WAAAYTOOO

You do get to pick and choose, you just can't make your dining reservations until you get on the ship.  You can do it on boarding day at any open specialty restaurant or usually they have a kiosk on the Promenade.  I've even been able to make reservations in the app once onboard.

We are going on that cruise too!  There are 3 couples going and will be celebrating a big birthday for hubby as he turns 65 during the cruise. 

The 125% OBC offer came in the cancellation emails for the ones I was canceled on.  You could only get the 125% OBC if you took the 125% FCC offer.  
The one that we accepted the offer on ended up getting all messed up.  We ended up getting a partial cash refund of cruise planner purchases and an FCC issued.  Then a bit later we got a cash refund for the cruise deposit despite having the FCC for the same.  Fortunately our MEI TA, Beth, got it all cleaned up for us. We ended up with a 125% OBC for what we didn't get a cash refund for and we got a good faith FCC for the 25% on the cruise deposit.  It was a mess and a headache and I'm so glad we had a TA handle it for us.

Now they're discussing mud flaps on trucks.

16 Days!!!  On Allure, out of Port Canaveral, or as I like to call it, home. 

Other than the gratuity issue and paying for a covid test for my son who just turned twelve a few weeks ago and isn't elgible to be vaccinated. Check in was a little stressful. They didnt check my son's insurance policy they required. Also took pictures of our vaccine cards which was strange. Masks in public spaces like promenade, and elevators. Unvaccinated had a special floor in the theater. No masks on coco cay. Nassau excursion to Blue Lagoon had masks everywhere unless in the water. Overall it wasn't too bad. The staff were great and appreciative.

Please let me know if your get 10 in the cabana because we have 10 and I was going to be forced into booking 2 during Thanksgiving cruise this year. 

There's clearly going to be a 5 night sailing on Anthem between 20th-25th October... but not showing on the booking system.  Probably because in the app it shows as the 10night TA.
If it didn't take so long to get through to RCCL on the phones, I might have rung them to let them know ?.

So far it's been bickering between NCL and the judge about what the Florida law actually means and doesn't mean

There's way more back and forth in opening arguments than I've ever seen in Law & Order. 
The prohibition on recording is interesting. If I was in court, I could jot down notes, no? Anywho, which one of you will bail me out of jail? Asking for a friend.

First key info coming out of the hearing: the court reporter doesn't like fast talking lawyers and she'll kick the ass of the lawyer who doesn't slow down.

That what I saw too.  Good to see.  

The most interesting thing is Liberty has a test sail date

We prepay, but only about a week or so in advance of the cruise -- I forget the # of days, but it's basically the latest we can do it prior to the cruise.  I prefer to prepay, since I don't like seeing the daily charges creeping up, but don't want to give them my money too early either

I noticed this week that another sister brand to HAL wasn't offering plane excursions in Ketchikan.  
Terrible way to restart tourism in the region.  Will have to wait to see what was involved with this crash. 

We received an email this morning from Royal to register for a chance to secure a test cruise. Funny thing is, when I initally filled in the form, I did put my country as AUS (Australia) so would think they may have filtered out all non US citizens as we do not qualify.  
They are teasing us poor Aussie, stuck in lock down in fortress Oz.  

2021
Mariner August 23
Odyssey - September 11
Mariner - October 11
Allure - October 17
Independence - December 6
2022
Brilliance - January 17
Independence - February 21
Odyssey - March 26
independence - May 9
Serenade - June 5
Serenade - June 12
Mariner - July 9
Mariner - August 21

A lot of Airports are setting up testing.  DFW airport (where I fly out of) contracted with a lab company and they provide the range of testing at a few locations pre/post security.  For my Celebrity cruise this month, where the 72 hours before embarkation was specified, I am going to the airport 2 days early (about 70 hours before sail-away) and getting an antigen test done at the pre-security testing facility.  It was $79, results in an hour, and I have the next two days to try a second test, If i got a positive to either determine if it was false, or if it was real.  

Thank God for Auto-Fill

Even the Royal FB Page is talking to you…

In my circles that is what we call a “sign”

RCCL should have every right as a business to enforce whatever restrictions / requirements they see fit.  Until there is herd immunity, RCCL should not have to risk shutting down again.  If there are customers who are pissed because they can't travel unless they are vaccinated, do something else instead of cruise.  The virus will continue to mutate forever.  I wish there was no virus and everything were normal but that is not our reality.  Until we realize this isn't a freedom issue but a health issue, cruising will continue to be a high risk vacation. 

Right now policy applies until December 31st for Florida sailings.
Details can be seen at: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/will-i-have-to-take-a-test-before-i-cruise#florida

News article today regarding the Italian Governments new "Green Pass " legislation.
Basically if anyone ( local or tourist) wants to do anything while in Italy even enter a cafe then you have to show green pass app and photo ID.
Green pass app is to show proof of vaccine!
No App No Entry.