Mythbuster

14 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

Y’all are funny if you think Florida is going to fine cruise passengers for showing proof of vaccines...or the cruise line for asking..

No one gets fined for showing proof,, they are going to fine the Cruise Line for asking only.  Desantis said he WILL enforce the fine.  I see no reason why he wouldn't unless the courts remove the executive order.

Sorry if this was asked already.  If we are in a Grand Suite and are are Diamond, will we get the 4 vouchers to be used anywhere throughout the day plus unlimited drinks in the Suite Lounge during happy hour?

12 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Nor does Celebrity 

"Although Florida law prohibits businesses from asking patrons if they have been vaccinated, there is nothing stopping the cruise lines from having passengers volunteer the information. Celebrity Cruises is telling passengers 16 years old and older that if they choose not to volunteer proof of vaccination, they will be treated as if they are unvaccinated and be required to follow CDC guidelines for masks and social distancing as well as be subjected to COVID-19 testing — at additional cost."

This is the same as how Royal is handling.  This means they can not guarantee they will meet the CDC 95% guideline.

7 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

Carnival doesn't seem to have a problem sailing out of FL with fully (95%) vaccinated cruises.

I am not a Carnival cruiser but I understand that they will not sail out of Florida until July (other than possible test cruises) and have not announced how they will deal with Desantis' rules.  As I said they do have the option to require vaccine proof and pay the $5000 per passenger fine or wait to challenge in court when Florida sues for the payment of the fines.  That would be a big risk.

8 minutes ago, jerseygirl3 said:

I honestly did not mean to start a “war of words”. I’m just so confused by which ports/cruise lines that are or not requiring vaccines. I was hoping to get a more definitive answer but I think, given the fluidity of the situation, we’ll all just have to wait and see what pans out as sailings move forward. 

Texas did sign a new law to penalize companies who require vaccine proof.  But the difference is the law states an exception when the company is following federal law.  Florida interrupts the CDC guidelines as "out of the CDC's jurisdiction" so they are not waiving the new law for cruise lines.  However, there is a law suit going on the issue.  So you will need to check frequently and if it really makes a difference try to get a refundable fare.

2 hours ago, Magnolia Queen said:

I’m very, very worried about Royal’s decision to not mandate vaccinations on their cruises out of Florida. Doesn’t allowing unvaccinated people (even kids) onboard pose a risk for everyone? Are unvaccinated people (adults & kids)  have to wear masks? How will Royal make sure people wear masks, if they mandate masks? People who are unvaccinated have the very real possibility of infecting everyone. <Remember, vaccinated people can still get the virus>. How fair is it to a family (or any other cruiser) to go on vacation only to have themselves or their children get Covid from an unvaccinated person?    What will an outbreak do to the cruise industry?   Will countries allow cruise ship with unvaccinated people dock? Allow anyone to disembark?  We need to be cognizant that residents in the various islands may not have adequate access to vaccines.  Should we be putting people who desperately need cruise ship dollars at risk?  
Many of us  pick cruises for the itineraries. If islands/countries close their ports to us because if unvaccinated passengers, where will we be able to cruise? Won’t this have the potential to make cruisers angry; make Islands in worse shape then they are now or cause an outbreak on an island? Where is the logic in not following the CDC guidelines?   I also can’t wait to return to cruising. I am fully vaccinated and I only socialize with people who are fully vaccinated.  How am I going to know if the person at the next table etc is safe to sit near? Even if we are socially distanced? I implore Royal to reconsider it’s decision to allow unvaccinated people onboard.  

For Royal to disregard Florida's executive order, they would have to pay $5,000 per passenger that they ask for proof of vaccination. I am sure they felt that adding $5,000 to each person's fare would not go over well.  So the really did not have a choice in the matter other than moving all their cruises out of Florida, I think would have been a better solution to put a squeeze on the Governor pocketbook.  But as a stockholder, I understand their decision to stay and remove the requirement of showing vaccination proof.  I do think that the state of Florida should be financially responsible for any costs or refunds caused by a Covid outbreak.

In the event of an outbreak among the unvaccinated passengers, the state of Florida should be liable for reimbursing the cruise line and all non sick passengers for expenses incurred to deal with any outbreak and refunds for the cruise fare.

On 6/8/2021 at 1:53 PM, coffeebean said:

For the 100000000000th time........vaccinated people are not afraid for their health and safety, generally. I will speak for myself here and say that my mRNA vaccine offers me protection from Covid and I feel perfectly safe. I have no fear of Covid. I have been out and about among the un-vaxxed and without a mask too.

 

What I do not want to deal with is a cruise vacation that will be negatively impacted if there were a Covid outbreak on board because of un-vaxxed passengers. I also do not want to adhere to safety protocols that will be dictated by un-vaxxed passengers on board.

 

How many times do we vaccinated folks have to say that in response to that silly comment that you made? Maybe another thousand times will do it? Will it take that many times for you to understand the stance of vaccinated people? SMH!

I am afraid repeating it more will be to no avail.  In my experience with anti-vaxxers I have seen one of 2 traits. 

1) they do not believe the virus exists or is not harmful so they do not see a possibility that the cruise (or anything else in their lives) will be impacted by a non-existent virus.  They obviously missed the horrific cruises of last spring.

2) they believe their freedom of choice trumps any benefits to the community and feel zero responsibility to their fellow man, therefore asking you to stay home so their freedoms are not impacted is perfectly within reason.

I absolutely respect anyone's choice to get the vax or not.  However, as with all parts of our lives there are consequences for what we choose, including having limits on how and where you travel or complying with special rules if you choose not to be vaccinated. 

8 hours ago, Biker19 said:

They did?

Yes, RCI asked Florida for an exemption since the CDC was requiring but the governor refused.  Now the state of Florida is suing the CDC claiming the CDC does not have authority to make those requirement.  It sounds like RCI believes the CDC will lose.

Today RCCL announced they will sail out of Florida without a mask mandate due to Florida's $5000 fine per passenger for asking for proof of vaccination.  As a fully vaccinated passenger I am not fearful that I will get covid from another passenger but I do have some other concerns:

1) If a covid outbreak occurs among the unvaccinated passenger how will the vaccinated passengers be impacted?  For example will the ports not allow disembarking or will there be lock downs or will masks be required throughout the ship for all passengers?

2) They state that unvaccinated passengers will have to follow special protocols but has not defined what that means other than testing.  If they can't ask for proof of vaccination due to Florida's law, how will they know who to apply the "special protocol" to?  Even if they know, how will they enforce it, they can't enforce rules for chair hogs how will they enforce these rules?

As a RCCL stockholder, I am concerned about the financial impact on RCCL if an outbreak occurs, will the state of Florida bear some liability for fare refunds, special cleaning and other expenses associated with a covid breakout?

We sailed on the Anthem in March, definitely a little cool the 1st day out and the last day back.  We went to Port Canaveral so water not too bad once you pass Cape Hatteras.   The Anthem was built for cooler weather so there are more indoor pools and entertainment areas.  I probably would not choose March again, we had to bring too many clothes for the wide temperature ranges.  March in NJ could be in anywhere from the 30's to the 60's.  We did not go out on our balcony until we got to Port Canaveral.

1 hour ago, StolidCruiser said:

 

There should be no question. Loyalty is a word used by customers to attempt personalizing a business relationship. 

 

If you take another cruise with a line you feel is treating you with disregard, you're basically saying "Do whatever you want."   How resolute are you to stand by your conviction?

I would have defined Loyalty a little  differently.  I think it is a word used by companies to attempt to create  personal relationships to increase business.  Many companies including Royal spend millions on Loyalty programs that create something similar to "golden handcuffs" with their customers.  Discounts, free drinks, special lounges, special events, etc.  Unfortunately, Royal does not value a customer until they reach Diamond. 

As for the customer, each has to weigh any negative treatment against the perks they would miss if they moved their business to another line.  If the pain of the negative treatment is less than the pleasure of the perks, they will remain until the treatment reaches a threshold where the perks are not worth it anymore. 

On 9/24/2019 at 6:08 PM, later said:

Medicare supplement F covers international travel but only up to $75K

Medicare Supplement F is not longer available to new enrollees.  It has been replaced with Supplement G and has a limit on international travel of $50K. 

10 hours ago, gdy0354 said:

We were served platters with say, 6 steaks, 6 shrimps, 6 chicken breasts,6 osso buco, 6 lakh chops, etc..

one giant feast with almost a full portion of most of the entrees for each diner.

 

 

 

How in the world were you able to eat all that food even with 8 of you?  That's nearly 4 dinners person.  Do you normally order 4 entrees each in the MDR?

If you are only looking for Medical and Evac insurance, try GeoBlue a division of Blue Cross.  I got coverage for 6 days on my last cruise for $69 for both my wife and myself.  It included no deductible and $1M evacuation.  However, it only covers you while you are outside the US.

9 hours ago, davekathy said:

What are you smoking.  OK based on that vaping, cigar, cigarette and pipe smokers could do the same at the pool or anywhere else on the ship. 🙄

They can and they do, most ships have a smoking section at the pool.  How do we know the OP's family did not sit near a smoking section and wasn't aware of it?  The point of the OP's post was not the pot, it was the balcony smoking.

On 8/23/2019 at 10:50 PM, crosbystreet said:

Hi, I am just off Adventure this morning. We had My Time Dining and were on Deck 3. The people with fixed times were on the upper two decks above three. 

 

The only difference I noticed was the decks that and the standard dining times has the waiter parade and the napkin waving tradition on the last night and My Time doesn’t get that - so we talked up the interior stairs to show my son this part of a cruise. 

Interesting, I was on the Adventure 2 weeks ago on Deck 5 (5:30pm seating) and we did not have a parade and napkin waving.   We did hear horror stories from many who had My Time dinning that they had real issues with available times for dinning, the only times available were after 8:15pm and lines were long.  Did you have any issues?

17 minutes ago, Mythbuster said:

That is not accurate.   Japan, New Zealand and Ireland are Level 1(Normal Precautions).  Only Germany and Bahamas on your list are Level 2 (Increased Cautions) same for Mexico.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

illniwahoo, I re-read your post and see you meant that the other countries have issued warnings to their citizens against traveling to the US.  I find that to be very good advice in today's environment.  I would think the chances of being mugged in many urban areas of the US is about the same as Jamaica (moderately high) and I am sure I will get flamed for that remark as well.

1 hour ago, illiniwahoo said:

For perspective, Japan, Germany, Ireland, The Bahamas and New Zealand have all issued travel warnings against the US. 

That is not accurate.   Japan, New Zealand and Ireland are Level 1(Normal Precautions).  Only Germany and Bahamas on your list are Level 2 (Increased Cautions) same for Mexico.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

1 hour ago, matj2000 said:

 

Speak for yourself.   

 

I have left the port area every time I have been in Jamaica and walked around the town with zero issues.

 

Also, every excursion I have been on in Jamaica, not one was done through the cruise line.

 

Not sure where you get your info from, but it is not correct...

 

 

I am not speaking for myself, this is what we were told by Celebrity Cruise Line.  So as for the correctness, you can take that up with Celebrity I am only reporting what I was told by the officials.  Perhaps it was a hard sell by the Cruise Line to sell their excursions.  I really don't know because I have never found an interest to get off the ship in Jamaica other than on an excursion.  By the way, the US State Department classifies Jamaica as a "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" country but what do they know.

It really depends on the ports and how comfortable you are finding your way around.  There are some ports such as Jamaica that you should not leave the port area unless you are on a Cruise line tour.  Then there are ports like Bermuda, Cape Canaveral or St. Martin where you are perfectly safe and easy to get around.   I suggest going to the port section of Cruise critic and see what people are saying about each of the ports you are going to.  

Personally we do a mix.

1 hour ago, ONECRUISER said:

Either way as said 100% Banned and this style unsafe

Yes, I am sure that RCCL put an unsafe power strip in the cabin.  Perhaps I should sue them for endangering us.  Will you be my expert witness?

14 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Someone left that Power Strip or you brought it, either way that kind is 100% banned and always has been

And you would be wrong.  It was put there by Royal according to the cabin attendant.  And if someone had left it why would they have plugged in the TV and cable into the strip?

I have read many posts here regarding the lack of outlets and the banning of power strips.  I just returned from the Adventure of the Seas and was pleasantly surprised based on previous posts.   I was staying in a GS and realize not all cabins are created equally but comparing to previous GS, the Adventure had plenty of outlets including a power strip already in room (see picture below).   There were (2) 110V outlets and (2) 220V outlets on the desk.  There was (1) outlet on the peninsula counter, (1) on the left side of the sofa and (3) 110V outlets on the right side of the sofa.  In (1) of the outlets on the right side there was a power strip where the TV and Cable was plugged in leaving (2) outlets open.  Therefore there was a total of (8) open 110V outlets and (2) 220V outlets. 

This was far more outlets than I needed.  The plug in the middle is my USB charger.  Also note that the power strip was grounded.

It will depend on when you booked.  If it was before June 1st it is unlikely it will be combinable with RCCL OBCs but will be combinable with TA's.  If you booked after June 1st most RCCL OBCs are also combinable.