XtremeGK

11 hours ago, CruiseGus said:

In reality, that is only one level up (category).  The 4 basic levels or categorys are, Interior, Ocean View, Balcony, Suite.

Your Promenade View is in the "Ocean View" category ie you have a window to see something, in your case the Promenade.  The other Oceanviews offered would be considered a slight upgrade (of course opinion of an upgrade sometimes differ, but it is the cruise lines opinion we are talking about)  then your other offers would be a true category upgrade to a balcony (but not yet to suite level)

 

Royal books Promenade views as interiors, so that would be a two-level jump on RoyalUp.

The final approvals have taken several days and come in very close to revenue sail dates. I'm sure they'd know if there was cause for concern about approval.

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

That study says they don't know if the myocarditis cases in the <16 group were from covid or from MIS and that aspect requires further study.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7035e5.htm?s_cid=mm7035e5_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM64772&ACSTrackingLabel=MMWR Early Release - Vol. 70%2C August 31%2C 2021&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM64772

Also the 0-16 group is such a wide disparity, especially in this specific discussion of 5-11 yrs old.  Covid has affected (meaning, serious complications and death) the under 1yr  group more than any other pediatric age group

They're saying they don't know how many of the myocarditis cases are also associated with MIS-C. The MIS-C results from COVID. What they were looking to study further to ascertain was the severity of the myocarditis in relation to MIS --- if you have MIS, is the myocarditis more severe vs. if you don't have MIS? What they're seeing with the vaccine is the myocarditis is mild and generally clears on its own without intervention.

On 11/1/2021 at 5:50 PM, Matt said:

Cmon dude, that's a rather sensationalist take on Pfizer

"Most cases after the vaccine have occurred in younger males and required hospitalization, federal health officials say, though the data suggests cases remain "rare" and typically subside on their own within a day."

In all of the scenarios that the FDA modeled, the agency estimated that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine would more frequently prevent COVID-related cases in children than cause "excess myocarditis cases." 

Most importantly:

"After reducing the size of its dose, Pfizer said its trials had turned up mostly mild side effects, no new safety concerns, and no cases of myocarditis or pericarditis."

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-kids-myocarditis-risk/

Also important, and oft-"overlooked," point: COVID-19 causes myocarditis. I didn't dig to find the studies, but there are studies out there that show the risk of myocarditis from COVID-19 is higher than the risk of myocarditis from the vaccine.

Some additional source info: Study: Myocarditis risk 37 times higher for children with COVID-19 than uninfected peers | American Academy of Pediatrics (aappublications.org)

3 hours ago, THinPH said:

On the website, the 11/15 Odyssey sailing lists this itinerary: Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas | Cruising | Nassau, Bahamas | Cruising | Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  I'm scheduled for Labadee in May 2022, so hoping things are resolved by then.

Wouldn't have my hopes up. I'm expecting it to be on Q3/Q4 2023 itineraries, but can't say I'm hopeful it'll actually stop then either. Haiti is a mess right now, and I'm not sure fresh elections -- which have been postponed again -- will quell things much, if at all.

I'm a Schooner Bar guy myself, so Matt Yee is up there on my list. Without question, though, my #1 is Joe Hollywood. Sailed the Quantum TA with him in 2015 and was in the Schooner Bar from the start to finish of his set every night.

The test itself may have details on who is qualified to conduct/interpret the test. In many areas, RNs are considered qualified to collect samples, but not interpret them (not saying I agree with this, it just is how it is).

My personal feeling is I wouldn't want to risk my cruise if I wasn't 100% sure.

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I hope parents don't get their children vaccinated for ANY reason.

My wife and I have a cruise booked with our 3-year-old for May. I'm hoping he's eligible and fully vaxxed by then.

My wife has a PhD in biochemistry and has spent her career studying infectious diseases. I've spent the pandemic working in a hospital. We have our reasons. Many reasons. Science being the #1 reason. Same reasons he's been given all his other vaccinations.

15 hours ago, JasonOasis said:

Whenever I've cruised out of Cape Liberty I've always flown into EWR.  I live in the Chicago born and raised so I'm very familiar with the traffic situation you are describing here in Chicago.  You are 100% right depending on where you live in the Chicagoland region getting to either MDW or ORD is simply not convenient and if there is traffic which now days there always seems to be traffic a hour drive can easily turn into a two hour drive. 

Although I've been to New York City more times than I can count I have never flown into LGA to catch a cruise out of Cape Liberty so I can help you with that or offer any advice on if that option is the lease inconvenient option.  

It's basically a choice on where you want the most inconvenience: Chicago getting to ORD, or NY/NJ getting to Cape Liberty. I personally think LGA to Cape Liberty is worse than most place in Chicago to ORD.

Getting most anywhere from Laguardia is a pain. To go from LGA to Cape Liberty would involve either a really expensive taxi or Uber, or multiple modes of transportation with changing in Manhattan and again in NJ. Where are you flying in from? United is the main game at EWR, but most other airlines do fly in, as well (though that requires flying out of Terminal A...which is just criminal).

I honestly think this new program strikes a perfect balance.

From RCI's financial side, as @twangsterpoints out, I don't think it's a huge hit. I think D/D+ that bought the package before will mostly (not all) continue to buy the package. But as it has felt like Royal has been kind of dwindling in recent years in terms of perks for loyal cruisers, this is a change that has been welcomed and I really hope they make permanent. Not unanimous approval, but certainly a large majority seem to prefer the current vouchers.

For us, the package has always been nice for sampling new drinks. Trying things we'd never try otherwise. We've discovered some drinks we really like. That said, our package purchasing has almost always been driven by itinerary. When we hit D after our next cruise, I don't foresee that really changing. Maybe there will be an occasion where we switch to the refreshment package instead of the DBP, but I expect that to be more the exception than the rule. The idea of controlled costs and still having some flexibility will still lead us to the DBP.

That said, love the voucher program and really hope it is made permanent.

1 hour ago, JohnK6404 said:

My wife and MIL would vote for Captain Henrik Loy... LOL!

He was the Captain of Explorer when we sailed on her back in 2013, but I believe he is Captain of Ovation right now. I personally do not have a favorite yet.

 

I know my mom loves Capt. Henrik from one of our Explorer cruises back in the same time frame.

To be the Master in this kind of industry, you have to be a serious, step-plus-above seafarer, so I put them all equal in my trust to get the job done safely. Personally, I enjoy those that provide daily updates with useful information, fun anecdotes and a sense of humor. Capt. Felix Ban has always impressed in that regard for me.

I think #4 tends to be fairly common on the northern TAs. From Quantum 2015 (shortly after these photos, the ship lost power for about 10 mins...more than a few not-so-relaxed faces at that moment).

I booked an April 2023 cruise that I will almost definitely be moving (changing from a FL port to a northeast departure). Excited to just get it booked and locked in. November can't come soon enough.