watcher_62

Just received our Odyssey of the Seas block from our Feb 22 sailing. We’re now up to date!

Same on Quantum and Serenade

We just got off Quantum with connecting balcony rooms. We were travelling with the couple in the other cabin - the connecting room was requested. The doors (there were two) are located beside the cabin entrance, each with handles that could be operated from the cabin side. Sound wasn't intrusive, but if all was quiet (like early morning), you could hear normal conversation and understand it if you listened closely.

It wasn't open to us when we were on it in June.

So update on block progress. Just back from Brisbane after our 18 day Quantum sailing. We passed the 340 mark and had a block waiting for us in our cabin on day 6. Still waiting for our Odyssey block we earned in Feb though....

Fleetwide drink menu https://cruisespotlight.com/royal-caribbean-drink-menus-for-2022/#fleet

Curious if anyone has actually embarked under the new testing requirements? Did you just show a picture of a negative test on your phone? Did you actually bring the test kit to the terminal? Do the check-in teams even care anymore? Seems so loosey-goosey now. We're boarding a transpacific from Oahu on the 13th, and are still required to provide a proctored test. There are people boarding our ship in Vancouver on the 3rd and sailing to Oahu to pick us up. They only require a home kit test. Some of these policies are really not making much sense anymore.

So we just received a Mariner block for our 280 that happened last April. Still waiting on our Odyssey for our 210...

We have one coming up on the 13th, and it's linked to another couple we are travelling with as I booked both. Ours says "My cruise", as do the other 7 future cruises. Theirs shows in the list with no flag.

Hearing conflicting reports on these being open to cruise ships. We are scheduled for late October - hoping they are!

Sorry if this has been asked/answered previously, but does the casino have video poker? Thank you!

Hi - we are sailing 18 days in connecting cabins on the Quantum. We have connecting cabins - wondering if the balconies can open and if anyone has photos? Thanks!

This is always a point of frustration for us, as RCCL seems to have a deal with the ESPN Caribbean and don't carry many games at all. Even this last cruise in Europe, while ESPN carries F1, the ship did not have the channel for the races. No NFL, no F1, but you can watch all the Cricket or University Ladies Softball (no slight intended) you want...😳

We received this email Thursday - we board tomorrow. No changes to the Royal crApp so far: We have reviewed the RoyalUp bids for your upcoming sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas®, and while we have not selected your offer yet, the team onboard the ship may choose it for upgrade based on availability at departure time. You will be able to modify or cancel your bid(s) up to 2 hours before departure on embarkation date. If you do not receive any communication by departure time, your cabin has not been upgraded. If you do not wish to be upgraded onboard, you may cancel your offer by clicking the below link and following through with the cancellation steps. Has anyone been upgraded at embarkation, and if so, how did that work/when were you made aware? It almost reads like we could check in and then be told we've changed cabins... Any info appreciated - Thanks!

We flew into Marco Polo and took the shuttle to Ravenna. There was literally an ARMY of RCCL reps greeting multiple flight arrivals and guiding us through (by virtually a human chain) the terminal to busses that simply filled and left. I'm sure if they know you are booked and the flight details, they will be there.

Well, I can understand everyone's confusion, and the requirements seem to change day by day right now. If you are travelling soon (we leave tomorrow for Alaska), I would recommend you play it "better safe than sorry". Better to find out you did more than necessary than be caught in a situation right at embarkation, as these changes don't take effect until the 8th.

I can't recall if it was an email or a post on the website, it's been included in so many now... you should be receiving further updates given your sailing is after the 14th...

I would disagree. CCL is the largest cruise company in the world. RCCL is the second largest. What one does directly impacts the other, and when you are talking about changes that directly affect their customers, every move one makes has to be responded to by the other, or they risk market share. Now, in this case, everyone watching the news this last week saw both RCCL and CCL move and "drop testing requirements" on cruises 5 nights or less, but where RCCL only continued restrictions for itineraries that included Canada and Bermuda, CCL included those AND Bahamas. This caused a lot of confusion. Today, CCL clarified that the itineraries that included the Bahamas were NOT requiring testing, which aligns with RCCL now. That is what I posted. I apologize if the post confused anyone.

Read page 3 and you'll see Carnival's announcements were quoted, and there was confusion around why they included the Bahamas in their "require testing list" when RCCL did not. What I am posting is Carnival's correction to that statement.

John Heald CCL Brand Ambassador clarifies CCL's Bahamas statements Before I head to my cruise tomorrow I wanted to share the news on testing which many of you have already received from our wonderful President Christine Duffy. It reads as follows. “ August 5, 2022 Dear Carnival Guest, We are pleased to share that our COVID protocols continue to evolve. We remain, as always, committed to the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve. Effective August 8, 2022, guests should be guided by the following COVID-19 testing requirements related to cruises visiting The Bahamas. This applies specifically to itineraries 5 days or shorter only: • Vaccinated guests do not have to present a COVID test result at embarkation. • All unvaccinated guests must present the negative results of a pre-embarkation test – either a supervised PCR or an antigen test taken up to three (3) days prior to embarkation. For complete information on vaccination and testing requirements and other protocols, please visit our Have Fun. Be Safe. page here. We apologize for the late notice but trust you will find this to be good news.”

Carnival updated (read corrected) their original changes as it relates to the Bahamas - they now appear to mirror RCCL... John Heald (Carnival Brand Ambassador Before I head to my cruise tomorrow I wanted to share the news on testing which many of you have already received from our wonderful President Christine Duffy. It reads as follows. “ August 5, 2022 Dear Carnival Guest, We are pleased to share that our COVID protocols continue to evolve. We remain, as always, committed to the health and safety of our guests, crew and the communities we serve. Effective August 8, 2022, guests should be guided by the following COVID-19 testing requirements related to cruises visiting The Bahamas. This applies specifically to itineraries 5 days or shorter only: • Vaccinated guests do not have to present a COVID test result at embarkation. • All unvaccinated guests must present the negative results of a pre-embarkation test – either a supervised PCR or an antigen test taken up to three (3) days prior to embarkation. For complete information on vaccination and testing requirements and other protocols, please visit our Have Fun. Be Safe. page here. We apologize for the late notice but trust you will find this to be good news.”

Royal Caribbean said, “For those clients booked after August 14, 2022, please await the specific protocol details from us related to those sailings.” The cruise line is starting to transition to allowing more unvaccinated passengers to sail, which will be a gradual process. Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley recently said, “We will also continue to operate highly vaccinated cruises with a vaccinated population greater than society. This continues to exempt kids 12 and under. Read Also: Four Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Redeploy Due to Speed Regulations Bayley continued, We will also welcome unvaccinated guests over 12 and guests with a certificate of recovery within 90 days to travel keeping in mind our ships will typically sail with 80 percent plus vaccinated guests onboard.”

Royal Caribbean said, “For those clients booked after August 14, 2022, please await the specific protocol details from us related to those sailings.” The cruise line is starting to transition to allowing more unvaccinated passengers to sail, which will be a gradual process. Royal Caribbean President Michael Bayley recently said, “We will also continue to operate highly vaccinated cruises with a vaccinated population greater than society. This continues to exempt kids 12 and under. Read Also: Four Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Redeploy Due to Speed Regulations Bayley continued, We will also welcome unvaccinated guests over 12 and guests with a certificate of recovery within 90 days to travel keeping in mind our ships will typically sail with 80 percent plus vaccinated guests onboard.”