whitsmom

I got my "Key" email also.  I was too looking forward to the Chops lunch, however, with having 2 grands with us this trip I am sure that the room service will be used to its fullest potential

20 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

You can use http://www.royalcaribbean.com/royalgifts/ to purchase for sailings through the end of the year.  Doesn't want to work in Chrome for some reason.

So if it never comes up in the Cruise Planner try this as a backup option!

I just tried it and they only have through the end of 2021 for the Harmony.  I will bookmark it and keep checking back to see when they open it up for next year.  Thanks for the link.

20 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Me three.  We are on the 9-4-22 TA (Voyager) from Copenhagen to Boston.  We are also on the 8-19-22 Jewel British Isles cruise which is RT Amsterdam.  So we will end the Jewel cruise in Amsterdam on 8-31-22 and have 5 days to get to Copenhagen for the Voyager TA.

So we need recommendations for both Amsterdam and Copenhagen plus ideas for getting from Amsterdam to Copenhagen.

We are on the same 8-19-22 cruise!

20 hours ago, Pratty said:

Good day, all!

I will (hopefully) be cruising from Amsterdam to Barcelona in September of next year, and I’m looking for recommendations for hotels near the cruise terminal. We’d like to spend a few days in Amsterdam prior to cruising. Has anyone had a good experience at any hotels in the area, that they would recommend? I’m not looking for anything too expensive - just something nice, clean, and with a friendly and attentive staff. 
 

Thanks in advance!

Me too!  We fly into Amsterdam in August for our (Jewel) British Isles cruise and was wanting something near the cruise terminal also.

1 hour ago, CJS2766 said:

Must be the regular AMX card because my Platinum Delta AMEX card does not have this offer. Just checked 

Same here - no offer

I have two cruises coming up: Harmony in July and Jewel in August.  I can't find the gifts & gear section on my July Harmony cruise but it is there for the August Jewel cruise.  They granddaughters were wanting chocolate dipped strawberries in the room (tradition) when we arrive; however, it is not there.  It does show up on our August Jewel cruise.  The cruise planner on the Harmony is a newer version and the Jewel is on the older version still.  I guess I will just keep checking.

3 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

They aren't offering the embarkation day lunch at Chops, so they've been sending people emails that it's replaced with room service.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/10/01/spotted-the-key-will-restart-being-offered-symphony-of-the-seas?fbclid=IwAR1rnMV0aWBi9wRBqzxBIPgJbbh-UpVH6WRorTmPxGoH2dAp4BD1VUThqQc

I really hope that will be on our Harmony "Key" (fingers crossed).  I know that July is a long way away so it will be anybodies guess what it will be then.

I just looked on our "Key" for Harmony in July and it does not mention any room service at all.  I would love to have that option.  I'm guessing it is there presently just due to limiting people in the dinning rooms/windjammer.

We got the Key for our Harmony cruise in July.  I hope by then things will be somewhat back to normal.  This is the first time for using the "Key".  Having two teenage grands with us will be nice for the Voom for everyone this trip.  A lot can change before July gets here but I am hoping for better not worse! Time will tell....

4 minutes ago, JasonOasis said:

I would buy the 3 pack to cover the November 2021 cruise and wait on the March 2022 cruise. 

 

I made that mistake back in late August of this year of buys 6 kit pack.  Until now the only international flying my husband and I have done has been to Mexico to stay at resorts where you didn't need a negative test to enter Mexico and the resorts provided free testing to come home.  However this September we took our first trip to Europe since the pandemic began and even though we can go to Walgreens or CVS that doesn't help us coming back to the US.  So I had the bright idea of buying a pack of 6 test thing we would use one to come home from Europe another for our October cruise and the last on on our January 2022 cruise.  Luckily we will be able to use the test for our upcoming October cruise but the last test will be wasted because it expires before our January cruise. 

 

What is causing me concern is this as Europe continues to re-open many countries are now or I'm hearing will require all passengers to present a negative COVID test taken no more than 48 hours before arrival and I'm not sure Walgreens and CVS can always meet that turn around time which is going to put pressure on companies like Abbot (who has partners with quite a few airlines and also Royal Caribbean and who knows how many other cruise lines) to make sure they keep these test in stock and not the over the counter test many of which are NOT acceptable for travel.  Working in the airline industry I can tell you the airlines are preparing for surge in travel from the US to Europe starting next spring. For those who are not just traveling to Europe but also going on a European Cruise depending on how early you arrive in Europe a single person may need 2 test (1 to enter Europe and a 2nd to board the cruise). I understand wanting to be prepared because it would suck if a person couldn't board their European cruise because they couldn't find a test. I hope BinaxNow does not become the new toilet paper in 2022 but I would suggest you resist the urge to buy the test to early because unlike toilet paper these test do expire.

We are flying into Amsterdam in August for our British Isles cruise (Jewel).  We decided to fly on Wednesday evening (we can test here Wednesday morning) and that will work for both arriving in Amsterdam and for the cruise.  We will try to book an appointment for that date as soon as it will be available or may even get the proctored test.  I am hoping that the protocols will be lifted by then but I booked our flights yesterday using the current protocols.

I use magnetic personalized door sign (11" x 17") that can also be a dry erase board.  Comes in handy when we go with family for notes.  It sure makes it so much easier to find our cabin (especially the first couple of days).

18 hours ago, JustMeJoe said:

Hi again Whitsmom.  We made it back from a 10 night on Freedom with no problems!  Just had to do a couple of nose swabs for the back to backs - negative.  Ship was about 20-40 percent capacity - smallest 1191 to 2609 largest - holds 4375.  Masks were on and off (sorry about that) - most wore them some did not - was really not a big deal since we were outside mostly or eating/drinking.  Really nothing to do ashore - mostly closed at Nassau.  Stayed on the ship and just glad to be sailing again. 

Talk later, take care.   

Awesome!  I am of the same mindset - READY to CRUISE to ANYWHERE

34 minutes ago, TXcruzer said:

I think you got bad information, Trusted Traveler Status is not a substitute for a passport, or other ID

Correct as in not a substitute for the passport; however, I was told during my interview with CBP officer on September 17th, that the CE card can be used to fly instead of an enhanced drivers license.

10 minutes ago, PG Cruiser said:

They will be here more than two days before sailing.  I don't know if local testing centers allow non-US residents to be tested.

They should be able to just go back to the airport and do the test if they can't do it anywhere else.  You could probably call the airport or maybe check the their website.  Hopefully, they can and not be stressed ahead of time.

22 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Does Global Entry issue a card or just a number like Precheck?

Yes as I just got mine.  It can be used in lieu of an enhanced drivers license to fly but don't know if it can be used as questioned by @leesam82

2 minutes ago, Sharla said:

I would be very happy if they stopped allowing smoking in the casinos. Celebrity already has smoke-free casinos. 

I would spend a lot more time in there if they'd ban it.

I agree 100% with you as I have asthma.

1 hour ago, PRebecca said:

Somewhere someone posted a photo of the right test to purchase for cruising. I must stink at searching because I can't find it. I have this one, and am hoping we got the right ones. Anyone able to kindly verify or point me in the right direction? I know it's been discussed to death, sorry!

If you look a couple of posts before yours, there is a picture of the correct tests.  It looks different from your test.

3 minutes ago, Marlena said:

I'm trying to remember how they scan it? Does it need to be removed from a sleeve or can it stay in a clear plastic holder to be scanned?

They can scan it thru the sleeve

1 hour ago, Matt said:

No, it's free. And it's to your benefit. I use wifi calling at home all the time because my wifi signal is stronger than my cell signal. Less likelihood of a dropped call.

Same here!

2 minutes ago, Carotthat said:

Re balcony dividers - I assume these can be opened up between any cabins?

Some can and some cannot.  Radiance class cannot open up.  However, we opened ours up on the Oasis (son-n-law took a set of allen wrenches) and we never had any issues doing it.

We used to dress up on formal nights every time; however, as we get older, we mostly do more of a business casual.  That being said, it doesn't bother me in the least if someone wants to wear shorts to dinner.  Once everyone is sitting down you can't tell what they are wearing anyway.  It makes it easier on packing leaving the formal stuff at home as I tend to over pack anyway. 

15 minutes ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

So in talking to the crew on odyssey I heard over and over again that their contracts would be ending at the end of the year and the extensions may not be possible as RCI tries to rotate more crew in.

Is it normal to have so many contracts end at the same time or was this a side-effect of covid and the restart process?

I wouldn't think they would want to "start from scratch" with an entire new crew.  That sounds like a recipe for lots of problems....

I know that this is way early and it will probably change; however, we will be flying to Amsterdam in August 2022 for our British Isles cruise.  We have to test within 3 days for flying and 2 days before cruising.  We were wanting to go a few days ahead so that we can see Amsterdam.  I wonder if we got the proctored test and used them before our cruise if that would be allowed.  

We are Emerald now and will be Diamond after our two cruises next year! 

2 hours ago, daha699 said:

i am just nervous that if i cancel the DBP i purchased with OBC , when i cancel to repurchace the lower price ,  OBC is not available rite away !

I gets put back immediately to use again.  I did this on my last cruise and had no issues.