SteveinSC

.....as long as its back before March 07!!! 

.....as long as its back before March 07!!! 

Hello!
In October, we did a RCCL cruise that included a stop to Key West.
We did the train hop/on off (May also be called the conch hop on/off - I just remember it being more of a trolley). It was very affordable for our family of 3. Our son was 12 at the time.
It was great to have the guided tour and be able to hop on/off at any stop. So we hopped off at the stop by the “Southermost Point in the Continental US.” 
 
Was too crowded to really get a family pic, but we found a high ledge near it to snap a quick pic verses the 30 people deep line.
Anyway, we also had lunch at that stop at the Southernmost Beach Cafe. If you don’t mind sitting outside verses the covered patio, service is much quicker! There are umbrellas at the table. But it’s right on the beach. Very affordable, good food, and a great view! (It’s a block down from the trolley stop).
We then did a longer than realized walk to the Fort Zachary Taylor State Park Beach. Walking in was like $2-$3 per person. Very affordable. Reviews of the area said this was the nicest beach (and it was!) there was also restroom facilities. There are a ton of picnic tables too. We initially put our items at an empty table. But then shady characters (who weren’t swimming) sat at that table (verses the empty ones??) So we grabbed out items and moved down the beach. So be careful of theft!
In lieu of walking back (as the nearest trolley stop was a mile or so away), we did a cheap $5 uber back to the trolley stop. We then hopped back on and continued the rest of the guided tour! You could uber to the beach too, or enjoy a walk. It’s all residential walking to the beach from that particular trolley stop.
It was so nice to do what we wanted on our own time. You can even stop at the popular museums verses paying a higher fee through RCCL. Our family of three paid maybe $45-$50 for the guided tour, beach experience, and shopping experience (as the first/last trolley stop is in the middle of all the shopping action!) Saved a lot of money that way. And lunch was maybe $30 (but typically you have to pay for lunch separately anyway on excursions!)
It was an AWESOME experience! Highly recommend. Just be sure for any non-US ports that you do a RCCL excursions. The excursion places that RCCL uses internationally have to use US regulations to be included on their excursion list. Safety first!! ?
 
 
 

Like everyone, I'm hoping for a slow return to sea beginning in November, but sadly don't think that will happen. While November would be better, I would be elated if there was a return in January!

Awesome review! Im aiming to be less than 98 and 1/2 % functional when I leave. lol 

That's better than the $18 intern special!

We have an upcoming cruise on Grandeur of the Seas at the end of March. I have been checking my cruise planner for the last week or so for different sales. It has been showing for the last week that we have purchased the DBP which we haven't. I am sure this will work itself out in the end, but who knows because only time will tell. 

Not really sure. Different fleet size is definitely a factor but so is median age.  Much of Carnival's fleet is smaller and older.  
With the introduction of mega sized ships Royal grew more efficient in terms of revenue per passenger carried.  Smaller fleet but with bigger ships, Royal has been achieving better revenue performance on a relative basis.  For every mega ship Royal has at sea, Carnival needs somewhere between two to three ships to carry the same numbers, passengers and revenue.
Now remove the guests and move into a mode of maintaining and operating a fleet at reduced crew levels.  That's still a Captain per ship, a senior bridge crew per ship,  marine departments per ship, security teams per ship.  Dock fees, fuel minimums, operating certificates, etc. all on a per ship basis.  The highest paid crew positions are still required while many of the lowest paid positions have been sent home. 
The cost to maintain a smaller ship during these times may be slightly lower that the cost to maintain a mega sized ship but at absolute minimums there is a floor that is reached, a minimum operating cost that any ship requires regardless of size.  That extra two to three ships per million in passenger revenue starts to bite them very hard. 
There are also fewer brands so fewer high priced executive teams running each brand.   Royal Caribbean International, the flagship brand operates around the world.  Carnival as in the red whale tail brand that is the flagship primarily operates only in North America.  Carnival Australia is a completely different organization from a corporate structure perspective sharing only the name and whale tail, it's almost like yet another Carnival brand.  For other regions Carnival operates another brand such as P&O, AIDA, Costa for example.  Like ships there are floor costs to operate each brand using the corporate structure that Carnival uses.   For each brand there are presidents and senior vice presidents, etc. - the highest priced positions.
I also think corporate culture starts to creep in as a factor which underlie the revenue performance and revenue efficiency that was experienced during the good times in the decades leading up to this point.  That's hard to quantify in exact numbers.  During the good times the cost of Carnival's corporate culture and inefficiency was masked by the fists full of dollars coming in.  Stripped of passenger revenue and forced to operate at minimums we see it more plainly.   

Sounds like they found a place for a form of cold layup for these two ships.  This was eluded to recently during an investor's call.  Park the ships with minimum crewing to support the basic ongoing upkeep while minimizing demand on ship systems.  
The ship and crew effectively become part of the local society like they are in a building.  This greatly reduces operating costs over the months to come which further helps the company make it even longer.
Great news.  Let's hope for no tropical systems for them to deal with.

Here's another thread that's going to get locked.

Testing should continue to get easier, faster, and more accurate. Apparently this test is a saliva test, rapid, and quite accurate.  It certainly gives me hope.
https://www.yahoo.com/now/the-nba-and-yale-just-landed-the-covid-testing-breakthrough-the-nfl-and-everyone-else-in-the-us-has-been-hoping-for-183335566.html

I wouldn’t care if nobody was tested. I don’t believe any company should be able to force any person to do any type of medical test or procedure. If there was cruising this entire time and no test being done I would still be on the ship. I believe if you are the one that is afraid and wants everyone else to be tested, maybe you shouldn’t be on the ship to begin with. Besides, someone could test negative to get on and the next day have it, so what good does the test do anyways???  

@SteveinSC
I will not lie, we had fun at the 70's party, BUT a lot comes down to the cruise director.  You need them to create the vibe.  I also think it has a lot to do with location, just like The Quest.
The Quest on Anthem is great because of the location.  It is not as good impo on a ship that has it in Studio B (ice rink) due to sitting up higher and further way from the audience.
Flip side I like the 70s party on ships where they do it on the Promenade. 
OBTW, you can always find that loyal to Royal guest because they dress up in 70s outfits or at least don't bat an eye when they see those guests dressed up.  

Its one of my fav things that Royal does....every CD or ship has their own spin on it.....now some are doing 80's and 90's too.....those are always dont miss items for me on the Cruise Compass!

I like the idea of a 70s party....but if its not like Dazed and Confused, im going to be disappointed. 

I like the idea of a 70s party....but if its not like Dazed and Confused, im going to be disappointed. 

Ill take a test to get on board...sure.....
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/08/10/royal-caribbean-cruises-likely-have-covid-19-testing-upon-return/3302471001/
But what happens when people get false negatives?????? 
 

Ill take a test to get on board...sure.....
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/08/10/royal-caribbean-cruises-likely-have-covid-19-testing-upon-return/3302471001/
But what happens when people get false negatives?????? 
 

Wait, what is that?
Is that what I think it is?  I think it is.  That mythical object that we have been banned from seeing all this time. 
It's a cruise ship!

Bar service in Gold Star:

In my made up trip it's 5 o'clock everywhere all the time!

Since it's August as I write this I've decided to start this cruise in Alaska.  I'll be flying to Anchorage and taking the train to Seward.  
Fortunately the flights are near empty and I scored an upgrade to Presidential Class.

The Cruise Denying Consulate (CDC) initially denied the plan I submitted but after the 443rd revision they not only approved my plan but they were so impressed with my protocols they offered to fly me to Anchorage and they came to the airport to see me off:

Apparently the plane was available briefly between jaunts to the golf course so I jumped at the chance to fly this beauty.

I have a fever but it isn't from COVID-19.  I have cruise fever and an itch I can't scratch.   
So why not join me for a wild and impossible cruise itinerary involving teleporting between cabins, ships and continents? 
The Captains have gone crazy and with the newly installed warp drives I'll be having dinner in the Northern hemisphere and eating breakfast in the Southern hemisphere.   From the Oasis Lagoon at CocoCay to an Alaskan glacier the next day.  From the zip line at Labadee through the Panama Canal down under to the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the blink of an eye, this is going to be a wild ride.  
Cruise Itinerary:  Haven't decided yet, we'll see how this plays out.
Cruise Length:  Haven't decided yet, we'll see how this plays out.
Leaving from:  Haven't decided yet, we'll see how this plays out.
 
With a special waiver from the CDC (Cruise Denying Consulate) no ships or crew will be harmed or exposed in the making up of this fake cruise.   
Sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride.  ?
Time to spin the hand sanitizer bottle and see where to begin this journey...

They'll have to make adjustments as they go. They will have a plan A, B, C, D (and so on) in place. I do believe they will have thought of most scenarios before they sail again but there's no way it's a one size fits all kind of thing. 

Ill take a test to get on board...sure.....
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/08/10/royal-caribbean-cruises-likely-have-covid-19-testing-upon-return/3302471001/
But what happens when people get false negatives??????