Pattycruise

nyc

Essentially the answer is no.  Basically you  are responsible to get to your sailing.  I’ve read where people on these forums have rented a car when their flights were cancelled and drove many hours to get to the port.
 
if you booked your airfare via Air2Sea (Royals company) they work to get you there.
If you have travel insurance you would need to see if cancelled flights causing a missed cruise is covered.
if you are able to move your flight it’s best to fly in the day before and earlier in the day flights leave more options for later flights, assuming your airline offers them, should your flight get cancelled.  I’ve stayed away from a great price on one airline that offers only one flight for the day and have gone with an airline that offers a slightly higher price, but more options to fly for the day. 

I’ve been asking in the 2 cruise groups I’m in.  So far the only seemingly valid responses are CVS….or this one (located in Manhattan ). It’s not cheap but if you can find rapid (antigen) tests for everyone else you can reduce your costs.
https://bloomsafely.com/schedule-appointment?branding=BLOOM LABS&location=NY&_gl=1*1yaq0sc*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2NTY4ODEzNjguQ2p3S0NBandfSVNXQmhCa0Vpd0FkcXhiOW5CQ0ZXS2RaSFJLNkRZZjNGbFpTZENra2Q4X0JUQl9EaHJEQjUwYWZ1QXptSlZRVHJzcGZCb0Nhd1VRQXZEX0J3RQ..&_ga=2.7475761.209939848.1656881369-1296422113.1656881369&_gac=1.180495189.1656881369.CjwKCAjw_ISWBhBkEiwAdqxb9nBCFWKdZHRK6DYf3FlZSdCkkd8_BTB_DhrDB50afuAzmJVQTrspfBoCawUQAvD_BwE

That is why the sauce is NOT advertised as "au poivre."  A classic au poivre uses cracked black peppercorn or a mix with black peppercorn.  Green peppercorn is much, much milder than black.
For a green peppercorn sauce, it was nice.  Not too aggressively seasoned.  Steak sauces are not supposed to mask the true flavor of the beef unless you are eating beef from Sizzlers or some other chain restaurant that uses lesser grade beef.

Actually, Prime is the second level.  Choice is the lowest level with Signature and Masters being at the top.

I'm just about to get off Serenade.    Happy I did not see this post until today 😉.   
Was at Hubbard June 30th and heard fellow passengers the next day commenting that the ship did not get as close to the glacier as they had on previous cruises.  Perhaps this had something to do with their observation.
Was lucky my better half insisted on booking the Hubbard excursion to get close to the glacier.   It was pricey but an absolutely fantastic day and one of my all time cruising highlights.  Weather was perfect which of course helped.   
 
 
 

I’d get really creative if for  some reason you can’t play the games, I’d FaceTime into a loved ones watch party and have them point the phone to the tv!  

In a nutshell because it costs money.
Before the shutdown ships were full and there wasn't the contention for bandwidth we see today.  There is one simple answer - Royal is not subscribing to enough throughput with the current provider.  If too many users are the culprit it means there isn't enough bandwidth right now yet there was in 2019 so what's changed?  
A secondary reason is that Royal is conditioning us to hate the current experience at the current price points.  Then they can come along and save us by introducing a new service at a higher price point.  "Introducing Vroom!  The enhanced ultra speed internet powered by Starlink.  For just $39.95 per day..."   

My wife lost her suitcase (with all of our souvenirs) at the Southhampton dock in 2015 while disembarking.  You need to file a claim with Royal and follow-up aggressively.  You can also look up emails of executives and complain to them (another site has those contacts).  Last, you need to file a claim with your travel insurance provider.  If you didn't purchase Royal's insurance, I believe they limit reimbursement to $300, and they want receipts for everything.  Otherwise, they depreciate the value of suitcase and belongings.  We were reimbursed by our company (Allianz) up to our maximum, and we also obtained some $$ from Royal.  We were off the ship early, so clearly the suitcase was taken by someone (not our error).  We now always walk off with our suitcases.  Again, follow-up with Royal. 
PS.  Watch your credit cards.  When we filed our claim with Royal, my Royal Visa number was stolen and used in Puerto Rico.  The number was on our claim form for reimbursement.  One never knows how many hands and eyes touch those forms.... Best of luck

The process was smooth and quick. Here’s my result. My name and date of birth are the only thing you are missing from the screen shot. Trial run was a success!!

The Abbott Binax Now is not a PCR Test,  it is only valid for vaccinated guests. (I see your title is PCR testing)
try Walgreens, though word is they are now charging for travel testing.  If  it’s like it used to be and you answer questions like “unable to maintain social distance” the test is typically free. Walgreens has a NAAT PCR (a rapid style PCR) that is perfect for the unvaxxed due to the quick turnaround test results (hours instead of days).  Some have said their results were not reported in hours  technical issues, in which case go in to Walgreens and ask for the print out of results. 
You might try calling a hotel in Seattle and inquire where they send their guests for travel tests.

We've been to Barcelona quite a number of times and have stayed in at least eight different hotels that I remember...
Over the years, we have honed it all down to LOCATION.  By far, the best area in which to stay is close to the Placa Catalunya.  The Placa is the large public square at the head of as Ramblas--Barcelona's great walking promenade.  All of the city's transportation systems--buses, subway, HOHO bus tours, etc. use the Placa as a main hub.  There is a very large El Corte Ingles department store on one side of the Placa with an outstanding supermarket in the basement where you can stock up on drinks, snacks and anything else you need.  Lots of restaurants around the Placa and up and down Las Ramblas.  The Aerobus--cheap transportation to and from the airport--drops off and picks up at the Placa.
In the past, we've used the Continental, the 1898, Hotel Jazz--all in this area.  This next two visits (we have two cruises begininging and ending in Barcelona in the next ten months) we are staying at the H10 Catalunya Plaza--which is right on the Placa.  The Continental is usually a bargain...on Las Ramblas right off the Placa.  We've stayed there twice--but my wife doesn't like the mattresses and the place has some weird decor--sort of plastic and pink. But they do have 24 hour free snacks, beer and cheap wine and balconies overlooking Las Ramblas and is much loved by cruisers...as is the Hotel Jazz.  1898 is a bit pricier, but extremely nice--one of the higherst rated hotels in Barcelona.  H10 is a local chain, but this one is a smallish boutique hotel in that chain...but the location is incredible.
From the Placa, it is a very inexpensive short taxi ride to the cruise pier--at the opposite end of Las Ramblas. 

In March on Liberty I swear half the passengers were from Arkansas. And that was the week Arkansas made a run in the NCAA basketball tournament.

The game was only on a TV in the promenade cafe.  A few hundred people crowded around it

I don’t think they are pandering, smoking has been allowed all along, except for a brief stint during a Covid surge.  I believe the CEO tapped around the answer of a smoking ban by alluding to the loss of revenue.  I’m sure they’ve put a lot of data analysis into the decision.  As a non smoker you can vote with your wallet, as many have.  

Some people get all glammed up in the MDR. Some people don't. Yet we all still enjoy dinner and no brawls break out. The synergy of the cruise ship wins again

We still enjoy dressing fancy. So my hubby wears a suit and tie and I choose a cocktail dress or evening gown. 

This is the new cup, on Oasis. 

Thank You.  I must say that looking back I am proud of myself for never once getting upset or nasty with a representative during the apprx. 10-12 hours I spent on the phone with them over this two week saga.  Guess I am mellowing out as I get older.  😀

It was! I did not want to bother my TA either. They don't get commission on flights and these flights (the one that was cancelled on March 12th) I had booked directly through Delta anyway. But it was a cruise with a group of friends, and she had heard from others that I was in trouble. She went out her way. It was beyond her job description.

I know no one wants to think about this especially at the beginning of summer but if you have a cruise booked this upcoming holiday season (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years) please that SpeedNoodles advise.  If you are flying you either need to leave 2 days before your cruise or if you can't leave 2 days in advance you must leave at least 1 day early but on the FIRST FLIGHT OUT. 
By now I'm sure everyone knows what industry I work in and I'm telling you this pilot and flight attendant shortage is not going to be fixed by the holidays.  The flight attendant shortage should start to ease by late summer of 2023, as airlines are hiring flight attendants.  However, flight attendant training can be up to 8 weeks long depending on the airline.  Airlines don't do new hire training year around because the FAA requires all current flight attendants to go through recurrent training.   The pilot shortage is going to last for a least another 3-4 years maybe even up to 5 years. To be a FAA licensed commercial pilot in the US is not easy or fast, it takes at least 3 years to go through all the training then on top of the training a new pilot must have at least 1500 hours of experience (most pilots gain this experience by becoming flight instructors). If In individual is extremely dedicated they can go from zero hours to the flight deck of a regional carrier in 3 years but the norm for most people is around 4 or 5 years.  Last year was a good year for pilot schools, but thus far 2022 has been a great year for pilot schools as more people look to become pilots and most airlines have dropped the bachelor degree requirement. In my opinion the pilot shortage probably will not ease up until 2024 unless Congress raises the mandatory retirement age to 67, which for now seems highly unlikely. 
If you have a cruise planned during busy holiday travel periods either this year, or next year or if you are looking to book a cruise this year or next year during holiday travel periods and need to fly to the port it would be in your best interest to fly out 2 days in advance, because we (the industry) don't have the staffing and there is no easy way out of this mess for the airlines.

I flew from Houston to ft Lauderdale on Friday.  A tropical low came over Houston as we were scheduled to depart. United offered to fly us out the night before for no additional charge, but there weren't enough seats on the plane.
So, we had bad weather,  news full of flight delays, airline asking us to change our plans and a holiday weekend. Wasn't promising at all.
The result: plane departed 20 minutes late. Landed 20 minutes late. Otherwise,  it was an uneventful flight. So chalk on up for the good guys.
It helps to take a direct flight  first thing in the morning 

As a Florida resident, I truly feel bad for all the people who have to fly in. Another added expense and stress factor to what should be a great experience. We have had to fly to three of our cruises and it has not been enjoyable, easy or cheap. We will not do out of State cruises for the foreseeable future, but I hope you guys keep coming to enjoy the vacations.

I do lots of b2bs…mostly from Bayonne, NJ. I have experienced different turnaround days on different cruises. Sometimes we gather in the theater where we are issued new cards and get checked in, wait for a zero count (or nearly zero) then file off the ship. We go through customs and then stand in line in the baggage hall for a short while until they get to zero, then we re-board. Sometimes we’re instructed to go to a specific venue while they ‘fog’ the ship…but most b2bs just go where they want. Once on the Oasis, I went to the Music Hall as instructed. Although there were over 120 b2bs, it was only me and three others…the rest went their own way, many back to their cabins…some to the pool deck and others to the solarium.
Another time, we filed off the ship…through customs…and stood in the cold of the baggage hall while Public Health did a surprise inspection of the ship. That took over a hour. The port workers and our crew escorts were pretty good at scrambling to find chairs for some who really needed them…there are no seats in the baggage hall.
This past spring, we gathered in the theater where we were checked in…and then as we left the theater after zero count, customs officers were at the theater entrance and did the obligatory glance at our passports as we passed. Then there was a ship’s security officer manning a scanner where we scanned our new cards and walked out of the theater as new passengers. That’s the best scenario…not having to disembark, past the customs facial scanners, and then re-board.
The best advice I can give for b2bs is….have patience and hope for the best. And If you’re in a cold weather port, bring something warm to wear.
 

Just an FYI for others out there who are building their C&A points from gold or platinum levels, it's worth your effort to reprice any upcoming cruises as your status increases. I recently went from gold to emerald. I went out to the RC website and did mock bookings for all my upcoming cruises (five of them), and found significant savings on several of them - one was a nearly $500 savings. I called my TA and officially repriced my cruises and had reductions in price for all but two of them. The two that didn't get reductions in price were because they were cruises rebooked after RC cancellations and I was already getting a better than advertised price. I'll hit diamond after my next two cruises and will be looking at repricing remaining itineraries again after that. Every little bit of savings helps. 🙂

Essentially the answer is no.  Basically you  are responsible to get to your sailing.  I’ve read where people on these forums have rented a car when their flights were cancelled and drove many hours to get to the port.
 
if you booked your airfare via Air2Sea (Royals company) they work to get you there.
If you have travel insurance you would need to see if cancelled flights causing a missed cruise is covered.
if you are able to move your flight it’s best to fly in the day before and earlier in the day flights leave more options for later flights, assuming your airline offers them, should your flight get cancelled.  I’ve stayed away from a great price on one airline that offers only one flight for the day and have gone with an airline that offers a slightly higher price, but more options to fly for the day.