MLH

If you book a GS or above and move them into your room, they will not be eligible for suite perks possibly.

My friend just returned and had Jay. Loved him, but be warned he does not know what "light snacks" mean.  She found herself in a food coma.

I have done Star class a number of times and been on board when cruising friends were Star Class.  Sounds like you had a new Genie or your Genie was involved with other high Maintenace guests.  We had one in January who was new and I said I would not book another Star Class as the service and professionalism declined immensely since my first few.  I had already booked 2 additional ones. We then went to our Alaskan cruise where we were shuffled to multiple genies due to them having covid and it turned out a much  better experience.  Covid has changed much of the program due to genies not returning and them having to struggle to fill positions and were understaffed. Time will tell if the program gets better, but spending that much for the service now is not worth it to me.

On 7/6/2022 at 6:54 PM, AshleyDillo said:

If you want to use it for OBC you probably have to ask. I have no clue what the threshold is for them to use it for OBC starts at.

I've always used mine as free play on the slot machines which you can just redeem yourself through the menu on the machine when you have your card entered.  Although the machines typically won't register points earned from table play so you would have to inquire with the host about this. I think you can even use the free play towards table play,  but again would require interacting with the host or asking a pit boss.

So you can redeem points when you play. Does that them make them ineligible towards prime?  I had 600 points last cruise.  I though if you used them, they didnt count against your prime accumulation.

I see where you are coming from, however, I had to test for  a  Feb cruise.  Went to walgreens and then shopping for stones slabs for our kitchen.  In the middle of the trip, I got the notification and read I was positive. Vax and Boosted. No symptoms other than a sneeze.  Had I not tested, I would not have known I had covid and got on the ship and spread it to many more people without realizing it.  I tested a a few more times to be sure and it was positive for about a week.

I had a travel agent that called and I got it in about 30 days @WesKinetic

I found it to be loud as well when they were practicing for shows or having the shows.

I actually tested positive on my pre cruise test in Feb.  It wasn't a false positive and was followed up with additional tests.  I would have never known I had it if I wasnt going on a cruise.  For me, not knowing I had it , I could have infected many more people had I not tested.

I think you are in the minority liking that MCO humid air. lol 

Enjoy your suite.  The first time we were in a suite on Oasis class we were hooked! Just remeber free soda, water, wine and beer in the lounge all day!   Also make sure you make show reservations, before you could flash your card, but now you need reservations made on the app or by the concierge.

Don;t forget to try the Room service menu that is free and is not half bad.

10 hours ago, Sea Squirrel said:

Just curious, is it anyone’s experience to wait days without a reply from your Genie after initial contact. It has been our experience that responses come almost immediately. For our upcoming sailing, it has been more than two days.  

That is normal.  Depending on the genie and what you request in the email.  They have to verify information before responding.  I have had genies respond the next day and some genies say give them 48 hours. The farther out you are from sailing the longer delay of returning emails I have found.  What ship are you on?

4 hours ago, Neesa said:

This is exactly my assertion. I agree with it 100% especially the airline scenario. The second  disgusting thought I didn't love & I would assign a disgusting response if there was one. There is NO excuse for the failure pertaining to human fluids. It just seems everywhere I go prices are up and quality is down. Star is about the experience & while I loved it and MAY book it again waaay in the future Sky is still my happy place, but taking a break from Royal right now sadly makes me happier. Just want to give her a minute to figure things out instead of me feeling my experience is meh for the $$. I am a glass half full person in life, but I can also see a diluted experience/product that should not be. I know this is a fan site so I'm sorry ahead of time if I offend with this post. 

I am with you.  After the last few cruises since the restart at high capacity, I am no longer booking as well.  The problem is capacity is way too high for the service to be where it was before covid.  Supply issues, covid among guests and crew and entertainers, covid protocols in place restricitng access to many things.  Just not worth it too me.

4 hours ago, Sea Squirrel said:

It sounds like you had the same experience with the bags that we had. We received a last minute Royal Up and even checked our original room for our bags. Guess what?  We had Sea Pass cards on that door too. We tried them and they worked…we had 2 cabins. Scary that cards linked to my credit card were left on the door of a cabin we’d never use. Our bags were not there and the welcome aboard spread was better in our original cabin, lol. 

Pre covid, the bags were loaded by room by the porter and taken directly to the room.  now they put them all on the same cart to be sanitized before getting to your room and dumped with all the other bags in the storage area to be delivred by the room stewards.  Not as advertised for sure.

I experienced 2 genies on my Alaska cruise. One the way to the cruise, we got switched, the Day 5 our Genie came down with Covid and we got the first genie back. We then had to get tested as we were close contacts with them.

It got off to a very bad start.  On the way to the port I get a Whats app message at 10:45 saying I have a new genie due to the first being unfit for duty.  We had a horrible experience prior with a new genie and specifically requested an experienced genie onboard. Our new assigned genie was also new.  It really put a damper on the first day excitement.  When we get to the port, we were met by the concierge not the genie to be walked on the ship.  Our genie met us onboard and basically introduced himself and said "since you were on Odyessy, you know the layout, you have lunch at Chops at noon, I will take your bag to the room.  Enjoy."  We were not escorted to the room, did not have the requested items except the bottle of champagne with ice.  Going to the room after lunch, many people had their luggage by the doors, not us.  Ours was in the baggage room off to the side.  I pointed to our bags and asked if the attendant could help me with my 4 bags and he said, I only do this side. Okay then, by this time I was upset with my experience.  I texted our genie and said we haven't gotten our bags yet and there are many bags in the hallway and they said, they are still working on them.  

How it should have been handled in  my thoughts:  Have the concierge meet us and walk us through and personally explain what has happened to our first genie and act as a genie until ours was ready to give us the full genie experience.  That would have been more professional and hospitable then the way it happened.  Should the genie have went up and checked the baggage area for our bags or asked the room attendant to check on them, yes.

Was this due to Covid and protocol yes, but this was also due to poor training and communication on how Star Class should work. I have been on several Star Class Cruise spre covid and 2 post covid and I have definitely  seen a decline in service, protocol and overall experiencenot accounting for covid exposure on activities and supply chain. 

The one thing that was different is the gifts.  The ones we received post covid were from the onboard shops where as the ones pre covid were thoughtful, hand chosen and ordered based on our survey responses. In the past we have received books, mugs, figurines, inspirational mugs that I look at and remember the great time I had onboard versus the last minute I have to go get something from the stores that will probably be thrown out.

In the end,  everything worked out with our genie and our experience with them was great with them but I am hesitant to book another Star Class for a while until the program gets back to what it was.  The VP responsible for creating the program has left Royal so I feel that the Star Class experience will also suffer.

2 hours ago, Charles-A said:

Thanks for the quick answer! Are you from Canada, and did you use the kits provided by the goverment? If so, what kit? We have the BTNX rapid response kit here in Quebec. 

No, the US.  I used the free one from the government, it was a i health rapid.  They do ask what test you have.

We used this service with a home kit.  Make sure you register each person separately. There were no issues, I printed off the results and highlighted the necessary  info.

My son tested after our Quantum Alasksa.  Our first genie was unfit for duty, and her replacement got it midway through the cruise.  My daughter had just had it and my husband and I had it a couple months before. We knew the risks going in so not surprised.

2 hours ago, Jjdslp122 said:

We are sailing On Friday, July 1.  Based on the rules, we need to do our pre-covid test on Wednesday, June 28.  RIGHT? 

Full disclosure, my husband and I both tested positive for COVID June 14th.  That is 17 days before the cruise so I assume it will be good and we will all test negative....BUT what if we don't?   If any of us show positive, we have to cancel, but the cruise with confidence says we have to cancel by Midnight on Tuesday.  That is the day BEFORE we have to test.  Has anyone tested positive and had to cancel within 48 hours? How does that work? 

With Covid you can cancel at anytime with a positive test.  If you did a PCR test, not an at home or rapid antigen, you can qualify for a letter of recovery. The information is on the website. If recently recovered from COVID-19, need to be vaccinated or take a test to sail? | Royal Caribbean Cruises.  You can also do a Rapid at home proctored test.  Any PCR test may show up positive.  You can go to any proctor service using at home tests that qualify.  We used Rapid Test.Rapid COVID-19 Tests Online at Home. Observed Tests for Cruises and Travel (rapidtestandtrace.com)

What was the cost of the royal shuttle back to the airport please. 

There may have been a small fire in the engine room. There was a bravo code deck 30. We were delayed and hour or so but left. We did not get into see the glacier. The coast guard inspected the incident and approved us to sail 

I just saw a picture that had a Star Linje, Key Line and Suite/Pinnacle Line

No, I have just looked into this. For a letter of recovery,  It has to be 11 days and  a positive PCR or NAAT test as well that was proctored.  Although the cdc recognized rapid tests for travel back to the us with a letter of recovery.

My daughter tested positive last Tuesday and hoping she will test negative for our June 6th test.  I will say when testing for the cruise, make you do a rapid test and not a pcr or Naat which tends to pickup non active virus.

3 hours ago, XtremeGK said:

Evivia is the one we used. We sail this coming Tuesday.

Thank you !  Can you update on Tuesday on if they gave you a hard time boarding.

On 5/19/2022 at 9:33 AM, XtremeGK said:

We went to our pediatrician this week to get one for our son. I printed out the page on the Royal website that has the requirements and gave it to the doctor with his positive PCR test result. She was a bit bewildered by needing a letter (why isn't the positive PCR itself good enough as it is in other countries...I agree, but a discussion for another time), but typed out the letter on the spot using the guidance from the website and printed it at the front desk.

For my wife, her PCP sucks, so we used a telemed option we found online. Had to pay for it, but worth it.

CAn you tell me which telemed site you used?  When is your cruise?  We may need one for my daughter.

On 5/22/2022 at 11:14 PM, BigMac3001 said:

Correct, but the pcr is required now for proof of recovery, if I have to go that route. I'll do the antigen in two weeks, and chances are it will come back negative, but I need to plan for it to not. 

I dont think pcr test  is needed for  proof for recovery, only the initial test needs to be a pcr.  Then you can get a certificate of recovery from your physian which would negate the need for any test to board.

8 hours ago, TonyYOW said:

Family member was tested positive. We're in quarantine now. Apparently RC is not arranging the way back home anymore, like they used to do... 

We now have to figure out how to return to Canada... 

The reason why I asked for the email is that somebody on this forum told me to contact CD of Odyssey back in December when there was miscommunication with the guest service related to another kind of emergence. After the email was sent, things have been fixed in like 30 minutes. 

Royal should be providing quarantine hotels until you can get back to Canada.  I also thought I read, but may be mistaken, they will allow you to rent a car to drive home in lieu of quarentine.