mathbees

Yes, the app requires a home address. Also, I think I may have listed my wife as a "user" when I purchased the 6-pack, but I don't remember for sure if I did. Technically, it is a prescription, so it is possible they are tracking it more carefully than it appears, at first glance.

I scanned it with my phone, but it then asked me to use the computer instead. There must be a way to use the phone, but I just switched to the computer anyway. They should make the process more obvious since they make a big deal about using the app.

That may be correct. It did ask for the state when I logged in.

While I am not advocating one way or another, I don't believe the test kits themselves are linked to your account directly when you purchase them. I ordered the six pack directly from eMed a couple of weeks ago for our upcoming October cruise. My wife and I did a test run yesterday and there were no issues with her using it. When you connect with them during the test, you scan a bar code inside the box and that gets linked to the Navica account you set up/log in with, so it gets linked at that time. I have read elsewhere of families buying the six pack for their extended family joining on the cruise, and I haven't heard of any issues.

Oh, you're getting close! Thanks for getting things all warmed up for us! Wave as you come off...

For those that have been cruising recently, post-covid, is the Vitality Spa offering treatments at good discounts on port days? I would imagine, with the reduced passenger count, getting spa treatments scheduled has been easier. And since ports like Nassau seem to have few offerings for passengers, if they are not on an excursion, people would take advantage of the Spa and other activities that may be at a reduced price (I think the North Star is free on port days on Odyssey OTS?). Just curious since there seems to be a lot of discontent on the FB group for the Oct 9 sailing of Odyssey, now that they have switched Labadee for Nassau (instead of CocoCay). Thanks!

I'm assuming everyone is using https://www.emed.com/hubfs/Case 01269955-COL-03030 BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Home Test Product Expiry Update - Customer Letter EN - US.pdf?hsLang=en to verify the new expiration date based on their lot number? Initially I didn't see the lot number because you have to slide the "Do Not Open" over to find the sticker (I was looking for it to be stamped into the box). Fortunately, mine expire in January and we're cruise in October. I guess I'll have buy more for our March cruise, if the protocols are still in place.

@DanielBIf you don't mind my asking, how long were you waiting for the proctor on the website and how long did the process take once you got connected? I just got our kits yesterday for our cruise in October. Just trying to figure out the timing with our travel. I'm thinking of burning one early to test it out, too. Thanks!

We stayed in a 2BR Aquatheater a couple of years ago, before Covid, of course. They came around with a drink cart in the afternoons and made specialty drinks not found elsewhere on the ship. Often we would come back to the room at random times and find mixed drinks (Genie figured out our favorites), milkshakes for the kids, chocolate covered strawberries.... Honestly by the end of the cruise, I was starting to agree with @WAAAYTOOO's husband - it was a bit much. Would I do it again? I've got a bid in on a Star Class loft for our October cruise, so yeah, but I would ask them for a bit less pampering.

So good news! I pinged someone on a Facebook board who lives in Curacao and she says it is open!! Yay!!

I was researching the Floating Market and came upon https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147278-d148675-Reviews-Floating_Market-Willemstad_Curacao.html, which says it is permanently closed. Any chance this is wrong?

I believe this is correct. She'll have the points she has actually accumulated, but also keep the higher tier she inherited from the parents. Once she accumulates enough additional points to legitimately be at that tier level, then both her achieved tier and inherited tier will be lined up again.

I always thank them for not going. They're the reason I go on a cruise in the first place. ?

I saw on another thread that people were discussing the drops in Fare Prices, but I didn't want to usurp that thread. I'm curious if anyone who got switched over to the Odyssey OTS (say from the Indy OTS) has seen any price drops significant enough to get OBC. In my case, since they kept us in the 1BR GS at the same price as the Indy, the price differential when we swapped was so significant that I don't think there will be any way to get a better price - and that's definitely not my goal with this post. While I have seen some price drops on the GS, it still isn't even close to the final price we paid. I'm just curious if it was my unique circumstances or if everyone who moved over was in the same boat (hmm... pun in there somewhere). In some ways, the swap from the Indy to the Odyssey feels a lot like the $18/day drink package. I think Royal really took care of us, even though they could have easily swapped us dollar for dollar to a lower tier cabin (like a JS instead of the GS). They also offered a fantastic RoyalUp to one of the lofts, so if that comes through, we'll really feel like we won the lottery on this cruise.

I think what makes it extra frustrating is when you pay for everything in one lump sum (like drink packages for everyone in the room) but they refund it split up by person. I know this is for accounting purposes on their end, since an FCC or onboard credits will be by person instead of the original purchaser, but from our end it just makes it troublesome to track. Thankfully, they put it back on the same credit card, so at least it's just a little bit of arithmetic to figure things out... Of course, I would also argue that the credits should go back to the original purchaser and not the people in the room, as they may or may not be the same people who go on the rebooked cruise. But, that is an discussion for another day.

I'm sure you said this a bit tongue-in-cheek, but I don't see your statement as judgmental at all. When people don't follow the rules, especially examples like abusing the unlimited use cup you mentioned, eventually it takes good things away from those that do. I say "usually" because exceptions do occur. An intersection near my house used to be "no U-turn," but, so many people made the illegal U-turn anyway, they removed the restriction. Now that intersection has increased accidents (and near misses) because it is an unsafe place to make a U-turn, basically due to poor lines-of-sight in the necessary directions. Even on a good day, I would argue this has taken something away from those of us that do follow the rules at that intersection - the ability to make safe right-turns on red, etc. I think, in the case of this person showing up for a vaccine only cruise, that they deliberately ignored the rules and tried to play dumb. Is that judgmental? Perhaps. But I have checked in for my October cruise online, and everything is well spelled out - online, in the app, etc. I know I need a Covid test within a few days of the cruise and my wife and I are making plans for this. I know, since it sails out of Florida, to pay attention to the vaccine requirements and the methods of reporting our status, etc. I'm not sure how anyone can say anything has changed or not been communicated. Perhaps I am wrong, though. We can argue all day about the efficacy of the vaccine, the intrusiveness of wearing the masks, whether we should be required to wear shoes while walking around the ship, people pushing into the buffet line, why we cannot sunbathe nude on our private balcony (there's a great Love Boat episode starring Barbi Benton), and a great many other issues. We can work to change the rules, especially if they are unjust (intentionally or unintentionally - like the U-Turn intersection). But, in a civilized society, we should all agree to follow the rules. Just my thought for the day... Maybe I should get a cup of coffee before posting. ?

I would expect that the coffee shops have both hot and cold green tea, especially if there is a Starbucks onboard. Of course the teas may be extra $$, unless you have a drink package that covers them... Also, I found this, if it helps, https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/topics/starbucks. And there was an older post about it, but doesn't fully answer the question Hope this helps. I'd be curious about confirmation on the iced green tea, in particular, as that's one of my favorite cold drinks... outside of the adult ones, of course.

Anyone else find it encouraging that the first ship to test sail out of the US is the "Freedom" otS? Also, I think the CDC required the test sails just to get free cruises for their staff... LOL.

We have loved your videos and they definitely helped sustain us during the pandemic! We will be on board in October and I'm very much looking forward to seeing your videos of the ship before we arrive. Can we put in a special request for a video of the Grand Suite? I'll be sure to pop down to the casino (probably nightly) to say hi.

One of my favorite activities leading up to a cruise has always been watching the webcams, like https://www.portmiamiwebcam.com/. I enjoy watching the ships ? come in and seeing all the traffic at the port as passengers debark and the new ones arrive to board. Watching the ships sail out of port with people waving and holding up signs and displaying their tropical drinks ? always helps pump up my excitement. I think my family tires of it, though, as I tend to start six months or more before the cruise. ? These days watching the ships leaving with no passengers on balconies, no music drifting in from the upper decks, no sign of life, really, is heartbreaking. I'm glad we're finally seeing a bright spot in the future for sailing and I'm very much looking forward to our Southern Caribbean cruise in October.

I'm kind of hoping this is a positive sign, overall. Rather than a blanket "all cruises postponed until xx/xx/2021," they are staggering and using some logic, well discussed in the responses above (thanks @twangster, @WAAAYTOOO and @princevaliantus). They've had some time to think things through and actually determine a strategic approach. That along with the https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/09/15/5-hints-royal-caribbean-group-chairman-has-shared-about-cruises-resuming post @Matt shared a couple of days ago, I can honestly start believing that we'll cruise again. I am thinking it's time for me to apply the OBC and get the cabana lined up for my March cruise, but I've been holding off trying to see the tea leaves. Turns out, every cancelled cruise cuts deeper and deeper - so please let's start sailing soon! I think I'm ready!

Just read this: https://www.carnival.com/health-and-sailing-updates?icid=default_butterbar_health&safety_06032020 (see cancelled cruises section).

I agree wholeheartedly!! My wife and I did a group excursion (5 families) to Universal Studios Florida a few years ago. A friend of our group is a TA, so we reluctantly went with her - I'd only ever used AAA as a TA prior and always just booked my own after that. When my wife and I asked for a rate for the Hard Rock, her response was, "That's just a restaurant." When I sent her the link the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal, she realized her mistake, but that soured our view on TAs further. Fast forward to a blow out cruise we did for our kid's 21st birthday... 2 bedroom aquatheater with my sister-in-law and her kids joining us. I decided to use a TA for convenience, since we had family from different areas. On recommendations from @WAAAYTOOO and some others, we selected @michelle with MEI. I have done a complete 180 on my view of TAs. The attention and service cannot be be beat. She has now saved us more money than I ever could have imagined - probably enough to have paid for another crusie. Honestly, I'd never looked for fare reductions prior (did 5 cruises on a competitor's line and probably always paid full price, d'oh). I can't imagine having traversed this Covid-19 fiasco without her help. When I used AAA for one of my first cruises (back in the day when they actually had large cruise magazines for each ship), the best they could do is look through the details with me... couldn't tell me anything about the rooms, the amenities, etc. A good travel agent makes all the difference.

We would be in favor of a Labadee / CocoCay only cruise. We often skip the other ports or only get off for an hour or two (sometimes to shop or eat, if there's some local flavor we know we'll like). Otherwise, there's so much to do on the ship that we will never get it all done on one cruise (ok, so we plan multiple cruises... and enjoy the ship when everyone else gets off).

Our only dealbreakers is if they cancel our next cruise, too! LOL