sandy toes

Friends just return and we leave TH out of B-more. They said it was "rough for the guests without the TA forms completed", "line was long, outside and bent all around for the TA forms", "some guests didn't even get tested". They said people walked the line and told people to move over there if they were missing anything at all. They all had to get in what one worker called "the naughty guest line". I guess that was why that line was so long, everyone that was missing anything had to wait there. Bermuda has eliminated the upload of the negative Covid test BUT it still needs to be done on Tuesday, and results need to be brought along to the port. It amazed me to hear about people not doing the forms for Bermuda, they are listed everywhere and we received several emails about them from Royal and our TA. Even more amazing, the people that did not have a Covid test. Where have they been since March 2020?

This is NOT a Royal only issue. It is not an isolated issue for a certain cruise ship, as I read in another thread. Yesterday I read in Business Insider https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-royal-caribbean-struggling-to-hire-crew-members-2022-5 Very good article. Come on people. STOP bashing. Show some compassion. We have a cruise coming up this week and again the end of July. I am looking forward to very little, by the standards I have read in several threads, being at sea, relaxing, cold frozen beverage by the pool, a day at Perfect Day, some time with family and a few memories to take with me when I leave. I do wish each of you wonderful cruises, the best the cruise line, ship, and crew can create.

Well said. Compassion. Everyone that has cruised in the past has a set of expectations but things are not as they were. Check out this article. https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-royal-caribbean-struggling-to-hire-crew-members-2022-5

No apologies needed. Read an article just yesterday from Business Insider about cruise lines cancelling cruises due to staff shortages. It is NOT just Royal. https://www.businessinsider.com/carnival-royal-caribbean-struggling-to-hire-crew-members-2022-5

OP: Very interesting thread and thank you. This is something I will now know when clients start discussions. I had no prior knowledge of this topic. It is just not something I am confronted with even monthly. I enjoy learning new things and thank you again.

Last August they were more bending as the start up was still in its infancy. Now, they are ending lots of their Covid related policies and reverting back to their pre-CV "manual". I doubt if any changes can be made after the manifest is printed.

You will see a few danish, bagels, English muffin, nice sized bakery muffins of various types and some juice and coffee. Not fancy. Just something to go with your morning coffee. If you want something more grab something from the WJ or Park Cafe.

Yes. Teen had friends that cruised over Spring Break. One was positive and quarantined with her friends momma. It was not something they had thought out before the cruise. The other family members were not allowed in with them. They tested negative the entire cruise and even once home. She was the only one sick and they believe she was ill coming onto the ship because 2 days (sea day and a Perfect Day) she was feverish and coughing at lunch. The mom never got it.

I did an appointment booking on a sea day, and the email was sent right then. As the cruise progressed, I decided I wanted a second booking and did that the final night, dropped that one in the box. When we got home and all settled in, I checked my emails and found it was there. The first one, I hade dates and all pre-picked out. The second was was TBD. Like someone else said, 2 month to decide, of loose the OBC and if you don't do anything , after 12 months you have tossed it all($200 deposit) out the window. FYI: if you use the box, the funds show up on your card just as if you had an appointment.

We leave this week and I have 4 pair of linen pants. They are so comfortable for both the guys and for us to wear in the hot Caribbean temps. And, the weather says we are going to have 90's.

Rules used to exist then, everyone decided to step back, take a breath and relax on holiday. Now, most people wear what they want and some do still dress to the hilt but others don't even bring a collared shirt. It is all good. Just do not try to enter the MDR bare foot. They will not allow that. 😉

DON'T forget the test results, along with the vaccine card. Bring the forms all up tonight and take screen shots, save to phone. That way if the wifi is horrible inside the building because you are not connected to a router, you can pull the pics right up and move through the line zip-zip quick.

The vaccine cards must be the original to match with the one on file with Royal.

OPs printer is down

Unless times have changed, and they have in so many ways, the Concierge will pass on making the reservations for the non-suite guests. Their time is allocated for the guests in the suites.

Absolutely, kiddos get 4 D and 5 D+vouchers for juice, soda, bottled.canned water, or virgin mock-tails. Kids love the frozen drinks almost as much as we do😉

That sounds very reasonable. Maybe if enough of us suggest a retro fit at Terminal G we can help make it a reality...at least before the temps are triple digits! While I understand lines in the cold, the lines in the heat of summer can be horrible too.

Where? Would love to take some friends. Not RFK or TMI but since Gerry isn't around, DSO at a brewery sounds really good.

The ship will be docked. You can use your phone service to do the video chat for the Covid test. No need to worry about the ZOOM package.

Best advice. Add them, names TBD, lock in price. Look at the deck plan and the "key" to see if your cabin will hold them. Just because it has a sofa doesn't mean it is a cabin that allows 3, or even 4 with a pull out sofa bed. Cancel if you need to later on. Have a great cruise.

I talked with Royal about another issue earlier today and she said she just wanted to let me know to do the Muster Drill video and medical check in the day before the cruise, and to report to my Muster Station to complete the Drill. I had done it on the app, on ship last cruise, and on the TV in the cabin the cruise before that, but according to C&A we can do it on the app the day before we board. I like that option.

We have a teen that would "just die without my own hair dryer". She says the ones on the ships are worthless. She claims the dryer is a make believe, like the Barbie ones when she was 3&4. She also says her hair will just air dry while the fake blow dryer on ship just makes the sound of a motor running.

Yes and a passport is supposed to be "good" for 6 months after the end date of the scheduled travel.

There are several test sites that are for the proctored tests. Some even will sell you a test if you need it. Some just use a list of approved FDA test(they have lists) and some only use tests from the Fed Gov't USPS . Royal accepts the AZOVA company. I can't recall other companies because I went with this one. It is a 24/7 company. Some are 7a-10p. Do a google search and tons will come up. The are about $20 each, some a bit more and some a bit less. Results within 20-45 min. Good luck with your test results. Don't just depend on the wifi working at the port. Take screenshot and save to your phone, so you can show the letter even if wifi is bad at the port.

Best friend since college, does NOT drink anything except rare cup of tea, if tea is served, and just water. NEVER soda, says it is poison. Never alcohol, says college ruined it for her for life. And never juice, says it is empty calories and would rather eat the fruit instead. So she doesn't want ANY drink package at all. He husband ENJOYS drinking on ship. He says he makes up for all that on land sobriety. C&A has even helped them to get what works for them. I do agree, the various price changes does get old. It becomes a game of sorts, will I catch the real sale and get the best deal?