printingchick

1 minute ago, cruise wizard said:

 

Cozumel is our restocking of vanilla extract and some meds...........and some good food and beverages!!!!!

Cozumel gets a bad rap because it's a place most cruise passengers end up visiting multiple times. But I actually like Cozumel. We're thinking of doing a jeep tour on our cruise and visiting some places we've never seen. I didn't realize it was a place to get vanilla! Good insight.

Johnny Rockets is not free unless you get a coupon as a loyalty perk. I think the only FREE options are the main dining room, the Café Promenade and the Windjammer Buffet. 

3 hours ago, cruise wizard said:

We are on the 2/22/2023 Serenade 10 night cruise  - a great itinerary - think about it????

Would love to, but can't afford a 10 night. Doing the seven night. Of Caribbean cruises, the southern Caribbean is far and away my favorite, but pinching pennies these days, so chose western. I like the western itineraries that include Roatan and Belize. I've visited Grand Cayman often enough. I like a bit of variety. 

Played it safe and looked out to 2023. I'm booked on Serenade, sailing on February 4, 2023. It's a LONG time to wait, but I wanted to be sure it would be the cruise experience I love, including the buffet, no masks required, no social distancing. I'm hoping to retire in 4-5 years and this may be the last cruise I can afford to take, so I want it to fabulous. 

As others have mentioned, Celebrity is also worth trying. If you have at least 5 cruises on Royal, they recognize your loyalty status to an extent, which is also nice. Went on Celebrity Summit just before Covid hit in early 2020 and loved it. Similar to Royal, but minus a few of the more "cheezy" things that I actually like. (Such as the belly flop contest and the 70s party.) They offered a FREE galley tour (even gave us champagne.) Speaking of champagne, you get a glass just for boarding! It's a more upscale experience, but still in the Royal Caribbean family.

Thanks mitsugirly.

On 12/27/2019 at 11:33 AM, mitsugirly said:

 

 

Yea I'm not sure. I just read all the comments on the site asking questions and they had said many times that either your guide could drive or you could or you could follow.

 

We asked that our driver drive for us when we used them a week ago.

I read somewhere you were working on posting a detailed review of this excursion. Is it live and where can I find it? Thanks in advance.

That collage gives me some 80s party clothing ideas. Thanks! 

I'm fine with the 80's theme; it's just that 70s music is so iconic. Granted, disco happened in the early 80s as well. ("Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc. and "Celebrate" by Kool & the Gang were both mega hits in 1980. Rick James hit the charts with "Super Freak" in 1981. Even though most people associate the song with the 1970s, The Weather Girls actually hit with "It's Raining Men" in 1983.) The decade wasn't only about leg-warmers and big hair! 😉

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

I think we'll see it change to the 20's when we next board.

The "Roaring 20s" or the "Covid 20s"?

7 minutes ago, M&A said:

The 70s party is being replaced by the 80s party.  

Are you joking or serious?? 

Anyone know about the tendering procedure? Do you need tickets? Do you stand in line? Do passengers going on ship-sponsored excursions follow a different procedure? 

Thank you, Biker 19. Yes, I know everything is different in the COVID era. My cruise is booked for February 2023, in hopes normalcy will have returned by then!! Fingers crossed!!

A few more questions:

• Regarding the tenders, does the process differ if you book a cruise ship excursion?
• Do they still do the Murder Mystery Dinner? Is it any good? Is it worth the money?
• Can you still bring 2 bottles of wine per cabin onto the ship on Embarkation Day?
• How does the Muster Drill work now? My last cruise was on Celebrity. No life vests and it was held in a public forum indoors, not at the lifeboats.
• Is the "Quest" game still a thing?
• Besides the 70s party, are there any other regular events that are not to be missed?

Can anyone compare and contrast these two all-inclusive beach club experiences? 

Thanks, Crewseeper. I will check out Native Choice. 

How do the tenders work? It's been a long time since I was on an itinerary that involved a tender port. Is there some sort of ticket system? Do folks just line up? I believe that people who booked cruise ship excursions and those with high-level loyalty perks used to get the earliest tenders. Will have one tender port - Belize - on my 2023 cruise. Thanks!

As others have said, I won't cruise with a mask requirement. I'm absolutely fine with following mask protocol, but if I'm escaping on a cruise vacation, I want the cruise experience and wearing a mask while sunning by the pool is not part of that experience.

I'm fine with vaccination requirements or testing requirements. I'm booked in early 2023, hoping normalcy will have returned by then. But we'll see. I will cancel if I'm forced to mask. Honestly, I'm not an anti-masker, just NOT on my cruise vacation. 

By the way, I'm fully vaccinated.

I was hoping the dropping off luggage was a change across all of the RCI world, and not just something unique to Celebrity. It was a HUGE improvement!! 

I'm looking at it through a private company. Would love to hear feedback, but I'm sure it will be a while. That's okay...not cruising until 2023. 

Thanks, Ken. I realize no one knows what changes will occur post Covid impact. Sorry to hear about the acrobatic shows being gone. I never got to see them (except on YouTube) and they looked cool. Also sorry about the lack of the luggage drop off opportunity. That was a huge plus on Celebrity! 

My last cruise on Royal Caribbean was in 2018. In 2020, I cruised on Celebrity Summit. I am currently booked on Serenade in 2023 and I'm wondering what's new and what's the same.

• Can you immediately dump your stuff in your cabin on embarkation day, as was the case on Celebrity, or do you still have to wait for cabins to be made fully ready before you can access them?
• Are there still formal nights and how many of them on a 7-day cruise? (Not to initiate a dreaded debate; I'm only asking because Celebrity had somewhat stepped away from formal nights.)
• I noticed Serenade has added a movie screen and a British pub since I last cruised a Radiance ship in 2018. What other changes should I expect on this ship?
• Do they still distribute paper copies of the Cruise Compass, or is it only digital now?
• I seem to recall Royal introducing some sort of acrobatic show in the Atrium on Radiance ships. Is that still a thing?
• Any other tips, recommendations, things about which I should be aware?

Thanks!!

My last cruise was February 2020, Southern Caribbean on Celebrity Summit. My last Royal Caribbean cruise was on Jewel of the Seas in 2018. 

On 4/6/2021 at 1:54 PM, Another_Critic said:

I don't need a suite (or a balcony); therefore, I can get the good deals on inside and oceanview.  🙂 

 

Booked an 11-night TA last week.  $680 including taxes/fees for inside (virtual) balcony.

 

 

I booked a western Caribbean on Serenade of the Seas, sailing February 2023. It seemed like a good deal to me. Like you, it's not a suite or a balcony, just an OV. But I thought it was a great price.

Booked Serenade Western Caribbean for February 2023. Not sure if it will sail. Not sure if I can actually afford it. But I just couldn't stand not having a cruise booked! It was a good deal. I hope I can do it.