MaddyandMax

I'm booked to cruise on Oasis June 30.  Just did a quick search and I'm still seeing it on the site when I search for it and it's still showing on the cruise planner.  We got a steal of a price on that cruise.  I won't be happy if it's cancelled LOL

When we were on the Anthem in March my husband was able to book our entire family that was split into two rooms.  Our reservations was linked - I think that's the key.

In March was also not tested.

So from the responses it appears at least in 2022 this was not something that was done.

36 minutes ago, jerseygirl3 said:

I didn't realize testing for unvaccinated was always 3 days prior to embarkation.  That doesn't even make sense.  It would be more prudent to have the unvaccinated test closer to embarkation, not later than those vaccinated, as the unvaccinated have a higher risk of contracting the virus and getting sicker (that statement is not up for debate; I'm a nurse and I get the daily totals of hospitalizations and deaths broken down by vaccinated vs unvaccinated).   I don't get that rationale;  as a vaccinated passenger I can't be tested any sooner than 48 hours, which makes things more complicated when traveling overseas. 

Unvaccinated passengers have to get a PCR test.  The turnaround for that is much longer.  Here in Canada it could go past 3 days.

Sorry - for clarification - I was referring to the comment from someone about how its possible that Royal may get rid of testing but require you to have had a vaccine/booster within 270 days. The reference to Canada was not because I'm cruising there but because I live in Canada and boosters haven't been approved for my youngest.

Apologies for the confusion.

2 hours ago, hal2008 said:

 

Coming back to Cruise related policies, expectations are that testing requirement will be removed pretty soon while vaccination requirement might tighten (shot within 270 days)

This concerns me a bit.  My youngest (10) is vaccinated.  His last shot was December 29. 

Canada has not approved boosters for this age group and I doubt they will before our cruise in 2 months.  He will be 285 days from his last shot.  I'm assuming then he'll be classed as unvaxxed and have to go through all the extra testing.  Which he will gladly do but the extra expensive of a PCR test at $150 plus and the pier testing, makes me anxious and sad for him.

We took both with us to be safe.  They only looked at the QR code.  But if you have both I'd bring both.

22 hours ago, OnceAMarineAlwaysAMarine said:

To clarify, it did not say the arrival time was 12:00, it said my excursion which was originally at 8:15 was changed to 12:00.

This is probably to accommodate other boats.  When we were there in March there was 5 other boats so Blue Lagoon had to change all the times so everyone could go.  They only have so many ferries and room on the island.  When you are there you will hear announcements for other cruise lines to leave the island. Looks like you'll be one of the last which was nice when we were there.  Once the last carnival ship left it was empty and quiet.

We also originally booked and it was 8 or 9 am.  We thought we could spend the whole day there.  It wasn't until we got the time change on the boat that we learned that the tour is actually only 4 or 5 hours long (including 2 20 min ferry rides).  All the other private islands are the same, in case you want to cancel and book another one.

On 7/19/2022 at 8:22 AM, AspiringCindy said:

I have an excursion for Blue Lagoon that day. Do they ever change the time back to it's original, or are we truly arriving at 12? Also, can I get a refund because now it's not worth it!!

This happened to us in March.  They just adjusted all the times for Blue Lagoon.  You actually only get 4 hours at Blue Lagoon anyways so you'll still get the same amount of time.  They are also very strict about making sure you leave when you are supposed too.

We booked our June 30, 2023 cruise in March while on board.  Even then it was almost completely sold out.  Finding two rooms beside each other on a floor we liked was difficult  (only deck 3 and 4).  But then we came home and our agent had all kinds of rooms.  I think in the summer months a lot of big agent companies buy more rooms than normal.  If you look on other sites you may find more availability.

2 minutes ago, Roybthered said:

Hope there are less children travelling mid Oct when we travel with our granddaughter.

My family group is traveling out of Bayonne with children so you'll at least have us! LOL But only one child out of our group needs to be tested at the pier.

Ugh good catch! LOL  It's been a long day.

Metal Detectors....

We cruised out of Bayonne in March.  Though both my kids are vaccinated, they made us go to the line where unvaxxed kids check in.  I suspect it was because my youngest is 9 but looks younger.  But it worked out in our favour because we were on the ship in 15 min. Once they saw we were all vaccinated and looked at our paper work we were good to go.  It did look well organized.  They had a section curtained off for the testing and a ton of chairs.  We had an 11am check in but there were already a dozen or so families there getting tested.  What seems to be the biggest back up was the mental detectors.  Lot of families with strollers and whatnot that needed to be checked.

3 minutes ago, easyqueasy said:

I believe 11 and under can sail unvaccinated, but need a PCR test. 12 and over needs vaccination or exemption.

This much I know (thankfully LOL). 

But I'm wondering what they do if they are a ton of kids under the age of 12 who are unvaccinated and they are over the 10% threshold.  Now that it appears age 5 and up are included in that 10% threshold.

Does anyone have an literature regarding this 10% rule? I have looked all over Royal's site and can't find anything.

I ask because I am traveling with extended family the beginning of October.  This includes my 10 year old niece who they won't vaccinate for no real reason other than they don't want too.  I'm not starting a debate over vaccines, just stating that is their reasoning (really).  I do not want my own vacation cancelled over this and there is still time to vaccinate.  They said they will if she can't cruise without being vaccinated.  So I'd love something that I can pass on to the about this 10% rule.

Thanks!

I'm with Telus.  DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT use their data when on board. Not if you don't want a bill that could be in the thousands.  The $11 (mine is $7) roaming charge will not cover you when at sea.  Put your phone on airplane mode, turn on wifi and buy the ship wifi if you need to use your phone.

Just thinking of someone trying to use their own data on the boat gives me anxiety LOL

Swim diapers are what they don't want in the pools so if your LO isn't wearing one you are good.  We took our youngest when he had just turned 3.  He was potty trained and no one said a thing or ever asked.

THAT said, we also saw parents taking diapers off of babies so they were just wearing a bathing suit and taking them in the the pool and no one from Royal said a thing... So I suspect you will be completely fine.

Strange. 

I have a cruise booked for the end of June 2023 and I can see drink packages.  That's pretty much all I can see though - maybe 1 or two excursions.  The drink packages on that sailing showed up earlier this month.  Before that I got the generic "check back in later" message. 

Don't think so but it'll depend on the cruise line and where you are sailing.

I haven't been on Allure but I've been on others and was most recently on Anthem in March.  The hours vary day by day depending on the port but on average they opened at 9am.  Closed for 2 hours at lunch, closed for an hour at dinner and then was open until 10pm for free.  Then was open 10pm-Midnight for a fee.  It's possible these parents had toddlers, those hours are different and only for short amounts of time.  As my kids are 9 and 14 I unfortunately don't know the toddler hours.

The only change that I've noticed was our last cruise before covid Adventure Ocean was open until 11pm for free and then until 2am for a fee.

My October Oasis cruise is at US$98 a day...

Following along as my parents are on this cruise 🙂

My family and I have always used a US TA from a big chain.  My parents have used the same specific agent there for over 20 years.  She's always gets us amazing deals.  Plus, if I remember correctly Americans pay less tax than Canadians.  Down side is you must pay in US funds but we all have US credit cards through our bank so no big deal.

We cruised in March and booked another cruise onboard.  The price was just under US$4k on board (2 rooms and 4 people - Oasis June 30, 2023).  Came home and moved the booking to our US TA.  They had a group rate for that cruise because they had bought something like 100 rooms and our rate dropped to US$1,100 a room.  So from US$4k to US$2,200. 

I also just noticed that the drink package with voom deal has disappeared.  You now have to buy them separately.  It was there two days ago...

At least on my October 9 Oasis sailing...

Sigh. 

7 hours ago, ARandomTraveler said:

Deluxe beverage package in my cruise planner still says "buy one get one 50% off" just like it said yesterday, but the price went up $10  (from $62 to $72) 🙄.

 

Refreshment package went down though. From $30 to $23, which sounds like it's about as low as it goes unless there's a really good sale, so I bought it, but will keep my eyes out for it to go to $19, just in case.

 

Ultimate dining went down from $219 to $207. I'm waiting to see if it goes to $189. If not I guess I'll probably buy it even if it goes back up to $219, but I'm not in a hurry so it's not worth buying yet, even though I know I can cancel and rebook. 

 

Cococay day pass went down by $3 from $101 to $98. Wasn't planning to buy this but it's one of the prices I noticed had changed with today's fake sale. 

 

 

Same for our next sailing on the Oasis.  I am kicking myself.  $98 for a drink package is RIDICULOUS.  How is the sale better than yesterday's sale but the price went from $65 to $72?  Make it make sense Royal.