Project-College

4 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Not in my experience. Sailed Oasis a lot, but never out of NJ

Thks!

Is 150 ever open for lunch?

1 minute ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said:

As Biker mentioned, a 10:00 check-in time is definitely not indicative of when you will actually board. If I recall correctly you're a newish cruiser, so the upper-level C&A boarding would not apply to you--if you purchase the Key or you're sailing in a full suite, you will get priority boarding, but otherwise you will be waiting a bit longer. And in the 10:00 check-in group, I've never seen or heard of people going straight to boarding, so everyone waits at least a bit. 

 

My best guess (and it's just a guess) would be that you board somewhere between 11:00 and noon.

That's kinda what I thought but still getting mixed signals/posts/ap info on what's open around then.  Surprisingly Giovanni's seems open at 11?

Thinking on board 11am or so and trying to see if better to roam or eat... thks about coosing other sailings on the Ap (didn't know I could do that).

Dont understand why so may said hit 150 when I don't see it EVER available for lunch... ONLY DINNER?

1 hour ago, Bound4Bermuda said:

Just off Oasis yesterday. You need reservations for Aqua 80 (diving show), Frozen in Time (ice skating show), Cats (though that never sells out), and the comedy club (because it’s a small venue). There is also an option to wait in line if you miss reservations because they start giving seats away 10 minutes prior for any no-shows.

You also might be able to help with my other question... 

19 minutes ago, Bound4Bermuda said:

Unfortunately they didn’t give out paper Cruise Compasses, so it’s all in the app, visible once you board.

You can STILL ask for a hard copy.... right?

I am a bit confused as to OPENING times for Specialty Restaurants on DAY 1 for Oasis on the 9-day 8/5 Cruise.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compasses/oasis-of-the-seas/fri-06172022-0000

People have suggested 150 and Chops first-thing but looking at the most recent Daily I found (link above)… neither is open on Day 1 UNTIL Dinner?  Portside not until 2pm (and I know many many people said they hit it right as they got on???)

Our possibles are:

• 150 Central Park
• Chops Lunch
• Portside BBQ
• Playmakers
• Giovannis

Does anyone know the REAL times they open as we have a 10am boarding time and are trying to target?

3 minutes ago, Bound4Bermuda said:

Solarium Bistro is always a good alternative to Windjammer! The buffet there is much smaller, so you won’t have all of the same options. But especially for breakfast, there’s everything you would possibly want. Windjammer would have insane lines, but Solarium was never crowded—practically empty every time we went. Apparently it’s the best-kept secret for dining options.

Sssshhhh

If you go to one of the Specialty when u first get on... do they have a problem if you are towing 1 'carry-on' (as I am sure our room will not be open yet?

Also, we have a Boarding-Time of 10am.... when do (usually) Specialty usually open on Day 1 (as on other posts and old dailes I saw 2pm I saw 11am....????)

Thks all again as the Verizon $10 a day plan, when I use it, sounds perfect, as that allows me to view the home security too!

6 minutes ago, zimmerman said:

Am I deluded in hoping a) it’s ditched b) in time for our cruise in 17 days time.

HOPE NOT.... 8/5 is our target too!

10 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Yea right 😇

 

How many sea days do you have

5 of 9.  The 'promised' ala carte allowance (that they reaffirmed) is fine for us for those days and I still have the 'written' confirmation of sea days for Playmakers and Port Side.  (made in June)

Would I love extra.... who the hell wouldn't but that's why it's called 'extra' and not 'expected'.  I'm not a rich retired person who tosses over $1k for food too often. 

21 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Well, you can't pick and choose the terms you want them to honor. 😉

As long as the honor AT LEAST what was there when I bought it.... I'm satisfied!

45 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Technically UDP is only good for lunch on sea days

Though soooo many posters have said they were able to use it on port days too!

4 minutes ago, pyrateslife4me84 said:

The way that is worded easily provides cover for a policy like, “we recommend testing for those up-to-date with vaccinations and require test results for the unvaccinated or those who are not up-to-date with vaccinations.”

 

But, we shall see. 

I like that!

1 hour ago, ccqueenanne said:

I also used OnPoint, and after booking our appointments, I got a confirmation email that included a link to an online form to fill out, which included our insurance info. This wasn't a surprise to me, as an earlier poster had mentioned that they were asked to fill in their insurance information. The way I understood it was that OnPoint is the online proctoring service - they provide people to sit in Zooms and watch you, and collect your info. OnPoint partners with a lab or medical facility (HealthTrack was on our letter) that provides the "you're negative" letter. So you book and pay OnPoint, then you get emailed a link to a form (to complete prior to your appointment) for their partner lab who provides your negative letter and bills insurance. At least, that's my take on the experience.

 

In our Zoom the proctor was visible on camera. But frankly, it shouldn't matter if the proctor is visible as long as we, the testers, are visible. We didn't ask to step away, so I don't have an answer there.

 

We got the email with our results within a few minutes of the end of the test, and as others had mentioned, those online results look a little weird. But then we received the email with our negative results letters as attachments just minutes later. We had everything within 15 minutes of test completion.

Thanks!!!!  My understanding is they have 'tried' to submit the testing cost from the group that creates the negative/positive results letter (not the proctor cost) but no one said it ever 'stuck'.

Your filling out forms BEFORE HAND is what I, and all others I have read thus far, had to do.

Personally, I prefer 'seeing' who I am talking to and sitting for 15 minutes watching a stick change color... well I'd rather get a cup of coffee or something (probably that 'a watched pot never boils' syndrome I may have).  Again, thanks for your added insights.

8 minutes ago, 5waldos said:

We completed the OnPoint this morning. We had a set of forms to complete last night before the testing this morning, which was a bit of a surprise as nobody had mentioned this, but they were not terribly difficult. They did include our insurance, among other things. The only odd thing about the actual testing is that we could not see the tester- although he could see us. There were two of us and we did it simultaneously. Both of us were negative (YEA!!!) and it took about 20 minutes in total. We had to show him our unopened test boxes, then opened them and did the actual test in front of the computer. After completing the tests, we waited for a bit before he checked them and declared us negative. We got two emails- the first one did not include the printable test results. The second one had two attachments, one for each of us, which could be printed out. 

That is strange as NO ONE, on this or any Cruise Line Forum has said onpoint ever 1) Sent forms the night before (you did register and complete some info just after u bought the test proctoring though) and 2)Everyone said the view was two way?

Did you have to sit in front of the screen for ALL 20 minutes or just 'up the nose' in the test and then come back after 15?

Did you complete info when you bought the service?

Also, how long did the two emails take?

Wanted to update on this issue:

RCL Corp. Offices responded, in writing, to my query regarding the 8/5 Oasis sailing as follows:

In response to your question submitted:

* Playmakers and Port Side BBQ a la carte restaurants receive a $20 credit towards food. All other a la carte (including Izumi Sushi) receive a $35 credit towards food.

Thank you,

So even though it says on $20 on the RCL site, they stated anyone who purchased it, when the above was shown.... GET IT!

Some have said that Izumi changed to a $34.95 fixed 2 plate.... honestly I do not care what they call it as long as my Son's can get the amount of Sushi they want, and I paid for back in May.
 

14 minutes ago, seapad said:

No emed will only proctor their own tests.

u can use those tests with onpoint or rapidtestandtrace proctor service.

13 hours ago, Beaumont Barbie said:

Our test is scheduled for 8/3 at 6:00 pm. We sail on 8/5. I will let everyone know how it goes. I've seen a few negative YouTube videos, but I trust my CruiseCritic community more than YouTube. If it doesn't go well, we'll find another way to get tested.

We test early morning on the 3rd for the 8/5 Oasis cruise.  Is that what your on?

Really!  I am sitting here eating a day old whopper and not cruising until 8/5 and you show me that!

Have you no shame!

I guess there are soooo many variable to the meal, personal taste, the chef that day, the meat that day... but I'll make an educated guess.

Went to French restaurant on either Bliss or Anthem and wayyy to rich for me and got me sick that night.  Wife loved it?

Thanks for all the views as my wife will probably LOCK on the possibility of Giovanni’s (she is from a laaaaaarge Italian family)

5 minutes ago, rudeney said:

 

Use the Royal App and check the MDR menus each night.  The "Broiled Lobster Tail" will be listed under entrees.  

Thanks.... sounds like the ap is going to be my BEST FRIEND  (wife after that)

Just now, AspiringCindy said:

The new and improved Giovanni's Kitchen! On our last cruise, the Filet Mignon was far superior in Giovannis compared to Chops Grille.

Is the meat they used across specialities similar?  I love filet Mignon and I thought only Chops gets the 'good' stuff? 

This is all very helpful as we have the UDP on 8/5 Oasis and 150 CP seems quite popular!