Pattycruise

So, just got an email from Celebrity for my September 2,2021 sailing and it was cancelled. Because the new rule coming from the CDC is if a ship has been in International waters when coming back to the US must not cruise again for 14 days! I’m seriously about done! I just don’t understand the hoops they expect Cruise ships to go through! 

One key thing is if you're on prescription medication, always pack a couple extra days of meds just in case.

Try https://myrx.io 
my local pharmacy offers rapid testing for travel. Free if on Medicare or Medicaid. $65 for others.  Plug in your zip code to find participating pharmacies.

Well, I think we've found yet another thoughtless, stupid questionnaire design that's going to result in a lot of people wasting a lot of time and effort sorting out the volunteers.
The very least they should've had a way to select the test cruises one wanted to be considered for. So now they'll randomly pick people for particular sailings and have to endure lots of rejections and then continue repeating the process till they get the number of volunteers they need for each.

Apparently you do not

I’m guessing this testing requirement is going to be around for a long time. The Delta variant is still going strong and after that there will probably be a bunch of other ‘variants’ coming and going. Especially through the winter months and into the spring. Seems like there are some who selfishly just don’t want this pandemic to go away…and I don’t mean health-wise. They need it so they can stay relevant…or prosperous…or in control. Shame. Just my opinion.

Ugh looking at the invite that’s open today.
im away for the first cruise 
2nd one ends the morning of my freshman daughter college move in
3rd is Texas-no interest to go for a 4 day
ugh

For those that are struggling to find cheap/ free tests, try www.emed.com you will get 6 tests for $150 and they will proctor your test at home via zoom and send you a lab report with results that you can then use for the cruise. 

I did one of those cruises on RC -boarding in Italy-and the night before Barcelona I stopped to buy a souvenir drink/glass -the sale was in the lobby-and the bartender asked if it was my last night and he thought I said yes and wished me well.  Turns out, unbeknownst to me,  he wrote himself a nice tip on the drink receipt.  I caught it the next day and reported it.  I always tip cash, and if I get a receipt I write CASH where the tip goes.  He never gave me a receipt!

Set your alarm! Come back tomorrow and submit your entry for the Volunteers of the Seas sweepstakes and your chance to join us on an upcoming Simulated Voyage.

Two to pick from. Decisions, decisions

Beverage Package is $47 for my June cruise on Seranade. I've never seen it that low.

That's just a form email/letter from Royal's marketing department hoping it will entice you to call and book cruises.  I get them occasionally.  I've never been "assigned" to the same "person" twice so I'd say it means nothing.  At least when "Hi, this is Rachel from Dealer Services" calls, it's always Rachel.  It's comforting to know she's persistent and really wants to talk to me about my car's warranty.

Yes.
Before : $179
"New" : $167
Actual("New" + 18% Gratuity) : $197
I am trying to warn others to not make the mistake that I made, not being aware that RCL changed the way it calculates prices for dining package.

OMG-I had no idea
thank you for that update!!!

I did one of those cruises on RC -boarding in Italy-and the night before Barcelona I stopped to buy a souvenir drink/glass -the sale was in the lobby-and the bartender asked if it was my last night and he thought I said yes and wished me well.  Turns out, unbeknownst to me,  he wrote himself a nice tip on the drink receipt.  I caught it the next day and reported it.  I always tip cash, and if I get a receipt I write CASH where the tip goes.  He never gave me a receipt!

Try this
 I just called my local pharmacy as they offer Covid testing.
Medicare and Medicaid are covered....for the rest of us he said it is $65 for a rapid test.  Here is the website from their page, it has a place you can enter a zip code to find pharmacies that participate.  https://myrx.io  Perhaps give that a try to see if there is a pharmacy near where you will be.  He said they text you your results and when I asked if it is something they can print for me he said yes (I honestly don't know anything about this service and if it would be printable).
So much can change between now and your sailing date.  I hope this helps!

I did one of those cruises on RC -boarding in Italy-and the night before Barcelona I stopped to buy a souvenir drink/glass -the sale was in the lobby-and the bartender asked if it was my last night and he thought I said yes and wished me well.  Turns out, unbeknownst to me,  he wrote himself a nice tip on the drink receipt.  I caught it the next day and reported it.  I always tip cash, and if I get a receipt I write CASH where the tip goes.  He never gave me a receipt!

We've already been told we'll get a prorated refund.
 
We just got our flight time,  so we'll literally be the last ones off.

Another negative test overnight.  Rc is flying us home due to strict Bahamas quarantine rules for close contacts.  Just waiting on those details

We're still awaiting details on if the Bahamas will allow a close contact to leave on a commercial flight without 14 days quarantined. 
 
If not RC is flying us on their dime

Nearly 16,000 new cases in Florida announced today.  Six cases on a ship.  
We know the virus has not been eradicated.  We know unvaccinated are the primary transmission vector and we know that even some vaccinated will get the virus because the vaccines are not 100% just like other vaccines do not guarantee 100% protection.
It is strongly possible that the infected guest "zero" could have become infected before leaving for the cruise.  If those infected individuals did not cruise they would likely have never known and continued to spread it back home.  Another example of spread being stopped because they went on a cruise.  Now they know and can take appropriate measures at home while they recover.  
Protocols worked and cruising helped to limit the effect these individuals would have on their community.  Sounds like a win, except for the innocent bystanders caught up in it on the cruise.

If you struggle with flexibility you should be rethinking your plan. Anyone with a cruise booked or thinking of booking a cruise for at least the next year yet should be prepared for things to change. From ports of calls to requirements to processes the industry is going to be very fluid for at least a year yet. If you are looking for a vacation where you are certain things aren’t going to change you should be looking for a land based vacation (I.e. resorts or hotels) where your chance of contacting covid is much higher but ignored by the media.

Of these 1,000 plus guests who tested negative, how many have COVID, still undetectable on tests, will fly home to their home states and possibly infect others?  There is a "window of uncertainty" 5-7 days after exposure.

RC probably shelled out upwards of a half million today.