Moby Dick

I was one of those that really never had the desire to cruise, but my wife knew that I always had a desire to visit the Panama Canal because I have family history there, my grandfather was one of the engineers and worker on the canals building and I wanted to see the system for myself. So, one day after I retired my wife brough up taking a cruise to the Canal Zone at a very decent cost. I went along and the rest is history, I'm hooked. My youngest daughter was a nay sayer as well until we gifted a family cruise for her and her family on the Oasis. Before they were off the ship, they were booking another (Star Class) at the Next Cruise desk and that started it all for them. I'm still working on my oldest daughter. Congratulations, I'm glad you found your cruising inner-self. Happy sailing to you!

More Entertainment Itinerates. No no no, I don't know, just kidding.

Many in our party did get themed up. It was a lot of fun. Don't know how you can find out other than asking here. I'd answer, but I don't know. We're on the Harmony in November. Keep her clean for us, Okay Happy sailing to you!

BTW, you did mention the Quantum. I didn't mean to mention it as a smaller class ship.

Well, thanks for your patience with me and answering my questions. I'll keep trying to get answers. But, I think I won't know until I get my email from the Genie. Just in case you are wondering why I want to know so badly, 3 of the 4 of us are disabled (two are Vets) and I've been told that the walk from the shuttle/limo drop off area is at leas 30 yards. We, none of us are to badly disabled but carrying/lugging/pulling heavy baggage could be a little issue and I'm still fairly sure that the Genie will have us bring out luggage to the terminal entrance. We'll see.

What I've noticed at many terminals, the baggage drop off and the check-in procedures are disconnected. So, if the porters are out there accepting baggage for your cruise, I don't see how anyone knows what the other is doing/the left arm knowing what the right arm is doing. Only exception I can think of is if they put your boarding time on your luggage tags. I haven't cruised since they've been doing the strict boarding time thing. Boarding times, pre-COVID, were just suggestions. I can't see the porters paying any attention to boarding times on the luggage tags, they are working for tips, Afterall. I'd give it a try, what you got to lose.

Yep, thanks. That's basically the way we did it. I like that procedure and it won't be a problem ignoring the none-Genie boarding time, not at all. I don't think you will be able to answer this but, I'm curious about Seattle terminal, 91. No one at Royal, my TA, or even the shuttle/limo company can't/won't answer my question. I understand that this May is probably the first Alaska cruise season post COVID and a lot has changed. But, I'm wondering, at other terminals, Miami, Port Everglades, Port of Canaveral, the Genie and a ship's crew member (the Genie's pre-embarkation day emails specifically stat not to give luggage to the port's porters/stevedores) come to the curbside entrance and the ship's crew member take your luggage through security and straight to your cabin so it's there when you get there and the Genie escorts you to/through the processing system and then to your cabin. I've heard that terminal 91 isn't physically set up so that passengers can drop off luggage curbside and the Genie won't meet you at the entrance to the terminal, he/she will come to the pre-boarding waiting area if there is any wait time. I've looked at a lot of VLOGS and I don't even see any suite banners at the entrance to the terminal either.

My first cruise since COVID and many things have changed. Please don't think I'm being uppity but I have to ask, it's kinda important to me. How does these new Boarding Times work with Star Class cruisers? Will the system give me a boarding time after/while I complete the check-in stuff or will I get information directly from the Genie's email to us, as it used to be. Actually, the Genie would ask us what time we planned to arrive in the initial email from him/her.

Yep, that's what we did. One of the Port(s) of call on the Bermuda run was Boston. Man, I like the history of that city, we did an all day tour of the city and surrounding historical sites. I want to do it again. Bermuda was great too. Cheers! <every pun intended

We did the Anthem to Bermuda a few years ago. Really like that ship. I guess we will have to wait and see. When was that?

That's wonderful to hear. Symphony is my favorite ship so far. I'm going on the Ovations in May and Harmony in November. I haven't cruised on either before. After Harmony, I'll only have the Wonder to complete my quest to cruise on all Oasis Class ships. Ovation will be my 2nd Quantum Class ship. I guess I have a couple to go. Happy for ya!

I/we have very little protocol to pick a cruise. We only: Cruise on Quantum or Oasis class ships, only Book well in advance, up to 2 years out Ask ourselves, does the price seem like a good value and do we think the price will go down, from time to time, so we can use the price guarantee. Our next cruise is to Alaska, but that's going to be the first time and last time. So, we like the Caribbean, except Coz. Been there too many times. The northeast and Canada is on the table, but I don't remember seeing #1 above on those cruises. Other than that, everything is up to evaluate. Once we do or eliminate 1 - 5, might as well put the cruises up on a dart board, blind fold us and toss the dart and see what sticks.

Just curious, I'd like to know where you found that the new beach area, that won't be ready till 2023 sometime, according to Matt, March 17, royalcaribbeanblog.com, no further information, will have it's own adults-only pool or food options. No this isn't a challenge, I seriously would like to see the article/fact sheet. I hate lines and needless hurry-up and wait situations. I very rarely will wait at a restaurant if there is a long, 30 minutes or more, line to get in. Yes, I know that lines indicate that it's a good place to eat. I, once again, want to make sure you understand that I'm not challenging you are looking for an argument. I just like to SEE things. Matt's article is here:

One of the best times I've had on any cruise was when we reserved/rented the Rising Tide, on Symphony, during the 70s/80s, I don't remember the decade. We had the complete bar open to just our party, it was a party of 14. The bar went up half way between the top and bottom of its usual travel. We had a birds eye view of the entire party. The young ones in our party danced and us old folks just drank and bobbed our heads.

Quantum class ships are a little more suited for a cooler/rainier climate than many others. I have no idea how the smaller class ships that you mentioned are outfitted for the Alaska climate. Is it worth it for YOU. That is really too hard of a question for us/anybody to answer. It's really up to you and what you are looking for in a cruise. What are you looking for in a cruise, dinning options, shows, spa, and/or just a larger ship. In my opinion, a Quantum class ship offers much more than the smaller ships but offers less than the Oasis class ships, the bigger the better for me. I like lots of options in entertainment, food, shopping (for my wife. Happy wife, happy life), just space to walk around and explore, etc. I also like to walk and walk hard for at least 3.5 miles a day. The walking track on the Quantum and Oasis Class ships offer that without having to walk around in a small circle SEVERAL TIMES and on a track that is less cluttered. JMHO

Thank you for the answer. I take a printed copy with me, for sure. I was asking for general consumption, but you didn't know that. Once again, thanks. I take paper copies of EVERYTHING, Invoices, contracts, luggage tags (a few extra and I put a copy in every piece of luggage and carry on), and boarding pass. I'm overly paranoid about issues that can pop up, I guess. But, I have 'em if I need 'em.

I'm old and don't remember much of what went on on my last pre-COVID cruise. But, in reading a bunch here and other social media venues, a boarding pass is required to be printed or in the app and brought with you to embarkation as the cabin key/card isn't available until your room is ready for you. The boarding pass can be scanned and used to purchase drinks/food/et al until you get to your cabin. Is any or all true? Thanks in advance for your response.

Well, I think I read somewhere, maybe right here in the blog that Royal said, for the short term, they weren't going to add any fuel surcharges. But, they can increase cruise prices and all/any of the ancillary charges anytime they want without making a production/news release of it, which I believe they have, subliminally or outright.

I hope you are right!

BTW, I don't see why Royal would prohibit the hooks hanging from the ceiling, they don't have a problem with it on the walls. Having said that, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission. I'd do it. If they say something, take it down and put it back up again when you need to.

I don't know. I guess you will need to look at the test kit before you buy it and see if it has "rapid" on it. This may help: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/naats.html Based upon the link above, yes, a NAAT test can be a "rapid" test.

Yes, I know. But, would that alleviate the the crowds at the rides, main pool, snack bars for example?

Yes, exactly: Accepted Types of Tests and Results There are two common types of diagnostic COVID-19 tests A molecular test, also called a PCR test or NAAT test – our testing requirements call this a “PCR test”

Fruit for thought - Would you want more than one or two ships, especially if they are Oasis Class ships, docked/anchored at Cococay at a time. I think it would be a little over crowded and long lines would form at the eating and rides venues. Just my opinion. If, in the future, Royal expanded the size of their pier there, but not the size of the island/amenities, and it turned into a hurry-up and wait situation, I think I'd be a little disappointed. JMHO

AND Carnival has a limit on how many drinks per day are included, I think it's 15. One of the many reasons I call Carnival, Brand X cruise lines.