Bob_KY

We did a 5day Freedom OTS cruise to get our "cruise legs" back.  Donning the Mask on the ship was very tolerable.  A great vacation (thanks [email protected])! What kicked us was the long periods of wearing the mask at the airports and flights.

We did a 5day Freedom OTS cruise to get our "cruise legs" back.  Donning the Mask on the ship was very tolerable.  A great vacation (thanks [email protected])! What kicked us was the long periods of wearing the mask at the airports and flights.

We did the Radiance and rate this cruise as our #1, primarily because it was Alaska. Recommend a hard look at the itineraries versus the ship.  What kicked it up a notch was the land tour.

We have sailed the inside passage south bound on the Radiance and we believe this is the perfect ship. Alaska is a very port intensive cruise, with lots of time spent off the ship exploring, so really in the evening all you want is a nice dinner, few drinks, a show or socialise and a good nights rest so you are ready to do it again. With a ship like to the Ovation, you will not really have the time, and/or the energy to take advantage of what it offers. Also the Radiance has great connection to the ocean with lots of glass, even the mid-ship elevator is a huge glass window. We noticed that you can sit throughout the ship and enjoy the views and spot whales, dolphins, and we saw a moose on the shore. The Radiance was almost purpose built to make the most of the surrounding nature views with many windows, portholes and deck access. We have sailed on the the Ovation and it is far more enclosed ship and you need to go out on deck up top to get outside. It is a great ship but if we were to go to Alaska again, it would be on the Radiance. 
The Radiance does north and south runs whereas the Ovation does a round trip. So, with the Radiance, you would need to factor in airfare, do a B2B or a pre/post cruise Royal excursion, so this may determine your decision. Regardless of the ship, Alaska is mind-blowing, enjoy.

Does your test requiring driving to a testing site?
If so the test results may be the last of your worries... 

Blood etoh levels (alcohol concentration in the blood) and the detection of the specific proteins associated with SARS2 infection (COVID) are not related in any way. Nor is a COVID test going to detect you are over the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle. Just in case you are worried about that. 😇 

The Diamond drinks are very, very tempting.  I say go for it.  The "ultimate" sacrifice.

Update.  Notified around noon today that our Royal Up Bid was accepted.  Happy Dance Time.  JS to OS..  

I found that the app does not work until you are closer to the date of cruise...perhaps 45-60 days out.  Before that it always shows that message about working on your fun!
 

Update.  Notified around noon today that our Royal Up Bid was accepted.  Happy Dance Time.  JS to OS..  

Update.  Notified around noon today that our Royal Up Bid was accepted.  Happy Dance Time.  JS to OS..  

Update.  Notified around noon today that our Royal Up Bid was accepted.  Happy Dance Time.  JS to OS..  

Update.  Notified around noon today that our Royal Up Bid was accepted.  Happy Dance Time.  JS to OS..  

Update.  Notified around noon today that our Royal Up Bid was accepted.  Happy Dance Time.  JS to OS..  

Update.  Notified around noon today that our Royal Up Bid was accepted.  Happy Dance Time.  JS to OS..  

Like others, I go from Credit Card, to Royal website, to "...booked/cruise-room-upgrade" link at least twice a day.  Attempting to go from a JS to OS.  Currently,  my bid is not editable.  Frozen.. I emailed (no response) and called.  The answer was; bid is still valid, but wait.  Hmmm... I thought any bid could be modified until 3 hrs before scheduled boarding.  I do "find a cruise" and know OS are available.   We have 7 more days to go.  I guess I will let my bid play out.

Like others, I go from Credit Card, to Royal website, to "...booked/cruise-room-upgrade" link at least twice a day.  Attempting to go from a JS to OS.  Currently,  my bid is not editable.  Frozen.. I emailed (no response) and called.  The answer was; bid is still valid, but wait.  Hmmm... I thought any bid could be modified until 3 hrs before scheduled boarding.  I do "find a cruise" and know OS are available.   We have 7 more days to go.  I guess I will let my bid play out.

There isn't an equivalent to RCL Star level on Celebrity.   On Celebrity all suite levels are treated the same from a Perks perspective ( .    If booking Retreat level (suite),  you get a deluxe beverage package, tips, OBC, and Luminae, and the Retreat area which has its own bar and pool area. (There is also reserved seating in the theater).   You may also dine in Blu (Aqua level), on space available.  Observation - on Celebrity, the higher the suite level the more attention you'll see from a butler.   Specialty restaurants are not included.  Best analogy - Celebrity suite/Retreat level is like RCL Sky Class for all levels.  The lowest Celebrity Retreat level (Sky Suite) still gets all the perks, whereas a Jr Suite on RCL just gets you a bigger room and preferred boarding (and CK dinner space available).

Like others, I go from Credit Card, to Royal website, to "...booked/cruise-room-upgrade" link at least twice a day.  Attempting to go from a JS to OS.  Currently,  my bid is not editable.  Frozen.. I emailed (no response) and called.  The answer was; bid is still valid, but wait.  Hmmm... I thought any bid could be modified until 3 hrs before scheduled boarding.  I do "find a cruise" and know OS are available.   We have 7 more days to go.  I guess I will let my bid play out.

I hear what you're saying @SpeedNoodles and yet I still can't help but check my Royal Up every.....single.....day. It's like an obsession! 😂

It may have been a vaccinated only session. Throughout the cruise they had shows/events/activities that were designated vaccinated only and masks were not required even indoors.
 

This is their strategy exactly !  I'm sure they're delighted to know that it's working.  Welcome to Suites Anonymous

I think they are geniuses with their royalup. Recently we got our royal up right before we sailed. The wife and I got a GS instead of a JS and since then we've booked more cruises but I don't want to deal with all the suspense so now our minimum class has been pushed up. If I was in charge I's create a formula that gave preference to pushing people beyond their normal comfort zone because it's hard to regress, perhaps they already have. All I know is I fell for it, just paid retail for an OS in March because we have an OS in January and I know very well that we won't want to revert back to a GS. A few years ago we were content with a window now look at the monsters they've created.

My 18 Days til cruise benchmarks .. 
1 - Cruise with glee upon hearing
Wash your hands it's the right thing to do...
2- Black Friday sale on deluxe drink package
3- Royal Up goes from pending to accepted
4- Broadway Show is one you haven't seen before
5- Winning at Love and Marriage with the prize being a key chain

My 18 Days til cruise benchmarks .. 
1 - Cruise with glee upon hearing
Wash your hands it's the right thing to do...
2- Black Friday sale on deluxe drink package
3- Royal Up goes from pending to accepted
4- Broadway Show is one you haven't seen before
5- Winning at Love and Marriage with the prize being a key chain