Bob_KY

Great recommendations.   One thing that is different for me is Coco Cay.  If you want a cabana, you may want to book it early.  They move fast.  

See,,, This is already dated and not likely. CDC green lit the "self exploration" in ports , a few days ago.  With things so fluid I'm really surprised at how jumpy people are. Nothing set in stone at this time...  Definitely CYA stuff. surprised they don't have a meteor disclaimer...
 

It's just contract verbiage to make it clear what could happen.  The cruise line is not guaranteeing the itinerary as booked.

I had a similar experience back in 2019 with a rather large online company that I had used a few times. We booked a couple of cruises while on a cruise and told them I did not want that company to manage those bookings, however they did capture the bookings and notified me upon my return home. I decided to let it go and those bookings fell cancelled in 2020. Issues started in trying to lift and shift etc and like Jupiter03 responses were rare and confusing. After months of problems, I found out that you can demand the bookings be returned to RCI and then you can work directly with them any time.  According to RCI the agency can not refuse if that’s your wishes. 
 
On the positive side, after all of that, I found Michelle Cunningham at MEI and the world of travel is a different place now. Through the entire disaster of 2020/2021 cancellations, rebooks, lift & shifts, FCC’s etc she was right there any time I needed her help. She answered calls, texts and emails 7 days a week (I mean even Sundays).  Once you work with a pro like her it will reinforce how important a good TA can be. 
I hope you get things worked out for sure so you can resume enjoying your travel plans. 
 
 

If Florida law prevents the cruise lines from asking for proof of vaccination for COVID within the state of Florida the cruise line could include a requirement when checking in online for your boarding pass and cruise documents for the passenger to send a photo or scan of their COVID Immunization record during the online process.  This would suffice as proof and the cruise line would not be in a position to have to ask to see proof at boarding within Florida ports.

Ironically, most places are dropping any covid restrictions. It’s funny how the cruise industry is expected to prove outdated protocols work at sea. It’s also sad that CDC will not consider data from 100,000s of people that have already cruised since covid.

Another angle would be to pull a CDC.  One set of rules for vaccinated, another set for unvaccinated.  
If you are willing to show proof of vaccination, these protocols apply (very few).
If you choose to not show proof of vaccination, these protocols apply (including wearing masks, etc).
This way they don't "require" proof of vaccination.

South Beach is a quieter part of the island.  It is also further from most of the amenities on the island (pool/buffet).  So if you are looking for quiet away from activity, go with South Beach.  The water in also pretty shallow on that side with a sandbar where you can walk out quite a ways.

Deck 17 was nice, though if i did a loft again i would get the ocean side rooms, not the aft facing.

Not intending to highjack the thread topic but have you considered deck 17 lofts? IMHO it’s the best spot to be on an oasis class ship. Your perched up high & the suite lounge + CK are on the same deck. Not to mention the lofts are great options for suites.

For those of you who are on the fence about using a Travel Agency, PLEASE READ. This past weekend we decided to book a 7 day cruise on the Anthem out of Cape Liberty, NJ and bring our daughter and her family along with us over Easter week departing on April 22, 2022. I spent a couple of days searching the Anthem for a JS for my wife and I and two balcony adjoining rooms for our daughter and her family. I did find some of what I was looking for on different decks, near the elevators or on deck 13 (below the WJ) and they all were not acceptable. So, I contacted Michelle, MEI Travel (they also sponsor this blog) told her what I wanted and VIOLA! Today I booked a JS on deck 10 and two adjoining cabins also on deck 10. None of those cabins were available when I searched. Moral of the story here is don't waste your time, get ahold of Michelle at MEI and let her know what you want. She can make miracles happen! ?

So after reading @twangster blogs on Alaska.
I booked an Alaska cruise for May 15th 2022
 
So after reading @RickinSTL comments about this Caribbean cruise on the Mariner
I booked the August 13th 2022 cruise on the Mariner
 
I'm so excited for these two totally different cruises, let the planning begin.

Hello I’ve been lurking for years but have finally decided to post. I have also received two emails saying the same thing for my May 29th Symphony cruise. I ignored the first one but called after the second one and they sent me an invoice saying I paid and had no balance. It was a “system glitch”. Luckily I have been following this blog long enough to know that isn’t completely out of character for the RC system otherwise I would have been panicked. Thanks for the collective wisdom you share.

This is my takeaway. The two sides are talking, even if it doesn't result in policy change.
I think many, myself included, assumed CDC was "missing in action" and the cruise lines were submitting requests and proposals with no feedback.
It's encouraging that the CDC is not only talking, but engaged.

I was thinking more along the lines of:
Hi, so we understand you run some kind of a business called "cruising" ... we don't really know anything about that, could you take some time and explain what it is and how works ... apparently we are in complete control of your business and we are generally opposed to anything that happens outside of a laboratory in tightly controlled conditions so this is very scary to us already.

Excess product going to auction is normal. Once Royal ships are due to end the Australian season, and head off for their Asian sailing, they sell off their excess alcohol as the Asian market don't drink as much as Australian's. 

I’m glad now that I booked another Alaskan cruise in August 2022. I will keep my August 2021 booking active in hopes there is a new itinerary at some point.

This is how the CDC cruise ship task force interprets that graph...

 

They pay Royal Caribbean direct with your credit card information.  They do not hold the funds.  Like @Fairlynew stated, the response is quick.  @michelle always responds quickly. I'd be lost without her!

Considering this forum is about Royal Caribbean cruises, I'd say it's spot on.
I certainly noticed and lamented my "one year since my last cruise" anniversary.

Yeah but this is a cruise forum.......

This is so tone deaf when you look at what else has happened in the last calendar year. 

It’s sad to say but early 2020 was the grand finale to cruising as we all know it. I know there are plenty of people that will get on a cruise with all the stipulations but IMHO this is hardly a vacation. This may never change. I’m thankful for YouTube and the RC Blog to serve as a look back at what cruising once was. I can’t imagine being on vacation and having to reserve a day/time to sit by the pool with my mask on or have a drink while playing slots in the casino. At some point it’s just not a vacation anymore. 

If you go through the motions of booking a cruise on the US website as soon as you get into a particular sailing you'll see the fine print at the bottom:
*Price is per person, cruise only, applies to selected sailing, lowest available fare stateroom category, based on double-occupancy, reflects any promotional savings, and is subject to change and availability until booked. Non-refundable deposit: Non-refundable deposit booking (“NRDB”) cancelled prior to final payment due date will receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the deposit minus a $100 per person service fee. FCC is non-transferable and expires after 12-months from issue date. 100USD/100CAD/80EUR per person service fee applies to changes to NRDB ship or sail date. Short sailings have a $100 deposit so if you cancel a short sailing you will lose the entire $100 deposit.
Medium length cruise have a $250 deposit so if you cancel a medium length cruise you'll be faced with a $100 per person penalty and the rest, $150 will be issued as an FCC per person.
Long cruises have a $450 deposit so if you cancel a long cruise you'll be faced with a $100 per person penalty and the rest, $350 will be issued as an FCC per person.
FCC is per person in that person's name.  FCC can't normally be transferred or used by someone else.  

There are several things that caught my attention in Carnival's announcement.  First was guest are allowed to submit a test taken up to 5 days prior to cruising. While that might seem like a great idea its concerning because that is a lot of time between the test and the cruise.  I think last year MSC required all guest over the age of 6 to present a negative test taken within 48 hours of embarkation.
The second thing that caught my eye was guest will be required to wear mask at all times outside their stateroom which is to be expected.  However the second bullet point under the exceptions stated eating and drinking seated at a table.  Does this mean the only way you can be serve or consume any type of food or drink outside of your stateroom is if you are seated at a table?   No more walking while enjoying a cocktail?  I'm just trying to see if interpreting the restrictions correctly.