Sherri914

This is a very generic observation, but may be of some help.  

The bigger ships (Oasis class in particular) are very popular for Caribbean cruises.  Those ships usually sail full.  When ships sail full on a very popular itinerary (Caribbean for example), it usually means there is high demand for the Deluxe beverage package.   When the Deluxe package is selling well, the price is higher.  Supply and demand.   I know it's very frustrating.  

My upcoming sailing in January 2024 on Symphony (Southern Caribbean) shows $105/pp/pd as the onboard price for the Deluxe package.  Currently its offered for BOGO50, bringing it down to $77.00/pp/pd.  

I've seen smaller ships offering their pp/pd undiscounted rate (onboard pricing) at a fraction of that -- somewhere in the $80/pp/pd range.   

Bottom line for me -- the only really "good" pricing I've seen on the Deluxe packages are on less popular itineraries and on smaller classes of ships.   It didn't used to be that way -- but it has been for many years now.    

It's been YEARS since we left from Port Everglades, and I've never driven to that port -- we used to always fly in.   We're cruising on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas in January 2024.  I'm looking at the parking options around the port.  There are so many options, but several are asking which Terminal we will use.  I've tried researching but I can't find anything definite about where Symphony will port.  I saw that Terminal 18 is typically used for Royal, but another site said that Royal and Celebrity often share a terminal.   Any ideas on parking?   I know Port Everglades has their own garage for something like $15/day.  Looks like there are a lot of options for about half that if you park off-site and shuttle in, just not sure if anyone has an experience with off-site parking at Port Everglades.  

15 hours ago, mek said:

And it really is so unnecessary because it's possible to become positive after the test and still be able to board.  Total waste of my time and maybe $'s.

Have you read the two other threads on here about the first-hand account of one of the six who tested positive on the Adventure cruise last week?   Very detailed.  She and her husband were both vaccinated.  Both had pre-cruise rapid and PCR testing prior to cruising out of Bahamas.   And both tested positive, no symptoms, during routine testing done toward the end of their cruise.  So I agree -- the pre-cruise testing for vaccinated individuals seems pointless.  I guess they're trying to catch any who may be asymptomatic, and perhaps the 3-day prior to cruise testing might accomplish that, but even after testing negative you can still be exposed during pre-cruise travel, hotel, dinner, etc. just prior to getting on the ship.  I'm betting things change yet again before my November cruise.  I'm going to just sit and wait.  

11 minutes ago, Shippy said:

  I find this Royal Caribbean discussion interesting. We cruise with RC next January.

HOWEVER,  we have an MSC cruise out of Miami next month.

They will NOT accept any tests in advance. You get tested at the pier. unvaccinated pay for it, vaccinated do not but all get the test.

Very nerve wracking !

I like that setup better than the current RC setup.  

11 hours ago, soremekun said:

Selfishly, I hope this is resolved before my December cruise on Anthem.

Policies change so I hope this is changed by then.

Same -- I cruise early November.  Hoping this all gets changed yet again before then.  

2 minutes ago, mavo68 said:

You should be fine with either test. I’m in healthcare and get tested weekly. Both tests. I had Covid June if 2020 and both Vaccines in February. I have heard that people who had Covid and have had the vaccine are”bullet proof”. 😂😂 I hope that is true. Lol

I hope we are bullet proof!   I honestly worried more about a "false positive" than anything else.  It would really suck to get all the way to three days till cruising only to have that happen.

Thanks for the pep talk.  It made me feel a little better.  Things will surely change a dozen times before November too I'm sure. 

I asked this on another thread but thought I'd ask here since there seem to be some people in-the-know about tests/results on here.   

I'm recovered from COVID (had it in February).  I've also had both doses of the Pfeizer vaccine.   Which type of test should I get prior to boarding - or does it matter.  Just curious about the antibodies from having COVID causing a positive result.  I was told on the other thread that it doesn't look for antibodies in the test.  I hope that's the case.  I've been googling but can't seem to get a solid answer. 

3 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

RCI has protocols for your situation. I think they need some documentation showing you are a recovering COVID patient. 

Thank you!   

I'll try to poke around on their website to find those answers.   

1 minute ago, mauraoel said:

You will be fine the test doesn't look at antibodies it just looks for the virus.

Thank you!  That is a relief.  We are driving from South Carolina to Miami  -- splitting it into two days.  I think we'll test locally in SC that Thursday, then drive down on Friday/Saturday, boarding the ship on Saturday.  At least that way we aren't scrambling with other passengers in Florida trying to quickly test before they board.  

I paid my final cruise balance today for an early  November Symphony cruise.  No sooner than I completed that transaction did my mind begin spinning.... about the precruise COVID testing.  

I've had COVID.  Back in February.  It was really bad for me.  Then I was vaccinated (Pheizer).  I've had both shots.   

Will my test result be skewed because I've had COVID prior and may still have antibodies present?  The Health Department contact tracer told me (in February) that antibodies could be present in my system for months -- they simply don't know how long they'll last -- and that those antibodies would make any future testing appear "positive".  

It didn't matter before because we were vaccinated and Royal said vaccinated guests didn't have to test prior to cruise.  That changed now obviously - so now it's on my mind.  Any thoughts?  And yes, i know things will likely change 12 more times before November.  

On 4/26/2021 at 2:29 PM, HaveWeMetYet said:

Don't be too hard on them.

Possibly someone with a mental health condition like Asperger's. They get triggered with fear from the constant news coverage of covid. They can't process when it is ok to take the mask off but can breeze through college calculus.

Maybe a few -- but I doubt that's even a decent minority of the number of people I see doing this on the regular.  The same people I see walking around with gloves on in the grocery store, driving their car, talking on their cell phone, etc. . . .   I just wonder what happens when they take the gloves off.  They've had gloves on and touched everything  under the sun, then take the gloves off presumably when they get home and touch the same things they just touched with their gloved hands.  hmmm   where is the logic there?    Or, better yet, the grocery stores with plastic over top of the credit card key pads.   Never once have i seen those plastic covers get wiped down between use.  So what is the purpose of the plastic?   Touch the keys, touch the plastic, it's ALL THE SAME THING!  LOL  It just makes me shake my head sometimes.   

7 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

Quite sad if people have actually been waiting for the announcing of this....

Perhaps the same people I see regularly driving their vehicles, alone, windows up, masks on.  I still don't understand that one. 

After a lot of back and forth on my end trying to decide to cruise or not to cruise this coming November, I decided to L&S.  When I first planned this cruise, it was for Allure, November 2020, which would've been post-amplification.  I got an amazing deal on a CP Balcony room w/ the extra large balcony - you know... the ones that aren't advertised that way.  And the cruise was almost 2 years away at the time.  Then they decided not to amp Allure just yet, so we transferred to Symphony, same itinerary, still November 2020, and I was even able to get the same exact cabin.  Cost was a little more - I think around $300 more than Allure - but the different dates made a huge difference in the airfare prices, so we made up for the increase by what we'd save in airfare costs.  I'm not afraid to cruise.  If I weren't still working, I would be happy to be on the first cruises out of Florida to the Caribbean honestly.  But I can't chance being held on a ship for 2 additional weeks if there were to be any sort of outbreak of COVID during the cruise. 

It was so hard to pull that trigger yesterday, but after 1.5 hours on hold waiting for C&A rep to pick up, I was able to lift and shift to the same cruise, same ship, same itinerary, same week in 2021!  It was tough watching my countdown clock go back up to over 500 days again.  😞   I will say, the rep who helped me was AWESOME.  She was careful to explain L&S and how the fare and OBC is transferred but the taxes and port fees will vary somewhat from my original cruise.  I was sad that the L&S would mean losing my double-sized balcony because when I looked online, that room wasn't showing as available.  But the C&A rep said it was open and booked me in.  So I'm very pleased at the whole process.   They were great when I transferred from Allure to Symphony, they were great when I moved from Symphony 2020 to Symphony 2021!   

Just now, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Even our dentist wears a mask...must be a reason...

Really?  You can't figure out why a dentist wears a mask and not a physician in an exam room?  

Dentists and hygienists are at very high risk of having saliva splash back.  They're working inside someone's mouth.   Mine wears a mask and a face shield as well, and that makes perfect sense considering they're apt to being splashed with spit or even blood droplets.  

Using that as a basis for having everyone else wear masks in public makes absolutely zero sense whatsoever.  

Just now, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Some might say it's time to find a new physician.

Well, he has a booming practice and has had one for 30 years now.  And none of the physicians - specialists included - that I've used have EVER worn a mask in the exam room save for once, and that was when I presented with flu symptoms.  

Here's my bottom line -- and reading your comments in this thread I'm sure you will not agree -- but here goes.   Asking people to wear  (or mandating) face masks THREE MONTHS into this thing is like asking the baby's father to wear a condom at the baby shower.    

12 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Now think about it. Plenty of vulnerable people have to do essential business during flu season and a flu shot is no guarentee of protection yet we don't wear masks. So why are we doing it now?

Exactly.  My own physician doesn't wear a mask during flu season when treating patients in an examination room (very small, closed door) unless that patient presents with symptoms of the flu (coughing, fever, etc).  

This is going all over Facebook as well.  Seems to be misinterpreted as a new standard by many folks, but is intended for the passengers and crews currently on ships.  

11 hours ago, Tapi said:

We also have a Royal Caribbean cruise for November 2020 booked (which I’m 50/50 about canceling) and I’ve been checking prices for drops, but so far, rates are considerably higher than what we booked.

 

 

I have been checking our Symphony November 2020 cruise every few days for price drops and Friday night .... jackpot.  Dropped $400.  Called in at around midnight Friday night and had no problem getting the reprice done.  Took maybe 10 minutes on the phone.  

1 minute ago, mek said:

I'm going to be in a similar position when my final payment for a November cruise comes due.  I have a non refundable deposit, but I did book last fall - long before Corona -and have insurance, so not sure if the Corona thing is covered or not - will have to look at the policy and see what it says.  Bottom line is if I have to I will go ahead and pay and if things aren't back up and running, then I will get a credit.  I had a June cruise that was canceled and have been offered and accepted a full credit.

We have a non-refundable for a November cruise as well, but I'm hopeful things will be looking up by then  - at least for the Caribbean sailings. 

6 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

There are no refunds until RCI cancels the sailing. If you cancel, you only get an FCC.

Ahhh.  Okay, that's where the sticking point is.  FCC vs. Refund.   Thanks!   

38 minutes ago, JDGGG said:

The rep said no and no refunds.

Royal's Cruise with Confidence policy was revised yesterday to include sailings thru Sept 1, 2020.  So I don't understand why they'd say no refunds.  I must be missing something.   

I can understand them not extending the final payment date.  But I don't understand the no refund response you were given.

We were in that cabin on 11th deck.  It was a little high for viewing (and hearing) things happening in AquaTheater (just my opinion).  I said at the time that if we booked Boardwalk again, I'd go to the 9th deck instead.   Now that the slides are in on all Oasis class ships except Allure (until her amp takes place, when and if) I don't think I'd book a regular boardwalk balcony again because the slides really do obstruct that beautiful wake view you get from those cabins.  It was nice  at the time -- we had a great wake view of the sea, but at the neighborhood balcony price instead of Oceanview pricing.   

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Yep, covered two weeks over the 50th birthday bash

 

 

THANKS!   I knew I'd seen you do a live one from Symphony and I couldn't find it yesterday for whatever reason.  THANKS!  

12 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

FWIW, on the recent TA, Vintages was empty all the time, same with Sabor. From what I had at Sabor, I can honestly say I preferred El Loco on Symphony and Oasis. I think I would have liked the expanded Giovanni's that was planned

John,

Did you happen to do a live review from Symphony?  

8 minutes ago, irishgal432 said:

I booked one of the new Panoramic Suites on the wing bridge for the President's Cruise in October.  It looks like the room will not be made in the dry dock.  there is plenty of time until then, but curious how long it will take Royal to let me know the room isn't going to be available.  Kind of bummed as it is a Star class room that comes with a genie.

When i called this morning, the rep wasn't aware that the amplification wasn't happening.  She placed me on hold for about 3-4 minutes, then came back and said she confirmed that the "full" amplification wasn't happening but didn't have details about which features would or would not be performed.   When I asked for the transfer fee to be waived, she said they were not offering that at this time, so I asked to be transferred to the resolutions desk.   She placed me on hold again for another 3-4 minutes, then came back and said they would be waiving the transfer fee if I wanted to move to another sailing.  

I would be totally bummed in your situation as it looks like your room may not even be 'built'!  They'll surely have to make some sort of announcement sooner rather than later in this situation where they've sold rooms that might not exist.  I guess they're waiting to figure out what exactly they will be able to get done so they know what to offer and how to proceed.  That waiting would be painful though.    

For us, though, the timing is actually better for the Symphony cruise.   The flights are so much cheaper that week vs. the week after thanksgiving too.  So it was a win-win for us to just slide over to Symphony.  I'm bummed I don't get to experience Allure though -- but maybe next fall!  

3 minutes ago, Bradison said:

 

We are booked on that same cruise after Thanksgiving.  Didn't even realize it until we booked our flights.  Wifey not happy about leaving the family on the Saturday after Black Friday.

 

Does Symphony go out of Miami like Allure?  Was surprised how expensive the flights were (although liked that they were direct).

 

BTW, you look too young to have a grandson.  I can see how the entire perspective changes when there are kids going.

First, and most importantly... THANKS!  I actually have THREE grandkids!   I tell people I had my children when I was 10... so there's that.  

About Symphony, YES!!! It's the same EXACT cruise!  Same ports of call, leaves out of Miami.  I took a quick look at flights (which i don't intend to book right now, but just to get an idea) yielded results that are average $500 cheaper for two roundtrip tickets than what we were finding for the 11/29 cruise!   And I was even able to snag my exact same cabin (one of the double-sized Central Park balconies).

If it were just us, no kiddo going, it wouldn't have mattered.  I would've been fine on Allure.  When we originally booked Allure, this Symphony sailing wasn't even available.  I found out later, though, that my favorite Cruise Director is now the CD on Symphony, so that's another plus for me!