whitsmom

Disagree.  🙂

Several Enchantment Van to Van sailings - this is just one:

We did the Northbound on the Radiance and then a 3-day post land tour.  We loved it!  Radiance was a great smaller ship.  I would totally do it again!

On the Oasis, I was able to use my phone app to pay for my Starbucks but you couldn't redeem any points for to get free or discounted items.  It worked beautifully.  I am sure that you can use gift cards also. 

Regardless of when you go you will have an amazing trip. I have been to Alaska twice and going again next Summer. For Alaska you will want to make sure you get a balcony room or above. There is nothing better than sitting on your balcony with a coffee in your hand.

I think you have to call or have a TA do it.

Sorry, that I can not help you with, I am from down under, Australia and you crazy Americans drive on the wrong side of the road so we do not dare try to drive in the US as it would be pretty messy, lol

This is what my daughter and son-n-law does but it is for the UBP for SNL not the wine.  My daughter just likes the soda package so they didn't want to buy the refreshment package.  They don't have to sleep there but gets an extra room key. 

Some tips from a Celebrity Loyalist but I've cruised RCL plenty of times. Many similarities.
(1) Book with a travel agent (TA). I've used Cruises-N-More, MEI, Delta Sky Miles Cruises and Costco Travel. A long time ago I used AAA Travel services. No preference other than I look for the best perks offered by the TA. They vary substantially. Being able to get in touch with them is important (MEI is particularly good for guiding newbies to make good choices)
(2) Study the fares (or incessantly bug your TA) and make sure you're getting the cabin and extras that you want and no more. Celebrity is notorious for their conspicuous marketing strategies that while some of them are very good deals, they are all tailored to get more money out of your pocket up front. Buy a drink package in advance ..... IF, and only IF, you are going to consume beverages in sufficient amounts to equal or exceed the daily cost. That's a lot of booze, soft drinks, coffees and squeezed OJ for most people. Do your homework and your math but it's nice just to walk up to any bar and drink-up, get a bloody at breakfast or have different wines during lunch or dinner. Oh, a nice double expresso (usually included in your package) is nice after you had a glass or two of wine for lunch. Remember, you're going to feel like you have to optimize your package and it's easy to drink too much in a day. Hangovers will dampen your enjoyment of the following days activities after a night of drinking martinis. Ask me how I know this.
(3) During the pandemic, I'd stick with the shore excursions being offered by the ship. You can book privately now but there are still COVID things going on in ports where a port call might get cancelled due to an increase in case numbers. Once you get some experience (and this pandemic stuff ends) you can branch out. Prices of excursion sponsored by the ship are pretty reasonable these days compared to privately arranged tours.
(4) Pack wisely and don't go overboard on weight and or space. Google cruise packing tips. There's good stuff out there on the web. Shoes are hard!! Put some liquid soap in a pump dispenser in your checked bag. It's nice to have that in your cabin's head (that's, the correct term for a bathroom on board a ship). We've started bringing sticky/removable hangers that you can stick on the cabin walls. Hang caps, light jackets (AC makes hallways, and eateries cold) or most anything that won't go in your closet. Bring one of those light weight folding laundry baskets to keep your dirty undies under control.
(5) Someone already listed this but it bears emphasis: know the testing protocols and document requirements for boarding. Insure you arrive at the cruise terminal with everything you need including boarding pass, passport, test results, proof of vaccination. Importantly, arrange all your documents so they are immediately at hand and you aren't fumbling around to find them. Make use of the Royal App. Never used it but Celebrity Cruises -an RCL co-brand - probably is identical to RCL's It is very cool and useful. A little janky but once you start using it, it works. You can do a lot of pre-boarding stuff, like upload a copy of your passport and vax card, and have this all digitally available on your phone. Beware though that hard copies should be carried in case your phone or internet connection poops out right when you enter the terminal and someone is asking for your boarding pass!!!  
(6) Do do one specialty restaurant but even though you might be enticed, the main dinning room complimentary food and table service is great. There will be deals during your cruise. For example, on Celebrity one or more of the specialty restaurants will offer lunch. Usually the same or slightly compacted menu at 1/2 price. Check it out and ask for discounts for dinner. The Food and Beverage Manger will offer these when demand is low and you'll only see that when bookings actually start happening on board.
Ask away. All of us here love to talk about cruising.  
 

Doc here.  I work closely with COVID positive patients daily.  I always answer this question when I travel as a “no.”  I wear appropriate PPE and take precautions (even  above and beyond as well to prevent transmission.)  This is not considered an exposure.  In reality, I’m more at risk of exposure going to my local grocery store (which I don’t do- I love grocery pickup!)

Look who I found on the Odyssey!

Sailing on the Anthem this Sunday, so I did my Binax Now home test today.  Everything is going fine, and then the lady who is proctoring tells me to put six drops in the card hole.  The bottle is BONE DRY!  Only air squeaked out!  She told me the test is over and I needed to get another test.  (That was not cheap by the way.). Test #2 did not go any better.  The dropper was stuck inside the lid!  There is no way to measure exactly six drops!  There goes another test.  Box #3 worked great!  The moral of the story is have a few extra tests for your trip, just in case there is a problem.  Customer service was great though.  They are overnighting me replacement tests and they will be at my house at noon tomorrow.

That is why I download movies/shows ahead of time for that very reason.

FYI...on the Anthem. It was just announced last night that the main shows 'Spectras Cabaret' and 'We Will Rock You' have been canceled for this cruise due to a lack of available production personnel. Hmmmm...I also see that the Anthem's status has been changed to 'yellow' on the CDC website, showing an uptick of cases onboard. I hope they're not connected. I'll see what happens next cruise.

Washy-Washy-Washy

Can't say I've ever heard that one.
 
 
OK maybe once or twice

Broken nose.

9:50am flight is way too early. I wouldnt book anything earlier than 11am

Diamond is a pretty significant milestone.  It represents the greatest increase in perks that most cruises will realize.  
On a 14 day cruise the drink package cost is $$$$$.  If drinks are your thing, four free daily drinks on a 14 day cruise are a pretty significant savings.  

Lots of exciting things planned for the Inaugural sailing next week! Hoping to create some good videos for you guys.

We are moving from Diamond to Diamond plus after the first of a B2B cruise.  I sent an inquiry to RCCL about this and I received this response:
 
We are happy to know that you are planning to be with us onboard the Ovation of the Seas! We also want to congratulate you on your upcoming upgrade to Diamond Plus status! You are correct in your understanding of the way your status upgrade will be applied. As your status will upgrade at the end of your first sailing, you will be able to enjoy your Diamond Plus benefits on your next sailing. We do want you to be aware that for members whose status is upgrading on a back to back sailing, we ask that they inform the Loyalty Ambassador onboard during the first sailing of their upcoming change in status. Please let the Loyalty Ambassador know of this change and they will be able to note this change so that we are sure you receive your Diamond Plus benefits on the second sailing.

You can take the test at any time on Thursday. Children, any time on Wednesday.

Isn't that a Mountain Dew flavor or something?
 
 

Just got my cabin moved this morning.

We got one too!

Yes, you can. I did that too for all 4 people in our party. We were two couples in two separate rooms and with separate but linked bookings. As soon as you link the bookings you will be able to see all the people in the linked bookings in your app (and they will be able to see you too). Then you just click on each person to add them to whatever show or activity you want to book. I found it to be really easy.