Jkaczano

Great price.  It just went down to $79 on the 9/26 sailing a couple days ago from $160.  Was showing as “sold out” after about 3 hours.  It’s been going back and forth as available/sold out since then. 

16 hours ago, CaptainPanda said:

We're booked on Oasis for Dec. 4-11 2022, and of course would like to take advantage of pre-cruise pricing on excursions. How far ahead of the cruise date to excursions usually become available through RC?

It really depends on the cruise. We have excursions available on our Voyager cruise planner for January 2023.  At the same time, some of the cabanas on Perfect Day just became available a couple weeks ago for my Sept 2021.  

From a pricing perspective - We’re sailing 9/26. It sat at $160 on sale for months. A couple days ago, it went down to $79 and was showing as “sold out” within hours. 

It’s not available anymore on the 9/26 Oasis sailing either. Occasionally it will show up for a couple of hours but then disappears again, probably due to someone cancelling and another purchasing it.  My only advice is to keep checking. 

The 2 I’ve had price drops on are a 5 night May 2022 Adventure Canada in a JS and a Feb 2022 3 night Independence in a GS.  We just booked this spring, so prices were probably a little high when we bought.  Although prices are significantly up on my 9/26 Oasis 2BR aquatheater and slightly up on my 11/22 Anthem JS which were booked around the same time 

I’m doing a live blog on the 9/26 sailing and will definitely post them then.  @jaullram also started a live blog for the 9/12 sailing 

1 hour ago, Pattycruise said:

Well considering I just purchased a 6 pack there’s a big possibility Royal will subsidize the cost for the rest of you…..because that’s my luck! Lol

then again, why would Royal not make a buck off this?

So Optum was selling 2 kits for $70, 3 for $100, no charge for shipping. Ironically, Optum was the company who was sold out last week.  
 

My guess is Royal doesn’t subsidize, but Optum may start selling bigger packages (6packs) for a similar cost to EMed and call it a discount. 

We’ve been seeing the same thing with pricing on our May 2022 5 night Canada out of New Jersey.  We only booked in July but have almost $500 of reductions so far.  

3 hours ago, cbnsoul said:

It seems as if cabana pricing for anything outside of Coco Beach Club is around the $900 mark, at least for all the cruises I have booked.  Does Royal ever discount them after the cruise starts or on the day you visit Coco Cay?  

I’ve noticed the same on most of our cruises. I did, however, just see some discounts on CoCo Cay cabanas today (about 24 days before our sailing). 

14 minutes ago, Tiffeven said:

Well, today has been a rollercoaster.  I called the health department where Kat was supposed to take her Covid test, and they informed me that we would not have results back in time for the cruise.  I, then, called CVS who also advised me I would be cutting it to close.  We decided to reschedule our test to a Rapid Antigen test, but this means we have to drive about an hour away on Wednesday to a CVS in another city.  I would much rather have an extra two hours of driving (roundtrip) and have the peace of mind that our results will be back in time than chance it.  I then logged in to the testing website for Miami Airport to schedule Kat's test.  It asked for flight information, so I called and inquired about this.  I was told they only test those flying in or out of Miami Airport.  This was at the MIA South Terminal.  Thankfully, I kept looking on their website and found that they also do testing at Central Terminal.  They are operated by different providers, so I figured it was worth a try.  I gave them a call, and they said that they do not require you to be flying to test.  They informed me that they do not schedule appointments and operate on a first come, first serve basis; they are open 24/7; and results are provided in anywhere from 15 to 50 minutes for rapid tests which costs $79 for antigen tests and $175 for PCR tests.  Here is the information provide on their website for anyone who may need it, "The Central Terminal facility, operated by Communitel and Family Rehab, Inc. and located at MIA’s Concourse E ground level median in front of Door 11, provides Antigen and Rapid PCR tests with results within 15 minutes and PCR tests with results within 40 minutes. The facility is open daily 24 hours a day for walk-ins and scheduled appointments. For testing costs or to schedule an appointment, call 305-869-1161. Customers will receive a written test result, or results can be emailed upon request."  This information is slightly different from what I received on the phone, but for the most part, it's about the same.  I did check on their website for appointment scheduling, but the only thing listed on their website was their phone number.  Although, this started out as a giant stress-inducing mess, it ended up working out ok.  I feel much more comfortable about switching to a Rapid test from the PCR.  I also ended up getting some clothes that fit, so I'm happy about that as well.  We are officially in the single digit countdown and can not wait.  7 days until we leave and 9 until we board!

That sounds like a nightmare.  I’m glad it all looks like it will work out.

6 minutes ago, Jill said:

Nope! I’ve got almost $2400 that @Sharlahas saved us just since June! June sale + WOW sale = mega bucks!  

Wow!  I thought the $700 that @Sharlahas saved us on our cruises since June was amazing.

4 hours ago, KevinJ said:

What I see is that the testing in Milford and Nashua is called Rapid Diagnostic Test (ID NOW). I'm not sure that is an accepted test?

There’s also rapid tests available at all 4 Southern immediate cares, Convenient MDs, and Clear choice MDs (CMC hospital affiliate).  All else fails there’s cash only testing in the Mall of NH parking lot (now $70 for rapid antigen) with late hours.  We’re on the Oasis 9/26 so I’ll let you know our experience.
 

I will say that we are very lucky to have so many options here in NH

3 hours ago, KevinJ said:

This sure is causing allot of angst for folks. We're not cruising until Oct 17, but already started checking out options. My Rite Aid says their PCR test takes 2-7 days, no antigen. Checked Walgreens site no, antigen tests in NH, would have to drive to either MA or ME, strange?  Again their PCR stated 2-5 days. CVS, has antigen tests available in my area, I do not want to be worried waiting for the PCR so antigen 3 days before seems safest. My son gets tested for his work, his PCR usually comes back between 2-3 days, but again don't want to sit around worrying, so he'll get the antigen with us. Starting to really consider stocking up on the at home kits, have three cruises through Jan. However still need to wait to see if they change protocols. Lets hope this delta starts to flatten out.

Walgreens in NH has rapid antigen in Milford and Nashua. I think there’s also a couple on seacoast.  They’re scheduling only 2 days in advance (Schedule Tuesday for a Thursday).

1 hour ago, KevinJ said:

Any idea how long it takes after leaving the pier to get to the bridge? My son well be all over that photo op. I'm thinking about our dinner reservation timing. Right now we're MDR at 6:30 which seems just about right to miss the bridge.

I watched and timed the test cruise because we’re on the 9/26 sailing.  She left pier right at 7, and headed up to Statue of Liberty.  Turned around right at 7:30, and passed under the bridge 8:10 to 8:15. I think @Aulayanis right on timing - 15-30 minutes without touring harbor.  I’m guessing 70-75 if we do.  I watched a video of someone on the test cruise who was in the middle of dinner at Coastal Kitchen when they were about to go under, and they all went up to watch.  It only takes 5 minutes, and they just continued dinner when they came down

Not open for Sept 26th

24 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

RoyalUp?  

I tried entering in last name and reservation number into the system, but it tells me it’s unavailable. I originally booked it directly through RC and transferred to our agent at MEI. From what I read on the trip Facebook group, royal up emails went out before I booked, so maybe that’s why we’re not eligible.  

30 Days to go.  
 

Good news - We sent our list of requests to our genie.  

Disappointing news - one of the deck 8 aquatheaters came available today. Unfortunately it’s $3500 more than we paid so we just can’t justify upgrading. Would have really liked the bigger room, but wow.  
 

I can’t wait to hear more.  We’re on the ship 2 weeks after you but with a different Genie. 

And our genie is ……. Allan F.  Here is the email we received from him.  I’ve been working on a list of beverage and dining requests patterned after @Tiffeven’s but it feels like it still needs some work.

13 minutes ago, wozswoman said:

Maybe we will see each other on board! I'm on the 26th sailing as well with my mother, girl trip.  14th floor balcony.  Safe travels.

A girl trip sounds like fun!  A lot more fun than coordinating the whole family. Once we’re on and acclimated, we should arrange a time to meet.

Safe travels to you and your mom, too!

Jenn

@wozswoman  Saw that.  Thanks!  We’ve only sailed Disney and have never cruised out of Bayonne.  We planned on parking at the cruise terminal and didn’t even know there used to be a cheaper option.  With my mom’s knee replacements, sometimes convenience wins out over cost.  $25 is steep but I felt better about it when I found out last week that onsite Boston Logan is now $38 per day!  COVID pricing - perfect reason to increase costs and decrease services. 

12 minutes ago, BrianAlt said:

October 24th

 

Mine is September 26th.  Luckily the wrong info I’ve seen so far has been about unimportant things but I only joined yesterday and was curious if there was a “history” I was unaware of. 
 

Thanks!

Dasani was still showing for my 2/11/22 Indy sailing so I purchased it.  Hopefully I’ll get the letter too.  Otherwise, I’ll just refund a couple days before the sailing.  Was that wrong of me?

1 hour ago, BrianAlt said:

In a FB group for my upcoming Oasis cruise, someone posted that Coastal Kitchen might be closed to suite guests based on the number of Pinnacles on board.  I've searched for information on this here, on CC, on FB.  I have found nothing that indicates that this is even a possibility.  She is an admin on the FB group and I already had her bristling at me for another time I contradicted her (she was wrong  ), so I didn't really want to challenge her again.

So I'll ask here, is this even remotely possible?  It's one of the main perks of a suite.  Can they really take away CK from suite guests?

Which sailing Brian?  In my FB group, the admin has also stated some wrong info.  So I’m curious if it’s the same

Here are some pictures from the webcam