JennP

Yes, they changed that a week or so ago

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/will-i-have-to-take-a-test-before-i-cruise#italy
 

You are correct.  It's 2 days now.   If we factor in the UTC , we can do our tests 2 days before the cruise as early as 2 AM Italy time. 

Just triple checking here - sailing from Italy now is TWO days before for testing,  no longer just 1 day before? I’ve read it, I understand it, but super paranoid I’ll mess it up! 😅  Thx. 

I have found that if I use my iphone or ipad, I cannot see the current price but if I go to the Royal website on my PC, I can.  Not sure if the device is an issue for you but that's how it often works, for me.

In the CP, go to the beverages tab and it will tell you the current price even though it says "reserved" in blue on the package you brought. That will be the current price

 

Sorry I should have worded that different. I’ve already paid for the DBP. But I can’t see what the current price is today to know if it’s gone down in price. It just tells me that I’ve already purchased it. Currently the website  states the DBP is 35% off now but it doesn’t show me what that dollar value per day is. 

Only if they're smoking in the boys' room

I must drink too fast.  Never has one of my paper straws unwound or disintegrated.  

So when are they getting rid of the pre-cruise testing?  That's a much bigger issue to me than masking, tbh.  Not knowing if you're actually going on the cruise until two days before you leave greatly increases anxiety and doesn't let you enjoy the countdown the way you could before.

Exactly how I feel!

I am so torn. Like @Vancity Cruiser I am so excited for a mask free cruise but that darn need for a negative return test to Canada is hanging over my head. 

Sorry, but I’m new at this, where/how do you check prices? Just on main RC site and pretend to book?

Yes do a booking with all your info to get accurate price to compare.

On our last cruise we bought the Key package, and we also did for our next one, leaving in 10 days.  It's a little bit more than the Zoom package that comes with it, but it does give one some nice perks, including preferential disembarking. It's kind of like the drink package, it's hard to justify, but it keeps giving back during the cruise. Preferred seating at shows, etc. Staff seems to treat you differently too. 

Yes, you should be planning differently for these. Priority to get off the ship and onto the tenders goes to excursions booked through the cruiselines. Sometimes they will use a ticket system for the tenders, so you'll need to pay attention to announcements of where and when to pick up tender tickets so you can get off the ship as early as you can.

On the final day of the cruise...I do early walkoff...I carry (roll) my own luggage. I go down to the disembarkation area early...around 6am and there is usually a line. When the ship is cleared, the line moves quickly. In Bayonne, most times the line starts moving around 6:45-7:00 and I'm in my car and driving out of the garage with 15 minutes.

Am sure you should get many detailed answers to your question, but the most important is whether or not the port uses tenders.  Early tenders usually are reserved for ship's tours.

Bologna is a really nice city as well! And much less touristy. The downtown area is cute and the food from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy (where Bologna is) is very good. Be sure to try tortellini and lasagna from there!

I don't agree with some other cruisers.  Pick-pocketing is a real risk in many ports.  Therefore, we follow Royal's guidance.  I have known people who were robbed.  I once had my passport soaked with seawater on an excursion.  I haven't known anyone who was left behind and needed something the Port Agent couldn't retrieve.  Normally, on a cruise you put all valuables in your stateroom safe.  More and more ports want a photo ID to go with your seapass, but the cruise compass will spell it out.  If you do choose to carry a passport off the ship, consider a super-secure under-the-clothing pouch.  They even have some with wires sewn into the straps so they can't be "clipped and yanked."

Hi, you technically don’t need to as all you need to re-board the ship will be your sea pass, but it’s advisable. If something happened that would cause you to miss the ship, you would need your passport to at least get you to the next port to catch the ship back up.

Cruise ships dock at the cruise terminal in Gruž. Royal might offer a shuttle but there's also public transport and you can use Uber in Croatia.

We’re doing the Holy Land/Best of Greece on Odyssey next October. Originally it was an Italy/Greece but was cancelled due to Covid and we pushed it to next year. 
 
Sailings will start back up over there in May and go until mid October. Most of the TA’s are at the end of October. 

Royal's European season is done for the year. It will restart in the spring

Hi fellow cruiser's...
Odessy of the Sea' is docking @ Santorini during our medirerranean cruise vacation & am presently undecided if to take up the RC shore excursion package or to plan our own itinerary. The ship doesn't dock till 13:00hrs and disembarks - 21:00hrs.
The island's blue domed buildings are mostly situated in Oia - the tenders apparently dropping off in the main capital port of Thira (FIRA)! I can either book the RC shore package which takes in all transporation to Oia town and a winery etc - or I can review options in getting to Oia & return to Thira. Once in Thira, deciding on either taking the cable car back down to Thira port or walking down the stepped donkey trail. I will not be taking the option of using the mis-treated donkeys ..as a way of transportation.
Apparently you could take a fast ferry from Thira port > Oia port and take a local bus from Oia port to the town, spend some time taking taking snaps over the Caldera, soak up the ambience of the vista before making tracks back (hiking) to Thira town. The island during July will be close to the 30' celsius so the hike may not be the most viable choice, although as a  family we are all reletaively fit.
Does anyone have knowledge of this beautiful island & modes of transportation whilst allowing adeqaute time not to miss disembarkation.... Thx Chris