Momof4crazytocruise

Sadly we found this to be true on the Adventure in June. Our daughter was given a RED band at the time "the band of the unvaxed" We were treated as lepers especially by our dining team. The service was non existent, even though they wore masks and we all had negative Covid tests minutes before stepping on board and days before as well. Let's just say it was not a nice experience. The crazy thing was the servers stood so far from the table they practically tossed our plates it was all very dramatic yet the dining tables were nearly on top of each other when there was room to spread out more, strange It was a weird dynamic and some other passengers dramatically covered their faces with their arms or tucked their head in the top of their shirt, or even a cloth napkin they took from the dining room it seemed! We just ignored the behaviors and made the best of it.
We always had the elevator by ourselves though, as soon as the band was in view it was ours! 

After taking my 2 year old daughter on Ovation in September, I definitely saw a little of both sides here.
 
We did have some passengers that were less than happy about her being onboard. I heard one person in the Windjammer commenting that he didn't understand why anyone that young was even allowed on board and why you'd want to bring a toddler on a cruise in the first place. We also had a couple of people definitely opt for the next elevator because they didn't want to be in one with a small kid.
That said, most passengers didn't care at all and interacted with her (and us) just like normal. The staff *definitely* didn't treat us like second-class citizens, as you can see. The only real issue with staff was when we were trying to get off for excursions and one of the guys working the desk didn't understand how the system worked when her card beeped for "not allowed to debark", as they have to manually override and note which excursion you're on.

Thanks for this. However, after traveling last week without the kids on Liberty, we were pretty discouraged by what we saw as far as how the kids were being treated. We have a cruise scheduled for March, and our youngest will still be ineligible for vaccination - so we are likely to cancel unless protocols change. In addition to the perception of the 'dirty, dirty unvaccinated people' restrictions, in general the children on our cruise were looked on as lepers and with disgust by many of the other traveling guests - I will NOT be putting my children through that. We asked around to some of the moms on the ship with kids, and I was very disappointed to hear what the experience has been like for their kids. So, we'll wait. 

Thanks for this. However, after traveling last week without the kids on Liberty, we were pretty discouraged by what we saw as far as how the kids were being treated. We have a cruise scheduled for March, and our youngest will still be ineligible for vaccination - so we are likely to cancel unless protocols change. In addition to the perception of the 'dirty, dirty unvaccinated people' restrictions, in general the children on our cruise were looked on as lepers and with disgust by many of the other traveling guests - I will NOT be putting my children through that. We asked around to some of the moms on the ship with kids, and I was very disappointed to hear what the experience has been like for their kids. So, we'll wait. 

Thanks for this. However, after traveling last week without the kids on Liberty, we were pretty discouraged by what we saw as far as how the kids were being treated. We have a cruise scheduled for March, and our youngest will still be ineligible for vaccination - so we are likely to cancel unless protocols change. In addition to the perception of the 'dirty, dirty unvaccinated people' restrictions, in general the children on our cruise were looked on as lepers and with disgust by many of the other traveling guests - I will NOT be putting my children through that. We asked around to some of the moms on the ship with kids, and I was very disappointed to hear what the experience has been like for their kids. So, we'll wait. 

Thanks for this. However, after traveling last week without the kids on Liberty, we were pretty discouraged by what we saw as far as how the kids were being treated. We have a cruise scheduled for March, and our youngest will still be ineligible for vaccination - so we are likely to cancel unless protocols change. In addition to the perception of the 'dirty, dirty unvaccinated people' restrictions, in general the children on our cruise were looked on as lepers and with disgust by many of the other traveling guests - I will NOT be putting my children through that. We asked around to some of the moms on the ship with kids, and I was very disappointed to hear what the experience has been like for their kids. So, we'll wait. 

From last week, cheapest wine on the dining room menu was around $11, although Giovanni's had a chianti for $8. Beers were around $8, and cocktails from the well around $10. Drink of the day varied from $8-$10.

Thanks for this. However, after traveling last week without the kids on Liberty, we were pretty discouraged by what we saw as far as how the kids were being treated. We have a cruise scheduled for March, and our youngest will still be ineligible for vaccination - so we are likely to cancel unless protocols change. In addition to the perception of the 'dirty, dirty unvaccinated people' restrictions, in general the children on our cruise were looked on as lepers and with disgust by many of the other traveling guests - I will NOT be putting my children through that. We asked around to some of the moms on the ship with kids, and I was very disappointed to hear what the experience has been like for their kids. So, we'll wait. 

Thanks for this. However, after traveling last week without the kids on Liberty, we were pretty discouraged by what we saw as far as how the kids were being treated. We have a cruise scheduled for March, and our youngest will still be ineligible for vaccination - so we are likely to cancel unless protocols change. In addition to the perception of the 'dirty, dirty unvaccinated people' restrictions, in general the children on our cruise were looked on as lepers and with disgust by many of the other traveling guests - I will NOT be putting my children through that. We asked around to some of the moms on the ship with kids, and I was very disappointed to hear what the experience has been like for their kids. So, we'll wait. 

If you go to the very end of all the shopping area at the port, you can hail a taxi for about $4 each way. Its only about 2 miles. We used them on our trip at the end of October.

Sounds like they've got you sorted out with Diamond vouchers and Casino drinks, but if that weren't the case, I would run the numbers and just see if what you would drink added up to more or less than buying 2 packages. When you look at the actual cost versus what you alone are drinking, it probably makes sense to just forgo the package and just buy ala carte. On my last cruise, with my friend who only drinks wine at dinner, and *very* occasional cocktail, there was no sense in buying two packages. We brought her wine on board, she paid for her 1 or 2 cocktails and daily latte, and I paid as I went - and it definitely came out less than if I had bought 2 packages. 

Remember Costa Maya is a stop built by the cruise companies to have another place to port.  They built the port area & the locals built up the shopping strip. There’s very little in between.

I have communicated with Lalo, the owner of Mayahual Red Shirts Golf Carts. He, like you, assured me that the roads are safe. He also let me know that the Malecon is pedestrian only. He has teamed up with a number of businesses in the Mahahual area to allow his carts to be parked there. Heck, many of them will even give cart customers a welcome drink (I doubt it will contain top shelf liquor, but it's free). I have my reservation with him now and will report back after I return.

Yeah, why not just buy her the refreshment package for unlimited juice/soda/mocktails? Take her drink vouchers and get your drinks off those, and save yourself some cash. Even if you went over by a couple drinks, it'd still be cheaper than a full package for yourself.

1.4 million dollar loss reported today, no way they implement this in time for the Holidays.. I believe this loss is larger then they thought they would sustain and this is the main reason the CWC was extended as well as the other extensions. 
That being as it may I am sailing on Thanksgiving and have no worries about any unvaccinated kiddos. I personally am looking forward to the anticipated joy this week will bring. I respect everyone's choice to do what they will for their family and I for one will not be afraid or treat them any differently, I sure didn't like it when my child was treated like a leper in June on our Adventure sailing while wearing her band of the unvaxed. Family Holiday here we come. 

Well, gee, I thought all this time, based on the level of service, that Michelle must work ONLY for ME! 🤣   
Just kidding, but add me to the chorus of "wouldn't book a trip without her."  

My TA is @michelle.  I have nothing but great things to say about her. She responds to my many emails at all hours of the day and evening. I highly recommend her!

"Can someone send me a Cruise Compass from XYZ of the Seas?  I am going on the ship next week and I want to do some detailed planning".
This request comes up multiple times each month.  As a Cruise Planning Addict I know exactly what they are going through.  I have the "Cruise Compass" tab on the Royal Caribbean Blog as a favourite on my browser.  Last month, I stumbled on a "hack".  I hope my brothers and sisters of the "Order of Overly Organized" [OoOO] enjoy this one.
I use the Royal Caribbean phone APP that lists all of future cruises I have. Then I:
Go to the bottom of the start up screen (it lists all of our future cruises) and press the "Get more details on ships we support" tab at the very bottom. Find your ship that you will sail on ... I know all of them are not there but 23 of them are!. Select the ship you will be sailing on. Find a sailing date similar to the one you will sail on (you might have to do some digging on the Royal Website to find a similar one).  I choose the one that is sailing currently or as close to today as possible. Press Daily Planner and ALL of the On Line Cruise Compasses are available for you to view. I am looking at DAY 1 of Independance of the Seas for the NOV 01 to NOV 05 sailing right now.  I know there will be these events on these days:
DAY 1: 8:00PM Headliner Showtime (in this case Nate Weatherup) ... this was in the past.
DAY 2: 9:15PM Ice Spectaclar: Freeze Frame! (V) ... this has not even happened yet (it is 7:49PM in Montreal right now).
DAY 3: 3:30PM Name That 80's Tune Trivia (V) in the Schooner Bar
I think you get my gist. 
It is an absolute Disney World for members of the OoOO.  It is not as nicely laid out as "real" Cruise Planners', but it will definitely scratch that itch for all my brothers and sisters of the OoOO.
I hope this helps,
 
Curt from Canada

Despite the push for using the app, once you complete the e-muster you do not actually need your phone again. I carried mine because I'm a millennial and I liked having access to it for quick photo taking, but my mom pretty much always left hers in the room and was fine. She referred to the cruise compass for anything she needed to know and after the first night we got paper menus in all the eating venues without them even asking.
 

No...I lock my phone in the safe as soon as I get into my cabin and there it stays until the end of the cruise.

I just got off of Allure. I carried my phone (cuz that's just me), but my husband never touched his the entire sailing.  We always got paper menus at restaurants, and Cruise Compasses were delivered to our rooms every night.  The only places that didn't have full menus out were in the bars, but they were happy to hand you one if you wanted to.  You don't need your phone at all if you don't want to use it.

+1 for Michelle
Michelle Cunningham, CTC
Certified Travel Consultant
[email protected]
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Never heard a complaint for @Sharla and I use Michelle @michelle

Sounds like I need to find my way into a casino on my next cruise....
(honestly, I can't handle the smoke, so I've never played on board. May be time to invest in a gas mask?)

Depends on cruise length.  Pre-pandemic I didn't always tip beyond the included automatic.
Since the restart I am being more generous.  They've been out of work.  I did the same when I first going out to bars and restaurants at home.