Chadster

Will it also hoist me off the ship if I have too much to eat and can't move?

Well, yeah, but the cadre of masters-at-arms that would come swarming aren't so simulated! ?

Once upon a time, I daydreamed about being a U.S. Navy submarine skipper, so I've known about AUTEC for a very long time; but, like @StayFrosty, the mine field/shallow testing area was news to me...though it makes sense as an additional testing ground for sub skipper skills with the evolution of warfare to a more littoral setting. Wandering too far the wrong direction would lead to one Bad Day at CocoCay! ?

Okay, now that you people are swaying me toward a CP balcony, quick question: Do they decorate Central Park for Christmas?

We're well aware of the current reality. After all, we are living in it, just the same as you. Those of us looking at cruises later this year in no way discount the current risk, but we also have faith in medical science and our fellow humans -- and yes, corporations like Royal Caribbean and platforms like cruise ships -- that there will be strides made in the coming months and believing that there will be advances to the point where we can resume our lives, including the leisure-filled portion. We love cruises, but we will not take unnecessary or ill-advised risks. As I've said before, I have greater faith in a post-COVID cruise ship as a safe environment compared to an airplane or the airports to and from which they fly (the busiest of which sees approximately 243,000 people pass through it in any given day in normal times). I choose to look forward with faith, trust, and hope...whether that's getting to cruise this year or getting my FCC or smaller refunds. Until then, we wait and go about our lives the best we can, with as informed a view as we can have that may, yes, have a bit of hope mixed in. Naivety? No. Hope, yes.

Eeeeee.....those pictures! I may be seeing a Central Park balcony in my future for Christmas cruising instead of the boardwalk...allergies be damned! ?

Thanks for the insights. As much as I hate to pass up an amazing fare like that, I can't help but think you both are right. I'm just going to focus on paying for the cruises I feel more confident about (the October group cruise and something for Christmas -- originally Grandeur, but now looking at other things, including Anthem, though there again, it brings the whole NY/NJ metro situation into play, so...) This is all just so messed up -- I'm going stir crazy...in addition to my normal type of crazy. ? Stiill gonna keep an eye on Oasis for June, because if it does go forward, maybe I can snag a cabin for an even sweeter last-minute price.

I was feeling really good about having mapped out my cruise plans for the next 12 months to try and make up for the cruises I'm losing, but now... I suffer from an anxiety disorder and a disorder that makes me obsess over every little detail to the point of sometimes making myself ill. I found a really good deal on the only 6-day itinerary offered on Oasis. Problem is, it sails on June 21. I really don't wanna go through the whole cycle with canceled cruises again, but this itinerary and price are perfect for me, and honestly, I'm kinda frozen right now, not knowing what to do. I hate all of this. So, so much. I want my life -- and my leisure time -- back. ?

Sadly, not gonna happen, per my TA...I think it's part of why they extended dates on FCCs in the latest round of cancellations. I'm trying to look at it as a positive -- a chance to cover prices on cruises I wasn't expecting to take, but am booking because of cancellations and because the funds are presenting themselves.

I've been sitting here tonight thinking I might just pay cash for the 6-day Oasis cruise scheduled for late June, and then use the FCC I already have toward an upgraded holiday cruise; after a bit (okay, a lot) of browsing on the RCCL website, I'm finding decent prices for balconies for Christmas, which would be an upgrade from my current oceanview-cabin Christmas plans aboard Grandeur. I figure Lady G's in Baltimore until April of '21 at least, and fitting in even a quick 5-day jaunt to Bermuda in the late winter or early spring wouldn't be too hard since it's a quick trip to Baltimore to sail. That way, I could pick a different ship/itinerary for Christmas cruising this year, still get a summer cruise thanks to a decent price for that 6-day Oasis cruise if it goes forward, be able to take the group cruise to Canada this October thanks to the FCC I'll get back from my cancelled early-June cruise, and get at least one sailing on Grandeur before she leaves the fleet. So many options! Ugh...I blame you people and your YOLO attitudes! ? I hope you're proud of yourselves. ?

I'm lucky enough to be able to have the time in my schedule to take the Blog Group Cruise on Brilliance in October to make up for my Canada/NE trip I lost on Adventure -- I decided to go that route instead of going with a backup on your sailing like I had originally planned, in part because I'm so very sad to say, I'm a bit concerned about whether it'll be a go. ? I REALLY hope you get to do that one though, because 2022 is a long way away. ?

The June 21 sailing. It's the only 6-day sailing and has 3 sea days. I'll be in Nassau in December aboard Grandeur, so I figured I'd skip Nassau, take the shorter sailing, enjoy the sea days, and use my savings toward onboard experiences, like dining or beverages (there's a $400 difference between fares for balconies when comparing 6-night vs. 7-night sailings! ?).

Personally, in my case, I see this as a bigger problem for the poor person who happens to be looking in. ??

Thanks for your insights! Have you tried the Central Park balconies or a view in that area? Pictures can only tell you so much, after all, and I appreciate all the insights from this group of cruise addicts fans! And I'm not worried about a hike from the elevators -- just all the more opportunity to work off some food so I can eat more! ?

Okay, so I need some insight here. I'm looking at my first time aboard Oasis this summer as a YOLO booking/excuse to use a smaller FCC that I received, and I'm considering a boardwalk balcony (alas, not able to try for an aquatheater suite!), and I'm trying to find the best spot where I might still be able to see the aquashow without those new slides getting in the way, as I understand they sometimes do now. I really like the potential view from these balconies, and figured it would be something different. After all, I can do an OVB on any ship! I also like the boardwalk view better than Central Park from the pictures and feedback I've seen so far. Suggestions welcome from the Oasis mavens, since I can't seem to figure things out completely just from photos. Suggestions on deck/location for optimal ocean/aquatheater view? EDITED: After posting, I of course discovered a thread about this very thing, but given that the incentives are no longer part of the package, and the Abyss slides are a potential issue, I'd love to hear thoughts given the current situation.

I'm taking the Group Cruise on Brilliance in October to replace the one I lost on Adventure in June. It's slightly shorter and in a different ship class, but I'm still excited. I also received an FCC from a cruise on Grandeur I cancelled in May when all this started, and I'm thinking I want to use it to experience Oasis even just one time. I'm trying really hard to make something positive out of all these changes and to experience new things while also trying to experience the things I wanted to originally, too.

Oy...thank goodness for the folks at MEI who can help me with this! ?

But I can still get it repriced as long as it's before final payment, correct?

I'll definitely keep my hold on the aft balcony, then, just in case. Still figured it'd be a good idea to get input just as a backup, though! By the way, does a hold lock in a price that I have to pay at the end of the hold, or will I be able to get whatever the price is at that time like with normal repricing before final payment?

In the most recent round of cancelations, I lost my aft JS on Adventure (and that amazing price!). Now, I'm looking at the October group cruise on Brilliance. I currently have a hold on an aft balcony, just because one was available and it was a knee-jerk reaction. The aft balconies on BOTS are spacious OVBs, and are running about $400 more that a regular OVB. Even with the extra 25% from the FCC, it's more than I really want to spend, since I could put most of that difference toward a drink package instead (the one thing I told myself I'd treat myself to after all this!). I'm not sure I can justify paying that much more for the view, especially since I now don't have that extra OBC Royal was gonna give me. Given the current situation, I know there's really no way to guess if/how much cabin prices will drop closer to final payment. Where would your preferred OVB location be on Brilliance?

Not a COVID-19 meme, but another nugget from Taneytown this week...

Edited out my knee-jerk frustration to say: I know prices will change as they get closer to final payment, just as they always do. Patience is the key (I'm saying this to myself more than anybody else...).

How do holds impact pricing and promotions? If I have a hold through May 31, are the promotions I receive based on when I pay my deposit, or when I initiated the hold?

I've got a Christmas cruise booked on Grandeur. I really hope I get to sail her one time before she...well...sails off to different waters!