jticarruthers

i think you hsve your answer already but yes, all the uploading is basically worthless as i have to show my passport and vax card every time even though they have digital copies already ... makes no sense but it is what it is.

Mariner is basically back to pre-pandemic standards for crowding and precautions.

We did it on Mariner back in October and it was book on board only. Guest Services was who we were directed to but then they called the activity manager and put us on the phone with him directly since we were looking to book a large group. I was just on Indy 2 weeks ago though and their escape room is currently not running, not sure about the rest of the fleet status.

I think D is one day free and D+ is two days (or equivalent $ off a package) but only when purchased on board so you cant take advantage of any of the cruise planner discounts. Not sure if the # of days free varies based on length of cruise or is fixed but I do know I had one day as a D and 2 days as a D+ on my most recent cruises. I think it was based on Surf and Stream, one device pricing but could be wrong.

Boarding today as well, nothing you can really do but sit back, relax and make the best of it.

Gotta keep that "record on board spending" going somehow ... for me its having the opposite effect, with prices going nuts I am doing more "booking with third parties for excursions" and "carrying on 2 bottles" again.

Consensus seems to be sometime next year, my personal opinion, the sooner the better.

Garage is an easy walk across the street, about as convenient as it gets. Not sure where the secondary lots are located these days but knowing the area they probably aren't far but for a few $ I would just go with the garage.

Definitely not just a Royal issue, just off Celebrity (I know a sister brand) and staffing being short was the #1 topic of conversation around the ship. The cruise was still a good one and I wouldn't go back and "not do it" but you know its not good when the writeup for every event/venue includes the words "drinks will not be served at/during this event, please make sure to bring them with you". I think on the 9 night cruise I was brought a drink by a wait person about 3 times (including the MDR), the rest were stand in the line at a bar and hope the bartender would notice you. Sympathetic to the cruise lines struggling to find staffing but its ugly when you cant staff to serve a ship at about 60% capacity.

Just off Equinox in Port Everglades, no masks required.

Royal's definiton of sale is very easy to understand. We make it sound like its a good deal, so that a lot of people who dont know better, buy them.

This is similar to my thinking behind my response. The odds of getting COVID are what they are, the risks I am willing to take on a daily basis dont change just because I am taking a cruise in a week or two, so neither does my behaviour.

Just going about my business normally, leaving tomorrow for a 9 nighter, COVID test this morning ... no sense getting bent out of shape about it all.

Absolutely not true, they have no problem whatsoever with you sharing your Diamond vouchers.

Pretty sure I read recently that the transfer happens through D+ but Pinnacle has to be earned individually. (I recently matched my GF to D+ which is why its fresh in my mind)

Tried it once, worst drink I ever had and didn't know that I couldn't use one of my "free" drink so I got to pay for it. Not worth my time/money, but now I know

Jeff, see you on the Equinox!

So glad I hit Diamond so I can not stress over the Bev Package pricing. I would not be happy at all with these prices (both list and sale) but I can survive on paying for the few drinks I want over my Diamond allowance quite easily. Disappointed that the Dining options are skyrocketing too .. guess we just ski the traditional Chops evening though.

We have some more nautically knowledgeable individuals than me but my guess on the course change would be to get the wind in the "right" direction in case a helicopter medevac was needed.

I (unexpectedly) tested positive for our planned 1/29 cruise, tested negative in time to board our 2/11 cruise. The advice i had was to definitely not take the PCR since that can register positive still for months (in rare circumstances) but that the antigen should be clear pretty quickly.

Things may be different now but over the years I have taken a couple of minor children on cruises (friends of my son) and also had my son go with others on cruises. In all cases I just drafted a simple letter that said I had their permission and had their parents sign it or that they had my permission and I signed it (depending on who was signing away their kids). Never had anything countersigned or notarized. Unfortunately though RCI wins any dispute so if thats what they are insisting on then better safe than sorry.

I have my TA chasing a couple, frustrating as i was planning to use them with CWC and "OBC for using FCC" were in effect.

As a consumer I would potentially be interested at times but I think the logistical challenges are more in the range of "logistical impossibility". First time someone "goes to the bathroom" and disappears to go ride some water slides, etc. while they are on board and now cant be confirmed as on or off either ship when sailing time comes up sounds like a security/immigration debacle in the making.

Its not "real" espn though its a weird Caribbean version (I think) that carries a lot of non-us mainstream sports.