GKMCruising

39 minutes ago, Jill said:

Be sure to name them on your cruise survey! 

Oh, I definitely did, as well as call them out on Royal's Twitter page.

Shocked there's not a thread for this already, if there is and I missed it I apologize.

Figured we could use a thread to give shoutouts to specific crew members that you've have go above and beyond for you.

For me, our most recent cruise on Ovation was extra special thanks to a couple specific restaurant / dining crew members. Our waiter, Mega, realized quickly how much our 2-year-old daughter loved grapes, so she had a serving of cut grapes waiting at the table for us every night at dinner. Our daughter looked forward to going and seeing her every night, to the point that we even dropped by after one night when we ate in Coastal Kitchen just to chat with her for a bit. The last day of the cruise, our daughter was having a rough morning, but we were able to stop by the host stand where Mega was working for breakfast to let her say goodbye and help cheer her up.

The other was James down in Sorrento's, our daughter's "pizza buddy". We'd stop by for a slice or two late night after the shows or for a mid-day snack and he made a point to chat with us and her every time. The last night of the trip, he made her special heart-shaped mini pizzas and a paper rose.

*This* is the kind of service that keeps people loyal to Royal.

1 hour ago, Beachgirl said:

https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2021/09/articles/disease/passenger-dies-after-super-spreader-covid-19-cruise-on-msc-virtuosa/

This site appears to have it out from cruise lines. Even if there's some truth to the article, the numbers have been clearly inflated. Also, different line, different country, different protocols.

1 hour ago, Beachgirl said:

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/travel/cruise-covid-death.amp.html

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/08/28/is-it-safe-to-go-on-a-cruise-during-covid-pandemic-2021-restrictions.html

Both referencing the same "outbreak" on the Carnival ship. Again, different line and different protocols. Right after that was when lines started requiring negative tests to board, which has given an added layer of protection.

I don't know about the rotation, but I do know we were in a JS on Ovation and did Coastal Kitchen a couple of nights. We booked those ahead and didn't have to do day-by-day reservations, but obviously YMMV depending on the ship and capacity.

2 hours ago, Beachgirl said:

 Generally speaking, airlines just haven’t seen Covid numbers.

The airlines haven't seen COVID numbers because you're on a plane for the duration of the flight and then leave. There's absolutely no way to contact trace anyone who gets COVID on a flight and prove it was the direct result of the flight and not contracted in the airport on either end, on a shuttle to/from the airport, before the flight, somewhere at your destination, etc. 

2 hours ago, Beachgirl said:

 I have definitely read several news articles detailing outbreaks on several cruise ships.

I'd love links, as I have yet to see *any* true "outbreaks" as defined by the CDC since the Diamond Princess fiasco at the start of all this almost two years ago. There have been cases, sure, but nothing reaching outbreak levels.

2 hours ago, Beachgirl said:

On a cruise ship, many people will be in a tight space with little or no distancing in many situations where masks will not be worn such as pools and indoor restaurants. 

Indoor restaurants had so many tables blocked off that you were never directly next to another dining party. And sure, no one's wearing a mask at the pool, but outdoor transmission isn't typically a major concern anyways.

18 minutes ago, D Alt said:

Did you see the Northern Lights in September? 

We did not, but our waiter said she knew some people who managed to see them the week or two before us on the night we left Skagway. It's just like any other night sky phenomenon - so incredibly dependant on weather and cloud cover, unfortunately.

1 hour ago, Jill said:

So what I find interesting is Odyssey is 756 this week and Allure is 2400. Allure has been around 2k (give or take) pretty consistently. 
 

So why the big difference? Allure is not Amp’d and odyssey is brand spanking new. You would think everyone would want to be on the newest.  Is it price? Both are Caribbean itineraries. Ports are roughly 2 1/2 hours apart. 

Allure (and Oasis class in general) have more options with the current vax restrictions. More open air space, more shows, etc. Just my personal thoughts. I've loved both Quantum class ships I've been on, but right now a lot of the activities are suspended due to COVID, so the experience isn't quite the same.

20 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

Since Labadee is isolated from the main island, couldn't Royal beef up security to keep cruise guests safe?

 

My wife went to Labadee years ago during another period of unrest, she said the military in helicopters with rifles didn't exactly make for a relaxing time.

Separate from the main island or not, it's still Haiti.

6 minutes ago, teddy said:

I was told the "we don't want to be unable to get back into the United States because of an outbreak" excuse the other day from a coworker.

No amount of me explaining what was wrong with that statement was going to change their mind.

Then do an Alaskan cruise. All US ports, no *technical* international travel... win/win.

Nope, you're still gonna have to wait either way. We had the same issue with our sailing a few weeks ago.

It was working on my sailing (Sept. 10th) - I think they had to close it a few days due to high winds though.

The wife and I did Anthem a few years ago - actually did a mini road trip up there from GA instead of flying. Port was nice and easy to get in and out of. Anthem's a great ship, plenty to do onboard - iFly and North Star are definitely worth snagging spots for. If you're into the shows, they were doing We Will Rock You back then, if they still are it was worth the watch.

I might reach out to C&A staff and inquire - I wouldn't be shocked if there's a full vegetarian menu at most of the specialty restaurants (other than Chops, obviously).

2 hours ago, wannabecruiseexpert said:

As things stand now, the only things that seem like they will personally affect us are we won't be able to eat at Izumi and won't be able to sit in the lower main seats at the shows in the main theater. We were looking forward to both of those but it is what it is.  Kids club will be open.  

YMMV with the restaurants. We just got off Ovation last week and I don't think any of the restaurants were vax-only. The only thing we really couldn't go to was the theme nights because there wasn't enough room in 270 for them to have a separate area for un-vaxed during those.

1 hour ago, Kkmadden said:

Leaving next Monday on Freedom of the seas. Are masks required once you are seated in the shows and for games, karaoke and such?

As long as you're in a vax-only venue, no mask needed. For the sections of shows designated as non-vaxed, mask must stay on for shows, but in the general seating you can remove it if you wish.

7 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

I don't think they have the 'free spins' any more. Hey, Chris Wong, chime in on this, please.

In the D+ reward package they have the $6 free play. Not sure what is offered in the other reward packages.

Correct, they've pulled the free spin machine off every ship, according to staff on Ovation a few weeks ago. Emerald was $6 free play as well, and I believe I've seen the same for Diamond.

My wife and I just got back from Alaska on Ovation and loved it. We had a JS so it was easy to watch the scenery from our room, but I'll agree, most of the larger venues other than 270 and the Solarium are pretty "land-locked" in the center of the ship with no exterior views.

September was great and we were able to get right up to the glacier, but I'd definitely think May/June would be a better choice than April if you're going early.

Leaving from Seattle was smooth, but I can't imagine Vancouver would be too terrible either.

We usually go with a guarantee cabin if it's available - has landed us some nice rooms in the past. Once was a Central Park balcony with a larger-than-usual balcony, once was an ocean-view on the front of the ship with the extra-large windows, and once was a JS with the extra half-bath toilet.

Obviously, YMMV, but it's been good to us.