circuitrider

Ours are a mix. Also, any replacement cards would be 100% handwritten.

I've only been on one B2B and it was on Royal, but we just waited in our room until shortly before time to leave (to do the turnaround thing for immigration) and just took our suitcases to the new room before getting off the ship. Explained that we were doing a B2B and would just leave our stuff there. If memory serves, we could have left the suitcases in the room (think they even specified that we could leave clothes hanging in the closet, steward would get suitcases and clear out the closet for us), but we just took care of it ourselves.

On 1/21/2022 at 12:41 PM, firefly333 said:

Just put out the do not disturb sign. I've gone for a couple of days without service, just grabbed towels off the cart. I also asked last time to skip towel animals. 

Did this on Celebrity once. First day (embarkation day) the steward was all huffy basically demanding to be let in the room because it was a requirement to clean it once a day. Um...did he not clean it before we embarked? Something about him just rubbed me the wrong way. So I kept out the do not disturb sign. Halfway through the cruise security comes and finds me (while I'm watching a movie with my daughter) and wants to go into the room right now. I go with them, they check the room, let the steward in to clean...and can't point to anywhere in the contract where stateroom cleaning was required X times a day (this was a number of years ago, way before Covid, and no there was no noro going on at the time). The whole experience was just odd.

Since then I've tried to make a point of letting them in once a day, and if I don't need anything I'll just ask for towels and for garbage to be taken (even if not required, so they can say they went through the entire room). Only been on one cruise since Covid, I just made sure to leave the do not disturb sign off for at least a few hours in the morning or evening so they'd have a chance to go in and do whatever they needed. I'd rather they didn't every single day (every other day would be ok), I mean I don't have housekeeping come to my house once or twice a day to wipe everything down and make my bed, but eh.

All I'm going to say is, if you take both and only one gives results in time...what do you do if you get an email notification halfway through the cruise (because you didn't purchase wifi on the ship and had to wait for a port day) that the other test was positive? Could very well happen if you have one PCR and one antigen test.

Personally, I'd schedule a rapid test with CVS as early as possible, and have a backup plan just in case. Maybe it's a secondary test for the afternoon (you'd want that to be a rapid test as well). Maybe you have an emed test (proctored at-home test you can do anywhere with an internet connection). Maybe you run around all the urgent care centers waving a fistful of cash (please don't do that). Check the test result carefully and make sure it has all the necessary info provided and correct (correct name, correct DOB, shows the type of test, shows the result, etc.). Have a printout AND a digital copy ready to show on the phone. I'm thinking of ordering enough emed tests for the whole family plus a spare; if there's a problem getting a test done in time OR they have an issue with the paperwork at the port, we're covered (I don't recommend relying on taking the emed test at the port on embarkation day, but as an emergency backup it should be ok).

9 hours ago, sammee said:

I got the comments before and during Covid. The "it must be nice" is a favorite. They say that crap, while they blow 100/week in lunches and another 100 in a bar.  Of course all the other crap just used more during covid.

We've gotten that, especially from my wife's sister. I figured it up once, with their car payments and multiple shopping trips each week and all the fast food and...they had to be bringing in at LEAST as much as we were, probably more. Plus we had two extra kids. She (wife's sister) was jealous because she wanted what she already had PLUS what we had...doesn't work that way. If it'd been my family doing that, they'd be getting an earful of "must be nice to have TWO new cars, must be nice to go out to restaurants multiple times a week, must be nice to be go shopping multiple times a week for stuff you'll never use and eventually throw away..."

In regards to our recent holidays, no push-back, but we don't really advertise/brag about our trips on social media. Sometimes I'll post a cute photo, that's the only time Facebook friends would find out about a trip.

If you're just worried about Carnival cancelling the cruise, I wouldn't worry. In that situation, they would have to give you a 100% refund at the very least, perhaps more (as in, refund plus a partial credit toward a cruise). If YOU cancel (including if you test positive for Covid) then you may have to deal with a future cruise credit, but if THEY cancel the entire cruise then I guarantee a full refund will be an option (they'll likely try to get you to take a future cruise credit and may try to sweeten the deal a bit...but you should always have the option to just take a 100% refund).

Personally, we're pretty easy-going. We go on a cruise to go on a cruise. Swap some ports around (so the first stop is now the last and the last is the first)? No worries. Miss a port and stop somewhere else instead? Might be a bit disappointed but we'll live (I now know to NOT have the last port be the only port we do any snorkeling in). Miss a port entirely? I may complain a little if they just refund the port fees, throw in some obc and I'll get over it.

We're taking the kids with us on a Carnival cruise in March. Couldn't believe the prices, less than $50 per person per day (including taxes/fees but not gratuities) for two staterooms (one a balcony) during spring break? Couldn't get my card out fast enough. I'll hope for the best but as long as there's something for the kids to do (if kids club is closed then the water slide needs to be open) and we have a beach day somewhere, we'll be happy.

11 minutes ago, Colorado Babe said:

Lighten up Harkinmr.  I stopped getting vaccines in 2002 when I retired from the military.  Apparently, you never served so would't understand the slang we used  for a vaccine.  

I wouldn't consider what they did to be a "jab". Literal gun with trigger, if anything deserved to be called a "shot" it was that. One guy made the mistake of moving while he was getting his.

Edit: talking about military vaccines, not Covid. First Covid shot didn't feel a thing, bit of a pinch for the second. Too easy.

42 minutes ago, Mikew0805 said:

That is now how HIPAA (Abbreviated correctly) works. There is absolutely no breach of HIPAA if you as an individual provide YOUR health information to anyone/anyplace at all. HIPAA protects you from healthcare workers/companies from sharing your PHI with someone/someplace without your consent.

 

FTLOG!

There's various parts to HIPAA. From my understanding:

The cruise line cannot just contact your doctor and ask if you've been vaccinated. I mean they could, but the doctor's office legally can NOT just hand over that information. Now, if the cruise line had consent, meaning you signed a form saying that you authorized the disclosure of your vaccination status, THEN the doctor's office could provide that information. They're just not allowed to reveal medical information, including vaccination status, without your consent.

The part that might be a bit tricky, is if the cruise line is allowed to ask for your vaccination status in the first place. I think yes, and if you disagree then try signing up your child for public school and see how many times you're asked for their vaccination records (and then see what happens if you don't consent). Vaccination status doesn't seem to be protected in the same way as actual medical conditions. I.e. I can see that a cruise line can be allowed to ask for proof of a Covid vaccination, but NOT ask if you've been previously infected with Covid.

That said, I see a simple fix that should make everyone happy. Mandatory testing, which you may exempt yourself from if you provide proof of being fully vaccinated. There is absolutely no requirement to provide vaccination status, they won't even ask! Just stand here in the long line to have a nasal swab tickle your brain...or show your proof of vaccination if you prefer to skip all that. And if the port they're stopping at requires everyone to have proof of vaccination...stay away from the long line of people getting off the ship. Go enjoy Windjammer's for lunch, and marvel at how easy it is to find a table when the ship's in port.

Just now, Colorado Babe said:

Mine clearly states on the RC planner that my Liberty sailing has been cancelled and to call my TA or RC to get more info..  

It'd still be nice to have a quick blurb on the site so you didn't panic while calling. And panic more when you realize your TA won't be open until after the weekend. And really start to panic when you try calling Royal and you somehow get the only rep who has no idea what you're talking about (then you call back, and somehow get the only OTHER rep who also has no idea what you're talking about). Third call you finally get a rep who knows exactly what's going on...except it turns out they were completely and utterly wrong. I mean, what are the chances??!!

Just now, Colorado Babe said:

I received the same email.  I'm not sure why folks have to get so upset.  Just be patient.  

I'm sure some have just skimmed the email and are focused on the June 8 date. Or didn't read at all. Or never received (maybe they booked with a TA and RCCL doesn't have their email). Or received but went to Spam. When logging into the site and viewing booked cruises, this is the only message I have:

"Voyage Canceled: We’re sorry, but your voyage has been canceled. Keep an eye out for an email with details, and contact us or your travel agent if you have questions."

It sounds like people who were originally booked on Independence and haven't been moved/canceled yet, were seeing the new itinerary since Independence will indeed be leaving from Galveston. It's just a matter of Royal moving the ship with people still booked, and then later canceling those bookings and putting them on the new correct ship. If you hadn't received an email and weren't checking the news every day, and suddenly see that your cruise was either canceled or completely changed where it was embarking/disembarking from, you'd likely be a bit concerned. It'd be nice if Royal had a way to display a custom message for an affected cruise, a short blurb like "we are working to reschedule your booking on Independence of the Seas, please give us a few days to finish" or "your cruise may temporarily show an incorrect embarkation/disembarkation port, we are in the process of moving your booking to a replacement ship, check back next week when we should have everything ready to view in your Cruise Planner!"

50 minutes ago, GalwayGirl03 said:

So I was told by multiple people on the phone that it was 6/8 but fb royal msg just got back and said 6/18! I don't think I can be that patient!!!!!  

Per the email I received (was booked on Liberty of the Seas, now being moved to Independence):

"Beginning June 8th, 2021, we’ll automatically move you to the Independence of the Seas sailing departing on the same day as your original cruise."

"All moves will be completed by June 18th, 2021, and we’ll send an updated reservation confirmation with your revised details to the email address on file as soon as your reservation has been completely updated with the pricing fully adjusted."

The wording in the email gives them ten days to complete the transfer. Yours could be one of the first and will be done on the 8th. Or it could be the last one and doesn't get completed until the 18th. More likely, it'll take a handful of days to get everyone transferred over. The rest of the time will be spent taking care of special one-off cases, fixing issues where somehow a room was double-booked or other such nonsense that shouldn't happen but invariably will, and then fixing the smaller things such as pricing. So, I wouldn't freak out if you check later today and it shows you're leaving on the right ship from the wrong port, and/or have a balance due when you already paid in full. I'd try waiting until next week before calling in about the new reservation being inaccurate.

Wishing we had booked the September 19 sailing, I'd love an extra free day. As it is we're on the September 12 sailing. Ah well.

Hoping our UDP transfers over, I'm guessing it won't and we'll be expected to repurchase it at the new higher price. Was debating getting it in the first place (wasn't too impressed last time we had it on Liberty), but bit the bullet and now we're getting Independence with Izumi and Playmakers? It'll definitely be worth it now!

^ kids under 18 don't have the same benefits as adults (including the free VOOM).

Possibly. Just saying that I was able to use an under 18's info to start signing up for internet. Got as far as showing the coupon making the daily charge $0. When trying to actually check-out, it errored saying that it could not charge the account (I had their accounts set to not allow charging). Had the cruise been longer than 5 nights I would have pursued further, but with my wife and I getting a free day each plus having internet during our two port days, there was really no need.

Could have been a fluke.

We recently went on a 5-night cruise with three of our kids. I tried getting the free 24hr internet access using their info and it worked up to the point of actually checking out. It couldn't charge the $0 to the account (possibly because I had their onboard accounts set to not allow charging).

They also had free drinks on their cards from 4:30-8PM (only used for sodas).

If some-one has done CCL & RCL. Is Johnny Rockets Way Way better then Guy's Burgers?? For the price you pay.. Thinking about doing a second RCL cruise. After 14 with CCL.. I love Hamburgers.. Thank You.

I'd rate the quality of the burgers pretty closely. Shame Guy's isn't open for dinner. Wife and I would go up every day for lunch, I'd get the burger and she'd either get a burger or a burrito.

{All the above is assuming you're travelling on an AU passport, btw).

Thanks. I know that for visa purposes, Hong Kong does not count as part of China. We've actually done the visa-free transit before (back in 2012, think it was for up to 24 hours, spent the day in Beijing during a really long layover). Also went to Hong Kong (separate trip) for several days and didn't need a visa.

As long as they look at the next port and not the disembarkation port (figured they would, but you never know), I'm not worried about going through immigration at Shanghai. I'm more concerned about them being denied boarding on the flight TO Shanghai due to not having a visa (because the check in system may not be able to handle a situation where you fly in but don't fly out). Has anyone done something similar, fly in and cruise out without getting a visa?

Thanks again!

Just booked a cruise for my wife and daughter (sadly I have to stay at home, son will be at school camp and returns home in the middle of the cruise). Trying to figure out if a visa is required.

9 night Mariner of the Seas leaving 1 September. Departs from Shanghai, China; arrives Singapore. Ports are Okinawa, Japan; Hong Kong; and Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

From my understanding, they should be eligible for the 144 hour visa-free transit. Plan is to fly from Melbourne to Shanghai (with a layover in a country other than China, since I "think" it'd be a problem otherwise), spend a couple days there, take the cruise to Singapore (which has no stops in China), then fly back to Melbourne.

Anyone done this? Anything I should be looking out for?

When they go to check in at the airport, will the gate agent be able to figure it out, or is it a hard requirement that there is an outgoing flight (they're leaving China on the cruise, so there'll be no outgoing flight)?

When determining the next country you're going to, does China look at the first port stop, or the debarkation port? If the latter, I need to make sure there's not a layover in Singapore on the way up.

Quick search shows they shouldn't need a visa for Japan, Hong Kong, or Singapore. Vietnam may not need one for cruise passengers, will double check.

Thanks!

If you happen to be in the region or can organise your own air this cruise is going for $349 USD + tax+ tips on my go to USA TA site. Sadly I will be coming home at the end of August otherwise I would have added this to the two cheap Ovation cruises I picked up while here.

RCCL's site says it's a 9 night cruise leaving September 1st.

I agree, either show up at the designated time or later or a wait may be required.

Yes, except...if the 12:30PM people are the first group, and the ship is ready at 11:30AM, then it's not a problem to show up an hour early. Obviously if you're in the 3PM group, you can't show up at 11:30AM.

What I'm asking is which group is #1? I now know there's a 12:30PM group. Is there a 12PM group? 11:30AM group? What group do you need to be in to be first in line (other than Priority Boarding, of course)?

Thanks for the replies!

I know that the ship is almost always ready for boarding before the "official" time.

What I don't know is when is the "official" time? I might be in the first group, and would hate to wait my turn if my turn started an hour early.

Maybe you could post when your boarding time was, and whether you were able to board early or were sent away (thus, your time must not have been in the first group)?

Thanks!

The 23rd April Explorer of the Seas 24 night Sydney to Seattle mentioned earlier has had a small price drop ($1,585.18 inside guarantee).

We booked when it was $1800-something, direct with Royal Caribbean because I heard it was easier to deal with them directly. I know I've heard stories of people calling when the price went down and getting on onboard credit or upgrade to compensate (no actual drop in price). Well, was I misinformed, or is there a special number I have to call? I'm just told "cancel and rebook, you'll pay penalties" (and the penalties are more than the deposit I paid...stupid me paying more than the bare minimum).

Just curious.

Now what was that about 4 wears per pair.......

Wear twice, turn inside out, wear twice more.

Repeat as necessary.

Not having any, I didnt think of that option.

We need a "borrow a friend" thread. I was trying to find one earlier this year, luckily I talked my mom into coming. We didn't even need the extra room, we just had a similar situation where it cost less to book six people in three rooms than five people in two rooms.

I really doubt that the cruise line would deny you boarding if someone in your party didn't show up. Did you pay? Yes. Did the other person pay? Yes. Did either of you get a refund? No. It would be a pretty bad PR move. That said, I don't plan on risking it.

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, looking to get from Australia to the US first half of next year (pretty flexible on dates). Don't mind one big cruise, several smaller ones, mix of cruises and flights, etc. If it goes east, is between Australia and the US, and is dirt cheap, I'm gonna book it.

Not sure how good a deal this is, but we just booked it. Pacific Jewel 10 day South Pacific departing Sydney 7 Sept 2015:

Inside Cabin, category ID - Quad for 1 x adult and 3 x children

Cabins are located on Deck 10

Available Cabin - 10117

Total price of AUD $2588.63

Inside Cabin, category IC - Triple for 1 x adult and 2 x children

Cabins are located on Deck 11

Available Cabin - 11215

Total price of AUD $2210.39

Inside Cabin, category IF - Twin for 1 x adult and 1 x children

Cabins areon a guarantee basis

Total price of AUD $1937.68

The twin's not a great deal, but the quad works out to under $65pp per day. That's a good price if it was in USD, but in AUD it's a steal. Oh, we also got a $200 credit with the triple, was told there's no credit for a twin (but maybe there is for a quad?).

Why doesn't a coin seem right.

 

surely a $ is a $ is a $. They are going to either use it n port or bank it on board.

I don't know the policies of the various cruise lines, but the currency exchange places I've used will not take coins. A pile of $1 and $2 Australian coins might be worthless if you're trying to exchange to USD (well, hopefully an Australian money exchanger would take them). Found out the hard way when we tried to purchase a tour in Noumea, they had prices in AUD but would not take coins. Neither would the currency converter biz.

Anyways, that's one case where a $ is not always a $.