Ferramc

Also - this will be the first time I'm booking a last minute cruise. Are there other limitations I should be aware of before I book? Thanks again.

So another question today - I will be missing the 45 day opening up for on line check in for boarding times by about a week. Wondering if anyone can weigh in re the odds that I will get stuck with a late on board time? It's only a 3 night cruise so it wouldn't be worth it if I lose most of the first day. I've also gotten really spoiled with early check ins on past cruises so I don't think I could handle waiting around til the afternoon anyway! Thanks

Thanks for the info. Freedom it is!

Thanks

I'm going to be booking a last minute (and very much needed) 4 day cruise in March or April. Ship options are Freedom, Liberty or Indy. I've never been on any of them. Any recommendations as to which one to choose? Thanks.

Thanks - the going going gone list is what I was looking for.

I'm looking for the link to RCCL's last minute cruise offers. I know it's been posted before, but I couldn't find it. Thanks.

I can’t help it The bloggers on this board enticed me to try star class - which I did in May for the first time! It was a great experience but not one I’m willing to spend over $13k for 2 of us to replicate (almost as much as it cost for 7 of us in the rccl villa last month). But I’m a deal hunter and Celebrity’s 60% off sale and the room availability made it possible for me to get the royal treatment again at a more reasonable cost The best part is celebrity is giving us OBC and the TA I use will give some too! But I will be sailing RCCL sometime in the next 12 months so I’m still staying on this site! I have a cruise certificate that needs to be used by June 2023. I’m going to look for last minute deals somewhere between November and March.

Thank you. Hopefully we won’t have any service issues since we’re in the royal suite (retreat). I just took our first star class on royal Caribbean last month and got completely spoiled. The prices were really high for Royal Star class next May, which is why I looked at celebrity. For whatever reason the week we’re going is 3-5k less than other celebrity Royal suite sailings in May and June.

Hi everyone, I’ve been a die hard royal cruiser for over 28 years (only a diamond as there were some lean, limited travel years). I just got a really good deal on a Celebrity Equinox cruise - retreat class, royal suite - that I jumped on for next May. Life has presented some unique challenges the past few months and it was time to do something positive. This cruise it will be just my husband and me - we’ll be celebrating 35 years! Has anyone sailed the Equinox since it was refurbished? I know this is a royal blog but would love to hear thoughts on sailing the equinox compared to the Oasis class ships Thanks

I’m sad to say I’ve decided to end this blog now, even though we haven’t cruised yet and it was just getting close to the good stuff. Without going into details, the universe just keeps throwing curveball after curveball. While we are still planning on cruising, I need to disconnect and decompress so I can come back ready to deal with the impacts of all those curveballs. I will take some pictures and post them at some point once things settle down. Thanks to all for following along until now. And all the great tips that helped me plan what will be an amazing cruise!

Thanks for asking. My mom and sister are tired, but otherwise past most Covid symptoms. My niece tested positive a few days ago but she’s nearing the end of her symptoms. I’ve tested everyday and am negative so far. I plan to stay in hotels through at least Friday to avoid infecting other family members just in case. Barring any other crises, we are all still planning on going on the cruise with a boarding time of 1045 - we are so ready to have fun! I sent Andrei an email asking for a few specific dinner requests, but am leaving the majority of planning up to him. I’m not sure how thoroughly he read my note as I think there may be some conflicts (ie he replied he would book hibachi on the 1st night, but I asked to eat in CK when they have the filet- which I think is also the first night!) I figure I will get back to him over the weekend when I get caught up with life again. The past 6 quarantine days have gone so slow - it feels like 2 weeks have gone by. If only cruise time could last this long!

So…… just when you think life can’t get any more complicated, it does. I’ve read some pretty crazy family stories on here and I think this one is worth adding to the list. Please bear with me as I have to get this out of my system. It does end up relating to this cruise. I had to make an emergency trip to Connecticut to help my sister who is dealing with a terminal illness. I flew in first thing Friday morning and was there for several hours when my 78-year-old mom called and said she had tested positive for Covid (my mom). Right before that my sister had told me she wasn’t feeling well, but she has very limited visitors and doesn’t go out, so I never considered Covid. Like who in their right mind would go see someone who is terminally ill when there is even a remote possibility they have Covid ? I guess the answer is my mother - who wasn’t in her right mind My mom then said she hadn’t been feeling well for about two weeks but still went over to see my sister the Saturday before Easter. Without taking a freaking Covid test because she thought she had a sinus infection. Of course I tested my sister immediately and it didn’t even take five minutes for her test to show positive. So guess who has now been exposed to Covid due to close contact with her sister? Yep, that’s right - lucky me. So now I am not able to do anything I planned to do for my sister because I’m hoping and praying I don’t have Covid and don’t want to take a chance of going back into my her house. To add to my frustration, my mother told me today that she had to wait four days for her test results to come in - and then it dawned on me - she knew for four days before I flew out that she had been tested for Covid and didn’t tell me. I would never have made the trip if I knew she could possibly have Covid So now I’m worried about my sister who’s already pretty weak - luckily she seems to be holding her own but she’s not out of the woods yet. Then I’m worried about my mom who is also pretty weak but also holding her own. And I have to check my frustration with my mom because she’s 78 years old and losing it a little. And now I can’t go back to Michigan and be near my husband or daughter for at least a week because they have health issues and I can’t get them sick. And finally, my throat has been sore all day and I’m hoping it’s because of my flight and not because I have Covid. Oh and let’s not forget the cost of this fiasco. Airfare $900 since it was a very last minute flight. Hotel fees $400 and counting (probably have 5 more nights to go). This will be well over $2000 by the time I’m done. So with all that said, I am going to try to turn things around and think positively. I tested negative today and I’m going to test the next few days. I am hoping and praying I don’t have covid or worst case, if I do, it clears up and I get a negative result before I need to take the pre cruise test in 19 days. . I really need this cruise and a vacation. Also, I promise my next post will have more information about my conversations with Andrei , who has been wonderful so far!

I just bought 2 more pairs that I’m keeping for sure and have another 2 that I ordered on line and am waiting to arrive to see if they are comfortable! I really didn’t do much shopping in the last two years since I worked remote and I’m making up for it now. My daughter does the second suitcase for shoes, too and I think I’m going to have to do that this time as well!

Woohoo! This is beginning to feel so real. We just got our first genie email - from Andrei! So excited! I remember reading great things about him on past blogs and Facebook, but will go back to learn more, now that we know it’s Andrei! I’d also love to hear from anyone who knows how best to approach working with him. Thanks