges, shows, and dining venues, so it’s best to keep it handy at all times during the cruise.  Face Masks and Physical Distancing   When indoors, CDC guidelines require all guests 2 years and older to wear masks unless they are actively eating or drinking. The CDC makes allowances for guests to remove their masks in venues and events dedicated to fully vaccinated parties. Since so many of our guests are vaccinated, they’ll find plenty of these opportunities. Masks are not required while in a guest’s own stateroom when with their traveling party or outside on the open decks, unless in a crowded setting. Updates will be shared as changes to the CDC mask guidelines occur. Guests will find the boarding process and entire ship set up to allow for physical distancing, which is encouraged whenever interacting with those outside of a guest’s traveling party.     Dining   For Main Dining, we will designate areas for everyone, including parents and unvaccinated children, and areas for vaccinated parties only. My Time Dining will not be available to parties that include unvaccinated guests.  Some specialty restaurants will be open to everyone, while others will be for vaccinated parties only. If a buffet is preferred, Windjammer will be open to everyone for breakfast and lunch, and the food will be served by our crew. We recommend that guests make dining reservations via Cruise Planner before the cruise or the Royal Caribbean app once onboard. Grab-and-go cafes will also be available for everyone.   Other Venues   Theaters and activity venues will offer spaced seating with options for everyone and for vaccinated guests only. Show reservations can be made once onboard using the Royal Caribbean app.  Youth spaces will be open to all children and teens.  Spa services, except those offered in treatment rooms, are available to everyone. The Fitness Center will have dedicated operating hours for everyone, as well as hours reserved for vaccinated guests only.  The Casino will be open to vaccinated guests only.         What To Bring Travel Documentation Checklist A Passport Book or Passport Card, valid for at least six months after the cruise, is strongly recommended. If guests do not have a Passport, they may present a state-certified U.S. Birth Certificate (not a “baby feet” hospital certificate or baptismal paper). Guests age 16 years and older that choose to present a Birth Certificate will also need to provide a valid Driver’s License or picture ID card issued by the government. A COVID-19 vaccination record card for each vaccinated guest with the final dose at least 14 days before sailing. For additional protocol information, please click the link below to read the detailed FAQs. Please note that health protocols are expected to change over time. Guidance for other ports and sailings is still in development with federal, state, and local authorities. We will update you and your booked clients as protocols change.

Just got mine.  Going to cross post now that is confirmed Canadians can get a PCR test on board!  A little sad about some of the requirements since we will be with little ones but very happy over-all!!!!!

perfect thanks!

2 hours ago, DDaley said:

I brought one of these on our southern Caribbean cruise and used it in St. Thomas, St. Kitts and Barbados. We used it on beaches where there were umbrellas and chairs for rent and set up directly next to them with no objection. I've also brought a tent like this as a 3rd carry-on on a plane and no one batted an eye as it fit in the space between my seat and the fuselage. I loved having it! 

PS. my second favorite cruise/beach purchase were a pair of these floats, everyone was asking where we rented them from! They fold up super small and only take a couple breaths to inflate.

 

Does anyone have any experience bringing a clam shell beach tent with them?  Link below for reference.  I understand literally every island and every beach probably has different rules but with some beaches providing umbrellas either for free or for a fee to not having them at all I thought I'd ask if anyone has tried bringing one of these.  Our kids could sure use the shade on a long beach day.  Thanks!

https://www.amazon.ca/Alvantor-Bluecoast-Umbrella-Portable-Windproof/dp/B01MA2ARNK/ref=asc_df_B01MA2ARNK/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459470686522&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8684603301318608408&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1002787&hvtargid=pla-349711040770&psc=1

18 hours ago, JeffB said:

If I'm not mistaken, RCL will provide COVID testing on your cruise - type of test depending on where your are reentering  - at their cost in time for you to get results before you disembark, Just to make sure of this I looked at FAQs at the RCL web site as well as googling that question and came up with, yep RCL will do your reentry testing for you and it's free. Both sources say RCL will provide "testing to reenter your home country" - US or Canada. Great, what kind of test am I going to get and will it meet reentry requirements for Canada?

The Canadian government web site says "not and antigen test." for reentry. It does not say you have to have a "PCR" (Polymerase Chain Reaction for short also known as RT-PCR or Reverse Transcriptase PCR) Saying "not an antigen test" implies you need a "molecular test" - I know terms are confusing. This is the broad category of diagnostic testing for COVID that looks for viral particles, not SARS2 antigens) by several different means. Here's a nice visual:

https://www.fda.gov/media/140161/download. 

A ship doing reentry testing for passengers has to have a certified lab on board to do molecular tests.  There are too many variables that could produce an unexpected reentry denial outcome for me if I were a Canadian traveler. If you have a TA, my advice is to request them ask RCL what kind of reentry testing for Canadians you will receive for your specific cruise and have her send you RCL's response an an email or contact RCL and ask for the same.  

To be frank, asking for molecular (PCR) tests is overkill. Boarder agents should be doing screening not diagnosing. The RT-PCR test is the "Gold Standard" for diagnosing COVID. Hospitals use it. Antigen tests are the best for screening. The probable reason boarder agents in most countries want RT-PCR tests is that they are very accurate - upwards of 99% sensitive and specific for SARS2 if collection and processing are done correctly (another subject). Antigen tests are 98% sensitive and about 80-90% specific for SARS2. They are also easier to collect and process reducing errors. That is entirely adequate for screening purposes.

I've spoken with RCL social media team and they advised they only offer an antigen test on board.  Although I would certainly believe as I you have pointed out that they would have lab capabilities.  

For any other Canadians monitoring the thread I will update as soon as I hear back anything more official as antigen test will not cut it for us at present time.  
 

@Marlena @KWong