LovetoCruise87

4 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

I just double checked - it was in my planner for my cruise in a few weeks but I can confirm it has also been removed for me. I wish I had paid enough attention to give you a timeline of when I last saw it....(a month+ easily though)

I remember seeing maybe a month ago. Still trying to figure out why it was taken off. 

We've sailed a few of the different classes, but really do love Oasis Class

I have no problem with it. As has been stated, you can choose refundable or non-refundable deposit. I always go with the non-refundable, and make sure that I have the insurance as well. 

Question for anyone who may have the answer. On our upcoming cruise, we are making a stop at Labadee. In the past we have been able to para sail (love it), but this time it is not showing as an option for an excursion. Does anyone know if they have stopped offering this excursion? If so, why did they?  Thanks

This is on The Islands of the Bahamas website in regards to travel requirements:

Please note: All cruise ship passengers ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to enter a port in The Bahamas, including a cruise line’s private island. Any person who is ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccination due to medical contraindications is exempt from this requirement.

Pre-Boarding Testing

• Cruise lines may have different requirements for pre-boarding testing. Please check with your cruise line for specific details pertaining to your cruise.

If you want to stay longer, try hiding under the bed! Semi-comfortable there 

On 8/2/2022 at 2:26 AM, Monkey Cruiser said:

A photo of the Icon of the Seas construction.

https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3452444

 

 

Similar to Oasis in design, but dissimilar at the same time. Can't wait to see her completed!!

My cabin steward is amazing! I went to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, came back and my bed had been made!

It really seems to me that regardless of what Royal changes, there are going to be countries that will still require testing and/or vaccination. I'm sure that we will eventually get to the point where no one is requiring anything at all. So until then...just go with the flow. 

32 days until we board Harmony and a MUCH needed vacation!!!!

Our cruise coming up on Sept 4th, Harmony, we have a ocean view balcony stateroom. To bid on a ocean view w/large balcony, the lowest is $200/ person. I think I will use that money on other fun items during the cruise. 

I will echo what others have said. I am near Orlando and yes, the traffic can be terrible especially in the afternoon. Skip Disney or anything Orlando and give the Space Center a try. To see the space shuttle up close is absolutely amazing and the drive is very easy.  

On 7/21/2022 at 8:34 AM, Newerrcclcruiser22 said:

Dinner night 4 - WONDERLAND 

Wonderland was interesting and the presentation was fun, but the teens hit Sorrento’s after  — needless to say it didn’t leave us feeling as if we had eaten dinner. Overall the portions were small, and I wouldn’t have wanted larger sizes for most of the dishes we sampled. The restaurant decor is lovely and has an amazing view down the boardwalk to the Aquatheater - and there was a show happening as we ate so that was an unexpected delight! Now to the food - we didn’t choose per se, and let the server bring us a little of this and that since it was our first time there. We started with the eggs in the smoky nest, which answered the question why the place smells like a BBQ pit. It was a smoky hard boiled egg, so not much to elaborate on there. The best dish of the night was up next - hot shrimp wrapped in the same nest material, with a side spoon of lobster but in lobster bisque with caviar on top. Both items were good and easy to eat, not much explanation needed.the next two dishes were a crab cone thing with avocado mousse, and then some tuna inside a lime with a cracker. Main dishes were a barbecue short rib, Branzino and Halibut. They all looked tasty until the server went crazy dousing everything with sauce, maybe that’s part of the whole mad hatter theme? Branzino was nicely cooked and would have been great with the crispy cracker crust on top that wasn’t turned to mush with sauce. My picture here is before the sauce reckoning. The halibut was in a bag that needed scissors to open,  but was so overcooked —I think the hot bag was sitting on the line too long before it was served and kept cooking. Timing between courses was off tonight and we were waiting a long time to have our dinner dishes cleared before being offered dessert, but at least we could watch the boardwalk below. Of the three desserts, a candy apple that wasn’t an apple, a mushroom merengue forest, and a chocolate ball that had ice cream inside the best one was the chocolate ball. Overall I’d give Wonderland a pass, and I won’t plan to eat there again if I am sailing on a ship that has it. 

Thank you for the Wonderland review. We were thinking about giving it a try, but I now believe that we will pass on it. 

41 minutes ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

I love Falmouth for the horse back riding. Almost every one offered includes a mounted swim which is one of the most amazing experiences ever. Feeling the full power of a horse charging through the sea....mindblowing. I've done it twice in my life so far and want to do it again and again.

Horses...not for me. Had a bad experience the first time I tried to ride one and.....nope...never again. If it doesn't have a brake I can push, I'm not getting on it. 

1 hour ago, Leroyr55 said:

how can you have more than 100% capacity? We’re people sleeping and bathing on the pool deck? 

Those who really like to eat are bunked out in the kitchen!

On 7/25/2022 at 10:29 AM, Matt said:

We had envelopes waiting on our bed last night on Mariner.

They're just an option for people that prefer to give out cash tips.

You shouldn't read anything into it as an impetus to tip beyond the automatic gratuities. It's just a vestige of the old days of cruising.

Actually, I liked the old days. We would fill each envelope with the tips and we were able to give them directly to each person. Much more personal that way. 

On 7/22/2022 at 11:30 PM, Traveling Mike said:

I just got back from an Alaska Cruise and seen something in my cabin that I have not seen before.  They left me 3 envelopes allowing/asking me for additional tips on top of the Gratuities I have already paid.  I normally give extra cash to the people that go beyond for me but this asking for an extra tip rubbed me the wrong way.

Two Questions:

1. What do you think about asking for extra tips?
2. When you have Unlimited Dining do you add an extra tip when you have dinner?

I don't remember the last time we had envelopes in our room, as we always pre-pay.

Ours usually come from our TA, but any additional we need we print on regular paper

24 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

The best hack remains to marry into a high status.

My wife would certainly NOT appreciate that one bit!!  lol

27 minutes ago, Matt said:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/06/02/new-msc-cruise-ship-looks-lot-royal-caribbeans-oasis-class-ships

imitation is the most sincere form of flattery

Harmony's last inspection rated a 96!! Good to know. We are sailing on her in September

On 7/19/2022 at 2:15 AM, Temeculaguy said:

Have some perspective, covid today isn't covid of 2020. I have 4,500 employees, in 2020, a few died and about every 20th one to get covid was hospitalized, Many were in the ICU, it was no joke. In 2022, I've had over a thousand catch it this year not a single hospitalization. These last few weeks at any one time 100 have it, 10 a day come back, 10 go out, I give them all free 2 weeks of paid leave if they test positive and it does not come out of their regular leave balances so as to not encourage people working sick so it is not under reported and I get daily reports. In January this year  me and my three Moderna shots, wore a mask, still caught it. Wife got it in June, same shots. So why would I give a a darn about covid, masks, or tests, we caught it six months apart, had our shots at the same time, still shared a bed while we were sick, still kissed goodnight and didn't even give it to each other either time. Just stop the testing, I'll walk into a covid ward and kiss everyone there, nothing can stop it and I am not afraid of it. Even the head of county USC hospital in Los Angeles (the furthest from right wing conspiracy theorists you can find), in a county reimposing masks said that almost nobody in the hospital with covid is in the hospital because of covid. It's over!

 

P.S., my employees are about 65-70% vaccinated, in 2022 there is no discernible difference in their odds of catching it or how serious it is based vaccine status or mask wearing or prior infection, not in catching it or catching it twice. What was true on 2020 and 2021 is not applicable to 2022 My study, because of workman's comp is in depth and is as big or bigger than other studies you read online and from my data, nothing stops it and its no big deal if you get it. If you are on death's doorstep or scared to death, stay home. It's endemic and it is the common cold now, let's move on, nobody was wrong and nobody was right, stop blaming but do accept that it is over.

Great information and it really puts the whole thing in perspective. I also believe that this is now endemic. No one is going around suggesting that everyone test if they have the common cold or not.