David Bennett

I also found this update on the Barbados travel site regarding pre-arrival testing. I think the update clarifies the timing requirement for rapid PCR testing versus RT-PCR testing. So, not much change to the original requirement.
Effective January 7, 2022, travellers are permitted to travel to Barbados with a valid negative Rapid COVID-19 PCR test result done within 1 day prior to arrival in Barbados OR a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result done within 3 days prior to arrival.
Accepted tests include tests which were taken at an accredited or recognized laboratory by a healthcare provider via a nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal sample (or both). LAMP tests, self-administered tests or home kits and tests using saliva samples will NOT be accepted

Apologies for not reading the policy accurately. The third bullet point indicates that quarantine and travel home accommodations are only covered if you test positive while on the cruise. It does appear that if you test positive prior to boarding, they might not cover this.  I'm not sure of how they would handle this with a flight and hotel package purchased through Royal though.
Thank you @David Bennett for catching that.

Hello, 
Im in the same situation as you, we are traveling on the 2nd of feb from Spain to Miami and will be going on symphony on the 5th, we are going to go, we have had a long though and we are risking, we have also covid insurance and just praying all goes well.. 
 

@David Bennett Water Taxi is the easiest.  Trying to navigate with your bags and all the crowds in May is crazy.  4 People sharing a water taxi would be civilized.

Last time I just used a taxi, worked out great.

I took a water taxi from the airport to my hotel on the grand canal, and from my hotel to the port, but not from the port back to the airport (took a bus organized via Royal for that).  I booked my water taxis with Consorzio Motoscafi, which is generally considered one of the two staples of water taxi airport transfers (sorry can't remember the other one).  Per their website: "the Marco Polo Airport transportation routes can be extended so as to pass alongside the most famous Venice waterways, including Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, Gallerie dell'Accademia, Chiesa della Salute and the Peggy Guggenheim Museum."  https://www.motoscafivenezia.it/en/transfers.php
I would contact them to see what they could arrange.  You will also get some lovely sights of Venice from the ship as you sail away, though I would still recommend taking the water taxi to see the sights along the Grand Canal. 
FYI my water taxi to the hotel cost 115 euro for 3 people and 4 bags.  The taxi was right on time in both directions.
I also thought the Royal bus transfer was very efficient in case you wanted to do the water taxi on the way in and the bus transfer on the way back, but you don't really see any sights from the bus.

We will be taking that exact cruise Oct 2020. 
Getting in the same day and only 5 hrs before sailing is cutting it too close, at least for my liking. I wouldn't take the chance of something being delayed in the tour and getting back to the ship late. 
I've looked at a lot of tours online at Viator tours. It's owned by TripAdvisor and have a lot of tour options. They have some one hour cruises on the Grand Canal that might be an option. You'd have to look at times though.
I don't know about checking in and not boarding right away. I'm sure somebody here knows the answer. @Matt? 
Good luck and happy cruising! 

One thing for sure is that if you're going to stay awhile the Oasis class ships are the ones to do it on! ☺️
Perhaps afterwards you could come back and post your impressions? I'm sure it would be helpful for others thinking about it too.
Have a great cruise. 

Yes I will definitely do that. Super excited as we sail this Sunday. ?Thank you. 

March in NJ is typically cold (30s to mid-40s) and really wet -- whether it takes the form of a nor'easter (driving snow, heavy winds, and roads turned into a mess) or just a ton of heavy rain storms varies from year to year. In 2018 we had a nor'easter every week in March, whereas this year and the year before it was just a bunch of rain storms. No matter what, you'll be lucky to have a sunny departure day the way March has been the last several years. Make good use of the Solarium and indoor pool areas on board!

We did March 2018 out of Cape Liberty on Anthem.  I did not enjoy it.  It was cold (see my sail away attire in my live blog from Anthem, link in signature below).  Even by the time we arrived in Port Canaveral, it was still cold.  We had one decent day (shorts/tank) in the Nassau and then it was back to being cold again.  That was the one cruise where I felt that the balcony was a complete waste as it was too cold to utilize most of the week.  After that, I vowed to never sail out of NJ again in the winter/early spring months.
We are giving NJ another try this July on the Anthem Group Cruise.  I am really hoping that a summer sail out will be much better.

I did early March out of Cape Liberty and it was freezing and snow on deck!!! The hot tubs were heated and the kids just loved it!! I wonder how many caught pneumonia?? In any event, it was smooth sailing R/T. Lots of activities to keep you busy.

Hi all. My understanding is that Jewel goes in for her refit today. I am sailing on her in August out of Rome. Any info regarding progress/ photos/ news and updates of the refit would be greatly appreciated. ðŸ‘😀

Hi all. My understanding is that Jewel goes in for her refit today. I am sailing on her in August out of Rome. Any info regarding progress/ photos/ news and updates of the refit would be greatly appreciated. ðŸ‘😀

Hi all. My understanding is that Jewel goes in for her refit today. I am sailing on her in August out of Rome. Any info regarding progress/ photos/ news and updates of the refit would be greatly appreciated. ðŸ‘😀

Such good news ! We will keep our fingers crossed that your F-I-L continues to improve. Have a wonderful cruise !

Enjoy your cruise.  The Jewel is a great ship and I'm happy to hear that the situation has improved.

So just wanted to give an update on our upcoming cruise. Thankfully things have improved with my wife's father. He is home from hospital and In decent spirits despite his illness. We have made arrangements that allow us to get away next Sunday and thankfully as my wife so needs a break. So we head to Jewel of the seas out of Rome and can't wait. If anyone has any questions re Jewel let me know and I will endeavour to find out whilst aboard. Thanks again for all the kind comments above.

So just wanted to give an update on our upcoming cruise. Thankfully things have improved with my wife's father. He is home from hospital and In decent spirits despite his illness. We have made arrangements that allow us to get away next Sunday and thankfully as my wife so needs a break. So we head to Jewel of the seas out of Rome and can't wait. If anyone has any questions re Jewel let me know and I will endeavour to find out whilst aboard. Thanks again for all the kind comments above.

So just wanted to give an update on our upcoming cruise. Thankfully things have improved with my wife's father. He is home from hospital and In decent spirits despite his illness. We have made arrangements that allow us to get away next Sunday and thankfully as my wife so needs a break. So we head to Jewel of the seas out of Rome and can't wait. If anyone has any questions re Jewel let me know and I will endeavour to find out whilst aboard. Thanks again for all the kind comments above.

So just wanted to give an update on our upcoming cruise. Thankfully things have improved with my wife's father. He is home from hospital and In decent spirits despite his illness. We have made arrangements that allow us to get away next Sunday and thankfully as my wife so needs a break. So we head to Jewel of the seas out of Rome and can't wait. If anyone has any questions re Jewel let me know and I will endeavour to find out whilst aboard. Thanks again for all the kind comments above.

Guys thank you for your kind comments. I will let you know the outcome.

Guys thank you for your kind comments. I will let you know the outcome.

I'm so sorry for you, best wishes for your wife's father

Keep us posted. Thoughts and prayers for your family.