boltnut55

Thank you. I had to use the search function, but it worked, so it's not too early.

Finally got a chance to get back on here. Turned out that 1 in our group of 6 came home and tested positive about 3 days later. Not sure if it made a difference, but she was 1 out of 2 who had not previously gotten covid, and she is probably the most immunocompromised (cancer survivor). She had flu-like symptoms for about a week.

Can you order a 12-pack or some type of bundle of small bottles before boarding? And how soon can we do this? I'm way too eager since our cruise is in Dec 😄

I don't know what your itinerary is, but I saw 3rd party vendors outside all my stops last month (not on Norwegian). In Juneau, our friends kayaked to see the glaciers while we took a shuttle bus and hiked. Our original salmon hatchery/glacier viewing tour was canceled prior to boarding w/no notification, so we had to scramble (found out when we printed our travel summary). You can also take the Mount Roberts tram on your own (right off the pier) and hike. In Skagway, we took the train. Ketchikan we just walked around on our own. Have lots of fun!

Oh good question. I'll be on Joy early Dec... seems like this ship has a lot of space though, so it'll be exciting.

I read somewhere that you can't redeem your stars for drinks but can still get stars from your purchase... but as mentioned, we'd need wifi for that...

We had a gentleman on our cruise 6/19. I heard him during Endicott Arms but not other times.

I came off the 6/19 Ruby to Alaska and back. Do you have any references to stats on "people turning positive" recently? I've been searching online to see if there were any news about our ship but haven't seen anything. I'd encourage you to still go but take precautions. I went for my physical about 2 weeks before, so my doctor reminded me to use N95, K95, KF94, or surgical masks because cloth masks aren't as helpful if everyone around you is not wearing one and to mask up as much as possible. I thought about 20%-30% were masked, but maybe that's too high of an estimate🤷🏻‍♀️ My husband and I wore N95s throughout the cruise except for the 2nd to last day when we tried on the South Korean KF94. There were some close quarters such as during golf and dart tournaments, but most of the time people did try to distance (not 6' but maybe 3'). For example, during the show, there was always at least 2 spaces between us and the parties who say nearby. We also brought medications, thermometer, etc. just in case. Have fun!

I can only say that there was no ice bucket already in the cabin when we came in, but perhaps if we asked for ice service, they would have left one there. In the past, we did ask for ice, but the steward normally is off work by the time I want it (usually like after 11:00PM), and I don't want to bug them, so we try to remember to bring our own back to the room except kept forgetting.

Yes available 24 hours. We ordered many nights after 1:00-2:00AM. Just need to be patient as it took between 25-50 minutes for delivery. Drinks that you'd normally get with drink package are available. I got the soda package, so I ordered coke, key west cooler, etc. Menu had more variety than I remembered from before, but not 100% sure. We used to only order for breakfast. You can order through TV, app, or called. After using the app the first time and experiencing 50+ mins, I called only because I felt like I could ask how long it was going to be. They mostly said 20-30 mins. We were going to order through TV one night but needed iced water and there was no choice for that.

Glad other ship didn't have our hours 😞 We were definitely not starving but just very surprised. Show ended at 10:15, so we had 15 minutes to check out the buffet. Definitely didn't experience those hours; good to know though 😞

Yikes! That was close. We got covid 5/4, took paxlovid, was negative by 5/19 and got booster anyway. Got doctor's note just in case like you did but also got negative test on 6/17, and perhaps we were on the same ship since we also sailed 6/19. We were traveling w/friends and didn't want to get sick or get them sick, so we didn't do much for the 2 weeks prior. We tested negative this morning after we got home but will test again in 5 days just in case.

My friend ordered coffee from the MDR and said the same thing about the awful coffee. He decided to treat himself to good coffee 1-2x a day instead after about the 3rd day. I think others may have already answered, but I will too since I bought the soda package and used it often (well, 3-5x a day). I will also have a warning at the end of my post. 1. So, in reality, how available are smoothies, mocktails and fruit juice throughout the ship? I don't drink smoothies, so I can't answer, but I saw some drinks from room service menu with "mango nectar" so I assume those are smoothie-like. My guess is that you can order from any bar as well since Room Service has to get it from a bar. Mocktails and juices along w/fountain sodas are available at every bar. They are also available through any roaming server in the buffet and 5th floor near the International Cafe. In addition, you can order from your waitstaff in the main dining room (MDR) 2. Are these items, along with soda, available at most of the bars or would be limited to only a couple places that would serve the non soda items in the packages? See above. 3. What are the "specialty coffees and teas" mentioned in the first package above and where can they be ordered? I would be surprised if this includes the Starbucks like espresso drinks served at the cafe...or does it? I'm pretty sure it would include espressos, etc. I don't drink coffee so I don't know what's really available, but they are referring to more than regular coffee/tea. There is a coffee bar next to the International Cafe, and you can get different frappes at Coffees and Cones. 4. Do you need to have a drink package to be able to order, for example, coffee, tea, a mocktail or juice at lunch or dinner in the main restaurant or do the packages only apply to drinks ordered at bars and places other than restaurant or buffet? You don't need a drink package to order any of the items mentioned, but you will be charged for each drink. Certain items are available for free during certain meals. For example, you can get free juice during breakfast (might not be all juices). You can get free coffee and tea during meals, but they are your regular coffee/tea (think work coffee/tea). WARNING: 2 of us in our party of 6 got the soda package (soda, mocktails, and juices), so we had a lot of experience: - the quality of drinks varied from location to location. Sodas delivered in the MDR were flat. The Coke always tasted like Diet Coke. The Coke from a specific bar near the buffet was always delivered in a large cup and with lots of bubbles. One time I walked over to order, and I heard the waitstaff order sodas adding "bubbly, bubbly!" to the bartenders. So be careful. Send it back if it's bad - When you order, state that you have a "soda" package or whatever package you have. I know you shouldn't have to do that because they should know... but they don't. Therefore, you will be charged and have to fix your bill on a regular basis. They will, of course, question you as they should before removing the charges; it's frustrating for everyone involved. The waitstaff is supposed to zap your medallion, but they ask for room number instead. - if they give you a can of soda, remind them that you have a soda package and don't want to be charged. If they give you a bottle of water, beware because you might be charged. We started to ask for "a glass of water" instead of just "water." Check your bill as often as you like, but I chose to check every other day so that I don't have to have the same conversation every day yet not let it go too long in between. Be nice to the Guest Service rep. It's not their fault, and they are trying to fix it. They are hearing the same complaints from a lot of guests.

My experience this past 11 days was as Belle mentioned, so the only time it closed was at port... many opportunities to visit the casino and play bingo. Good luck!

I'm confused... are there certain ships or locations that require and others don't? I was on Ruby the past 11 days, and as far as I knew, masks were not required indoors. Both the 6 people/1 party limit and masks were "suggested" or "recommended." Our party did wear masks all the time except eating/drinking. Our party of 6 did run into a rowdy group of unmasked women who held their hand to their mouths when they saw us coming into their elevator (this was during a very busy time when groups were coming back from port so all elevators were packed) and said it was too many people (hmm ironic), so we exited and offered our spots to 2 other people in the lobby, and one of the ladies in the elevator said, "yes, we'll take the unmasked people." Yes, rude.

Yikes, that's where our room was. On about day 3 or 4, I noticed that there were a bunch of rooms with no names showing on the display. I thought I would have noticed earlier that there were no names, so my made-up story was that they all got covid and moved to the covid section, BUT it sounds like those were the potential covid rooms. I figured covid rooms would all be in a designated section though, not few rooms here and there.

We checked in at the casino, was reminded to watch the video, and did that while unpacking. Didn't get letter so I guess they knew we watched. However, similar thought about what would really happen if we had to... jump ship. Let's hope we'll never need to know. I hated the muster drills of old but at least felt like someone was listening.

Midnight buffets haven't been around for maybe 10-15 years... some replaced with chocolate buffet, but I haven't seen those for 5-10 years now. This is from my limited experience. I just returned from Ruby. Buffet is closed from 4:00-5:30 for transition (or rest or lack of staff) and closed at 10:30. One night, we dashed from the show to the buffet. They used to let us sit there for as long as we want, but they turned off the lights at midnight (hint, hint, I know). International Cafe closed at midnight. Room service 24 hours a day, which we ordered about 5 times... we placed orders between 1:00-2:15AM, and service was inconsistent. We waited between 25-50 minutes after placing the order. One night, we called every 10-15 minutes (range 5-6 times each) between 1:00-1:50AM. Finally I called Guest Services, and they had someone call us back w/i 10 mins.

Wow, talking about being clueless. I was on the Ruby Princess, and we were in Skagway on Friday, 6/24 with no knowledge of rockslide or damage. We took the very long train ride...

A few years ago, I don't remember what line/ship it was, but my husband was given a jacket to wear during afternoon tea - he was not dressed poorly, just no jacket. Does anyone know if there is a dress code anymore for afternoon tea for men or women? I'm planning to wear either jeans or denim shorts on sea days, but I'm okay with bringing a pair of slacks for this purpose (I want to save the dresses for MDR dinner) if I have to. Thanks. Leaving Sunday!!! 😁 First cruise since covid!

For room service, I usually hand them a couple of dollars. I mean, we try to put it out the night before, and it depends how sleepy i am when they knock. Sometimes, my eyes aren't even open, and I just point, so I don't know who's delivering... but will still try to remember to give them something. We only order in the morning not in the middle of the day.

I asked the same thing a few days ago, and someone posted photos from the Patter of the different shows. We're going on a different itinerary though, so i can't help you, but the show times for me varied between 8:30-9:30. Our dinner is also at 7:00, so for those night, I will need to change them to 6:30. I want to make sure we have 2 hours to eat, use the bathroom, walk to the show, choose seats, and settle down😊

Yes, this! Their app is SO bad! I wonder if they finally allowed us to do it through a computer because of all the complaints🤦🏻‍♀️ That's what I said to the rep on chat! What if I don't have a phone?! We finally decided to get our 3 couples together for dinner last night, and everyone was on their phone, ipad, or laptop trying to finish out everything. We'd clap every time someone got green lane. When you upload your photo, if it doesn't work, try this: Take a photo of your face, then click Take Photo, and choose a photo from file, and add. If you try to use it to take a photo, it might not upload. Why not?!!! They might need to hire a 10 year old...

Even when I was "poor," I made sure to have a box of those w/lotion just in case I got sick. If I use a couple of the regular stuff, my nose is done for. I'm adding aquaphor! I'm glad you're having good experience... I've been concerned about all problems I'm reading about. Speedy recovery to you (I just got over mine last week).

If/when I ask, it's because I want to know if there's anything else I could have done to mitigate getting in. I'm going on Ruby 6/19... Yes, I was thinking the same. Prior to my June cruise, I'm flying to KS and have prepared mentally that if I get covid, I'll need to be in a hotel for 5-10 days (or drive 1650+ miles home). I'm glad they will provide something, but as we've learned from covid, folks often don't think of others. I guess I better look into this "incentive" more just in case.