sunshinetricia

I actually asked this same question a couple of weeks ago because I couldn't find any good info either!

It sounds like there are pros and cons to each of them maybe? Depends if you want to be closer to the on-shore stuff or want to spend the whole time in the cabana being as isolated as possible? I'm still pondering whether we will try to request one or just get what we get. We sail in about 3 weeks and there are still 7 available on our cruise. 

1 hour ago, orville99 said:

Then I would choose one at the Beach Club. Last time we were there the servers came to the cabana on electric trikes, took the lunch orders and then brought everything back so we never had to leave the cabana.

That will be so helpful. Do you happen to remember how easy/hard it was to get to the Beach Club? Like in terms of shuttle, walking, etc? 

2 minutes ago, DoctorWhoGirl said:

Don’t fret if you get #10. We were #10 last fall and it was amazing- definitely not too close to the beach like it appears on the map. The regular beach club seating is there and most people stay right in front of the area with the chairs. We never had anyone swim near our cabana other than the people in the one right next to us. Our views were incredible because there was only 1 cabana next to us, and it sat back closer to the beach than ours did. 
 

 

 

 

This is so good to know!! I was afraid we were going to be so hyped up about it for months and then disappointed if we got a "bad" one. At least knowing that they all still have great views makes me feel better! 

Just now, OCSC Mike said:

 

While overpriced it's a great experience (as you know), Enjoy the worthy celebration!

 

Unsolicited opinion: The coconut crusted lobster sandwich is one of the best things on the beach club menu.

oooooh! That is good to know! I have to admit I have already been looking at the menu and we don't sale for a month. lol

3 minutes ago, orville99 said:

We just let everyone else get off of the ship and then we relax in our overwater balcony on an empty ship😇

We also often do this, but we are celebrating my mom's 4 year remission of pancreatic cancer. So we decided to go big for her. 

11 hours ago, CruisingHusker said:

We had #16 and it was perfect. It sat further out in the water and we didn’t have any obstructed views or nearby swimmers. We were in a star class suite so we were able to request which one we wanted ahead of time through the communication with our genie. My understanding is when there are 2 ships one ship has #1-10 and the other ship has #10-20. 

Looking at the map, that's exactly what one of the videos said. That the two in the middle (5 and 6 or 15 and 16) were great because the views were unobstructed. I guess a big part of it will depend on which side we are assigned based on our ship. Sounds like the star class ships might get 11-20. If so, I definitely want to make sure that we don't get #10 because it looks like it basically sits right on the beach! 

8 minutes ago, SteelCityCruiser10 said:

Coco Cay or Labadee?

Sorry! CocoCay

My mom and I have been searching everywhere for information about the best overwater cabanas and finding very little but also conflicting information. 

My husband and kids and I did one for the very first cruise after COVID (when they were having to sail out of Bahamas) so our cruise was only about 25% full and there was only one ship there (Independence). I think we were the ONLY people in one of the cabanas, so it didn't matter which we had and we didn't see hardly anyone the whole day.  

For this trip, we are going in October and there will be two ships there. I'm sure all of them will probably be taken but from what I understand, we can try to make a request if we want specific ones. 

One Youtuber said that if you are in the cabanas on the ends, you are so close to the beach that people literally swim up around your cabana the whole time. He suggested the ones in the middle. Someone else said that you can't even trust the numbering system because they are different on the ship's customer service map than then are when you get to the island. 

I really, really, really want to make this the most awesome experience possible for my mom. Any thoughts on whether there even is a "best" cabana? 

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Yes, travel agents can see what is available for cruise planner purchases for every ship that is on the new platform.

 

There are Cabanas available for both sailings but there is more availability for the Nov 4th sailing

 

Both chill island and south beach cabanas are roughly about $700. (I had to do a conversion from Canadian pricing)

Oh wow! Thank you so much!!

Is there any way to find out if there are cabanas available for the IOS Nov 4 or 8? We're looking at taking a quick cruise but would choose one sailing over the other if we could get a cabana. The only time we sailed was right when everything reopened and everything was available. 

One perk we have discovered on Coco Cay us that the trams are basically sitting and waiting for you because there are so few people!

Although the concierge told us ast week that there would be "just under 1200" on the ship, the cruise director said last night that there were just over 1000 (maybe 1060? I can't remember exactly). But it sounded like we lost about 100 people from testing day to boarding. And only about 50 people stayed on the ship the first Coco Cay day.

We went to the Schooner Bar tonight for ABBA trivia (lost by one point) and they did ask a kid to leave who didn't have a purple bracelet because it was supposed to be a Vaxxed zone. But they kept telling us that we could only take off our masks to eat and drink and should put them on otherwise. I think everyone on the ship is still confused about everything since it all changed so fast this week. 

People really do seem to be complying though!

3 hours ago, mauraoel said:

My daughters just got back from kayaking, guess who the other two kayaker were?  @sunshinetriciadaughters... small world or better yet small ship.

I couldn't believe it when they came back and told me that it was only the 4 of them and it happened to be the only other people I "know" on the ship and from close to where we live! Now I am wondering how many times I have passed you somewhere. lol

People keep asking if the ship feels empty. It's a REALLY strange experience because sometimes you can really tell how few people there are (like how easy it is to get a table in Windjammer or a lounger by the pool.) But other times like the Silent Disco party, it seems to be totally hopping!!

Speaking of the Silent Disco....that was a blast last night. My 20-year-old and I danced the whole 90 minutes out on the dance floor. Sometimes it was barely more than us, and other time it was so packed we didn't even all fit on the dance area. We did NOT have to wear masks for that. 

Today we had a floating cabana and my kids said it was just about the best thing ever. One of them rated it a 12 out of 10 because of extra credit for being so awesome. For lunch they brought us just a sampler platter of all of the different appetizers. Then another sampler platter of almost every other food on the menu. So instead of having to choose between steak and lobster....we got a little of each! Even dessert was served that way. It was like have our own mini buffet in the cabana. 

I'm a little upset about the dining situation. We were originally 8pm in the 4th floor dining room. But when they released the new COVID protocols, we asked to be moved to the 3rd floor because it said the 3rd floor was one of the areas that was NOT for everyone. We gave up our dining time and moved to MyTime Dining (which we really didn't want) so that we could feel more comfortable in the vaxxed dining room. 

Guess what? EVERY SINGLE TABLE around us had young kids at it. None of them wearing the purple vaxxed bracelets and many of them seeming well under 12. I have no idea what happened but basically you can't trust the list of which areas are for vaxxed only and which are for everyone. 

I am so thankful for all of the recommendations I read in previous AOS threads about specialty dining. We ate at Chops tonight and it was terrific. Soooooo much food! 

After dinner we hit the 10:15 comedy headliner. He was funny but I feel bad for him that the crowds are so small and spaced out.

The ship is starting to move more, so I am thankful I have my seasickness patch on. I think I got my money's worth of the unlimited beverage package today, so I am ending the night with a bottle of water. 🙂

I was just about to start a live thread for our cruise but if you don't mind, maybe I can just pitch in here as well? I am not sure I will contribute too much because I am terrible with pictures though!

We flew out from Indy on AA yesterday and spent the night on points at Baha Mar (Hyatt). Got to the Hilton this morning about 11 and started check in about 11:45. No major issues and were on board around 12:30.

We are in a 2 br suite-- my husband and I and our two daughters (18 and 20).

After walking the ship a bit and trying to get a feel for where everything is, the plans for the week, etc, I unpacked and took a nap!

We have the 3 night dining package so it's Chops for us tonight. 

So far the masks aren't a big deal. But we were used to wearing them at Baha Mar yesterday anyway 

Oh....the girls just got milkshakes with their drink package. Lol

Now that the shock of the email has worn off and I have calmed down, I'm feeling a lot better about it. Found a couple of boxes of disposables that I apparently forgot I even had from back when I was stocking up on supplies all the time. (and some are pink!) We did Disney last summer when it was so crazy hot and we had to wear masks even when we were walking in the parking lot. And my family still talks about how it was the best Disney trip we ever took because it was so empty. Who knows? Maybe that will be this cruise for us! I mean, it's LITERALLY the "Adventure." We just have to make it one.  

We're set to go out Saturday and although we are not cancelling, I'm both angry and upset. I was talking to one of my teens and she said the thing she is now dreading is that any time masks are required, there are ALWAYS so many people who don't comply. And when you are complying even though you don't want to and then see other people not complying, it just frustrates you even further. And we both suspect there will be a lot of that on our cruise next week because everyone is so mad about the last minute change. 

Heck, we're running around the house trying to find an extra 25 masks because we weren't planning on all 4 of us needing them everyday and we fly out at 8 tomorrow morning! We already had planned on using all of our cloth masks the week immediately following the cruise because we are heading straight to Disney. So we're scrambling to find disposables for the cruise as we are zipping up the suitcases. 

30 minutes ago, umaine89 said:

Robert at the Champagne Bar  asked us what we like and made two new (to us) drinks

 

Nonfrozen strawberry daiquiri 

 

 

Chocolate martini

Both were excellent. 

That chocolate martini might just be the thing I am looking forward to most next week!!! I've been watching all of the live reviews waiting to see someone post one!!

The really scary thing was that it went from saying antigen tests were acceptable before to saying today that you needed a PCR test. And I am scheduled for an antigen test this Wednesday with a flight on Friday! Thankfully it sounds like they just forgot to update the emails with the newest protocols. But it does make it super confusing that you can't actually trust the emails you get...even 5 days before your cruise. 

How in the world are they out of Pina Colada mix? Isn't that one of the most ordered drinks on a cruise? I think my husband will cry if he can't get one. All he has been saying for 5 months is that he can't wait to step onto the cruise and get a Pina Colada. Maybe I should gently start encouraging him to broaden his drink choice before we get there just in case. lol

Yay! I am so happy to see this! We board next Saturday and are really starting to get into the spirit at our house. Can't wait to follow along, especially to see how things have evolved since the first cruises this summer (ie. more hours at Johnny Rockets, less spacing in auditoriums). 

1 hour ago, HBCcruiser said:

Formal night. We are going to the main dining room. Yummy menu!!

I don't want to miss lobster night in the MDR for sure! How do we make sure that we don't schedule one of our specialty dining nights on the night they have the lobster? Do I just tell the concierge I need help scheduling so I do not missing lobster night? lol 

54 minutes ago, exm said:

I will be in the Bahamas 7 days prior to the cruise, so this is covered with the Bahamas Health Visa. PCR is no longer required.

 

I assume they won’t retest children upon check-in?

 

Question: “no more than 3 days prior to their sail date”

So if we will be sailing on Saturday, “is the 3 days prior to” Wednesday or Thursday? Timing is important for me.

I'm assuming Wednesday. Going by the dates, I sail the 7th, so subtracting 3 would be the 4th. I'm hoping that is correct because we are on the first ship using this new protocol. But others have said they have been getting tested as early as Monday for a Saturday sailing under the old protocol, which was 5 days. 

Found a "cancel" link at the bottom of my CVS confirmation emails. Clicked that to easily cancel. Looked for the closest location that does rapid and rescheduled for two days later. I'm motivated to do whatever it takes to get on this cruise! 😉

Well, we knew we needed to be flexible. Just received an email that the 5 day test requirement has been changed to 3 days. Which means having to reschedule our tests for Monday to next Wednesday. Hopefully CVS can easily do that! But we will probably get the rapid tests now rather than the PCR because PCR results won't come in until we are already in the Bahamas (flying in on Friday). I suspect many will do the same. Which seems weird because the rapid tests aren't known to be as good as the PCR tests. 

Adventure of the Seas Testing Update

We're reaching out with an important update on testing protocols for your upcoming August 7th, 2021 Adventure of the Seas sailing.

Beginning with sailings departing August 1st, 2021, all guests ages 2 years and older will be required to complete a COVID-19 test no more than 3 days prior to their sail date, and receive a negative result in order to sail. You'll need to show proof of a negative result at the pier for check-in. While we have shortened the timeframe in which a test must be taken, we are adding flexibility by allowing any type of COVID-19 test, antigen or PCR.

Protocol requirements are subject change, as we exercise caution to help ensure the health of our guests, crew, and the destinations to visit. You can always view the latest protocols on our website.