EllaDuChien

8 hours ago, CarolRoy said:

How did you get RC to email you a copy of your status?

I just took a screenshot of my "Upcoming Cruises" page on Royal Caribbean's website and sent that to them.  It has my level and my C&A number.  They took that with no issues.

9 hours ago, CarolRoy said:

I am Diamond with RC and not platinum as my previous post.  So how will they know that I am Diamond?

I emailed a copy of my RCL status before I arrived for my reservation and they had it in the system and ready to go before I got there.  Just gave them my DL and picked up my Gold card.  

3 hours ago, molly361 said:

Additional  grats are for a GS and above not a JS

Gotcha, thanks!  Not usually a suite person, but I could probably get used to it if I had to! 😊

Just received my RoyalUp accepted cabin notification - Hump Balcony to Hump JS.  Will they add the additional gratuities to my account once onboard?  I am solo on this one so if I remember correctly, I do not get double double points when its a RoyalUp, just the standard double points double point promo and the extra for solo, correct?  So for a 3 night cruise its 9 points, not 12?  Is my math correct?

I was scheduled to take Carnival Legend from Barcelona this past May, that one got cancelled.  Now I am scheduled to take the Pride this coming May again from Barcelona but this time with better ports and a couple of extra days for less money.  Even if the ship doesn't have all the bells and whistles like the Mardi Gras (we just got off on Friday) I am already winning!

1 minute ago, sid_9169 said:

I assume that I could get some more one dollar bills at the casino?... I'm running low.

Or guest services.  We did that multiple times last week.

17 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

Before I get into Costa Maya, a couple of general items.  First, we chose an 8k balcony on thr 7th floor port side.  We almost always plan ahead enough to get our fav 4th floor. VS but this was last minute. Our room does a great job of cooling.  This is the temp almost at midpoint on the dial.  The second thing is the water pressure.  By far the strongest we have ever had.  And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled program.   

This is really good to hear, I just today booked an 8k balcony on the 7th deck starboard side (7289) for a May European cruise out of Barcelona.  Cooling and water pressure are usually my top two cabin issues so glad to hear at least I may be in the right section!  Thanks and enjoy the rest of your trip!

1 hour ago, Lady Hudson said:

Are current points total showing up on the Club Royale site?  Just got off Oasis and now I see the certificate earned but not points earned?  Do I need to be more patient?  Katherine 

My points took about a week to post. 

3 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Had you checked fares with air2sea?  We had booked $440 pp thru a2s vs $1000 if we booked direct with united.

I used Air2Sea as well, ours was $698 non-stop on AA. Currently fares are $900 if I purchase directly.

3 hours ago, texmex.ferr said:

New protocols for entering Barbados

 

Good news!  Hopefully it stays that way for a while!

4 hours ago, DrDani226 said:

I don't have a choice unfortunately. I have a 10yo and they are not accepting the at home tests for unvaccinated. I plan on making appointments at CVS AND Walgreens, if possible, then cancelling what I need to. I feel bad taking up appointments, but we have little choice with these requirements! I'm trying to think of it as opening up a spot for someone who needs a testing appointment last minute:)

I live in Charlotte as well, and we sailed two weeks ago with my 9yo daughter.   Just in case you didn't know the timing, CVS opens appointments 14 days in advance and Walgreens opens testing appointments 2 days in advance.  I made appointments at both places then cancelled one after we completed the test.  My CVS in Steele Creek is a drive up testing site.  Super easy!

9 hours ago, suzyluvs2cruise said:

 

Thanks for sharing your experience via your blog. We've enjoyed Chef's Table several times but haven't seen Caymus offered in a very long time. 

Suzy - I had been to several that did not serve the Caymus with the beef but then this one in November 2019, a very pleasant surprise!  My next Chef's Table is Halloween on the Mariner, I will let you know if we still get the Caymus!  Thanks for reading!

8 hours ago, footzz said:

If the answers to the above questions is NO, then it just might be worth it for you to try the Chef's table. The only way to find out if it's  worth it to you, is to try it yourself. In our experience, different lines, different ships and different Exeuctive chefs made all the difference between a great dining experience and 'meh'. 

I have found this to be absolutely true!  Even when having the same menu over again, the executive chef (and to some extent the other guests) have made the experience what it is.  Either great or just a good expensive meal.

7 hours ago, dianajo67 said:

For those who have done it recently — How are they currently handling covid spacing?  Are they keeping everyone at one big table?  I know it’s vaccinated only.  I’m thinking about doing it as a solo, but I wouldn’t want to be stuck sitting at a little table by myself.  Like I’m in time-out or something…..

I am not 100% sure, but I will let you know,  I have Chef's Table scheduled for Halloween night!

@RocCruisers I really hope it works out and you (and all of us) get to sail!  I agree, I can't imagine Barbados not working something out with the cruise lines...I just wanna know what it is!! 🙂  

21 hours ago, birdylady said:

While I agree with getting their name, I seriously doubt that will hold water once in Barbados if someone says otherwise.  Just saying.  Personally, I don't want to stress all the to getting on the ship (from now till then) that we may not get on the ship.  Bad enough we stressed for 2 days after we got out test for our recent Allure cruise that they wouldn't accept the results as there was 'some' written items on the paper (thankfully, they said that they see all the time, the main thing was testing results from the test machine).  So, we are seriously considering canceling our cruise. Not what we want to do.  Trying to hold on a few more weeks to see if RCI cancels on us instead before final payment.

Erika

That's exactly where we are.  Our final payment isn't due until the end of December, so if they start on December 5 as scheduled, we should have some first hand reports before I have to pay or cancel.  

Just off Freedom and they emailed us about a week before sailing to register my daughter for testing.  Its not really scheduling, because once you go through the process of registration, they just told us to go for testing at our scheduled check in time.

It may have been the paperwork that they took to check in.  When our test results were in, I went to MyCVS chart and printed out the negative test.  However, then I noticed that there was no provider information or other required info on the MyChart one.  If I went to the one in the text link, all the information was there.  Below is the first test with the missing information:

Then the results from the text link for the same test:

Not saying that is what happened with everyone, but just a reminder to make sure you bring the right print out.

1 hour ago, BigRoger said:

Hi to be fair... having become alarmed reading all this stuff I actually went onto the various Barbados sites to understand the requirements for cruise passengers and it doesn't seem terribly onerous to me unless I'm missing something?

 

Its only vaccinated passengers I suspect:

 

If flying in with cruise line/ charter on day of cruise - fill in Barbados form, PCR test 3 days or less before fly, then transport straight to port by cruise line

 

If flying in independently but on day of cruise - same but not transported by cruise line, by specified local transport

 

If flying in before cruise sail day - initially the same, but with a PCR test on arrival, then go to 'designated hotel' to await test result - they call it 'quarantine' but there is no set amount of days its just until you test positive or negative (they do suggest at least 2 days though). Test negative and free to do anything anywhere on Barbados as soon as results through...

 

Designated hotels are basically every hotel we've been looking at on the island!

 

Is it that complicated (provided you don't test positive!)......

 

Its not at all complicated or onerous, but there is a lot of "what if's" and that is just not how I want to spend my vacation.  We are booked (through the cruise line) to fly in two days early. Now that meets the recommended time frame, but chances are we will spend those days sitting in our "designated hotel."  As you say they suggest AT LEAST two days.  We are flying in on Friday for a cruise on Sunday.  What we don't know is how long test results take on the weekends.  If it takes 3 days will we not be allowed to leave the hotel to board the ship?  

If Royal does indeed start these sailings December 5 as scheduled, it will be interesting to see how they go.  My final payment is not due until the end of December so I will wait and see before I decide. However, this is my 50th Birthday cruise and I would prefer not to have a stressful experience. 

The vaccinated areas were the casino and the solarium.  Places where kids aren't allowed anyway.  There were certain shows that were only for the vaccinated, but there were some that were for everyone.  

As far as the nursery, I am not sure how that will work as my daughter is 9.  What I can tell you is to go to Adventure Ocean as soon as possible and sign up.  Then you will have first choice of time slots.  They allow you to choose one time (morning or evening) per day, but say that you can check on other times and see if they have room.  That is for the older kids though, not sure about littles.

Vaccinated guests do not need to take tests on debarkation as far as I know.

2 minutes ago, RhondaC said:

I'm on Freedom in December, and I don't see the Unlimited Dining Plan in my cruise planner.  Will this show up later?  Or don't they offer it on Freedom?

I was on Freedom last weekend and again in December.  It was not offered in the cruise planner for either and not offered on board.

Each port has different restrictions.  In Nassau, unvaccinated people could not get off the ship so if parents wanted to, they would need to check the kids into Adventure Ocean.  At CocoCay, everyone could get off no matter what.  Those were the only two ports we visited last weekend, if you are going to different ports, you will need to find out what each ports rules are.

I'm on the Jan 30 sailing and I have been wondering about this too.  My flights are booked with Air2Sea and they do have the 2 days built in, but I certainly don't want to spend them in quarantine!  Hopefully they decide something soon.

11 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Very unlikely they'll wait that long -look for protocols in the next two weeks.

Agreed.  Anyone sailing that first week of November would need time to schedule their test.  

On Sept 21, I received the Healthy Sailing Protocols for sailings departing from October 16-31.  I haven't received anything past  that but the website just says testing required with no end date.  My guess is Yes, you will need a test.

4 hours ago, dianajo67 said:

I’m doing a solo in Jan as hubby has to work.  My hubs says I’m like his grandma…I chat up people in the checkout line at the grocery store, elevators etc.  Hubby cringes, but I usually find a kindred spirit!  Considering it.

I do try to read people though…with covid, some people would rather not have folks talk to them.  Me…OTOH, I have repressed socialization desires due to living like a hermit

Oh me too!!!  I will pretty much talk to anyone that makes eye contact at this point!  Just got off a quick weekend cruise with family, but I found people much chattier than usual especially in elevators and in the casino.  I can't tell you how often my daughter rolled her eyes! 

I am solo in December and I have already booked the Chef's Table, same again in March.  I love travelling with my family...but I love not, too!