Jkaczano

We have a party of 5 with a stop in Nassau next month. 13 yo and my mom want to do dolphin encounter. 15 yo wants to do sea lion encounter. Husband and I want to go and watch as cheaply as possible - there’s a stingray encounter for about $55. Do all excursions go over on the same ferry or is everyone going to have to do the same thing? Thanks for any help you can provide! Jenn

@WAAAYTOOO thank you. I was thinking of putting the boys in the 2nd bedroom and my mom in the living room because the boys sleep in and my mom is usually up early in the morning. I thought that would allow her to have coffee out on the balcony without worrying about waking them up. If she’s sleeping, the boys could come through the master to the balcony. Is that a mistake? For Perfect Day, I feel torn. My husband burns easily and my mom has had 2 knee replacements. They would be miserable at Thrill and just want a place with guaranteed shade (DH) by the ocean (mom). The boys are really active and want to go to the water park. So I thought I could get the boys into the water park then head back to the beach bed for a couple hours. Then go back and check on them at lunch time. I can’t imagine either group being on the island for more than 4 hours, so a cabana almost feels like a waste unless I could get one for a good price. An extra $800 seems like a waste for us. We do have a cruise to Southern Caribbean in January 2023 and are planning on talking to private journeys for our Grenada stop. My husband lived there for a couple years and has distinct ideas about what he wants to see again (It’s been 20 years). I’ll definitely contact them for that.

Hi Everyone! This is my first time doing anything like this, so I apologize in advance if it stinks We - me, DH, and our 2 sons (J 15 and M 13) - were originally planning on going to Disney the last week in August. But with the spiraling case counts we have been getting nervous. After much debate, we decided last night that we would cancel Disney (for the 3rd time due to COVID) and I started playing around on Royal’s website. I found a 2 bedroom aquatheater suite for a good price and called to book it immediately. The boys got over the Disney disappointment pretty fast when we told them about the cruise. Joining us on this cruise will be my mom, Mary. We’ll be leaving our house in New Hampshire on Saturday the 25th and spending the night at her house in Connecticut. Google maps says it’s only about a 2 - 2.5 hour drive from there, so I think we’ll be fine driving down Sunday morning. 5 people and luggage in my Traverse may be a little squishy. This is our first cruise on RC. We’ve cruised on Disney several times, but the last 2 trips have been “disappointing”. We’re all looking forward to trying something new. So far we’ve booked tickets to Thrill water park and a chill island beach bed. I’d love to book a cabana as DH and mom aren’t water park people, but thrill water park, cocoa beach club, and chill island are already sold out. The floating cabanas are $1700! and Oasis Lagoon seems like a crowded location. Breezy Bay and South Beach aren’t listed. I look forward to bringing you all along and appreciate any advice you have.

The problem with testing is that pricing is all over the board. If Royal is going to require it, they should offer it at the cruise terminal at cost. I don’t care if I have to pay for it, but too many companies are price gouging right now.

Ironically, I can purchase shore excursions for my Southern Caribbean trip in January 2023. No consistency at all.

From what I’m hearing from my neighbors, everyone’s pool builds are taking a lot longer than they used to. And that’s if you can find a company to do one at all. We broke ground on our gunite pool September 27, 2017 and it was complete by mid May. We’re in New Hampshire, so they stopped early October and picked it back up in April. Our neighbors used the same exact company, took an extra month with less “extras”, and they had a lot more headaches. ETA - picture of ours for reference.

I’ve been able to book dining, internet, etc for May 2022 but not for January 2023. No entertainment venues showing up yet.

Why don’t you let each family charge their stuff to their own credit card and just give them a cash gift before the cruise that they can apply to their bill on board? I would think that each sea pass card can only be linked to 1 credit card and doing it your way would make it impossible for them to just charge things to their card.

Sharla has been great getting the pricing on our cruises adjusted, as well as moving and changing our rooms.

Hard to believe isn’t it. Our federal government at its best. Here’s a copy of the email. Since our appointment at the post office was 6/11 and they didn’t receive it until 7/13, there’s 4 weeks mailing already. I’m guessing they’re sitting in big mail bags and are only counted as received when they open them.

It stinks because kids’ passports are only good 5 years, they’re almost as expensive as adult by the time you add in post office fees and pictures, and can’t be renewed using the electronic system. So glad that the next time we have to go through this, the boys will be 18 and the passports will be good for 10 years.

Renewed my children’s passports on June 11th at post office standard service (don’t need until February). Just received an email this last Wednesday that they have received the application on 7/13 and are currently processing at 12 weeks, 18 weeks with mailing time. Never thought 7-8 months lead time would be a problem but now I’m a little concerned.

I think their sole goal at this point is to drag this out as long as absolutely possible. There’s a possibility of a Delta spike that they would then point to as additional evidence of why restrictions are necessary.

@JeffB I think we’re all a product of what we see and experience. I’m sure your opinion is based on your experience and what you’re seeing. NH is a small state and 3 cases at a small regional hospital are concerning. I have 2 healthy teenage males whose close contacts have all been vaccinated, are homeschooled, in a state that’s been managing the pandemic relatively well. Based on what we’ve seen, I think that the CDC is under reporting, but I have the benefit of time to see how it all shakes out and make a decision. You’re right about keeping an open mind and looking at all data. We continue to look at risk/benefit weekly and if cases start rising again, we have discussed the possibility of 1 dose. I hope that as new data comes out, that you too keep an open mind and appreciate that some of us are making what we feel are the best choices at the time.

While I appreciate your skepticism, here is the link to the COVID info for my state. Cases are indeed averaging 22 per day on our population of 1.4 million https://www.covid19.nh.gov/ My husband is a very well respected physician and is aware of multiple cases of myocarditis locally. CMO of the hospital is also holding off vaccinating his teenager. I, quite frankly, have more faith and trust in them and their 20 plus years of experience each. Interestingly, my 13 year old had his physical today. We vaccinate for everything (except flu) on schedule and the pediatrician never even asked if he was vaccinated for covid

The funny thing is that after the last year, I don’t know if any of us are “in touch” with what the new normal will be. My husband wears scrubs all day at work now, even to see his office patients and not just when doing procedures. He’s wearing jeans to the hospital board of governor’s meetings because they’re still via Zoom. He gets home and changes into tshirts with shorts or pajama bottoms. I have gone from wearing jeans to sweatpants (even when out running errands). The idea of dressing up for a cruise is concerning and worrisome. I’m not even sure any of my “nice” clothes fit. My teenagers’ clothes won’t - One had his annual physical today and grew 5 inches since last year. They’re homeschooled and have been living in sweats, shorts, and pajamas. It’s one of the reasons we booked suites for our next 3 cruises (MDR delivered to room). That and it’s still cheaper than what we were paying for balcony rooms on DCL.

As a parent, my my ethical and moral responsibility to my children overrides that to the community as a whole. Part of that responsibility included my husband and I being vaccinated but it also includes a risk/benefit analysis of the COVID vaccine vs. getting COVID for our teenage boys. Right now, with cases averaging 22 per day on a population of 1.4 million and multiple cases of myocarditis locally, that decision is a no brainer. I support Royal Caribbean making whatever policy they want, so long as it’s clear and transparent and they don’t give me a hassle if I decide that I don’t like their rules and cancel.

I have 2 eligible but unvaccinated teenage boys. Husband (physician) and I are fully vaccinated. There have been 3 cases of myocarditis around his hospital. We are still weighing the risk / benefit of the vaccine as our whole state (population 1.4 million) is averaging only 22 cases per day. We have a 3 day cruise booked (grand suite) out of Florida in February. I can justify about 10% extra ($300) total, above that I’ll cancel. I already have a fully refundable concierge room booked at Universal Studios ready to go as an alternative.

Hi everyone! My husband, I, and my 2 sons (13 and 15) will be sailing in a Grand Suite on the Independence in February (3 day). We’ve sailed Disney but never RC. I’ve been going back and forth over which beverage packages to get. - The 2 boys mostly drink water (bottled and tap) but will also drink iced tea (Arnold Palmer, Crystal light) or Orange juice (not fresh squeezed) if it’s readily available. Does it even make sense to get them a package? - I mostly drink Diet Coke or water, so I was thinking soda package? - Husband drinks mostly Diet Coke or water but will sometimes have a glass or 2 of wine. He also drinks a cup or so of coffee per day (Keurig breakfast blend or Dunkin’ Donuts). He might drink a glass of orange juice with breakfast if easily available. No mixed drinks or hard alcohol so the unlimited beverage plan doesn’t seem to make sense, so refreshment or soda only? I’d also like to have a couple bottles of water in the room for medication or middle of the night. Are those available in the suite lounge? Lastly, we’ve booked the Unlimited dining plan. Chops is showing available for lunch reservations for day 1 and day 3 on the cruise planner. Is lunch ever included there and is food at Johnny Rockets or Playmaker ever included with the UDP? Thanks for all your help! Jenn

How is this any different than the 2 COVID cases on the Celebrity Millennium? Or, in your opinion, is that different because they were fully vaccinated? Quite frankly, teenage boys are no more at risk from COVID than vaccinated adults. There’s always going to be breakthrough cases.

We’re booked on a 3 night on independence out of PC in February. I have southwest credit I have to use but their schedule doesn’t go out that far yet. Just in case the cruise doesn’t run, I already booked a fully refundable hotel room at Universal for the same days.

Out of curiosity, could someone please provide a link to anywhere on the royal caribbean website requiring vaccines for under 18 for ports other than Seattle or Bahamas? I keep hearing they’re required but this is all I can find https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/do-i-need-a-covid-vaccine-to-cruise-what-counts-as-proof

Opening up vaccination and people getting their kids vaccinated are 2 totally different things. Cruises and schools may want them vaccinated but as of a couple days ago, only 15% of kids 12-15 had been vaccinated with wide open availability. I predict it caps out at 30% max, even less for under 12. I and my husband (and many of our friends) are fully vaccinated and have chosen not to vaccinate our teens.

I think it’s more likely because (according to today’s White House briefing) only 52% of American adults are fully vaccinated with only 63% have had even 1 dose. it’s not even approved in children under 12. I looked but am struggling to find vaccination data on teens but Missouri today reported that only 13% of teens 12-15 had received even 1 dose and they’re “hitting a wall” vaccinating additional. I know several families, including mine, where the adults are fully vaccinated but are either not vaccinating their teens or taking a “wait and see” approach especially after last week’s Israeli reports linking the vaccine to higher rates of myocarditis in teenage males. I think fully vaccinated cruises just aren’t going to be feasible especially for cruise lines servicing family markets. edited to add: just found it 2.5M of 17M 12-15 vaccinated 1st dose as of 5 days ago, so 15%

I’m in a similar situation - my husband and I are fully vaccinated but younger DS (13) had a vaccine reaction last year and we're not willing to chance the COVID vaccine for him. I’m hoping things are straightened out before our cruise in February. If not, I’ll cancel or push out our cruise.