Mike.s

Boots offer the service in some stores, Lloyds pharmacy also offers testing for travel at most stores

https://lloydspharmacy.com/pages/covid-19-testing

4 hours ago, Gl26 said:

The ship docks at 5:30am in Southampton on Friday Jun 17/22. What time can I expect to be on the pier if i do carry off my luggage?

 

Last year we carried our luggage off Anthem at Southampton and were in our car leaving the car park before 7:30

4 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

From MIA to Fort Lauderdale or hotel to port?

I would say UBER OR Lyft is best from MIA to Fort Lauderdale (25 min drive). From embassy suites to port Everglades you can either pay to use the hotel shuttle service or once again use ride share as it’s located only 5 minutes from the port. 

From Miami airport to Fort Lauderdale, we're staying a couple of nights before the cruise.

Any thoughts on transfer options, we'll be looking at the same requirements in 2023?

Here the link but it's probably geo restricted to the UK, episode 3 is on Harmony.

https://www.channel5.com/show/cruising-with-susan-calman

For those of you in the UK this is on Channel 5 tonight and next Friday

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/royal-caribbean-ship-to-appear-on-channel-5-cruise-programme

It appears they do have stabilisers. Been on a couple of smaller ships, not noticed any greater pitch/roll than the larger ships though haven't been on an Oasis class ship yet!

https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/16/rhapsody-of-the-seas/

33 minutes ago, djs68 said:

Many thanks for responding, very useful. As this is our first cruise I have a couple of follow ups if that's ok?

Does RCCL have any pattern for running discounted extras or do they occur completely at random?

Do you have any insight around what discount levels are common? From your note it looks like the rates can vary - is the variance usually significant or just a few $?

BTW there was no option to choose a refundable deposit when we booked (it didn't even mention whether it is or not).

Many thanks

Cruise planner sales (extras) happen every few weeks, prices vary so buy when you see a price you're confortable with.

With regards to the % discount, they are meaningless, one week the price with 40% discount can be higher than it was previously with 35% discount, as many on this forum  say, no point trying to understand Royal's maths (or math )

On 4/2/2022 at 2:00 AM, Sue67 said:

We are flying into Venice for a cruise now leaving from Ravenna …when we booked our cruise and flights we were told there would be a shuttle.  Now I can find no information on this!  Any advice on getting to and from Ravenna??.

Our TA booked a Royal shuttle bus from the airport to the port. No sure of the costs as it was part of the package.

5 minutes ago, Bean79 said:

I am sure they will be raising prices on a lot of onboard purchases soon.

Soon? Think they already have raised them, drinks and Wi-fi are noticeably more expensive

10 minutes ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

I don't know.......I don't work for the CDC or the cruise lines lol

Maybe they are saying there is no risk because of the protocols? Who knows what the CDCs thought process is.

Not sure they even have a process, feels like they make it up as they go along.

15 minutes ago, Ray said:

I saw this also but can he make 1 rule for ferry companies and another for cruiselines doing the same thing? Thats the problem because it could potentially stop cruiselines using UK as a homeport for ships.

It's not like the UK Government to act without thinking through all the consequences is it?

Also seen a quote specifically mentioning Ferry services, this is on the BBC website

"In a letter, Mr Shapps again urged Peter Hebblethwaite to reverse his decision to sack 800 seafarers.

4th February 2023, Vision of the Seas

Or it's the dreaded Royal IT system playing up, we were tracking a cruise that disappeared from the UK site but was still available on the US site, next day it reappeared.

1 hour ago, Pooch said:

Pretty sure ANY cruise can be repriced.  Nothing to do with CWC.  

Sadly not so, we've only been able to reprice under CWC in the UK, prior to this the price you saw when you booked was the price you paid.

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27069-carnival-corp-brands-raising-onboard-prices.html

How long before Royal does the same, or having seen some of the recent cruise planner pricing are they already doing it?

2 hours ago, Lexster said:

So, I'm already looking toward a cruise after my upcoming one and was looking into European trips. To me, I just don't see this ever being financially feasible unless you have a ton of money. Am I wrong? There don't seem to be any cruises which start in a US port, go to Europe, and come back which means I'd have to fly internationally, take the cruise, and fly back. That's already nearly $3000 for two people to fly round trip on top of the cruise cost. Do people usually get packages for this sort of thing or what?

Sadly it's the same for us Europeans looking at Florida cruises for next year, seeing much higher prices than we got for this year, personal feeling is both the airfares and cruise costs have increased.

8 hours ago, Paul Mc said:

Hi we a cruising on 21/08/2022 and staying 2 nights in Venice prior to sailing. Is there an additional charge for going on the Royal transfer. Thanks.

I believe there is and have been told the transfer runs from the airport to the port rather than from the city centre.

Oh good, a return to people picking food up and putting it back, plates pilled high and left uneaten, I'm struggling to see the benefits of a return to self serve.

Some of the smaller UK cruise lines are currently offering cruises to Cuba, you can travel there on Legend of the Seas, now sailing as Marella Discovery2!!

13 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

Lousy sale...nothing cheaper than what has been for most of the previous sales in the past 6 months or so!  Guess cruise planner pricing is going in the same direction of just about everything else in this world right now....UP....UP....UP!!!  Very sad....

Couldn't agree more, nothing's cheaper, regretting not biting the bullet last year, didn't think the pricing was that good but it was certainly better than it is now.

Good reason to pre pay them, I assume if you've already paid them and they raise the rate you're locked in at the old rate, or is that just wishful thinking?

Celebrity have just announced year round sailings in the Med, starting late 2023, good news for those of us who want ta winter cruise without the transAtlantic flights. Wonder if Royal will announce the same?

13 hours ago, simon smith said:

HI first time cruise ,best place to leave car at port southampton, closest to boat thanks

ABP lets you park directly opposite the ship, 2 minutes walk and luggage collected from the car by the porters.

https://www.abparking.co.uk/