jticarruthers

I think both are true ... did see a large group in the pub a couple of nights but our group didnt spend much time in either of those bars we were show hopping, escape rooming, etc. for the most part.

Wait i was on a cruise with you and didnt know it ??? Where is the Matt tracker when i need it.

Dont think this is true, we had adjoining cabins on one cruise. There are definitely lots of empty cabins so possibly partly true that they "speed up" turnaround by opening up clean rooms and then cleaning the "used" cabins for the next turnaround but its not an "every other" layout.

They are doing them, i just got one on Mariner this weekend. Had no idea what it was for at first but realized they were right and i did hit 140 on this cruise (with the double points deal). I did not get asked anything, just had a shiny block of crystal sitting in my cabin waiting one evening.

Not sure i agree but we will see, i think there are some real challenges with using a self service layout with full service. For example, the "carving station" pods in the windjammer have a carving station at one end with two sets of serving dishes down the sides and 2-3 crew members in the middle. Frequently saw 6-8 people lined up along the sides all looking for service and the 2-3 crew frantically flipping from person to person trying to serve them all as quickly as possible. You cant fit more crew in the pod, possibly more structured line structure might help with limiting the # of passengers actively looking to be served but its not a great layout. Also suspect that the reason they arent doing windjammer in the evening is that they dont have enough crew to staff the restaurants and provide "non self service" buffet option.

The buffet is going to be an interesting one. I agree with liking the concept of no one else "handling" stuff ... but executing it is a bottleneck and its going to get worse as capacity increases.

Construction is visible along the side of the expressway between Port Canaveral and Orlando ... will be interesting to see how frequently the trains run, etc. Might be an option to drive over from Tampa, do a disney day and then train down to Miami.

Masks come off fast and frequently. The bigger issue is remembering where you put it when you need to put it back on.

I dont think royal is hitting their capacity limits so the 30-40 is what they are capping at, the 17 is more what they are actually getting. The last 2 cruises i have been on (boarding # 3 in a few minutes) have been "selling" cabins a day or two before sailing still ...

I'm semi-solo on the Harmony RCL Blog cruise on the 21st. Technically my parents are along for the ride but i gave them their own cabin

We were there about ten days ago on a saturday, seemed to be about 80% closed so we stayed on the boat.

My Freedom sailing in july was capacity locked, my Mariner sailings (last week and next week) had/have openings available.

Two cruises post covid so far, both on Royal so Royal gets both the best and worst experience awards !! Freedom out of Miami was awesome. Arrived 10 mins early for our appt, made to wait in car in parking garage for 10 mins and then straight through the terminal and straight onto the ship. Showed paperwork (vax cards, passports, boarding passes one time and done). Mariner out of Canaveral was awful. Arrived 5 mins into our appt window, joined a line of almost the entire ship that was already standing waiting (no question ever asked of what time anyones appt was). Had to show vax card and test results 5 times just to get into the terminal, then again to get onto the ship. 2+ hours from arrival to finally on board.

Just off Mariner last weekend and back on next weekend. Mask wearing is "required" in indoor spaces while moving around but then not required in most areas once you sit and settle. "Required" seems to be very much in the eye of the beholder, we sat and watched people meandering around without masks and no one said a word ... wouldnt count on that being true either way in the future but I would sum it up as "everyone took advantage of every opportunity to be unmasked".

We had to show vax card and test result 6 times before we got to the point that anyone even asked for passport and boarding pass (about 90 minutes after arriving) so i am pretty sure that the whole time window thing is irrelevant at Canaveral. I do plan to just head to one of the bar/restaurants in walking distance for a beer though if they do try to enforce it when i arrive "early" next week.

Which port is Allure out of at the moment? I have had two very different experiences with the "strict boarding times" so far. Freedom in Miami they were giving us a hard time about even pulling into the parking garage 15 minutes before our scheduled "time" and had us sit in the car for a few minutes before allowing us to join the line at the terminal. Mariner in Canaveral was the opposite experience, we showed up at our scheduled time like good children and spent almost two hours in line as apparently every other passenger just showed up. Talked to several people on board who confirmed that Canaveral does not seem to pay any attention to the boarding time slots and just took anyone that showed up, when they showed up. Needless to say, going to arrive a little earlier in two weeks when we go back

Quiet weekend on Mariner, didn't hear an announced # but it had to be under 1/3 capacity.

Last passenger (pretty much anyway) off Mariner yesterday was me ... at about 845am. They started calling numbers at 730 and had "all groups called" showing by 830 when i got done with breakfast .. so i decided not to wait for my 915 "estimated time".

Coming out of Florida its some of the opposite reaction when I try and convince others to go ... why would I want to pay money to deal with more protocols (testing, masking, restricting access to areas of the ship) than we have in place on land.

Judging by Chris Wong's posts on Odyssey guest counts they aren't trending up. Hard to take a simplistic view though since we are moving out of summer and into school season so guest counts are usually down I would think.

You have the right to ask, if refused i would probably do a credit card dispute since the charge is for kids that are unable to sail due to subsequent changes

So far i havent lost out but i am start to get just a little ticked off about the cruise credit i am due from June Cancellation that i was planning to use to pay my October cruise .. or my November cruise ... it wont be paying my December one though, either the credit gets applied or it gets cancelled ... done putting fresh money in the pot.

I have not seen it advertised or mentioned anywhere but it just appears that if you quote single rates you get "half price" cabins on a lot of sailings.

They were on Freedom in July, cant comment since then.

My area of Florida seems to be releasing Rapid tests at about 2-3 days ahead but regular tests at about 2 weeks.