Gears

I'm just a casual forum reader and rarely get drawn into many topics but you seem to have some sort of vendetta/bias towards the U.S that is largely based on personal opinion.  Currently the percentage of people who have or have had Covid stateside is ~1.76%, no where near 10%.   Different countries have implemented different strategies for containment and it is what it is.  Cruise protocols will be implemented and those who wish to travel will be obligated follow those protocols or not travel.  Ultimately if you are uncomfortable with the rules in place stateside, you have to do what's best for you and your family and then decide if you want to cruise from a U.S port. 
 

@twangster I love how you have a picture for everything!

A lot has changed since the days when they faced a question about sailing at reduced capacity during an investor call.  Keep in the mind the response was an answer to a question on the spot, it wasn't an announcement that this was an intention developed as a formal policy derived after days of effort by a working group.  It was a response to a question that took seconds to think up on the spot that many have since extrapolated a lot from.
That was months ago when there was some hope that cruising would have resumed by now.  Fast forward to today and if asked the same question there may be a different answer.  
With 5 minute testing and a vaccine on the verge of becoming real the requirements to operate at reduced capacity have changed.   This is an example of many things the Healthy Sail Panel will evaluate.   
I think it unwise to speculate about capacity reductions or any approach to a resumption of cruising until the Healthy Sail Panel finishes their work.   We'll know when they know.  Right now Royal doesn't know and I doubt they are using unknowns to adjust cabin pricing.  There have always been a lot of revenue management algorithms in use that are probably being driven wonky with pandemic induced booking trends that the algorithms were never intended to deal with.  

Hubby said that we switched over from the Gold to the Signature Rewards card because the Signature card covers a bit more for travel insurance and also a second card was free. With the Gold card, we had to pay an extra fee for my card. I cannot remember if the annual fee was lower as well, but that is easily accessible on the RBC site. We currently still have both the Gold and Signature but we predominantly use the Signature card for all things cruising and vacations.

Correct, that's RBC Bank. 

The RBC Gold USD Visa is offered by RBC Royal Bank (Canada) and is not connected to RBC Bank (USA).

Ask RBC about how to pay an RBC Gold USD Visa. That is still a US based entity. As a result, you won't be able to pay it from your online banking (which is Canada based). You would have to send them a USD cheque or pay in branch. Unless RBC has suddenly been able to add 'US bills' to it's payee list...

Ask RBC about how to pay an RBC Gold USD Visa. That is still a US based entity. As a result, you won't be able to pay it from your online banking (which is Canada based). You would have to send them a USD cheque or pay in branch. Unless RBC has suddenly been able to add 'US bills' to it's payee list...

Ask RBC about how to pay an RBC Gold USD Visa. That is still a US based entity. As a result, you won't be able to pay it from your online banking (which is Canada based). You would have to send them a USD cheque or pay in branch. Unless RBC has suddenly been able to add 'US bills' to it's payee list...

I will explain...
If you are an RBC customer, you can apply for an RBC Bank account and RBC Bank Visa. This is different than a US dollar account.
RBC Bank is a US soil bank based in Georgia (this is legally different from RBC Royal Bank, the Canadian soil entity)
To pay your RBC Bank USD Visa...(in high level basic terms):
+ In your Canada based online banking, open a $USD savings account. (this is still in Canada)
+ Transfer CDN funds from your usual $CDN account to your fancy new $USD. Here is where the 'buy USD' exchange is done and online is your best rate.
+ Go to your RBC Bank (the US entity) and do a cross border transfer from your CDN $USD account to your US $USD checking account (or chequing for us north of 49 types)
+ Transfer from your US $USD checking account to your RBC Bank USD Visa to pay it.
+ You're done.
No ultra crappy buy/sell rate and no 2.5% foreign exchange charge. There is an annual fee for the checking account, but what you will save more than offsets it.
https://www.rbcbank.com/
Not sure what's going on these days, but you might be able to get this all setup online without having to go into the branch.

Again...you do you. What applies to you is not one size fits all.  In the same way, what doesn't work for you, does not mean that it could not work for someone else. 

@KJones great point that you brought up that I didn’t even think to mention. From past experience, I have found 100% of the time that US based agents offer better deals and incentives than Canadian based agents, and that includes Costco Canada. ?

I will explain...
If you are an RBC customer, you can apply for an RBC Bank account and RBC Bank Visa. This is different than a US dollar account.
RBC Bank is a US soil bank based in Georgia (this is legally different from RBC Royal Bank, the Canadian soil entity)
To pay your RBC Bank USD Visa...(in high level basic terms):
+ In your Canada based online banking, open a $USD savings account. (this is still in Canada)
+ Transfer CDN funds from your usual $CDN account to your fancy new $USD. Here is where the 'buy USD' exchange is done and online is your best rate.
+ Go to your RBC Bank (the US entity) and do a cross border transfer from your CDN $USD account to your US $USD checking account (or chequing for us north of 49 types)
+ Transfer from your US $USD checking account to your RBC Bank USD Visa to pay it.
+ You're done.
No ultra crappy buy/sell rate and no 2.5% foreign exchange charge. There is an annual fee for the checking account, but what you will save more than offsets it.
https://www.rbcbank.com/
Not sure what's going on these days, but you might be able to get this all setup online without having to go into the branch.

I will explain...
If you are an RBC customer, you can apply for an RBC Bank account and RBC Bank Visa. This is different than a US dollar account.
RBC Bank is a US soil bank based in Georgia (this is legally different from RBC Royal Bank, the Canadian soil entity)
To pay your RBC Bank USD Visa...(in high level basic terms):
+ In your Canada based online banking, open a $USD savings account. (this is still in Canada)
+ Transfer CDN funds from your usual $CDN account to your fancy new $USD. Here is where the 'buy USD' exchange is done and online is your best rate.
+ Go to your RBC Bank (the US entity) and do a cross border transfer from your CDN $USD account to your US $USD checking account (or chequing for us north of 49 types)
+ Transfer from your US $USD checking account to your RBC Bank USD Visa to pay it.
+ You're done.
No ultra crappy buy/sell rate and no 2.5% foreign exchange charge. There is an annual fee for the checking account, but what you will save more than offsets it.
https://www.rbcbank.com/
Not sure what's going on these days, but you might be able to get this all setup online without having to go into the branch.

Many Canadian banks have US subsidiaries that offer CDN residents US based USD accounts and USD cedit cards. Transfers and payments can be done online eliminating the 2.5% exchange fee. RBC and TD have this service.

Many Canadian banks have US subsidiaries that offer CDN residents US based USD accounts and USD cedit cards. Transfers and payments can be done online eliminating the 2.5% exchange fee. RBC and TD have this service.

Yep. I buy my cruises from a US based TA and pay in USD. The direct RCL $CDN costs take an 'exchange cut' as do the $CDN credit cards. The least cost way is to online transfer CDN-USD and pay with those USD.

Yep. I buy my cruises from a US based TA and pay in USD. The direct RCL $CDN costs take an 'exchange cut' as do the $CDN credit cards. The least cost way is to online transfer CDN-USD and pay with those USD.

Many Canadian banks have US subsidiaries that offer CDN residents US based USD accounts and USD cedit cards. Transfers and payments can be done online eliminating the 2.5% exchange fee. RBC and TD have this service.

Right on...those we call the 'Junior Suite Days'.

Right on...those we call the 'Junior Suite Days'.

Yep. I buy my cruises from a US based TA and pay in USD. The direct RCL $CDN costs take an 'exchange cut' as do the $CDN credit cards. The least cost way is to online transfer CDN-USD and pay with those USD.

Don't tease @twangster!!...if only I had been cruising back when that was the case....there was a short period of time in 2008 as well

Escargots!!!! MY GOD, DO NOT THINK ABOUT TOUCHING THE ESCARGOTS!!!!!
 
EDIT: Unless there's actually a way to make them better. I mean, this is the head chef who actually made Sorrento's pizza fairly decent. Imagine what he can do with something that's already at the level of "OMG!"

This is exactly why we booked our flights for Feb/Mar two weeks ago. They were cheap and I don't expect them to stay that way.

I do not find this to be helpful, I do not find RCL to be anywhere near a scam or an international Joke but love the fact you create an Alias with the same name as your topic title.  #Clever