cured

My thoughts: IF they were the same type of lobster, I could see being in an uproar. I might be upset if they were charging $16 for another of the small Caribbean lobster tails they currently serve. However, since the lobsters are totally different, this is an apples to oranges scenario. The larger, cold water Maine lobster, the one they serve in normal and upscale restaurants in the US is worth an upcharge for a second tail. You have had to pay extra for Maine lobster in Chops forever. The fact that they are now offering one Maine lobster tail in the MDR as part of the regular menu is an upgrade as far as I am concerned. Since you still can order 2 main entrees, order a steak and a large Maine lobster tail for surf and turf. If anyone can eat more than that, they should be charged. I am not willing to pay for their gluttony (yes it will affect the bottom line of everyone's cruise.) Since the no shorts people think that the MDR is such fine dining, show me one fine dining land establishment where you can get unlimited MAINE lobster. As a previous poster mentioned, probably only in a high roller buffet in Vegas. People who are bemoaning the extra charge have obviously never eaten in a better restaurant where real lobster is served. Otherwise they have no idea what the difference is. As mentioned, apples to oranges. The fact that you can now get Maine lobster is the MDR as part of the regular menu is actually an upgrade, not a downgrade. S

This is almost a word for word copy of ONE post that complained in the Galveston group on another social media forum. I wouldn't take one person's word for it. For all we know, they didn't even try to book their specialty restaurants until later. Until the complaint is verified by numerous people, I wouldn't put too much stock into one person's complaint. Unless you are the complainant?

Apples to oranges. The lobster being trialed in the MDR is a Maine lobster. The lobster tails on Coco Cay are currently the smaller Bahamian lobster. There is a big difference between the size of the two tails. Only time will tell if they will switch out the lobster on Coco Cay if and when they change the menus.

Unfortunately, since covid cases are rising again, we might see some rules implemented again. I just got an email this week from my doctor that due to rising covid cases, the entire hospital system he is part of is going back to mandatory masking in any building in the system.

You are not married, are you? In many households, saying "bye, money and a vacation is way more important than you" to your hospitalized spouse would be grounds for divorce.

Interesting photo. The letter's grammar is atrocious with no letterhead or any kind of company markings, just a piece of paper from a typewriter.

Apples to oranges. You are pinnacle and the OP's friends are gold. Pinnacle members are occasionally given a bit more leeway due to their loyalty than someone who just started cruising and is gold.

Super easy solution to this. If your gold friends are really wanting to experience the perks of having a suite, they can easily upgrade to a suite. If they don't want to pay to play or suites are sold out, then it is not a problem for you to join them in their line. Just make sure you get the same check-in time.

Somebody posted on our cruise group that Royal Caribbean mistakenly had a booking open for a bit and people screen shot it. There is a screenshot for the Ultimate Family Townhome, a 2 story town home, 2 decks and a backyard that opens up to the children's play area. Sleeps 8. $31,689 per person.

If a medical emergency, why take the extra time to sail right on past Miami? The port looked rather empty on the webcam. Or even go to the much closer Bahamas and airlift to the US? I will be interested in hearing from those on board what really happened. Picked up more crew or supplies?

Are you saying that if I become a chair hog, I will come back to eternal life in a cruise cabin? I am packing lots of cheap paperbacks to put on all the chairs on my next cruise!

When does your invoice say your final payment is? Final payments are typically due 90 days before sailing. If your final payment date is October 7, that would usually mean that you are sailing around January 7, not December. Is your sail date on or around December 28th? Because that would make your final payment date 9/28, canceled on 9/29 for not paying.

I can certainly understand the frustration of the people at the podium when they are trying to arrange a huge puzzle every night and the wait staff has made promises that they can't keep and are not really authorized to make. Just because your server tried to promise you something, that is not reality with MTD. There is nor was ever any guarantee during MTD that you will get the same table/same wait staff every night. In fact, completely the opposite. If you want the guarantee of a table and wait staff, you need to book set dining. The whole premise of MTD was that you could make reservations for any time but by doing so you gave up the right to the same table, same wait staff experience. Now with all the demands of people wanting the luxury of arriving at different times each night and still wanting the same table, it is becoming a nightmare. You can't demand the same table for 7pm one night, 7:05 the next night, 8 pm one night. It just can't work that way. It works more like a regular restaurant. You get the next available table as it opens up. It is much easier to guarantee a table when everyone arrives at the same time, food is served at approximately the same time and everyone finishes within the set 2 hour window. With MTD, that is not possible.

That is the responsible thing to do. Adulting is sometimes hard. You have to make responsible decisions that sometimes go against what you want. Being an adult means you have outgrown the me-me-me-centered attitude of a toddler. Same thing with flu, measles, mumps, whooping cough, rsv, any communicable disease that could cause death or serious illness to others. You should cancel if you have an active, positive infection.

Sorry to butt in with my own question but it has been so long since we cruised, I have forgotten everything. If you have the ultimate dining package and are in a suite, will the concierge book the times for you when they contact you the week before? We want to eat in the Coastal Kitchen the first night and start the dining package on day 2. (Harmony, summer 2023)

I would be more concerned that my individual cruise was canceled, ie, final payment was misapplied or something. That would not show on the itinerary updates. You said you logged in and your cruise is still in your cruise planner however with all the reports on social media of cruises getting accidentally canceled without notification especially if you have FCCs attached, I think I would make a call just for ease of mind to make sure my individual booking was not canceled.

Hoping the JK of your screen name means Just Kidding. You have your answer already. Buy the key where they have a special perk of dropping off your carry on. otherwise you are responsible till your room is ready.

?? Nothing was mentioned about changing current vaccination policies yet. Only testing of vaccinated cruisers.

But Bermuda just added an additional requirement for the unvaccinated starting August 22. You can enter the company, but you must show proof of additional insurance for covid. I can see the Bahamas following in their footsteps. Sure you can come to the Bahamas, but it is going to cost you.

It might be the difference of a few hundred people entering the country at one time vs 3,000-6,000. Big Difference!

If the Bahamas had already dropped their vaccine requirement, the political battle in Florida regarding their "no vaccine requirements allowed law" would be all over the media. The media loves a good political covid battle.

The suits from all departments including finance met, looked at current sailings at 100%, the current bottom line, future plans, reviewed the outcome of meetings they have had with their partner countries and their ports, and many other business factors, then decided that the current protocols are what is the best for the company and their investors.

Actually, the Bahamas play a big part. They still require cruise ship passengers 12 and up to be vaccinated. As discussed in a previous thread, an illustrious poster had an excellent explanation why RCL is actually being more transparent by not eliminating the vaccine rule yet for Caribbean cruises. Carnival and NCL are hedging their bets that the Bahamas will fold and eliminate their vaccine requirement. Royal is prudently waiting. What if the Bahamas doesn't relax their vaccine policy? What becomes of all all these people expecting to go to the private islands or Nassau? They will have to have their cruises canceled. At least Royal is not putting cruisers in that position and waiting it out. Bermuda's announcement is very interesting. It gives the Bahamas a way to bend to the pressure of the cruise lines to ease vaccine requirements yet discourage unvaccinated passengers from visiting their country by declaring something like: "Sure we will drop the vaccine requirement, but it is going to cost your unvaccinated cruisers big bucks to carry additional covid insurance." Will insurance companies start raising the prices of covid insurance policies? It will be interesting to watch this play out around the Caribbean.

Seems to be a quick response to NCL and Carnival dropping vaccination requirements, That is going to add cost to sailing to Bermuda for the unvaccinated. It will be interesting to see if the Bahamas or other islands follow and adopts the same policy.

The only people itching to flock to Norwegian or Carnival are the unvaccinated. For vaccinated cruisers, it really doesn't matter because they can sail on any Royal Caribbean ship. Since Royal Caribbean is already sailing at 100-110%, it really won't impact their bottom line at all since the unvaccinated are not currently sailing on Royal Caribbean. I am sure there are a few vaccinated cruisers that will want to "stick it" to Royal Caribbean and move, but there are plenty more vaccinated cruisers whose only concern is the itinerary and the ship. Perhaps this is their niche? Now they are the only cruise line to offer vaxxed cruises from Florida. There are still plenty of cruisers who prefer that. And a vaccinated ship seems to be working for them since they are sailing at 100% capacity. They have offered opportunities to sail on Royal Caribbean unvaxxed from other ports. It is not like they are excluding the unvaccinated cruiser completely.