S.Marie

My best memory is taking my sister on her first Caribbean cruise. Now she is completely addicted - we've been on several together. and can't wait for our next!!

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

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This^^^^^
I am already researching rapid testing sites in my area, fingers crossed. Many listed like CVS drive through but appointment needed, I'll take 3 tests please, can we sail now???? I believe like myself most who want to sail will do everything in their power to practice healthy behaviors so we can show early on this can be done safely. If I can go to the supermarket I can sail; especially at lower capacity. I'm so ready, mindful, respectful of others, did I say I'm ready? LET.US.SAIL!!!!
@nate91 (great point!) Also the masks! Yikes I hate them...BUT, if I want to go somewhere and participate with others I feel it is my option to either wear them as expected or go home where I can be mask-less. While I am not a mask fan I will do whatever is required of me to participate in my sailing, so easy right? Hopefully everyone stepping on the ship feels the same.  No policing needed, why can't it just be that simple? The crew is under enough pressure.  Respect what is being asked to participate, and enjoy the sailing, rant over!
**I'm trying to figure out how to glue on those dastardly fake long eyelashes so I can smile more with my eye's ?

The requirement to book cruise line excursions is not unexpected and understandable given the need to maintain the "bubble" as much as possible from start to finish.  
The comment that they should should consider the cost of shore excursions to make them more cost attractive is encouraging.

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

It was our 7th wedding anniversary and we decided to take the 2019 holiday cruise on Mariner since we never had a honeymoon. We had so much fun but one of our favorite things is the unlimited dining package! We are foodies so we tried every restaurant. We went to Izumi Hibachi twice because the food was soooo good! 

I've been thinking about Key guests and boarding.  I think anyone who has purchased the Key will need to take a close look at the process once it's announced and determine if the Key still has value for them if certain boarding perks from the past need to be modified for the current situation.  For those who primarily buy the Key for the early boarding perk, day one lunch and bag drop, they may need to consider cancelling the Key and taking the refund.  Others may still find value in everything else the Key has to offer.  

@KathyC we have the Key for our Thanksgiving Oasis cruise and the earliest check in was 2:30 for us too. I’m fine with the later check-in but wonder what adjustments will be made to the Key privileges since we won’t be able to have the embarkation lunch and bag drop off. Perhaps they will replace the lunch with a fancy dinner? 

I love the refreshed look too! 

Pictures are great but for this we need video.
 
 

I came across this video today of someone that is onboard one of the ships that has started sailing (MeinSchiff Blaue Reise). He talks about how boarding was different and the procedures they have on the ship. I thought it was interesting and possibly what it would look like when we can start back.
 
 
 

Don't tell anyone please....I have been stalking my "possible sailing" scheduled for Thanksgiving this November because I lost my August VP cabin this past August and I really needed this cabin. (only 1854 or 1804) and both were previously booked so unavailable for this sailing. Of course we have no assurance this sailing will go, BUT it appeared available Friday night, OMG can I switch ??  Enter Sharla our MEI guru, I called her and shot off an email, understanding fully it was after hours so I did all I could do. 
Within minutes of my email I received a response simply saying " I'm on it" I was flabbergasted, this amazing lady interrupted her personal evening and secured my preferred cabin, shhh don't tell anyone SHE.IS.AMAZING. 
I am so thankful for the day I reached out on this blog and was put in contact with Sharla, I feel like she is more then a TA, she is a friend. Thanks @Matt for being the conduit for our amazing advocate all things Royal, @Sharla. [email protected]
LISTEN CDC, we are more then ready to sail, let's go!

 

When a hurricane spins up during cruise season a lot of people just want to cancel based on an emotional reaction.  Instead Royal stays the course and waits until closer to determine what cruises can operate normally or near normally and don't NEED to be canceled.  That frustrates some people who watch the Weather channel hour after hour and get freaked out.  Meanwhile the smart business play is to only cancel cruises that truly need to be cancelled.  
I've sailed on a cruise that left the day after a Hurricane swept up the FL East coast.  We flew past the Hurricane on the flight down being one of the first planes to land after they reopened the airport.  It was a smooth flight and a great cruise with awesome weather.  Some people were frustrated when they didn't cancel the cruise but the truth is they didn't have to.  By waiting it became clear they didn't need to cancel the cruise.  
That's not a perfect analogy to this pandemic but if they cancel too far out they might be cancelling cruises that can operate.  This week we learned of a new 5 minute test that could be a game changer.  We may be on the verge of getting a vaccine coming to market.  The smart business play is to wait and not cancel cruises that might be able to operate despite the speculation of the public. 
As far as the delay of the Healthy Sail Panel I think that is also smart.  If they announce findings now while the CDC public opinion period is open it will induce thousands of submissions with opinions on the panel's findings from an arguably non-scientific public dwelling over every detail.  All the arguments for both sides of the mask debate will be submitted in the thousands resulting in delays to the CDC progress as they pour through the responses.  That's just one example.  Enter the great "I should be able to serve myself in the buffet" debate or "I should be able to check in whenever I want to" debate or "I must be able to book my own private excursions" debate and so on and so on.  By waiting until after the public response period is closed they save the CDC from facing an onslaught of new opinions being submitted which will just slow down the CDC.   

I said I wasn't going to book another cruise and I held firm on that...  I booked two.