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But, they BOOK the cabin with an adult, and then switch when onboard.

The older person has to be booked in the same cabin, so having another adult "chaperone" won't work. I'd work on another family member who is over 18 and have them go with. Cousin? Brother?

I can see your point of view. My situation is I am regularly around immune compromised people, and also friends that get sick for 3 weeks if they get COVID, even being vaxxed and boosted. I do not want to give up these friendships, and my conscience won't let me take the chance of carrying the virus to them. So, my answer is I get to travel and not get sick, and I get my friends and they don't get sick. It's not just about me.

That was my sentiment, too, in my last sentence.

I booked a cruise over this weekend. The refundable deposit fee was $15 per person. I've never seen it this low. Unfortunately, I use a promo code that's only good for non-refundable deposits, and it usually a $100+ discount. Anyone else seen this? I wonder if it's just a sale thing, or maybe permanent?

It makes a difference IMO. I have read most of this thread, and what's missing is no one seems to be saying they tested positive after wearing a mask in the airport, on the plane, inside the cruise ship, inside buildings in port, and rinse/repeat going home. This is what I have done since mid-January to mid-May I have flown 18 times one way, with all trips having stopovers, so that's at least 3 airports in 9 roundtrips. I was on 3 cruise ships for a total of 58 days, and two trips were to see family with small unvaccinated children the first trip. I've taken 21 COVID tests between my personal ones and those provided by the ships on consecutive cruises. Countless ports and inside venues. Exposure to literally thousands of people. So, that's an complete inventory of my exposure, which was very high. All COVID tests were negative (double vaxxed and double boosted). The difference from the people getting COVID? I consistently wore a mask. Outside, no. With known other passengers who were vaccinated, no. Mostly vaccinated family members, no. To me it's just a basic policy: if I'm inside somewhere with strangers who I don't KNOW they've been vaccinated (having a lower possibility of contracting the virus; NOT immune), then I wear a mask. When I fly I never take it off except to eat or drink. I put it on when I walk in the airport, and take it off when I walk into my hotel room or get in my family's car. My point is if one is not consistent, then one is exposed. I finally found that I could fly and NOT come down with a respiratory infection: something that happened almost 100% of the time before I wore masks. Just an explanation; just my opinion; everyone should make their own decisions. I just don't like being sick. Period.

RCCL refunds are always confusing. The only way to make sense out of them is to keep line item records for every cruise. (No, I don't.) I've had refunds for weird amounts for a single cruise show up weeks apart, and don't remind me of the time I used more than one credit card!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks. I think what I'm doing is working so far, and I've been traveling a lot since masking requirements eased up. On my last cruise in May, I think there were very few passengers still wearing masks like I was. I've also tested 19 times since mid-January, before and after travels, with 2 trips to see family with an unvaccinated grandson (too young until July). I will wear a mask for sure in airports, on airplanes, and on cruise ships permanently. I have friends I see regularly that are VERY susceptible to the COVID virus, even the vaccines and booster make them sick for almost a week. One person got "mild" COVID after 2 vax and 2 boosters, and was sick for 3 weeks with severe congestion. I'd rather wear a mask and not deal with the guilt of taking the virus to them. This means I wear masks everywhere as described above to keep them safe, too. So far this has all worked, but I'm adaptable...............

I had the plain vanilla variety of COVID in February 2020, and it was pneumonia, and it took almost 4 months to completely go away. Never want that to happen again, so I'm a solid masker except eating and drinking, or being outside with some distance. I would imagine the crew on most ships will decide based on their age, general health, and whether they've had COVID already.

If I used tweezers, I would be standing at the mirror for hours every.single.day. I have to shave every day, and Intuition is very kind to my crazy sensitive skin.

So is mine!!

Funny, but inaccurate. I've sailed on Celebrity, HAL, Princess, NCL, and Costa. I just get a better experience with RCCL, and now that I sail solo, I get better pricing, too. Unless I want to go stay in a closet on some other cruise line's "solo" cabins. Once I got within reach of becoming Pinnacle, the lure of priority boarding, free internet, more drinks, and the solo discount (which I already had from 340 points) was just a great package for me. I still look elsewhere, but I can't find much to compare. If it was a unique itinerary, then I'd look elsewhere, like Princess' roundtrip Los Angeles-Hawaii-Tahiti.

You have 30 days to transfer a booking to a TA, so look around for one that has group rates. Let them clear all this up for you, too. My concept agent in NJ has group rates and gives obc. Met them on a cruise earlier this year, and left big box for them.

I agree with MM: I truly loved the sushi on the Navigator. Their spider rolls are the best I've eaten, and I've been eating sushi in the SF Bay area for 5 decades.

I think it's just the management on that ship. Your tips are allocated, and the check-in is just to verify. Next time go to your table and ask them to tell the check-in desk you have arrived. It defeats the whole purpose of committing to a table, wait staff, and time, which I do on the first or second night. I will even adjust my arrival time to what they think is best. If you are going to do that, then the waiter, assistant waiter, or head waiter of that section can check you in. Tell them you will switch to fixed dining if you have to wait in line. It's the one and only thing I'm fussy about on a ship.

Next time ask when you are assigned a specific table and time. I usually ask if I can just go ahead and sit down, and they always tell me to do so, just so I won't have to stand in line.

Depends on how long the European cruise is, and how many ports/opportunities the crew have to get off and shop. What I do at the first port is find an ATM and get Euros. Then, as the cruise goes by I ask the crew I'm going to tip extra. I'm not a believer in waiting until the last day/night. So, if my cabin steward says they are getting off in so-and-so port, I give them some Euros. Otherwise, it's USD if they prefer that. Keep in mind where the next cruise is going, too. Especially on repositioning cruises, it can be problematic. Leaving Australia, stopping in Honolulu, and ending up in Vancouver, for instance. AUD, then USD, then CAD.

Does it sound right to me? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Wrong on so many levels of people being selfish, hurtful, greedy, and dishonest. Put's me in "mama-bear-protective-mode". Sigh. However, there's not much RCCL can do about it. BUT, if it was me I'd ask about security footage the last place you had the bag. There might be a clear shot of the person that stole your money, which is exactly what happened. I would request Security try to find footage of you through the ship at that time and see if anyone was following you. If they can ID the thief, they have the evidence to do something, which I hope includes giving you your winnings back. No lecture from me: I was using a pay phone while my 3 year old sat on a bench eating an ice cream cone. He needed help, and I stepped away for a few seconds. The woman at the phone next to me (and the door) grabbed my wallet from the little phone shelf and took off. So, I know EXACTLY how you feel.

I STILL don't know what the big deal is..................to me, it's just not a big deal. You spend $70 for two tests (which I consider part of the cost of cruising), contact the proctor any time of the night or day, and from anywhere in the world you have an internet signal, when you need to take the test, and 20 minutes or less later you have the results.

First of all, I was on 3 ships from Jan-May this year, with crew from all over the world, and never had a problem understanding them, or being understood myself. Plus, I wear hearing aid and wear a mask most of the time on a ship. Second of all, and NO OFFENSE intended, I stopped at a meat shop in London to ask directions to an auto repair shop nearby (hubby didn't think "left" and ran over a curbside barrier, trashing the tire), and the extremely helpful ladies in the meat shop we so kind......I could not understand one single syllable of anything they said to me.

I am one happy newbie Pinnacle, and very grateful for the perks and benefits. Double points helped me get here, and the cruise line who's GIVING me free wifi, fast boarding and debarking, free drinks, and a discount for solo bookings, that is STILL in the black financially, is a great cruise line IMO.

First cruise with Bermuda, the test is the passenger's responsibility. Second cruise on a b2b that includes Bermuda, you will get a letter in your cabin telling you when and where to show up for a free test.

I think it was a brilliant marketing effort when they needed it the most. Look at the headlines the last few days: NCL is struggling, and other cruise lines, too. RCCL said they had a booming bottom line this year so far, and I think that's because of the double points. I'm too lazy to try and find my post from March-May 2020, but I remember posting that RCCL would make it through this pandemic and financial crises, because they have always been smart since they started in the 1960's.

My 12 night free Pinnacle cruise in January 2023 is costing me $303, inlcuding tips. I could add on hotel room if you want. Air is free with credits, but yes, I paid that money out before. So, make it another $432. So, $735. Free wifi, 6 free drinks per day included.

These are one piece from Amazon. Very attractive and sturdy.