danv3

Very disappointed in the lack of a British Isles cruise in 2025, we were planning on booking that when it became available, I guess it's now waiting to see what other lines have.

Well might have to see what Celebrity releases for Europe
Wanted to do Iceland and Ireland itinerary and Arctic Circle and see no options with Royal
Little disappointed with options then if airfare continues to increase, crossing pond for cruise will absorb entire cruise budget for the year
 
 

Booked Indy and waiting to see if Celebrity sails out of Rotterdam or Southhampton to Norway with a better itinerary.
I like Indy but was hoping for a Radiance class for the Norwegian fjords. 

I find the new European cruises for 2025 disappointing in several respects.
No more cruises along the west coast of Norway and therefore no more Arctic Circle Cruise. Luckily I'm doing mine next year. 😅
With the removal of Anthem in Europe some cruises have unfortunately been completely discontinued.
For 2025 I wanted to book a cruise to the Canary Islands but instead of 4 dates there is only one cruise in early May - but it's not warm enough for me at that time.
Also the 14-day Mediterranean Cities and Med Beaches & Cities no longer seem to be offered.
Do you think there will be more dates released this week for summer 2025 cruises in Europe or is that it? 🙄

But with the post covid addition of another drink voucher, that can be used anytime of the day, as opposed to 3 hours in that tiny room slamming drinks, you have really gained benefits.  The fact that they may lock you out during Happy Hour is really inconsequential as long as your allowed in for your morning coffee machine

A couple interesting links in that rabbit hole.
 
I've never seen data laid out like this before (though I'm sure it's not new)
https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2024_2025/2024-2025_Deployment_Summary.pdf
 
And the 2024 version of the fleet guide
https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/General_Info/2024_Fleet_Guide_Highlights.pdf
 

The only bad news here is that they decided to test asymptomatic passengers.  I understand this is Australia, but let's be sure, this would not happen in the US.  This type of blanket testing runs completely counter to any CDC or ID standards or recommendations.

The easiest way to fix all this?

Give everyone paper vouchers. No guesswork involved there.

The ship or the CEO?👺

Nor am I. If the focus of this ship is families and basically having a resort experience at sea, then I will never be sailing her. My kids are both grown and out of the nest, and I cruise to see ports and experience new places. This ship will be just as limited in port options as the Oasis class, if not more.
 

Great looking ship, but is it too much? i hope it's not a jump the shark moment for the cruise industry

Looks absolutely incredible, especially for families who are looking for lots of thrills and activities to entertain the kids. That said, I highly doubt our family will sail Icon as we prefer the more relaxed smaller and midsized ships. Oasis class, and now Icon, are just way too big for us - too many people, lines and crowds. We cruise to relax, chill and enjoy the culture of ports, but I know many cruise for the ship. Icon will no doubt be a hit with families. 

To question #1, yes, just as I "roll the dice" every day when I go to work, Target, etc.  
To #2, no, if I was not feeling sick, boarded the cruise, and then later found out that I was infectious, I would not feel guilty.  

I'm legitimately confused/amazed that nearly 30% of people claim that they would voluntarily test themselves for an infection, at cost to themselves and risking their entire vacation, when not required to do so and not experiencing symptoms.  

To question #1, yes, just as I "roll the dice" every day when I go to work, Target, etc.  
To #2, no, if I was not feeling sick, boarded the cruise, and then later found out that I was infectious, I would not feel guilty.  

I'm legitimately confused/amazed that nearly 30% of people claim that they would voluntarily test themselves for an infection, at cost to themselves and risking their entire vacation, when not required to do so and not experiencing symptoms.  

I would feel the same way I feel when I don’t test myself before going to a concert, sporting event, school play, the mall, going out to eat, flying to a destination vacation.
I feel healthy and fine to go on vacation no need to test.
 Royal Caribbean’s average client is aged 40. Outside of 65 and older, age 40 is the highest risk of dying at a 0.04% chance.  That is not even 1 percent! 🤣 Your chance of getting struck by lightening ⚡️is the same at 0.04% So in the highest risk group on average with traveling with Royal your chance of dying is the same as getting struck by lightening. (If we take out all the people who are hospitalized and fighting life threatening illnesses (I’m pretty sure they are not cruising ) those numbers go down even more. Not sure how much lower you can go when you are basically at 0% 
So yaaaa I would not feel bad if I caught covid and gave it to someone. They will  fare just fine 👍. 
 
Going to the pharmacy knowing I was going to be around elderly or immune compromised people who are sick that is where I would test first. Does anyone do that??? Nope.  What about before visiting the elderly in nursing Homes or visiting the sick in a hospital?  Do we test before that or make people test before that? Nope. Maybe we should have thought that one out a little better. The places where people were catching covid and dying is where we should have started with the forced tests.  
Bullying the cruising industry has been the biggest hypocrisy through this entire time covid has been around. I for one am glad to see the abrupt end to the CDC’s reign of terror on an industry that did not deserve to be bullied. the biggest waste of time and money that could have been spent on finding cures to those disease that put older people at risk or went to finding a cure for covid or went to protecting the long term facilities etc etc. But no we wasted it on testing healthy people who were not at risk and going away from the people that were at risk. 🤣 Good riddance! 

Prior to boarding please add testing for:  Influenza, Norovirus, common cold, STDs, High Blood Pressure, Strep Throat, Whooping Cough, Pink Eye, Monkey Pox, Shingles, the list goes on and on and on.......people, please stop.
We went through A LOT together.  Some was bad, really bad.  Some...an enormous amount was completely self inflicted.  We are and will pay for it....literally for years.  Walk through this logically and you will recognize the math is overwhelmingly in your favor.

To question #1, yes, just as I "roll the dice" every day when I go to work, Target, etc.  
To #2, no, if I was not feeling sick, boarded the cruise, and then later found out that I was infectious, I would not feel guilty.  

To question #1, yes, just as I "roll the dice" every day when I go to work, Target, etc.  
To #2, no, if I was not feeling sick, boarded the cruise, and then later found out that I was infectious, I would not feel guilty.  

I'm legitimately confused/amazed that nearly 30% of people claim that they would voluntarily test themselves for an infection, at cost to themselves and risking their entire vacation, when not required to do so and not experiencing symptoms.  

I'm legitimately confused/amazed that nearly 30% of people claim that they would voluntarily test themselves for an infection, at cost to themselves and risking their entire vacation, when not required to do so and not experiencing symptoms.  

I'm legitimately confused/amazed that nearly 30% of people claim that they would voluntarily test themselves for an infection, at cost to themselves and risking their entire vacation, when not required to do so and not experiencing symptoms.  

To question #1, yes, just as I "roll the dice" every day when I go to work, Target, etc.  
To #2, no, if I was not feeling sick, boarded the cruise, and then later found out that I was infectious, I would not feel guilty.  

To question #1, yes, just as I "roll the dice" every day when I go to work, Target, etc.  
To #2, no, if I was not feeling sick, boarded the cruise, and then later found out that I was infectious, I would not feel guilty.