S.A.M.J.R.

So once Royal announced testing was required, did you contact them to get a refund since they've changed the terms? Or postpone your booking? You've KNOWN for well over a year you'd have to test. Apparently you still do. I get it, I wish we didn't have to test. But it's a part of some cruising (currently).

Honestly, I agree with you. I'm not confident the testing helps anyone. But it's a simple solution... if you don't want to test, don't book the cruise. It's the "I booked a cruise KNOWING I'll have to test, but now 'Joe Smith' doesn't have to test, I should get what he has!"

And there's nothing wrong with that. If you don't want to test, don't cruise.

We were on the same cruise. They did a life boat drill in the late morning/early afternoon. I figured that explained the starboard docking. BUT, every port we docked to starboard (PC being the exception). As said, the Aqua Park is one hour (actually comes out to about 50-55 minutes). I *THINK* you can purchase an all day pass for the water slide, but I'm not sure. There were plenty of chairs (under umbrellas) set out when we were there last week. We did get a Beach Bungalow at Columbus Cove and I think it was ~$300, not quite as big as a cabana, but the same amenities. That's fairly reasonable. I walked from Columbus Cove to Adrenalin Point(?) and my watch said it was .6 mile.

As has been answered earlier in the thread, you can get a passport at 15yo that's good for 5 years. I was 43 when we took our first cruise. A couple weeks beforehand, I realized I couldn't find my DL. (Thought) I looked all over for it. Couldn't find it. I went to the DMV and got a new one (back when they'd print on site). My parents were staying with our kids while we were gone and found the DL... I had left it on the bed of our scanner.

This thread is a prime example (IMO) of what's wrong with society today. Everyone wants what's "theirs". If I don't get what someone else gets, that's not fair, is stupid, worthy of complaint. Everyone around the world at this point in time with a cruise booked KNEW they had to test before getting on the ship. Is it stressful not knowing if you're going to be able to board until two days before? Sure. But what if there's a major flight delay/cancellation like has happened multiple times this year? For those driving, what if there's a major traffic tie up (that could be a result of everyone trying to drive when their flights are cancelled)? This doesn't change a thing for those booked on 6+ day cruises. But because "someone else" gets a benefit, break out the pitchforks!

Talk to your waiter or the head waiter at least the night before. See if they'll accommodate you. They did for us.

*IF* the staff member understands what they're doing AND their device works AND it has a good network connection. We had six people checking in on Mariner last week. We had uploaded pictures for all six. We get to the first check in person (where they actually check your documents), no problem. We got to where you "beep" in on the ship, and one of us had a problem with picture. So the worker decides to get a new picture... oops, can't get his ipad to work right. Wait, let's go find another one... ok, here one is, let's go through all the steps to get to where a picture can be taken. It was probably 30 seconds-1 minute, which I know doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're eager to get on the ship, AND you've already uploaded pictures, AND you've already gone through one person who saw the picture, it's a little frustrating. So, yes, it can save time to have the picture uploaded. And yes, it can be more than 10 seconds, especially if you have multiple people.

Hasn't the virus changed? How do you KNOW the vaccine prevented the need for hospitalization vs the virus effects weakening (as virus do as they evolve)?

If you're not going to get another shot, then your choices are: 1) Book with a refundable deposit. If the vax requirement stays in place, you can cancel and get your money back. 2) Book with a non refundable deposit. If the vax requirement stays in place, you lose the money if you cancel. 3) Don't book the trip. No one can say what the requirements will be for ANY country a month from now much less eight.

Just got off Mariner. 98% of the cocktails we got were $13 or just under WITH the 18%. That included Lava Flows, Daiquiris, Miami Vice and some others that I can't think of the names right now.

For Terminal 5/Mariner... One seating area for everyone. Then they called boarding groups. Then folks lined up. Did people with a later boarding time sneak in? No idea. We got to port around 1030, 11a boarding group, boarded about 1125, reported to muster, and in WJ by 1145.

We're less than 4 hours from boarding and no alert/prompt yet

Not worried at all and understand turnaround day. Just thought I had read somewhere that rooms were ready immediately, but that may have been with reduced pax or I'm imagining it. Just trying to plan.

I thought I read rooms were ready immediately, but maybe that was during covid. Now is it still 1p? Mariner if that makes a difference.

MDR dress code (when there was one) Saving loungers at the pool. Now add boarding times to the list.

And her results came in!

One of our travelling party got her covid test done through a walk up clinic yesterday. *I* was told she's negative, has results in an app, will get an email within 48 hours. So, all good, right? I find out today, she does NOT have results in an app, just they verbally told her she was negative. We board the ship tomorrow. If they were accurate with the "within 48 hours", we're fine (we board tomorrow). BUT, any suggestions for a "Plan B"? We will have some of the government tests with us, so I'm thinking if we don't have an answer late tonight, just do one via RapidTestandTrace (what the rest of us did) as soon as we can tomorrow (we'll be flying when they still have appointments for today). Are there options close to the port or close to MCO? We've got a private shuttle from our hotel to the port tomorrow.

This is not a Royal specific thing. Marketing does this all the time. Here's an article about fast food photos.... https://www.insider.com/fast-food-reality-versus-photos-promos-2017-3 I remember the show Friends (I think it was) making a joke about a hotel room being shot from a certain angle to make it look more appealing. As mentioned, the photo was stretched. Personally, I would take any picture taken by a seller with a grain of salt and do some research on my own before buying something. Would you buy a car simply based on the picture a dealer posts?

I'm guessing you'll see a decent price (~$20 w/tip per day) on the black friday sale. But that's a guess.

I figured that's what you meant, didn't want others to be confused.

Picking nits, but a "closed loop cruise" means it leaves from and returns to the same US port, not just the US.

I'm pretty sure it's not. But know if she does use the BC & DL, if the names don't match, she'll need paperwork showing the transition.

We sail Sunday (knock on wood). We didn't upload booster records (only DW has one). Boosters are only required for certain sailings.

We were on Oasis in 2013 and had to get reservations for the comedy show. Ok, maybe not "had", but "strongly recommended".