smokeybandit

If it was me, I'd look at the lists of cruises available and filter on price. Then take a look at the itineraries for the lower prices cruises and see which ones I like or definitely am not interested in. Then for the itineraries I like look at the ship.

Bahamas did the same thing back in 2021.

There's no one good answer here. Are you ship-centric or itinerary-centric? Are there ports of call you've been wanting to get to or do you have ones you like to revisit? You should visit cruiseplum.com to give yourself an idea of what's even available over Christmas and you can filter it down from there.

That sentence kind of contradicts itself. The protocols worked, but covid really wasn't that bad to begin with?

You wouldn't "rebook" but just "reprice." Key distinction there. But you can only reprice after final payment if you booked prior to April 2022 for sailings prior to Oct 2022.

"“CDC continues to evaluate the latest science and state of the pandemic and is currently reassessing the testing requirement for cruise ships,” Of course that line comes at the end of a statement reaffirming the CDC's position that cruising is a petri dish https://www.cruisehive.com/the-cdc-is-reevaluating-testing-for-cruise-ships/74496

Early on in our cruise experience we tried to avoid repeat ships and ports just to try to get to new places. Now it really doesn't matter. Repeats are fine if the price/timing works.

I think there's two types of port people, too. Ones who must go on an excursion somewhere and ones who enjoy just milling around the port area (for the ports that have a touristy area right there)

I will have had 3 cruises in 5 months after my one next month. Gonna be tough sledding waiting until next March after that.

Not surprising on land, though I wonder if the dynamic is a bit different still on a ship

Or things you can skip

Yes if you have a package with multiple devices, they'd sign in as you. But your internet login isn't your app login. You'll create your internet login on board the ship.

No, totally separate. I ask because there really isn't much in the app a kid would be interested in. But certainly they'd be interested in signing onto the internet.

Are you talking about the app or Voom accounts?

The app is best for snagging your preferred time slot, then going back at a more convenient time and doing the rest of check in

The new hires still need to be legally in the USA and legally able to work on a US-based cruise ship. As an aside, anyone know a typical (pre-covid) turnaround time it would be from hire to their first day working?

You really don't need the app. You can do it right through emed (which is where the app actually redirects you when you take the tests)

I have an open offer to RC for me to help them fix their software bugs in exchange for cruise credit.

I've had it be 3 hours for one cruise and two weeks for 2 other cruises. I wouldn't stress over it

Ah, that makes more sense. Think of the concierge pre-cruise as a guest services type of person. I can't really think of anything I've ever requested via email other than what you mention, dining and cabana type requests.

Well you have the email, so you can reply and ask if there's anything they need or want.

Coq Au Vin is good, but despite the fancy name, is a pretty basic dish.

I'm not sure I have a favorite ship but we prefer Freedom/Voyager class ships

Or if nothing else, that one voucher is getting you a double or triple pour each time.

One of the most little known public areas of a ship