JasonOasis

I understand why they want to do this part of it is probably their desire to go green but I think the real reason they want to do this is because of staffing shortages. I'm a clean person I even will partially make the bed, not as good as house keeping but I will make the bed after I get out of it (my mother instilled that in my as a child), but I like having a clean stateroom/suite, I like having fresh towels every day, in my opinion it is part of the cruise experience. I'm back to traveling a bit for work not as much as I used to before covid but I do travel for work. What I've notices is hotels say they are not cleaning rooms every day because the customers don't want it but when I've talked to housekeeping they absolutely hate not cleaning the rooms everyday because when they do clean the rooms they have to spend almost 3 times the amount of time cleaning a room than they would when they were cleaning it everyday. And of course management is breathing down their necks to get the rooms clean and back in inventory. Post pandemic there have been hotel rooms that I've walked into where I walked out and went back to the front desk to demand a new room because the room wasn't clean like it should have been. Again I don't blame housekeeping they are working their butts off, I blame the hotels and it has nothing to do with going green or less contact and everything to do with money. In some regards the cruise experience has already been diminished and in my opinion that is part of the cruise experience and I don't want to see cruise lines follow this trend.

Is this what you used when you uploaded your vaccine information to Royal when you checked-in online? If that is the case I would still bring this document. Your original question was would they accept a picture of the card on your phone and the answer to that is no you have to have the physical document whether it is a card or the alternative document the state issued you at the time. Whatever physical document you have been issued you need to bring with you a photo on your phone is not good enough. Hopefully this answers your original question.

I've done multiple cruises since the resumption of cruising in the US and we've always brought the physical card with us and every person we've seen has their card with them as well. You can roll the dice if you want to, but if you really want to get on the ship without running into issues I would suggest you bring your actual vaccination card with you.

Every cruise that I've taken I've always without fail had envelopes left in my stateroom on the last night for any additional tips that I wished to leave. I've never had any crew member ask me for any additional tip I will leave an additional tip at my discretion but the envelopes are always there in the room on the last night of the cruise.

This was quietly announced 2 or 3 days ago right after American released their Q2 earnings. American has announced they are cutting 90,000 flights from their schedule starting in August through December in a move to restore reliability to their schedule going forward. That equates to around 18,000 flight per month or 600 flights per day. However keep in mind American Airlines is by far the largest airline in the world and I believe they operate over 4900 flights daily (or at least that was what they scheduled). According to multiple article the reduction in flights has already been loaded in the system Cirium (industry insiders and airlines use this system to track schedules and flights). https://dentonrc.com/news/state/american-airlines-cuts-more-summer-and-fall-flights-to-boost-reliability/article_0c55ae9c-3849-58a3-a80f-2e56893f6aa3.html Part of this schedule reduction is also being driving by the fact the FAA limits commercial pilots to no more than 1,000 total flight hours per year. And even with all the cancellations at the airline I work for pilots have already rack up more overtime flight hours this year than they did in 2018 and 2019 combined. At the airline I work for we already have some pilots in the 600 flight hour range (pilots can fly up to 100 hours every month). If the airline I work for already has pilots in the low 600 flight hour range I'm sure American which is much larger has to have pilots knocking on the door of 700 hours which isn't a good place to be at the end of July. Keep in mind during a typical year most senior pilots will have around 600 total flight hours and junior pilots will rack up between 700 and 800 total flight hours (junior pilots want to make more money therefore they pick up more trips/overtime than senior pilots who are already making top dollar and are looking for more of a work life balance). American Airlines is not alone both Delta and United have trimmed their schedules for the remainder of the year as well though not as much as American because they are not as big as American. So while American paints this a bid to improve reliability for the remainder of the year the real reason we are seeing these airlines cut flights from August through the end of December is because if they don't trim their schedules to reduce the number of flight hours to better match the pilots they have and pilots continue to rake in the overtime the airline runs the risk of having pilots time out right in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel season.

When did you book the sailing was it before March 31, 2022? Secondly in a later posted you state you booked it on the US website, have you called Royal directly because if the issue is you now need to switch sailings then all you would have to do is pay $100 dollar change fee. I would start by getting Royal on the phone because depending on when you actually booked this sailing (before March 31, 2022) if the actual set sail date is before September 30, 2022 then cruise with confidence does apply to your sailing. However if the day of the booking or the actual set sail date falls outside the dates given on the email then normal cancellation policy is in effect. And it might be better to simply switch your ship and sail date and pay the change fee than to straight out cancel but I suggest you call Royal since you booked this online..

I completely disagree with you on the issue of testing for one simple reason according to the CDC as a result of the vaccines the incubation period for covid can now be up to 14 days. And during that incubation period an individual can test negative for the virus and have no symptoms. This is also a reason why I'm against post-cruise mandatory testing or reporting and why I say people who say they got covid on a cruise should be very careful making that statement. An individual could have covid before they board the cruise, test negative, feel fine for the entire 7 night cruise then feel like crap right after the cruise ends. Naturally they would think they got covid onboard the ship but the truth is they could have had covid before the cruise ever set sail but were in the incubation period which has changed from what it was in 2020 and 2021. I think the vaccine requirement for adults will remain at least through the end of the year but pre-cruise testing needs to go away because it is not preventing covid onboard ships thanks to the longer incubation period. Vaccines prevent serious illness and will keep a ships medical facilities from being overrun which is what the vaccine is supposed to do. In my opinion anyone who is concerned about covid on cruise ships should not cruise at this time.

No they do have GTY's for Suites as well but there is of course much less inventory at that level and once they've sold all their suite GTY's they will not offer or sale any more for the particular cruise. When I first started booking suites some years ago I would alway used the suite GTY because it was a more affordable way to get into a suite. I no longer do that now as we can now comfortably afford owners and crown loft suites but for those looking to get into a suite without having to do an upgrade the suite GTY is an option and can be a money saver but there are usually only a handful of suite GTYs offer per cruise.

Someone has to go first and I think Virgin Voyages is small enough that their decision will not make headline news on major networks. The fall season starts in middle of September I think by then at the latest most cruise lines will have dropped their pre-covid testing requirement.

It is a great deal, Azamara had old ships that were not designed for the ultra-luxury market Azamara was hoping to move into. Silver Seas is already in the ultra-luxury cruise market and the addition of this brand new (ship was built/delivered in 2021) expedition type ship should open up parts of the Arctic and the Antarctic to Silver Seas customers. While Royal Caribbean Group will do some modification to the ship so that it represents the Silver Seas brand, for all intents and purposes Royal; purchased an ultra-luxurious expedition style vessel and saved at least $100 million dollars in the process. With the steep rise the industry is seeing in not only luxury cruises but also expedition style cruising the return on this investment is going to be huge for the Royal Caribbean Group. MSC Cruises is jumping into the ultra-luxury cruise market with their Explora Journeys Brand and the Ritz Carlton is still planning to launch their own ultra-luxury cruise brand in 2023. This segment of the market is growing and Royal scored a great deal on this purchase and this ship will allow them to go head to head with other expedition type cruise lines but doing it in a ultra-luxurious way which many expedition cruise lines don't offer. https://maritime-executive.com/article/crystal-s-expedition-ship-endeavor-sold-to-royal-caribbean-group

Congratulations on reaching D+ status we reached it right before the pandemic. It will take us years to reach Pinnacle even with booking suites but we are in it for the long haul. 5 free drinks per day. If you aren't a heavy vacation drinker you'll never have to buy a drink package again LOL!!!!

Did you book through a TA or with Royal directly? If you booked through a TA I would call them and see if they can help you out. TA's can be a very useful resource to have on your side in situations like this. However if you booked through Royal directly I still suggest you call the worst they can say is no but they also could say yes and move you to a different cabin if one is available.

I'm still waiting to read about covid restrictions...

Take your blessing and run with it, Star Class is Star Class. I also go an unbelievable deal on a 2 BT ATS on Harmony on the December 10, 2022 cruise, and we booked that at the NextCruise desk on Anthem. I could not believe the price of the suite when she quoted it and it was the only Star Class suite left on that cruise and the only Aqua Theater Suite remaining. I was looking for a 1 bedroom and she had none but their was this 2 BR ATS and the deal was to good to pass up for Star Class so we booked it.

Actually it is the Islands that are requiring this. While you can visit the Bahamas unvaccinated if you are flying you still must present a negative covid test taken within 72 hours of your arrival. Many of these islands are no longer requiring airlines to check and verify documentation but your documentation (vax card or test results) will be checked upon arrival in the Bahamas and the Bahamas according to their website can refuse entry to unvaccinated individuals if they believe there are issues with the documentation or if they think you have covid. Other islands in the Caribbean have similar policies in place. Jamaica also updated their policy on July 5, 2022, they no longer require unvaccinated individuals to present any covid test to enter Jamaica however it isn't a free for all or business as usual. Jamaica has warned unvaccinated individuals who choose to travel to their country if you should test positive you will be required (not optional) to quarantine for 10 days at a government quarantine facility. You may be released from quarantine to travel home but only if the medical officer at the facility signs off on your release and the destination country allows covid positive individuals to travel. St Maarten another popular destination also allows unvaccinated individuals to fly into their country. In addition to presenting a negative covid test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, all unvaccinated guest flying into St. Maarten must purchase (prior to arrival) covid-19 insurance it is mandatory and will be checked upon arrival in St Maarten. In addition to having covid-19 insurance and a negative test, unvaccinated travelers will be tested (at their own expense) at the airport upon arrival and must quarantine in their hotel room until the results of that test come back. I could go on and on about the restrictions still in place in the Caribbean for those who are unvaccinated. The responsibility to check this documentation should have never rested on the shoulders of the airlines but just because airlines have been removed from the equation does not mean they've flung the doors open to those who are unvaccinated. Having said that I do think the pre-cruise testing requirement will go away by the fall at the latest. If you're expecting cruise lines to drop the vaccine requirement I've always stated I think that requirement will remain in place through the end of this year.

Even though Newark is closer to Cape Liberty, Southwest does fly out of LaGuardia. If you haven't been to LGA in a while it is a completely new experience with the new terminals now open.

My first cruise with Royal was on Adventure of the Seas, after that cruise the next cruise I went on was Norwegian Epic. Some friends of mine here in Chicago are loyal NCL cruisers and I was out voted as to which cruise line to take so in 2010 I ended up on Epic (that is an ugly cruise ship at least from the outside). I took another Royal Caribbean cruise in 2011 with my sisters again on Adventure out voted again because Adventure was cheaper. However, my first experience with an Oasis Class cruise ship didn't happen until 2012 on Allure of the Seas. I will never forget being in the cab as we approach Port Everglades and seeing this beautifully designed ship sitting in port and being mesmerized. And once I stepped on board and saw the Royal Promenade, Boardwalk and Central Park for the first time I was blown away I couldn't believe this was a cruise ship and I was on it. That 2012 Allure cruise was also my husbands first cruise ever. We had met in early fall of 2011 he had never been on a cruise, wasn't interested in cruising he liked going to resorts in the Caribbean and staying there for 7 days. I made him take the cruise I was like I paid for both of us therefore you don't get a vote this isn't a democracy (and for some reason he decided to stay LOL). He couldn't even be bother to look at pictures he just wasn't interested in cruising because he loved his resorts. However his reaction when he saw Allure in port was no ****ing way!!!!! WHAT?!?!?!?! That is what we are getting on no ****ing way (priceless). Once he stepped onboard he was in utter disbelief like I was that this was in fact a cruise ship. The Boardwalk, the Aqua Theater and seeing a full size carousel on a cruise ship was like oh my God wow. The most memorable part of my first cruise on Allure was strolling through Central Park at night after dinner and sat down on one of the benches, the musician was playing softly we had a drink in hand and we were transported to another place, we forgot we were on a cruise it was a magical moment.

It is definitely wider that that Carnival Excel Class cruise ship behind it. Carnival can keep their Excel Class ship I have no problem waiting for something Iconic.

No I'm not making a decision for you I'm just giving you the information. Which is if you cancel your ticket and you purchased a non-refundable ticket American Airlines will charge you $200 dollars per ticket and issue you a voucher for the difference assuming your ticket was more than $200 dollars. However changing your date of travel to a later date is also an option and there are no change fees but you will have to pay the difference in the fare if the fare is more expensive than what you've already paid.

No change fee but you will have to pay the difference in the air fare if the fare is more expensive. If the air fare is cheaper they will issue you a travel credit for the difference. I agree it is confusing but that is why we have blogs, we can all help each other out.

Yes I am too.... I've held off booking any cruises between October and December of 2023. Normally I would have already had my end of year 2B2 7 night cruises lock in but I'm waiting for ICON!!!! I'm hoping the stars align for me and my husband and we can get on the inaugural cruise. We've never done an inaugural cruise for a brand new ship ever so I have my fingers crossed that the inaugural cruise won't happen during the week of Thanksgiving 2023. I would have to come up with a really good believable lie that could get by my mother as to why I'm not at Thanksgiving dinner. My mother (she had 5 children) is an expert lie detector I don't understand how she knows a lie from the truth even over the phone.

Depends on the type of ticket you booked. If you booked a fully refundable ticket then it is easy as pie just cancel the ticket before they closeout the flight. However if you have not purchased a fully refundable ticket American Airlines will charge you $200 dollars per ticket in cancellation fees. American like all other U.S. carriers dropped change fees which allows you to change your flight without incurring a change fee but they have re-instituted their pre-covid cancellation policy which charges a $200 dollar cancellation fee if you cancel your ticket outside of the 24 hour grace period the Federal Government gives all passengers. If it has been more than 24 hours since your purchase your ticket then you will loose $200 dollars per ticket that you cancel.

Both Walgreen and CVS have been charging for covid test for some time now depending on how you answer the questions on the screener. When asked are you taking this test for travel purposes, if you answer yes to that question they will charge you the full amount for the test. To date I've never paid for a covid test at CVS or Walgreen and my most recent test was when I got home to Chicago from Miami late last week after a 3 night weekend cruise July 1-4 followed by a few extra days staying with friends in Miami. I still have elderly parents one of which is immunocompromised so I alway test after I take vacation.

I have a feeling that it will live up to the hype. The last time I think Royal was this secretive about the launch of whole new class of ship was for Oasis and she certainly lived up to the hype. I'm confident Royal won't let us down and our patience will be rewarded in September!!!