SpicyCherry

We are currently on Symphony on the 1st leg of our B2B. We were waiting for information and direction for our Covid test in preparation for the next leg. Nothing…Crickets!! So we contacted the Suite Concierges, Nadja & Jennie, and asked what needed to be done. We didn’t want to neglect to do what we needed in error. To our complete surprise, we were in formed that B2B guests no longer need to test and that this was the 1st sailing to apply this new rule change!! We were dancin’ in the streets(of Central Park, that is). Whew!! What a relief.

The Sushi & Sake Lunch was fabulous. Plenty to eat too. There were 5 courses in total, including dessert. The best course to me was the CHAMPAGNE LOBSTER
& CREAMY LOBSTER TEMPURA. The best Sake cocktail was called She’s a Geisha. Very refreshing. We were even given an extra taste of Hot Sake. The main course was TEPPAN BEEF FRIED RICE (Vegetable and egg fried rice with garlic-butter-soy filet mignon). It was wonderful. 

We’re on Symphony and ate at Hooked last night. Basically we were able to order anything we wanted. We even almost got something we didn’t want. We asked our server, Ginny, if we could have som Perrier instead of regular ice water. She asked if we had the beverage package, to which we said Yes. A few moments later she came back to the table and mumbled something about not have Perrier and would we like the Chandon Brut instead. Of course we were confused as to why Chandon Brut would be offered as a substitute for Perrier. Come to find out, she thought we were asking for Dom Perignon🫢🫢 Good thing they didn’t have any…Everyone would have been in for a big surprise!!! We all had a good laugh about that one. By the way, Ginny is a keeper. Great sense of humor, that one..

We are literally about to go to the Sushi & Sake Lunch at Izumi’s this afternoon. Will let you know how it is. We are on Symphony, by the way.

18 minutes ago, CruisingNewb said:

I may be wrong, but the safe sizes differ in each class of stateroom.  I think, but could be wrong, that certain suites have bigger safes.  Can anyone verify this?

Yes, the safe in the GS on Symphony is quite large, in my opinion, and can easily fit a laptop, even 2.

On Symphony now….per the Suite Concierge, there are 5075 of 6600 onboard…estimating 90-95%. 

4 hours ago, 10-42 said:

Is this you:

 

You bet your sweet bippy!!!

On 4/30/2022 at 7:56 PM, AlohaLivin said:

kraken lava flow (royal uses strawberry). Nearly lays me out though, it is so good it sneaks up on you 🫠

I’m aboard Symphony now and on my 2nd Lava Kraken Flow!! Well on my way to my 3rd,4th & 5th…. Great recommendation

14 minutes ago, Mike n Ky said:

Hope you enjoy the Symphony as much as we have. Only advice is don't do the Abyss...it's boring and I got stuck and had to work to get to the bottom.

Oh don’t worry. We don’t have any plans to even go there….I’d be the one to get stuck too. Who needs that!!

9 hours ago, spursfreak21 said:

Hello! I know there’s a multitude of testing questions posted here so please bear with me. I’m sailing out of port Canaveral on a Sunday, I’m flying into Orlando Friday morning. Our flight leaves at 5 AM. I want to have my negative test in hand before the flight. I ordered the at home tests from Royal. Had anyone had any issues testing at 1-2 AM? Does it matter what time you take the test? Also - was there a wait for a “Proctor”? I would think there would be less workers staffed at that time of day. 

We took our tests today, at 12:15am sharp!! There was no issues and the proctor came right on, no delay, no issues. As @Ampurp85said, all we were concerned with was that the date said Apr 28 as we sail on Apr 30.

8 hours ago, FF86 said:

We have tried to limit ourselves in the past in the weeks leading up to a cruise.  However, we are BIG theme park junkies and just couldn't stay away.  Went to the parks, carried about our daily lives, and we tested negative. Of course I was a wreck up to that point.  Fully vaxed and I have had covid 3 times already, so I'm not sure if my immunity is good now or what.

I was a complete wreck all day yesterday….could hardly eat and had to have a few stiff drinks, and I  do mean a few, to calm my nerves. My hands were  literally shaking as I tried to open up the test!! Man, I’m glad that’s over!!‍

On 3/31/2022 at 11:00 PM, SpicyCherry said:

Thank you everyone....This is like a buffet. I'm gonna try a little bit of everything!! Never heard of the saline thing....I'll have some standing by just in case.

So folks, at 12:15am this morning we took our Emed Home Test in preparation for our 4/30 sailing on Symphony. NEGATIVE!!! WOO-HOO And yes, we used the saline prior. The test was extremely easy and quick just like everyone says it was. I’m so glad it’s over. Just got to Miami and ready for cruising!!

16 minutes ago, AlohaLivin said:

But luckily @SpicyCherryhas a good sense of humor (along with her Swiss Army knife like tool ).

A good sense of humor is standard equipment also these days!!!

33 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

Speaking only for me...

I am normally very self sufficient.  Nowhere do I go that I don't at least have a few basic little tools at my disposal.  And they are used often.  I am naked when I don't have a knife, little scissors, pliers, screwdrivers, etc.

Having these things in a compact little Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman, can be a game changer at times.  I'd never push the issue with TSA, but having them in my checked bag, and then on the ship, if allowed, requires no explanation of the utility.

 

You and my DH are certainly cut from the same cloth!! His Leatherman is standard equipment for him. Things we used to be able to bring are no longer allowed. 

13 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Just don't imagine whittling toe  nails

8 minutes ago, MKSglitz said:

For many years I brought a very small swiss army multi-tool that had a nail file in it, a one inch knife, a pair of tiny scissors, tweezers and the TSA took it from me at an airport before I could even bring one on the ship!  It was $28!  Decided not to take one on a plane or a ship least I have it confiscated again.

 

 

 

 

I hear ya....at least if the cruiseline confiscates something, they give it back, but the TSA? Well if all else fails, DH will have to make do with a toenail clipper. I'm sure my Macgyver will make it do what it do!!

21 minutes ago, AlmondFarmer said:

Check the cruise compass for the “whittling” class. 

Whittling runs in my family....We are world-class whittlers, if you must know!! You never know when you are going to be called upon to WHITTLE, my friend!!!

26 minutes ago, AlohaLivin said:

Okay, I just cannot stop myself from asking - why do you need a Swiss Army knife on your cruise? Curiosity got the best of me

 

 

Well, he, that is my DH, doesn't have a Swiss Army Knife(thus the ETC in the subject line). He usually has his Multi-Tool with him....has a little screw driver, scissors but also a little blade. He is a Macgyver of sorts, always ready. Let me tell you, that little multi-tool has saved our butts many a time!!

7 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/prohibited-items-onboard-policy

Yes, this is the first thing I looked at but still was wondering if the little blade included on the multi-tool is really considered "all knives", you know what I mean??

Can you bring tools like a Swiss Army Knife-like thing or a Multi-Tool onboard? There's nothing saying you can't bring tools. Anybody know for sure?

14 minutes ago, MamaShark said:

Junior is still on the Allure but he’s being trained to be a genie by Alan R.   He’ll be a fantastic genie just like he was as concierge

Dexter Fraser was the Concierge on Allure when I was aboard in 2016. He is now a Royal Genie on Ovation. He too was a fantastic Concierge so I’m sure he’s an outstanding Genie. Hopefully, since we plan on booking Ovation next, we will be able to see him. But I’m sure it won’t be because we’re in Star Class!!

On 4/21/2022 at 8:16 AM, cruisellama said:

When we sailed in early March, it was Claudine Benjamin and Junior Allen.   Both EXCELLENT.   I could email them (instead of waiting in line), and they would take care of things - reservations etc.

On 4/21/2022 at 8:18 AM, cruisellama said:

Here's their email - al_concierge01@rccl.com

 

 

I found him. My husband had taken a picture of him with our family during the cruise and we zoomed in on his name tag. His name is Dexter Fraser and he is now a Royal Genie on Ovation. Hopefully we'll run into him again....however, it's not looking to good since we have no immediate plans to book Star Class!! But you never know, huh?

On 4/14/2022 at 6:58 PM, 1st Mate said:

My name is Rahul and I am reaching out to you on behalf of my colleague Dexter Fraser, who will have the honor & pleasure of serving you as your Royal Genie on your upcoming sailing again …

Dexter Fraser was our Suite Concierge on Allure back in 2016. He was wonderful and very accommodating. We would love to reach out to him but we totally misplaced his contact info. He even called us when he was here in NY visiting. He went above and beyond to make sure my whole family had a great time. 

8 minutes ago, fa-li said:

This happened to us - we both got a pop up notice that it was time to check in.  This was last week for our cruise this Sunday.  We were in the middle of a thing totally ignored it.  When I looked a few days later, all was fine.  Glad yours is good too!

I didn't even get a pop-up or email or anything. I'm just a freak who checks everything, everyday!! Must be the travel agent in me!! I'm glad for me too

46 minutes ago, Reigert2008 said:

just go through the process again.  We had an issue with a cruise back in February where one field was suddenly empty, but everything else was fine and we kept our same arrival time.  I can't remember which field it was, but i seem to remember it was insignificant.

 

I also do the check in via a PC for the most part, since I have been checking in for up to 7 people.

23 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

It happened on my last cruise. Checkin was gone for about a week then reappeared

"I'm Baaaaaaaaack!!!" said the SetSail Pass. I was about to go through the process again and everything is there again. My arrival time for both sailings is the same as I originally chose. All my info is there as well. Whew!! That wasn't fun. We've been waiting since 2019 to sail again and now I'm 9 days away and something stupid happens?? I need a drink(Glad we got the drinkpackage!!)