Swar

3 hours ago, SKB said:

Speaking of Covid Cards...   How long does the "Validating your records" take?  Who do they actually  "validate" with?

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.

25 minutes ago, deniseuttley said:

Let's hope no pre cruise tests

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.

13 hours ago, Bowen said:

Same. Once we get the word on the religious exemptions we'll be done either way. We'll cruise if they let us, we'll cancel if they don't, but we won't book anything else until there are no mandates of any sort.

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... 

11 minutes ago, Moby Dick said:

For my prescriptions, I used to use a local pharmacy.  I was informed a few months ago that our wonderful government/MEDICARE/TRICARE will no longer authorize our local and many others, pharmacy.  We now have to use CVS  for our short term/none permanent prescriptions.  We still use Express Script for our permanent, mail order, prescription.  So, I can't get a test at my local pharmacy and, last time I checked, my local CVS doesn't do any testing, or at least rapid (15 -30 minute variety) testing.  They do sell rapid/self tests when available.  

HOWEVER, the manager of our local pharmacy is also a very nice lady that my daughter went to high school with.  So, we try to stay in touch with her.  About two weeks ago, I called her to find out what kind of sharps I used to get from them so I can get some or order them from CVS.  She said that they have been submitting claims to TRICARE and they've been receiving payment.  So, at this point, I'm not sure what to think.  We did go ahead and get the sharps from the local pharmacy, I got a year's worth at about .26 cents each (no insurance involved), that 12 sharps LOL.  

So, if I NEED to test for travel again, I'll be looking/inquiring my local pharmacy to see if TRICARE is still paying them.  Or just go with eMed, et al, as I think it is the best choice anyway.  But, I would prefer to support my local pharmacy/businesses.

I PREFER TO SUPPORT MY LOCAL BUSINESSES!

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.

4 hours ago, dodgestang said:

The more cruises you take, the more critical you become.  Simple nature of the beast.  You have more data points to compare against, not every cruise is going to be the best

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.

6 hours ago, Moby Dick said:

In about 2.5 years, COVID, the current China variety, has killed almost 6 and a half million people, in the U.S. alone, well over 1 million.  In about 2.5 years COVID has made tens/hundreds of millions of people sick.

In about 2.5 years, COVID has cost the American tax payers hundreds of billions of dollars, some sources say over 5 trillion $.  

Would you like to revise that statement?  

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

16 minutes ago, Sea Squirrel said:

You and your peeps sound like lots of fun, lol. Covid isn’t funny anywhere but definitely not cool on a ship when the industry is trying to recover. Not a funny joke.  FYI, if you “live” in the casino, the current policy doesn’t seem to be an issue for you so not a problem for Royal. 

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. 

9 minutes ago, Lugnut said:

Per the Walgreens web site as of today (02 July) it says if you're "High Risk or Pregnant" the test may be free*. 

 * You will not have out-of-pocket costs if you meet the criteria for no-cost testing through your insurance or a government-funded program. You should contact your insurer before scheduling to confirm the test meets coverage criteria. You may be billed by Walgreens and, if applicable, the laboratory for up to the full price of the test if your insurance denies coverage or you don't meet eligibility criteria for government no-cost testing programs. 

According to the HHS web site at https://combatcovid.hhs.gov/i-have-covid-19/how-do-i-know-if-im-high-risk  "High Risk" conditions include being age 65 or older. SO, might I (as a certified Olde Fahrt who is north of age 65) still get a test done at Walgreens and have them bill Medicare? Does anyone know what truly qualifies as meeting the "eligibility criteria for government no-cost testing programs". 

 

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.

15 minutes ago, Swar said:

Ok, I'll sign up for a test next week and report back. Retired and have nothing else to do with my time.

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.