Jverge

The decision to require vaccination or kids 5-11 won't be made by Royal Caribbean but by the countries/ports they visit.  

I've warn my rash guard without a problem but I went real slow... now I just take it off before getting on the slide and hold it or put it my pocket.

On Allure the gym was for vaccinated only certain times and everyone others... so if you went during the "everyone" time you had to mask up.

Sure, I'll share:

Oasis 2022 (Thanksgiving) - $688

12 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

It’s not likely that price will go down.  That’s a holiday sailing.  

I normally would have agreed with you but my upcoming Thanksgiving cruise on Oasis has gone down almost $700 since I booked earlier this year so I took advantage of the price guarantee.   Of course Thanksgiving may not be as popular as New Year's but a price drop (technically 2) were unexpected.  Bottom line  It doesn't hurt to keep an eye on prices that's for sure. 

2 hours ago, TXcruzer said:

What rental company has drop off near the port? 

Enterprise and Alamo are right near the port.

I've rented a car one way each time from the rental place that is right near the port (walking distance to port or you can use their shuttle). It's only slightly more expensive than Lyft/Uber but you get the convenience of being able to drop off the rest of your party with the luggage at the port and then return the car.  Plus you can go shopping before you board for wine or other beverages.  

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

NCL - "If you don't have the vax, you're not one of our pax"

Or if you are a conspiracy theorist regarding vaccines... "if you don't get the chip stay off our ship" 

2 hours ago, emmef said:

So if they are treated as unvaccinated, and Royal isn't letting any unvaccinated guests over 12 on cruises to the USVI/St. Thomas that means I need to cancel my family's cruise.  We aren't willing to cruise without our son on Christmas week.  I guess I'll wait a bit longer and see if guidance changes.

It's highly likely that the vaccines will be approved for younger kids soon either through a EUA or full approval (early fall was estimate for 5-11 yr olds I think).  Once that happens if you wish to get your son vaccinated you should have plenty of time to complete the vaccination by the time your cruise sails over Christmas.

Check airport testing sites...  I know MCO is only $65/test for rapid antigen 

Cancel the Disney pre-cruise vacation plans and just focus on the cruise.  

I have two cruises scheduled for this year... Aug 15 and Nov 21 out of Port Canaveral and Miami respectively.   Flying in I plan to get tested at the airport's testing facility  They seem convenient,  take appointments, and are cheaper than the drug stores non-airport based testing sites (assuming you have to pay for travel related travel).

When I purchased my cruises I assumed vaccinations would be required, pre-boarding testing, mid-cruise testing, and end of cruise testing would be part of the protocols.   So one test is not a big deal to be able to cruise in a safer environment than any public spot in the US (or world).

21 minutes ago, JeffB said:

Matt, I'm confused. The post from @DanielB above is from RCL Singapore and deals with testing protocols on Quantum. It has nothing to do with FL ports. Am I missing something here? If not. Please remove this thread.

From the RC site...

For Cruises Departing from Florida

For guests on cruises departing from Florida homeports from August 1 through December 31, 2021, the following requirements apply. 

PRE-CRUISE TESTING REQUIREMENT

PRE-CRUISE TEST FOR ALL GUESTS ON SAILINGS 5 NIGHTS OR LONGER

• All guests age 2 and older — regardless of vaccination status — will need to take a COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) with an accredited test provider, such as a drugstore chain or diagnostic lab, no more than 3 days before arriving at the terminal for embarkation. Guests will need to show their negative test result upon arriving at the terminal. The results can be printed out, or can be presented on your phone, such as the email result from your test provider. Costs associated with this test are the guests' responsibility.

PRE-CRUISE TEST FOR ALL GUESTS ON SAILINGS 4 NIGHTS OR LESS

• All guests age 2 and older will need to take the pre-cruise test as outlined above. However, on these shorter sailings, guests who are fully vaccinated may choose to provide proof of vaccination in order to be exempt from this test.

22 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

Sigh.  I don't mind the test even though I'm fully vaccinated -- but because I'm cautious I'm flying out Aug 20 for an Aug 22 sailing date.  A PCR here in my home town will probably time out.  Anyone have recommendations near Port Canaveral?

There is rapid antigen testing available at MCO Airport outside security in Terminal A.  $65pp I believe. 

Stupid question... if I am sailing on a Sunday does the 3-day testing window start on Thursday or Friday?

I've done the drink card thing on a 7-day cruise.  I much prefer that over the drink package which I will never drink enough to make it worth it.  

Renewed ours on June 16 and received them last Tuesday... expedited service.  

9 minutes ago, twangster said:

When are your cruises?

CWC ends April 30, 2022.    That used to seem like such a distant date but in the lifecycle of cruise bookings it isn't that far into the future.   Plus any FCC obtained through CWC has to used by April 30, 2022 for cruises through September 2022.  As time marches forward those dates will soon be upon us relative to the lifecycle of cruise bookings.  If you cruise often that won't be an issue but if you book just one or two per year and it's hard to coordinate time off work/school and family schedules that could make it harder to find replacement cruises. 

I also expect airlines will soon return to the old ways of more change fees, at least those that did before. We may have a few more months of waived airline fees but once traffic comes back so will the fees, IMO.

The cruises are Aug 15, 2021 and Nov 21, 2021.  I can always find another cruise before the credit expires if I cancel under cruise with confidence (still trying to convince my wife to book something in April 2022 or Jun-Aug 2022 ).  Note I really doubt I would cancel unless there was an illness and hopefully I'd know that within 48hrs of departure.  Of course flights do get canceled or things happen so you never know.

For the airfare I'm flying Jetblue so not worried there. 

I usually get travel insurance for my cruises which includes provisions for hurricanes, trip interruption, medical insurance, medical evacuation, lost luggage, etc. which for my family of 4 is ~$200.  For my two upcoming cruises I'm wondering if I should just get the medical insurance and evac coverage for $68 and skip the other stuff since these cruises will be under the Cruise With Confidence so I could cancel for FCC up to 48hrs before sailing.  Plane tickets are able to be changed without penalty or canceled for credit and if God forbid there is a hurricane for my cruise RCC will do something to make me whole so I don't see the need for the extra insurance.  Am I missing something in my logic?

Not a member of star class personally so it's probably jealousy.  All I know is I'll be enjoying my "Vax-Class" perks when I'm sailing in Aug.

2 hours ago, ClockingOut said:

Can you please elaborate on what this exemption window is?

Just what RC posted on their site.  No reason given but I suspect this is the period where they stated if a passenger tested positive for COVID-19 they would make arrangements and pay for their medical evacuation and quarantine so if you booked during that period you had that contractual guarantee.  Now they are changing the contract saying you need insurance.  Again, just a guess.   In any case, I always get travel insurance for my cruises because you never know.

When did you book the cruise?  There is an exemption window where you don't need the insurance... except bookings made between March 19, 2021 and June 28, 2021.

Could it be that during that period RCC said if you caught Covid on the ship the would foot the bill for medical evacuation and other Covid 19 travel expenses to get you back home and now they are saying you need to have insurance to cover those expenses?

1 hour ago, JeffB said:

OK, show of hands. How many of you that are vaxed or unvaxed and booked on FoS in July will cancel because of this?

My take is that it's good accommodation. The Casino lock-out might be a show stopper for some but the rest, eh.

I agree... this is a good accommodation.   If you look all the vaccine-only events/venues would be for adults 16+ anyway and all the potentially family events/venues are still available to do as a family with unvaxxed kids.   Basically RC is encouraging those who can be vaxxed to do so and if your not and don't like the restrictions they put in place you can choose to take the refund just like getting the vaccine is a choice.   

This is great news.  Fairly new cruiser but by the end of Dec 2022 I'll move up to Emerald.   Trying to convince the wife to go on 12 more nights of cruises to get Diamond.