4774Papa

How can they cruise a more than 100%?

Our TA is in seven months and we have had little activity recently. Most people don't wait until the last minute to book a TA.

My view is the fewer COVID19 rules the better. Also, most people going ashore will be with other people from the ship and exposure to others in port will not be a major factor.

One small point, does 24 hours mean exactly 24 hours prior to when you board (say you board at 1pm, you had to be tested at 1pm or later) or does it mean the DAY prior to boarding? We are driving down to Ft. Lauderdale the day before the cruise from S. Georgia (about 400 miles). It would be nice if we could get tested say at 8 or 9am before we drove down to Ft. L.

I hope that your are correct about the 270 day rule. I have read other accounts that would apply it to boosters as well. Still, if we can get an antigen test prior to boarding the ship, that is workable.

True the email guidance uses terminology stating that guest MUST be Fully Vaccinated, then giving the 270 day requirement, but then uses contradictory language "Although not required... Trying to read those statement to make sense, seems to me to say that you still need to be FULLY VACCINATED and that another booster when unnecessary is not required. Still, Royal could do MUCH better with this guidance. I do hope that the advice you received from Royal verbally is what is accurate.

Which guidance? 1) The email that was sent to cruisers for this fall: Vaccination Required All guests ages 5 and older must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the final dose administered at least 14 days before sailing. Although not required, we recommend that guests be up-to-date with their boosters, when eligible. NEW! Guests ages 4 and younger, regardless of vaccination status, can join us on our transatlantic sailings. No exemptions are needed! Up-to-date:For the purpose of our sailing, to be considered up-to-date, guests must have received all doses in their vaccine series and have received their booster if the second vaccine was administered over 270 days (9 months) ago. OR 2) What is on Royal's website, which doesn't mention the 270 day requirement.

Geiranger is the best. Alesund, Flam and Bergen are great as well. The North Cape is not to be missed.

Prior to booking this cruise, I researched the COVID19 vaccine and testing requriements. If Royal changes to require that I get another booster, I will cancel. I have already booked my one-way air back to the USA, plus hotels, etc. Since Italy has no problem with me, I will then have to purchase another one-way air tickets. Further, I will be LESS inclined to look at cruising in my travel plans. Fortunately, the COVID19 restrictions around the World seem to be getting less strict, so there is still hope.

Right, But if it comes down to Royal changing its policy to require the 270 day "fully vaccinated" rule, then I will cancel.

My cruise is next April, and I have NOT received any email from Royal. Royal needs to get is act together.

Prior to booking our TA to Italy in April, I researched Italy's requirements and there are no vaccination requirements for Italy. Spain has the 270 requirement, but you can still enter if you have a COVID test before you depart. Also, I read that Spain is likely to drop the 270 requirement completely.

Wineaux, What I posted was from Royal Caribbean's website. Please show a link to what you posted. George

This information changes September 5, thankfully Guests don't have the 270 day requirement. All Guests, All Aboard Updated August 22, 2022 | Effective September 5, 2022 We’re making it easier for more guests to sail with Royal Caribbean. Unvaccinated travelers can join us* Starting with September 5th departures, guests who are not vaccinated can sail on any cruise from the U.S. or Europe (*except itineraries that visit Canada or Bermuda). See more details and browse itineraries. Testing protocols will be easier Starting September 5th, for U.S. cruises that don’t visit Canada or Bermuda: Vaccinated guests won’t have to take a pre-cruise test on cruises that are shorter than 10 nights. Unvaccinated guests age 5 and up will need to test within 3 days before boarding, regardless of cruise length. We will begin accepting results from self-administered home tests. See full testing details

Anybody know a quick testing place in Ft. Lauderdale?

We did a Royal cruise that visited 6 ports in Norway and went all the way to the North Cape. It was awesome. Our cruise left from Copenhagen. It was in 2019. I think it was 11 days. I would highly recommend doing all the way to the North Cape.

Thanks for the info. We will likely used the bag of clothes as well as have our shirts, trousers, pants and blouses does, since that would probably be cheaper than have a hotel in Italy do it.

I should know the answer to this, but our last Royal cruise was in 2018. We are booked on Odyssey for a TA from Florida to Rome in April/May. Isn't there a benefit for free bag of laundry (for underwear, sox, t-shirts, etc.). Also, since we are staying in Italy for two weeks after the cruise, we will want to have shirts, trousers, blouses and pants cleaned as well (are prices reasonable?).

We haven't done a Royal cruise since the pandemic. I knew about the vouchers, but thought you still had to use them during the happy hour. Thanks

Celebrity's dining is better than Royal's, but the difference is not huge. Royal's entertainment is better than Celebrity's. We like both cruise lines and Royal tends to be cheaper. Also, we are Diamond on Royal and the happy hour free drinks keeps us happy with NO expensive drinks packages. You can order a glass or two of wine with your meal, as long as it is within the happy hour. We don't care much for the mega ships, which Royal has plenty of to choose from.

I am sure, we usually buy the three specialty restaurant special. Compared to NCL and Celebrity it is less on Royal.

Royal's MDR dining is generally very good to excellent. However, the buffet can generate some awful stuff. We tried the lasagna at the buffet once (terrible). Also, some Greek Moussaka was equally terrible. The specialty restaurants are inexpensive and worth the cost.

Our best cruise was probably Celebrity from Tokyo to Hong Kong in 2015, with four ports in Japan, one in China and two days on Taiwan. Second place would be Royal C. Transpacific from Sydney to Seattle in 2018 with ports in New Caledonia, Fiji and Hawaii.

We have done 20 ocean cruises with Celebrity (11), Royal C.(2) and NCL (7). We can go with any of the three, depending on the itinerary and price, but prefer Celebrity and Royal. Royal C. and NCL have great entertainment, but I would give Royal C. the edge on ship design and dining.

Personally, I can't imagine spending on a cruise with two toddler twins to care for. Little ones can raise quite a fuss during a tour when the guide is talking or especially in a museum where quiet is expected. Perhaps for a Caribbean cruise, it would be less an issue. Still, I wish you well. Just note, that having been to Greece several times, that the streets and sidewalks are not always in the best condition.