mac_tlc

Good news!! It was either 1) a loose connection in the 24V system, or 2) A stuck overflow valve. In any event, its working now. Let's see how long it takes to cool down 12 degrees ........ mac_tlc

It was there when I checked in for my 9/18 Oasis sailing last Friday. I uploaded the cards. Checked today, its gone. Edited to ADD: In the interest of research, I checked our Harmony sailing this Sunday (8/14). It doesn't show up there either. But the first screen still says vaccinations are required. mac_tlc

The Suite Concierges seem to run the gamut, as with most folks I guess. We have had very engaged ones and some who never seem to get up off the chair. They always seem to be very busy. I will let you know what I experience. We do spend a fair amount of time in the SL, especially when it's not crowded. mac_tlc

Just catching up on the last few days as we are getting ready for Harmony OTS this Sunday, I have such fond memories of our last few X cruises when I see that Luminae menu. Bourbon and Peaches is my dinner time Go-to. Great food pix from Tuscan. As we wait to board the Harmony to go to the Caribbean, I got a chuckle out of wanting to make sure the thermostat will turn on the heat. 🤣🤣 mac_tlc

I thought I would start this LIVE thread a little before cruise day. We are spending a few Disney Days beforehand, and we have a Grand Villa at Old Key West reserved for the eight of us, ages 63 to 4. We drove down from CT (our 28TH time driving), leaving Sunday and arriving yesterday. Of course, no journey can be without drama. I noticed last Thursday that the AC at our house in Orlando stopped working – big problem in Florida in August. Right now, I have two fans to blow the humidity around. Never fear – the AC folks are coming this morning (Tuesday) and hopefully we will be cooled off by this afternoon. Heading to Old Key West tomorrow to sweat like crazy for a few days. I’ll include some pix of the Grand Villa for those who may be interested. Ok, about the cruise. We will be sailing the Harmony of the Seas, our second time on this lady. This is our (wife and I) 8th cruise since the restart. It is our annual August bring-everybody-onboard cruise. Our two kids, their spouses and the two grandsons. We will be staying in the 4-bedroom Villa Suite and look forward to everyone having their own bedroom. Previously we have done the 2BDR Aquatheatre Suite, which has a great view, great balcony, great living area, but not great bedrooms and bathrooms. Our genie is Raj, for those who keep track of those things. There was some pre-cruise Covid drama as four of the eight got Covid about a month ago. I will spare you the day-by-day trials and tribulations, but as it ended up, three of the eight will board using a positive PCR test and a Certificate of Recovery, the other five will go the conventional route (hopefully), with a negative (fingers crossed) antigen test two days prior. We will be using RapidTestandTrace for the first time this Friday --- wish us luck. The COR will mean that those folks cannot get off in Jamaica or Labadee, but given the cabin and genie – it's not a huge sacrifice !!! I will be happy to answer any questions about any piece of the voyage – the drive, the testing, the AC, Disney, Harmony – whatever you got, I’ll give it a shot. OK, time to get ready for the AC repair folks !!!!!!! More later. mac_tlc

Thanks! We did the Aquatheatre suite on deck 8 on Allure last summer. Such a great balcony with great views! I plan on doing a LIVE thread , probably starting next week . mac_tlc

So do we .

You need a positive PCR test, taken at least 11 but less than 90 days before departure. You can get a Certificate of Recovery from your doctor, or CVS minute clinic does it. My daughter got hers online using MDamywhere.com. They will not do it for anyone under 18. The COR states the date the positive test was taken, date of onset of symptoms, and date of COR issuance. That plus the positive test result should do the trick ——— I’ll let you know in 10 days. mac_tlc

Harmony of the Seas departing 8/14, our genie is Rajesh (Raj) Jogi. Could also be that the COR process has been refined as time has gone on. mac_tlc

I have verified it with Royal, checked with our genie for the cruise , who double checked with the guest administration manager on board. They all confirmed. Honestly, it makes perfect sense that the COR applies to unvaccinated kids. Those are the only ones who need a PCR test to board (3 days prior). It’s exactly that test that can show positive for months after infection. A vaccinated person can get an antigen test 2 days prior, which is much more likely to be negative weeks after infection. They don’t even need to go the COR route, just do the antigen test that is less likely to continue showing positive. Of course the COR in that position is good insurance.

Unvaccinated kids need to have a PCR test, not an antigen test. The government provided ones are antigen tests.

We were going to have our 4 year old tested at CVS, they still do PCR tests. However, it turns out he tested positive a little over a week ago and will use a positive PCR test and a Certificate of Recovery to board. With that there is no need for him to have the PCR test three days prior, which would most likely come back positive anyway. mac_tlc

Great to have you back, Jim!!! We will be on the Harmony of the Seas 8/14, so it will be a challenge to stay current! Hopefully you experience all 3 voyages this time ! mac_tlc

We have been doing a family cruise every August since 2014. Started out with 6 of us, then the grandkids came along and we are up to 8, age range 4-63. We have done the two bedroom Aquatheatre suite twice, once on Oasis once on Allure. When you average the cost out across 8 folks it’s not quite as heart-stopping. 😜 Our next one is in two weeks and we will have the 4-bedroom Villa Suite on Harmony. The Oasis class has a lot for everyone. The itinerary is not important. More so is the embarkation point. Port Canaveral is about 45 minutes from our house in Orlando. It allows everyone to go there ahead of time, do some Disney, and go back to the house afterwards if schedules permit. My daughter is a teacher so August is the best choice of time. For 2023, we will do a 9 nighter on Oasis since it’s easy to get to from CT. We have four adjacent balcony cabins ( two of which are connecting). For 2024, we are eyeing Alaska, which requires much more planning and travel headaches. Best one? The most recent one……. We aren’t getting any younger and you never know when we won’t be able to pull it off. mac_tlc

The August 4th one is 9 nights, as it is the cruise when they switch back to Sunday departures. We were on the 5/1 sailing this year, a Sunday, and they had to move away from the pier to let a cargo ship out. Made for a congested mess for checkin. mac_tlc

I hope it gets available, we are suppose to be on the 8/4/23 sailing. mac_tlc Edited to add: All of the June 2023 sailings, except for 6/30, are also unavailable on the TA web site. May is still there, as is August. I will make an educated (?) guess that the missing sailings are the ones when Oasis is scheduled to depart on Friday for 7 day sailings. In May it departs on Sundays, and then in August onwards it’s Sunday. I am going to guess it’s an itinerary issue.

We will be on the Harmony in the 4-bdr Villa Suite for the 8/14 sailing. It is Star Class ( our genie is Raj, anyone have him before??). I plan on doing a LIVE review, which will probably start with our visit to WDW, only because we have a Grand Villa at Old Key West for a few days. Thought folks might be interested. mac_tlc

It’s in the Royal FAQs, from the link posted earlier. The following ports are currently not accepting a Certificate of Recovery for debarkation: St. Kitts Panama Panama Canal Jamaica Bonaire St. Lucia Guatemala Colombia Trinidad & Tobago St. Vincent the Grenadines Haiti Cayman Islands Bermuda mac_tlc

My daughter is navigating these waters right now too. Entire family positive last weekend, we have a cruise on 8/14. Two vaccinated adults, one vaccinated child, one not-fully-vaccinated child. At this point, the plan is to get the COR for the not-fully vaccinated child, and maybe everyone. Hope is that the COR eliminates the at-the-pier test. She already made an appointment for the PCR test three days prior, which will most likely be positive. But, she will have the COR. For the other three, where two-day prior antigen tests are required, the COR may not be necessary but can provide insurance, I guess. Their antigen tests should be negative by then as it will be 21 days after symptom onset. Using the COR will mean the youngest cannot disembark in Jamaica or Labadee. That’s another reason we would like to not have to use a COR for the other three. Did you ever get a response from Royal? mac_tlc

We did the Oasis in May and are scheduled again in September. We wholeheartedly agree on the venue selection for many activities. This was one item I mentioned in detail in the post cruise comments, not that I truly think they would change it (obviously they haven’t yet). Also agree about internet, sketchy at best. We enjoyed our dinner at Giovannis, wonder if the chef changed ? Our May cruise and our September cruise leaves on a Sunday. The port order is different and you do have more time in Nassau. During June and July when Oasis leaves on a Friday, you lose time in Nassau. BTW, our daughter and son-in-law were on the cruise prior to yours and both tested positive 2 days later. Then their kids did…… So we are analyzing the calendar and counting days since we are all scheduled to go on Harmony on 8/14 in Star class in the 4 bedroom Villa suite. Would suck to miss that one. Scheduling PCR’s, COR’s, proctored tests,………… mac_tlc

Someone on the Celebrity board used MDAnywhere.com It was $69. I perused their website and it looks straightforward. mac_tlc

My only complaint with the pool is that there is not a smidge of shade to be found in the pool. I guess that's why it's on the sundeck......... mac_tlc

We prefer E-class over S-class, but certainly wouldn't avoid S class. Have done 5 E-class so far with 5 more scheduled -- and, yes , I would even book an IV !!! (although prefer the retreat). mac_tlc

Another vote for Nachi Cocum. mac_tlc

I use the “CruiseMapper” app now. Some of the prior websites didn’t survive the shutdown. mac_tlc