ptf2009

quick question:  What day did the main dining room serve the lobster dinner?

Globaliser, thank you so much for this info. We are one record locator for the BA and VS flights so one would think this is a through ticket to Tampa, FL. Celebrity air to sea reserved the flights for us.

You have been so kind and thorough and I very much appreciate your time. Happy cruising!

Do we have to go through customs at the Amsterdam airport at the end of our cruise form Rotterdam? Just wondering since we have always had to go through customs at the cruise terminal when disembarking. Please advise.

Has anyone had a connection at London Heathrow from Amsterdam? We are flying back to the US on British Airways with a layover in London and them flying on Virgin Atlantic from London to the US. Do we have to go through customs in London if we are not leaving the airport? We are not world travelers, so I am concerned that we wont have time (2 hr and 5 min. layover) if we have to get our luggage, go through customs, and re-check our luggage with Virgin Atlantic.

We booked our flights with Celebrity air to sea. Please advise. Thank you!

For those of you with flying to and from Amsterdam:

We have a layover in London on British Airways and then on to the USA on Virgin Airways.

Do we have to go through customs in London WITH or without our luggage? If so, how long will this take us?

Please advise. Thank you for your time and info.

We are going August, 2024

On 6/13/2023 at 2:21 PM, ontheweb said:

We actually have been to Iceland, at least Reykjavik by land.

 

We have what I hope will be a very interesting private excursion booked in Isjadorfur. Really hoping we make it for that.

This will be our first cruise to Iceland. Is it best to do the shops excursions or can we walk through the cities by ourselves? Are the excursions in the ports safe? Thank you for any info you can give us.

On 3/14/2023 at 1:26 PM, kruzerci said:

Royal Caribbean is absolutely not worth the money whatsoever at this point for us.

 

Unless you sail on a new ship, the cabins are often worn out and have an ick factor from the old carpet and bedding, the food quality has fallen below anything I would eat at home, massive lines for MDR, and the prices are skyrocketing. 
 

It’s definitely across all mainstream lines, but genuinely sad to see how Royal has fallen since it was our primary vacation company for many many years. 

 

We have more land trips and Celebrity cruises booked. Celebrity has also dropped in quality, but still is a more enjoyable experience. 

 

I totally agree with you...the food and the entertainment have really gone downhill. Until recently we had never walked out during a show. We weren't alone as people were streaming out of two comedians on Voyager and the singers only knew how to scream! We are also Diamond plus. We have a BTB planned for September and then we are going to go to two booked cruises on Celebrity.

Also with the increase in prices, many people will remove the gratuities and just give them to those they encounter. Doesn't seem fair?...but these are the consequences.

bring your earplugs...it's a VERY noisy ship.  They have it set way too high.

Thank you all for your replies! We will be there next Monday and we do like warm water. And we do like a smooth ocean bottom:) Maybe too much to ask....but we will have fun anyway😎

Is the water warm in the ocean AND in the pool at CoCo Cay? We will be there next week.

The barbecue is self serve. We were just there last week and unfortunately it was the worst barbecue lunch we have ever had at Labadee. We were so disappointed and said that we would just go back to the ship to eat lunch in the future unless they make imporvements.

On 4/27/2022 at 4:01 PM, cruzer0007 said:

We are on allure this week.  Head waiter said -4300 guests this week.  Be sure to book shows (in the app) as soon as you board the ship for best selections, and be sure you get your phone on the ship WiFi network before you fire up the app, ensuring you “see” all the options. 

Even though we are only about 75% full we have encountered several fellow cruisers that said when they got on board at -2pm, many selections were already full, and all the comedy shows were full.  Word to the wise is make that task (booking shows) your #1 priority once on board.  I do hate that aspect of the oasis class, but if you want to set it to your preferences do it ASAP

 

do you know how many cruisers are expected next week...as in starting this Sat.?

Hope you are having a wonderful time!

Thanks for the update and I hope you have a wonderful cruise! We will be on Allure this Saturday! 

Please let us know if there are any "must do's" or fun things we don't want to miss😎

2 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

https://ihealthlabs.com/products/ihealth-verified-covid-test-service

Thank you soooo much. We will use this as our back up..."Plan B."

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

I agree. Just wish the cruise lines would drop the pre cruise covid testing requirement. At least for those of us that are vaccinated and have had the booster(s). Glad the mask requirement has been done away with. 

I second that! Sooooo happy about the mask requirements has ended....now if only the tests could end! We are now in the third year of this and for those who have been vaccinated 3 times it is just too much!!!!!

2 minutes ago, davekathy said:

At our Walgreens you stay in your vehicle and swab your nose. I'm not sure if the pharmacist/ pharmacist tech was even watching us either time we did the test. 

Wonderful! Thank you for your quick response. That is how CVS did the antigen for our past cruises....but now CVS won't do them anymore...gggrrrrr.

I sure hope Walgreens won't stop doing them.

5 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Is your walgreens offering the rapid Naat test, this is acceptable.   We used them end of March and had results in less than 1 hr.    Or the emed or ihealth kits are another great option.

 

Once you have results and can do Happy Dance let the fun begin!

for the health tests ihealth tests, what is the website to go to for a proctored visit that the cruiseline will accept?

Thank you.

On 4/22/2022 at 1:52 PM, torpeedo said:

We cruise Sunday and just had our test at Walgreens and they did do the rapid NAAT test. Had results in one hour and printed them.  Walgreens isn't doing the rapid antigen test but it makes no difference.  Yes this whole thing is so stressful. 

We are scheduled for the NAAT test at Walgreens this Thursday for our Sat. cruise. Was this a self-administered test?

So glad to hear that you received results in an hour.

Is the ship in excellent condition? We sail on her in February.

Happy Cruising everyone!

18 hours ago, rudeney said:

So in other words, lie so that your insurance company and the government pays for your test?

No, it is not lying at all...if you read the first question it does pertain to all of cruisers....we will all be susceptible because we are going to be around lots of people for a period of time.

7 hours ago, kpgibbs said:

I would prefer to not have a COVID resurgence.  BUT I did notice Royal is having a flash sale today.  Inside balcony is cheaper then my inside cabin.  My TA is looking into it now.  Fingers crossed.  

Sure hope it works out for you that you can get two balcony cabins! I know someone suggested getting one cabin for the three of you....but somehow I don't think your son and his GF would like that😎 Plus it will be nice for you to have the privacy of your own cabin and bathroom. Let us know if your TA had any luck!

Happy Cruising!! Allure is such a fun ship with Mamma Mia!!

Yeah! So happy to hear that we can serve our own food in the WJ again! It really was such a pain trying to get someone's attention.

1 hour ago, colliece said:

Just got off the Odyssey on Sunday, we sailed at 92% capacity, this weeks sailing is over 100%.  I am going to be honest and some may disagree, but it was not as great an experience.  I know the lines need larger capacities to make a profit, but their were not enough deck chairs or activities on board for that many people.  Long lines for or reservations required, never did get to to iFly or the Zone Zero. 

 

Got spoiled with 50% capacity on our last few cruises.  I would personally pay more to have fewer passengers on board, but we may be in the minority. 

 

On an unrelated note, I wish the "Chair Hogs" would have to walk the plank.  I would be up early to go to the fitness center and at 7am there was plenty of chairs, but at 8:30 after my workout and before breakfast, every chair was "claimed" with a towel/boo/etc.  They they would be unoccupied for hours.   

We were on Odyssey at the end of January with 2 other couples when the ship was at about 40% capacity. While it is a beautiful new ship, we all wondered how it would work at full capacity. Our concerns were for the venues that just did not have that many seats: Playmakers (not many seats to watch popular sporting events), 270 (The Book show where the best seats were right up front..but bring your earplugs as it is very Loud music and the show makes no sense at all). No worries about needing a seat for the Music Hall as you could hear the extremely loud music all around that area. We couldn't even imagine the lines for the bumper cars, I-FLY, and other activities. 

Because of the above, we will not go on that class of ship again.

1 hour ago, The sea calls my name said:

Had an Antigen test at CVS yesterday was all new procedure took 2 hours for myself and husband. They now have to take your V/S, medical and surgical history, medication review. If any abnormal findings you then are required to see the Nurse Practitioner.  My SH blood pressure was elevated ( we knew that I had taken it before we left to go. also I am a retired cardiac nurse so was not alarmed). All this to say new protocols, new procedures and soon everyone will be charged for the test.

You now have to make the appointment the day of the exam not 14 days in advance.

 

Whoa...this sure is different than the last several times we had the rapid test at CVS. We just stayed in our car and the CVS person gave us the q-tip to do the test ourselves while he or she watched. I don't like the idea of having to give them all of our medical information. Plus I have white coat syndrome and my BP is always high when I go to the doctor. ggggrrrr..... I mean what will happen if my BP is high? At home it is very normal...and often below 120.

What part of Florida do you live? We are in the northeast part...hope our CVS is not like yours!