Ret MP

Yessssssss! Don't leave home without it!

I don't want to put this into the "dead horse" category. It's too tragic and sensitive. So, my last comment on this is: The cruise industry had to do what they had to do to stay in business, one of which was to comply with the CDC's mandates, real and implies. And to insure that the start up, for an unspecified period of time would go off without a hitch, normal policies were adjusted just for COVID. We, are just now coming to the realization that COVID is the new flu and people can cruise with the flu, there is not now or ever has been a pre-boarding test for the flu or, to the best of my knowledge, any other illness. Right now you can cruise with COVID if you have no symptoms (in other words, you don't know you have it, my first bout with COVID, I had no symptoms, I just had a reason to be tested at my Dr.'s office for reasons other than cruising and I came up positive), or hide the symptoms from the terminal staff. No testing required. Hell, the 7 day average of COVID deaths (and we know that is a joke) is down to 429. One is too many but that is wayyyyyyy down and 0 unrealistic.

I wasn't going to go there. But, I agree. It's mostly about a very tragic event of which I have the utmost sympathy for. But, I was expecting a complaint about RCCL's service, food, whatever. Not something that is upfront and spelled out.

Tragic story for sure. I'm hoping thing get much better for you and your wife. And like you said, Policy is what it is. I don't think the policy is a medical policy as much as it is a business decision/policy. They can't be the arbiter of illnesses at the boarding terminal.

Damn, I've got lots of those, too.

I try to get 2 dollar bills from my banking institutions just for wait staff and bar staff. If they provide expected or better service, I'll give 'em a 2 dollar bill or two, or three, depends. Now, if you are tipping a Genie/Concierge, cabin attendant, of course, larger bills are fine. It all spends. If you give out $100.00 dollar bills I'm sure they can get them broken up on the ship at the casino/customer service, et al. However, I was told in another cruise social media site that some crew don't like $2.00 bills because their banks in their home country aren't familiar with the U.S. $2.00 bill. I've been doing this for decades and never had a complaint. In fact, they, mostly, seem to appreciate the novelty of it. BTW, for a 7 night cruise, I get about $200.00 in two dollar bills.

I don't know ANYTHING about the key, and what I'm about to suggest isn't said as a fact, I'm only offering it as a possibility: With the Key, it includes a meal, I believe all full service restaurants include a gratuity in the cost of the meal. Isn't it possible that at least some of the discrepancy is a gratuity for that meal, from Chops Grill? EDITED IN: I'd like to ghost price it but it is sold out on my next cruise and the one after that, the "Cruise Planner" isn't available yet. And yes I know that the Chops meal, depending on ship and/or sailing may not be served actually in the Chops Grill venue.

Matt is/was a Cruise Director on Carnival ships. I know, as stated earlier, I had lunch with him on the Carnival Sunshine (I believe it was the Sunshine, could be wrong about the ship) several years ago. https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/e2-80-98the-real-love-boat-e2-80-99-who-is-the-cruise-director-e2-80-94-matt-mitcham/ar-AA12BKdo

I'd love to see a Led Zeppelin tribute ban, they're my favorite R&R band.

Great, I hope it's on our cruise. Haven't seen that one yet.

Thank you, mod!

An a$$.....! Not much needs to be done. I'll post a picture though!

what is the show on the Independence of the Seas, usually. Cruising on October 31, 2022, 24 days, whoop whoop. The website isn't showing what the show is. I know that there is no guarantee that what was on last week will be on when I cruise on her. But, it might be a good indicator.

I always wait until I'm on the ship to purchase lanyards and the like, if needed. I don't like shopping at kiosks, here today, gone tomorrow. I don't even like shopping in the kiosks in the middle of the Promenade. Yes, I know they are nothing more than the shops bringing stuff out. It's just a thing of mine. I guess it's the usual crowds, which I dislike crowds, and the rudeness that goes on.

Yep, that is right! Just one fine point, your boarding pass can be used in lieu of a Set Sail Card that you don't get until you can go to your cabin, when it's ready and get it out of the mail box outside of your cabin. If a kiosk, in the terminal, is actually part of the Royal ship, I'm sure your "boarding pass" can be used just like you can use it, on the ship, at the bars/restaurants/ice cream shops, et al, if open, on embarkation day.

Yep, that's true about most, if not all, major ports (air or sea), the port authority owns and usually contracts out the management of the parking. Wish I would have know that that was what you planned on, I'd warn you against it. But, you did get one point per dollar, though. LOL For general consumption: I'd advise against purchasing anything in the terminals, kiosks with the intent on getting double BoA points. Check them out first, they may be run by the Port or a private entity paying the port for space. I think a good rule of thumb, although not engraved in stone, if the kiosk is not selling Royal logo'ed merchandise, it's probably not directly connected to Royal. It's possible too that some Royal Logo stuff, surplus/outdated, isn't connected to Royal, financially, too. It can be tricky. I'd ask before I buy. BTW, the terminal is an extension of the ship while the ship is there, the ship is cashless. So, if Royal has a kiosk or photo locations, they'd be using your boarding pass for your purchases, again, that's not engraved in stone. JMHO/YMMV

The OP referenced leaving Hawaii (a U.S. Port that has no testing requirement for less than 10 night cruises) going to Vancouver (a Canadian Port that has no testing requirement anymore). And it's not a 10 night cruise. So, if nothing is required right now, except for the ArriveCan app, there is no logical reason to believe that there is going to be any testing requirements in May, I think we've learned our lesson. Your TP cruise is different and has nothing to do with the OPs cruise. And whether he was pissed or not is a matter of perception and opinion. I felt and still do feel that it was an argumentative/angry/pissed off, you can pick which one you want, response. Again, I never made a definitive, declarative, or certainty type answer. It was my feelings, my hope, my guess.

No, what I said was not a statement of fact. Geeeeesh. I said, "should", "probably" and "hope". That's not a statement in fact. It's an opinion, a wish, anything but a statement of fact. To think or interpret otherwise is just plain wrong or wishful thinking. Here it is: "Oh ya, you should be good by then. Probably absolutely no COVID requirements by then. Back to the "old normal", I hope". Where is the definitive statement? Just trying to give the guy/gal hope for a better future albeit a little thing. Man, I just can't get over how far too many people miss-interpret things in here.

BTW, just as a side note: The music hall is a great music venue, obviously. But, it doesn't hold a candle to the 270 for sound and comfort. I wish they had something like the 270 on the future Oasis and Icon class ships.

That's great news.

I have never been on a Princess cruise but my wife has. She was not impressed.

Naaaa, I'm a regular on the Nude Cruise though!

Okay. Apology accepted I assume.

I've watched people climb over the wall right by the little bar. The staff was on them like stink on s... I just don't understand why people are willing to pay such prices for a cabana. People have got to know that the prices are way over inflated. I'll never pay the current rates for one. Hell, I've never paid half the current rates for one.

If that's all your intent was, I do apologize. To me, it read as a criticism of my post where I used the words "Should", "Probably", and "I hope". That's where I was going to retort if you quoted me. But, again, if your post had pure intent and not meant to criticize or attack, I apologize. And you are 100% right. It's been an active night in here for me. I'm enjoying it though.