Chadster

I'm not usually a huge fan of the late-December holidays, but I'm very much looking forward to being on Anthem for Christmas and New Year's Eve. All these pictures have me feeling like a kid at...well...Christmas!

I'm not usually a huge fan of the late-December holidays, but I'm very much looking forward to being on Anthem for Christmas and New Year's Eve. All these pictures have me feeling like a kid at...well...Christmas!

This was on the Anthem in 2019. There was also the Gingerbread Village in the Windjammer…and Christmas trees and decorations all over the ship. The ship’s officers and members of the show ‘We Will Rock You’ performed Christmas carols and Santa and his elves paraded the Royal Esplanade. Of course, these things were pre-Covid. So, I expect things will be somewhat different this year.

I was mock YOLO booking a cruise that leaves on Halloween, and I was surprised to see that merely paying the deposit today was an option. I scrolled to the bottom after selecting the option just out of curiosity, and I was even more surprised to see this...
 

 
The final payment would be due on departure day. And if I'm remembering my cruise contracts correctly, aren't final payments due by 5 p.m. on the stated due date? The ship is scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. I'm guessing that the system is extending a "courtesy hold" of sorts because of a deposit being placed.
 
No real question or anything here -- I just saw it and thought I'd share this interesting discovery! Talk about a trick, a treat, or both! 😄

I was mock YOLO booking a cruise that leaves on Halloween, and I was surprised to see that merely paying the deposit today was an option. I scrolled to the bottom after selecting the option just out of curiosity, and I was even more surprised to see this...
 

 
The final payment would be due on departure day. And if I'm remembering my cruise contracts correctly, aren't final payments due by 5 p.m. on the stated due date? The ship is scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. I'm guessing that the system is extending a "courtesy hold" of sorts because of a deposit being placed.
 
No real question or anything here -- I just saw it and thought I'd share this interesting discovery! Talk about a trick, a treat, or both! 😄

I was mock YOLO booking a cruise that leaves on Halloween, and I was surprised to see that merely paying the deposit today was an option. I scrolled to the bottom after selecting the option just out of curiosity, and I was even more surprised to see this...
 

 
The final payment would be due on departure day. And if I'm remembering my cruise contracts correctly, aren't final payments due by 5 p.m. on the stated due date? The ship is scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. I'm guessing that the system is extending a "courtesy hold" of sorts because of a deposit being placed.
 
No real question or anything here -- I just saw it and thought I'd share this interesting discovery! Talk about a trick, a treat, or both! 😄

@rcrabbOn the Oasis now on a back to back cruise. I received the consecutive cruiser letter in my cabin two days ago. It instructed me to go online and book a time slot for my Covid test. Today was the day before disembarkation. I went to the Conference Center on deck 3 and had my Antigen test. Quick and easy nose swipe. Results were emailed to me six hours later. Tomorrow, we meet at the theater at 8:30am where we will be checked in and receive our new SeaPass cards and wrist bands. We have to bring our passports, vaccination cards and the credit card we wish to use for our onboard account (even though the credit card is already uploaded during my online check-in). We then sit for awhile until they say it’s time. We leave the ship by scanning our old SeaPass cards. Security keeps them, although we can pick them up later at guest services. We go through the empty customs area…pause for the green check mark on the facial recognition system…then wait in line until it’s time to re-board…using our new cards. You have the same cabin, so it’s easy. If your were changing cabins (I am) you would need to pack only those things in drawers, etc. Your cabin attendant will use a garment rack to transport your hanging clothes from your old closet to the new one. Very convenient…no folding! Enjoy!😎

Yes , you can ignore the check in time of the second cruise.
We done B2B with Symphony several weeks ago. We got invited to do the test few days to the first part of the cruise. The test itself was on the last cruise day. On embarkation day we were requested to meet at one of the bars were we got our new card keys after a while we were escorted out of the ship , done quick face recognition at immigration and went to the sect floor to wait until escorted back to the ship. 

On Oasis, they also had the velvet rope between the performers in Central Park and the passengers.
There was definitely also lots of dancing aboard. I don't have any pictures, but our '70s Disco Party was jumpin', even though people were spread out! And the salsa dancing at Bolero's was definitely hot, hot, hot!

Thanks for the heads up... I'm now gonna be on Odyssey for 5 nights! It makes for an unexpected endnote to follow my 13-day sojourn on Allure.

Thanks for the heads up... I'm now gonna be on Odyssey for 5 nights! It makes for an unexpected endnote to follow my 13-day sojourn on Allure.

There are a few cruises up on My Vegas right now. All are in the month of November

I have only started cruising solo about 4 years ago and I LOVE it.  I have done 3 solo cruises on RCCL, 1 on Celebrity and 2 resort vacations.  My last was on Oasis this past September and I am thinking about Anthem for this Christmas. What I like about solo vacations is that you can do whatever you want when you want and no arguments (unless you argue with yourself) .  The first night in the MDR can feel a little awkward but with the right waitstaff you will do fine.   I enjoyed eating in the MDR solo because the waitstaff seem to pay special attention to us solo cruisers (at least I feel that way).  Also there is no one at my table to judge me or comment if I want 2 desserts every night.  I did have a few invites to join others at dinner because they felt sad that I was eating alone.  I thanked them and told them that I enjoy my own company.    I am also one that always carries my e-reader with me when I eat (I do it at home too).  As @Ampurp85 said when people hear you're cruising solo they tell you how brave your are and they wish they could do it.  I only had 1 little problem travelling by myself & that was at Thrill Waterpark and I wanted to go on the Slingshot and had to have 2 people but I managed to find @Cruising With JTand he went on it with me (he was cruising solo too).  

I recently went solo to Alaska and really enjoyed it. The only awkward time was dining alone in the main dining rooms but I was able to have great conversations with the couples next to me so these times were actually some of the most enjoyable times on the ship.  Going solo is King.  

As a former business traveler I took many business trips solo.  I chose not to eat my meals in a drive through so I just got comfortable eating by myself in regular and nicer restaurants.  

I basically told myself cruising solo is like a business trip solo.  With that established I booked my first cruise solo and haven’t looked back. 
Tips?   We are all different so that’s tough. I have zero hesitation eating solo in specialty dining or the MDR when cruising solo. I generally find most waitstaff accelerate service when solo which I appreciate so I can move on to another activity.  
Pre-pandemic solo was great for scoring seats last minute in theaters because there is often a single seat available in prime locations.  
What I love about cruising solo is that everyone is in a good mood and it’s generally easy to strike up a conversation in a bar.  So I can escape when I feel like it and just sit in a corner of the ship by myself or I can sit at the bar and engage with others when I want to.  

I'll third the book carrying - which I do with when i'm not solo anyway. I enjoy getting a table in a nice restaurant myself, getting a glass of wine or a drink and eating my meal while reading. If you want to meet people, book a tour, tours are great for meeting friendly people. 
 
My March solo cruise - I booked spa services which isn't something I normally do. It depends on where I'm going and what my destination is but I tend to like the solo time. I don't necessarily need to chat with people but I do welcome it.
 

I love cruising solo, travelling solo, not as much anymore. Like others have stated, you have the upmost freedom. I hate waiting on others when I am trying to get somewhere to enjoy something. In the past I just had fun on my on, striking up conversations when I felt like it. People will gravitate towards you, often telling you how "brave" it is to vacation solo. This often results with invitations to join them, so you won't actually ever feel alone. I have never used the roll calls to meet up with other solos, but plan to on my Jan 22' cruises. Plus it is a great way to try things in a judgement free zone. I don't dance because I got no rhythm but I sure do try on cruise ships😝

I love cruising solo. What I want, where I want, when I want. And, most importantly, with who I want. Most times I like being alone. I get a table for one at any restaurant and usually read while I eat. When talking with fellow cruisers, I find most are great people, happy to be on vacation, and it’s good sharing stories and tips. Even just talking with members of the crew is a great way to learn about them, their countries and a lot of insider information. I come and go as I please, never having to consider what someone else wants to do. 
I can go on and on but I suddenly decided I feel like getting a slice of Sorrentos Pizza. I’m on the Oasis now. Ciao!

From Allure of the Seas, October 2021. 
The offers are typically consistent across the fleet.
Current offers implement temporary changes for pandemic protocols.  Offers are subject to change as protocols evolve.
Gold

Platinum

Emerald

Diamond

Diamond Plus

Pinnacle

Youth

Just got word that thos of us who were booked on the back to back which has moved from Allure to Wonder next Spring will be allowed to stay onboard for 4 extra nights free of charge.  The original Allure sailing was due to get to Barcelona on 8th May with the next cruise around the Med starting that day.  However, when they switched everyone over to Wonder they rescheduled the crossing to arrive on May 4th with the next cruise on May 8th.  Those of us who had back to backs were told we had to leave the ship and make our own arrangements for the 4 nigths.  Well today they have advised us that we can stay onboard for 2 x 2 night inagural cruises, free of charge.  Just got this from my travel agent...
 
We're excited to share that your clients can remain onboard for an extra 4 nights to enjoy the inaugural celebrations with us from May 4, 2022 - May 8, 2022! Below, please find some additional details.
If your clients wish to remain onboard Wonder of the Seas for our 2 inaugural sailings, here's what they can expect:
We're extending the option for them to join us for 4 additional nights in their current stateroom during our 2 inaugural sailings - at no additional cost to them! The details are still being ironed out for this exciting event, so we'll send you and more information (including their booking numbers) once we have them in December. Lastly, some of our inaugural sailing events are utilized to help Travel Advisors familiarize themselves with our ships. As a result, some events during both sailings will be unavailable to our guests. There's no need for them to worry, though - there will still be plenty of awesome activities and experiences for them to enjoy onboard Wonder of the Seas.

Ha I called it! 

With a starting price of $60k for an interior. 
 

I was rather surprised on my recent cruise.  We put up some door decor, the person across from us had a 'On Honeymoon' decoration and I saw on another deck an Autism of the Seas door decoration and that was it.
I didn't pass by every room but I did walk by a lot of them and I was shocked at how few were decorated.  Then again, my first cruise was on Disney and at that point I was shocked at how many were decorated.

@CrimsonCruiser There's no way I would do this to our cabin door. It takes away too much of the time that's needed to find and try all the bars! 🤪