SuzanneM

Agreed; probably it'll be quicker because some people will shame themselves into staying away from the buffet to request that third (or sixth) cookie from the same person who is so good at customer service they greet you by name each time.

I had no problems requesting no shellfish. They gave me a different dish a couple times and it was delicious. Make sure to note it ahead of time when you make the reservation; don't tell them as you walk in.

I really enjoyed the Oasis class over others. The dining options are better (El Loco Fresh is great and Portside BBQ is straight-up delicious). It's nice to have so many entertainment options, like movies every day, a broadway show, comedians and singers, historians lecturing about stuff at the ports. It's a lot of fun.

I tried to find a room layout resource for Odyssey but wasn't sure how reliable the stuff I found was. Does anyone know if Odyssey has spa suites, with the nice, large shower with its own bench? I looked around the RC website's booking app but couldn't find anything other than JS.

I booked a JS for my next and I'd be content with that, but I'm hoping that I'll be able to get an upgrade closer to the date for much less money. Currently the Odyssey is only offered with balcony rooms and suites available so maybe the lower general interest in cruising will work in my favor and they'll have a nicer suite available for a decent price. One can hope and try!

I don't see it as running scared; that's somewhat inflammatory phrasing. It makes sense to require masks as a precaution until we have more data and confirmed studies. Better to err on the side of caution with fewer sick as a result rather than erring on the side of recklessness with more sick. They are working on the data and there are already some really promising preliminary conclusions. I'm optimistic it won't always be needed but until then, I appreciate Royal Caribbean's strict mask policies because it makes it clear they care about the health of guests and employees above all. I already loved them and the way they've handled things during the pandemic makes me even more confident in them long-term. I'm scheduled on a cruise for 22 October and I wouldn't have booked it without the strict vaccination and mask requirements.

Yeah, the last time I was in Venice (2019) it was a significant issue there. I even came across a graffiti illustration in the streets protesting the cruise ships filling up their horizon. This doesn't come as a surprise.

Thank you! I definitely will. I'm debating buying another earlier in the year but waiting until I can pay for the whole October cruise first. I splurged on a junior suite since I don't have to pay for plane or lodgings in Europe this time. I don't know if they'll ever depart from Israel in future again (instead of just using us as a port in Haifa and Ashdod) so I'm going while I can. I'd love if they made it permanent but it's probably not practical for them long-term.

Really looking forward to the cruise and walking around the Odyssey. I bought for 22 October out of Haifa.