sk8erguy1978

I'm okay with most of the rules. What happened with the false positive scares me a bit. Just like that your vacation is ruined and you're restricted to cabin. I understand why, I support why, it would still suck.

Welcome @CruiseFamily to the forums! I agree with @WAAAYTOOO there will be some changes due to social distancing, I'm sure. Don't shoot the messenger, but spring break isn't looking too good, unfortunately. 

54 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Bottom line - it is my opinion that being Star Class will be more important than ever. If dining and entertainment venues are restricted in density, having someone (your Genie) helping secure space and reservations will be an even bigger help. 

We are in a Grand Suite so only Sky perks, but having access to the suite pool deck on Oasis & splurging on Cabana at CocoCay is important to us. Similar to why Star Class is important to you. With the possibility of Social Distancing guidelines, having private areas will be worth every penny to us. 

Like others, I purchased a few things: Drink Package, Massage for wife, & splurge on a Cabana (cannot believe I'm spending the same I spent on a car in HS for a few hours in a Cabana LOL).

I figured, take advantage of lower prices, if my cruise sails (September on Oasis) I bet they will raise prices.

27 minutes ago, kittysoul said:

Bushwackers sounds like a fun place!   A skyride sounds awesome... will have to look into all of this too!  thanks so much!

The views are awesome and that bushwacker drink is STRONG too!  

1 hour ago, nhilding10 said:

I'm very partial to Anthem

This is a close 2nd or 3rd and one I was referring to when I mentioned having 3. We sailed her 3 times and each time has personal significance to me.

2016: "Wedding cruise" didn't use the ship service but we cruised to Bermuda and married on the island.

2018: Cruise with family/friends & in Bermuda we scattered some ashes of a friend. It was going to be him and maybe his sister joining us. Having his sister still come along & bring some ashes was awesome.

2019: A bunch of friends invited themselves along and it ended up being an awesome cruise with tons of memories. 

42 minutes ago, Matt said:

Oasis is a close second or third for me. I really like the upgrades she got in 2019.

I've been looking forward to checking them out!

This is difficult, I have 3, but if I must choose 1:

Oasis. We sailed her January of 2010 and at the time she was one of a kind. I loved everything about her. We sailed her again in 2012. Since 2012 I've been trying to sail her again but vacation life took us to other ships (not even an Oasis Class!). We were supposed to sail her September of 2020 but that failed. Hopefully this September. 

I still remember obsessing over every announcement they made leading up to our 2010 cruise.

26 minutes ago, Kata said:

I pay my March cruise with cruise credit plus extra money. If they cancel, I really hope I can just get my cash back. 

Others are way more knowledgeable about FCC and refunds, but, I'm willing to say RCL will refund your original payment method. So, cash would have the option to receive cash back, FCC unfortunately might be another FCC. Someone will chime in if I am wrong or confirm if I am correct.

I am willing to bet my $20 dollar xmas stocking stuffer lottery scratch off winner that March is a no go. Sucks. I just asked the wife about ideas for a local summer beach trip. Might even consider a FL thing (we are NYers) in March or so, just to get out of here. Guess we will wait to see where the world is.

1 hour ago, SPS said:

4. Never done this, but, be a volunteer for The Quest.  

My wife and I were team leaders for one of our first cruises. We still attend and participate, but not doing the team leader thing again. LOL

9 minutes ago, DD474 said:

Do you think this might continue till May ?

We're booked for Dec 5th 2021 on Allure.  By then we should be in the clear. 

Just a guess, and I'm probably not alone, but yes. A few months ago my guess was June, I don't feel as confident about that either. I am with @monctonguy who has stated several times he thinks Fall, at best. I have a September cruise and I suspect it will sail, but not surprised if it's cancelled for some reason. Whether Oasis isn't ready, bribe me to reduce passengers, or ships aren't sailing yet at all.

5 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Have you considered the possibility that they still, most likely, will not be sailing in May either ?

This is exactly why I'd just wait and decide how I want to take my refund once March is cancelled, because May is questionable as well.

This is purely speculation, but I agree that March doesn't look good. I don't have a good feeling about May either, honestly.

Assume you made final payment? You can cancel and apply the FCC to May. If May is at least $500 higher (typical deposit for two), you can book now and apply FCC later once it's available.

If you're down to go on the March cruise assuming it sails and you've paid in full - sit tight and prepare to do a different vacation altogether - May might be too soon so you're just locking vacation money up on another trip with high probability of not working out. Once you cancel and take a FCC that's it, you no longer have that money as a cash option. I could be wrong, but even if they cancelled May and you paid with FCC they will refund what you paid in cash (the higher difference) and issue the rest in FCC.

Have not been back since 2011 but, we just took a cab to Megan's Bay to be on our own time. They cattle you in pickup trucks charging for every passenger. I recall one time they wanted (probably did?) charge for a young child sitting on the fathers lap. 

We also enjoyed Sapphire Beach.

We also go to Bushwackers for a Bushwacker (and maybe food) located at Paradise Point. The views are awesome and the skyride is walking distance to Havensight. If you're sailing Oasis Class you'll need a cab as it's 2.5 miles away (according to Google Maps).

4 hours ago, monctonguy said:

I agree, it is VERY shady and unethical in my opinion..by NEVER setting a base/starting price there is no way to legitimately hold them accountable or fairly compare or explain their  "sales" and "discounts"......

9 minutes ago, Psycho and Barb said:

We call it...Royal's Fuzzy Math!  We have learned a long time ago to not believe in their so called sales.  We constantly check on the items we are interested in from the day we book till we cruise...We learn what the basic price is.  If we find it at a lower price, we know if it's a good deal and we buy it.  If we find it lower again...We cancel the first one and re-buy.  Takes a bit of work on our part to check our cruise planner several times a week but it has payed off in the end.  

In regards to base price with something like a drink package I go with the "fuzzy math" thinking too because 20%, BOGO 1/2 off (25%), & 30% sales do not all equal the same base price. They get close, usually within a dollar, but not exact. I write it off as Royal rounding to make it a whole price, if I recall it's usually in my favor. 

9 minutes ago, Balsam said:

Bingo.

You'll hate us. We don't play often but when we do, it's the last game for cumulative prize money and we get the blue computer. We sit and drink and put 1% effort into it. LOL. We also lose.

18 hours ago, twangster said:

Fall asleep in the sun.  

I haven't done this on a ship but I see people doing it and that sunburn before formal night makes getting dressed up a b^%$#!

Lobster anyone?

As an Irish descent, red haired, white freckled skin person I'll say, I apply sunscreen every 15 to 30 seconds. LOL... Sunburn is no joke!

I burn easily and fast.

I coined a term... GPS: ginger protection spray. I'll never use less than 30 SPF and I'm always buying more before every trip LOL.

I also coined the stages of "tanning": white, red, peel, white.

8 hours ago, Crazycruiser50 said:

Eat dinner in the Main Dining Room...

We will eat in the MDR on occasion, usually with friends but that's about it. However, this gave me another reminder...

I'll never do traditional dining again. Don't like to be locked to a time & we had a bad match with table mates. They spoke a different language most of the time. They were friends and speaking natively was easier for them... It made it awkward for us unfortunately.

21 hours ago, Curt From Canada said:

Many thanks to the Royal Swedes (who can literally play any Rock tune). 

My wife and her friends enjoy listening to them on the Anthem too (September 2019). Went to the Music Hall almost every night.

@melmar02 made me think of another thing. Not leaving the ship with enough money. We took a cab to Paradise Point from Crown Bay with the hopes one of our ATM cards would work at a bank. Thankfully it did but I was silently having a panic attack LOL.

This might change with COVID but not arriving early to the embarkation port. 

1 hour ago, AshleyDillo said:

I just read through the restrictions and I may have gotten the age limit wrong.  The rules say between 5 and 11 can ride with the parent.  All riders must be at least 38 inches and 54 inches to ride alone.  It says you can take someone in your cart for free, so that means you wouldn't have to purchase a ticket for the passenger.  It says under 16s have to be accompanied by an adult, but this is only with respect to checking in for the ride.  If you are under 16 you have to have a parent present to sign the activity waiver but they don't have to physically ride with you.  The ride operators only check for the wristbands when you get into the carts.  I don't think they even give the passengers wristbands at all, only the ones operating the carts.  They cut the single rider wristbands off when you load into the ride.  

52 minutes ago, WannaCruise said:

Thank you!  Yeah, I checked and the description is very confusing.  It states 16 must be accompanied by a parent so thanks for explaining that is just for the waiver and check in. She may not want to ride alone anyways but good to know we have options.

This says a 12 year old can ride alone. 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do?ProductCode=ZL37&DestinationCode=

Quote

Restrictions:
Maximum Combined Weight: 360 lbs per cart.
Minimum height to ride alone is 54 inches. Minimum height to be a passenger is 38 inches.
Minimum age to ride alone 12 years. Minimum age to be a passenger 5 years.

22 hours ago, R.J. said:

Maybe I will be as creative as Matt and learn how to edit one day.

Couldn't watch initially, finally did ... I like the videos in the raw format. It really brings out everyone's excitement. 

I tried to surprise my wife once with a suite upgrade, made it all the way to about a week or two prior when we got the concierge email. Forgot wife's email was on reservation too. Oh well, she was still extremely happy and surprised.

Look forward to hearing about your next surprises.

I'd like to see the 5 day itineraries to Bermuda become 7 day itineraries. In the case of Bayonne, a ship would do 9 to Caribbean or 5 to Bermuda. With nothing longer than 7 days in the near future, could be an option.

Also, I'd like to have more announcements about Icon.

I LOVED the Dragon's Tail Coaster. While 100% different and more safe, it brought back memories of the mid to late 90s and riding the Alpine Slide at Action Park in Vernon NJ.

Also, great views.

You can take a passenger for free. My wife and I rode together. Pretty sure she screamed for her life most of the ride.

The passenger sits in front of driver.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do?sourcePage=shorexByPort&ProductCode=ZL37&DestinationCode=