emmef

@Jax I am not sure that this type of mask would be allowed. It is really more of a modified face shield. From everything I have seen advertised/communicated from Royal they are leaning toward a paper or cloth style filtration mask. That is what they are using onboard the Quantum in Singapore as well.

@HeWhoWaits My mom was a Tab drinker back in the day. I was more of a Dr. Pepper person.  Honestly though, I gave up drinking soda more than 25 years ago, so water is pretty important to me. We have a reverse osmosis filter at our house that puts most water elsewhere tasting awful, but the cruise won't allow me to fill 12 bottles with my own RO water and bring it on board, so I have to compromise with a couple of bottles of spring water and a refillable bottle.

I read this blog every day. I then scroll the message boards endlessly. Then I watch YouTube videos of Ship tours from Harr Travel or Cruising with Ben & David, then I watch docuseries, such as "Might Cruise Ships".  Then I go to the RCI site and research things to do and do mock reservations to try out different combinations of itinerary/stateroom/etc.  This really hasn't helped all that much...but it's better than watching the so-called "news".

@RickinSTL really hoping that isn't the case. One day, when we are cruising again, I'm going to Alaska and I better get to enjoy the train!

On 11/16/2020 at 6:41 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:

Hibiscus (or high biscuits, as I call them) in there.  YIIPPEE !!!

This is amusing, because I also call them "high biscuits"

34 minutes ago, Jill said:

If you’re on Facebook, there’s a Royal Caribbean Alaska group that has some good tips too. I also suggest going on YouTube and search ship tours. I was kind of ho hum about going on radiance (I’m a big ship girl) but after watching a tour, she’s beautiful with lots of glass. Reminded me of our first Royal cruises on Song of America and Monarch in the early 90’s. 

Thanks for the tip Jill, I will look it up!

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Yup, just confirmed in a press conference about 30 mins ago by Trudeau.

https://www.thestar.com/politics/2021/01/29/trudeau-announces-suspended-flights-mandatory-3-day-hotel-quarantine-for-travellers.html

Another key takeaway from this article: "Canada’s main airlines will also suspend service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico starting this Sunday until April 30."

15 hours ago, JasonOasis said:

MSC Meraviglia has Cirque du Soleil at sea.  Let me tell you this there is not a single Royal Caribbean show that comes even close to matching the Meraviglia's Cirque du Soleil at sea and they have 2 different shows and both were hands down the best shows I've seen at sea.  The quality of those shows match what you see in Las Vegas the shows were just that good.

The Cirque du Soleil show on Norwegian Epic was fabulous. I have seen Cirque twice on land, once in Vegas, once in Houston and the show on the Epic was very intimate and awe inspiring as it is set up as a dinner theatre.

FWIW my vote is for Skagway.  The train trip on the White Pass railroad is a bucket list item for us.

On 12/8/2020 at 9:37 PM, M First said:

what do we do before we get on the ship if we should need these accommodations . All advise and recommendations are greatly appreciated. 

My husband is in a power chair full time.  The cruise line can send you the "Special Needs Form" to fill in or you can find it online as well.  It covers everything from walker, wheelchair type, special diet, and all other possibilities.  You will need to fill it in and return it to RCI at least 30 days before sailing.  I wish you the best!

I will say I have found Royal Caribbean to be superior to Norwegian as far as handicapped accessibility and access. On Norwegian it is almost impossible to book a handicapped room on some ships that is not an inside room. 

This is going to seem very tame comparatively.  

Morning- Hot brewed green tea from room service

Mid morning - bottled water

Lunch- iced tea

Afternoon- iced tea, bottled water

Dinner- iced tea

After dinner - iced tea or hot cocoa

One time during the cruise I will splurge and get a Bahama Mama, Mojito, Rum Sunrise, Island punch.

So, all that being said you can see why I never buy the DBP!  Totally worthless to me

I had a massage on my last cruise on the Oasis (March 2019). It was great, but definitely a splurge. I, of course, can get a spa treatment much more economically on land, but it's up to you how much you want to spend.  I do not believe that the photo package are worthwhile, but that being said I have friends who are photographer and have much better ways to get "family photos" taken without spending a lot. I typically buy a few photos of onboard memories, but not enough to go in for a "package".  I have no experience with the thermal suite pass, so no opinion there either way!

3 hours ago, Pooch said:

So funny, my grandmother would turn in her grave at the thought of paying for something she got out of the tap!

If she ever tasted yucky tap water like I have, she might change her mind. Though I am old enough to remember when people didn't buy water- just soda ( including Tab). 

24 minutes ago, vmagestro said:

I just noticed that the have taken the Evian water bottle package off of the cruise planner and replaced it with dasani water cans 

Canned water is HORRIBLE! no way to get rid of that tinny taste. Yuck. I will bring my own bottles then for sure.

When sailing with a friend March '19 on Oasis she let me know she would be bringing bottled water on board. I had never heard of this and just thought I would pay for bottled water on ship.  As with everything here on the board all of you have great tips and tricks and lots of knowledge, so what is the scoop on "bottled water"?

On 1/1/2021 at 4:51 PM, Louieond said:

We were booked in May of 2020 got canceled rebooked for June of 2021. Just wondering what happens if we get canceled again,

We were originally booked for Alaska 2020 as well and rebooked to 11 June 2021 on Ovation.  Not looking good for a sailing unfortunately, but still hoping.

28 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

I In my opinion the ownness falls on the tourist to have a plan in place prior to traveling.  

The word you're searching for is onus.

On 1/5/2021 at 6:47 AM, twangster said:

Consider paying for the internet (Voom) package for you and them, keep your phone with you, establish texting or chat practices so they can communicate with you but also back home to their friends so they don't feel isolated and to reduce their stress and feeling like they have no connection to anything.  

Where did I read that messaging in the Royal App is free while onboard?  So you can chat with other passengers while on ship without breaking the bank on Voom?

On 1/5/2021 at 6:26 PM, jen2222 said:

No one knew a pandemic was going to happen.  It’s a very unfortunate time for EVERYONE!!  We have 2 kids and I lost my job and with the holiday $800 would of made things better in these times.  And I am sure my $800 was not going to bankrupt the company.  We have been on Carnival numerous times and I can tell you they would of refunded our money. 
A lot of companies are struggling and closing.  The government also has plenty of funding to help companies.  But Royal Caribbean is more concerned with paying there upper management and keeping there stocks up then there customers and that’s not right.  If a company can’t see that this is a difficult time that NO one expected and can’t look out for there customers better needs it’s not a company I want to do business with.   So I am supposed to just let them have $800.  They are probably a billion dollar company and we are a family with 2 kids and we lost our jobs.   Sorry my family comes first.  And if they did give us our money back which I will do what I can to get it.  Then we would go on a cruise with them when we could.  We have been on many cruise with Carnival and we’re excited to try Royal Caribbean but now I am just disgusted.  
If things were different and we canceled then I can see them keeping the deposit.  But this is a once and a life time or many life times situation.  A PANDEMIC.  I don’t see how a company can just take money from people it’s not right.  Especially when people are struggling.  

 

 

You signed a contract. You are bound by the terms. If you booked non-refundable that means non-refundable.  The government has given NO money to the cruise industry, unlike the airlines. If they give you cash back, they would have to give everyone their cash back.  They can't do that right now. They didn't take anything from you- you freely gave them that money as a deposit and chose a non-refundable deposit.

I am sorry you are struggling during these times, but you are not "owed" that cash.  

On 1/9/2021 at 8:30 AM, stevendom57 said:

There is a valid alternative to having more power outlets in the cabin. Rather than powering your phone/tablet directly form the outlet using a wall wart use a battery power bank. These are portable  rechargeable batteries that have USB outputs. They are fairly cheap on Amazon and the higher capacity ones can power a phone for several recharges. It can not only play all night but charge your phone at the same time. I just place my power bank and phone on the table next to the bed.

Just an thought.

We like our solar powered banks too, great resource, and can charge on our balcony!!

Aren't the guests on Quantum in Singapore taking a COVID test one to two days before they disembark or something similar?  Couldn't those results be used for a flight home?

June 11 2021 (Ovation)

Dec 19 2021 (Grandeur)

4 minutes ago, twangster said:

Like @WAAAYTOOO I have used Hertz and their drop off location near the port.  Hertz also has a shuttle to the port but the port has asked they do not run the shuttle before a specific time, 10am I think.  The shuttle is free but I like to be at the terminal early which was allowed pre-pandemic. 

The cruise terminal doors may not open until 10am but the lines start early.  I chose an Uber from Hertz to the port for under $8 so that I could get to the port earlier than when the free shuttle started operating.

Do you think getting there early will be beneficial, when they are enforcing strict check in times at the port embarkation?

I wonder if this was the case for the Grandeur of the Seas sailings out of Barbados at end of this year/beginning 2022. When I booked for December it seemed that sailings "sold out" awfully fast, especially since the cruises were just posted the day I booked.

I am on the same boat @CruiseFamily I am booked on Ovation to Alaska from Seattle in June '21. It isn't looking great. I am holding out for L&S IF they end up canceling it. Welcome to the message boards.