MinnesotaCruiser

Harmony XMas Cruise just changed ports from Antigua TO St. Maarten….interesting.

Doc here.  I work closely with COVID positive patients daily.  I always answer this question when I travel as a “no.”  I wear appropriate PPE and take precautions (even  above and beyond as well to prevent transmission.)  This is not considered an exposure.  In reality, I’m more at risk of exposure going to my local grocery store (which I don’t do- I love grocery pickup!)

Yes, this answers my question.  I noticed that there was a structural beam every 3rd cabin or so (it looks like where the balconies are less deep) and wanted to make sure it didn’t interfere with opening the dividers.  Thanks!

My family and I are booked in 3 rooms next to each other on deck 14 overlooking Central Park.  I know that you can open the dividers on the balconies to create a larger one.  My question is: are you able to open all of the dividers?  Specifically the dividers of the cabins if they are on different “scallops/humps”?  Hopefully that makes sense.  

Same here for Allure in December- $44 for deluxe beverage although since this is a cruise without kids we have to have internet to keep in touch with the Grandparents babysitters- $52 for beverage package + Voom.  Still a steal!

It’s still $89 for Symphony a month later.......I’ll be drinking water in a glass and house black coffee for that sailing unless the price drops!!

55 minutes ago, danv3 said:

But they can fire you for not answering.

Can they fire me if I lie?  How would anyone know if I never posted pics online or never told anyone where I was going in my workplace?

My husband and I are going to Labadee with our three children (3, 7, and on Symphony in January 2021.  This will be our first port of call for the cruise so I am concerned about getting burned and then ruining the rest of the cruise. I really don’t like wind and prefer it warm (Solarium is my favorite place on the ship) so I figured we should avoid adrenaline beach.  With the ages of the kids I thought either Nellie’s or Columbus Cove as I have heard the sand is very nice.  
 

My question is: Do I really need a cabana/bungalow?  With an Oasis class ship are we going to get a nice spot on one of the beaches?  If not I was going to go with a Columbus Cove bungalow as the price is much better than a cabana.  Is the bungalow worth it with kids?  

Solarium!  I also enjoyed the top deck aft between the two Flow Riders- beautiful aft view and there’s a bar right there.

Yup!  $89 for our 7 night Symphony January 2021!!  No way!!  
 

We bought for the same cruise 1 year prior and it was $57 and very worth it. I like specialty coffee and water bottles too so a few Boleros coconut mojitos so it wasn’t a waste.

Just bought it for our December 2020 Allure at $55.

Somewhere 8-10 mid/forward.  Aft doesn’t have easy access to stairs or elevators (I believe).  Forward or mid is not bad as long as you are not prone to seasickness if you are forward.  These decks are not next to really anything that is loud in general.  If you don’t want to wait for an elevator you are not too far from going up or down stairs.  

All of the non cruisers may talk down on cruising now but know there will be some jealous eyes when I post some amazing pictures from our December and January cruises.  For now I’m just taking advantage of the discounted rates!

My parents are appalled that we are booked for two more cruises.  They say ships are dirty.  Honestly, after going on one I think going to the grocery store is 100 times worse- there’s just no way to track it since everyone is not in the same place for a week plus.  Not once did I go into the bathroom and there wasn’t some attendant cleaning it and it seemed like the second I touched something on the ship someone was right behind me wiping it down.  Our stateroom bathroom was cleaned twice daily.  One of the cleanest places I have ever been!  Much judgement towards my husband and I are from people who have never been.  

Eh?

7 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I figured as much.  Sucks, really.

Once you book your casino offer let us know if the gratuities have gone up.  I just booked mine and the suites gratuity is now $19 PP/PD.

The upgrade discount was 38% which is about what it was last year so I'm relieved that they aren't going even lower.  2 years ago it would have been around 60%.

 

Gratuity on Allure was $14.50/person/day for an interior.

Please be kind to doctors during all of this....and all medical staff.  Even if it’s not in the middle of the outbreak where you are healthcare facilities are very busy even preparing for this behind the scenes.  Much of this is unknown chartered territory as far as healthcare and everyone is trying to see where the dust settles.  There’s a lot of legal issues coming into play here as well that needs to be sorted out as far as work and travel restrictions as well.  Unfortunately legal plays into writing letters for everything now.  Writing a quick letter is not a quick think for physicians to do- it does take time- and EVERYONE is requesting letters for pretty much everything right now.  I’m sorry if the response from your doctor was not as eloquent.

7 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I just asked @michelle to book the CR offer 20RBO103 for me.  I'm turning our Dec 2020 Oasis into a B2B (we are already booked on 12-6).  She was on hold for EVER, gave up, waited a while, called back and got an agent within minutes.  Go figure.  The very weird thing is....they would not allow access to this booking as a travel agent.  She was able to put it on hold and get a casino price but will not be able to access it.  I have never known this to happen before.  I don't know whether I will be able to move it over to her once I get it going or not.  Once I get a detailed cost I can determine what kind of casino discount they are giving me on the upgrade.  If it's reasonable, I will put down the deposit and keep it.  If not, I will remove the hold.  I won't know until I get a confirmation.

Not sure if this is helpful at all to you but my invoice said “Casino Free” as the line item that subtracted the cruise fair.

Just booked a December cruise on Allure!  Couldn’t believe it!   

 I’d still go.  Washy Washy!!!!   

3 hours ago, Baked Alaska said:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/

Agree with the CDC website.  It’s what physicians use to get info about which vaccinations to give in different countries and is continuously updated based on what diseases are going on in the world.  Also has some great safety tips too.  

We had quite a rocky cruise this time (all the way forward deck 10 didn’t help either) but neither my husband or I get seasick so it was fine.  What was bad was the motion on land!  At ports I couldn’t wait to get back on the ship to feel normal.  Took me about 5 days before neither of us could feel the ocean waves.  While it was annoying I was sort of sad to see it fade as it was the last reminder of our cruise other than the pictures and souvenirs...

We don’t have the Chase Sapphire Reserve but have a close friend who loves it for the travel- I believe it gets him into airport lounges as well.

We have the Delta Amex.  I’m not sure what the foreign transaction fees are but we always paid cash.  We travel with kids a lot and the free checked bags (I’m not a light picker) and yearly companion ticket are worth it for us. 

I agree as well.  I went on my first cruise this past January and felt so well prepared from all the advice.  I never felt judged or that I was asking an annoying question.  I talked to several other first timers on our cruise and they felt lost and overwhelmed (I recommended this blog for next time!). Thanks everyone for the guidance- it was one of the best vacations we have ever had.  Looking forward to Symphony again next year!

$57 for my sailing last month.  That was the best I saw after daily stalking.  
 

Definitely got my money’s worth and never had any ill effects the next morning (and I’m not a drinker) between a coffee in the morning, a few cocktails throughout the day, and unlimited water bottles.

Boleros makes some of the best drinks on the ship- definitely do the coconut mojito!    

We almost bought the dining package for our first cruise and honestly didn’t miss it.  It was a 7 night cruise and the main dining room was excellent.  We made sure to go to the two formal nights and a couple of others. There was a night where we were just too full and didn’t feel like eating (grabbed a late slice of pizza at Sorrentos).  The last night we celebrated with a la carts Izumi.  I think for the first time maybe the 3 night package would be fine.

And don’t forget the main dining room for lunch too!  Excellent food and service!

Symphony (I have heard some of the other Oasis class as well) has a small nightlight in the bathroom.  We led the door ajar and it was just enough to get to the bathroom but was not too bright.  You can always close the bathroom door and it was dark as well.