Californian

Thanks so much for taking the time to post all those Fun Times and menus.  They were very helpful.

If you reserve a Cloud 9 spa balcony cabin, what is included in this category on the Radiance?  Do you have free access to all things in the spa?  Do you need to buy a spa pass?  What things are in the Thermal Suite?  Are there heated tile loungers?  If you need to buy a spa pass, is it better to buy before the cruise to get a discount?

I just completed my cruise today.  There were about 1500 on the March 7, 2022 Navigator of the Seas cruise.  There were quite a few college age cruisers (must be spring break somewhere).  Masks were optional.  There were no signs regarding vaxed and unvaxed areas.  I wore my mask to be safe.   We had early dining.  I sent an e-mail to the dining folks and they said they would honor seating us in a socially distanced area.  They must have lost the e-mail because we were seated on Deck 3.  However, I asked and they seated us on Deck 4.  I noticed that there were some folks seated on Deck 5 on this cruise, too.  Deck 3 looked crowded to me.  Deck 4 had diners at the tables around us, but it did not feel crowded to me.  

We ate at the Windjammer for lunch on port days and it was not crowded.  

No reservations were needed for the Showgirls production and we sat in the back on Deck 4.  Not crowded at all.  The ice show required reservations and we sat at the back with several empty seats separating us from other people.

Thanks to everyone who responded to my questions.  

I had wheelchair assistance at the Port of Los Angeles.  We did bypass some of the lines, but waited with everyone else for the check-in counter.

If they book by the end of the month, March 31, 2022, they would fall under the Cruise with Confidence policy.  If they can't sail, they will have FCC to use until August 2023, I believe.

I did not set up an account.  I got a text within an hour of taking the test.  Opened link and printed results.  Best to have printed results as it made the check-in easy peasy.

One thing that did bother me was that CVS canceled my appointment 3/2 for my 3/5 appointment, so I scrambled to get an appointment at another CVS location (20 miles away).  I had a proctored at home tests in case the second appointment got cancelled, too.

More questions:

What time are the cabins usually open on the Monday sailings?

Is it ok to go to the Library Card room on Deck 7 to read, use the computers and to wait for cabins to open?

1 hour ago, Colorado Buffalo said:

I canceled and rebooked the Refreshment Package as it fell from the $19.99 to $17.99 price.  This is the lowest I've seen for our May 28th Symphony 7 day.  Deluxe is now at $65.99 which is the lowest I've seen though I saw it at this before but never lower. I'm starting to think it's not going to fall any lower. 

I canceled and rebooked the Refreshment Package for March 7 Navigator of the Seas for the $17.99 price, too.  Mine had a hiccup though.  Got a reply saying "We couldn't process your payment.  Give us a call and we'll sort it out."   I got a text from my credit card company that said payment was made.  Called RC and the lady told me to wait a couple of hours for system to process.  Has anyone else had this problem?

For those who have recently been on the Navigator of the Seas, how crowded is early dining?  Are tables socially distanced?  I am immunocompromised and would not be comfortable if we were seated close together with other passengers.  We are scheduled to go on the 4 night cruise in a couple of weeks.  
 

Also, how is the situation in the Windjammer?  Are the tables socially distanced?  When is the best time to go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner so that it is less crowded?

Thanks in advance for your help!

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Not sure it is actually written anywhere but it is allowed

Ok.  Thanks very much for your response.  I don't know if we will cruise anytime soon.  I think we would rather get a refund if we can; but knowing that we have the option to transfer our FCC to someone else because of our age will be helpful.  Thanks again!

On 2/10/2022 at 6:12 PM, Sunshine3601 said:

Having travel insurance has nothing to do with the reason you received Fccs.  There are many of us with FCCs to use by end of dec 22.    

Unfortunately I do not know of a way to get a cash refund at this time.    

There have been some rare instances where people were able to get cash refunds.  Not sure what they Royal to get it.

If you are over 70 or 75 yrs old you can transfer the FCC to someone else.  Anyone in your family that may want to cruise?  

I am not able to find anything regarding the last sentence....."If you are over 70 or 75 years old you can transfer the FCC to someone else" -- is this correct?  I was only able to find that you can give it to a person who was on the original booking, but was not able to find anything about transferring FCC to someone else.  

Are the cabins available earlier than 2 p.m.?  I'm thinking that if I want to be able to go straight to my cabin, I should request a check-in time of 1:45.  Does that sound about right?  Or is it on the hour and the half-hour? 

CruiserBruce and Mike45LC,  

Thanks for the info.  Appreciate the input. 

We will be doing a 7 day cruise from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera and back in December.  Will we encounter rough seas at this time of the year?  We have booked a mini suite at the front of the ship.  Significant other picked the cabin.  I hope not to get seasick.  Where along the coast might we encounter rough seas?

On 1/9/2022 at 11:53 AM, taglovestocruise said:

It has been reported that many vaccinated are asking to move to unvaccinated area as there is much more room and separation.  We are boarding Navigator tomorrow and we will ask to move to deck 4 unvaccinated as to get a second seating table along the balcony. 

I'm also interested in whether anyone was successful in doing this.

On 12/26/2021 at 12:23 PM, smeck said:

If you cancel a cruise can you book a future cruise using the future cruise credit you just received on the same phone call?

When I asked to transfer my cruise to a later date (same itinerary), they took my total payment (fare, gratuity, & travel protection) and moved it over to the new date.  Money spent on drinks and internet will be refunded.

47 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

No.  They will be refunded to your original form of payment.

 

You have to start all over with your new cruise.

Oh well.  I bought the internet and the beverage package when it was really low during the Black Friday sale.  I’m disappointed that I will lose out on the savings. Thanks!

52 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Cruise Planner purchases will not transfer. 

Thanks.  I was hoping it would 🙁

I am thinking of cancelling cruise in January and moving it to March.  I got great prices on the internet and drink packages.  Will they transfer over to the new date?  or do they drop off and I will have to reorder them?

9 hours ago, Ashland said:

We didn't have to wait...called RCI and they went ahead and applied it to a new booking I was making.

I have two bookings back to back starting In early January — one with RCI and one with big box TA.  I am thinking of canceling my January sailings to moving it to one March cruise.   If I do, I was thinking I would book the March cruise with RCI.   RCI should apply the FCC from my RCI booking, but how about the January booking with another TA?  Can RCI apply the FCC from them, too?  Or would I have to go through the other TA to transfer the FCC?  
 

I also have an April cruise where the final payment is due January 14th to a different TA.  What should I do to get the FCC transferred to this booking in a timely manner?

By the way, is the FCC going to be the fare only or has anyone had their taxes and fees included?

Thanks in advance for your help…

4 minutes ago, bonsai3s said:

The smoking area stretches most of deck 4, front to back, port side. Numerous ashtrays are strategically placed between loungers.

 

We walked around deck 4 twice a day...not many smokers during the first 4 sailings.

Thanks for the info.  I may need to stick to the starboard side.

Is lunch in the MDR available on embarkation day?  How about when you're doing back to back?  I read somewhere that you can lunch in MDR on embarkation day of the second cruise.  However, that might be really old news.

35 minutes ago, bonsai3s said:

 

Deck 11...smoking area...port side.

Deck 4...smoking are...port side.

Is the smoking area on Deck 4 close to the helipad area?  Or are they in the middle and smoke will be wafting up to cabins above?

So, if you are in a wheelchair you would not be able to go all around Deck 4?

I have more questions…..sorry, new to Royal

5. How many electrical outlets does a stateroom have and where are they located?

6. Is there a formal night on the 3 night cruise?  How about the four night cruise?

7. If you bought a drink package, are you able to get a drink right away or does something have to be activated?

8.  If you bought the internet package, how does it get activated?