Big Red

Just Update from yesterday..  All but one of our bids have expired last night(9-days out).  One shows pending(the one we wanted to get the most, will give those details later).  We checked the website for available rooms still available for our cruise, and all the rooms have the same amount still available.  With having all but one offer expired, that is usually a good sign from what I have seen on these posts.  Will update in in the following days to let everyone know if we got out upgrade or not.  As of this morning we are 8-days till sailing!  And so looking forward to just getting away!
    Again this blog has been a great help in navigating and learning the process of RoyalUp, and what to look for, and excited when I hear someone else get an upgrade as well!😇

@Big RedNo new info here -  How about you?   FWIW, I'm pretty sure I'm driving my husband nuts that I keep looking it up and talking about it!  

Any update?  Hope you got that!😱

Just Update from yesterday..  All but one of our bids have expired last night(9-days out).  One shows pending(the one we wanted to get the most, will give those details later).  We checked the website for available rooms still available for our cruise, and all the rooms have the same amount still available.  With having all but one offer expired, that is usually a good sign from what I have seen on these posts.  Will update in in the following days to let everyone know if we got out upgrade or not.  As of this morning we are 8-days till sailing!  And so looking forward to just getting away!
    Again this blog has been a great help in navigating and learning the process of RoyalUp, and what to look for, and excited when I hear someone else get an upgrade as well!😇

Just Update from yesterday..  All but one of our bids have expired last night(9-days out).  One shows pending(the one we wanted to get the most, will give those details later).  We checked the website for available rooms still available for our cruise, and all the rooms have the same amount still available.  With having all but one offer expired, that is usually a good sign from what I have seen on these posts.  Will update in in the following days to let everyone know if we got out upgrade or not.  As of this morning we are 8-days till sailing!  And so looking forward to just getting away!
    Again this blog has been a great help in navigating and learning the process of RoyalUp, and what to look for, and excited when I hear someone else get an upgrade as well!😇

I sail tomorrow and we had our bid accepted yesterday, but the timeline varies wildly. This seems to happen sometime within the week of sailing, but it could be sooner or never. 

Just Update from yesterday..  All but one of our bids have expired last night(9-days out).  One shows pending(the one we wanted to get the most, will give those details later).  We checked the website for available rooms still available for our cruise, and all the rooms have the same amount still available.  With having all but one offer expired, that is usually a good sign from what I have seen on these posts.  Will update in in the following days to let everyone know if we got out upgrade or not.  As of this morning we are 8-days till sailing!  And so looking forward to just getting away!
    Again this blog has been a great help in navigating and learning the process of RoyalUp, and what to look for, and excited when I hear someone else get an upgrade as well!😇

10days out before our cruise on the 17th of Oct.  No answers yet on if any of our bids were accepted for JS, GS, GS-2B, or OS.  Put lowest bid available on the JS, as it isn't much of an upgrade(with no additional cruise points), from our spacious balcony room.  Then put in slightly higher offers on the other three.  With there being only one room available in each class (except the JR) I believe are chances are fairly low, of getting an upgrade.  Either way will update on here once we hear either way.  This is a great post to share and monitor Royalup offers, and acceptance/declining of offers....😁

Hang in there and hope you get it.

10days out before our cruise on the 17th of Oct.  No answers yet on if any of our bids were accepted for JS, GS, GS-2B, or OS.  Put lowest bid available on the JS, as it isn't much of an upgrade(with no additional cruise points), from our spacious balcony room.  Then put in slightly higher offers on the other three.  With there being only one room available in each class (except the JR) I believe are chances are fairly low, of getting an upgrade.  Either way will update on here once we hear either way.  This is a great post to share and monitor Royalup offers, and acceptance/declining of offers....😁

10days out before our cruise on the 17th of Oct.  No answers yet on if any of our bids were accepted for JS, GS, GS-2B, or OS.  Put lowest bid available on the JS, as it isn't much of an upgrade(with no additional cruise points), from our spacious balcony room.  Then put in slightly higher offers on the other three.  With there being only one room available in each class (except the JR) I believe are chances are fairly low, of getting an upgrade.  Either way will update on here once we hear either way.  This is a great post to share and monitor Royalup offers, and acceptance/declining of offers....😁

10days out before our cruise on the 17th of Oct.  No answers yet on if any of our bids were accepted for JS, GS, GS-2B, or OS.  Put lowest bid available on the JS, as it isn't much of an upgrade(with no additional cruise points), from our spacious balcony room.  Then put in slightly higher offers on the other three.  With there being only one room available in each class (except the JR) I believe are chances are fairly low, of getting an upgrade.  Either way will update on here once we hear either way.  This is a great post to share and monitor Royalup offers, and acceptance/declining of offers....😁

I was tempted to look for the new version of the speedmaster professional in st thomas a month ago, but it seemed like most of the stores in the port area were closed.  I might have had better luck downtown. 

What is this "other cruise lines" you speak of?

 

I’ve seen new omegas, at least on anthem. But only preowned rolexes, and no stainless sports models. A handful of datejusts, mostly. 

We've bought watches on the Allure a couple of years ago and got a great deal.  not sure what you mean by "old stock" and "modern time-pieces" but watches they carry are still sold at many authorized dealers and websites.  But its possible that the production on those models have ended and for example, you wouldn't find in a tag showroom.  Not very important to me so never looked into it.  the manufacturers warranties are the same as if you bought it at any authorized dealer. 
if i remember correctly they only carry pre-owned rolex and omegas. 

But do they have Swatches or Casio calculator watches?

Interested in info as well.  I have amassed no small sum in OBC that is use it or loss it.  Might as well treat myself to a new watch.
I'll be on Allure in several weeks.

You will find the usual suspects as you mentioned with the exception of Rolex (obviously). There are sometimes a few pre owned Rolex (5 digit Rolex references) but they are overpriced even beyond what you pay grey market at home. Before the craziness began with Rolex sports models a few years back you would find cases full of every desirable sports model at AH Riise in St Thomas. I would say more then likely the display cases are now empty. No issues at all with purchasing in the islands. I have made several high dollar purchases for myself and my wife at AH Riise and Cartier with no problems. I would say just about anything inside the Regalia shops is over priced and can be obtained elsewhere for both a better buying experience and price. 

I go into trips thinking the same, then the drink package changes the situation. 

Personally, I would not purchase a high end item on a cruise (or in a port).  For these types of items, i like to have a good relationship with my jeweler.  My local jeweler has given me great discounts for paying cash, where I "essentially" do not pay the sales tax, much like you would abroad (until you claim it on your customs form).  Of course, i'm a rule follower, so YMMV.
I do enjoy looking at the items though!
 
(Note: i still pay sales tax, just on the lower price.  For example, it the tax on the item is $100, then they give you a $100 discount before completing the transition. It's fair to me, fair to them and I get the piece of mind knowing that it's a real item and they stand by the purchase.)

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

Awesome!  Thanks for sharing Teddy!  Gives me hope with us being 20 days out we may possibly get an upgrade as well...

Oh shoot...I forgot to come to this thread and follow up.  I apologize.
Our bid of $250 pp for a Junior Suite was accepted five days before our cruise.  It was an awesome cabin for two people used to Insides.  We had also bid $350 for a Grand Suite but that wasn't accepted.
The cruise was great.  No complaints from either of us.  The crew was outstanding. Every crew member we interacted with seemed to be genuinely thrilled to be working again.
We spent more time outside than usual...the small amount of guests combined with having to wear a mask when inside made us spend a lot of time by the Solarium pool.  On past cruises, we would spend time at the Cafe Promenade playing card and people watching.  There weren't a lot of people to watch this time. 
We didn't do anything in Nassau before or after the cruise.  Tight work schedules required us to fly in the day of and leave the day we returned.  We stayed onboard in Freeport, and only ventured off in Cozumel to buy a few souvenirs for people.  I wear a mask all day while working, but in the heat of Cozumel, it sucked in a way I wasn't quite prepared for.
I felt better protected from Covid on the ship than I do at my place of work (supermarket).  In our experience, everyone wore masks when required, kept distance, and was respectful.
I think the best way to explain how much we enjoyed cruising with the protocols is to mention that we will be boarding Freedom in 41 days.  🙂