Spang1974

I know it's not the same situation in some respects, but Five Guys in the UK are allowing customers to use Freestyle machines and reuse their paper cups in them. They say on their website they are sanitizing the touchscreens, more often but I didn't witness this ( I wasn't watching for this though).

Probably repainted as in new paint for maintenance, but not color, she always had the light blue hull, it's tough to tell the difference sometimes.

From my sailing's Facebook page: John Wakefied - She’s currently at anchor in Poole Bay. This photo was taken from the coast at Southbourne.

I just wanted to share some good vibrations. While I had two cruises cancelled this year (May, Oct), and I am still waiting on taxes and fees to be refunded, I have made the best of a bad situation. I gladly chose the 125% FCC and the 125% cruise planner credit. I have done all the bookings myself, mostly through email using RCI sales reps I have used in the past, because I’m in the UK and don’t really have a goto travel agent. So the good news is I have been able to go from an 8 night sailing to a 12 night sailing (with nothing but gratuities, taxes, and fees to pay) using the 125% FCC and have amassed $1400 OBC to spend. I have lost out on about $125 OBC credit but considering the 4 extra nights and the itinerary (Canary Islands, Portugal, and Spain) I am super excited! I didn’t even have to pay a deposit, as FCC was reinstated while I was on the phone finalising the booking. So yes, it has not been ideal, I am still looking at a much better cruise than I started out with in my opinion. The new booking is for July 2021, so hopefully 3rd time lucky.

Well after my second cancellation I booked again for next summer! 3rd time lucky? So I’m back to 327 days and counting. I have never booked this far out before. Can anyone tell me when the Royal App starts to let you explore your sailing? Or has COVID 19 disrupted this as well? Back to waiting for my 90 day check-in, stalking the blog, and watching cruise planner every day. TIA

Are there open sessions to use the Flowrider? and if so what is the average wait time in your experience?

No confirmation what so ever unfortunately. I took a screenshot when I did it and the sent email asking for confirmation to the customer service email before the cutoff date.

Yes, you lose any UK protections like ABTA/ATOL when booking through a US or out of country agent. I personally have done it in the past, but with the way things are going this year, I'm glad I am protected.

Posted on RCI website: • Explorer of the Seas’ revitalization will take place August 2020 given the closure of shipyards along with the disruption to the supply chain caused by this pandemic. As a result, Explorer’s August 2020 sailings will be cancelled and the revitalization will be a technical dry dock where only routine maintenance work will take place.

WOW, not a good decision by RCI. Maybe they will soon announce compensation for those sticking, allow no penalty refunds, Lift and Shifts, or lift and shift to Allure's new itineraries?

I concur. You would have to get off ship early, uneventful trip from port to airport, and then deal with normal airport stuff. As a frequent visitor to Italy i can tell you there is a thing called "Italian Time", meaning they get things done when things get done, not a place I know for it's promptness or rushing, in my opinion of course.

I am sure there are lots of "official" exceptions. The UK has lots of these. For example if you work in the EU one day a week, you are exempt from the 14 day travel quarantine. Drive a delivery truck, exempt. Essential healthcare, exempt. Military, exempt. I believe some of these new policies are just for show.

Cruise planner purchases are refunded, and you have to repurchase them again at the prevailing rate.

No, I'm not ash-hole, Definitely A Good place Reference, re-watching the whole series this week. That seems like a better explanation.

Yes, I call bullshirt (not of the OP but the Facebook? tweet?), I mean I could create an excel sheet with ship names and bogus launch dates in a bout 5 minutes or less.

Nobody know at this point in time. She is still in dry dock. i think the general consensus is she is only having maintenance and certifications done.

Miss Cruising all together. Selfie and view from North Star on Anthem of The Seas September 2019.

I understand, I don't think anyone will have that information.

I believe Allure is just having maintenance and certification done at the moment. She was planned to have upgrades but these have been cancelled due to COVID 19 and the shutdown in an effort to save RCI money.

Same here, Just waiting on taxes and port fees now, but I have no expectation of receiving before July, so very positive experience for me as well.

With regards to my 125% FCC. Not sure if I just got the wrong advisor (or if it's a UK thing), but my booking in the UK they would not refund my deposit (FCC paid for the entire fare), and they used the deposit to pay most of the taxes and port fees. I still haven't received my taxes or port fees back from the cruise they cancelled, but don't expect them until end of July.

As far I know or that they advertise. We haven't sailed from the UK with RCI...yet. Our last cruise was from Bayonne. She was able to use the three smoking sections (two outdoor and Casino) on Anthem.

Tricky one for us as I don't smoke (ex-smoker) but my wife works for a vape company and vapes. She is not an obvious vape user, and by that I mean she does not create clouds of vapor, in fact she is very conscious of others and does not release any vapor at all if she chooses not to. If we were told she could not vape at all, I think we would have to go elsewhere:( or she would have to flaunt the rules by vaping in the cabin, the toilets, or by concealing her habit.

As they are not launched yet, I would say they are in a very unique position as far as training and recruiting with a totally new crew, and the other cruise lines won't follow suit.

No, I wasn't going to move the cruise or choose a different sailing/ship based on the cost of the DBP. I was not choosing a sailing or ship based on those costs, It was a specific sailing I had inquired about and based on the information I received, I booked the cruise. If the price for the DBP on that particular sailing was not within my budget I would not have booked. I guess I am lucky in that I always end up receiving a cruise fare and DBP price I am comfortable with. I would not have inquired about other sailings to pick and choose based on the different prices.