dandi799

@Host AnneThank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions, and for taking us along on your test cruise!! 

Just now, jshli said:

dandi799, can you tell me which CVS in NJ your daughter received the antigen test?

 

Ledgewood in Northern, NJ. I also scheduled my whole family to get the rapid antigen test at the Sparta, NJ location next week before we head out to get on Symphony. 

Just now, ptf2009 said:

What is the antigen test? Is it the one that is real far up the nose? How fast does CVS give you the results? Is it free? Does anyone know if the required tests are administered the same way or what the difference is?

 

Thank you for your time....I am already stressing about getting this test for our Sept. cruise! I already had one test with the stick down my throat and it was not pleasant.

The antigen test is not the one that goes really far up your nostril. My daughter just had one done at CVS yesterday. You take one q-tip, and swirl it inside each nostril (about one inch) for 15 seconds. We did not pay anything, but we have insurance and are in NJ, so I don't know whether that is the case across the board. We received a phone call from the nurse practitioner about 30 minutes later telling us it was negative. I also received a text message with a link to the negative test result, which I could save as a PDF (I was able to email the PDF to myself so that I could print it out). I hope that helps!

Just now, RFerrington said:

Very surprised that the Aqua Theater show is vaxxed only.  That makes NO sense.

That surprised me as well. Perhaps it's just because this is a test cruise, and there will be more availability on a 7 night sailing.

Hooray!! I will be following along! I will be on the first revenue sailing on 8/14, if all goes well! 

Just now, Tall-Cruiser said:

I am getting it for our 8/21 SY sailing. It’s strange that it works for some dates.

Has anyone had luck getting through for 8/14 Symphony sailing?

I'm on the 8/14 Symphony. When I click on this link - https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked/cruise-room-upgrade, it does not work. However, when I go to the email they sent after I put in the bids, and click on any of the "modify/cancel" buttons in that email, I can see which bids have expired, and which are pending. I hope that helps!

I just checked on my bids for my 8/14 sailing, and they were all expired (OS, 1 BR GS, and 2 BR GS) except for my bid on the JS, which still says pending. I'm actually surprised that they updated anything this early, but I'm happy to know that at least I won't be moving up to the OS or GS. 

I was just able to check in this morning for our 8/14 Symphony sailing. (29 days out)

Also just received this for my 8/14 Symphony sailing. Also received an email informing me of the protocols for vaccinated v. unvaccinated guests. Didn't seem like any new information in there, and I did not see the list of which areas would be exclusively for vaccinated guests or what the mask requirements will be. 

It's also tricky because we can't book any show reservations before we board. I'm in the same situation, and I feel like I would usually book my show reservations and then plan my dinners around the shows. I think flexibility will be key! 

25 minutes ago, karena1 said:

Already checked in for our August and Sept cruises

Which ships? I am on the 8/14 Symphony sailing, which is the first one out, and check-in is still not open. I wonder if first sailings are a little delayed with check-in? 

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

All of the information is out there for someone to make an intelligent decision. If someone is booking a cruise now for July 3rd expecting it to sail 100% they are either incredibly optimistic or have been living under a rock.  Cruises are a crap shoot on a good day. Itineraries can change, charters can cause  booked passengers to be canceled and there can be mechanical and weather issues  that will change the outcome of the cruise. Anyone who booked during the pandemic knew what they were getting into.

Please don’t forget about those of us who booked well before the pandemic. I booked my August Symphony cruise in November 2019. I am crossing my fingers that the lift and shift option might still be in place if they cancel. We were able to get a fantastic deal in this cruise, and would not be able to afford to go next year unless it’s a L&S. The 125% doesn’t cover the cost difference at all. 

34 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

But they are not going with fully vaccinated cruises. They are going with fully “eligible vaccinated” cruises. They are allowing children 

This was my thought. Especially on Oasis class ships in the summer, there might be enough children under 12 to make up more than 5% of the total passengers, even if they are limiting total capacity.

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The drydock she is going in for is only 2 -4 weeks.  Even at 4 weeks with 2 weeks over and 2 weeks back she could be back in the US early July. 

Now, I'm back to hoping again!! Lol.

@jp2746 Here are a couple of articles that mention Symphony's dry dock. https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24934-another-royal-caribbean-ship-is-drydocking-in-cadiz.html and https://www.cruisemapper.com/wiki/767-cruise-ship-refurbishment-dry-dock-schedule 

I had lost most hope for my August Symphony cruise, and this doesn't help. 🙂 If you look here - https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9744001 You can see that she is on her way across the Atlantic right now. 

Can I assume that this means that August cruises will not be heading out from Miami? I’ve been holding out hope that my august cruise on Symphony might happen, but this is making me pretty sure it’s a no. 

I hope @ChicagoCubsFan does not mind me piggy backing off of the original post!!

Does anyone have any insights into how much an older couple would realistically be able to see in Athens in one day? My mom and dad are hoping to find a cruise that includes Rome and Athens, so the Odyssey itinerary  looks great, especially with adding on time in Rome before or after. This would be a bucket-list trip, so I would hate for him to leave feeling frustrated. He is 70, and in decent shape, but does have very early stage Alzheimers, so they would likely not want to explore on their own in order to keep the frustration level down. They have only been on one cruise and want to stick with Royal. I saw a couple of other lines that began in Rome and ended in Athens, which would have been ideal. 

I am booked on Symphony for August 2021, and I have not seen the combo lower than $61 (UBP on it's own has been $53 on sale), and I've been checking daily for almost a year. Lol. My sailing might be more expensive because it's in the summer, though. 

Man!! This is not a great sale for me at all. Excursions went UP for my Symphony 7 night next August, and not just by a little bit. Lol. The DBP is still $53. That's the lowest I've seen it go, and I check every day. Guessing that's the best it will get. Yikes! I hope others find great deals!

ETA: Coco Cay went down a bit from when I purchased it, so I was wrong.! Just the other 2 excursions that I was keeping an eye on went up by about $8/pp.

Just now, Ourusualbeach said:

Drink and internet are loaded now.

I can see the drink/internet sale (unfortunately no better than they have been off and on for the past couple of months) for my cruise next August. Still crossing fingers that maybe some excursion deals have yet to be loaded.

5 hours ago, firefly333 said:

I looked at my dec 2021 and everything there but high priced. I thought before there was a chops plus one dinner which isnt there now... though the 3 dinner is still there.

 

Drink pkg at $57 pp, up from $52 last time I looked.

 

Prices the same or higher. Maybe now we will have a black friday sale back to previous so they can call it a sale. 

 

I would swear there used to be a chops plus one dinner for $59 pp no longer a option. Maybe they were updating prices when you couldn't see options.

Yep!! Everything is back now, but at a higher price. LOL. I did already book some things when they were on sale, but I've been watching the drink package in case it goes below the $53 I booked it at. 🙂

27 minutes ago, Deseo1578 said:

Did your pricing for drinks for 2022 disappeared? I could see them yesterday, today I can see the unlimited dining package, but no drinking packages. 

Nearly the entire cruise planner is empty now for my August, 2021 cruise. No excursions, no beverage packages, and only the 3 night dining available right now. 

27 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

There is one 5 night Canada in that is listed on Oasis in June.  The rest will be on the second ship doing the Bermuda sailings

Perfect. Yeah, I am hoping for one of the short Bermuda ones on a smaller ship. We are hoping to be on Symphony with the whole family next August (fingers crossed), and then I was hoping to do a shorter one on a smaller ship the following summer without the kids. 🙂  I appreciate your help! I thought today's release was everything for summer 2022, so I'm relieved.

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

They haven’t released the shorter cruises yet.  That is a different release

Thank you! That makes me feel better! Fingers crossed! 

I'm so disappointed that there are no shorter cruises for summer 2022 from either NJ or Baltimore. Do you think there is any chance of them being added? We were really hoping for a 4-5 night, which they have had for the past few years.