Neesa

@SpeedNoodles I didn't think posting this elsewhere fit. So this morning forwhat ever reason my font size here on the blog is tiny. HELP Change mode changes the color but how do I make the font bigger? Can I do it within the blog or (oh please no) my computer? Thanks speed or whomever else can assist, yikes!

First it was so disorganized we all wandered around looking for the meet up, no direction or signage. Then they picked you up in taxi vans and placed us like sardines and I mean 10-12 in a van type situation splitting up families for example they put my daughter in the van and told me to wait for the next one. Hard no! Then they drove you to the trolley in town and while open air they tried to do 5 people per seat, it was disgusting and uncomfortable. We drove in circles looking at sadly abandoned buildings surrounded by barbed wire. RCCL needs to dress like a tourist and vet this one, it's not ready yet.

@CrimsonCruiser we were there last week but just did the RCCL trolley tour. I can tell you, STAY AWAY from that tour. We passed the Marriott and it looked really nice. There is shopping you can walk to! Have fun

I like to escape reality for a bit. We keep the news off. We wake up in new location's and share family time making memories. It's a great mix of quiet reflection on the mornings balcony to celebrating milestones in our lives. We choose joy, sailing gives us joy. Time is something I cherish, can't get it back. I hope my daughter has lifetime memories of our time at sea. That's why we love it.

@Sharlaand our blog insiders I'm trying to understand. I am sailing in July & it was a lift & shift paid for mostly with FCC's from the shutdown. If I ask Sharla who just by the way landed me 269.00 OBC for the best price option thing (on my Mariner sailing next week) to place me on a waitlist for a unavailable cabin, say a star loft on that sailing what occurs? I already bid the RUB's if someone cancels last minute do they call my TA & ask if I still want it for the difference in price? Can I only be on one cabins waitlist? If the price is stupid high can I decline the offer? Is there really such a thing as a waitlist? Also I have 1754 on the Harmony but any thoughts on 1764? I saw a video it looks nice, is the balcony smaller then the others? Thanks everyone!

Just be aware boarding day line at the guest services desk is usually crazy long, if you are doing this get there as early as you can. It twists its way out to the promenade.

We just dined at #CK for the last 8 evenings on the Allure. The venue is fantastic, even though our timing never landed us a window table (the place was rocking with star suites/big families with numerous little ones and pins) the huge windows were still glorious. The sun sets were beautiful, the food was a close second. On this ship we enjoyed Junela as the hostess and the host was Bikram, we had a few servers that were clearly still in training but when we had Leo he was a breath of fresh air; we asked for him the rest of the sailing. The famous fillet was moved to night 3 and one menu was repeated. The food was a little better then okay, the portions were so small, hubby had a bowl of jazmine rice every evening with his meal. I requested broccoli with my meals and was given one, yes one. The food was sometimes not as described, for example the menu said a cut of meat or a certain fish and we would be told they didn't actually have that but they had something similar. The place was packed, Leo told us they were averaging 160 reservations a night, wow! All put together when you have the right wait staff and the venue no matter the meal it is still an enjoyable meal we thought. We were never inclined to go else where for dinner this sailing as every other food venue was super busy. It is different since pre Covid days you can see the cost cutting measures but we still feel by far the most enjoyable dinner experience if not for the venue alone this trip. I'm so sorry I didn't photograph the menu's. Oh and most important, the lobster tail night they offered the broiled lobster as well as the sauced one. Hubby requested two tails but only one came out, they hesitate to put two on a plate, his second tail came out a bit later we were wondering if our server had to sneak it out of the kitchen, lol! Lobster night albeit 1700hrs starts reservations they actually started seating at 1630, they asked a few of us to arrive earlier then our reservations. This trip #CK 7/10 in our most humble opinion.

That is what hubby felt, he said someone heard me somewhere he thinks it was whist maybe taking a ships photo? I was like listen I know there are cameras, look at me look at the cameras it wasn't either of us. Just sad but even the Guest services made me feel like they thought I was scamming them. First time something like this on Royal, maybe the crew member was having a bad day.

YES! This is what I requested and I was told they couldn't do it. Every day at least 2 charges then nothing on the Aruba stop and then bam, sea day 2 more charges. I can't even articulate the frustration. The final bill was sorted but it took a great deal of my time and effort. They wanted to just add "free vouchers" to my account for me to use, so pre paid essentially from the charges the other person made. I wanted to pull my hair out.

We disembarked the Allure this morning, we were leaving around 0800hrs and I was shocked at so many people walking off huge roller board luggage bags, one family had two little ones both pushing one bag that was bigger then the kids, mom and dad also had additional bags, it looked painful. In the concierge walk off stand by lounge (champagne lounge) there was more luggage then people, and now I know why. Wow this thread is timely. We didn't participate in the Sky walk off and just left on our own, we were super fortunate to hit a pocket and were off the ship unencumbered in minutes since we left our bags out the night before. Now what's the point of this story you are asking ? Well we each have one bag, if it doesn't fit it doesn't sail. I place matching ribbons so we only grab ours. Well one bag was there, one! In the area labeled suites there was one! We spent at least 20 minutes walking around looking for my ribbons. The bags were placed in a numbered area, nearby and opposite the suites, Star & Pinns area. Point being for a hot second I was like, really? We placed these bags out at 2000hrs together, what a journey they must have taken. I love the convenience of the service but after what I felt, that panic feeling I may be walking off my own luggage next time. Okay @WAAAYTOOOanother Star perk I really missed today! Okay and one more gees, someone kept charging drinks to our accounts after the first two I told the concierge, he tried to help but I heard the person on the other side saying it had to be us! No, we are sailing next week and they had no White Zinfandel so we had water & ginger ale. Okay while not removed 0.00 was reflected on account. Day 3, Day4, Day 5 more drinks, Trellis Bar, Chop's Grill. Problem being there were so many people we avoided this area so someone was just writing down our cabin number or giving our cabin number or the servers in put our number. I had to go to the Guest services several times to have them removed. Ugh, it was so frustrating, so accusatory. I missed my Genie, he/she would have that under control in a minute. Pulling up my account and seeing drinks charged to the cabin felt like a violation, who does this?? Oh boy, Rant OVER!

Allure right now. These are good!

@Jillsame with White Zinfandel on the Allure. #CK kept pushing something else that was very harsh saying they needed to get through it. I consumed ginger ale and water. Not much of a drinks person but a sangria or white Zinfandel is my go to when I want to go there. It may be my imagination but it definitely feels more or LESS CEO Liberty the numbers guy than experience heavy Fain. Just my humble opinion but I feel the numbers weigh so much heavier then our experience, and I get it they are in debt. But I paid a lot to sail also.

Thanks so much for the update, I hope you feel better quickly. I really did appreciate your real reports. Get well soon!

We all wear back packs as our carry on bags. Upon stepping onto ship we go straight to do the muster and then grab a beverage and sit down and people watch until a preferred lunch spot is open. (we usually get an 1100 check in) After that a leisurely lunch and usually by that time the cabins are open.

I am just guessing here but I think they are mandated that they would have to report positive tests, thus they don't test otherwise the code for the ship would be RED. Again they opted into this of their own volition and now their actions circumvent the process they signed up for. At the end of the day it's about making the most $$ they can to address the outstanding debt. Just my 2 cents....they want it both ways.

@She Sails Away the sailing to nowhere did not start out that way! 8 Night southern in December, the ship was packed. I remember blogging about the fact our room steward told us they were at 100% minus of course the cabins set aside for "sick people" & people on here verbally assaulting me saying "that's not possible, no way. The steward is lying," mind you the bloggers who responded were not on the ship with us, thus my appreciation for "real reports" like yours! So we did go to CoCo Cay on Sunday, boarded Saturday and the private island on Sunday. But even then we felt something was off. Another ship also was on the Island & the people overwhelmed the staff. But I digress, we sailed down to the beautiful Curacao and the Captain made an announcement, the Island is having a meeting, our Covid numbers are being discussed. Almost every hour he updated us, our excursion time had come and gone we were docked at the Port staring at the beauty, but alas we were not allowed to disembark. This was after about 4 hours, fast forward Aruba would not let us in either. We sailed back and then in circles until we were scheduled to return, the one time I was really ready to leave a ship. The Odyssey was beautiful but staff were dropping like flies, one day our cabin steward was a sweaty mess you could see he was ill, no thank you. Please get well and I declined service the rest of the sailing. We were Sky class & CK was slow due to limited servers and the suite concierge disappeared after night 2. We did our best to make the best out of what we had and Royal did give us 50% of the fare we paid in FCC and the excursions were refunded in a very timely manner. I said it then, Royal was now in the position of only hurting themselves if they were not careful. As an aside I did hear a couple talk about just creating their antigen test results from taking a previous negative test and changing the dates to avoid the test again, smh we as passengers do have a responsibility to to abide by the protocols, but I also place blame on Royal for ramping up capacity way too fast. We are still happily sailing in June & July to use our FCC's and are fully aware of our responsibilities and exposure, we will be careful & enjoy but as I said before taking a break for a minute, some land exploring is now in order. The picture you just posted of Curacao, that is all we saw on that sailing I love that you are positive and making the most of it!

@She Sails Away I'm following this thread and when I see my notification I look forward to what you have written. The excitement, the good and bad is really a great read. I feel like I'm there with you, I'm enjoying it so much and love your attitude about it all.. I second the gratitude for your honest and insightful comments...... @Hoebo123 oh no, I'm so sorry! Im a big if its meant to be the universe works kind of person, 5/28 seems like its going to be crazy for multiple reasons. Take good care and feel better soon, I'm sure the replacement sailing will be even better!

@She Sails Away Inquiry minds want to know....who is your cruise director? I hope you had an amazing day in Aruba!

13th March 2022 sailing, driving to Miami from Tampa 5 hours usually tops....but we leave the day before sailing & this time OMG we were so thankful! Half way there Alligator Alley closed due to fires, smoke made the State Police fully close this route. We had to turn around along with EVERYONE else & make our way back way North to drive across the State and then down again, with so many other motorists. If it was the same day of embarkation we could have possibly missed the ship. If I have learned anything even when driving to a Port I make my way a day earlier, period. You just never know, way to much $$ to leave to chance. * The traffic check in the a.m. was clear, it was only half way there we were starting to see the red, rut row!!

@She Sails Away this on site on ship information is priceless, I really do appreciate it! I understand Royal is in business to make money, I totally get it. But I said this back in December while on the Odyssey sailing to no where, 8 nights of sailing as our covid numbers would not allow us off the ship in Port, they ramped capacity too fast, too soon. First sailing I was just thinking can we return early please? Staff would disappear as the week went on, it was tough to watch. I know Mr. Liberty is a numbers guy and I understand they must try to do right for the stock holders but at what cost moving forward? Our FCC sailings in June & July are most likely going to be the last for us in a while. I am almost 99% sure we are canceling our Thanksgiving 2022 as the cost seems it may not be justified. A little break to explore land vacations for us, just until we feel the cost is = to the experience. I'm not booking any new sailings moving forward, to many hoops in addition to inflated costs for a mediocre experience. This venue (unofficial RC blog) is such a great place to exchange real time information, I find it difficult to believe some of the "bloggers" on board videos etc. when due to the nature of what they do they receive "comped" sailings thus leaning positive no matter what. An experience for free is surely different from the experience that is paid for. Looking forward to hearing about the rest of your sailing, glass half full is still the best way to move forward while on board , right?? Enjoy & cheers to you when you enjoy your next mock tail.

My friends are sailing on the Allure 28 May, this sailing has essentially appeared sold out since we were watching it for a possible last minute trip. A few cabins here and there, they (our friends) are thinking about CWC cancelation due to 2 specific reasons. First, the crew shortage seems would be a negative aspect. Secondly, it appears this Memorial Day southern sailing is packed so the capacity at max while crew is suffering does not sound like an amazing vacation. Will the entertainment be effected? While things are static and we must expect the unexpected and be flexible, what is the minimum RCCL expect the passenger to accept per sailing when shelling out so much $$$ ? My gut check tells me missing this one seems like a probable blessing. Thank you so much @She Sails Away for your real trip report. I look forward to continuing this journey with you!

Totally get it! I felt the same way on the Oasis this past Spring Break sailing. Happy that sailings are happening again but wowza, I honestly forgot how many people they can get on a ship, spoiled by our previous few sailings. ( except Odyssey 11/21 Thanksgiving ) people everywhere on that one also. But I would prefer that to another shut down any day of the week, I am holding my breath though wondering if they are getting slightly arrogant and ramping up to quickly, fingers crossed everything proceeds well. The stock price plummeting again is also concerning. Be that as it may, have a great time and relish your sailing. I would rather be on that crowded ship with you, then home right now! Cheers to you, thanks for taking us along. I would like a picture with the description of the sangria please....ah so thirsty about now. Have the best time At least you are having a much better experience then @10-42gees, I am willing positive karma his way for sure!

I'm following along, thank you so much! May I ask, how many people on the ship? How does it feel? Does it feel overly crowded? If you pass by Sabor can you review a Sangria? Um, not for me for uh someone else (lol) !!

For those who have dined here previously, can it still be enjoyable with a shellfish allergy? I react when ingesting not if it just touches a plate. I always say no when it comes to the allergy question because of all of the drama it entails. I have lived with this forever and monitor my meals quite closely without making a production of it. BUT in this case I think with all of the deconstruction going on I might have to tell them, thoughts? My daughter really wants to dine here we have our Lift & Shift 31 July on the Harmony where I have since booked it, I'm thinking just to pick and then go up to #CK later. @Swar? @Ampurp85 Should I use the allergy as an excuse to skip it?

Yes! That is exactly what we thought!