Pattycruise

This is fantastic!!  I'm sure the cruise industry will be thrilled too.  Now the folks from the US can go overseas to cruise and not worry about a test to return home!

This is fantastic!!  I'm sure the cruise industry will be thrilled too.  Now the folks from the US can go overseas to cruise and not worry about a test to return home!

This is AWESOME!  

I just did an attempt at a Royal Up on an upcoming cruise.  I cannot submit a bid  without inputting a credit card.

In the FAQ it says this
 
Tests We Do Not Accept
Antibody tests are not accepted, as they do not detect a current infection. Home test kits that are self-administered at home, and not supervised live by a telehealth professional, are also not accepted. Supervised telehealth tests are not accepted for unvaccinated guests – only for vaccinated guests. Item #2 says home kits self administered and not supervised live by a telehealth professional are not accepted.  If you have a home kit and get a supervised telehealth proctor like onpoint I believe it will meet the criteria of an approved test-because it is supervised.  The Binax Now test kits were a way for Royal to make it easier for the Royal Passenger  ---when testing requirements started  there were not many telehealth professional nor home kits around and we all were trying to figure out how to get testing done.  

I just did an attempt at a Royal Up on an upcoming cruise.  I cannot submit a bid  without inputting a credit card.

In the FAQ it says this
 
Tests We Do Not Accept
Antibody tests are not accepted, as they do not detect a current infection. Home test kits that are self-administered at home, and not supervised live by a telehealth professional, are also not accepted. Supervised telehealth tests are not accepted for unvaccinated guests – only for vaccinated guests. Item #2 says home kits self administered and not supervised live by a telehealth professional are not accepted.  If you have a home kit and get a supervised telehealth proctor like onpoint I believe it will meet the criteria of an approved test-because it is supervised.  The Binax Now test kits were a way for Royal to make it easier for the Royal Passenger  ---when testing requirements started  there were not many telehealth professional nor home kits around and we all were trying to figure out how to get testing done.  

I had the same experience; I could not even enter a bid without also providing CC information.  In my case, I used the same card that my reservation was booked under, but it seemed as though Royal Up did not have any of my payment information on file.

when you read "48 hr turn around time", that means 48 hr from the time the lab gets the sample. When you make an appt you should check to see if they process sample on site or have to wait for a courier to pick up the sample and take it to the lab. Also, another question to ask is "Does the lab process samples over the weekend/ 24 hrs/ over holidays?" 
Natalie (ICU nurse)

do you have a Walgreens near you that offers the NAAT test.  It is a rapid style PCR test-acceptable for the unvaxxed- and you will get results in hours.  

When I have made offers it ask me for a CC number every time I make a new bid. 
It doesn't take the CC you have on file with RC as they are different companies.

and your $80 Bermuda travel authorization, which was non-refundable by Bermuda...did RC reimburse you? 

I think I would ask RC dining dept about this.  Pureed food for an adult is not necessarily good for a baby.  I understand that bringing baby food on board would be tough but I would want to be sure that whatever they could make would be appropriate for babies.

As someone who likes water at dinner I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately on a recent oasis sailing it was like I was in a desert, my glass would be empty and when filled once it would remain empty until I could find the AW to request water.  (Repeat, nightly) Thankfully this is not typical, but those who are first time cruisers would have a super negative impression. 

Awesome.  One less thing to worry about!  We leave on Thursday for a Saturday cruise so we should be fine 
I would have loved to fly in a day earlier but anticipated we would then need to test overseas, I’d hate to quarantine and miss the cruise. It’s already risky enough that we may have to have to quarantine there when we test to come home 

This can vary by Loyalty Ambassador.  
What is supposed to happen is that you are recognized on the cruise where you reach seven hundred much like crystal blocks.   Recognition traditionally has meant being named at the Top Tier event and called up with the Captain, Hotel Director and Loyalty Ambassador for a photo.  A bottle of sparkling wine is often delivered to your stateroom.  Like other tier levels the Pinnacle benefits are not supposed to kick in until your next cruise when you board the ship with Pinnacle status.   Recognition = yes, perks = no.  
In some cases guests who have reached seven hundred sometimes report being granted some or all of the associated perks on the cruise when they reached seven hundred.  Access to the suite lounge, free internet, etc.  This isn't supposed to happen so if it does they got lucky.  It should not be expected.  
In my case I was invited to a suites and Pinnacle cocktail event and a separate suites and Pinnacle event on the winch pad (no helipad on Anthem where I reached seven hundred).  I did not get any other Pinnacle benefits on my seven hundred cruise nor was I expecting any so the unexpected invitations were appreciated especially the winch pad invite as not many HD's host winch pad events on Quantum class ships.
Before the shutdown the short cruises didn't have a top tier event so many soon to be Pinnacle avoided short cruises for their seven hundred cruise while guests who don't want to be called up on stage might purposely reach seven hundred on such a cruise. 
Sometimes a guest can ask to defer recognition to another ship or sail date for friends and family.  This is variable with some LA's allowing a one cruise deferral and some LA's sticking to the policy and recognizing on the seven hundred cruise only.  
Given the variability many soon to be Pinnacle carefully book cruises as they near seven hundred so they can be sure which ship and sail date will be their seven hundred cruise.
In my case I reached exactly seven hundred on a cruise sailing solo in a JS.  It was an eleven night cruise and all of the thirty three points were needed to make seven hundred.  As I neared seven hundred there were some hurricane induced changes to my points plan that netted me more points than I was expecting so I added a few cruises and upgraded one to a suite to control which ship would be my seven hundred.   I went to the LA on day one to see if Royal had done the math for the extra points for being solo in a suite and they had.  The LA recognized my name right away and had planned to seek me out to discuss the milestone.  He explained everything carefully and methodically including that no Pinnacle perks would be granted on that cruise.  This was expected so it was not a let down for me.  There was a form to be completed inquiring how I'd like the name on the badge to appear and my mailing address for the Pinnacle welcome kit that would be several months in the making.   

However, if you drive to Kohls to buy what you need for your cruise and their shelves are empty would you be willing to spend the $ to go to Brooks Brothers or do your best with what you have especially if  you suffered a significant fiscal loss and you’ll be paying 10x more.

I believe it means the sale runs June 9-15 and you cannot further discount something in your cart.  If you see a price you like on something you already purchased  you would have to cancel the order and do a new booking.  

On the Royal App there are some links to some FAQ  One of the FAQ is "I need to schedule a pre-cruise test. Can you share any Covid-19 testing sites or providers inthe city from where my sailing departs?

For the Seattle Port (the only US port they mention) it lists On Point Testing

I just checked out the link you provided and it is interesting (low cost) and it indicates it provides the results needed for airline and cruise travel. Maybe do a test run to see what the results paper looks like if no one replies they have used the service.
 

I believe it means the sale runs June 9-15 and you cannot further discount something in your cart.  If you see a price you like on something you already purchased  you would have to cancel the order and do a new booking.  

As a former serving member of the Royal Navy, I genuinely rebelled against the whole idea for many years. As a professional sailor I had a jaundiced view of floating "Gin Palaces" one I freely admit was not correct. Finally though, I had to come up with something for one of Sheryls birthdays so I bit the bullet and booked a 5 nighter on Brilliance.
From the moment my feet touched the deck, I changed my mind. Once more I could feel a ship under me, her motion, her machinery, her vitality. I was hooked. While leaving harbour from Tampa, I loved every moment. From assessing wind speed and direction, currents, potential hazards and more, it all came back. Later, after passing under the Sunshine Skyway and making her way to sea, Brilliance brought back so many lost memories.
Cruise ships will never bring me quite the same feelings as one of the grey ladies of the sea, after all they have a different intent and purpose. But they are close enough that this old sailor loves them dearly. I can close my eyes and reminisce, which is as close as I will ever get again.
 

Top reason: being on the ocean for a week or more.
Second reason: I am very organized, and a planner. I also do all the cooking at home. On a cruise, once I have preplanned, I have to make no decisions, wash no dishes, cook no meals, etc.  They do it all for me.  A land vacation typically is in a vacation rental, and there are beds to make, dishes to wash (from the meals eaten in), and beds to strip at the end. As much as I enjoy staying in vacation rentals, a cruise is the one vacation where I have absolutely no responsibilities to take care of once I get there. 
Third reason:  everything, including entertainment, is in one ‘place’.  We don’t even have to call an UBER to get back ‘home’ if we have a few drinks. 😁

Had a specialty lunch on Oasis, drinks took forever.  IDK where they went for them but it definitely wasn’t  the trellis bar just outside the restaurant!

Who is your cell phone provider?  Many providers in the US have international add-ons so you can keep using your same number while overseas.

Yep, they stopped scheduling new proctored tests just before our May 13th cruise.  They did honor any existing scheduled appointments, though.