sk8erguy1978

21 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

I’ve had people just step in front of me on a line

Honestly, this happens to me a lot. Maybe it's because I am 5'3. Maybe it's because 9.5 out of 10 times I'll just shut my mouth. People on vacation and cruise ships are just rude. You're not invisible.

I even had a friend say, you need to stick up for yourself more. I don't disagree, but is it worth it at Cafe Promenade? "Excuse me, I was next, okay, I will have my 3rd ham & cheese sandwich" ... I just don't want to bring myself to that dark place to be that angry over it. Go ahead, everyone knows what you did, enjoy your sandwich 3 minutes before mine. 

+1 for being well written. That's about it. Their first post is a long complaint. I suspect it's another person thinking this forum is in someway related to Royal Caribbean and they'll get some sort of compensation. 

Got COVID on the cruise. There is no proof of that. How long was the cruise and what day did symptoms appear. Could have been flight, work, grocery store, or yes, the cruise.

100+ have COVID because the poster "heard" employees saying "there's another one, that makes 30" and it was early on in the cruise. I want to see the posters mathematical equation that gets them to 100+ by the end of the cruise.

Okay, rant done, I have been missing from this site for a while and really have no place to play along being "mean" but really... After everything we all have endured personally during COVID-19 quarantine / lock down over the past 2 years: lost loved ones, watched our essential family and friends keep working and now with massive fatigue, our own mental health from it all, no vacations, etc ... even if the complaints are valid - are we really still here in life - complaining that Sorrento's pizza sucks? That people are inconsiderate? That lines suck? This makes my heart hurt. We need to appreciate more. 

Well... Nothing official yet but, sent an email to my MEI agent. My thoughts are book refundable with some FCC as a deposit and hope for the best. I'd really like to make this trip.

On 7/5/2022 at 10:31 AM, Matt said:

I can find very negative reviews of pretty much any Royal Caribbean ship, CocoCay, Star Wars, and ice cream.

Negative reviews of Star Wars? I must be in the upside down. 

Three bucket lists in one: Panama Canal, Smaller ship, & group cruise. You have my attention. I'll be SERIOUSLY considering this.

Made a crude little Blackjack game that suggests what to do in each situation, this picture came in handy. Good luck on the tables!

On 12/18/2021 at 1:00 PM, Baked Alaska said:

We are going to Nachi Cocum in Cozumel to avoid the vomit comit (after our other excursion was cancelled).

+1. Just got back and I enjoyed Nachi a lot. Very quiet and my understanding daily limits so doesn't get crowded. My friends and I grabbed a taxi right outside the shops. Easy.

15 minutes ago, leesam82 said:

Personally for me any public wifi I deem as not secure. I just don't use public wifi for anything deemed sensitive. But that just my personal opinion

This. Consider a VPN. Doubt hackers are taking a cruise just to hack ... But, safe than sorry.

1 hour ago, D Alt said:

I'm surprised an email communication of the cruise cancellation was not sent to you immediately after cancellation, so you could have handled it then and there, and not weeks later.

Me too. Recently received a flight cancellation from United via email. I checked the app, yep flight gone. I called, given some nonsense excuse about "glitch" and in a minute my reservation was back in the app. The seat wasn't assigned but that took a few clicks. Something that could have been a big deal wasn't because I was alerted and handled it immediately. +1 for technology and walking around with instant access to email LOL.

I think at this point, if it was me, I would keep fighting with Royal, find that FCC and book the cruise at the higher price (with a travel agent).

Here's why - 

I don't disagree this person needs to finally have someone stand up to them, but I see this as a tough case to win (disclaimer not a lawyer or even close just my gut). Even if they do convict your friend of fraud will the judge award you something you really didn't lose (besides the deposit, which there may be a FCC coming)? Also, if no FCC you can just file a complaint with your credit card. Is there a tangible value in this situation? You lost a price lock but not the actual money. You mentioned lawyer. Do you have one? What do they say about possible outcomes? Would lawyer fees be covered in a perfect win situation? Does this person have the means to actually pay the restitution? What about your mental health (IE: Stress) during the case?

For me, it might just end up being another life lesson added to my spreadsheet.

A side note. If this person is willing to mess with your vacation they are willing to do more. If you don't already, get some identity protection and maybe a password manager (and make each password strong and unique for everything, including this site). I don't have or use the product but hear great things about Norton 360 + LifeLock, it's a nice all in one package.

Good luck, I am sorry your "friend" is a shitty person.

Little life lesson from "A Bronx Tale" that may apply here. 

Quote

Calogero 'C' Anello: He owes me 20 dollars. It's been two weeks now, and every time he sees me he keeps dodging me. He's becoming a real pain in the ass. Should I crack him one, or what?

Sonny: Sometimes hurting somebody ain't the answer. First of all, is he a good friend of yours?

Calogero 'C' Anello: No, I don't even like him.

Sonny: You don't even like him. There's your answer right there. Look at it this way: It costs you 20 dollars to get rid of him... He's out of your life for 20 dollars. You got off cheap. Forget him.

14 hours ago, MrMarc said:

I'm just a little embarrassed that I had never thought about it until this thread.

Me too. Thank you for bringing it up. 

28 minutes ago, Jennifer Burke said:

Wasn't the PHE extended for another 3 months? Wonder if CDC goes by that. I just want the masks gone for vaccinated people!!

21 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

I agree!  That was the protocol on Adventure when the CDC wasn't involved so I'm hoping no masks on board would return quickly if Royal were setting their own protocols.

I was on the second to last Adventure sailing where masks were mandated again. Honestly I was upset at first, one of the reasons for picking it was no masks. It wasn't that bad. A lot of venues were no masks required. Basically had to wear it from place to place (hallways, elevators, etc) didn't ruin the cruise for me.

I lost my mask on the pool deck and I made a dash to room for another. I missed that suggestion on the survey but a box of masks from outside area to inside for those "lost on pool deck" masks would have been nice.

Heck, even around the ship too, those disposable masks always have straps breaking.

39 minutes ago, teddy said:

My "A-HA!!!" moment was watching someone get medevac'd from Haiti.

Last few cruises I've seen people disembark via ambulance. If I recall you were on Adventure with me back in September ... I believe the port was Cozumel, but the ship across the way had an ambulance pulled up along side. I saw it from the pool deck.

Edit: add picture, it was Cozumel. 

Walgreens at midnight seemed to open up the next booking window. 

At midnight tonight (technically tomorrow) Thursday slots should open for you.

What I did last night at 11:30 PM was go through all the steps and got to the appointment pick part. Nothing for Wednesday, yet. I continued watching TV and shortly after midnight hit refresh and BAM Wednesday slots opened at a Walgreens offering rapid 20 minutes away... I had lots of choices with times too.

19 minutes ago, Heymarco said:

Isn’t all the tab water onboard distilled?

Technically true, I think they add chlorine and minerals into it therefore no longer distilled. 

Most ships do have reverse osmosis systems, I'll not pretend I know how they work LoL .

31 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

I am vaccinated along with my entire family.  I am not worried that I would be seriously sick if I got it so I generally behave as I did pre covid.  

I would (and have) changed my behavior pre vacation so that I don't travel to my cruise and get turned away from a vacation that I have been anxiously awaiting.

I do basically the same. Honestly as a WFH person still, there really isn't much to do to be more cautious. I am bringing my work laptop in case I get "stuck" somewhere having to quarantine. 

Nothing.

Hopefully this doesn't come across wrong but if I change my behavior for a vacation then I'm questioning how serious I'm taking this virus.

If I test positive, even a false positive, then so be it. IN FACT, if a true positive (I'm vaccinated) I need to question how serious I'm taking this virus.

Edit: although, I did get COVID in January from my wife. She was exposed volunteering as an EMT. 

Not exactly apples to apples, since I'm talking Anthem from NJ to Bermuda so semi apples to oranges, but with iFly it was booked tight, lots on standby. I had the suite concierge book it. I'd say add that to day 1 stuff, run over and make a reservation ASAP. The NS wasn't that bad, however, I want to say I booked it ahead of time, but friends of mine booked onboard at their leisure, via the app. I assume paying the extra $50 is a cruise planner thing? If so it sounds amazing, and worth way more than that. Oh, Alaska, gotta go soon. Enjoy! 

45 minutes ago, twangster said:

@Matt never embellishes like that.  

Of course not! I was referring to other media sources that would  

13 minutes ago, twangster said:

All media invitees so they can report on it properly.  

I can see the headlines now ... "I was a COVID-19 positive volunteer on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and locked up like a prisoner." 

Not a fan of "never" but add me to the inside stateroom list. First cruise, 3-day themed on Carnival - 3 in an inside, BIG mistake. I am a balcony or better person and so is my wife, we like our personal slice of the sea. I'm sailing solo for the first time in September and still booked a balcony, although the price is comparable to an inside room LOL. BUT, I really wanted a balcony, somewhere to sit and stare, even as a solo traveler. 

19 hours ago, MrMarc said:

So can we assume that you have been told not to tell us, or is it that you can't tell us that you were told not to tell us? You know what I mean?

I'm not at liberty to say.

After checking my email I now know two things.

1. Odyssey of the Seas is going to be the star of my next family vacation.
2. I have Amazon packages arriving today.

Even with all the hoops sailing out of Barbados sounds like fun and something only a select few can say they did (one reason I picked Adventure over Labor Day). Although, now that it's been mentioned, it not happening is a strong possibility.

I do like the advice of picking something guaranteed. I also like the wait and see advice.

Tough spot.

Edit: yikes! I didn't read all the quarantine stuff about Barbados. Yeah, if that doesn't change it'll go the way of Bermuda for sure. That wasn't the hoop I was talking about above.

I almost snagged that bottle the other day even though I have plenty, just because! 

Cheers!