CrznTxn

On our Adventure cruise the reservations were required. Easy to do in the app.

We have Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas booked this year and as in years past the ships are decorated up and the menus enhanced. The last Christmas time sail we had in 2019 the Windjammer had a gingerbread village that appeared overnight. Cannot wait to get on and enjoy the festivities.

Every Royal ship we have sailed on has this configuration (button) for the toilet. As stated it is the mechanics of the system. The same as trying to find the flush button on airplanes.

We have not had any issues of test kit deliveries. Make sure you order it early and have it waiting at the hotel and they know it is coming. Wish we were closer, we have several extra tests that expire in December that we will not be using and I could just give you one. Texas is as they say here "a fur piece" from Florida.

Only cruise that I saw where Windjammer was open was Ovation on her last sailing of the season. Matt was on it and said they were at around 75% capacity which triggered the opening. I do not think they will open it for dinner until they reach 60% or more. Can see why, on our last two cruises the MDR and specialty restaurants were not full at dinner.

We ordered the tests for our September cruise back in August and it was the January expiration date that was delivered. When we ordered more for our other upcoming cruises the dates were all earlier (at or before the end of the year). Our son also ordered tests a couple of weeks ago for his cruise this week and his expiration dates are in December. It is the roll of the dice as to what date folks receive. Now we have 5 tests that expire in December or January 1, 1 extra from our stock and 4 from our son's, and cruises in March and May.

We were fortunate and received some tests that with an expiration date of 10/20/2021 so the extended date is 01/20/2022. Just enough time for our January 9 cruise.

On our last two cruises we received a list of shows in our cabin when we arrived. Reservations were made on the app and as stated would only allow one reservation for each show, even if it was shown twice. We sat and made them immediately and were able to see everything we wanted and when we wanted. We thought it was much easier than the long lines, having to arrive 30 minutes early to make sure we got in and as stated earlier, the lower level is for vaccinated only and the masks came off immediately. You are suggested to have at least two seats between your party and another and only had one show where there was so many people that we only had one. Will say that show had a very long standing ovation for the performance. As they say, schedule it early.

JS does not get the hour early perk. In some ports you do have a “Suite” line which skips the rest of the riff raff.

The Platinum level will give you a discount on your first drink and a couple of other smaller perks. You will get a letter in your cabin giving you the details, remember some you have to ask for. Check the link shown above.

We noticed on our last cruise the “exact” 24 hour mark on the health questionnaire. Wish they would make it like the COVID testing and it is the “day” before starting at midnight.

Congratulations!!!!

We have done the 11am flights from FLL but only because of the proximity of the airport to the cruise terminal. Usually do a 1pm so we can have a leisurely breakfast and they have to blast my behind off the seat to get me off the ship.

I think I was on that Ovation Alaska cruise. They closed the Solarium pools and whirlpools due to the rock and roll. Was the only time they were empty and I could not get in! We were having a lot of fun watching people walk down the corridors.

Leaving from One Pine Cruise Terminal.

The Diamond 4 per day worked out great for us without purchasing the DBP. However we do not drink a lot and have free drinks in the Casino due to our status there so it is a mixed bag. On previous cruises we were frantically ordering the free drinks at the Tier event and would end load the day based on that. Many an evening the ship seemed to be swaying in the swells or maybe it was just me. Now the 4 drinks spaced out during the day works out great and we actually enjoyed watching others sway in the swells.

We were fortunate in that we ordered them immediately when we heard of the tests and our expiration dates on 6 of the 12 tests we ordered (5 cruises in 5 months) is in mid-January which will cover us through that date. For the next cruise after that in March we will see what has transpired from now and hopefully we will not need them. My son ordered 6 tests for their cruise and his expiration dates are sooner than even our early expiration's! Looks like they used the last in first out method of filling orders.

Am glad FL have Walgreens with the rapid tests. In North Texas the Walgreens only does the PCR tests which take too long. CVS does the rapid tests but only in a select few places. We can get into these for our tests but have opted for the eMed testing online and purchased enough to last through our January cruises with one to spare. After that we will see which one we will use, the pharmacy or the online. Maybe by then the pharmaceutical company (Abbott) will have new online kits available.

Only issue would be if it is a Casino booked cruise. Then the person who had the Casino offer must be present. Normal reservation, no problem as long as it is paid.

Agree with SpeedNoodles you might try near your cruise port. Royal announced that they are going to offer tests at some ports and would check with them although I heard it will be around $100 per test.

Several ships have been experiencing itinerary changes due to port restrictions and number restrictions. Our Liberty cruise on October 31 changed from Grand Cayman and Jamaica to Costa Maya and Roatan a week ago due to Grand Cayman's closed until January 2022. The website has not updated our itinerary and the cruise planner at least now shows 4 Costa Maya excursions but they are very slow in updates. Really do not expect it to update until about 14 days out so any discounts will not be probable. Doesn't matter, we still get to go cruising!

Two weeks ago on Ovation the fitness class was mask optional as everyone had to be vaccinated. Did not see any participants with mask on but they were spread out. Saw several folks with masks on using the weights but not the treadmill. No one had any problems and each did their own thing.

On our two cruises, one on Adventure and one on Ovation, the theater bottom floor is for vaccinated guests only and once seated you can remove your mask. This was true at the Music theater on Ovation and Two70. The upper floors are for everyone and you must wear your mask. At Two70 we sat in the upper level due to better viewing and the mask was not an issue. Our dining was vaccinated only and once seated the masks were off. We are from Texas and do not have mask requirements except for some cities and venues but many do not wear them. Overall the mask wearing does not affect the cruise experience and as other have said we had to remember to have them with us for those particular areas.

Our October 31st cruise finally announced that our Cayman Island and Jamaica stops were replaced with Roatan and Cost Maya but the Cruise Planner has not been updated. On my wife's FB group they said it has typically taken two weeks for the website to update. Only problem is we had some great prices on those stops and now if we cannot reserve until one to two weeks out we will definitely not get good pricing. Oh well, at least we will be sailing.

The eDocs for our October 31st cruise showed up this past week (just under 30 days out). The itinerary for that cruise has changed due to port closures and the documents are not updated but they did show up. All that really matters is the Set Sail pass anyway!