PigsCanFly

We always get the Soda package on Royal ships (that have a Freestyle machine).  We used to get one for each half of a b2b until we realized that the first leg cup worked for both halves in the machines.  Now we just get it for the first leg and use it for both.  If we need a soda from a bar the second week, we either use a D+ credit or get it in the casino(all prime or above) or pay the fee.

We had issues with the app also.  It came up with a blank screen on 3 phones and 2 tablets.  We got it to work by deleting the cache and memoryfor the app.  As far as our booked cruises, all 3 are listed when we login and choose select a booking.  When it says enter a booking, click on the arrow in the 'enter a  booking number' box and it lists each of them to choose.

9 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

 

I don't have an answer, but last year B2B cruises required a new authorization for each cruise, so I would be very cautious about accepting the TA's word for it until Bermuda specifically addresses that question. It would appear that at the very least you would need another test since your original test would have been taken too far in the past to be acceptable for the second cruise and the return to the ship's home port would probably count as an intermediate port call, which also requires an additional test.

We have an inquiry into the Travel Authorization folks re: this issue.  As for the second test, we will be tested on board for the second half of the b2b.

Any thoughts re: a b2b cruise that includes Bermuda on each segment.  Will we need 2 seperate Authorisations?

We cruised on Rotterdam in December 2021 for 21 days and on Anthem in February for 14 days.

Both cruises were enjoyable.  We are 3* on Hal and D+ on Royal.  We have favored those two lines mostly due to the great crews we have met on each.  Entertainment is very different on HAL and RCI.  We enjoy them both.  We have 5 more booked on Royal and 3 more on HAL in the next 6 months.

We will be in 6210 on the Rotterdam next week.  The last time we were on a aft wrap around Neptune was on Noordam.  The pics I have seen of the Rotterdam Neptune suites look similar to our memories of the Noordam.  We loved the balcony in Alaska.

We have received 3 of these emails (1 per week) for our upcoming HAL cruise.  Each one moved out time by 20 minutes later and bumped to a different group letter.  Who knows.

I typically buy Bacardi Black 1l on board @4/$40. It is a better price than at home for us.  I have bought Mount Gay Eclipse  at the San Juan pier when sailing HAL for a decent price (and fancy bottles)

They are charged daily to your room account.  ~$15 per person per day.  You can prepay pre-cruise if you prefer.  Some suites will charge an additional $2-3 pp/pd.  Those charges get distributed to stateroom attendants, MDR dining staff and many behind the scene folks.  

19 hours ago, Travelling2Some said:

What?  I have never heard anyone mention that they kept the test kits refrigerated.  Checking the box now I see that they should be stored between 35.6 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  Good to know but that's pretty much the temperature I store myself at so easily done 🙂

I understand your comment, but I will not leave them in my car for a week in Ft.  Lauderdale parking lot.  86 seems likely in a closed car in South Florida.  That being said, some of the cruise ship stateroom fridges may be out of the 35-86 range (on the high side)😨

We are doing a HAL cruise out of Port Everglades followed 2 days later by a Royal cruise out of Port Canaveral.  We plan to bring along emed tests and keep them in the HAL fridge and do the test on shore once we check in to our between cruise hotel.  We have done 3 b2b cruises since restart and they all did testing last full morning of first cruise.  We got the results later that day via email and that evening on paper.  They seem to have it figured out.

We have a similar Casino offer cruise cuming up next month.  We combined my offer of FP and sig drink package with wife's offer of FP and casino drinks.  Our PCC told us that that we each get our FP offers and DW gets casino drinks and I get the sig pkg.  Our adult son is also travelling with us and hopefully will have neither drink offer required.  We shall see in ~10 days.

The reference to "vouchers" seems incorrect to me.  The D+ drinks are tied to each of our seapass cards.  To use someone's 'not drinking age' seapass card to get an alcohol drink would surely not be allowed.  It would likely be frowned upon.  I have used my son's (adult) card along with my card to get a drink for him and a beer for me without any issues.  We have sailed on 5 Royal cruises since restart and have not exceeded the 5 drinks in any of thore 35 days.  

We 3 have used that test using emed and navica in September, November & December 2021 and February 2022 with no issues.  We plan on using them again in April (twice) & May.  It has been easy and prompt.  (knock on wood 🤗)

I can't imagine  being hungry on a cruise ship.  I often leave the  casino at closing and grab pizza on the way back to the room.  Room service is 24 hrs.  I eat better on a cruise ship than I do at home.  IfI need a snack athom, I need to get it myself! Holland America and Royal  do a great job.

On 3/22/2022 at 1:41 PM, RedIguana said:

We made it in case anyone was wondering. 

We are on Rotterdam next month and we appreciate your confirmation.

We have only visited Key West in the past via cruise ships and love the stop.

Thanks again.

If you plan to use a Freestyle machine , you will need to have the cup with you.  We always enjoy the soda package.  If you visit a bar, you do not need the cup, just your seapass card that shows that you have the package.

We are staying at the Best Western Airport/Cruiseport tomorrow night and using the park and stay for 14 days .  They provide the RT shuttle to and from the cruiseport. for 2 and we pay $35 more for our third rider.  It still costs us less than the port parking fee and includes the hotel stay.  We have done it before and it worked well for us.

We have used it in September , November & December and had no issues.  Hope it still works on Friday for us.

We have not sailed out of Boston.  We do have a HAL 24 day cruise out of Boston in August.

I have been able to get $20 in ones at guest services and usually only $5 or $10 in ones at the cashier.  Never had a fee charged at either.  

I have often brought 2 6 pks of 16.9oz Pepsi Zero onto Oasis in September and Symphony in November.  No issues for me.  I am a Pepsi fan, but will drink Coke Zero when out and about on the ship.  The Freestyle machine has it and I have got cans of it in the Casino and the Pool bar.  The Pepsi Zero is my morning drink of choice, so I have one in the morning.  Only problem for me is the 12 limit applies to a b2b also, so I have to make it last.  I have toyed with trying to convince my son (same stateroom) carry in an additional 6pk.  Pre-pandemic, we were able to bring more.

I became a fan in the Oasis pub of Pilsner Urquell.  The Symphony Pub also had it.

I cancelled our 2 January cruises a week before Royal cancelled.  I got the refunds for each in ~10 days from cancellation.

1 minute ago, leaveitallbehind said:

Interesting.  Our first cruise with the return to cruising was also Oasis, but early October (4th Oasis return itinerary) and cloth was in use then - and subsequently in December on Allure.  So I guess maybe the rubber ones were short lived.

We got off Oasis on Oct 3rd.  I still use the rubber 'TheROYALComeback' band on my drink cup at home for the grip.