Pattycruise

In port in France I went down a side street looking for crepes. Got 2 blocks and there on the street corner, piled high…contents of luggage and purses with the emptied luggage and bags laying nearby.  I wish I took a picture.  So many think they are safe, but the ports and tourist areas are a thief’s bread and butter.  Most of the time no one has time to make police reports, so crime numbers are not high!

In port in France I went down a side street looking for crepes. Got 2 blocks and there on the street corner, piled high…contents of luggage and purses with the emptied luggage and bags laying nearby.  I wish I took a picture.  So many think they are safe, but the ports and tourist areas are a thief’s bread and butter.  Most of the time no one has time to make police reports, so crime numbers are not high!

In port in France I went down a side street looking for crepes. Got 2 blocks and there on the street corner, piled high…contents of luggage and purses with the emptied luggage and bags laying nearby.  I wish I took a picture.  So many think they are safe, but the ports and tourist areas are a thief’s bread and butter.  Most of the time no one has time to make police reports, so crime numbers are not high!

Not sure about the MDR but some of the specialty restaurants offer a holiday menu for an additional charge over and above the dining plan. This past Christmas we ate in Chops Christmas Day. Because we were star class there was no up charge for us but our non star class friends who had the unlimited dining plan were charged $100 pp. I thought that was expensive since the menu didn’t offer any new “holiday” offerings from the other nights we ate there.  

I remember once when I was in Rome I was wearing a cross-body purse.  At some point I realized that the strap was no longer attached to the purse where the hook/clasp was.  I reattached it and it occurred to me that I had, most likely, just averted a purse snatching.  I guess the perp must have been a rookie or I just got very lucky.  You just can’t be too careful these days !

My plans won't change. I get basically unlimited casino cruises. I can cancel up to the actual morning of the cruise and I get back all tax and gratuity money paid. Which is all I pay anyway. I know this can't go on forever either, but I'll enjoy it while I can.

The announcement is perplexing, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.  Keep in mind that many places have 'no refund' policies, but do give store credit.  it just means you cannot get the money back.  It would be interesting to know the reasoning behind the change.  Maybe it is related to the fact that they dropped expiration on FCC and want to limit them going forward.
I would like to see royal Caribbean, go back to showing the refundable pricing option on their website.  I hope with this change they do so. (though I doubt they will).

If you purchased one internet package for 4 devices it may come out cheaper

On Adventure now, we were only a 4 day-one stop-Halifax.
we did the arriveCAN app, no one asked for it
there will be a customs declaration form for Canada in your cabin -complete it and turn it in to Guest Services
some shops on land may require a mask so bring one with you
staff in MDR was amazing (despite being understaffed).dedicated staff snd entertainment. The ice show was AMAZING. (Wear a sweater)
Canada was a tad chilly except if in the sun. 
 
We saw a whale from the dining room window tonight,  others have reported seeing whales and dolphins. Amazingly calm waters.  
 
casino players report tight machines. No casino host table, they are locked in  room adjacent to the casino cashier. 
 
no masks required in Bayonne or Halifax terminals, 
 
 

Please don't try to cheat height limits. They don't put limits on these things just for fun or to mess with children, it's part of their safety protocol. It's been determined that anyone under these heights is at risk for injury. Trying to do something to get under height or weight limits on any ride or attraction puts the rider at serious risk. Look what happened to that boy in Orlando who was over the weight limit for that drop ride (although that didn't seem to be his fault, the ride operators didn't seem to post or train their employees on the limits). This sounds dramatic but I promise it's not worth risking. 

Bermuda health states the $40 fee per person is non-refundable. So no recourse there. Unless Royal decides to step up and give it back as OBC. 

If only Royal had a system that customers and TA’s could actually look at FCC’s availability, wouldn’t that be great. 🤔

I’m on Harmony now. I’m not noticing too much staff shortage although we are in a suite and eating meals in CK and Specialty. When we are out and about the ship, there are enough staff that I can see. 
 
I will admit that I’m disappointed there is no Pinot Grigio on the whole ship. None. I had one glass the first night. It’s the only white wine I drink. I’ve had to drink Prosecco. My favorite red wine also is nowhere to be found but there are plenty of decent alternatives. Now thankfully we did not do the drink package this time. Between Diamond drinks and suite drinks, it’s plenty. If I had the package, I’d be disappointed, especially since the prices have really increased. 
Food quality is average but we’re not starving. 
I see both sides. As someone mentioned earlier, we all would have given a kidney to sale in 2020. How soon we forget how desperate/eager we all were. 

be aware that is an unofficial site and is not from the canada government. Arrivecan is free and there is no payment required like what that site claims
 
here is the official arrivecan form from the canada government:
https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/services/arrivecan.html

On Adventure now, we were only a 4 day-one stop-Halifax.
we did the arriveCAN app, no one asked for it
there will be a customs declaration form for Canada in your cabin -complete it and turn it in to Guest Services
some shops on land may require a mask so bring one with you
staff in MDR was amazing (despite being understaffed).dedicated staff snd entertainment. The ice show was AMAZING. (Wear a sweater)
Canada was a tad chilly except if in the sun. 
 
We saw a whale from the dining room window tonight,  others have reported seeing whales and dolphins. Amazingly calm waters.  
 
casino players report tight machines. No casino host table, they are locked in  room adjacent to the casino cashier. 
 
no masks required in Bayonne or Halifax terminals, 
 
 

Be sure someone will be home when they are delivered. The kits should not be left in excessive heat, it can have a negate impact on their performance.

Not Matt….but it is my understanding that CWC is over and that no new CWC FCCs will be awarded…

Not applicable for the European sailings

There are 2 types of OBC  refundable and non refundable.  You can ask at guest services as to which kind you have on your room.

Nonrefundable OBC when pulled for play in the casino (ask casino host for instruction) will be in promotional chips or the slot play and the  machine will "know" the $ amount.  
It is easy to see when you are done with your promotional chips at the table.
For slot machines,
Don't forget to tap your seapass card on the machine you will play and the mechanism will turn green and say "Hi_____________".  You then withdraw your $ to the machine and the machine will record your play.
For  every $5 spent on a slot machine ($10 on video poker) you earn 1 point. So note how many points you start with and how much OBC you move into the machine so you will know when you are done with that freeplay and can cash out your winnings.   So for $50 nonrefundable OBC you would need to earn 10 points before you can cash out.
Note, you cannot change machines once you download the OBC promotional money.....because it will not allow you to cash out until you spend it.  So if it is a large amount of nonrefundable OBC you might want to transfer in smaller amounts if you are the type to change machines frequently.

Refundable OBC can be withdrawn through the machine (again, ask the casino host how, they have a small slip of paper with directions), there is no need to play that money, you transfer it to the machine, cash out and bring the slip to the cashier.

All C&A members of all levels get promotional freeplay on their seapass card (from $2-$8) that is nonrefundable.  It must be played by midnight of day 2 or you lose it.
 

Quick follow up on this topic for those who may be interested. 
We entered Canada via the ArriveCan on 20May2022 to board Radiance of Seas for one way trip to Seward.  We used the cruise terminal as our address where we would be staying in Canada.
Canada Place Cruise Terminal
999 Canada Place    
British Columbia, Canada V6C 3T4
We got on the ship (after a ridiculously long delay) and off we went on our Alaska Adventure, leaving Canada on same day 20May2022.
Three days later (23May2022)... I received an email and telephone call from Canada Health Authorities stating I had been selected for the mandatory PCR test and their records showed I had not done so within the required 24 hour period.  This was the first I had heard about it, 3 days after leaving the country.  Border agent did not say anything about it. 
Anyhow, with all the threats of fines and quarantine facility transfers, I decided to call the general inquiries number provided in the email (1-833-784-4397) and a helpful representative walked me through the steps to change my contact information and certify that I had already left the country 3 days prior.  After it was submitted, I got the email that I was off the hook.
My wife got the same messages the following day....
Anyhow, figured I would share the experience in case it happens to any one else entering Canada for cruises.     

They are not exactly shady unless it is "high noon" the sun will be coming in from the sides. You are better off using a lounge chair that is located in the shade, I know I've seen them on the pool deck in the back rows.  Port days are typically empty and easy to find those lounge chairs.
Just my opinion.
 

Board early-drag your carry on with you-if using one- until you get access to your room.  Book reservations for shows -the current process-(preCovid it was all booked online), have lunch, utilize drink package, explore ship, use pool?

Board later, put carry on to cabin, your checked  luggage MAY be in the hallway maybe even unpack it,  book reservations, later lunch (Impact dinner?) utilize drink package, maybe explore ship, use pool?
If the pier people are allowing anyone in whenever they want you might have more crowds earlier.
That point is moot if you are suite class (depending on suite and ship) or ,handicapped or The Key, in which case they have a separate line.  





 

I agree with above.
Also you might try searching your email.  When I have booked through RCL I get an email booking confirmation (check spam folder too)
Any time I make adjustments on my reservation (price drops) I ask my TA to send me a new booking confirmation reflecting changes.
 

They are out.
Select Latin America
 

You buy, I’ll fly! (And cruise!)