Grandeur - any review or onions from the first cruise and a half?

[Biker19]

4 minutes ago, Tonyll13 said:

Tony and Maureen

Welcome to CC.

[Tonyll13]

Thanks we have been posting for a long time but could not get into forums etc said we were not allowed but at last CC have resolved the issue and after at least a year's absence we are back

[little britain]

@jean87510 please can you continue with your updates… there are so many social media sites set up I wouldn’t know which one- I begrudgingly only follow the alternative RC for my cruise dates. Still hanging out for 2/20 🤞

[little britain]

Good news for Barbados entry requirements 

 

Effective Friday, January 7, 2022, travellers will be permitted to enter Barbados with a valid negative Rapid PCR COVID-19 test result, 24 hours prior to arrival, or a negative Standard RT-PCR COVID-19 test result, done within three days prior to arrival.

This is the most recent update (January 3, 2022) to the Barbados Travel Protocols https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-19-travel-guidelines-2022.

[jean87510]

12 hours ago, little britain said:

@jean87510 please can you continue with your updates… there are so many social media sites set up I wouldn’t know which one- I begrudgingly only follow the alternative RC for my cruise dates. Still hanging out for 2/20 🤞

Im back now in snow here unfortunately. Any questions, just ask.

[jean87510]

56 minutes ago, little britain said:

Good news for Barbados entry requirements 

 

Effective Friday, January 7, 2022, travellers will be permitted to enter Barbados with a valid negative Rapid PCR COVID-19 test result, 24 hours prior to arrival, or a negative Standard RT-PCR COVID-19 test result, done within three days prior to arrival.

This is the most recent update (January 3, 2022) to the Barbados Travel Protocols https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-19-travel-guidelines-2022.

yes but be careful.  The nurse in charge of the test checking at airport will not accept the Accula tests.  We know because we experienced it.  RT does NOT mean rapid test.  We argued with her and she kept insisting even though I had printed out a definition.

 

Probably the government got involved because imagine the cost of all those free to us rapid antigen tests she insisted all travelers get at the airport because she couldn't/wouldn't research what a RT PCR test was.  

Edited January 5, 2022 by jean87510

[Tonyll13]

Little Britain we are planning to use eurofins drive in at Warrington for our test to fly out (I think you are going later than us) we fly Virgin on the 30th for four b2bs it's our 50th anniversary on Feb 19 should have been on Ovation out of Sydney but at least we hope to be cruising must try and meet up I'm sure we have been in the same ship on a number of occasions but don't know if we have met!

Take care all   Tony and Maureen

[little britain]

58 minutes ago, Tonyll13 said:

Little Britain we are planning to use eurofins drive in at Warrington for our test to fly out (I think you are going later than us) we fly Virgin on the 30th for four b2bs it's our 50th anniversary on Feb 19 should have been on Ovation out of Sydney but at least we hope to be cruising must try and meet up I'm sure we have been in the same ship on a number of occasions but don't know if we have met!

Take care all   Tony and Maureen

I'm sure we have met! I definitely recognise your names.

I board 20/2 so hope you will save me a seat in the DL! 

Good news today re the change the re-entry testing requirements here though.

[Tonyll13]

little Britain yes less hassle although we may have to be tested on board to land back in Barbados? but at least that's paid for and organised by RCCI, that was the situation on Jewel to land back in Cyprus last October

We have not been able to post here for some time but did read the Anthem general posting last year where I know you were posting We did several round Britain cruisea and enjoyed being at sea again

[firefly333]

Check your prices. Mine on grandeur dropped last night. Not much but adds up.

[little britain]

Letter sent to guests prior to 1/9 cruise...... (my emphasis in bold..)

Dear Guest,

Before we welcome you onboard for your upcoming January 9^th, 2022 Grandeur of the Seas sailing, we have some important information to share.

As a result of the omicron variant, which we have seen is more transmissible with milder symptoms for those fully vaccinated, we have further strengthened our onboard health protocols to include requirements like wearing a mask indoors at all times unless eating or drinking, and temporarily not allowing smoking in the casino. This is in addition to sailing with reduced capacity, stringent health checks and vaccination requirements for guests and crew, enhanced cleaning and sanitization standards, expanded expert medical care, and 100% fresh, filtered air.

Even with our high onboard community vaccination rate and our enhanced protocols in place, there is still a possibility of positive cases arising before you board for your sailing – just as there is an inherent risk of COVID-19 anywhere people congregate or gather. While our protocols anticipate this possibility, and while guests are required to test negative prior to flying into Barbados and once again prior to boarding our ships, approximately 1% of guests are testing positive at check-in. In the event that a guest is denied boarding due to being COVID positive, the guest is responsible for the resulting costs; including quarantine in a Barbados government facility or quarantine approved property for 7 to 10 days, transport to the property, and return transportation home once medically cleared. The average cost of quarantine approved lodging is approximately $200 per night. We want you to be aware of this.

It’s important to us that you have as much information as possible to make the best decision for you and those in your party. Should you no longer wish to sail or if you would like to reschedule your vacation, please contact your Travel Advisor or give us a call at 1 (866) 562-7625or at 954-628-9290 for our international guests. We’ll provide you with a full refund of any paid portion of your cruise fare to the original form of payment, including non-refundable deposits, or we will help you find a new cruise. You’ll also be refunded for any pre-paid Royal Caribbean International amenities to the original form of payment within 14 business days. To avoid waiting on the phone to reschedule or cancel, click here and we will get the process started for you.

If you still wish to sail, please be sure to review our full protocols in our Healthy Sail Center. As always, health and safety protocols are subject to change. If you have questions about these protocols, please reference our FAQs for details.

Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon!

Sincerely,

[rondl1]

My first time on the Grandeur and was curious.

 

Do the rooms have actually refrigerators or those god awful coolers that you have to stock with ice to keep anything a little cooled?

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, rondl1 said:

Do the rooms have actually refrigerators or those god awful coolers that you have to stock with ice to keep anything a little cooled?

Neither - inside and OV cabins don't have them at all.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Biker19

[SRF]

And they work fine if you prop the door open.  
 

The problem is, they can only establish a certain maximum difference in temperature inside and out.

With the door closed, the heat is moved from the inside of the fridge to the outside, where is trapped.  So that space gets hotter and the fridge gets hotter inside.

 

Prop open the door and the heat escapes the fridge gets colder.