cruiselvr04

You’re making lemonade out of lemons! It’s great Arlona has a balcony and get fresh air and you can “see” her.

Elevators make me the most nervous. You don't know who just coughed or sneezed in there before you with very little air flow. Unfortunately I can only do a couple of flights at a time due to bad knees. Whenever possible I use the stairs. But 8 flights is not going to happen. We keep our masks on a lanyard folded closed. Then if we suddenly find ourselves in a crowd we can quickly put them on. However this new B2 is so virulent I'm not sure a mask does any good. A UK doctor I sometimes listen to I believe said 1 person can infect 20 at a time. Thankfully its not as strong. Cases are up but not much spike in hospitalization. I'm still not staying home.

Testing to get back into the US is why we are choosing only domestic cruises until 2024 with Alaska in 2023 being the only exception. I just don’t want to be be quarantined out of the country. At least in the US we can rent a car and drive home. Hopefully all this testing will be behind us by then. We flew to DC over the weekend. Museums were crowded, rode the metro everywhere. We used masks in crowded areas but not sure it helped. Will test today but won’t be at all surprised if we get it again. It’s certainly not isolated to ships. It’s just that travel by ship can be more clearly identified as the source but it’s everywhere.

So sorry to hear about Arlona. What a bummer to come this far and then get covid. I think the US has more cases then reported simply because people aren’t getting as sick, just cold symptoms and have gotten tired of testing. We just took a 4 day trip to DC. Very few people were masked. We wore a mask on the plane, airports, subway and in crowded areas but I’ll be surprised if we don’t come down with it this week. The museums were very crowded. We’ve cruised twice since the restart and decided if one was positive, the other would not quarantine so they can advocate for the other. Hoping you stay well and Arlona feels better quickly.

DS is on the next sailing. I’m suggesting they mask and be extra careful to stay healthy. Even if they do it’s not guaranteed that won’t catch it. Hoping they at least get through their cruise. Getting it after would be better timing at least.

Sorry I missed that part.

Such a bummer. Obviously you got it just before you got on the ship. Hoping you don’t feel too bad.

Just trying to be prepared. Is there a number to call if you test positive so they can direct you where to send your positive test so you can get your money back? I did print this last update as it’s good information to have with 4 cruise booked for the calendar year. Hopefully we will never need to use the info!

I had to pretty much beg on Odyssey. You room steward will “try” to get them for you. I wanted day one and someone at guest services finally found me one. I use the app but it’s not always right or updated. Our meal reservations were never right on the app. I really just like them to keep them. I’m one of “those” people. But they are neatly stored in labeled folders. My kids can toss them when I die.

If you don't want service just say so. They will do what you ask. Just keep the tips in place.

I can understand why people are hesitant to report to medical but I think you'd better think carefully about that. Did you take your own test in your cabin and are negative? You must consider your room steward even if you don't leave your cabin if you're positive. Its a red flag if you don't leave for 3 days. Are you out wandering around? Really? Just spreading it? I might test myself first but if I'm positive I'm going to report for the sake of others including the crew. If I'm negative I'm still going to be very careful since I have symptoms, wear a mask, social distance and if I had fever I'd stay in my cabin and retest the next day. I would never say " Don't go to medical".

I think that’s a great idea!

The angled cabin balconies are good because you can sit far enough back in them to not have others looking at you except maybe a neighbor. We got an upgrade to a cabin right after the hump on deck 6. Worse balcony ever as far as privacy. Again that public deck on 5 sticks out a long way especially after the big hump. If you’re in an angled balcony the public can look up and see you on the edge but not deeper back near your door. I just like a more private balcony although none are really private. I don’t want to sit on my balcony and be on display as I felt we were on deck. 6. I should correct myself as we were right in front of the big hump not behind. Sorry to confuse. It was 6626 that had NO privacy from below or the sides.

I’d advise just don’t be right after or before the hump if you want privacy. Others on the hump can look right onto your balcony. Also right after the hump on deck 5 is a bump out deck open to the public. This area is actually used as the gangway while boarding. So again you’re sitting on your balcony on deck 6, people walking by under you have full view of your balcony. On sea days they set chairs out there on deck 5. If you like looking directly out to the ocean and want more privacy book higher. Deck 9 for instance we had no issues.

Anyone who has cruised a lot has probably had something similar happen to them. Great itinerary (Royal)or great pricing ( Celebrity) and poof, gone. Ships were pulled to other itineraries. I don’t think we were even offered a different itinerary because there wasn’t any. These were always about a year prior so we just booked something else. Yes, I’d be upset. We were. You’re right that it’s not fair. Contact Bailey and see if you can get something in return. But swearing off a cruise line because of it doesn’t mean it won’t happen again on another.

I’d like to try these. We’ve been staying in suites so the beds have been better but will be going back to balcony cabins by the end of the year. Royals beds are too hard. Good sale. I’m concerned that these are so narrow though that I will feel like I’m falling off them. On longer cruises we have brought the foam ones on and left them. Of course it’s not environmentally friendly. Im not sure I can get my hands on one internationally. But I also don’t want to lug these across the ocean. I wish Royal would improve their beds and it wouldn’t be an issue.

I have followed this thread from the start. Hard to believe it’s almost over for you. I’ve enjoyed all the pictures and commentary along the way. It seemed to start out a bit rough but you adapted and went with the flow which is what travel is all about. What great memories you’ve made.

Now that to me would amazing! Sigh.

We have a S2S in December and really hoping ALL the testing disappears by then. I guess if they stop testing we’d do a proctored emed test the morning of disembarkment to go on the next one but would hate to do that. This is great news for the B2Brs.

Nassau and Falmouth. Costa Maya if the port time is short. The ship will be wonderfully quiet for at least 4 hours. Lots of open hot tubs and chairs in the shade. No lines in the windjammer. Lovely. Great time for a drink and a nap. The DH still likes to get off and do things. I’d be happy to stay on board unless it’s a port we rarely get to.

While a well informed travel agent can help with many things the one I sometimes use does nothing but make my booking and send me a notice when it’s time to pay. I know more about Royal then she does including best cabins etc. But that’s because I read these boards a lot, watch cabin videos and inform myself. If you want to take the time you can do it yourself. If you want someone to guide you then use an agent. Many people here have found great agents. I’m still waiting to find one of those. We aren’t allowed to discuss names. Mine works M-F 8-5 and gives me $50 OBC for a balcony. I can often save that $50 by keeping my own booking and watching for price drops. Or grab a more desirable cabin that opens on the weekend. She holds only 2 of my 9 bookings now.