Bowen

Odd. So many bloggers have long videos up, all great things, with some exceptions (like too much fitness equipment outside, and no maps). Maybe the show is sensationalized for TV?

I just watched a whole video from La Lida Loca. Is just everything included on Virgin other than alcoholic drinks? Like all the specialty restaurants, soda, etc? Free wifi, room service anywhere you are? It doesn't sound like traditional cruising, but it does sound intriguing.

truth

I've been watching videos of The Scarlet Lady, I must be missing something. It looks like a pretty modern ship (maybe a bit too sparsely decorated), but otherwise normal? I'm not seeing anything weird or hearing anything odd from the people making the videos. Some of that stuff sounds incredibly cool, like Vegas at sea. I wouldn't want to see a burlesque show, but I don't have to go to it, so that's good. The wandering pop up entertainment sounds hilarious. And how nice that internet is included. I would be sad to cruise without my kids, but I think if one of the family lines doesn't drop the mandates then I'll have to take my mom in August or September on Virgin.

Okay now I have to go look this up.

Yeah, and though Virgin won't take a ton of customers from the big lines, they are certainly more likely to take business in the coming months since summer is ending and most people aren't traveling with kids until next year. Especially if you can call first to check unvaccinated availability, so much easier than booking and hoping. And I've had this conversation with about a billion people today, so if I already said that on here, sorry!

I’m pretty sure they aren’t.

I don’t think the unvaccinated numbers ever included toddlers. I’m pretty sure it was only including those who were eligible for the vaccine. I don’t think they ever updated after the shots were approved for 6 months and up. If I recall correctly.

Every single day when I spend an hour on my Peloton I remind myself that it's all worth it so I can indulge when the time comes to indulge.

I just double checked, looks like I got my Mom the soda/internet package as well (she loves her Diet Cokes) so even less code fighting.

Yes, that's what I'm used to, the four little slips, lol. Thankfully the boys will have their own codes since they get the soda plan, and my mom and I can fight over the other two.

They also have a phone number you can call in advance to check capacity of unvaccinated, so you can know before hand if you can sail, instead of booking and crossing your fingers.

To my knowledge there isn't any cellular plan you can buy to keep connected at sea, but you can do the ship board internet packages. If you just want the basic then you can do the Surf package, which is cheaper than Surf and Stream (which will let you watch shows on YouTube, etc). Hope that helps!

Looks like RC is acknowledging that the CDC has made the new recommendations and is now reviewing them: CDC Guidance for Cruises Departing the U.S. The U.S. CDC recently announced that the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships is no longer in effect, and published recommendations to guide cruise lines as they determine protocols. Upon review, we will adjust our protocols and provide guidance to our guests. For now, our current protocols remain in effect for cruises departing U.S. homeports. See current protocols.

I see that Virgin even has a phone number you can call to check unvaccinated available space. That’s very cool, get an answer before you book.

Awesome!

It's been three years since I've cruised, so much has changed!

Same as above, my kids know that if I hear anything negative they're going to be glued to my side the rest of the cruise. We also have a magnetic white board that we put on the outside of our door so they know where we are and we know where they are (like with check in times). And we do the text app thing that RC provides.

Oooh! I did not know that. We buy the soda/voom package and then a two device package, I guess? I'm really not sure now, lol.

No, it’s all included as far as I know.

I think the newest ones were written today? But yeah it's basically just "Must" to "should", but I don't think they're going to give more guidance than that.

Well it looks like the new guidance is out, so hopefully that means we'll hear something soonish from the cruise lines. Maybe in the next week?

We do this and just provide each person with one login code, so if they want to use a different device they have to swap and they don't interfere with anyone else's internet. It works.

I cruise with teenagers, one is super outgoing, the other is extremely shy and will only hang out with the other. The outgoing child will immediately go to the teen club to see if there is a sign that lists any activities that will be going on. He'll join every scavenger hunt, card came, mini golf tournament, basketball game, etc. I'll see him at the start of the cruise and "maybe" I'll see him in the Windjammer having lunch with his new friends. The last time we cruised, as we were leaving the final morning, the crew members were actually saying bye to my oldest, and one stopped me to tell me that they'd never met a more polite kid, apparently he ordered a LOT of sodas at the bars. So if your teen likes new people, the teen club will have a lot going on. We cruise in the off season since we homeschool, but even in slow months with just 20-30 other kids his age on the cruise he is always going. The other one will go to the teen club only if his brother is going, and generally will come back to the room if he doesn't want to do something the other kids are doing. He'll pal around with me and we'll go swimming, play golf, whatever.

Did you guys see how much cruise stocks jumped when the CDC announced this? I think it was 7% for Carnival and almost 13% for RC. If public sentiment controls the stock market at all, it's a good sign.