L454S

Then there would also be the extra $48 per day for additional gratuities..........................and on and on, nothing is free.

Again, the only way to deal with this subject is. You do you, I'll do me. And everyone keeps what they put out to themselves. 

I was on this sailing also. Some bits of his tirade have SOME truth to them IMHO.
Dining was "OK" in the MDR, some good, some not so good, nothing special. Chops was a bit disappointing and carried a price tag of $76 per person with tip. Even with a BOGO, I wouldn't do it again. Giovanni's has a frozen prebreaded chicken patty for their chicken parm. Sent it back and got the fillet.
Staff was very friendly, but few could help with you. Seemed most were just sent out there without experience or much training.
We got off with self disembark early and zipped right through for a 9:10AM flight from FLL with an hour to spare. Did hear about long waits and problems after we got off.

I was on this sailing also. Some bits of his tirade have SOME truth to them IMHO.
Dining was "OK" in the MDR, some good, some not so good, nothing special. Chops was a bit disappointing and carried a price tag of $76 per person with tip. Even with a BOGO, I wouldn't do it again. Giovanni's has a frozen prebreaded chicken patty for their chicken parm. Sent it back and got the fillet.
Staff was very friendly, but few could help with you. Seemed most were just sent out there without experience or much training.
We got off with self disembark early and zipped right through for a 9:10AM flight from FLL with an hour to spare. Did hear about long waits and problems after we got off.

I was on this sailing also. Some bits of his tirade have SOME truth to them IMHO.
Dining was "OK" in the MDR, some good, some not so good, nothing special. Chops was a bit disappointing and carried a price tag of $76 per person with tip. Even with a BOGO, I wouldn't do it again. Giovanni's has a frozen prebreaded chicken patty for their chicken parm. Sent it back and got the fillet.
Staff was very friendly, but few could help with you. Seemed most were just sent out there without experience or much training.
We got off with self disembark early and zipped right through for a 9:10AM flight from FLL with an hour to spare. Did hear about long waits and problems after we got off.

On our sailing, we did not overnight in any port. I would love to do the trip again, there are several excursions we would like to go on. In almost every port, the bus rides are time consuming because there are no interstate type highways.
Having said that, there were several stops on every excursion to fill the day.

On our sailing, we did not overnight in any port. I would love to do the trip again, there are several excursions we would like to go on. In almost every port, the bus rides are time consuming because there are no interstate type highways.
Having said that, there were several stops on every excursion to fill the day.

The Arctic Circle would be a good sailing for any type of cabin. It is port intense enough not to miss a balcony terribly.
The 12 day Itinerary was Amsterdam, Molde, Tromso, Honningsvag, Alesund, Flaam, Haugesund, Kristiansand, Amsterdam. Had a great time at every stop and can't recommend it enough, it was a bucket list for us. Especially the top of the world, Nord Kapp (North Cape) at the Honningsvag stop.

The Arctic Circle would be a good sailing for any type of cabin. It is port intense enough not to miss a balcony terribly.
The 12 day Itinerary was Amsterdam, Molde, Tromso, Honningsvag, Alesund, Flaam, Haugesund, Kristiansand, Amsterdam. Had a great time at every stop and can't recommend it enough, it was a bucket list for us. Especially the top of the world, Nord Kapp (North Cape) at the Honningsvag stop.

What sailing are you interested in? Some of the more port intensive sailings are almost as enjoyable with an inside or ocean view cabin. We do like the balcony cabins on the transatlantic crossings(several sea days).
Wife Cathy generally gets together with others on the ships roll call from Cruise Critic and books excursions, saves money compared to ships tours.
Picture is aft balcony 9260 a few weeks ago on Jewel OTS at the dock in Amsterdam.

Just did 24 days(2 x 12 day B2B) Norway Arctic Circle and Iceland/Ireland June/July. Ship is showing some age here and there, but overall is still a nice place to spend time.
It is NOT a floating amusement park, but that's why we like Radiance/Vision class ships. Even Voyager class to an extent.
Dining room was a bit cramped as they were trying to eliminate using the upper dining deck. Both fixed and "My Time" were on deck 4. Was not a fan.
WiFi was slow a lot of the time even with surf/stream pkg.
Did both Giovanni's and Chop's. Both were very good as usual.
Good service throughout, but language barriers popped up time to time as new staff were trying their best.
This was our first cruises since the start of covid, was good to be back after 2 years
Any specific questions? Would be glad to answer...................

Just did 24 days(2 x 12 day B2B) Norway Arctic Circle and Iceland/Ireland June/July. Ship is showing some age here and there, but overall is still a nice place to spend time.
It is NOT a floating amusement park, but that's why we like Radiance/Vision class ships. Even Voyager class to an extent.
Dining room was a bit cramped as they were trying to eliminate using the upper dining deck. Both fixed and "My Time" were on deck 4. Was not a fan.
WiFi was slow a lot of the time even with surf/stream pkg.
Did both Giovanni's and Chop's. Both were very good as usual.
Good service throughout, but language barriers popped up time to time as new staff were trying their best.
This was our first cruises since the start of covid, was good to be back after 2 years
Any specific questions? Would be glad to answer...................

IF any cruise line starts allowing a bunch of unvaccinated Floridians onboard, I wil NOT cruise on that cruise or cruise line.  I know a whole lot of other people who would stay away as well.
I want to cruise on ships that MINIMIZE the chances of an onboard Covid outbreak.  I do NOT want my cruise ruined by having most of the ports on the itinerary deny access because of Covid status or Covid numbers. I have been on five cruises so far during the pandemic era and all five cruises required all passengers to be vaccinated (or close to it--allowing very rare and unavoidable exceptions at best on one or two of them)...and none have been stricken by Covid outbreaks.
But, were the Florida authorities to get their ignorant way with this thing, we'd likely have OUR cruise ruined.
If your unvaccinated friends really want to cruise, it is EASY:  GET VACCINATED.  It is SAFE.  It is the right thing to do.
Yes, they have the "right" to not be vaccinated.  But they don't have the right to force that risk on others.  Just like they have the right to get drunkk...but they don't have the right to get drunk AND get behind the wheel of a car and impose the risks they've elected to take on others.
They might, for some strange reason, want to take the risks of being without vaccination...but they don't have the right to force some of those risks on everyone else on their cruise.

Yeah, like Rated PG says, don't waste that Euro outlet. Get one of these(3 USB chargers), really work well.

Yeah, like Rated PG says, don't waste that Euro outlet. Get one of these(3 USB chargers), really work well.

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Quick update on the ability to cancel for a cash refund on these cruises.
So far, indications are that they will honor a cash refund on all 8 of our cruises through 3-31-22.  Since some of them are casino bookings @michelleis having to go through them to facilitate the refunds but we have no indication that they won't refund in cash so it's looking good.
I really hate having to cancel all of these bookings - many of them are Empress L&S and were dirt cheap but that's just the way it is.
So I'm taking my money while I can.  If, by some miracles, vax protocols change between now and then I will rebook if I feel so inclined. Once we fall off the casino program as Prime members we will have no real reason to stay with Royal Caribbean exclusively.  We'll be free agent then !

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Someone above mentioned that Royal has it's ships catered more towards "family" sailing. I agree that the kids being vaccinated has everything to do with protocols. We have found a way with T/A's and some other sailings to have a more adult experience. 
We just cancelled two more sailings for January now that Royal extended their mandates through March, have only a few more booked through 2022. Will wait and see, haven't had a mask on in over 6 months, still won't pay to wear one.
 

Sincerely- thank you for asking.
To avoid unwelcome vaccine controversy, I’ll just say that we are philosophically and medically opposed to the COVID injections.  Under no circumstances would we consider getting any of them.

This has been our strategy since the restart b/c they have offered a cash refund based on monthly [un]changing protocols (14 cancellations so far).  If I felt confident that we would be able to continue to receive cash refunds going forward I would wait, too….just on the extremely remote chance that the vax requirements might change in our favor….but I have no confidence that the offer of cash refunds will continue indefinitely.  That’s why I am uncomfortable with this change in policy.
@Vancity Cruiser’s suggestion that they may be looking for the opportunity to resell the cancelled staterooms makes sense and that may be a good explanation.  I just don’t want to get caught in a situation where I am only offered FCCs vs cash.
In the short run this change in policy is actually costing them “floating” money b/c in the past I have paid our cruise balance in full before turning around and cancelling after the protocols are announced.  This has given Royal considerable $$$ from me to use while they sit on it and eventually refund it back to me.  This change in policy is going to allow me to cancel without having to pay the cruise balance (unless there has already been a change in refund policy that they have not yet disclosed).  I guess we’ll find out soon enough.