jcc1025

We just got off Independence of the Seas, which was a all vaccinated ship for all over 12 and in the bars designated as vaccinated only (most of them)  or outside bars you can sit at the bar. 

We just got off Independence of the Seas and tha app worked great. If your group has your staterooms linked you can use the app for texting. It does cost $1.99 a day to use the test service but its kind of like group text and worked great on our ship. 

5 hours ago, luckyfincruiser said:

Not everyone on our sailing was vaccinated.  Only the Eastern Caribbean sailings had that stipulation added.

Were you all restricted to ship excursions only?

3 hours ago, soozles said:

We’re you able to schedule any excursion you wanted? Or did they have specific tours for unvaccinated guests and kids?

Since everyone on the ship was vaccinated you could schedule any tour you wanted unless you were with a child under 12. In our case we were traveling with our 7 year old grandson so we were limited to only ship excursions. Since the company has increased the health requirements for these vendors the selection was a little limited. We did a beach day in Roatan and a sail/snorkel/beach trip in Cozemel which was great. 

Just got off Independence. They do not require reservations in the Windjammer but they do scan your card when you wank in and when you leave to keep a head count of passengers. I assume at some point if they were over the allowed number based on the social distancing guildllines they would hold people up until someone left. Only about half the tables are allowed for dinning. With the lower passenger count this was never a problem on our cruise and there were never any lines to get food. They have people serving you when you ask for food and I thought it worked well. Given the lower passenger numbers they are only open for breakfast and lunch. It worked great on our cruise. Oh they also have multiple hand washing stations as you walk in and someone asking you to wash your hands before you enter. 

We were on Independence the same week out of Galveston. Just another vote for how safe it was on board. Everyone over 12 had to be vaccinated, we sailed with our 7 year old grandson so can confirm we had to schedule excurrsions through the ship. We missed Costa May because Grance get there before us but everything was great and we honeslty felt safter on the ship than we did on land and for sure on our flights. We had no issues on the ship as with them which is why you will not hear it reported by the media. It was a great time had more elevators to myself for seven days than in all the past cruises combined. This was a great review and confirms that ships are totally safe. 

1 hour ago, ThelovelyRach said:

When I was on Allure my boarding time was 1pm. I ignore the time they said I must come. I drop my bags with porters at 11 am they allow us to board  at 11:39. It took about 30 mins.check in was a week before cruise.

Interesting, we just got off Independence and had an 11am check in time. We got there right at eleven and people who had 11:30 or later were told to wait outside until their assigned time. So there was a group standing around waiting until the time on the boarding pass. 

3 hours ago, chaswelf said:

My guess is if your the parents of child under 12 that child and the party traveling with that child will all be treated and un-vaxxed even if the parents are vaxxed since the are in close proximity of the un-vaxxed passenger

We just got off IOS with our 7 year old grandsons. They do not treat the entire party as not vaccinated unless they are with you at the time. He spent most of his evenings in Kids Club as it is so great and we were free to move around the ship into the vaccinated venues. When we got our dinning room assignments it was in the room for unvaccinated and even on nights he did not join us we had to use the room but the number of passengers is limited so social distancing is not an issue. Our cruise did require everyone over 12 to be vaccinated, so I actually felt safer on the ship than I do being back on land. 

3 hours ago, Gatortim1996 said:

 I was wondering if diamond plus still had Bogo in the specialty restaurants on the first two nights of the cruise anybody try to do this yet thank you

We just got off Independence and it was availibe on that ship. 

20 hours ago, glentally said:

So I will need a negative test before boarding and each non private Island requires one as well before getting off unless I use the cruise ship excursions?

No, just got off IOS and you need a negative test to board regardless of vaccination. All passengers over 12 on our cruise also had to have proff of vaccination to board. People under 12 were given another rapid test at the port which needed to come back negative prior to boarding. In ports if you are part of the vaccinated group you can go on private tours and come back with out taking a test. Anyone under 12 can only go on ship excurrsions. We did two and they are desigened to be controled with just the ship poplulation and were great, we actually found a new one we would have never tried befor. People under 12 have to take another test on the shp the day befor you disembark. 

Different states are different. We are currently on IOS, in CA the CVS book out 14 14 days, not all give the Rapid test but their we both site list which do. We actually took the standard test on Thur. afternoon and I was worried about getting the results back, but we got them in about 24 hours so it was no problem. Enjoy your cruise. 

22 hours ago, rj59 said:

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/08/20/royal-mess-for-some-galveston-royal-caribbean-customers-no-cruise-no-luggage-no-callback/

 

This is my biggest fear about sailing with the testing requirements in place--what if you don't get your test results back before the cruise? It seems RCL gave passengers without valid test results a local option, but those results too didn't get back in time for them to sail (although their luggage did get to cruise). I fear this scenario will be playing out on all the cruise lines, except for NCL, and it really seems unjust that the unvaccinated can get a quick antigen test at the pier but the vaccinated whose cruise depends on the efficiency of a pharmacy worker or overburdened lab to get results to you in time can't get a test at the pier. The other huge stressor is that if you can't cancel for FCC until 2 days before, but if your test isn't back in time, then you're left at the pier or scrambling around port cities with huge test demand now. With worries about breakthrough cases now onboard, including a death on Carnival, I'm not sure if I want to add the risks and stress of not having testing availability and results in time. 

We are currently on this cruise and it’s not quite like the news makes it out. I did hear some people were denied but also talked to some who did not read all the instructions we got and were able to find a location in Galveston to get the Rapid test that day. Cut it close but they are on the ship. We did cvs thee days befor we cruised and booked it a week prior when we heard the news of the requirement. This is all a fluid issue and you need to keep up with all the information on the RCCL site regarding individual ports. We got our results back in about 45 minutes and not all CVS do the rapid but their web site will advise you who do when you make an appointment. 

Cruise is great, no crowds, lots of deck chaired and elevators are almost always empty. 
 

34 minutes ago, mike60707 said:

Hey everyone, 

Are there any Diamond Plus members that can send me (or post here) a copy of the letter they received in their cabin about benefits on current sailings?

I know its 5 drinks for DP,  but someone said there is a BOGO for chops ?

would just like to see what we can expect, cruising on the adventure in 3 weeks!

Thanks,

Mike 

If you dont get one before, we are on Independence on Sunday and I will send what we get on board. 

36 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The fact that masks are required when in transit (and therefore much less likely to come in contact with someone long enough to be exposed), yet not required in an area where you'll be for extended periods of time sure seems backwards to me.

I get it,  but in the currently business climate, the cruise industry, like others, have to live in a suit happy world and so have to exercise an abundance of caution to try and keep certain customers and the legal profession at bay.  

We are on the Sunday 8/15 Independence cruse and got our updated protocols yesterday. This is a vaccinated only cruise for those over 12. Bars, for the most part, and casino are vaccinated only area and mask are not required. When moving from one vaccinated area to another or while being in a none vaccinated area you are to wear a mask. Outside areas do not require masks unless there is a crowd, something like the belly flow contest I assume. Adult pool is a vaccinated only area and no mask are required. 

This is all Ok with us and what we though it would be. Sometimes the information on Cruise Critic is somewhat like Facebook, some opinions and conjecturer, and a lot of old news. The situations are changing and we accepted that this was a fluid program and were ready to accept that. If that is something that you can't accept you should by all means cancel, get your money back and wait for this all to settle down in a year or so. 

2 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

I took a trolley ride around Falmouth once...saw a very nice OLD Church...other than that, agree....

We spend the day at Falmouth hanging out in the pool at Jimmy Buffets. always a really fun time. The bartenders and music is great. Stool through the crafts area and truly enjoy the day. 

4 minutes ago, Canadianmama3 said:

Not sure if anyone would know this.  But I was looking at deck plans for Allure.  And there is a large greyed out area beside the promenade view cabins on both sides. Anyone have any idea what these areas are? 
 

I tried looking at pictures of the royal promenade to see if I could tell.  But I can’t. 

We have been on her several times and not noticed that. I believe they may only have those cabins on that forward section past near the crossover when the entertainment happens.. In those other areas they have upper level bars and shops I think. When she was first sailing the had the Diamond Lounge on that level before the move during the remodel, now it is a bar. In some locations, for example the lower level Pub you would not want to have a room over that top for noise reason.  

2 hours ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

 

It's been a very long time since they had the pre-set menu with optional wine pairing.  I much preferred that to their current menu selections, which have been in place since at least 2016. The salt service is also gone.  I really enjoyed that.

Your right, the pre set menu is a Chiefs Table. We have not been at 150 since 2016 and agree if the salt service is gone I would be disappointed.  It encouraged me to come home and order a salt assortment product from a distributer which was great. The salt serving was a key element at 150.

2 hours ago, mauraoel said:

Just an FYI we are wearing the purple wristbands  but not like the Florida ones these are more the hospital type.  So I can't take it off to shower and it it get caught in my hair.  So I found a way to disguise it under my watch band.

 

Very stylish, wonder if you will get to keep them as a souvenir of these very unique cruise experiences. Something we will all be talking about for many cruises to come. 

I can see the Cruise Critic Board Post about 10 years from now "Remember the Covid cruises" .  

12 minutes ago, HicksRA said:

IMO 150 Central Park is a better restaurant for usually a little less money. But it’s really up to you whether you think $55 is reasonable for a good steak dinner or not. 

While we like all the specially locations on the ships and so buy the package to save, we agree on the Oasis class ship the 150 Central Park is the best. Been to a lot of really good land bases restaurants and this will hold its own with any of them. Of course the pre set menu is not for everyone but we love it. Much like Chiefs Table, with the wine parings and presentation, they make for a special element of any cruise. 

This is all a reaction to the spikes caused by none vaccinated persons driving the cases higher, and even with some of the none FL cruises requiring everyone over 12 to have the vaccine they can't take a chance on the bad press over on ship positive test. 

Once the vaccination rates rise and the the positive tests move back down they will drop these requirements. They don't want this any more than we do. We are sailing a week from Sunday and are vaccinated and have been told we now need to bring a negative test. Inconvenient but not the end of the world and we are looking forward to getting back on a ship. 

27 minutes ago, pcur said:

The test I'm referring to uses an app to communicate the results to emed.com, and they verify.

 

BUT, I pulled the plug on my November cruise out of Galveston.  Having to do the test on Thanksgiving Day is a hassle.  Otherwise, CVS can do it, but Kaiser won't reimburse me the $130 cost.  Too many problems.  I am now on hold with my TA moving the reservation over to the Navi out of San Pedro in January.  

So CVS is considered an out of network provider for Kaiser? The CARES act passed in March required medical insurance providers from charging for the test but I do think their is an exception for out of network provides, mostly to protect them from some of these labs setting up testing sites to screw people on last minute test needs. We live in CA and have a test scheduled with CVS next week. We are not with Kaiser and did have to provide an insurance card but the out of pocket is free. 

On 8/5/2021 at 10:35 AM, mavo68 said:

Ok so I keep hearing some people say that the antigen at CVS is free, yet I am hearing others say that most insurance doesn’t pay for travel Covid testing. Does anyone know about this? There are 4 of us and I have another place I can book for only 49/pp and it is an antigen test but the drive in site is called “15 to know”. Not sure if RC will take this as an appropriate place for testing. I really don’t want to have to pay 139/pp to get tested…

Don't know who they are hearing this from. If you long on to the CVS web site and start to schedule an appointment they say that is is $0 out of pocket cost if you have insurance or through a federal program. They don't have any restrictions for travel verse other needs. We have some private locations around us who are also charging an arm and a leg for a test but think that is for people who don't plan ahead or maybe talking to the same people you hear this from. 

43 minutes ago, lovelife said:

Yes, it is in good shape. I kept commenting how clean and shiny everything looked. You will enjoy it!

 

 

Yes, thank you so much. We are up next and it was so nice to get a peek into what the future will hold. We know it will be great to be back with RCCL again. We have sailed Liberty several times but this will be our first trip on Independence so really excited about seeing the differences. 

1 minute ago, orville99 said:

We will be scheduling ours as soon as the dates become available tomorrow. 

Great, its good we live where we live, CA like FL has a CVS on every corner it seems like, and where there is not a CVS there is a Walgreen's....lol