Peter D

We have a suite on Oasis in August. As this will be a first time for us, we are planning to go to CK as much as possible to try it out. As always, we will preview the menu and go on nights that interest us. MDR will be there next time.....

We were on Symphony back in March while at CocoCay with Independence. While at the floating bar, the bartenders also just asked for cabin number. There was nothing preventing a person from picking a random cabin from either ship. If the cruise line is not going to require the card every time, then they should have given you the benefit of the doubt from the very beginning. It's surprising and disappointing that guest services would not make it right, because they typically do.

Depending on when you get to Seward, you might want to consider one of the Kenai Fjord boat tours. We did one after our northbound to Seward couple weeks ago and it was well worth it. They generally leave between 10a-12noon, so it might not fit into your timing before all aboard, but if you can do it, I recommend it.

Here is a link I found for the Celebrity benefits. https://secure.viewer.zmags.com/publication/a54eb4aa#/a54eb4aa/1 I'd say they are comparable to the old Diamond/Diamond Plus benefit for RCL. The drinks are unlimited for 'happy hour' from 5-7pm.

The announcement is perplexing, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Keep in mind that many places have 'no refund' policies, but do give store credit. it just means you cannot get the money back. It would be interesting to know the reasoning behind the change. Maybe it is related to the fact that they dropped expiration on FCC and want to limit them going forward. I would like to see royal Caribbean, go back to showing the refundable pricing option on their website. I hope with this change they do so. (though I doubt they will).

When we drove to Vancouver, the border agent didn't ask to see it but instead said 'I already have it', so you are probably right.

As Diamond, D+, and Pinnacle, on your first Celebrity cruise, you get an equivalent status on Celebrity (Elite). Then you start acquiring points from zero on Celebrity. Higher levels than Elite must be earned with points on Celebrity. Further, points obtained on Celebrity do not increase your Royal Caribbean status. That has been the limitation that I haven't gotten past. That said, I am also interested in trying Celebrity at some point, but not sure when that will be.

This is a risk we all face traveling abroad for cruises and having to fly back. The fact that testing is required to come home via plane, but not via car or ship just shows how arbitrary it is. At the very least, all citizens should be able to freely travel back home without need of testing. At least with Canada, you have the option to rent a car or take a bus to get back to US. Then once you are within US, you are free to travel by plane (covid or not). In Europe that would not be the case of course. One can argue the ethics of doing that or not, but I have no doubt it happens everyday. Hopefully the cruise and travel lobbies will be successful in convincing the current administration to drop it (at least for citizens).

Wow that is pretty sketchy that a 3rd party website would try to get people to pay for the arrivecan forms.

Not sure of the entire beer listing, but I've not noticed any reduction in availability. Also, on the Radiance of the Seas (20May2022 sailing), the Quill and Compass Pub was fully open and had several beers on draft including Newcastle Brown Ale. I saw the standard beers available, Heineken, Amstel Light, Miller Light, Bud Light, Fosters. I am sure there are others that I cannot recall. I would expect similar on Serenade of the Seas.

Quick follow up on this topic for those who may be interested. We entered Canada via the ArriveCan on 20May2022 to board Radiance of Seas for one way trip to Seward. We used the cruise terminal as our address where we would be staying in Canada. Canada Place Cruise Terminal 999 Canada Place British Columbia, Canada V6C 3T4 We got on the ship (after a ridiculously long delay) and off we went on our Alaska Adventure, leaving Canada on same day 20May2022. Three days later (23May2022)... I received an email and telephone call from Canada Health Authorities stating I had been selected for the mandatory PCR test and their records showed I had not done so within the required 24 hour period. This was the first I had heard about it, 3 days after leaving the country. Border agent did not say anything about it. Anyhow, with all the threats of fines and quarantine facility transfers, I decided to call the general inquiries number provided in the email (1-833-784-4397) and a helpful representative walked me through the steps to change my contact information and certify that I had already left the country 3 days prior. After it was submitted, I got the email that I was off the hook. My wife got the same messages the following day.... Anyhow, figured I would share the experience in case it happens to any one else entering Canada for cruises.

When we entered Canada from Seattle (by car) for our Northbound trip last week, we put the cruise port address: Canada Place Cruise Terminal 999 Canada Place British Columbia, Canada V6C 3T4 If I were on the southbound, I would do the same.

Radiance canceled the Sitka stop on the May 20 sailing and going to Icy Straits instead.

If you are looking for a similar experience, last July we did this. Onboard Experience - Royal Caribbean International The ATVs are two person vehicles and overall I think it was good excursion.

This is where I saw it. Onboard Experience - Royal Caribbean International This is the generic description of the excursion on RCL website. If you look in 'Important notes' it says 'parties under 3 guests will share a jeep'. If it doesn't say so on your cruise planner booking, maybe that is no longer the case.

If I recall correctly, I think the excursion description states that that Jeeps are shared if less than 3 people.

Current Cruise Director (CD) List, starting 12-2021 - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Community This is a pretty reliable resource for cruise director lists. Harmony currently has Jeff Arpin.

We got the same email. it does seem like a mistake because it's a one way, but who knows. Maybe Royal does not want to have different rules for the different sailings. I guess we just fill out the form pretending that we are returning to Vancouver on 03Jun2022, even though we are not.

Many people do what you are suggesting but I don’t think it always works out. You are basically “cancelling” your refundable dep reservations and re booking as non refundable. My experience has been that non refundable pricing goes up over time and you may find that as you get closer to final payment. i would also recommend keep watching the prices for the refundable and if it drops you can get it adjusted. In the end, it’s still probably safer to keep it as refundable and see how it goes.

You might want to consider booking two connected staterooms (or adjacent even). It probably cost a bit more, but there are definitely benefits to doing so.

I called the ArriveCan hotline (1-833-283-7403) and I got some additional information for my specific situation. As I am only doing a one way trip from Vancouver to Seward (open jaw) and not returning to Canada, I was told that I will not need to complete a second ArriveCan form to get on the ship to leave Vancouver. I looked at the 'enter by marine' form on ArriveCan app and it clearly identify 'port of entry' and date of arrival', so it makes sense that I would not need it because I have no port of arrival. I am sure the southbound cruises from Seward to Vancouver would use this form, but not the northbound Vancouver to Seward. I believe the issue described in the above referenced live blog was that that particular Radiance OTS cruise was closed loop returning to Canada which does make sense. I'd expect the same for the closed loop Serenade OTS sailings out of Vancouver. As for the land point of entry, they stated that the point of entry needs to align with the ArriveCan app, so I cannot put one and change mind to go through another. I would need to create a new form.

Next week we are driving from Seattle to Vancouver for Radiance. It seems there are two possible point of entries available: Douglas (840) and Pacific Highway (813). Does anyone know if one is better than the other? If you complete the ArriveCan form for one, and end up at the other, is that going to be a huge problem?

It requires two nights of specialty dining. I have seen them apply 50% off for two different specialty restaurants or 100% for one and second reservation is free. The BOGO requires the first reservation on night 1 or night 2, but it might require a solo person to do both night 1 and night 2. It's best to confirm at one of the specialist dining desks as soon as you board.

I've have never done Hibachi, so I cannot comment on its availability when you get on the ship. While you didn't mention which ship you are on, I assume you are doing Oasis class based on mentioned 150 Central Park. We dined there for first time in March while on Symphony, and it was terrific. I would definitely recommend that one. Also, if Wonderland is available, it is an adventurous and unique dining experience (though may not be popular with picky eaters).

I recommend reviewing the menu at main dining room on night 1 and start from there. You can see it on the app under the dining tab. You may or may not know that night 2 is typically the first formal night at the MDR and its usually a bit more upscale of a menu. That menu is also available on the app. So maybe you might want to consider night 1 as first specialty and night 2 in MDR. I have heard that solarium has not been open lately for dining, but that may change soon. However I have never actually eaten there for dinner, so I have no idea how that is. Same goes for Windjammer. Lastly, you could always do specialty on both night 1 and night 2