TheMastodon

2 hours ago, flamingos said:

 

 

 

 

I see the problem.

It worked great.  Trust me, there are bigger issues to judge others about.  

You can turn an old iphone into a monitor using an app called Presence.  We used it the second and third cruises with little ones.  They slept peacefully while we had dinner at CC.   

2 hours ago, topnole said:

I think all baby monitors are wireless so perhaps you mean wifi?   Never tried them, but I would never trust those on a ship.  Wifi could freeze and you may not even know it.  
 

As for the regular monitors, we have Motorola and they are the good one's even for that brand so they work really well (I think many types don’t work near as well so take that into account).  They worked plenty well enough to use from the cabin directly next door.  We too can connecting cabin and had the baby sleeping next door.  Worked perfect every time. If there is any issue, put the camera near the balcony door and the monitor by the other balcony door.  If you do that the range will likely be much longer.  
 

We bring them every time.  Never an issue.  
 

I’m sure the issue is they don’t want parents leaving kids behind and watching them remotely from around the ship.  That is obviously different than being in the room next door while they nap or whatever.  

Ive tried the wifi monitors on board - the network blocks them.

The Infant Optics DXR-8 performed best for us on board.   It uses a different frequency than other monitors and seems to perform much better.   

3 hours ago, SeattleAl said:

Thanks. We have connecting cabins and would use it only in the other cabin when the kid was napping.

Bring it, it MIGHT work.  

8 hours ago, SeattleAl said:

Hello everyone. Does anyone know FOR SURE of RC allows wireless baby monitors on board. My daughter plans to bring one and one board she read suggested it would get confiscated. Searches on this board didn't come up with an answer. Anyone with experience? Thanks!!!

No, will not get confiscated.  

Edit - apparently they can based off the replies - we have brought them on 3x and never had them taken!  

Note - they don't work very well on board.  We brought two different models and both only worked INSIDE the cabin or very close by.   We planned on putting our infant twins to sleep in the loft suite, then eating dinner a short distance away at coastal kitchen.  But, monitor did not reach so we just had to hire the baby sitters on board.  

Also, WIFI monitors WILL NOT work on the ships network.  

On 3/25/2022 at 2:03 PM, laurenliz said:

We’re planning to cruise on an Oasis class ship this fall. I’ll be traveling with my 11 month old twins and my sister will be traveling with her infant daughter. I’m looking for any tips and tricks to make this vacation go as smoothly as possible. We will be staying in separate cabins with 3 other adults (my husband, my mother and father). We’ve all cruised in the past, but never with children. It should be an adventure for sure. TIA! 

Hello I can offer some advice - we have done a few with little kids.  It is an adventure but pretty easy with a 6 month old compared to a 2 year old.   6 month, 12, 18, 2 yrs , 4yrs we’ve hit all the ages throughout the younger years. 

1.) get the biggest room you can afford (duh)

2.) bring your own pack n play mattress, or even your own pack n play.  The mattress they provide is awful.  Leave the pack n play mattress on board when you leave.  Also, the pack n plays royal provides vary in size - some big, some small.
3.) sound machine

4.) the nursery staff is wonderful and take great care of the little ones.  Use them
5.) bring extra everything (obviously)

6.) keep their routine same as home

7.) bring new toys they’ve never seen.

On 2/8/2022 at 1:13 PM, sandc4e said:

Difference is the 100% vaccination status, so I suspect RCCL will keep masks, not being at 100% vaccinated.

 

LOL.  Madness 

3 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Masks no longer required in vaccinated only areas starting Feb 14th

How about just make them optional everywhere on board?  That way, the 120 people on an Oasis ship who want to wear them can, and the rest of us won’t.  Cheers!

6 hours ago, colsky said:

We are UK based, booked on a July RC European cruise, which we are really looking forward to, with the cruise having been cancelled in each of the last 2 years! But we are thinking about cancelling ourselves now as the logistics are complicated/unknown . 

 

• Our kids are 10 and 11. 11 year old is 12 in April. 10 year old too young to vaccinate in UK. 11 year old can be vaccinated when 12, but not enough time for both jabs before July cruise. 
• RC require 12 year olds and above to be vaccinated for US cruises, but on website says no details yet for European 2022 cruises. I can't blame RC as each European country has different rules. Our cruise visits Sweden, Denmark, Russia amongst others, and there's a lot of unknowns and things that may change between now and July. 
• We need to book up pre and post cruise flights and hotels, and can't leave this much longer as prices increase. 
• We have a complicated number of FCCs which need to be applied, which we obviously don't want to risk losing, and I think these may currently have an April 2022 deadline. 

 

This is why we're reluctantly considering cancelling, and trying to move the FCCs to a later cruise when this has all died down. But this will never die down will it, vaccines etc and regulations are here to stay unfortunately.

Yeah I guess Royal prefers to have its guests contract covid from vaccinated guests only.

On 1/29/2022 at 11:57 AM, h20skibum said:

Everyone tests on a daily basis on Viking. 

1 hour ago, HappyInVan said:

 

Thanks. Good to know. Whatever it takes to keep everyone safe! 😷

There won’t be any oceans to cruise in if we keep testing at this rate.  A covid test pile the size of Texas just floating around 

On 1/26/2022 at 10:17 AM, islandwannabee said:

Help, I am scheduled to leave tomorrow on the brilliance of the seas. I have a friend who is currently on the cruise and has been for a few weeks. She just told me it is a requirement to wear the N95 mask, if I don't have any they are providing them at guest services. I knew about the mask requirement. But I did not see it anywhere in the covid protocols that a certain type is only allowed. Does anyone know where this is in writing, or does the ships themselves have their own rules??

How would I drink through an N95?!

On 1/28/2022 at 6:19 AM, Meem47 said:

Good morning all! It’s cruise day for us as we prepare to embark on Mariner of the Seas.  This will be our first cruise back since Oct 2019.  One observation us “northerners” have is noticing how many COVID patients are being quarantined in the surrounding hotels.  We are at the SpringHill and they have many patients as well as the Radission, Home2Suites etc. apparently this is “the new norm” in traveling.   Hotel has been great…just sharing for anyone immunocompromised or at risk.  🙂

yeah they are also walking around grocery stores too.

18 hours ago, cruisetorelax44 said:

the storm is late friday night into saturday. i don't get off work until 11pm on friday.. so friday isn't possible. we're trying to come up with alternative plans, but this would be crushing. we're in a 2-bedroom grand suite for the first time, and this cruise has been planned since feb. 2019.

Drive down Friday night.

On 1/21/2022 at 9:39 PM, Tree_skier said:

In the spirit of the other tipping thread, I'm curious about tipping at table games in the Casino.  I'm a recent convert to the Casino.  My first foray into the casino was the last cruise we went on before the shut down.  All I did was sit at various machines, not understanding what was going on in front of me, and mostly losing money. Since the restart I have ventured from losing a little at a machine and then quitting to playing blackjack.  I'm scared I'm an addict now. LOL. One thing that never occurred to me until I was sitting and playing with other people was tipping the dealer.  I'm a tipping advocate so it should have but it wasn't until I saw others that I tried to replicate their behavior.  

 

On my first cruise this year, Serenade August 2021, I noticed the fellow beside me.  Whenever he won on blackjack his $10 bet won him $12.5 and he would toss a dollar chip to the dealer. So I started doing the same.  At the end of the session, when leaving the table, I also gave the dealer the equivalent of what I bid on a single hand.  On that first cruise that was $10.  On my subsequent cruise, Dec 2021 on Liberty, being more confident in my play I graduated to $25-$30 per hand depending on how I was feeling.  I still gave the dealer $1 chip on each blackjack but left $25-30 at the end each session.  For context sake, a session for me would be about an hour.  After the session I'd leave the casino and do other things.  On embarkation and sea days I typically had two or three sessions and on a port day I would go once maybe a second time if DW crashed early.

 

What kind of tipping is customary?  Was I close or was I unusually cheap?  

 

I am listing the specific amounts that I tipped not to be pretentious or braggadocios as some on other tipping threads might suggest but to get information so I can act within the norms of traditional experienced casino players. 🙂 

 

Thank you and God bless America

They appreciate any amount of gratuity you offer and will not forget.  If you have a great night down there, make their night great too.  

On 1/16/2022 at 4:34 PM, ReneeFLL said:

So testing makes you immune to covid? 🙄 🙄 🙄

No, not testing makes you immune.  Can't find something you aren't looking for 😎

46 minutes ago, micruiser2002 said:

I would hope anyone with even mild symptoms is getting tested.  If people do not try to isolate when they are contagious the ships are going to have to completely shut down again.

The single best way to avoid getting covid is to never get tested for it !

16 minutes ago, TheMastodon said:

Instead of a service dog I have bottles of Bourbon.  It helps with my stress & anxiety. I don’t understand why the police officer couldn’t understand this!

sorry mods this has nothing to do with cruising! I will bow down before the ones I serve!

On 1/10/2022 at 11:27 PM, FireEMT978 said:

Yeah, I know I will get people mad. Don't Care! What type of service dog is this? During our past week on the Oasis, we had a couple with a Yorkie "Service dog", with the fake "Credentials". How do I know this, you ask. Well, the fact that this dog was in a stroller, being hand fed dinner in the main dining room by both owners. Also, at all other venues, the dog was being held by different people, at different times, while the owners were just having a good time. I do know how siezure dogs, and diabetic dogs, etc.... are trained to be with their handler. I have many friends that REQUIRE their service dogs to assist them. This, is a disgrace to people that have true service dogs. These people should be barred, and have shame in what they are doing. So sad! Yes, I do have pictures of them. I will be sending them to RCI. I could post them. But, I won't, unless I feel the need.

 

Instead of a service dog I have bottles of Bourbon.  It helps with my stress & anxiety. I don’t understand why the police officer couldn’t understand this!

On 12/27/2021 at 11:33 AM, Laurie997 said:

Hey all!!!

I was just thinking I know Royal requires pre Covid tests 2 days prior and “weekly” testing for staff. Couldn’t they offer a same day rapid test to all? Just a question I’m not that up on Covid testing I have had both shots and have had my booster. I feel horrible the cruise lines just started up not to long ago and we sail on HOTS 1-23 and just got back 12-12. Absolutely love love love cruising 

Stop testing people who aren’t showing symptoms.  This is absolute madness 

52 minutes ago, pcur said:

Personally,  I am also a "plan for the worst/hope for the best" kind of person.

 

I currently have 9 cruises booked! 🙂

good for you!!! 

2 hours ago, ledbyrain said:

I'm hoping to benefit from some risk/benefit insight (I know nothing is zero risk, etc., etc.) for my upcoming cruise given current circumstances. A few factors seem to me to affect how things will play out in the next several weeks and I would love to hear thoughts:

 

1. Do you think most RCCL cruisers are boosted? Basically, are RCCL cruisers (generally) public health-minded consumers or does it vary widely?

2. Similar to #1, is it likely RCCL cruisers would make strong efforts to have their 5-11 children fully vaxxed (i.e., 14 days out from 2nd dose) by 12/26 sailing?

3. Are there sufficient outdoor dining experiences (non-specialty dining) to avoid any unmasked indoor dining during the trip?

4. Is there enough back up crew so that core experiences (e.g., shows, amenities) are unlikely to be cancelled/closed even with some crew members isolating/quarantined? 

 

Scenario 1: Everything great, no positives on board, smooth sailing (seems unlikely)

 

Scenario 2: Some logistical disappointments, don't get sick but enough positives on board to feel edgy about crowded hot tubs, etc. (seems likely). Feel okay about money spent. Questions: Any chance of FCC if it's not a good experience due to cancellations, etc.?

 

Scenario 3: Close contact of a positive passenger, test negative. Questions: Still have to quarantine? Can I stay in my own (balcony) room if I do?

 

Scenario 4: Close contact of a positive passenger, test positive, not feeling sick but forced to isolate. Questions: In another cabin? Poor food and without good access to entertainment (e.g., TV/movies, cards, boardgames)? Without family? Have to leave ship or can I just isolate? (seems possible given current doubling of cases every 3 days). Any chance of FCC if it's a disaster?

 

Scenario 5: Positive and one of my (vaxxed but not boosted due to age) children sick at a worrisome level (pneumonia or bronciolitis, as seen in SA). Enough pediatric medical care available, medical evacuation (to home city?). Seems unlikely (God willing) but obviously worst outcome and feel like a terrible parent for even taking this risk in the first place.

 

 

I would stay home.  

This is kind of like joining a country club - if you have to think, and wonder, and ask about it - shouldn't join.

If you are thinking this much about it, I wouldn't go.

6 hours ago, MommaBear55 said:

I've yet to meet anyone who adores masks. I didn't when I was working, I don't now although I acknowledge their value.

“Value”

On 12/7/2021 at 9:53 PM, Smartipantz said:

You have just stepped on your cruise ship, what is the first drink you order?  There are so many delicious drinks!!

Fosters in an oil can!!!

On 11/22/2021 at 12:20 PM, Livetocruise0717 said:

I am a Diamond plus loyal Royal cruiser,  never have I been so ashamed of how Royal is handling refunds.  I was advised 10/1 that my Harmony cruise 10/31    Was shortened and I would receive a refund of 167.00 within 30 days.  Today is day 52.  I have called 3 weeks in a row only to be told Accounting is behind and they cant give me an answer as to when I will see MY money.   U will not be booking any more cruises until Royal does what they promise with refunds. I have 3 existing cruises I will be cancelling before 12/30 unless I get My funds returned and receive a call back as I requested from a corporate executive .  Anyone else with these issues?

$167.00

1 minute ago, BND said:

They removed it from our Nov 28 cruise a couple of months ago.  Don't expect Labadee for quite awhile if ever.  There have been reports of locals basically moving in and trashing it so not sure if it's even in any shape for cruisers.  But, the political situation hasn't changed there and won't likely for a long time.  A lot of people believe it will never be used again.

Someone please tell the locals that the very private cabana up on the big rock at the suite beach needs to be thoroughly sanitized and cleaned prior to moving into it....

Happy to hear many don't buy wifi packages.  More bandwidth for me!