Live Odyssey 12/26/2021 New Years Cruise. (Well, errr, a, maybe????)Pics included

[whitshel]

6 hours ago, bsa0092 said:

Today there were reports of positive COVID for passengers as we departed from Nassau. I personally know this since one positive was pulled from line to load back onto the ship. She was obviously sick when we saw her this morning. We believe she was tested but allowed to continue on shore excursion thank goodness not on our ferry. However we and many were on the ferry with her returning and again she was sick. Upon embarkment, she was pulled aside about 6 feet ahead and told she was positive. She was quite upset and crying  but they let her and her party go on main elevator from 2nd floor gainway to go voluntarily quarantine. This is against protocol. She and party should have been isolated from regular passengers.  I got upset since we were on a shore excursion with them and no one from Royal Caribbean personally escorted her back to her room. I called guest services 15 minutes later very upset that they did not follow protocol. Apologies but no real assurance or action.  I live in ATL and know people at CDC. This will be reported. 

The captain said last night that we had a 1.45% positive ratio. He did not specify if they were crew or passengers. 

[leisuretraveler223]

36 minutes ago, whitshel said:

The captain said last night that we had a 1.45% positive ratio. He did not specify if they were crew or passengers. 

Actually, he said 1.45% yesterday midday, 1.88% by yesterday evening.

Edited January 2, 2022 by leisuretraveler223

[Biker19]

2 hours ago, whitshel said:

He did not specify if they were crew or passengers. 

Very few, if any, reports of any details in the positivity rate provided by RCI - be glad you are getting anything.

Edited January 2, 2022 by Biker19

[whitshel]

I did want to let everyone know if you are sailing Odyssey soon, we needed to get off ASAP and the self debarkation started at 645. We literally walked off at 645, jumped in a taxi and were at the airport rental car center by 7am. 

 

The new customs process is crazy! You walk up to an iPad, it does a quick pic n facial recognition, as long as you match you leave. No passports, no talking to anyone. So smooth!!  You almost don't have to stop walking. 

 

So all in all we had a fantastic cruise as it seemed most other passengers did too!!

 

Thanks for joining and hope you all cruise soon! 

[leisuretraveler223]

Just now, whitshel said:

I did want to let everyone know if you are sailing Odyssey soon, we needed to get off ASAP and the self debarkation started at 645. We literally walked off at 645, jumped in a taxi and were at the airport rental car center by 7am. 

 

The new customs process is crazy! You walk up to an iPad, it does a quick pic n facial recognition, as long as you match you leave. No passports, no talking to anyone. So smooth!!  You almost don't have to stop walking. 

 

So all in all we had a fantastic cruise as it seemed most other passengers did too!!

 

Thanks for joining and hope you all cruise soon! 

 

I had the same exact disembarkation experience. Our group of nine was probably among the first 15 people off. At the airport in no time. I was nervous about our 10:20 flight, and I could've made the 8:15 with time to spare!

[ticketsunlimited]

21 minutes ago, whitshel said:

I did want to let everyone know if you are sailing Odyssey soon, we needed to get off ASAP and the self debarkation started at 645. We literally walked off at 645, jumped in a taxi and were at the airport rental car center by 7am. 

 

The new customs process is crazy! You walk up to an iPad, it does a quick pic n facial recognition, as long as you match you leave. No passports, no talking to anyone. So smooth!!  You almost don't have to stop walking. 

 

So all in all we had a fantastic cruise as it seemed most other passengers did too!!

 

Thanks for joining and hope you all cruise soon! 

WHITSHEL, thanks so much for the great updates during these weird times for cruising it really helps with many of us deciding to continue with our upcoming reservations.  Have a safe trip back.  Fingers crossed that your experience at the airport is as good as your cruise.

[blueslily]

55 minutes ago, whitshel said:

I did want to let everyone know if you are sailing Odyssey soon, we needed to get off ASAP and the self debarkation started at 645. We literally walked off at 645, jumped in a taxi and were at the airport rental car center by 7am. 

 

The new customs process is crazy! You walk up to an iPad, it does a quick pic n facial recognition, as long as you match you leave. No passports, no talking to anyone. So smooth!!  You almost don't have to stop walking. 

 

So all in all we had a fantastic cruise as it seemed most other passengers did too!!

 

Thanks for joining and hope you all cruise soon! 

 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Glad that you enjoyed your cruise and vacation. All the best for 2022!

[cindyscruise]

Thank you so much for sharing your cruise with us.  I have a long wait.  We don't sail until Nov '22

[aloni]

2 hours ago, blueslily said:

 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Glad that you enjoyed your cruise and vacation. All the best for 2022!

I had a slightly different experience a few weeks ago.  The facial recognition pad said "see Officer".  The officer at the booth checked my passport for a second and said that I could go.  However, the RCL assistant after the booth said that I had to see another officer inside and couldn't leave.  The second officer checked me after a 5-minute wait and said,  "what are you doing here?  Go home".

No explanation just 10 minute delay.

[whitshel]

9 hours ago, cindyscruise said:

Thank you so much for sharing your cruise with us.  I have a long wait.  We don't sail until Nov '22

Maybe things will calm down a bit by then. You'll have a great cruise.

[whitshel]

10 hours ago, aloni said:

I had a slightly different experience a few weeks ago.  The facial recognition pad said "see Officer".  The officer at the booth checked my passport for a second and said that I could go.  However, the RCL assistant after the booth said that I had to see another officer inside and couldn't leave.  The second officer checked me after a 5-minute wait and said,  "what are you doing here?  Go home".

No explanation just 10 minute delay.

Maybe they have to choose random people as well. Just to make sure it's working correctly

[fonz623]

On 1/3/2022 at 7:43 AM, whitshel said:

I did want to let everyone know if you are sailing Odyssey soon, we needed to get off ASAP and the self debarkation started at 645. We literally walked off at 645, jumped in a taxi and were at the airport rental car center by 7am. 

 

The new customs process is crazy! You walk up to an iPad, it does a quick pic n facial recognition, as long as you match you leave. No passports, no talking to anyone. So smooth!!  You almost don't have to stop walking. 

 

So all in all we had a fantastic cruise as it seemed most other passengers did too!!

 

Thanks for joining and hope you all cruise soon! 

 

[fonz623]

Any need for customs declaration? 

That paper we used to fill out value of stuff brought back to US?

thx for your posts

sailing Odyssey Jan9 then Allure Jan16

[Biker19]

18 minutes ago, fonz623 said:

Any need for customs declaration? 

Not unless you have something to declare. 

[rawtravel]

On 12/28/2021 at 8:24 PM, whitshel said:

Izumi Tonight. We're not real big sushi eaters but this was really good. 

The waiters have all been really good. We've been tipping $20 on top of the normal UDP gratuity. 

What is normal UDP gratuity?  I have never purchased the UDP but I thought that gratuities were included with prix fixe dining dining. Was not sure about ala carte dining.

[Coralc]

10 minutes ago, rawtravel said:

What is normal UDP gratuity?  I have never purchased the UDP but I thought that gratuities were included with prix fixe dining dining. Was not sure about ala carte dining.

The new cruise planner will add the gratuities to the UDP cost when you go to check out. I believe it is 18% 

Edited January 9, 2022 by Coralc

[rawtravel]

2 hours ago, Coralc said:

The new cruise planner will add the gratuities to the UDP cost when you go to check out. I believe it is 18% 

Thanks for your reply.  Are the gratuities included when you use the $20 food credit at Playmakers or Izumi lunch sushi? 

[Coralc]

57 minutes ago, rawtravel said:

Thanks for your reply.  Are the gratuities included when you use the $20 food credit at Playmakers or Izumi lunch sushi? 

Do you mean the food credit from the UDP? The gratuities have been added, but we generally tip some amount when we dine even with the package.