Razorrayy

I believe this to be true about Barbados but USA departures might be different, that's what I am trying to find out.

My cruise is fast approaching which normally I am excited beyond belief, but this time a little concerned about every protocol to follow. I have searched high and low for information on Canadians that require a PCR test to get back into Canada, will Royal provide this test? Is there a cost? How much? and can I purchase it pre-cruise?

If there is anyone who has gone through this process please advise so I can go back to feeling excited for my upcoming cruise.

3 hours ago, Gears said:

I have heard the suggestion (and it's only that at this point), if your doctor can prescribe a second Pfizer shot (a third for you)...this may cover you for fully immunized (as long as the record shows such). 

Again, just a suggested path of exploration.

Its worth a try, better call my Doctor

2 hours ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

I decided to wait when AZ became available because it had not yet been approved in the US and since my reason for getting vaccinated was to travel I was worried about it not being accepted which is exactly what has happened. By waiting I was able to get Pfizer about 3 weeks after AZ became available and now have 2 doses of Pfizer. I have an antigen test this afternoon and if negative will be flying to Seattle tomorrow and boarding Ovation on Friday.

 

I know many people with an AZ and Pfizer/Moderna though who are in the same situation. They are considered fully vaccinated here in Canada and most other countries and I believe also by the WHO. It is only the US CDC which is not recognizing them as fully vaccinated.

One of the most frustrating part is Royal doesn't need to follow the CDC ruling, and they are testing everyone before boarding so darn-it-all let us cruise!!!

6 hours ago, KenCP said:

Are you able to get the third shot in order to match your vaccines.  I believe in Quebec they are now offering the third shot to people that had a mix of vaccines or are immunocompromised.  You may want to contact your local health authority to see if you can get the Pfizer shot which is now be named Cominarty.

I am in Ontario which is not providing 3 shot boosters for International travel, I am hoping they change this in the near future.

I am one of the millions of Canadians who took the first dose available, which in this case was AstraZeneca. I was fine with it because I wanted some sort of protection, but when it come to my second dose the AstraZeneca was removed from the clinics due a over abundance to safety.  Pfizer was then offered as my second dose as recommended by Health Canada, which again I trusted and received my second dose. 
 

I have a fully vaccinated status within Canada and some other countries, but the CDC has refused to accept this as. Fully vaccinated in which the cruise companies including Royal has said that they also don’t accept this as fully vaccinated. 
 

I have my dream cruise booked in February on Symphony of the Seas, I am not giving up hope and will make final payment in hopes it will change. 
 

How many other cruises lovers have fallen victim to this rule?

I also received a spam email looking for a partner to travel with. 
 

On 1/6/2019 at 11:16 AM, JLMoran said:

Do keep in mind that if you win the JS upgrade bid, per the terms and conditions you won’t get double points. Sounds like you’re on a Voyager or Freedom class, so it will still be a nice bump in space and location.

Thanks, I didn't realize that you don't get double points so this something that might stop me from bidding on suites.

Just now, islandgrandma said:

A few years ago we had B2B on Radiance and did not book the cruises together so we had a different room on the second sailing.  We had to pack our bathroom items and whatever clothes were not hanging up.  The cabin attendant moved everything for us including the hanging clothing between the time we had to leave the ship for Customs to do their thing and when we got back on the ship.

Thanks, this makes me feel better about bidding for my upgrade

If you have a B2B booked its obviously best to have the same room for both sailings, however if you don't how does that work? Do they make you remove your suite case from ship through customs and then back on to the ship or does Royal have a place to keep your luggage until your new room is ready on the next sailing?

I have a chance to bid on a very nice room upgrade for my second sailing but can't match a room for my first sailing, I am not sure the room upgrade is worth packing all our belongings up and  moving them to the upgraded stateroom.

Our rooms are Promenade view interior, the upgrade would be a Jr Suite.

Thanks everyone in advance

I have a question for any other Canadian cruisers or anyone who may know this answer.

Each time I fill out my Set to Sail paper work they ask to select one of two options: 1- should I allow Royal Caribbean to figure out the current exchange rate with a small fee added or 2 - Should I allow my card to be charged in American currency and then have my Canadian bank complete the current exchange and I also believe there is a small fee as well.

I have done this both ways and still have no idea what I should select each time I cruise?

1 hour ago, Matt said:

It can be.  It depends on you.

My thought is the drink package is a lot like booking a balcony room versus an inside room.  If you have a balcony, you will force yourself to spend more time in your room to take advantage of the balcony.  Likewise, I feel having a drink package compels you to drink more than if you paid for your drinks individually.

If you drink cocktails mostly, 4-6 is not a lot to get to per day.  Especially when you start mixing in coffee in the morning, bottled water, etc, which brings the daily "break even point" down.  2 drinks in the afternoon, 2 drinks at dinner and a drink or two after dinner and you're even.

I sometimes forget about the sodas and specialty coffee perks that come with this purchase, but I can't understand why i would need to purchase identical sip and stream packages and not one of each and have one internet package. I think I have purchased this far enough from my cruise to break the cost of the total cruise and it was still less than the Jr Suite I was going to book.

10 minutes ago, henrysea13 said:

I have found when cruising that it is easy to consume 6 beers a day if you do it will come to over 42 dollars if you purchase the drink package online at the on sale rate of 20%off it costs 44dollars a day and this does not count the daily consumption of soda fresh squeezed orange juice specialty coffee bottled water fruity non alcohol drinks etc plus the huge seapass bill at the end of the cruise to me it is worth the money just for no big suprises after a wonderful cruise

I do agree it is worth not having sticker shock after the cruise is over.

I decided with the new promotion to book our drink packages for our upcoming January 2018 cruise on Navigator of the Seas. When I went online I tried to book one Sip & Stream which is deluxe beverage package and one surf & Stream and one deluxe package, but it wouldn't allow me to purchase and so I called. I was told that when purchasing beverage packages that each person in the stateroom of course over 21 must have the identical packages, but I only want one internet package with the promotion.

I also realized that the pricing shown on the promotions don't include gratuities, but I'm pretty sure it use to include gratuities so the add another 18% to the bill and wow it cost almost the amount of the cruise itself. 

My question is, our these drink packages actually a good value for moderate drinkers and I think not.

I have been on both ships and my vote is for Navigator, yes its smaller but the crew and service was much better than Independence.

I am o positive but I have been banned for 1 year from donating blood in Canada because I visited Labadee (Haiti)

When I sailed Oasis in 2016 the Sofa folded down like a futon, my son did request a foam mattress to make it more comfortable.

Remember to not be shy in asking for stuff like foam mattress or extra pillows.

I am surprised to see the coffee table, I thought Royal Caribbean had removed them from the state rooms.

As many of you know, Royal Caribbean will begin releasing its 2018-2019 itineraries on the week of March 6: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/01/24/royal-caribbean-announces-2018-2019-deployment-opening-schedule-dates

 

Please use this thread to discuss changes you see of interest, as well as any particularly good deals.  Personally, I'm always interested in odd-ball sailings, like a weekend sailing on a ship that does not offer it usually.

The re-positioning cruise from cape Liberty to Galveston looks amazing!!!

https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/cruises/14NightSouthernCaribbeanCruise-VI14R054?currencyCode=CAD&sCruiseType=CO&sailDate=10%2F23%2F2017

Gratuities going Up & Room Service

This is one of the reasons I have started to included my gratuities when booking any future cruises, because at least I think once you have agreed to pay during the booking your price is locked in.

Room Service

I think this is a much larger move for Royal Caribbean to save money, by charging for room service less people will use the room service. This will allow them to have less staff in the kitchen and less waiter on hand for these deliveries.

I do think that some ships in the fleet should still offer room service complimentary for added value.

This would simply suck, if you had a drink package you would likely drink more than $25 worth of drinks and not need to pay for them at a local restaurant and bar.

Maybe they will offer more at guest services once on board.

I thought I would check out some pricing on Cruises to Alaska for 2017 or 2018 in September and found that balcony prices for two were very expensive, but when I accidentally selected September 2016 I found the price to be $2000.00 less.

If I was able to swing this in short notice I would but WOW what savings if you could sail.