Torfamm

You can see which nights are scheduled as formal nights by checking the JourneyView Activities Timeline in the app. Once it populates every evening will with show either “Casual, fun portraits” or “Formal portraits”.  It can be as early as 6 weeks before your cruise or a few days

15 hours ago, patrickmoran said:

These are my go to cabins when booking the Emerald, Ruby or Crown (all sister sisters. If you look at the deck plans you will see there are cabins labeled as obstructed that have no obstruction in forward or aft (E102-118, E101-119, E630-702, and E631-E701). I usually try to book one of the aft cabins.

Any of the obstructed oceanview gives you more room (17 sq ft) than an inside cabin at a reasonable cost difference. Plus the layout is better which gives more usable space. (This does not apply to any that are quad cabins) Bathrooms are the same for all cabins until you book a minisuite or suite.

We have been in E416 and E415. Both are very nearly unobstructed. There are photos from E415 in post #336 in the cabin review thread

I am having trouble finding a link that shows which pier ships will be using that goes out for more than one week. I know Celebrity normally uses the International Pier but I see that they have a ship at one of the other piers this week. Can anyone steer me in the right direction?

14 hours ago, as3369 said:

Absolutely... I really dislike the plastic curtains!

I stand corrected. On the Emerald Princess at least, they are cloth, not plastic.

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Could be more people figured worth it to take the dress-up clothes for a longer voyage (unless you are really on B2B 7-nighters).  But there is the Circle Caribbean for 14 nights straight if that is running right now.

Yes, it’s the 14 night. I’ve always noticed Caribbean cruises tend to be less formal than Europe, for example but you could be right about longer cruises being more conducive to packing formal wear.
 

Longer cruises do get a different demographic though, especially during the school year. I’d be much less likely to pack formal clothing if I were traveling with kids. 

12 hours ago, azgrandmax3 said:

Last Sunday we returned from a Emerald Princess Cruise.  Yes I saw some men wearing shorts in MDR for diner.  Once seen my brother in law did also.  So with this happening by next cruise to Alaska in June it will have become more acceptable and I will see more men doing so. Formal nights are also far less formal then years gone by.  Many men wearing dress shirts, ties and sweater.

It’s interesting how unpredictable it can be. We were on the Emerald for a 10 day Panama Canal cruise in January and I saw a number of men wear shorts into the MDR and very few tuxedos on formal nights. This 14 day Caribbean is the opposite. I haven’t seen shorts in the dining room but there were quite a few tuxedos and long dresses on formal night.

4 hours ago, basenji56 said:

I liked Princess but found the buffet to be underwhelming compared to Celebrity's buffet.  MDR was not as good either.  Entertainment was better on Princess.  Medalion class is pretty good--internet is better on Princess.  Pizza on Princess was superior.  

Agreed- Princess has really good pizza. One thing I forgot was that Celebrity has shower doors, not plastic curtains 

I agree that they are much more alike than different. Celebrity does win on food in my opinion. A few differences in addition to no smoking anywhere indoors - Celebrity does not have formal nights. They call it Chic evening and I have not seen any tuxedos or gowns on my cruises since they made that change. Cafe Al Baccio is similar to the International Cafe but only has pastries and desserts, no savory food. There is also no self-serve laundry,

10 minutes ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

If masks are required in the casino are they going to be allowing smoking again? I really hope not though.

My understanding is that there is no smoking when masks are required but I hope Princess will make the casinos non-smoking permanently too. It’s the only big negative I see in choosing a cruise with them over Celebrity for example.
 

I was disappointed to hear that Royal Caribbean is allowing smoking again. Many more people want to avoid smoke than want to smoke in the casino. It’s remarkable how times have changed. I’m always a little surprised at how many smokers won’t smoke in their own home or their car. 

Just now, LGW59 said:

But not wearing one is much more comfortable

That goes for many things. Lots of people feel that way about clothing too! 😎

50 minutes ago, chamima said:

 

I have switched to the KF94 from Korea.

I find those the most easy to tolerate but my husband still likes the KN95.

 

I also find those very comfortable.

7 hours ago, ILgirl said:

I am on the Edge now.  On the walking track on deck at about 8 am.  A beautiful morning.  A couple,, appeared to be in their 30’s and much fitter than I, put in their KN 95 masks when they walked past me and then took them off.  Really????

It’s possible that they were trying to be considerate of you. Wearing a mask does not necessarily mean that people are fearful of getting sick. They may want to keep others from getting sick. 

1 hour ago, RichYak said:

What Royal Caribbean ship called in Italy in January?

I don’t recall but I’m sure you could search for the thread if you are interested. It was around the holidays I think and I’m thinking it may also have been Spain, not Italy, as many offered to help in translating menus etc for him. My point was simply that a positive COVID test can be extremely disruptive even if you are not concerned about getting sick. 

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

When?  March 2020?  BTW it is a rhetorical question, because no country was allowing ships at that time.  

It was around the holidays I think, but I don’t recall the exact date. I just remember feeling sorry for him and his family as they couldn’t go home

1 minute ago, happy cruzer said:

And would that happen in Italy now?  How old was the report?  Things are changing.  That's how cruising is going to recover.  If cruises have to keep the strict protocols in all locations when other forms of travel and vacation do not, it will not survive.

 

 

I don’t have information on current protocols. This event was probably 6 or 8 weeks ago. My point is that a COVID diagnosis can be disruptive to travel plans in ways that flu is not. Having to test negative to travel or more inconvenient, to return to your home country, is a big issue for many people.

2 hours ago, ISwing said:

Have been on the Majestic Princess 3 times since the restart and saw men wearing shorts in the MDR for dinner on all 3 cruises. 

 

DOES NOT BOTHER ME.

 

Although I must say that the old guy I saw last week on the Majestic at the Concerto Dining Room really takes the cake, he was wearing what looked like Depends, a PJ top and suspenders holding everything together!

My favorite was the old man in Vines last month wearing a t-shirt covered in a 4 letter word. Very debonair 🤪

2 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Last night on the Enchanted there was only 50% compliance with mask wearing in the Show Lounge. 

It doesn't appear that all the people are that concerned any longer.

Interesting.  There were still announcements being made to sip and cover last night and the night before in the casino on the Emerald. I did hear a crew member tell someone behind me that they needed to put their mask on between sips at the slot machine. Went to the theater in the afternoon for a presentation yesterday and all were wearing masks but I imagine it might have been very different in the evening 

35 minutes ago, jerseygirl3 said:

I dont believe people are made to leave the ship. I have seen numerous posts from people who said they were quarantined 

There was a long thread on the Royal Caribbean board about an American family disembarked and stuck in land-based quarantine in Italy after one of them tested positive during a cruise. I believe Italian regulations about ships with COVID positive passengers played a part in the protocols. I’ve never heard of anything similar with influenza or Norovirus

On the Emerald. The Captain just announced that masks are now recommended, not required, in most areas. Exceptions are the theater, casino, medical center,  tenders, embarking and disembarking. Masks are still required in those areas. Letters are in cabins with details

The Captain just announced that masks are now recommended, not required, in most areas. Exceptions are the theater, casino, medical center,  tenders, embarking and disembarking. Letters are in cabins with details

1 hour ago, Drews_Cruise said:

Where is there free testing?  I have not heard of this and am booked for testing near the port of San Francisco at $100.00 per test.  Is there another option that I'm not aware of?

Walgreens and CVS offer free testing in many states 

Princess makes their policy very clear - no shorts in the dining room at dinner. While people have been allowed to wear them, no one can predict whether someone will be able to get into the MDR in shorts on any given ship on any given night. It’s wiser to assume that the policy will be followed when packing rather than assume you can get away with not following the stated dress code

17 minutes ago, jerseygirl3 said:

Guess what.  If you contract influenza on a cruise, you also have to quarantine.  Happened to my husband on day 8 of our 12 day sailing in February 2020.  80 other pax were also quarantined.  There were probably many more, but they didn't report to the Medical Center to be tested for fear of being quarantined.  

 

I would have no problem wearing a mask when I'm around others in large group settings.  I've worked the entire pandemic and haven't gotten Covid (as a nurse).  I toss that up to following appropriate protocols.  

As I understand it though, flu doesn’t require leaving a ship in port mid-cruise and quarantining there as can be required with Covid. That’s a huge difference.

On 2/27/2022 at 8:43 PM, Threedrones said:

They have already brought back the smoking in casinos. I don’t recall it ever being as bad as last week on Freedom. Saved us a lot of money, though. We never went back after day 1. They didn’t even have a non-smoking section.

That is really disappointing. The smoking in the casino has always been negative for cruising with Royal Caribbean. Was hoping it would stay smoke free like Celebrity 

14 hours ago, TeeRick said:

I know it is a personal choice and everybody has a comfort and risk level.  But a related question for those still choosing to wear a mask on cruise ships.  Not judging but just very interested.  What will change your mind if anything?  What sign are you looking for?  And when?  If COVID becomes truly an endemic or circulating virus (like influenza, other cold viruses, etc) never to be gone completely, for perhaps decades or forever, will you always wear masks on your cruises?  Even if COVID vaccines and boosters protect you from serious illness?  My questions assume that COVID is here to stay but becomes entirely manageable.

While I have a mild concern about the risk of illness, I very much want to avoid spending my cruise in quarantine or not being able to continue with my next trip. That is a big incentive under current protocols for cruises or international travel