DCPIV

I've stayed in RS a few times since the restart and dined in Luminae all but one night during all that.  The sommelier/wine steward never mentioned an upgrade, but I also do not recall seeing anything on the list that was only a buck or two more than the package cost.  In any case, I was happy with what was offered, even if it took a few tastes of different things to find what I was looking for.  No one ever gave any fuss about that.

Now, I was charged a buck or two extra for some of the whiskies.  However, I specifically asked for those, and the bartender (without fail) alerted me to the extra cost.  I never begrudged the extra cost for a moment, but I might've had someone not brought it to my attention beforehand.

On 12/20/2021 at 12:32 PM, LuCruise said:

Thanks.  As long as your check in time isn't "you are late, you can't come".  

 

We can either leave our time as is (and may actually arrive 1-2 hrs later) or move our check in time to 1-2 hrs after we would arrive to the port...meaning we would have to wait anyways.

It's not that you can't board, but they do caution that you may have to get worked in later if they are busy. Regardless, you will not be turned away. I saw all that somewhere on RC's website. I think it was around the FAQs.

Keep in mind that, as much as we don't like to admit it, Cruise Critic and our experiences are not authority. Especially with omicron causing some consternation, don't assume that they won't follow their rules. 

The only time I recall seeing it earlier than 4:45 is when we've had a late port arrival.

19 hours ago, dkny330 said:

Hi there - Excited to get back to cruising and we leave this weekend! Just got our check-in time and its pretty late at 2:30p. Do you have to go at this time or can you go earlier? Thanks!

Keep checking back.  Other times can open up.  Best of luck to you!

4 hours ago, A Tucson Guy said:

Aw come on- what about Crystal!!!

It was Krug Grand Cuvée. 😉

1 hour ago, CruiserFromMaine said:

a gathering in our suite with our friends was quite fun when the Head Sommelier opened a nice bottle of Krug for us

That was quite wonderful. Thank you so very much for that!

@Lois R You just keep on having adventures, don't you, whether at the airport or the passport office? 🤣

I'm glad the airplane was more inconvenience than anything else, and you should be fine with the expedited passport renewal (good move on that).

1 hour ago, CruiserFromMaine said:

@Lois R @DCPIV we enjoyed meeting you and sharing dinners and pre dinner cocktails with you—I’m glad we connected!

 

We’re at the airport, in the Sky Club, waiting for our afternoon flight. It’s nice here but it’s not the Whisper! 
 

We got off around 8:50 and were out front by 9:00. Easy peasy. As a splurge, I booked a car service to the airport…it must’ve been a slow day for them they picked us up in a stretch limo! 

Safe and uneventful travels today and good luck with your fridge, DCPIV! 

Very nice! Chi chi!

47 minutes ago, Lois R said:

9:40? I bet you will be off soon😁

We were called only a few minutes later, as a matter of fact, and we walked off with Frank and Benjamin. 

We're now at the airport and cooling our heels in our typical fashion. 

Unfortunately, we have a project as soon as we get home. We just spoke to our son, and our freezer burned up (likely after he got to our home last night). Everyone is fine, and the house is fine, but we're now shopping for a new fridge/freezer. The food news is that, being a homebrewer, beer collector, and BBQer, we have three other refrigerators and a deep freeze, so loss and inconvenience are relatively small. 

Good to hear it, Spins! It was wonderful meeting you and your husband! 

We got to the airport a little bit ago. We're going home in the same fashion we left.

5 minutes ago, Lois R said:

Good morning

Doak, pleasure was mine😃 Hi Char!

I am sitting at the airport. It was a very quick disembarkation as I was in the first group off and it took all of 2 minutes to get my bag, go through Immigration and there were tons and tons of cabs lined up right outside. I have an 11:30 flight. 

Once I got to the airport the Jet Blue Terminal #3, was a freaking Madhouse. OMG......Anyway, got my checked bag in and now waiting in a very crowded gate area. 

To my 4 new friends, it was really special hanging out, having the awesome birthday cocktails and dinner for the guys. Thanks Ellie and Carl. Would love to sail with you again.

Spins, it was nice to meet you both.

 

I get home about 12:30 and now need to renew my passport. 

 

Next cruise is April 1sr on The Dawn! And I put 2 deposits down for Nova in 2023 and 2024.😃

 

Glad to hear it's gone well enough. 

We're still on the ship! 🤣

11 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

While not an answer to the OP's question.   You could take one of the non-proctored tests a week before the actual test to reduce your anxiety and also do a practice test for the process.    I did just that and I really relieved our worrying about testing last minute.

We did that for a recent Silversea cruise since they only test at the pier (no prior negative test considered, no matter how recent). We wanted to minimize the chances of an unpleasant surprise. 

It was a joy to meet and spend time with you, Lois! May your travels today be smoother than the ship was a couple days ago! 😀

It's always worth a call. 

I've had similar experiences as others. It used to be the policy that Suite/Concierge Lounge drinks were to stay in there, but the policy seems to have faded away since drink packages began. 

Another variable is immigration. While it normally goes so quickly that you hardly notice, those machines can and do go down. It still might not add much time, but that'll still matter if you're trying to cut it close. 

Beers will cost you about $9 or $10. Cocktails will cost about $12-15. Wine by the glass is about the same as cocktails. All those are prices that include gratuities. Figure out what you likely will spend per day on average. Be liberal, as you likely will drink more than normal. (You're platinum, so you know that). Subtract that number from the per day cost of the package (after adding gratuities).

If you're going to be drinking bottled water, specialty coffee (other than Starbucks) and soft drinks to the point you would be interested in the Refreshment package (which just about everyone will), subtract that cost from the cost of the package. Even if you wouldn't do the Refreshment package, you need to figure some number out and subtract that. 

If you come up with a negative number, go for the package. If you're anywhere close to zero, it's still probably a good idea. That gives you freedom to try things without worrying about the cost. 

Most likely, you'll find that you only need to get a few alcoholic drinks per day (on average) to make the package make sense. 

Like another poster, we are D+ and still get the package. After backing out the Refreshment package cost and our D+ drinks, we still often can get the Deluxe Package at a cost that comes close enough to a wash that convenience, freedom, and other little intangibles make it worthwhile. 

19 hours ago, Bobr118 said:

I think my wife and I would qualify for the 4-5 drinks per, per day.  However, would be helpful knowing the Deluxe Package normal cost per day versus the "special, 30% off" email received for our January cruise on Freedom.  It states the price as $64 per day, per adult, but I can not tell if this is after or before the discount.  Anyone know what they are charging for a glass of wine these days?  

Add the package to your cart. If you look at the checkout, you'll see the real total price (gratuities and all) in black and white. 

3 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

An observation. During this cruise we have not seen many sea birds.

A few but not many.

Anyone venture a guess or know why?

I've seen them, but they've been sparse. We did see quite a few brown pelicans when we were kayaking last week. 

I've seen less fishing and sailing going on, so I wonder if that has something to do with it. The gulls always flock around those ships for easy pickings. 

4 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

It’s the Marella Discovery from Valletta

 

former RCL vision class ship

1830 pax

rock climbing wall and miniature golf course

 

 

We looked it up, and that was the Splendor of the Seas when she was with RC.

Funny thing about that.  DW and I are here, on board Whisper, in part to celebrate my birthday. Fifteen years ago (nearly to the day), we sailed on Splendor to celebrate my birthday. So, I've got some birthday history going on here! 

I'll confirm that it has the canopy. I recently stayed in 6142 and the canopy also was over 6144 (next door). It does extend to the railing. 

Here's the view I had when facing 6144. You can see the canopy. 

There do seem to be some lamb chop issues aboard. Mine at La Terrazza came out overdone, and the second try was even worse. Lois was quite aware, as she was dining with me and DW.

The real problem is that those chops weren't even a half-inch thick. I don't know how you can cook anything that thin to a proper medium rare with also a proper sear. Many places (including the place that makes my favorite lamb chops in the world) cuts them thicker (two bones, rather than only one). That's the way to get a proper sear yet still cook to temperature. 

All that said, I take the same attitude as Lois. One subpar dish does not rain on my parade. Every other bite of food before or since those chops has been utterly delicious, and this cruise has been magnificent. 

On 12/8/2021 at 10:46 PM, Gourmet Gal said:

Just wondering, were you expecting 8 lamb rib chops…an entire rack?  

Frankly, yes. I would expect 8 bones, although I would not be disappointed if there were as few as 6, since I know that's considered a "rack of lamb" in some parts of the world. Anything less than that should be disclosed on the menu. 

I also would expect it to be cooked as an intact "rack" and sliced into chops only after its cooked. Otherwise, you're just making "lamb chops" rather than "rack of lamb."

But that's enough of flogging this dead ovine. It's a gorgeous day at the pool, and I need to attend to my Guinness before it gets too warm. 

20 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

We had to get off the ship and go some distance to be swabbed again. I took the shuttle bus, but a lovely crew gentleman named Junie,  pushed my 6 foot 4 husband in a wheelchair,  a great distance in the beastly heat, going to the swabber and back.

That was amazing. 

 

The procedure is a little weird, because we did not have to wait for results. We went back to the ship. Keep in mind we have not been off the ship once since Ft. Lauderdale. Granted we have been in contact with those pax who have been off and on. Plus we were tested yesterday. Negative.

 

Maybe the results will be back before we leave here. If anyone is positive they have already been on the ship whether they are new pax, or returning pax, as of now. 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought about y'all and what accommodations the ship might make for your husband. However, I never expected someone might push him to the testing site. Wow! Talk about above and beyond!

I also thought it was odd that we didn't have to wait for our results before returning to the ship. I wasn't very concerned about the in transit passengers, since we all had tested negative the day before, but I was surprised when it seemed the same was true for the new passengers. At least, I think that was the case. I may be mistaken (and I hope I was).

Our results came back in about 30 minutes, so risk wasn't terrible. At the same time, though, neither would have been any inconvenience to wait. 

20 hours ago, spinnaker2 said:

First leg of our cruise coming to an end.

 

But we still must have a covid test today.

To add to the fun, we must have another covid test tomorrow.

We must leave our suite by 8 am and hang out in Panorama or on pool deck until all the suites and areas have been fogged, probably about noon. Then we can return to our suites and must get off to have another test between 2 and 5.

This cruise then is actually fewer days, because most of day 1 was testing and waiting for us, and mid cruise is sequestering and testing and getting on and off.

These are the times we live in now, one must simply get used to it and go with the flow.

 

We have not been off the ship yet. Too difficult for my spouse. 

Our suite is lovely and we are enjoying it, and only leave infrequently for some meals. This has been terrific for us as we are taken care of by the extraordinarily wonderful crew.

 

Some might consider us antisocial, but at the moment, this is how it must be.  When we do venture forth there is a lot of maneuvering to be done. 

 

Some of the crew have asked us, “what happened, we remember you so differently, strong and without mobility issues”. This has been such a great opportunity for my husband, who has welcomed the chance to tell them what happened and why he is now “different”.  I believe it is helping him heal. It is where he is now.

We enjoyed meeting you and your husband very much and enjoyed our conversation. We hope we see more of you both, but we completely understand why you're in your suite. It's so wonderful that you and your husband can enjoy your vacation so much while also remaining relatively safe and comfortable. 

22 hours ago, CruiserFromMaine said:

Rainbow this morning over Dominica. 
 

I have almost that very same photo. Wasn't that something?