gmerick

2 days is OK.  Getting a test before leaving home is the only way for me.  I'm not going to waste the plane ticket and a day of travel if my at-home test says I won't be cruising.  Waiting until I'm at the port is akin to wearing rose colored glasses.  

Even if RCI does implement testing at the pier, I will still test myself before hopping on the plane.  A positive test at home means my Air2Sea ticket and my Cruise fare gets refunded.  Failing at the pier means I've wasted a plane ticket, and I have to find a way back home without using that return ticket.

Called them up.  VPP, Gratuities, Taxes, Port Fees are all "refunded" and "reapplied" when the ship changes.  Most of these don't change between ships.  The Cruise portion of the bill was adjusted to match; before (Brilliance, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, studio interior), new (Serenade, Cozumel, Mahahual, balcony).  The port fees changed, and I was charged a bit extra.  VPP, Gratuities stayed the same.

All it took was a bit of patience.  

As the first response said -- take a class. (My recommendation, (I'm certified by this organization) https://www.padi.com/courses/skin-diver).  All your questions explained, answered.  Practical experience, and a whole lot of confidence and comfort.  CAUTION: An instructor will have to explain about full face masks and ear plugs, there's issues and big considerations for both.

As for sunscreen, I don't like wearing it.  I'm a blond haired blue eyed Norwegian, and I spent a week on the Mexico barrier reef wearing full body rash guard and a hat.  No sunburn, hardly even a suntan.

I'm not a fan of big meals.  I consider meals part of the entertainment package.  So far, I've been quite satisfied with the MDR staff (host, waiter, asst, head waiter, sommelie... (ok wine guy), and the big shots with stripes on their sleeves, musicians, ....  I'll try a pay restaurant for the variety, but I couldn't justify it for just the food.  For a solo, no, the package just won't make my list.  

I consider onboard internet price cheap.  I always buy the surf package for the whole voyage.  I use a soft-phone app.  I can call ahead about privately booked shore excursions.  I can call friends on the islands, and arrange to meet at the pier.  I can check in for my return flight.  It's also great for weather forecasts.  Yes, I also work on sea days, and telling my CIO I'm "available" makes it a whole lot easier to take an extended vacation.  

2 hours ago, hallux said:

I had a MUCH better sarcastic response ready for the person you responded to...

If your Snark is a Boojum then you will softly and suddenly vanish away, and never be met with again.

Had it happen.  At midnight my interior deck 4 cabin turned into a deck 8 balcony.  Patience grasshopper.

Train goes from Mestre to the island.  Better arriving on train than coping with the bus terminal.  If your intention is to go straight from the airport to the ship, and have enough time for sightseeing, take the Alilaguna water transit.  27 euro for round trip and 3 euro for each bag after the first.  Round trip is valid for 30 days.  Blue line is more scenic than the yellow.  It's two hours from airport to cruise terminal.

(snark) -- Best Way?  Repeat history -- take an elephant.  Modern alternative -- public transit is good.  take a train.

I use this little gem to hang my Scuba wetsuit on the balcony.  It should be more than strong enough for a camera.  Just place it against the steel, and turn the knob.  I tied a piece of nylon cord through the holes to make a place for the hanger hook.  https://magswitch.com/product/magjig150/

I would go in a heartbeat.  I have been so long without an adventure, that nothing could stand between me and the gangway.  Protocols are minor inconveniences, I can adapt.  I'm vaccinated, so I am at minimal risk of catching anything - my only concern with Covid is whether testing positive at some point might cut my vacation short. 

I already have accepted a little bit of risk for Covid.  I go to concerts and plays.  I play cards at the club.  I shop for groceries.  I ride the city bus.  ..and I'm quite happy flying to the port to go CRUISING!  just let me on board.

I am quite willing to wear a mask, not for my own protection (it doesn't work that way), but I feel more comfortable doing my little bit for someone else's safety and peace of mind.

If on-board entertainment is affected or curtailed, no worries.  I'm SAILING!  If shore excursions are affected or curtailed, no worries.  I'm laying in the sun on my balcony watching the waves, listening to the shore birds.  

Me on same boat:  Take a FCC under CWC, book a 9 day on Radiance.

I almost agree with you, I_am_cruisin'.  But.....  Have you had the pleasant experience of waiting on hold, then waiting while an agent consults via text with a second, third, fourth, ... agent?  Some eastern religions teach that kind of serene patience, unfortunately it's not appreciated here in the western world.  I was raised in the "I want it, and I want it now" era.  If it is at all possible to avoid what passes for customer service in our internet age, I will do so.  If I count up time on hold at my prorated hourly wage, I can afford losing out on the rock bottom price for a cruise.  Possibly missing out on the frustration makes the cruise experience more pleasant.  Then again, if I could learn the Zen like calm that comes from the pleasant experience of waiting on hold, maybe I would be much more relaxed on a cruise.  Maybe this is a lesson I'm not ready to learn.

Interesting, frustrating, informative, experience applying a FCC to a previously booked vacation.

Many months ago I put down a minimal deposit on a cruise.  The deposit was significantly less than taxes, port fees, grats, and VPP.  a few days ago I applied part of an FCC to the cruise, expecting to cover all of the cruise fare ( not the above mentioned taxes, etc).  The FCC was significantly more than the cruise fare, many times more.  After applying the FCC, I went on to pay via credit card the remaining outstanding cruise balance.  I was within 2 weeks of final payment, and wanted the whole thing out of the way.  In the process, I actually ended up making an overpayment by the same amount as the original deposit.  

Note, I do not expect this ship to sail, as there are only two port calls, and one is at Grand Cayman.  If it does sail without GC on the itinerary, I intend on exercising Cruise with Confidence.  I'm just keeping options open.

Lesson:  Wait for confirmation that the FCC has been applied, and examine the invoice in the FCC e-mail.  Make sure the FCC has covered the full cruise fare.  Do not make any additional payment until that invoice has been received.  I'm going to end up with even more on my FCC than I started out with.  I now need to adjust travel plans to account for using even more FCC before Sept 2022 than before. 

Tough spot to be in:  I have to take another cruise, because it's already paid for.  (Cue the world's smallest violin.). 

Yes, I know I can opt for a refund, but that extra 25% is hard to pass up.

Conversation, Contemplation, Romance, Solitude.  Vegan, Kosher, Halal.  Most of the dining room is completely open to the vaxed.  Until we get to the full passenger complement, there will be a lot less crowding, and a lot more personal service.  I'm looking forward to a leisurely 5+ course meal each evening, and a variety of fantastic dinner companions.  Hopefully this leads to post prandial cocktails, a late show, and maybe watching the sunrise on someone else's balcony,

It's not private or exclusive to RCI:

Two projects in construction as of now (June 2021)

Port Coral (Stake Bank), and Port of Magical Belize

Port Coral Construction Is Underway for New State-of-the-Art Cruise Facility in Belize <https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24460-port-coral-construction-is-underway-for-new-state-of-the-art-cruise-facility-in-belize.html>

Multiple Cruise Tourism Port Projects Cause Alarm In Belize <https://belizean.com/lifestyle/multiple-cruise-tourism-port-projects-cause-alarm-in-belize/>

Port Coral is pretty much where cruise ships tender from currently, so that's probably what your friend saw.  Magical Belize is maybe 15 miles further south, on the mainland straight west of where cruise ships cross the reef when arriving at Belize.

Wear long sleeves and long pants over swimsuit and long sleeve rash guard.  I wore the same neck buff (the tube type face mask) I wore for COVID under a straw hat.  For a whole week in Belize last month I wore no sunscreen at all, and had no burn, and almost no tan either.

On every cruise port scuba trip I've taken, I've always had an "insta-buddy" that I've never met before.  Not a problem, because the whole boatload of divers is in a gaggle between the dive guide and safety diver, and I only nominally had a buddy.  During the pre-dive check with my assigned buddy, I usually asked if I could follow my them behind and to their left.  This made for a very relaxing time, let me keep better track of my buddy, and I was able to use my Go-Pro without distractions.

I did notice that the divers who had a minimalist rig also had the easiest time on a crowded boat.  Dive knifes may look cool, but a paramedic scissors is much more practical.

My experience with booking Studio cabins on Quantum class.  When first released, and for about 6 months after the studio will be priced at about $320/day and a standard balcony at $280/day.  Then the price of that studio drops to $220/day and the standard balcony stays the same.  The studio interior cabins almost never show up on the web, but booking a interior guarantee for one person will sometimes show the price of these cabins.  The prices do the same thing as the studio balconies.  Watch the prices 6-9 months out, as there has been a price drop then for each trip I've booked.

Better burry the diaper in the sand under your towel, or the trash pickers will sour your vacation.  (Got a beach lounger? stash the towel under the chair.

If I'm not in a studio, I ask the steward to keep the beds together, but put them in one corner, giving me more floor space, and a bigger walk way beside the bed.  Night before debarkation, it's sometimes a chore fishing the suitcases out from way back in the far corner.

Three solo trips booked.  Bargains, all.  Price per day includes taxes, gratuities, and vacation protection plan.

25 Oct 2021 5 nite Brilliance OTS studio interior - $137/day

31 Jan 2022 11 nite Anthem OTS Studio Balcony - $181/day

24 Jan 2023 11 nite Anthem OTS Studio Balcony - $240/day

Planning on (but waiting to see what happens to the 25 Oct trip)

26 Sep 2022 5 nite Rhapsody OTS Interior - 178/day

I expect to see a price drop on the trips over a year out, down to more in line with the other two.  This has happened on my previous 3 RCI trips - 20% price drops about 6-9 months out.

Update from Cayman Health Services Authority:

https://www.hsa.ky/public_health/covid-19-briefing-wednesday-16-june-2021/

...

Premier Panton explained, “There are currently 39,090 persons resident in the Cayman Islands that have received a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This equates to approximately 55 per cent of the population. The goal for herd immunity is to have 70 per cent (49,770) to 80 per cent (56,880) of the population vaccinated.

He said, “The latest medical advice suggests that a target ratio as high as 80 per cent of the population may be necessary to achieve herd immunity. Using 80 per cent of 71,100 provides a target of just under an additional 17,000 people in our population that we need to fully vaccinate. Using 70 per cent of that population number indicates a target of just under an additional 10,000 people that need to be fully vaccinated.”

...

He revealed that Government’s reopening plan has tourism arrivals beginning in mid-September.

We may be cruising to GC yet.

Update from Cayman Health Services Authority:

https://www.hsa.ky/public_health/covid-19-briefing-wednesday-16-june-2021/

...

Premier Panton explained, “There are currently 39,090 persons resident in the Cayman Islands that have received a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This equates to approximately 55 per cent of the population. The goal for herd immunity is to have 70 per cent (49,770) to 80 per cent (56,880) of the population vaccinated.

He said, “The latest medical advice suggests that a target ratio as high as 80 per cent of the population may be necessary to achieve herd immunity. Using 80 per cent of 71,100 provides a target of just under an additional 17,000 people in our population that we need to fully vaccinate. Using 70 per cent of that population number indicates a target of just under an additional 10,000 people that need to be fully vaccinated.”

...

He revealed that Government’s reopening plan has tourism arrivals beginning in mid-September.

We may be cruising to GC yet.