DEBCAT65

We are booked on Serenade OTS 10/29/22 cruise to the Western Caribbean.  Looking to plan excursions, however, not seeing any Scuba Diving tours.  We have previously booked through RCCL in Cozumel and Costa Maya.  Has RCCL discontinued Scuba tours?

We just got off Navigator yesterday.  Ship holds about 4000, and there were less than 950 passengers.  Our daughter sailed on 1/10 and there were about 540.  

Also, how many passengers does it take to make a profit?  We are on Navigator this weekend, capacity is 4000, just over 900.  Our daughter sailed a few weeks ago and only 540 on board.  It has been a great cruise, but not sure how they can continue at this capacity.  

We sail next Friday and received an email today.  This may answer your questions.  
 

My name is Haffnar Pereira and I can’t wait to welcome you onboard The Navigator of the Seas. I hope you’re ready for a wonderful cruise vacation with us. 

We’re delighted you’ll be joining us as we get back to our home at sea. Your health & safety are our top priority, so as we begin to set sail, we have new health protocols that are part of our healthy return to service. Please visit https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center for more information on the preventive measures that we will be taking onboard to ensure you have a safe and healthy experience with us. 

As we return to service, some benefits and services have changed. To follow new health protocols and better manage the flow of guests in terminals, the check-in process will be different. All guests will be required to select an arrival time in advance via the Royal Caribbean app. However, suite guests can enjoy Flexible Arrival — a new program allowing the freedom to check-in up to one hour before or after your scheduled check-in time while the terminal is open. 

We recommend that you plan your days and make reservations for your dining, onboard activities, shore excursions and Vitality Spa services. You may do so using your Cruise Planner or Royal App. Please note that show reservations will be available for booking once onboard. If you require any assistance, I will be happy to help you. 

My desk is in the Suite Lounge, located on Deck 14 aft. My hours are: 8:00 am until 12:00 pm and 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm. I am also reachable via email, or by dialing my phone 3239 from your Suite or any house phone. 

As a Suite guest, you have access to exclusive amenities and services, available just for you: (Kindly check the welcome aboard blue binder in your suite)

· The Suite Lounge is for the exclusive benefit of our Suite guests, accessible with your Silver colored SeaPass card. 

Make sure to pack a smart casual outfit, as that’s our dress code in the lounge at all times. 

· In the Lounge, coffee and tea are available between 7:00 am and 9:00 pm. Each evening, between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm, hors d'oeuvres, petit fours and complimentary wine, spirits, beer, and soft drinks are available for our Suite guests.

· Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

· As a Suite guest, you may enjoy an exclusive breakfast in Chops Grille daily same hours as in the main dining room and departure morning from 6:30 am to 8:30 am.  

· Your suite is supplied with Malin & Goetz bath amenities, a Lavazza espresso coffee machine, bathrobes for your use onboard, and is furnished with a luxurious pillow-top mattress.

· (Enjoy the exclusive Suite Sun deck on 12 forward; lounge chairs are available to Suite guests on a first come, first served basis.)

· Suite guests receive priority access to seating in venues up to 45 minutes prior to showtime. Reservations are available once you arrive onboard, which I will be happy to assist you with. 

· Priority Departure. Please ask me for more details once onboard. 

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in person. Please feel free to email me with any questions that you may have. 

Best regards, 

Haffnar Pereira 
Your Concierge
Royal Caribbean International |Navigator of the Seas 
Concierge phone number: 3239 | nv_concierge@rccl.com 
 
 

2 hours ago, binro01 said:

Wow! A ghost ship! I believe we will have a significant heavier count, since it will be a spring break week, and hopefully Omicron will have ebbed by then.

I know they stopped taking reservations for the sailings before 1/15 a few weeks ago when the COVID surge picked up.  We are on the 2/4 sailing.  

My daughter is on Navigator this week.  There are 540 passengers this week.  

2 hours ago, BND said:

CDC doesn't care if you fly, just whether or not you cruise. 🙂

 

Exactly!  This is a health crisis everywhere, not just on a cruise.  However, we are not seeing reports of how many on planes, sporting events or Times Square on NYE testing positive.   

I have a question regarding these tests.  I received my test kits from Optum.  One kit has a sticker to seal the kit, and the other 2 kits do not have the seal.  The box clearly states not to open until directed to do so.  I emailed 2 days ago and have not had a response.  I am sure everything inside is sealed, but I don’t want to end up with any issues 2 days before my cruise.  
Do they verify the box is unopened when you do the telemed visit, or just verify your packages inside are sealed.  

On 11/24/2021 at 10:22 AM, Readytogo said:

Get the Regeneron infusion immediately. Don’t wait. It is a game changer. You can thank me tomorrow.

I second this.  I received it and it stopped the progression dead in its tracks.  I am type 1 diabetic and this puts me at higher risk for complications.  

23 minutes ago, Travelgrrl said:

I left out of the story that RCCL allowed me to transfer the $250 credit in my daughter's name to my friend.  They required a note from my daughter saying she doesn't plan to cruise again - which she doesn't as she was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age 27!  So she is rightfully concerned about cruising given that and the increased risk of infection for someone with her type of Diabetes.

 

Very decent of Royal Caribbean!

Please let your daughter know once she is comfortable, she can do anything she wants!  Type 1 diabetes is not the end of the world.  I was diagnosed at 28 and I am now 56.  I use a pump and a CGM, and I travel, cruise, and even scuba dive.  I have had COVID, and I survived.  Life is too short to let Diabetes control you.  Once she is comfortable, she will be able to resume her life as it was before.  

13 minutes ago, BlueBayouAZ said:

It was VERY disappointing to be so close to Costa Maya - only to be turned away for the reason we were given. I get medical emergencies etc- but another ship taking the spot?

 

And then the speed used to reach Cozumel that evening made conditions on deck not ideal for pool use/ lounging. 

Us too.  My husband and I were planning to Scuba dive in each port.  We brought all of our own equipment and was unable to dive once.  Pretty disappointing.  But we did have a good time.  Hope you enjoyed your cruise as well.  

19 minutes ago, Junkhouse said:

We only got OBC for port taxes and our shore excursion at Roatan.

That sucks!  We got port taxes, excursions and OBC ranging from $50-100 per cabin. 

5 minutes ago, Junkhouse said:

What a crock.  We were on LIberty when we couldn't dock at Roatan because MSC Armonia took out the dock.  Captain said there was no space available any where so we had to have a sea day. Seems like RCCL is the kicking dog.

 

As far as someone asking about port taxes.  Since they didn't dock taxes to the port are not owed.

We did get a refund of our port taxes and an OBC.  

Ok, so I got confirmation from an employee who has a friend who works on Carnival Freedom.  He said that Freedom was unable to tender into Belize due to wheather issues.  They were given permission to dock in Costa Maya.  This took our spot due to the size of ships in port.  They can only handle 4 ships if they are smaller.  

8 minutes ago, psujmatt said:

To those on board, sorry to hear of your issue.  That’s disappointing and ridiculous.  To those on board, is there currently free “soft serve” “ice cream” available on Enchantment? I don’t see it on deck plan, and while I found a post from 2005 saying it was removed, I also found a post from 2016 saying all ships had it.  Thanks!

Yes there is.  Chocolate, vanilla, swirl, and strawberry.  It’s outside the Windjammer.  

Ok, so I got confirmation from an employee who has a friend who works on Carnival Freedom.  He said that Freedom was unable to tender into Belize due to wheather issues.  They were given permission to dock in Costa Maya.  This took our spot due to the size of ships in port.  They can only handle 4 ships if they are smaller.  

35 minutes ago, Heymarco said:

Do you think Royal may have sold it to Carnival? Or maybe Carnival ship is staying longer so Royal got bumped? If Royal didn’t have a say in it, never good for future of port.

Carnival was not scheduled to be in Costa Maya at all on their itinary so I don’t think they stayed longer.  I don’t think we would have sailed past Cozumel all the way to Costa Maya just to turn around and return to Cozumel.  It seems to me that it was quite a waste of fuel if RCCL actually knew about it

And to add to this, many excursions in Cozumel were cancelled due to rough seas and wind.  Nobody notified us for our 10:45 meet up.  Lugged all of our scuba gear to the end of the pier to be told by tour operator that it was cancelled.  It was too late to book another excursion.  We are headed to the hot tub to take advantage of the ship being kind of empty.  

Ok.  So still no info as to why Carnival was in our spot in Costa Maya. But RCCL is giving a 75-100 OBC for missed port.  Someone I have contacted knows a crew member on Freedom and may have more info later.  

2 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

You'd think they'd have reserved parking for cruise ships.  Sorry you missed the port but glad it wasn't due to illness.

Someone posted that it is Carnival Freedom.  They were supposed to be at sea today and tomorrow.  

28 minutes ago, MeHeartCruising said:

Based on a site that tracks cruise ship routes/ports, it looks like it was the Carnival Freedom.  I found their current itinerary online and they were supposed to have a sea day today.  The site that tracks routes shows the Freedom approached Costa Maya and then turned away from the port somewhat before turning again and heading into the port.  It's an odd path to the port.  Freedom was traveling from Belize yesterday and was supposed to do 2 sea days before returning to Galveston on March 1.  Odd.

Thank you for the update.  

I agree!!  I posted on another thread.  We made it all the way to port and saw 3 ships docked.  All online resources I checked shows that Carnival was not supposed to be there.  We are headed to Cozumel, but I want to know how this happens.  I planned based on the itinary advertised.  I understand that emergencies could happen, but it’s hard to believe a ship would divert to Costa Maya for a medical emergency.  

17 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

No idea.  I am onboard and no explanation.  Not sure HOW this happens.  We got to port and saw the 3 ships there.  We were turned away and due to dock in Cozumel between 6-7 tonight.  

12 minutes ago, davekathy said:

 

If you find out, post back. 

Just told by server in Viking that there was some sort of miscommunication.  Really???  How does this happen!!  All online resources show Enchantment scheduled and NOTHING from Carnival.  We are disappointed, too.  We travel to Cozumel frequently for All inclusive stays, and could have done so for less than the cost of this cruise.  We were looking forward to diving in Costa Maya.  I am understanding, but this does not make any sense to me.  

1 hour ago, rasta said:

I see that Enchatment skipped this port today, I wonder if it was some type of weather issue or some lingering "strike" issues.

I am on the ship.  We saw the port, we were there.  I am on Enchantment.  We were turned away.  Staff saying someone is in our spot, so we are heading to Cozumel for an overnight.  Looks like we are due in at 7 as there are several ships in the port of Cozumel today.