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Capacity increase?


Franky G

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We’re booked on Symphony on Feb 26 and until yesterday all cabin categories were fully booked (assuming capacity restrictions) except suites. 
As of today all categories have opened up again, at slightly lower prices. 
Does this mean they added capacity again (due to CSO being lifted) or because of (mass) cancellations? What do you guys think?

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7 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

get your price adjusted if it's lower than what you paid!  If you are inside of final payment they will give you on board credit (OBC)

That’s what I did and received $110 OBC. Plus I repriced an excursion and paid that with my previous OBC. All in all a saving of app. $210. Well worth doublechecking your bookings. 

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I’m on the Anthem now…we are at 1826 passengers but the bookings were in the mid-2000’s.

There seems to be a combination of cancellations due to testing positive pre-cruise; to people being nervous about cruising right now; and due to the CDC recommendation to not cruise (which may have been somewhat tempered in many minds when they let the CSO expire). Also due in some part to passengers taking advantage of Royal’s exceptional Cruise with Confidence Program where there really is no pressure to cruise or lose. 
Those testing positive pre-cruise mirrors what is going on everywhere…vaccinated or not are getting Omicron in huge numbers. Just more likely for vaccinated to have no, or very minor, symptoms. Although I have an unvaccinated family member who tested positive due to contact tracing and he had no symptoms. Go figure. Hopefully the surge ends soon and the numbers drop as quickly as they went up. That will boost confidence again and maybe relaxing some of these new restrictions will help even more. Capacity will go up again. Just got to get through this, hopefully, last surge.

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@ShayI guess the best way to describe it is…normal. But it is my tenth cruise since Sept so I’m used to the protocols and the last minute changes such as itinerary switches. Especially since Omicron reared it’s ugly head. But, as the surge ends and hopefully the numbers of infected drop as quickly as they rose…it should get even better.

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6 hours ago, BrianB said:

I’m on the Anthem now…we are at 1826 passengers but the bookings were in the mid-2000’s.

There seems to be a combination of cancellations due to testing positive pre-cruise; to people being nervous about cruising right now; and due to the CDC recommendation to not cruise (which may have been somewhat tempered in many minds when they let the CSO expire). Also due in some part to passengers taking advantage of Royal’s exceptional Cruise with Confidence Program where there really is no pressure to cruise or lose. 
Those testing positive pre-cruise mirrors what is going on everywhere…vaccinated or not are getting Omicron in huge numbers. Just more likely for vaccinated to have no, or very minor, symptoms. Although I have an unvaccinated family member who tested positive due to contact tracing and he had no symptoms. Go figure. Hopefully the surge ends soon and the numbers drop as quickly as they went up. That will boost confidence again and maybe relaxing some of these new restrictions will help even more. Capacity will go up again. Just got to get through this, hopefully, last surge.

@BrianB We are headed on Anthem 2/27.  Can you tell me what it is like onboard?  A few questions: Do all the regular activities occur on the ship, e.g. trivia, sports court, water activities?  Are the dining room tables very close together like usual or socially distanced? Do masks need to be worn at all times indoors? Is the solarium open with no masks required?  Just trying to figure out if my family will still enjoy it.  Thanks so much!

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@ErinNH I’m also on Feb 27th. Right now, all the regular activities are occurring…except crowded things like the Quest, or the pool deck activities that would normally draw crowds. There had been some entertainment disruptions in November when crew and production members had to be quarantined either with a positive test, or as a close contact. But then, other entertainment was scheduled to fill in. I haven’t been in the MDR in awhile but in other restaurants, tables are physically distanced. Masks need to be worn at all times indoors, including the Solarium, unless seated and actively eating or drinking…or in the water. That was a fairly recent change since Omicron hit, and I would expect it to go back to the way it was pre-Omicron as soon as the numbers decrease. That was in any vaccinated-only venue we were allowed to unmask…ie; Solarium, lower level of the theater, bars and clubs, and casino. Also, right now, there is no smoking in the casino and masks must be worn. Again, that will probably change when the surge decreases. The Royal Theater and Two70 seating is restricted with ‘physical distancing reserved’ covers over the front two rows. That had recently dropped down to only the first row, then Omicron came and they blocked the second row again. The somewhat nice thing is the reduced capacity. Although the ship is so much less crowded than in the past, the services are virtually the same…so, no lines. A month away is a long time during the ‘Cruising During Covid’ saga. Hopefully, it will continue to get better and more protocols fall away. Enjoy the cruise!

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I was on Brilliance for Jan 2-8 to the Bahamas. This was only a week after the increased masks & testing protocols were announced, plus all the news about COVID outbreaks on Royal.

I heard from staff that the ship was at 40% capacity. Someone else said there were 250 last minute cancellations and 100 no-shows.

Honestly, it was wonderful to have plenty of space on the ship. We rarely waited for anything except elevators. My teenage sons were cruising for the first time. They loved doing trivia games, listening to live music, and hanging in the shops. If it was more crowded, they wouldn't have had so much freedom and independence.

Finally, we got to know our staff better than we would have on a crowded ship. Brilliance just returned to service in November. All the staff were glad to be back at work after 18 months off.

Sail on!

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