MississippiMom

19 hours ago, F27TW said:

Full passengers? Yes.    Full staff .. definitely not.   

 

Another reason I'm waiting at least another year to book our next cruise.   Too many bad stories about crap service due to understaffing, the BS about the covid testing, etc.   It's just too soon (for me, anyway).

It is your vacation time and your vacation dollars, so if you aren't ready to cruise, it is understandable.

We just got off of Mariner on Saturday.  There were 11 of us in five cabins.  (There would have been 13 of us in six cabins, but one married couple had to stay home due to one testing covid positive.)  We enjoyed our time together, making great vacation memories.  But . . . 

The ship felt full. I never heard the total passenger count, but I did hear the cruise director say there were 700 children on board.  There was one 6 year old in our group, who got turned away on three different occasions, because the kids club was full.  (I do not have young children, so I have no idea if that is a common occurrence or a staffing issue.)  

Cafe Promenade and the adjacent coffee counter were never staffed sufficiently, and the lines were crazy, no matter what time of day or night you wanted something from there.  They did a good job of quickly cleaning up the tables in that area, though.

Johnny Rockets was a HUGE cluster, and I do plan on writing to RCCL to complain.  I didn't mind the surcharge, although it was annoying that the RCCL app said it was $11.95, but we were each charged $14.95.  We went in on a Sea Day and spent almost two hours in our outdoor booth, due to slow service and incorrect food being delivered.  I think there were only two servers for the entire restaurant, and I have to assume no more than two cooks.

I expected (walking around) drink service in the large Star Lounge and the even larger Royal Theater, but we had to walk up to the respective bars to get our drinks.  Not a huge ordeal, but not what I have experienced in the past on other cruise lines.

The dining room service was fantastic, both for dinner and breakfast.  Staffing seemed to be fine there.

Every staff member was polite and helpful, even if they might have been overworked.

I HATED using the RCCL app on Mariner last week.  Our family of 11 had seven adults using the chat feature and the notifications were hit or miss.  (Mostly non-existent.) Scanning the dining room QR codes often times did not open up to the correct menus, and the price listed on the app was incorrect for Johnny Rockets.   We did try to use the app for the events calendars, but none of us were fans of the layouts or the functionality.

Mariner & Symphony were both at CocoCay on Friday.  It looked very crowded to me.  

We just returned from a Mariner sailing.  It was the first time my mother ever rented a scooter, and it was a challenge.  We kept getting conflicting answers about where to leave her scooter.  She can walk, but arthritis often makes it painful.  If we had thought about it more, we would have gotten with a foldable wheelchair, instead.  Most definitely get a handicap cabin to be able to park the scooter and stress the need to charge it each night.  And communicate a lot with the Special Needs department at RCCL.

What happens in poor whether to the CocoCay water park tickets?

We never cruise without a passport.  We like the comfort of knowing that if something were to happen and we needed to disembark in a different country, the passport makes it easier to navigate the situation.

It really is just us USA folks who seem to have an aversion to getting a passport.  It’s common in other countries.  (We have relatives in several other countries.)

3 hours ago, litebender said:

How far in advance were you able to schedule your test? The Walgreens website only lets me schedule up to June 8 (1 week from now).

1 week out on the Walgreens site is what I am seeing for the Orlando area.

I am beyond frustrated with the whole Covid-19 testing scheduling.  I am certain we will wind up at Walgreens, but I had hoped to book CVS since they schedule 14 days out.  Unfortunately, CVS appointments for the rapid test (which is what we want) are not an option in the Orlando area for the date we need.  I just talked to an employee at AdventHealth and the cost per test blew me away, since they aren’t filing on insurance.  Dang, that’s CRAZY to me.

45 minutes ago, rudeney said:

 

This is the most ridiculous post in this whole thread!   Who can pack for sixteen days in a 24-inch carryon?  😜

You can pay to have clothes laundered or hand wash items.  I have never packed that light, but it is NOT ridiculous.

All my questions and research about CVS and it was for nothing.  I logged in today, since our preferred pre-cruise testing date would be available on the CVS appointment calendar.  The date was there, but not a single CVS was offering Covid testing appointments.

8 hours ago, sandy toes said:

The vaccine cards must be the original to match with the one on file with Royal. 

We uploaded our vaccine cards when we had only one booster, but then we were able to get our second booster.  I did not see an option to upload our vaccine cards again on the RCCL app.  Ours on file and in our hand will not match.

8 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

My sister-in-law's family of 4 all did CVS minute clinic yesterday. Your appointment options are in 10 minute increments but when someone takes one, say 10am, the 10:10am will disappear with it to space them out by 20 mins. So each appointment will be 20 minutes apart. Hope that makes sense.

Yes, it does.  Thank you!

26 minutes ago, dsvd79 said:

We used the CVS Testing with the Minute Clinic.  Got our test results in 12 minutes.  It was so easy!

“With the Minute Clinic” - Does this mean you saw a provider or went through a drive thru option?  
 

Our preferred pre-cruise Covid testing date should open up tomorrow on the CVS app, and I’m hoping to snag six appointments.  Any idea how far apart they schedule them?  I have no experience using them any place for rapid testing as we have a drive thru lab so close to our home that we have used them the few times we were worried about exposure.  (That lab is a 24 to 48 hour results return place.)

On 5/22/2022 at 9:54 AM, Homosassa said:

CVS testing has not been "free" or several months.

 

While we were not charge out of pocket, our insurance was billed and paid in February.

I don’t care if my insurance is billed.  That still makes it free to me, unless CVS is charging an office visit copay.

44 minutes ago, robindina said:

So regarding covid testing.  Which test do you do at CVS?   What do you need as proof?

 

I’m curious about the CVS testing, too.  The option that pops up a whole lot is “appointment with provider,” and I need to now if that means we will be paying a copay just to get our nose swabbed.  Sounds like I might need to call a couple of the Orlando CVS locations near Disney World to understand their process.

On 5/22/2022 at 1:55 AM, MrsKMB said:

DD was just PCR tested at CVS drive-thru yesterday and it was free. Per CVS, check with your insurance.

 

I plugged-in a random AZ zip code:

 

Our prescription plan is CVS Caremark, so I am hoping we can still get a free drive thru covid testing there before our RCCL cruise next month.

When I look through the CVS app to schedule, I see no indication there should be an expense to me.

Drive-thru testing?  

Walgreens or elsewhere?

I'm another future cruiser needing Walgreens to make up their minds.  It's a little nerve-wracking to only see the 3 days out option, when there are six of us that will need to be tested pre-cruise.

Assuming that the OP is still trying to sort out the logistics.

MANY years ago, we flew to Disney with our 4 & 5 year old.  We had a roller duffel bag that was the perfect size for the two booster seats that we would be using in the rental car. 
 

Depending on your home airport and your Florida plans, make sure you check your options flying in/out of Orlando, Sanford, Daytona, and Melbourne.  

Not only will we have kids in the (multigenerational) mix, but my husband LOVES burgers.  He should not eat them at all, but when he wants to be “bad,” a burger tends to always be his choice.  We haven’t eaten at a  (land-based) Johnny Rockets in, at least, twelve years, but it might a great Sea Day lunch for us. I know there is a charge, but is it all you can eat?  Are reservations required?  Does the wait staff sing & dance, like they used to in the restaurants?  (That was always part of the fun.)

2 hours ago, poocher said:

Fancy gourmet😄😄😄. Definitely does not describe Royal pizza!!  More along the lines of frozen boxed.

The 13 year olds and younger will be perfectly fine with a frozen boxed pizza flavor.  I guess that’s what I was hoping they might find.  I know it won’t work if they are all herb truffle sauce with Gorgonzola & feta pizzas, for instance.

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

Agree.

 

I'm not sure the OP realizes Cafe Promenade isn't really a restaurant/cafe. There are small tables but it's more of a "grab a snack" place.

I’m the OP, and you are correct, I expected a place called Cafe Promenade to be an actual restaurant/cafe.  This will be our first RCCL cruise, so I’m learning.

Thanks for the responses.  There will be thirteen of us, ages 6 - 84.  Cheese pizza will work for the kids; glad to know it isn’t just fancy gourmet stuff they would not eat.  Certainly the non-pizza eating adults can find a sandwich and some fruit to tide them over before our early dinner seating.

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

You already listed them - pizza and sandwiches. 

That’s way too vague to determine if there are items everyone will (or can) eat.  

My 84 year old mother announced today that she does not think she can handle tackling the Windjammer buffet on boarding day.  We know we could pay for Jamie’s Italian Kitchen boarding day lunch, but would certainly prefer an included complimentary option.  It looks like Cafe Promenade sandwiches & pizza might be an option, but when I search for a menu, I can only find the specialty coffees.  Can anyone tell me what food options are available at Mariner’s Cafe Promenade?

Thanks!