whitsmom

Years ago (after a Noro outbreak) we sailed on RCCL (can't remember which ship). The WJ buffet was there; however, you weren't allowed to serve yourself.  They are servers to put the serving on your plate as you held it.  This was also the first time that they started the hand sanitizer before entrance to the WJ (at least for us it was the first time).  I think that they will possibly do this once cruising starts back.  Some people complained (and some of the complainers were the ones who refused to use the hand sanitizer); however, I welcomed it so I didn't have to touch a serving handle that everyone else had touched.   I think some people just refuse to let someone else tell them what they can and can't do.

I can see the WJ changing to a cafeteria style eatery, grab a tray and silverware and have servers place the food on you plate as it moves down the line.  I wouldn't mind a food court station, breakfast and lunch serving fast food type options. A combination of the two would be great.  Also to maximize use of the MDR for lunch and dinner have one of the dining rooms with a limited menu that could be served quickly for those who would want a full meal, this would ease the crowding of the WJ.

I think it is hard for people to be told what to do. I honestly hate most sanitizers as their smell irritates my allergies, however I will endure it if it means getting back to cruising without much hassle. Making WJ a new "pay restaurant" would be a big mistake. It would cause even more people to eat in the MDR and the crowds would be atrocious! There are many cruisers, some loyal to RCCL many not, who won't cruise with RCCL if there isn't more than one free food place where they can get more than just snacks. They would choose other lines. I think that any changes would be temporary and that only loyal RCCL cruisers will be ok with dealing with them. Just my thoughts. 

Years ago (after a Noro outbreak) we sailed on RCCL (can't remember which ship). The WJ buffet was there; however, you weren't allowed to serve yourself.  They are servers to put the serving on your plate as you held it.  This was also the first time that they started the hand sanitizer before entrance to the WJ (at least for us it was the first time).  I think that they will possibly do this once cruising starts back.  Some people complained (and some of the complainers were the ones who refused to use the hand sanitizer); however, I welcomed it so I didn't have to touch a serving handle that everyone else had touched.   I think some people just refuse to let someone else tell them what they can and can't do.

While I would believe that Royal would try to avoid taking any actions that would reduce revenue streams if possible, I think this is a really good idea!

I was just speaking with my TA and this is what he just emailed me regarding the Windjammer and such. Just wanted to share what my Travel Agent told me:
I also was on a webinar with the Chairman of RCCL Richard Fein and he took some questions about the future.  BTW Royal Caribbean just announced a postponement through 31 July.
On the future relative to our discussions he didn't get too specific but the Windjammer will remain, but not with everyone using the same spoon to get their stuff, so as we suspected more of a crew operated buffet. He indicated that probably isn't just at sea but at hotels and restaurants on land as well.   He also indicated that as they begin operations it will not be a simultaneous full speed ahead but a gradual roll out, and that they would adjust crew and number of cabins occupied till they get back to full operations.  No specifics but a slow and steady process coordinated with all the necessary bodies, agencies, countries etc.
 
 

I could never do a Panoramic, it would just drive me crazy to see the ocean, but not hear it or feel the breeze.  
I also think about the What If?  Imagine there is another outbreak of a virus and you are stuck in your cabin for multiple days like Princess in Italy.  At least in a balcony you can get fresh air.  Feel the sun directly shining on your face, instead of it being reflected off glass.
Only you can answer the one question that needs to be asked.  How often do you sit on the balcony?  For my hubby and I, we are sitting on our balcony at least 3 or 4 hrs everyday.  Breakfast on the balcony.  Cocktails pre-dinner on the balcony.  Late night conversations on the balcony. Sailing into or out of port on the balcony.   
 
 

Years ago (after a Noro outbreak) we sailed on RCCL (can't remember which ship). The WJ buffet was there; however, you weren't allowed to serve yourself.  They are servers to put the serving on your plate as you held it.  This was also the first time that they started the hand sanitizer before entrance to the WJ (at least for us it was the first time).  I think that they will possibly do this once cruising starts back.  Some people complained (and some of the complainers were the ones who refused to use the hand sanitizer); however, I welcomed it so I didn't have to touch a serving handle that everyone else had touched.   I think some people just refuse to let someone else tell them what they can and can't do.

I disagree about getting extra points for cancelled sailings.
First, it will dilute the program.  Think of it like inflation for C&A points.
Second, and more importantly, this is a situation out of RC's hands and I don't think cruisers need to be "coddled" with points as a means of making us feel better about the cruises being cancelled.
If this were a logistic gaffe and RC messed up (like the $18 drink package), yes, I can see where it makes sense for them to try to make it better.  But this is a global issue and RC is along for the ride. 

I respectfully disagree.  The nights weren't sailed, the room wasn't paid for. The points weren't earned. It's not their fault that this virus exists. It's not like they're making bank off of this fiasco.

Got it corrected it was a mistake by my TA.

We gave the go ahead to our TA to L&S our October New England-Canada cruise to October 2021.  I also called Delta yesterday and got an eCredit as the flights for next October are not available yet. While I am happy that we lost no money this the L&S, I am sad that we won't be cruising this year. 

My TA did our L&S yesterday and it was already updated in my cruise planner this morning.  I am completely shocked that it was changed that fast!  Now I have to wait 513 days.......

Well after spending 2 1/2 hours on the phone, 20 minutes with the TA explaining what I have and what I wanted done and the remaining time waiting for RCCL to answer the phone.  I think it might be completed, but I will have to wait a week for verification as it’s supposed to post to my cruise planner as OBC.

I cancelled my UBP then re-purchased it at a cheaper cost.  I got my credit to my original cc 7 days.  A few days later, I did the same thing for my VOOM internet package; however, I never did get my credit (over 15 days).  So I message RCI from FaceBook with my concern that if my UBP was in 7 days and was way more money, that I should have gotten the VOOM back by now.  I just ask them (nicely) to please just check on this as I was afraid that it may have fallen thru the cracks (for lack of a better term).  They messaged me back in a couple of days later, apologized for responding late.  They looked into it and she found both purchases however the credit never was issued.  She created the credit and said to allow 30 days to receive it.  I thanked her and told her that I realized that they are overwhelmed and that I appreciated her help.  

We get the insurance in case of illness and need to get home as that can be very costly.  I have never had to use it thankfully, but just knowing I have it if needed is comforting.  No one plans on getting ill or having a heart attack/stoke or etc, but it happens. 

So...just gonna say that the effective flu vaccine came out in the 40s, 20 years after the pandemic. No part of me advocates being sick, as I said in my first post for this I have personally lost 5 people closed to me, all healthy and including 2 children. That said when Universal and Disney opened, tons of people decided they don't need to wear mask. How about the people who are attacking others at restaurants or stores because they cannot get served without them? These place can refuse service, yet there is outrage. I would not cruise if mask are required because that is nothing but added stress on a vacation, those of us following the rules would be unintentionally focused on those who don't comply.

As of now it's a deal  breaker for me. I work in anesthesia so am 100% used to it, however that's work for me. Also it's the logistics of eating / drinking. Because playing with a mask on and off to eat or drink is completely counterproductive. 

Tell that to the brother of my daughter's classmate -- 24 years old, EMT, healthy as an ox, and died from the virus less than a week after getting confirmed with having it.
Tell it to the thousands like him who are now gone and buried. Sorry, but I am not in the mood to hear any kind of statement like that. Here or anywhere else.
 

It's a hard choice to make and depends on what's more important to you; the chance to take the cruise or the peace of mind that comes from a certainty.
For me, I had to make the choice on my July 12th trip a little while ago.  Flights, hotel, excursions, drink package, etc were already done and the final payment was all that was left and I opted to cancel.  The stress of not knowing if we'd be sailing or not (95% not) didn't let me enjoy the lead up and planning for a trip like I usually do.  If I kept researching and planning on sailing then I'd just be extra disappointed if (when) the sailing was actually canceled, instead I decided to just focus on further out plans and making new ones.
It didn't hurt that I'd already had a few land based trips canceled as far out as September already.  Knowing that this cruise wasn't going to happen for sure let me destress a bit and I'm spending time thinking about December and February trips and figuring out what I can do in 2021.
Still does leave a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth though since it was planned for my 40th birthday, alas I guess pandemics take priority.

I sat at the keyboard for a solid 5 minutes going back and forth on what to do. It's one of those situations where whatever you pick, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Lift & Shift?

... and I cannot stand when my eyeglasses fog up when I exhale!
 

The Drink Package is my vaccine!!!!

This is a site for huge fans of cruising and specifically RC, of course there doesn’t need to be a vaccine for people to want to cruise.
And honestly the biggest deterrent for me is that it wouldn’t be the full vacation experience because there would likely be many restrictions for me to be paying full price. Racking up that vacation time for when I can cruise worry free.