Done

Customer service call centers in any industry are difficult to deal with now. It is a the last place management wants to spend money. If your issue goes "off-script" from the list of issues and response they have in front of them, they don't know what to do. I think the reps have links to or hard copies of the FAQ's. If they can't get the answer there your screwed!

In retrospect this forum is not the best place to ask that question.

Are all NAAT tests "rapid"?

This worked for 2 of our 4 reservations. The first 2, we are stuck in the travel agent loop. The only thing different is for those 2 "stuck" reservations we exercised the best price guarantee and the price was reduced for both of those sailings.

What about COVID tests? Are they administered by RCCL near the end of the first sailing?

Our exact issue as well. I tried again earlier this week and I was told I was a travel agent and then my call was directed to the live customer support queue. The person said my records show I booked the cruise online.

I think people that try to use the elevators at the exit of the theater when the show lets out should be prepared to wait or walk to another set of elevators if they are able. I don't there can be enough elevators added for cover those peak crowded events.

We used to pack a stapler. We recently purchased clear plastic luggage tag holders for RCCL luggage tags. Unfortunately different cruise lines use different sized luggage tags and we found we will need to pack a stapler or buy Carnival/Princess luggage tag holders

Two, three or more people stopping in the middle of a hallway deciding what they are going to do next blocking my/our way. Would they stop in the middle of the road (they might)? Parents letting their kids run wild down the hallway of the cabins. I walked out my cabin once and a running kid ran into me, fell and started crying. The kids parents got in my face about it.

The way it is worded is suspect. Must be within 36 hours of disembarkation AND be the only occupant of the cabin. If exposed person was traveling with others in the same cabin they would still need to quarantine in separate quarters?

I checked the same Hilton Embassy Suites hotel, the same dates, on both the Hilton Honors site (similar to C&A) and the new RCL/Priceline partnership and the rates on the Hilton site were $7 cheaper per night. The Hilton rate allowed cancellation up to 24 hours prior to reservation date.

RCL opted-in to follow the CDC health protocol guidelines for cruise ships. RCL would have to drop out to defy those protocols. You will still have to follow the health protocols of the ports you are visiting. You should determine that before anything else.

I did go that far and yes it is a PITA to enter all the info but a C&A number can result in an additional discount from time to time.

OK I think I figured it out. If I book the Jr Suite as a "let RCL pick my cabin" it displays the booking as a Non-Refundable Deposit in the cancellation policy If I choose the option to select the cabin myself it now displays the the deposit as refundable in the cancellation policy.

I am investigating booking a Thanksgiving '23 cruise on Odyssey in a Jr. Suite and there was no option presented to book a refundable deposit. Yet when I look at the cancellation policy I see this: It would seem a refundable deposit is the only option for this booking?

One more piece of information from the CMS.gov website (CMS is the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Sevices) What if I already bought and paid for at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests? Can I still get reimbursement for those? Plans and insurers are required to cover at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests purchased on or after January 15, 2022. Plans or issuers may, but are not required by federal law to, provide such coverage for at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests purchased before January 15. Contact your health plan to inquire about getting reimbursed for tests purchased before January 15, 2022. Some states may have existing requirements related to coverage of at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests.

Here is what the Medicare website says about COVID-19 test coverage: Currently, Original Medicare doesn't pay for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. You can pick up free at-home tests from community health centers and Medicare-certified health clinics. Or, visit COVIDtests.gov to order a free COVID-19 at-home test. In early Spring 2022, people with Medicare will be able to go to a network of pharmacies and health care facilities to get up to 8 free, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests a month through Medicare. More information will be available in early Spring. Some Medicare Advantage Plans may cover and pay for at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests as an added benefit. Check with your plan to see if it will cover and pay for these tests. I am not sure what Medicare defines as "over the counter" nor am I sure it would cover the BINAX Now proxy-ed test accepted by RCCL.

Every day when we sailed on Anthem.

Same here. Pre-pandemic they had an open bar from in the evening (5:30 - 7:30 if I remember correctly) with snacks and the included breakfast spread starts your cruise gluttony off to a roaring start. We haven't been back since 2020 though. I will say it isn't a cheapest place but a nice place.

With my luck a well meaning cabin steward would close the joining doors!

We have had 2 excursions cancelled on our August cruise to Alaska on Ovation. The first one was rescheduled about a month ago from 10:30 am to 7:46 am which we cancelled on our own. No way we were going to get up that early while on vacation. Yesterday I received an email from RC saying that excursion was cancelled along with another one. Not sure why the first one was included in the email since we already cancelled. I wonder if the pandemic put some of the tours out of business or lack of reservations caused their cancellation?

I'm not a gambler. In the few times I have played the best I have ever done was break even. I am curious though, the mention of "free stuff" always peaks my interest. Do you play table games or slots/video poker? I would hope your losses are less than the value of the comp'ed cruises but in all honesty I think that would be rare. In response to your question, we have done one cruise on NCL with the family when our 2 girls were younger and had a terrible cabin. Also been on a Celebrity cruise and our first experience with a drink package. We had a great time and were seated at a MDR table with a member of the British Parliament and her husband. Very interesting discussions at dinner! Been all Royal otherwise and we like it although they haven't changed the MDR dinner menu much, many of the sea day planned activities and the game shows. Our first cruise with Royal was on the ship then named Nordic Empress.

You are correct on origination from Canada. With the age of COVID test results (72 hour PCR and 24 hour antigen) I would think those itineraries and the opposite ones that originate in the USA would problematic.

I remember when the new RCL terminal opened in Miami, Richard Fain (I think) stated the goal was, "From the car to the bar in 10 minutes!" We experienced that when we last sailed out of Miami on Symphony, one of the last cruises before the shutdown in Feb, 2020. We were in a JS and they had staff members waiting for suite guests. She ushered us into a waiting elevator up to a special lounge. We sat on a comfortable couch while she completed the short data verification process, we got our SeaPass cards and escorted to the gangway to board the ship. We were both stunned!

Cruising is a luxury and totally optional. If I get priced out of cruising there are alternate ways to vacation or stay-cation at home.