billdauterive

On Liberty now. They expected 1300 more than any previous week (so well over 3000). Definitely a LOT of kids this sailing. Pool and solarium seem closer to pre covid, but empty chairs can still be found without too much issue. Fitness center is busiest I've ever seen. Huge line for open skating for both sessions which filled up long before the doors even opened. Flowrider was longest line I've seen for a sea day (even after splitting into 2 sides). Royal promenade is significantly less crowded than usual. Windjammer is definitely open for dinner. Thanksgiving is probably a big reason why, but I'll try to get actual numbers from guest services later (which is as busy as ever). I think the main takeaway is anything that kids like is overcrowded and everything else is pretty empty (this is my 3rd Thanksgiving cruise on Liberty). Bar wait times are minimal if anything at all.

Thanks twangsterbot! Fitbit, but same idea. I look forward to our machine overlords!

Ugh. Why couldn't you have posted this a day ago... The result of a day after dull scissors at next cruise.
Trying to get a new one at guest services but the line is a mile long.

I think you are asking two separate questions and I assume you are vaccinated:
(1) What should we do if a person in a group traveling/sailing together tests positive before we leave home (outside the 2 or 3 day testing window)?
(2) If I had contact with that person who tested positive in the period before we left home, what is the risk that I will test positive at some point on the cruise?
Let's deal with question (2 ) first: Contact means inside of 3 meters (6 feet) for a prolonged period (around 15 minutes). If you don't meet those requirements, risk of exposure that results in a COVID infection occurring after you board and producing symptoms prompting a trip to medical where you might test positive and face COVID protocols on board your ship are very low - and I should emphasize if symptoms develop while sailing, be honest and go get tested. Can you spread SARS2 if you actually develop an asymptomatic infection yourself while on board? Theoretically yes but the risk is low and actually spreading virions sufficient to cause an infection in others through respirations is also low. If you're concerned about this, don a mask when you can't maintain social distancing (e.g., in an elevator).
If you can wait until after 3d from contact with your traveling partner to get your pre boarding test and it's negative, I'd go ahead and board. Assessing your risk of exposure from contact with this person is key in your own personal risk assessment of developing an infection later and while on board.
Back to question (1):  If the positive test result for the person in question was from an antigen test, get a confirmatory PCR test in the 3d pre-boarding window if possible (depending on availability in the area you are getting tested in, 1d PCR results are available and usually covered - not always - by your health insurance); if it's negative that person should proceed with traveling/boarding- this isn't CDC guidelines but cruising is a different ball game. Use your head. If the PCR test produces a positive result, that person is definitely out. They'll get a full refund if they cancel before boarding.
It get's trickier if the person, family members in the same household or traveling companions in the same stateroom tests negative on the confirmatory pre-boarding PCR test but has pre-boarding COVID symptoms (sore throat, cough, runny nose, fever or diarrhea). This is a worst case scenario. Everyone in your party should truthfully answer the yes/no questions on the health screening from. You'll be subject to additional screening measures (probably an antigen test in the terminal) or may be denied boarding - you'll get a full refund for being honest. Think about this from a safety and public health viewpoint. It's good for you and good for other guests on board.     
 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/if-i-test-positive-for-sars-cov-2-what-is-your-refund-policy-and-costs-covered
You can get a full refund and no one sails or you no-show the one that tests positive and there is nothing refunded other than port fees and taxes.

NEW CRUISE VLOG!
 
A video explaining my entire career working on a cruise ship. Being a crew member for Royal Caribbean has completely changed my life.
 
 

From Allure of the Seas, October 2021. 
The offers are typically consistent across the fleet.
Current offers implement temporary changes for pandemic protocols.  Offers are subject to change as protocols evolve.
Gold

Platinum

Emerald

Diamond

Diamond Plus

Pinnacle

Youth

I wonder how much trouble I would get in if I leaked the news here first...

I sent in my proof for the first time via the pdf form and email yesterday for my 3 upcoming sailings (Nov, Jan, July).  I heard back via email today that all 3 I applied for were approved.  I even see the OBC already applied on 2 of my 3 sailings in the cruise planner.

I sent in my proof for the first time via the pdf form and email yesterday for my 3 upcoming sailings (Nov, Jan, July).  I heard back via email today that all 3 I applied for were approved.  I even see the OBC already applied on 2 of my 3 sailings in the cruise planner.

I've just updated the original post with the embarkation and disembarkation experience related to security, check-in, etc in Galveston. Go to the original post and scroll all the way down to "Embarkation Experience".  This is based on the back-to-back that I just completed on Independence of the Seas.  The best thing? Facial recognition replaced the face-to-face with a Customs and Border Protection officer and eliminated the long lines to get out of the terminal!

Hi guys. I’m here to share my recent experience with RoyalUp, a program that allows people with existing reservations to bid for an upgrade to a higher room category.

The reason why I’m sharing my experience is because prior to and after the upgrade, I had a ton of questions that I’ve been trying to look for answers all over the internet but couldn’t find any.

Hence, I’d like to share my experience with everyone and hopefully it can give some answers to my fellow cruisers!


  A brief introduction: (or skip to the end for the answers to the “FAQs”)


  I’ve booked a last minute 4-night sailing onboard Quantum of the Seas in Singapore, also known as Cruise to Nowhere. It is basically a hospitality restarting program by the Singapore government with no ports of call. Strict restrictions are also put in place for the safety of the guests.


  I’ve booked a Junior Suite (J4) for me and my wife. The price displayed on the RC’s booking website was SGD 1399pp for 4-nights before pre-paid gratuities and port taxes. There wasn’t any other suite options left for booking, which I presumed was fully booked.


  Almost immediately after completing the reservation transaction, I received the RoyalUP email, and invited me to place a bid to a higher room category. Even though I could clearly see that none of the higher suite categories were available for booking, I still decided to give it a try at bidding for RoyalUp.


  Long story short, I placed bids on all categories, ranging from Grand Suite to Royal Loft Suite and kind of forgot about the whole RoyalUp thing. 


  Until around 24 hours before the sailing, I received an email saying that my bid for a Grand Loft Suite was successful. My bid amount was SGD 1210 per person hence SGD 2420 was charged to my credit card on file immediately.

 





  In general, I paid about $2710 per person ($1399 (JS) +$1210 (RoyalUp) +$100 taxes and pre-paid gratuities)


  I’ve checked the price of a Grand Loft Suite on a different sailing date, and it cost around SGD 5400 per person and before taxes. Which means, I’ve gotten nearly a 50% off the original price.

 
From Junior Suite to Grand Loft Suite is a big jump. In terms of Royal Suite class, it was upgraded from Sea Class to Star Class.


 
At this point, I was very excited! But at the same time, I have a lot questions that needs answers to.


 
To be honest, even with a “huge discount”, SGD 2710 (SGD 5k+ for 2 people) is almost double the original budget hence to me, it is still a lot of money to fork out for a 4-day vacation.


 
As we know, Grand Loft Suite is a Star Class suite and it is practically All-Inclusive such as free specialty dining, deluxe beverage package, internet package etc and it comes with a Royal Genie.


 
So naturally, some questions flashes through my mind, and since it was an upgrade through RoyalUP:


 
“Am I going to get a Royal Genie as well?”

“Will I be treated differently in terms of services than those guests who paid the original price?”

“How about the things I’ve pre-paid on Cruise Planner such as beverage package and internet package since my suite already includes all those packages?”


I’ve tried searching for answers on the internet but I couldn’t find any.


However, after I’ve completed my sailing, I kind of gotten all the answers I needed.


So now, I’m going share them with you guys.


My very own set of FAQs:

Q: Am I going to get Royal Genie as well?

A: Yes! Even though I gotten the upgrade 1 day before the sailing, the Royal Genie got in touch with me via WhatsApp on the morning of the sailing and she already took the liberty to arrange all the activities for us! She already pre-booked all the shows, specialty dinning and some activities such as iFly and Flow Rider. And she was extremely flexible and accommodating on all our requests to change meal timings, shows timings. All you need to do is just let her know your preference and leave everything to her.


 

 
Q: Will I be treated differently in terms of services compared to those guests who paid the original price?

A: Not at all. From my observations, only 2 groups of service crews knew you are an “upgrader”. They are the Royal Genie, and the cruise terminal staff. Usually, Genie will contact you 1 month before your sailing to get to know you better. However, she does know that you are an upgrader since she contacted you just 1 day before the sailing, not the usual 1 month. As for the cruise terminal staff, our information was given to them by the cruise line at the very last minute hence our information was “hand-written” on their paper. They did “congratulate” us on the successful upgrade by the Cruise Line which is why I knew they knew we were an upgrader. Nevertheless, they escorted from the moment we reached the terminal until being handed over to the Royal Genie. Very good service rendered.


 
 Q: How about the things I’ve pre-paid on Cruise Planner such as beverage package and internet package since my suite already includes all those packages 

A: They will be refunded to you and the Royal Genie made sure of that. It will be under “refundable” onboard credit and you can requested to get them in cash on the last night of the cruise. Otherwise, it will be refunded to your credit card.


 
Q: How about my SeaPass card? Will I be recognized as a Star-Class guest?

A: You will be identified as a Star Class guest on your SeaPass card, not the original room category that you were booked on.


 
Q: Do I get the same perks and benefit listed under Star-Class suite even though I’m an upgrader?

A: Yes! Complementary Dining Package, Beverage package, internet package, complementary mini-bar for the whole cruise with replenishment daily, complementary room-service, complementary laundry (I don’t think they set a limit on the quantity of clothes). For Izumi, there is no limit in terms of the amount you can order. If you have a Ultimate Dining Package, I believe per meal you will get USD35 credit per person for Izumi as it is based on A-la-carte pricing. But for Star-Class, there is no limit on that. The wait staff made it known to you before you order.



Q: How about those chargeable activities?

A: For our sailing, the chargeable activities are iFly (~$40) and Northstar (~$20) and strictly by reservation only. However, with the help of our Genie, reservation was done before hand. There is no charges for Star-Class guest for these activities. However, you are only entitled to 1 free session for each of these 2 activities. If you would like to go for a second-time, you will have to pay the charges.


 
All other FAQs regarding Star-Class:

Q: Can Royal Genie fulfill all your requests?

A: Yes and No. I’d emphasize that your request must be reasonable. If you would like to change your dinner venue to another restaurant at the very last minute, you can kindly check with her. Most of the times it can be fulfilled. However, if the restaurant is full, she might suggest to change to an earlier or a later time for you. I’m not sure what kind of magic they have, but I’m definitely against them pulling out other guests from their original dining timing just to slot you in. Firstly, you are putting Genie in a difficult position, secondly, you are causing unhappiness to the affected guests. So I’d suggest to give the Genie some leeway. Do not force you request onto them. If it can be done in a gentle way, go ahead. If not, please do not force or blame them.

 
Q: Do I need to tip the Royal Genie?

A: Absolutely. They are not a receiver of the automatically gratuity system on board. Hence, the tips relies solely on you. Royal Genie is not just a regular butler, they are there to learn about you and make arrangements for you which you didn’t even think of.

My wife somehow mentioned to the Genie that this is our 2nd anniversary trip when we were casually chatting. (but did not mention in details). The Genie caught it and arranged for a surprise decoration and cake in the room for us. My wife and I were surprised as initially, we really can’t figure out how she knew about our anniversary. It is only when we tried to recall every single thing we said to the Genie, and realized that it must have slipped out of our mouth at certain point. Their attention to details are just simply unbelievable.

Hope this post is useful for whoever is looking for the same answers as I did.


Happy cruising!

Quantum has cancelled her 2021 Alaska season.
    ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS    
Dear Guest,
As you may be aware, our industry’s situation remains quite fluid. Despite this, we’re making some positive leaps towards a return to sailing; leaps like our Healthy Sail Panel collaboration, partnerships with multiple medical experts and health organizations, and the launch of Quantum of the Seas’ successful Singapore sailings. Now that 2021 is here, we’re looking forward to welcoming guests back onboard the rest of our fleet.
Following her Singapore season, Quantum of the Seas was set to offer Alaska sailings from April 2021. However, to allow additional time for our preparation, Quantum will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. As a result, we’re suspending our 2021 Alaska sailings onboard Quantum of the Seas departing April 25th to September 27th, 2021. Regrettably, your sailing will be cancelled.
We’re terribly sorry for the impact to your vacation. Our primary goal continues to be a seamless and healthy return to service; we’re hyper-focused on welcoming you back! As mentioned, we’ve assembled the “Healthy Sail Panel” - a multifaceted team of globally recognized experts. The panel continues to work alongside our new Public Health & Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Calvin Johnson, to pioneer innovative ways to guide the cruise industry’s way forward in the pandemic. It goes without saying, we’re all in this together.
While we all wish we were cruising, we do have some options for you; including an option that’s been very well-received by our guests, as it provides a little something extra to use once we all start cruising again! Here are your options:
1. 125% Future Cruise Credit: We’re providing you with a 125% Future Cruise Credit to book a new cruise by April 30th, 2022.
This amount is based on your total cruise fare paid, and we’re giving you a little extra knowing that this is such a unique circumstance.  Your certificate can be used on any Royal Caribbean International sailing that departs on or before September 30th, 2022 and gives you more flexibility to choose a sailing that’s right for you! We’ll automatically send your Future Cruise Credit via email by February 19th, 2021, so there’s nothing for you to do! Taxes & fees and any RoyalUp upgrades will be automatically refunded. Current refund processing is around 45 days. We are working as quickly as possible, and we appreciate your patience. Please note:  If you opted into the Cruise with Confidence 100% Future Cruise Credit, this offer does not apply.   And, if you previously used a Future Cruise Credit (including previous Global Suspension FCCs), you’ll receive a new Future Cruise Credit. This will be for 125% of any new monies paid on this sailing, plus the value of your original credit at 100% of its value, with an expiration date of April 30th, 2022 and a sail by date of September 30th 2022. If you were already impacted by a sailing that was previously cancelled due to a global suspension and paid additional monies on a new booking within this extended suspension period, you are still able to opt in to refund one or both cancelled bookings via the process below. 2. Lift and Shift: If you prefer to move your existing booking to a sailing next year - we’re happy to move you! We will price protect the original pricing and/or promotion on the same ship, itinerary, length, product, and stateroom category as your original sailing within 1 week (before or after) of the original sail date the following year. For example, if you are moving from a Quantum of the Seas April 1st, 2021 sailing, you can move to another Quantum sailing that is the same itinerary, length, product, and stateroom category, and the sail date between March 25th, 2022 - April 8th, 2022. 
Please know, price protection covers your cruise fare/promotion on an applicable sailing only and excludes taxes and fees, gratuities, and other non-cruise fare items, as these may change. You must decide to move to a new sailing by February 4th, 2021. If not, we will automatically issue you a Future Cruise Credit.  Complimentary Casino offers are not eligible for Lift & Shift. 3. 100% Refund: Or, if you prefer a full refund, which is a lower value than the future cruise credit offer above, we’re happy to process this for you. Given how fluid this situation is, and the opportunity to use the extra credit being offered, you have until March 31st, 2021 to request a refund and deactivate your certificate. 
Please contact us to start the refund process, forfeiting the higher value of your 125% Future Cruise Credit. To avoid waiting on the phone to cancel, click here and we will get the refund process started for you. Note: Please know, once we receive your refund request, we unfortunately won’t be able to accept an FCC request if you change your mind.  We’ll then deactivate your Future Cruise Credit and process your refund to your original form(s) of payment, which will include any non-refundable deposits.  You can expect to receive your refund 45 days after you submit your refund request.  Please note: If you used a Cruise with Confidence certificate on this sailing, and you request a refund instead, we’ll refund any NEW funds paid above the certificate amount, and we’ll reinstate your original Cruise with Confidence certificate. And, a special option for those that also purchased Cruise Planner Items… 
You can opt-in to receive an Onboard Credit in the value of 125% of the total Cruise Planner purchases on your reservation.  Click here by February 4th, 2021 to request your higher value credit, and we’ll email you your credit by February 19th, 2021.  If we don’t hear from you on or before February 4th, 2021, your Cruise Planner purchases will be automatically refunded. You’ll receive your refund within 45 days of your booking’s cancellation. We are working as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience during these unprecedented times.  Also, if you opt for a cruise fare refund or for Lift and Shift, you are not eligible for this Cruise Planner Onboard Credit offer.  Questions about how the Cruise Planner credit works? Click here for more details. Guests with air or hotel booked…  
Refundable air or hotel accommodations purchased through Royal Caribbean will be automatically refunded to you within 45 days after we process the cancellation. If you booked non-refundable air through Royal Caribbean or booked on your own, please contact the service provider directly for your options with them. If you have any questions, please contact your Travel Advisor immediately or contact us at: 
1800 754 500 in Australia 0344 493 4005 in the U.K. 1 866 562 7625 in the U.S. or Canada All other countries, please visit http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contactusfor your local Royal Caribbean International office phone number. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and continued loyalty. We will all come out of this stronger than ever. Stay healthy and safe. We miss you, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon.  
 
Sincerely,

The CDC is jealous...  

I was called crazy when I got in at $24, $9, and $11 back in March.  Who's crazy now?!
*Still me but not because of this stock purchase at least*

I was called crazy when I got in at $24, $9, and $11 back in March.  Who's crazy now?!
*Still me but not because of this stock purchase at least*

I was called crazy when I got in at $24, $9, and $11 back in March.  Who's crazy now?!
*Still me but not because of this stock purchase at least*

I was called crazy when I got in at $24, $9, and $11 back in March.  Who's crazy now?!
*Still me but not because of this stock purchase at least*

Shorter lines to things like water slides, more seating available in shows, fewer people lining up for drinks at bars = more fun for me.  
When I have sailed during hurricanes altered sailings with fewer guests on board it was quite nice.  Even the Allure TA to Spain was down about 1,500 guests and that is distinctly noticeable on Oasis class.  

I'm still missing mine from an April 6 cruise.  I got the FCC for it on 4/13 (and already used it). 
I think it's now past the 45 business days from the cancellation date of 3/14 for the "cash" refund of taxes and fees so I'll probably be calling in soon to see the status.  I've been as patient as possible by giving them the max amount of time they said they needed to process, but now I'm pretty certain it's been lost in the shuffle.

2nd year in a row this year!
I loved it last year and want to make it a yearly tradition.  The wife, not so much...  Had to compromise and bring the kids with us this year.

I'm still missing mine from an April 6 cruise.  I got the FCC for it on 4/13 (and already used it). 
I think it's now past the 45 business days from the cancellation date of 3/14 for the "cash" refund of taxes and fees so I'll probably be calling in soon to see the status.  I've been as patient as possible by giving them the max amount of time they said they needed to process, but now I'm pretty certain it's been lost in the shuffle.

2nd year in a row this year!
I loved it last year and want to make it a yearly tradition.  The wife, not so much...  Had to compromise and bring the kids with us this year.

For me the Windjammer is like going to Walmart.  Sometimes its a necessity but you really don't enjoy the experience lol 

I still believe that this was much ado about nothing.  All of the consequences, including the extended loss of cruising, are the result of the overreaction and the senseless political battle that this all has become.