jaedam0820

2 hours ago, Matt said:

Royal offers limited testing at the terminal that you can only book at the last minute: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/09/27/royal-caribbean-will-now-offer-limited-covid-19-testing-the-cruise-terminal-embarkation

Thank you! Would check it out

Is there anywhere I can get my COVID test at the port itself? Will arrive there a day before sail day and although we're planning to get tested before arriving in Miami, I would like to have some back-up just in case. Thank you.

Thank you all! My son doesn't swim much. He is just contented with playing sand. Can't wait for our first cruise!

My 3yr old loves to play the sand with his beach toys. Are they allowed to bring? I have watched a lot of Youtube videos on cruising but I have not seen one that had children play the sand with toys.

19 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

It has never been needed for cruise passengers, only for those flying to the Bahamas.

Thank you so much! My mind's at ease now. 

Thank you for everyone who replied. I called Royal and they said it's not needed.

Last question - what about Travel Health visa for Bahamas? Is that still required?

My family (husband and son) are first time cruisers this May. Our first stop is in Cococay. I have a Philippine passport with a US greencard. I was told that I would need to have a tourist visa in order to enter Bahamas. My husband and son are both US citizens so they don't have a problem.

My question is, it worth it to spend $200 (consular fee plus visa processing by a 3rd party agent) for a Bahamas tourist visa? We didn't sign up for any shore excursions in Cococay. We are not interested in the Thrill waterpark either. We just want to get off the ship because it would be our first stop in the cruise.

Appreciate your inputs.

Anyone has information regarding whether tourist visa is required for US Greencard holders (Filipino citizen)? I will go to Cococay Bahamas, Cozumel/Costa Maya Mexico and Roatan Honduras in May via Symphony of the Seas. I am a first-timer so I have zero knowledge.  THANK YOU.

On 3/25/2022 at 6:17 PM, Ampurp85 said:

Yes that is more than doable.

If you self-embark I would say soft yes. They are the first off the ship because they carry their own luggage. You could be off in a cab/Lyft/Uber by 7:15 and at the airport before 8. I think a lot of people fail to factor in when boarding ends. It is usually 20min before take-off. So factoring in that and the fact of how busy MIA is, allow at least 2+hrs to get through screening, check bags etc.

Thank you so much. We plan to self-embark because we don't want to get in the hustle and bustle of things. Thank you for the information!

Our flight back is at 1:43PM on a Saturday. Is it doable? Reading the replies here make me nervous too.

46 minutes ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

Hello and welcome to the cruise life!

Formal night (or dress your best as Royal has started calling it) is a dress code that applies to dinner in the Main Dining Room only. Otherwise, it is entirely optional and there are many people who opt out of it all together and either go to the buffet or some specialty dining where the highest dress code tends to be smart casual (polos and khakis type of thing).

 

Now - What is formal night dress code?

Smart casual+ lol....mostly. I like to pull out a floor length gown and a cocktail dress because I never wear them elsewhere, but you can just swap out the polo for a button up and will be absolutely fine. You're still on vacation and Royal gets that people want to be comfortable.

Thank you everyone for the replies! I feel at ease knowing I can still be myself while on cruise. I am excited to be on my first ever cruise trip and I hate to be looked down because I didn't dress up enough. Thank you again!

Thank you everyone for the replies! I feel at ease knowing I can still be myself while on cruise. I am excited to be on my first ever cruise trip and I hate to be looked down because I didn't dress up enough. Thank you again!

We are first time cruisers, thus have zero knowledge about how everything works. I understand that there are formal nights in a cruise where people wear formal attires. Do we have to dress up on formal nights if we aren't eating at a specialty restaurant? I absolutely hate attending formal events. Also, for dinner on normal nights, can we wear anything too or we have to dress up a little (like maybe long sleeve button-down shirts and dresses)?

Is it true that shore excursions are required for unvaccinated guests, in order to get off the the ship? I have a 3yr old son who can get his vaccine and I watched in a vlog about how the shore excursion is a requirement.