Swar

They validate with "the big guy", he gets his 10% I believe the validation is an AI program or real person giving the scanned card a quick look for obvious errors.

and no vaccines!

I am batting 100% on Royal Ups. However, I am still in an OV this Friday on Indy. May finally strike out. I never go more than a few bucks over minimum.

Anywhere except: Coco Cay, Nassau, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Belize, Barbados, San Juan (been there, done it, don't get off the ship unless I want a crispy chicken sandwich) Always willing: St. Maarten, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, anywhere in Europe or Asia, Panama I am trying to find things to do on my exception list and will make an attempt to reengage at those Ports. It is nice how empty the ship is on Port days though.

I think anything is "possible", but not always "probable". There is also "policy" versus "actuality". p.s. I was short on my monthly allowances on "quotes" - sorry

On my Casino Comp cruises, I do get my RoyalUp money back if I cancel.

I'm on the Allure in September. Nice that it's full. The Independence Friday and the Symphony next month should be fun. I generally do not like people/crowds, but on a cruise ship I know how to get by: Few excursions - if any, no MDR, free drinks in the casino (tip well early in the cruise and a waiter tracks you down), good food in Playmakers (tip well on first visit and they serve you quickly throughout), Windjammer very early for breakfast, enjoy the nice balcony/suite with someone who cleans it twice a day and cribbage in the Solarium. My favorite cruise activities usually involve doing little to nothing. At home, I'm always doing my "tasks".

We just ditched some bigger hard sides for soft, expandable overhead bags. We are trying to travel with small rollers and backpacks. In training to whittle down the amount of stuff we bring on trips. Our hard sides took a beating and were dying.

It really is an individual choice. Saying that, if you want island intensive go with #2 - we basically did that setup in March on the Explorer (lots of fun, but intensive). If you're more about the ship, I would do #3. Getting to Miami has to be somewhat cheaper and easier than getting to PR. #1 would be out since you've been there, done that.

Let us know if you get the exemptions. If successful, publish the documentation you used, so that my non-vaxxed friends can use it to file for their cruises. In these days of "self-identifying" they will identify as a Frisbeetarian to cruise if needed.

I really have not seen much, if any, enforcement of the age limit in any solarium. Just have good manners and nobody I know would bother you. There have to be more interesting places to be though.

May have to explain "film" to some of the younger viewers. "a thin sheet of cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs" Merriam - Webster Dictionary (can explain dictionary at another time)

Hotels right around the Houston Airport are sketchy. IMHO

Nope. Never had temp taken on RCL.

We booked a casino offer we earned onboard within 7 days of debarkation (paid the $200 deposit onboard). Ended up with @$750 free play. So, after taxes and gratuity, we are over $300 ahead before we cruise.

Then to get rid of the Vax requirement...

I must admit that I was surprised that Walgreens took Tricare. Our local Publix stores give me most of my Tricare prescriptions. We are within a few miles of an AF Base and get the more expensive prescriptions filled at the Base.

Actually, I am just as excited today as I was last October when we started our 14 cruises thus far this year. Eleven more planned before Feb. The last cruise, we didn't even get off the ship. Do we like one ship over the other? Do we like one Port over another? Yep. However, I enjoy it all. Yes, we have a lot of data points, but we know what we want: refuge, sameness, free stuff (food, drinks, room). We set different goals. Our current goal is 26 different ships within 3 years. January 2023 gives us 15 of the 26. Our secondary goal is every different Port we can hit. Jenny, I'm a simple man, but I do like to cruise. I feel a tad sorry for the once in a lifetime or once a year cruiser who has a bad time. These people put a lot of resources in a very special event and I hate that everything does not work out (flights/weather/excursions/entertainment/rooms). RCL has 26 ships and hundreds of Ports. If the first time is not perfect, please try again. We love it.

Update to Walgreen testing. They do not take Medicare A or B. They will take some of the Medicare Advantage Plans. They do not take VA either. If no insurance, $128 bucks. Luckily they take Tricare - so it's still free for my family. Medicare does say that you can get one non-doctor ordered Covid test. You also get 8 home tests a month. On Point sounds like the best option for the people who have to pay. Good Website for Medicare: https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-coronavirus

If you have an internet package, you can watch sports on your devices. A group of us were huddled around a computer watching hockey playoffs because it was not on tv.

As a Florida resident, I truly feel bad for all the people who have to fly in. Another added expense and stress factor to what should be a great experience. We have had to fly to three of our cruises and it has not been enjoyable, easy or cheap. We will not do out of State cruises for the foreseeable future, but I hope you guys keep coming to enjoy the vacations.

Not at all. I do think we have gone a tad astray in this forum, on this subject ,though. Will end my participation. I like to cruise and enjoy the interaction with fellow like minded people. Cheers

Covid may not be funny, but smoking is a heck of a lot more dangerous to our health, community, economy, and general welfare. I like to gamble. I hate smoke. I avoid smokers as much as possible. My sarcastic point was that smoking is bad and I wish for it's demise in the casino.

It asked me if I have fatigue, headaches, and so on. Of course I do (100% disabled, jumped out of airplanes for 5 years, and I'm old). It also asked if you have been around a possible COVID person. So almost any human is probably high risk. if you have zero risk factors and just say that you want to travel is when they will probably try to charge you.

Just signed up for a test on July 5th at 1530. Will update next week. The verbiage seemed very clear. if no insurance - no cost. If insured they would bill insurance company if they could.