cruzincanuck

We had the ultimate dining package this past January and booking the restaurants was the 1st thing we did when we boarded.  To be able to get Izumi Hibachi, we had to go to Izumi and we knew that the easiest night to get was the 1st night .  We were successful.   

Booking onboard is possible but you have to be flexible for both the dates & times

I've played so far on the Allure and the Harmony .  I must have been fortunate as wind was not a factor for those 2 separate weeks.   

For those who want to try it, well that is how I got into pickleball.  Tried it on the Allure and then I was hooked.  I have been playing for close to a year now at least twice a week this winter and 3-4 times a week in summer .   

It is fun and everyone is on vacation mode on a cruise...  You still get the serious player on the ship but I play on occasion with some at home too.  I do not let it bother me if they get grumpy when I missed a few shots..... it is not an Olympic sport yet.  lol

We are cruising Jan 7th and check in opens Nov 23rd us.  I imagine yours will on Nov 30th

I looked at the RCL website for the protocols update and it is better written than the email.  

The pre-test is guests aged 12 and up who are unvaccinated.

If you stay the night before in a hotel near the Old port of Qc city, you will at least be able to walk around Old Quebec which is fabulous.  You will also be able to visit the Chateau Frontenac.   If you want to see more of Qc city, you will need that extra day.

Here is the official link to the festival:   TD New France Festival (nouvellefrance.qc.ca)

You can take peek later once they start adding the events and tickets.

On 5/19/2022 at 3:05 PM, galelynn said:

Four Point by Sheraton, Ft. Lauderdale,  Airport/Cruise Port

 

Wondering if anyone has stayed here lately?  We have a booking for March of 2023 and like to know what you think about it.  We usually stay at Hyatt Place, but the price is out of sight, will try Valuetrips as soon as it opens up for next year.  Also booked the Embassy Suite, but after reading the reviews, I don't think it is worth the price which is over $300/per night.  

Wondering about how close the Fort Point hotel is to restaurants and Publix's, Total Wines etc?

We stayed one night this past April when our flight was cancelled and Air Canada was picking up the tab.   The bed was awful... I had to put bath towels  on top of the deep dip in the mattress to sleep and the the safe was unusable.    It needs a little love.  The staff on the other hand were fabulous.  The location is perfect & close the Publix etc.   

It is hard to find a good deal in Fort Lauderdale I know  however check the The Riverside hotel on Las Olas.  We have a soft spot for the that one.  

11 hours ago, ricka47 said:

 

I was going to try the Lobster Thermidor at 150 for our upcoming Harmony Cruise. It wasn't good on the Allure?

We loved it.  3 half tails so not much lobster but we shared it in addition to our main dinner.  It was perfect

We were on the Allure a little over a week ago and the $35.00 is a set plan:  1 small dish, 2 large dishes and dessert. Plus Miso soup.  It was perfect 🙂

We often take our cruises in January.   We love it.  Florida is a hit or miss when it comes to the weather however it is still nice as there is no snow 😀.   As we sail,  it does get sunny and warmer to hot.

We are also cruising in 2023 as of Jan 7th on the Explorer 😍

My husband and I love the UDP and do not mind doing a specialty twice.  We do enjoy the lunch on embarkation as well as the sea days.

We like the intimacy of the specialty restaurants like in 150 Central Park, Chops & Giovanni's over the MDR. 

The Izumi hibachi even with the extra 10 per person is worth it. Love the entertainment factor

We can go to the Windjammer or the MDR but there are a variety on the Oasis class that are even free:  Sorrentos, Park Café & Boardwalk Doghouse and I must not forget Johnny Rockets for breakfast.

Bought it for our 8 nights on the Allure for April

Check In as you do not have to make the decision now to cruise or not.  We were supposed to cruise Jan 9th on the Oasis of the Seas and we did checked in in late November even if we were unsure that we would be cruising.   We were wavering up until 2 weeks before the cruise when we decided at that point that the stress to get thru the numerous hoops plus now Omicron, no longer made it a vacation.   

Royal allows to cancel up to 48 hrs before the cruise. We are now hoping for April 🙂

Check the rules for your cruiseline and they may reassure you.  

An IT glitch from Royal cancelled my UDP on Dec 27th ( I moved my cruise reservation and purchased the UDP for the new cruise the same day the week before- I should have waited a couple of days to purchase the UDP) .  I called on Jan 10th and was told my CC would be credited within an additional 5 business days.  It was on my CC last Thursday Jan 13th.   So about 10 business days in my case.

It is worth giving them a call to get a status.  Hope it gets sorted for you soon 🙂

It took 2 weeks for mine and my husband's to be validated.  You have time. No worries

This was the last straw for us. We were set to cruise on Jan 9th.  With all the changes over the last week and now having to try to get a PCR on disembarkation (not to mention the cost), it is no longer a vacation for us.   A feeling of relief has come over me now that the decision was made this evening.  It just proved the the stress that had creeped up on me over the last few weeks with this new variant and trying to roll with the changes.  We will try later in 2022.

Wishing all  happy holidays and a great & safe vacation to all who will cruise.

Really glad to read that Royal is providing the tests.  Thank you to all the recent cruisers for confirming.

We are also in the same situation.  I was able to see on the Royal app that it still stated it was offered a couple of weeks ago (at the time we was no longer on the website) and when I checked last night,  the phrase was no longer there in the app..  The hoops to get to a cruise and back safely are getting numerous.   Test for the flight and cruise (doing 1 to cover both), test for the flight home and test when we land in Canada.   I realize that the health protocols are apt to change frequently.  We are doing our best to plan and revise when needed but we are starting to get close to our cruise and one thing I counting on was  Royal helps us by conducting the last day the PCR test we need.

I am hoping that recent cruisers can confirm that they have had the test done onboard and I invite others as they to come back and confirm too.

Happy Holidays to all

20 minutes ago, swoopy2110 said:

 

Also wanting to know this. Given the latest testing changes for flying back to the UK (I know it could change again before January!) we'd need a test onboard prior to flying home. Hoping this is still offered.

We are also in the same situation.  I was able to see on the Royal app that it still stated it was offered a couple of weeks ago and when I checked last night,  the phrase was no longer there.  The hoops to get to a cruise and back safely are getting numerous.   Test for the flight and cruise (doing 1 to cover both), test for the flight home and test when we land in Canada.   I realize that the health protocols are apt to change frequently.  We are doing our best to plan and revise when needed but we are starting to get close to our cruise and one thing I counting on was  Royal helps us by conducting the last day the PCR test we need.

I am hoping that recent cruisers can confirm that they have had the test done onboard and I invite others as they to come back and confirm.

Happy Holidays to all

6 hours ago, hbboers said:

Hi

I just followed a link on RCCL that goes to a testing site that does antigen tests at the pier on boarding day..  At the bottom of the page they are booking PCR test at debarkation for $205.

Hope this does not mean no tests onboard?

Here is the link

 

https://covlc.gomeyra.cloud/services/tests

 Post 75 on this thread reassured me as it is still written that it is being conducted onboard .  I saw it on my reservation via the RCL app.

I hope that it does not switch to debarkation at our own cost as $205 US per person. It really has to be a last resort as it is a major hit on the cruising budget.  Plus, the exchange rate too 😞 

I am not against a test to come home however I wish the Canadian Gov would accept an antigen and I had my fingers crossed yesterday with the announcements but nope, no change

1 hour ago, LuCruise said:

Royal is still providing complimentary PCR testing, right?  Royal's site seems to have removed the statement that it's available for vaccinated guests needing it to return to their home country.

I noticed it yesterday too.  I am glad that cruisers are confirming that it is still being offered however I really wish we could see it in writing again.  

I just looked  Royal health center- protocols on their website, I can no longer find the statement that they will test us onboard for our trip home 😳

Can someone take a peek as I may simply have not seen it  ?  

Cruising Jan 9th out of Miami but getting all my ducks in a row for this cruise is starting to get to me with the planning, testing and paperwork. It was once fun 

I just looked  Royal health center on their website, I can no longer find the statement that they will test us onboard for our trip home 😳

Can someone take a peek as I may simply have not seen it  ?  

Cruising Jan 9th out of Miami but getting all my ducks in a row for this cruise is starting to get to me with the planning and paperwork. It was once fun 

2 hours ago, DrewFoundLander said:

We were told it had to be between 8 and 9AM, ours was aprox 8:30AM

Was it the day before disembarkation that it took place?  

One cruiser confirmed that she was able to use the home test from SwitchHealth:

Oh...phooey.  I do not like this additional stress.   Disembark, get tested,  head to airport and crossed our fingers we get the results to be able to check-in for our flight.  No recourse if the results do not arrive for some odd reason, rushing to the airport testing centers to pay a premium for a rapid pcr test.   We already have a few hoops to go thru to cruise.  We cruise in January so we have to add weather as one of the issues too.