MrHaga

I think nearly everyone prepares for a cruise right? Have you ever noticed how many new pairs of shoes shoes you see on fellow passengers on Day 1? In my case going on a cruise also means putting at least $100 into a cash register at Kohls. If Kohls does not have the shoes or dress pants or flip flops or polo I am looking for....I go to a different  store. I think it is entirely fair for Royal to prepare for an upcoming cruise in the same way. If they forecast a reasonable need based on upcoming passenger volume for more labor, potato flour, or Jack Daniels and they can't obtain this items from their normal vendors....then they too need to go to a different store.
We all can accept some shortcomings. You can blame it on COVID, supply chain issues, or unexpected demand. But the OP is bringing up a different situation. The OP (and lots of chatter I hear from other places online) is that for the high price that is being paid for todays cruise fares and onboard spending; there are too many shortcomings. So many shortcomings that they can no longer be overlooked and people are getting upset. 
This needs to stop, pronto.
 
 
 

When I stay/buy a hotel room, I'm paying for a clean bed, clean bathroom, hot water, and a few other amenities.  When I stay in a hotel, I pay anywhere between a +/- hundred to +/- three hundred dollars a night.  When I have a booking in a hotel and upon check-in I find things to be substandard, I can go to the front desk and refuse the room, cancel and get a credit back on my C.C., believe me, I know this to be true.   
When I buy a cabin on a cruise ship for X amount of days, which is a CLOSED/CAPTURED society after it starts to cruise, includes much much more than just a clean bed, clean bathroom, hot water, and a few other amenities, but for thousands of dollars more.  A cabin on a cruise ship includes, which is advertised heavily, several different kinds of shows, several different restaurants, several different kinds of adventures and excursions.  What I expect from a cruise line is to be honest and upfront.  If the Northstar isn't going to be operating throughout the cruise, so state in advance.  If a particular eating venue isn't going to be open throughout the entire cruise, say so in advance, if a show isn't going to be offered, say so in advance.  If the cruise is short handed to the point that many/all venues and activities are impacted in one way or another, so state in advance.   If most or all mentioned is true/happening, don't continue to hide it, don't require full price as if nothing is missing, and be up front with it.  There is one quick way to lose loyal customers, which is the backbone of almost every business, and that is to be dishonest with them.  And BTW, once the cruise ship leaves the pier/dock, you can't just say you unsatisfied and check out.  

I'll never understand why we should accept less for the money spent. Any other product to price point we'd hold the producer of the product to a high standard for money spent, aka Return on Investment (ROI), and we'd demand standards are kept but cruising seems to be the one place were I read they are trying, they have X problems and it'll get better. If I go on a trip and pay thousands of dollars, sometimes 10's of thousands, I better get a good ROI or I'm not doing it again.

Any from Wonder of the Seas Barcelona Sailings?

No, but you'll get an email to register them for a test at the pier.

Hopefully, but I will say European/Non North American cruise compasses are EXTREMELY rare. I think I am the only one to send in a Cruise Compass from Anthem's entire UK season last year.

On the app you can skip right to arrival time, then do the rest later. On the website you cannot.

Simple answer: Yes.

The new recommendations will come into force from May 16. But the agencies said mask rules will still vary from airline to airline beyond that date.
Passengers traveling on flights to or from a destination where mask-wearing is still mandatory on public transport may still be required to wear a mask, for example.
 
Its a recommendation only! Airlines and other forms of transport can still insist on the wearing of masks if they want to. 

EU authorities drop mandatory masks on planes and in airports
New recommendations will come into force from May 16.
 
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-authorities-drop-mandatory-masks-on-planes-and-in-airports/

Mixed emotions from this report.
I was anticipating the challenge of having adult beverages going for the entire 13 hour flight from San Francisco to Barcelona. (Can’t drink with a mask on)
My wife and those passengers sitting around me will now benefit, as will my liver.

EU authorities drop mandatory masks on planes and in airports
New recommendations will come into force from May 16.
 
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-authorities-drop-mandatory-masks-on-planes-and-in-airports/

EU authorities drop mandatory masks on planes and in airports
New recommendations will come into force from May 16.
 
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-authorities-drop-mandatory-masks-on-planes-and-in-airports/

Careful, saying "positive result" in a  covid test thread usually isn't a good thing😀

The kids wristbands will be waiting for you in your stateroom on boarding day. Make sure to tuck in the end of the strap, or cut off with nail clippers so it's not in the way. We've also been able to find scissors at Adventure Ocean or Guest Services to cut off the excess if needed.

Only recently did they put the wristband in your room.  Prior to that it was part of the checkin process before you board.

My bad. of course you are correct. Soda package. So if I understand you correctly I can go pick one up at one of the tables at the promenade when i have made a purchase pre-cruise. So they are not placed in the staterooms at arrival anymore?
So if I purchased 4 soda+voom I would have to set up the accounts on Voom with my credentials on the the devices for the 3 other person in our group, so that it recognize that it is me who have Purchased it?

https://yourvalley.net/stories/italy-greece-relax-covid-restrictions-before-tourism-season,300432
"As of Sunday, visitors to Italy also no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated and user-unfriendly online form required at airport check-in."
 
As of Sunday, visitors to Italy also no longer have to fill out the EU passenger locator form, a complicated and user-unfriendly online form required at airport check-in.

When a refreshment package is ordered pre-cruise in the cruise planner... Where do we get our Coca-Cola souvenir cup the first day?
And also if the package included Voom, where do we the Username/Passord to connect to the onboard wifi?

Granted, ymmv, but we’ve only get the Surf package and use WiFi calling onboard. 
 

 

Hmmm, for the $42 difference, starting to think 4x VOOM is a better idea. 
 
Thanks everyone!

When you purchased you should have had to select the individuals in your room you were purchasing the package for. Each of them will have to sign up for their own VOOM access. They are asked for first name, birth year and stateroom number to create your VOOM account.

The cups are available, on the first day, at a few tables set up in the Promenade area…most bars will also have them.  If you are like me and forget to pick it up until day 3!!!  then you’ll need to find out where to get it.  In my case…it was at the Ben &Jerry’s (I was on the Freedom).   I didn’t think there is a pkg that includes refreshment and VOOM…thought that was only with soda or alcohol pkg.  At any rate once you are on the ship you are able to connect to VOOM and if you have trouble doing so (like not so tech savvy me!) there is a booth near guest services specifically for Internet purchase and help.

If you set up the cruise, the reservation number that you enter into the app will automatically populate all travelling members that you booked for.

But will their system recognize that the muster information has been viewed in the app prior to boarding? I already watched the videos for our upcoming Alaska cruise (and learned exactly what I expected to learn - absolutely nothing).