leaveitallbehind

Online check in since the start up has been starting at 45 days from sailing in our experience with our last three cruises since October, and with our upcoming June cruise. We have experienced no random changes to this. Also, it is not like checking in to get a boarding queue with Southwest Airlines - you don't need to check in at midnight of the first day of check in availability. That is not the only time you can check in. There are numerous boarding times available and are open up until the day before you actually board. We have checked in on the first day available, and as late as 5 days before sailing, without any issue. Just try again at your convenience and don't worry about the time or day. Sorry you feel as though you are being "janked" around. Online check in with the app is easy and without issues - just have your ID, vaccination records, and be ready to take a photo to submit this information when you do. You will be able to select a boarding time then as well. Relax, this is not a difficult process - and you are going on a cruise!

All of our on line payments have been process correctly and without an issue. But calling can also provide a way to be sure the payment is processed. Just be certain to have the rep email an updated booking confirmation showing the payment and $0 balance due. That typically can be done while you are on with them to confirm the receipt of the email. And also be prepared for what is likely to be a long hold time on the phone - 45-60minutes+ is typical these days.

I don't see it as a tax, but as a processing fee for the current Covid related entry requirements to that country. As mentioned, It didn't exist pre-pandemic and very well may be lifted at some point in the future. A tax does not typically function in that manner. And IMO, an additional $40 pp relative to the total expenditure of traveling there would not be enough for me to change my mind about going there if that is my desired travel destination. Again, just my opinion.

Was that by chance Maya Chan? We have been there 4 times - algae and all. Great place!

Hurricane season (June 1 - November 30) season - which is half of the year - just means that is the time when conditions are most favorable for hurricanes to develop, and is not a guarantee that they will. And even when they do the Caribbean is a fairly large body of water where a hurricane can affect certain areas but other areas would show no affects at all. As mentioned, the cruise lines' main priority is the safety of the passengers, crew and the ship and great measures will be taken to avoid any storms that may develop. I guess we've been fortunate but in 30 years of cruising with a number of Caribbean cruises during the hurricane season we have never been affected by a hurricane. Simply because it is that time of year would not be a reason for me to avoid cruising then.

This is a Covid related measure that has been put in place by Bermuda with the restart for travelers visiting there. It did not exist pre-pandemic and likely will be lifted eventually. IMO it is not that difficult of a process for those wishing to visit Bermuda and is just an additional testing verification level required by that country with that already required by most cruise lines in order to cruise. Just an individual decision.

Yes you are correct as we just did that on Anthem two weeks ago. As well as for their Broadway-type show, "We Will Rock You". (Which was excellent, BTW)

Not even on board? My mistake then. I do recall on other non-Oasis class ships reserving the date and time - or maybe it was provided to us. My memory may not be clear and I certainly cannot challenge your experience. Thanks for the clarification.

We were just there two weeks ago - 4 ships in port. That always has been quite a walk from the furthest pier out. Hopefully there will be some sort of tram or other setup once the port revitalization is completed as there will be at least one more large ship capacity to add to what already is a crowded port!

There would be no benefit that I could see to keeping people in the dark. Hopefully they are just waiting to see what the final protocols will be with your sailing. They typically do a last update 30 days prior to sailing. Hopefully, as well, you will hear soon.

I interpreted the question regarding "this being a covid thing" as meaning since covid are they now requiring you to reserve shows in advance. Perhaps that is my misinterpretation. And I certainly agree with you regarding pre-pandemic being able to book on the planner - that is in fact exactly what I said as well if you read my first response in its full context. I too have cruised on every Oasis ship other than Wonder as well as every other ship in the fleet that requires or allows pre-booking, so I am very familiar with how it works. Or at least how it is supposed to - and used to - work. We've cruised on Oasis, Allure, and Anthem since October and have been told on board that the issue with the planner not being back up to pre-pademic functions is start up IT thing. In that respect, I completely agree that it is a covid thing! They also said that RCCL is planning and hoping to have that rectified soon. Accurate or not, that is what I was told. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

Unfortunately the algae has been a significant problem for that area of the Mexican coast and further south for several years now. And it is expanding further. It is called Sargassum.

The pier is expanded with a branch off the main straight pier which, in combination, can handle three ships at a time. But it is not a second separate pier. There were three ships in port last time we were there. First time we were there only one or two could dock, and on that - and two other subsequent - occasions we were the only ship there. Here is a link to google maps that shows the dock: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Costa+Maya/@18.7317275,-87.693683,1060m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8f5b289b5874cd79:0x935f43d68be66e78!8m2!3d18.7332359!4d-87.6925989

Just to echo what @Essiesmom said, if you go to the ship's medical facility for this they will charge you up front the full amount for their services and medicine, which by comparison will likely be much higher than any home based medical options. You will then have to seek reimbursement from your medical insurance when you get back, which may or may not cover it. The ship's medical service is primarily for emergency medical use, not routine services. I would avoid that option.

No need to resubmit as Celebrity, while strongly recommending them, does not require the booster. So it won't have any impact on boarding. Besides, they will know your full vaccination record at check in as they ask to see it then.

You are correct. But to the OP's question about not all booked categories being eligible for suite categories with the move up, I meant my comments to @Suzanne123 to say that if a suite category (as she was referring to) is not showing, it is not because the stateroom category she was in is not eligible to bid on the suite, but that there just may not be any available with the move up. I think just a different context of the conversation. 🙂

You are correct. But just to be clear to the OP, Serenade, which is their ship, does not have an Ice show or a Broadway show so no reservations are necessary (or able) to be made.

Serenade does not require - or have a method for - pre-reserving shows. Just show up 15-20 minutes ahead of the show. And it has not relationship to covid. The ships - as referenced in my prior response - that require it have done so for years.

That is not completely accurate. The only shows that require reservations are Oasis class ships for the Broadway show, Aqua theater, Comedy show, and Ice show. The only other ships that you can pre book are other ships with Broadway and ice shows - and only those shows require it. None of the rest of the ships or shows require it. Typically you used to be able to do this in advance on the planner, but since the restart they have not yet opened that up and the only way you can reserve is on board through the app or with assistance from the Concierge or guest services. But it easy to do on the app - just do it early once on board to assure the days and times you want. You used to be able to do it via the stateroom TV - probably still can but we haven't tried yet, using the app instead. You can also go to any show as a walk up and will be given access based on seats available after those with reservations have checked in.

There are several threads about this which may provide additional information if you are interested. But no matter how long the process, as it is done manually, you are still required to show your vaccination record at check in, so there will be no issues with boarding should the validation take long. But be sure you take that record with you as they will ask to see it along with your negative test results and ID. BTW in our experience on our last three cruises since October it took between 2 days and 2 weeks. We have one pending since yesterday currently for June.

Which cruse line? Typically with RCCL and Celebrity, for example, they alternate bed location between the balcony side and bathroom side with every other stateroom. You would have to know which stateroom number on a given ship and deck would be a starting point for one of the two and count every other from there. It will vary by ship. But there is no "key" that I am aware of (at least with those two cruise lines) that says where it is located. The RCCL and Celebrity CC boards have stateroom description links at the top of the page that may provide a starting point for you. Here are links to both: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/16-celebrity-cruises/

That likely would be the result of no suites being available on that itinerary for the move up. The program is based on category availability and not every category has available staterooms at the time the move up is offered.

I am not aware of any minimum booked category to be eligible to participate and believe that all categories that are available for any given itinerary will show the recommended minimum bid for each and are open for all to bid on. Its all a matter of the bid value, and staterooms are awarded based on highest bid and down. Here is a link to Celebrity's Move Up program: https://www.celebritycruises.com/bid-on-cruise-room-upgrade

I agree that most often the promos offered on the cruise planner are very good and frequently the best offers. But we have experienced a number of times where similar packages are offered early on board and frequently individual venues will also offer their own deals. As mentioned previously, we experienced this on our recent last three cruises and on a number of our pre-pandemic cruises as well.

Sounds to me like you are pretty uncertain and if that is the case, IMO you likely won't enjoy yourself as you should. Perhaps you've already made up your mind? If everything is booked via refundable deposits, then you have no financial risk until final payment. And as that is still pretty far down the road, maybe wait and see how you feel then. (If it is with NRD, then you have that $ penalty either way). Hard to predict what might be happening at that time in Asia. Personally the situation with Russia and the Ukraine would not influence me for that specific itinerary. And I try not to have my life influenced over fears and global unrest in general - in one form or another and to some uncomfortable degree, these types of things have always existed somewhere. I try to just determine what factors would directly affect me at any given time and go from there with my decisions. If it was my booking, I would at least wait until final payment to make my decision. But that is something only you can decide.