GKMCruising

15 minutes ago, Matt said:

First time doing check-in with unvaccinated kids. 

After doing usual check-in  at the terminal, prior to going upstairs to the”real check-in” (but after going through security), you get escorted to luggage collection area for the test. 

Kids get processed in the computer system and then covid test administered.  No “brain tickler”, just shallow nose swab. 
 

Then you sit in a waiting area and wait for test results to come through via email.  They told us 40-45 minutes. 

 

 

From our experience, that was about right for how long it took for them to get the results out to us.

Glad your girls are a bit older and therefore more patient - we had one poor couple on our Alaska sailing with a very squirmy toddler who was *not* happy about the swab. They came out 45 minutes later to tell them that because he was moving so much they didn't get a good sample and were going to have to reswab and run the test again.

9 minutes ago, steverk said:

I'm horribly cynical! I don't think the CDC will let go until forced. Here's hoping I'm wrong!

I think what *should* happen is that the CDC agrees to end their involvement on the condition that cases onboard stay below a certain threshold. If they start seeing high cases numbers, they should reserve the right to intervene again but only on a ship-by-ship basis. No sense in the sins and mistakes of one line or ship ruining it for the rest of the fleets that are trying to do the right things.

40 minutes ago, Cruiser58 said:

Do you need waterproof boots/shoes? I realize it depends on the excursion. We'll probably do some where we are on a boat, and maybe some moderate photo excursions.

I didn't, but you're definitely going to want hiking/trail shoes with good support for anything where you'll be doing a lot of walking over uneven terrain. I also recommend wool socks - even if they get wet, they tend to dry quickly.

11 minutes ago, Sweety said:

Freedom of the Seas April 11-15, 2022. Saved $520 per cabin total saving 520 times 3=1560.

Put the money to use on another cruise.

Yeah, the savings on my two bookings is part of what allowed me to justify springing for the UDP for the first time on our Wonder sailing. That, and I *really* want to try out Hooked.

31 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

THat'll stay as a cost savings measure (food waste) more so than a covid mitigation measure.

Definitely a cost savings measure first and a COVID/norovirus prevention measure second.

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

I'm okay with that.  I've seen way too many guests drop the handle of a serving utensil into the food contaminating the whole tray or reach in with bare hands, touch something then put it back.

In some cases the cough shields are so low you have to be double jointed to access the food.  

Safer all around to have dedicated servers dispense food at a buffet.  Even without a pandemic.  

Yup. Not on Royal, obviously, but I've seen little kids literally sticking their hands into a chocolate fountain at a buffet before. Needless to say, I didn't have much of an appetite for dessert after that.

12 minutes ago, Jill said:

Harmony (that got moved to Wonder) March 2022: $376

For a second I thought this was your cruise fare, not the savings, and wanted to know what kind of magic you pulled off.

6 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I am hoping that black Friday nets me some CP savings

Black Friday is always wonderful, I've saved so much every year with that one. I'm also *really* hoping that a Kids Sail Free offer pops up between now and my two sailings, as that'll drop my daughter's fare off entirely, which will be a fairly significant savings. I'm not banking on it for Wonder, but betting it'll at least show up before the one on Harmony.

19 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

@GKMCruisingUnfortunately, that is possible. I do/use to do a lot of volunteering and there was once a 12 y/o with a rare genetic disorder that made her extremely small, she was barely 3ft and weighed like 26lbs but she wasn't a little person and was overall healthy.

But RCG is on one with this one, as 20lbs is literally a baby. Can you imagine a weak legged, barely walking baby in Sky Pad???

Yeah... I almost wonder if that's a typo. 

Also, the app disagrees with the website - what else is new with Royal IT though.

This is on Odyssey.

This is on Mariner

Go figure. Heck, on Ovation, I'm pretty sure I saw the minimum age for North Star listed as 3 on one link, minimum age of 4 on another, and no minimum age but the height requirements on another.

Harmony (September 25, 2022) - Currently down $296 from when we originally booked onboard with NextCruise, though we lost $50 in OBC, so we're really down $246 total on that one.

Wonder (March 4, 2022) - Currently down $125 from our original booking price. A little bit more expensive than the original week we had planned for Wonder (March 25) but totally worth it to do the inaugural sailing.

29 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I think RCG will keep protocols as is until at least the spring break sailings. Don't think they will do away with testing for a while, I believe the mask will go first. I can see the CSO extended until Jan 31st.

I'd definitely rather see the masks go before the testing. It's way less inconvenience for me to go get a quick nose swab before boarding than to have a mask on in all public spaces for an entire week.

28 minutes ago, twangster said:

If the CDC wasn't so slow to react and lethargic the protocols could be more dynamic.  While we are in a period of low transmission take down the plastic shields or face masks for vaccinated.  If a new variant comes along and actually begins to show impact, reintroduce protocols as required.  

But I digress.  

Exactly. Some of the protocols are obviously more cumbersome to adjust quickly, but the masks/plexiglass/etc are things that could be easily turned on and off, for lack of a better phrase.

37 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

IMO the biggest rules to go would be in the areas of food service and physical distancing

I know Royal is currently planning to keep Windjammer full-service instead of self-service even after COVID, but I definitely think they'd ditch having the drink dispensers and whatnot being staffed.

I also agree with ditching the physical distancing - at higher capacities, there's going to be a major logjam for tables and seating in a lot of venues with the amount of areas currently blocked off.

4 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

As long as the CDC does not attempt to once again over step their authority and do something drastic I think the industry will be okay.  The cruise lines have demonstrated they can operate safely during a pandemic.  They were scapegoated early on in this pandemic, shut down, held to a higher standard than any form of land based vacation yet this industry has risen to meet the challenge.  At this point the CDC needs to just leave the cruise industry alone and let people enjoy their cruise vacation.

I think the shutdown was needed at the very beginning, maybe a couple of months, simply to allow time for cruise lines to figure out protocols. However, it should have been the cruise lines working *with* the CDC to restart as soon as possible, not having to work *against* the CDC.

1 hour ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Sky Pad: Must be 7 years old to jump and 13 years old to jump with VR set and - 20 lbs min weight - 240 lbs max weight

If there's a 7 year old who doesn't meet the weight minimums, they've got bigger things to worry about.

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

There's no way the CDC is ready to let go like the virus isn't still with us.

Agreed. I fully expect more CDC guidance, and I'm perfectly fine with it, as long as cruising can continue safely. Small price to pay to be back on board.

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

My Delta card doesn't either.  Lots of other offers though... for stuff I never buy.  

That always seems to be my credit card offers.

"Get 10% back from some random store that isn't even located within 500 miles of your house"

"Get 5% back when you spend way more than you'd ever reasonably spend"

https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-extends-protocols-through-february-2022/57511

Will be interesting to see if Royal and Norwegian follow suit, or if they choose to keep evaluating and updating more frequently as the year draws to a close.

3 minutes ago, D Alt said:

Anyone have a MDR menu?  I'm sure each ship is different, but just to get an idea of items. 

If you install the Royal app, you can peek at current menus fleetwide.

8 minutes ago, Booscruize said:

It’s finally happened!! Just got our long awaited  Genie email for our sailing and we got Shane!!! I’ve heard nothing but RAVES and so we requested him and now it’s official! So excited!!!! Ok so is this the time that I send him my two year in the making prep/wish list and hope he doesn’t immediately give us to someone else?

I don't care *how* crazy your wish list is, it's your wedding. At least you have a good reason for it, unlike some people who I'm sure make insane requests just because they spent the big bucks and feel entitled.

2 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I looked at the Pan Pacific.  A room for one night was $350.  That's expensive, but I might have been willing to pay it, except that the taxes/fees added another $140/night. 

Yikes. I've had the same thing happen when looking for AirBNB rentals in the mountains before - $150/night, but after taxes and cleaning fees it winds up closer to $300/night, which is just ridiculous for most of the places I'm usually booking.

1 hour ago, SPS said:

@GKMCruising Great pictures, thanks for sharing.

We are taking much a very similar cruise next August. (Much of the same ports)

May I ask how the weather was? We will definitely need to know what types of clothing to pack!

We packed basically jeans and long sleeved shirts, along with lightweight rain jackets and mid-weight regular jackets, along with knit beanie/toboggan hats and gloves. I think it stayed in the mid fifties to low sixties for most of our trip, so it worked out perfectly. As long as the wind wasn't blowing, it was almost warm enough for short sleeves and long pants. I saw a few people in heavier coats, but I also saw a handful in shorts...

3 hours ago, emmef said:

Me too!  When cruising with my husband and son, yes, give me an extra toilet!

Yup. It worked especially well since my two year old is currently potty training, so we were able to leave a toddler seat on the extra toilet just for her.

6 minutes ago, Orion64 said:

Can anyone confirm that the way the Voom package works is that a 1 device package means 1 device connected at any one time.   If you disconnect one device you can switch to another device and then back again as long as only one is connected using the service at any one time.

Thank you

Correct.

16 minutes ago, twangster said:

I called C&A and asked.  This is what they said:

The criteria to qualify for the double points promo is based on the original booking date.  As long as the booking was a confirmed booking created before Sept. 30, 2021 then whatever cabin you end up booked in will determine how many points the double points promo will use to calculate the total points. 

If you booked an interior, oceanview or balcony before Sept. 30 and upgrade to a suite (not using RoyalUp) then you will get 4 times for two guests in a suite and 6 times for a solo in suite.  You can request the suite upgrade and pay for the upgrade anytime before sailing but you can't get into a suite using RoyalUp.  The suite upgrade does not have to occur before Sept. 30,2021.

RoyalUp from a non-suite to a suite never provides more points beyond the original booked type of cabin.  

Good to know that repricing or changing cabins won't mess with the double points promo.

3 hours ago, KLA said:

On Odyssey now and that’s what we have - two toilets (one with the shower and bath), no walk in but tons of storage. We’ve been very comfortable. 

The JS layouts on Quantum class are so bizarre. I had the one with no walk-in but two toilets.