LXA350

Thex require to have this flexibility and given that masks are not very popular as we see in this forum the cruise lines doesn't want to be in a situation the passengers will start to complain and request refunds etc because mask are "ruining" their cruise vacation.

Honey Stung Chicken served on boarding day in Windjammer not part of the offering anymore.

The famous Garlic Tiger Schrimp one of the best MDR dishes.

15 hours ago, lakinapook said:

This is not the issue!!!! 

Did you read my first post? I have a cruise planned, for 2 years now, because it got pushed a year due to covid. People here seem to think they are more entitled to their vacation than I am to mine because my children on board will inconvenience them. No I don't feel that I have to wait because it works out better for you and the vaccination ***. Children aren't second class citizens, your desires do not take precedent, we all have to work to accomodate each other.

We are getting there slowly, but at this stage for the safety of others and while in the process of getting the vast majority vaccinated it involves also restrictions. There are still many other options that will be possible this summer than cruising, hence worst case you will need to delay your cruise one more time.

I doubt RCL will start cruising droping all the protocols. At the begining limited capacities and masks will be around and following a successfull launch with a positive track record we might see protocols be slowly adjusted. The system of having both vaccinated and non vaccinated adults onboard with seperate rules will not work in practice, so this we will not see.

Likely everyone booked in Inside cabins will need to rebook as only cabins with balconies will be sold for the time being.

On another note, how come Allure will be back in Europe in 2022 for the season and not Symphony? Is this maybe the reason the Dry Dock was moved forward for Symphony for 2021 and Allure will be back in Europe in 2022 to maybe get the Amplification?

RCL will wait until the CDC gives a final date when the no sail order will be lifted. Once this happens RCL will announce it's restart strategy out of US ports. Likely the 3-4 day itinararies will be the first ones followed by select 7 day itinararies likely with modifications of itinararies etc for the time being.

54 minutes ago, notmyrealnameoremail said:

Please provide a link to an official source that says the port is closed to cruising.  If you don't have one, please just stop claiming your opinions and speculation as fact.

Why do you thing RCL or other cruise lines have not been commited yet to a official date the first cruise will be operated from a US port...

Once things will get going, likely the 3-4 day itinararies might be the first once to start cruising again. Hence Mariner and Navigator likely amongst the first ships to start sailing from US ports.

30 minutes ago, 39august said:

Before Covid, was Mario still spending many weeks in succession on an RCI ship? If so, does anyone know what kind of perks he got? 

In addition to the Perks part of his status he had his own "office" a sign the crew gave him which he would use to have a area on the pool deck reserved for him where he would do his work. He likely received here and there more invitations by officers to speciality restaurants / supply of drinks compared to other members. To be fair the company also uses him for marketing purposes so if he gets here and there more attention and perks I guess that is ok.

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

What's Flu Season?

During Winter months there used to be something called Influenza which was replaced this year by COVID 😉

Then again wearing of masks etc is helping a lot the spread of the flu (influenza) against Noro only personal hygiene, which hopefully people in general will take more serious also after COVID.

8 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Spread of virus on a 100% vaccinated ship would be 0.00% even un-masked. 

This depends, not sure if this was asked before however if a lot of the crew will receive the Chinese Vaccination which is significantly less effective than PFIZER / BIONTECH or MODERNA this could also be an issue.

4 minutes ago, retired dude said:

just wondering what the folks that demand the specialty dining eat every day at their own homes....I asked that to a table full of complainers in the mdr  on  a sailing years ago and they calmed down and stop their incessant griping and they actually became pleasant to their waiter and assit waiter...The waiter came to our table and thanked us with tears in his eyes. We are just thankful that we can cruise at all and appreciate what the mdr offers. ....just sayin'

Very good point 👍

On 4/9/2021 at 8:42 AM, Daithi2021 said:

All indications are that that vaccines will be required in Europe, even on the the slim chance that a cruise is allowed to go ahead before September 2022.

Say you booked a cruise last year before there was even any talk about a vaccine being a requirement to sail.

What happens if you make final payment but you havent been vaccinated before the cruise sails?

Do you get you money back in full as its not your fault you cant sail?

tbh I dont want cruise credit anymore at this point.  Its a total waste because when the same cruise goes up in price you have to spend more money to not lose your cruise credit.  I dont want to play that game.

 

Have RC announced what they will be doing should a passenger not be vaccinated by sail date?

This year only cruises will take place that will / have been newly announced recently. Hence if you are refering to a itinarary you booked before this is not relevant as eventually it will get cancelled anyhow.

Q2 2022 does make senses from a logical point of view. We will likely first see the start up of cruises out of Florida and even when Winter is approaching with flu season etc it might not be a priority to start offering cruises in the Winter months out of Bayonne or Baltimore for instance and wait with this until next year.

It depends on the ships but going every night to a Speciality Restaurant could become boring as well. Taking a 3 night package seems reasonable as there are also days with nice menus at MDR which you don't want to miss either.

19 minutes ago, Paulhc said:

I'm a US citizen booked on the July 31st sailing. My booking allows me to cancel for any reason up to 48 hours before departure. While I fully understand that I may not be allowed into Greece by late July, my "plan" in that event is to cancel which will result in a FCC.

 

Now it is a whole different discussion on if that is a wise financial decision, but it is a decision I made and will live with the consequences.

I think you made a wise decision 🙂 In these times any holiday someone plans has a realistic likelyhood that it will not hapen, but on the other hand the chances are very realistic that they will happen like these cruises that were designed for the current times and not some itinararies that have been floating around but were not yet cancelled.

25 minutes ago, gkbiiii said:

As a Floridian, I expect the same protocols used in the state.  Florida Governor Ron De Santos, has given us, a common sense approach to Corona, which should be adopted by all ships leaving Floridian ports. For me personally, here is a short list:

1.  Forcing mask compliance, as it is not required in the State of Florida.

2.  Mandating Corona vaccine, as this remans unproven and is not required for Floridians.

3.  Forcing social distancing, with a vessel at low capacity. Not required in Florida.

4.  Mandatory ship shore excursions, as such practices are illegal in Florida.

5.  Restrictions of food & beverage, as that is not done in Miami-Dade (Spring Break Riots excluded).

RCL is not a Floridian cruiseline and when it comes to health and safety protocols RCL and only them will decide what is required or not onboard and will sure offer strickter rulesand regulations than following what a State is doing.

4 hours ago, billslowsky said:

Expect it to take longer than it should.  Long lines, impatient people.  Searching for your checked bags in the terminal.  Customs.  And the crew will be directing its attention to the people boarding next.

Let's say it this way, the disembarkation day is by far the worst and unpleasant experience of the cruise. This is the one day where it would be nice that a solution could be found to make this experience more pleasant / relaxing to end the vacation, something on cruise industry level.

Therefore it's almost more relaxing to be one of the first people disembarking the ship with your luggage at your own pace and no lines than waiting around and being stuck in lines before being able to leave the ship at 9 or 10:00am

2 hours ago, Jimbo said:

It's cheaper for Royal Caribbean just sit back and do hardly anything and hope 1 day they wake up and it will all go away. With stragegy like that, they are going to be looking in from the outside for a long time. It's ashame really.

Again, the cruise industry is not only Royal Caribbean, hence the CDC will not decide based on the strategic decisions taken by RCL like the move to begin operating ships from Countries / ports that gave them the approvals to do so. It really seems that you are on some conspiracy theory trip.

2 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Don't you think that if no American's booked those cruises from the Bahamas and Bermuda that  Royal Caribbean  would be more interested (inclined) to do what they have to do to satisfy the CDC to get the US Ports open.

RCL is a global cruiseline after all and does not only cater to a clientele that is in driving range of a port. There will be enough demand for North American cruises that will be willing to get on a plane to Bermuda or the Bahamas to pay a premium and finally get back on board.

At this stage it's about getting the operation back to business step by step and as things are going with the CDC RCL had to look for alternative options. Don't forget RCL is only one of many cruiselines that are eager to get back sailing from US ports, hence there is more than enough preasure on CDC.

3 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Thanks No problem, but some earlier members didn't want to hear that the sailings weren't selling as well as Royal Caribbean  thought. They blasted me on here for stating that.

Those sailings are online since less than 2 weeks, I guess RCL still has some time to worry if these sailings will be selling well or not at the end.

There are enough food options available on board 24/7, hwever if you need something specific best to bring it on board as long as it's not any perishable items for instance.

1 minute ago, PCWalton1 said:

Dealbreaker - ignorant people

Ideally these people will not even make it on board and if they do and will not comply with the rules and regulations of the cruiseline will be sent home at the next port.

6 hours ago, Jimbo said:

By booking these out of the country sailings, it's just prolonging the startup in US Ports.

Those cruises out of the Bahamas and Bermuda are being launched because sailing out of US ports is currently not yet possible. As soon as things are changing and it will be feasable for RCL to start offering cruises out of US ports they will do so, hence your coments make absolutely no sense at all.

3 hours ago, Joehult said:

Could also mean they’re running out of cash to operate. 

This for sure not, in contrary, by being able to accept bookings they will get cash.