WAAAYTOOO

I do not believe so.

Just a short musing on the Star Class bennies added to other ships.

Back when SC was first implemented, it was my understanding that they intended to integrate this “all inclusive” concept to the [at least some of] the other ship classes....but that has never happened and I have not heard any further rumors of it happening.  This actually surprises me, given the popularity of SC.  There must be a good reason why this program has not developed beyond the O and Q class ships.  My guess (and that’s all it is) is that they could not figure a way to introduce the a Genie . To me (laughable I’m sure) it seems like it would be fairly easy to do but I guess it isn’t.  Granted, the other ship classes do not have the elaborate SC suites, but adding the all inclusive benefits and some sort of Genie lite doesn’t seem like it would be that hard !

11 hours ago, DJsMrs said:

Out of curiosity - how is the fitness level of this group that thought this was strenuous?  We’re a pretty active and fit crew (me, DH, boys 12 and 10) and are considering doing blue hole.   No judgement - just trying to sort through all this.    The waterfalls look like a gong show in almost every photo I see, but I don’t want to get anyone in over their heads somewhere else either.  
 

TIA

No worries.  That group was a mixed bag but we are all in the 50-60 age group and mostly average in mobility. I’m sure that if you are all even moderately fit you will be fine.

S: Good, actually, great news about your Anthem of the Seas sailing
Good morning! Late last night, we sent you an email sharing the news that the New Jersey Health Authority advised us that they received the results from CDC, and the individuals tested negative for novel coronavirus. (We decided it was a little too late to text you.) The good news, our departure from Cape Liberty, New Jersey will remain the same, at 3:00 PM EST on Monday, February 10th. The even better news, our team has been tirelessly working and has advised you can board the ship today! So, come start your vacation early with us. The terminal doors will open at 3:00 PM today and boarding will take place today from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM EST, or Monday from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST. Please know, since stevedore availability is limited today, you may need to bring your bags onboard with you, so it may be a good idea to pack lightly.

We really appreciate your understanding during this unexpected and very fluid situation. Our top priority is your health, safety, and wellbeing. We would never put you at risk, especially when it comes to health. So, thank you for your patience and we look forward to seeing you later today, or tomorrow!

Yippee !  Boarding today at 3:00. Ready to get this party started !

We have been notified that we can board Anthem today (Sunday) beginning at 3:00. Still sailing tomorrow at 3:00.

I could be wrong, but it seemed to me (if I’m reading the screening guidelines correctly) that you will receive these “extra” screening parameters ONLY if you qualify via the “China” questions. In other words, if you have not been in contact with anyone who meets those (list) of conditions, you will not be subject to the extra screening.

I will find out later today, as we board Anthem at 3:00.

Good luck !

To make a bad situation even worse, we have a dead crew member on Anthem

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crew-member-dies-for-unrelated-reasons-on-virus-delayed-cruise-ship-sources/2282940/

39 minutes ago, Mikeb1892 said:

What about OBC from the RCL Bank of America card? Is that able to be used in Cruise Planner? 

OBC from the RCCL Visa card will be available prior to cruising and available for use via the Cruise Planner.

Update:
 

 

 

 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS           Dear Guest, Thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this situation, that is so challenging for all of us. As we previously shared, we received an update from the CDC. Unfortunately, due to the volume of tests they are conducting for Coronavirus, they will need the next 24-48 hours to complete the test. Given the timing, we are going to push the departure date to Monday in order to have conclusive results before sailing. Our goal is to now set sail from Cape Liberty, New Jersey on Monday, February 10th at 3:00 PM EST. Boarding will begin at 11:00 AM EST and all guests must be onboard by 2:00 PM EST. Please see our revised itinerary. Day Date Port Arrive Depart Fri 2/7/20 Cape Liberty, New Jersey     Sat 2/8/20 Cape Liberty, New Jersey     Sun 2/9/20 Cape Liberty, New Jersey     Mon 2/10/20 Cape Liberty, New Jersey   3:00 PM Tue 2/11/20 Cruising     Wed 2/12/20 King's Wharf, Bermuda 9:00 AM   Thu 2/13/20 King's Wharf, Bermuda   3:30 PM Fri 2/14/20 Cruising     Sat 2/15/20 Cape Liberty, New Jersey 6:00 AM   You may be wondering why our itinerary changed from a Bahamas cruise to a Bermuda cruise. With a Monday afternoon departure, we wouldn’t arrive into Nassau until around 3:00 PM and would need to depart later that evening to make our way back to Cape Liberty – not a great experience. Given that our goal is to provide you with the best vacation possible, we made the decision to sail to Bermuda, where you’ll have more than a day and a half in port to explore. Plus, the weather forecast is looking favorable in Bermuda during our visit. We know how much you were looking forward to beginning your vacation, and we cannot apologize enough for the impact this situation has caused. But we can try to make up for it.  Should you chose to join us, our updated compensation is: A 50 % refund, which will be added to your Onboard Account as a refundable onboard credit.  And, because we know that this is not how any of us wanted this to go, and we want you to give us another shot, we will be also provide you with a 50% future cruise credit. In addition, if you purchased an internet or beverage package, unlimited dining package, or pre-paid your gratuities, you’ll receive a prorated refund as a credit for the 3 days your cruise was shortened by to your Onboard Account. Any pre-purchased Royal Caribbean International shore excursions for the impacted ports will also be refunded to your Onboard Account. If you choose not to sail, we completely understand and you may cancel and receive a full refund. You do not need to do anything to cancel, no need to call or contact us for this, as we want to make it as easy for you as possible. If you do not show up to the pier, we will understand that you decided not join us and we will automatically process your refund. You should see it on your account 3-5 days after our updated departure. If you decide to sail and are local, we ask that you please relax at home and make your way to the cruise terminal on Monday. If you flew in, we’ll assist you with hotel accommodations up to $200 USD per stateroom, per night. If you decide to cancel, and flew in, we will assist you with air change fees to get you back home. We will cover $200 USD per person for domestic flights or $400 USD per person for international flights. Please send your receipts to RoyalGuestRelations@rccl.com for reimbursement. And lastly, if you booked your airfare with us and choose to cancel, we will help you reschedule your return flights home. As promised, we will continue to keep you informed and will share an update with you tomorrow at 9:00 AM EST, even if there is no new news. As always, you can check our dedicated Anthem page at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/AnthemUpdates for live updates. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we ensure your safety and wellbeing. Sincerely,     Additional details:  All credits applied to your Onboard Account can be used anywhere onboard, and any unused credits will be refunded back to your credit card on file about 3 – 5 business days after the sailing ends. If you sail, your refund and future cruise certificate will be based on the total cruise fare paid, per person, non-inclusive of taxes and fees. You can expect to receive your future cruise credit by Friday, February 14th, 2020 at 6:00 PM EST.

©2020 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships' registry: The Bahamas. Royal Caribbean International 1050 Caribbean Way Miami, FL 33132 USA

 

So are we happy about this change ?  Nope....but we’re going for a couple of reasons.

 

1.  We are already here. We’ve already waited a day and a half.  What’s another day and a half ?

2.  This is my annual “free” casino Prime Cruise.  If I cancel, I will only have until 31 March to book another cruise.  Even if that were practical, I am having surgery at the end of Feb (knee replacement) and I will not be ready to cruise again that soon. If I don’t stay on this cruise, I will lose my free annual cruise.

3.  Dan redeemed $500 worth of RCCL Visa point as OBC for this cruise.  I don’t believe those are retrievable if he cancels this cruise.

 

So....looks like we’re going to Bermuda in Feb. Can’t wait.

 

4 hours ago, SwagsAF said:

Thanks for posting the updates. Where are you getting them from? I looked on the official royal website but didn’t see anything. 

We are getting texts and once in a while, emails.  Still waiting for the “no-later-than-5:00” update (it’s 5:16 right now).

Actually, I have not seen any Star Class “specials” since that first one years ago.  I never even knew about the one you found for this cruise, Sabrina.  Good job in finding it !

Update:

S: Here's the latest concerning your sailing on Anthem of the Seas.
We're still waiting for the results from the CDC. As we shared on our 11 AM update, if we do not have confirmation of when we can expect results by 1:30 PM, we are going with our alternate plan. At that time, we will provide you with updated boarding times, itinerary, and compensation. If we have to delay further, and you no longer want to sail, we completely understand, and you may cancel and receive a full refund. We will share another update at 1:00 PM EST or as soon as we hear from them, whichever comes first. Thanks for your patience and apologize for this situation.

Update:

S: Here's the latest concerning your sailing on Anthem of the Seas.
We're still waiting on the conclusive results from the CDC from their office in Atlanta, GA. We're planning to announce the status of boarding at 1:30 PM EST today. If we do not have confirmation of when we can expect results, our plan is to delay boarding until tomorrow. If we do end up needing to delay boarding until Sunday, we will provide you with updated boarding times, itinerary, and compensation at 1:30 PM EST. If we have to delay further, and you no longer want to sail with us on Sunday, we completely understand, and you may cancel and receive a full refund. We are hopeful that we will not need to delay your vacation further, but we also don't want to have you start to make your way to the terminal only for us to find out that we won't have the test results this afternoon. We will continue to provide updates every hour. We greatly appreciate your patience and apologize for this situation.

15 minutes ago, ellcee said:

Are you guys at least doing something fun or relaxing? Unfortunately the weather has been crappy these past two days.

No, we don’t have a car and decided to just stick around the hotel. I will say, downtown Newark is quite an experience.  At least we will be thrilled to get out of here and get on the ship finally. 
 

No new updates so it looks like 5:00 today for boarding and 10PM departure.  Yippee !

No more updates for now so hopefully things have stabilized.  At this point they are refunding 2 days of cruise fare, 2 days of prepaid packages and reimbursing hotel and food up to $200.  They’ve cancelled Nassau (yippee) and cut out 1 sea day.  IF things go smoothly tomorrow I think all will be well.  I have a 4:00 checkout at the hotel so if they begin boarding at 5:00 that should work out.

13 minutes ago, ctwilliams said:

Hmmm...changed again:

 

We’ll set sail from Cape Liberty at 10:00 PM on Saturday, February 8th instead of 3:00 PM on Friday, February 7th. Additionally, our visit to Port Canaveral will now be on February 11th from from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM and to Perfect Day at CocoCay on February 12th from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Unfortunately, we’ll be unable to visit Nassau, Bahamas.

 

I guess I will be sitting in a hotel lobby!

 

Oh also, be glad you skipped Charlotte. I was trying to get to Newark from Charlotte and everything was cancelled due to the local tornados and just crazy storms for February. I ended up at JFK (of course my luggage ended up in Newark) and had to do the $120 uber to get back to Newark. Fun travel day yesterday.

Hmmm...thanks for the intel.  Dans phone is in a mandatory push update (a fact about which he is altogether unhappy) so we had not yet gotten this update.  Great change IMO (Taking out Nassau, I mean).

3 hours ago, PurdueFlyer said:

We ended up cancelling the Quantum sailing  as I alluded to up-thread.  I found a 7-nighter on Jewel out of Dubai the following week that worked for us.

Instead of waiting for my fare voucher to show up, from the cancelled Quantum sailing, Royal allowed me to immediately roll those funds into my new Jewel sailing since I already told them what I wanted to do.  That was nice of them.  Not like I wouldn't be cruising at some point this year anyways, but a bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush as the saying goes.  

Also got a refund of the DL flights to Singapore so thats, $1550 back in my pocket.  Our new flights AMS-DXB were only $550.  Not bad for 2 weeks out. 

My only disappointment is earning 7 cruise nights instead of 9 this time.  All the more reason to book another one! 

That’s an awesome outcome for you !  Enjoy Jewel.

44 minutes ago, Geoff P said:

With boarding at 1 tomorrow now, what time should we get to the port?

Boarding has been pushed back again.  Now boarding is supposed to begin at 5:00.  We plan on being at the Port between 4-5:00.

As I posted on another thread, embarkation has been pushed back AGAIN.  Now boarding will begin at 1700 tomorrow and shove-off at 2100.

Update.  
 

So the boarding has been pushed back AGAIN. Boarding of Anthem will now BEGIN at 1700 tomorrow afternoon; departure scheduled for 2100. As far as I know that awful schedule is still intact with a shortened Port Canaveral stay and an unsat long Nassau stay. It’s a damn good thing that I am a Titanium elite with Marriott and can basically check out of here anytime I want to tomorrow or we’d be stranded with nowhere to go until 5:00.  It’s hard for me to imagine what pushing back the embarkation time from 1300 to 1700 is going to yield. Maybe extra cleaning.  Who knows. My patience is beginning to wear thin.

1 hour ago, Andrew72681 said:

I’m hoping for a similar fate for our Oasis sailing in April, right now it’s only stop is Nassau, selfishly hoping for skipping that port and heading to CocoCay

No such luck for us.  They just shortened the stop at Port Canaveral which was, unfortunately, the only stop where we had something planned.  Ugh.  So I am just going to cancel my car rental for CC and we’ll just stay on the ship. We’ll be in Nassau 7 AM - 11 PM.  OMG, really ?

2 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

DC to Newark....Acela first class.....unless someone jumps on the track I've never had an issue on the train

Thanks !  How long does it take ?

8 minutes ago, DDaley said:

So glad to hear that! Are you guys gonna stay in NJ tonight? 

Yes.  I booked a Courtyard in Newark. Site unseen. On the fly. In the Uber. Livin’ dangerous.  

Just now, SteveinSC said:

Probably safe, and this is all erring on the side of caution. Hope y'all have a great day in Sunny, Friendly Newark, New Jersey!  Have a great cruise and enjoy that OBC! 

Thanks, Steve.  Unfortunately, it is cold, rainy and gloomy here.  It was a a ROUGH ride from DC...but we made it.

Our itin was originally DCA-CLT-EWR but yesterday AA contacted us and advised significant weather delays for CLT and allowed us to make changes without a fee. I opted for a non-stop into JFK and BOY am I glad I did !  I’m not sure whether or not that original flight ever left CLT.  It’s a pricey Uber ride from JFK ($160.00) but I’d rather pay a little more and get here than get stuck in CLT and frankly, I think that is what would have happened.