An update on when pre-cruise Covid tests and vaccine requirements might end, will Royal Caribbean ever ban smoking and an idea of when we might hear more about Icon of the Seas, and MORE!
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50 Comments
Pre-cruise testing needs to go away. People are packed closely together more than cruise ships and they no longer have pre-flight testing.
Your mic volume is very low.
How many people are actually getting seriously ill now? We have to trust the vaccine and have to forget about covid now and move on. It’s been ruling our lives too long!
Good they not stopping smoking in the casino we pay our money also
I am on Harmony on 7/17 and introducing my nieces to cruising. Based on your prior videos, I know about testing. What is the point of testing if 77 out of 84 ships who required the passengers to be tested in advance still had Covid 19 cases on board. The multiple vaccine shots and testing don't prevent the virus. At present, the symptoms are very mild.
On another matter, I saw your earlier video about suggestions from travelers regarding what do to shipboard. My wife and I are about to become Diamond Plus with our next cruise. One of the things to remind passengers is that the crew are doing the best that they can. In addition to the gratuities with cash when we get good service. I have about $300 to hand out on the 7/17 cruise. We also bring paperbacks that we have read and pass them on to the crew who are starving for some new material. Each dessert station has lots of goodies for the passengers but we bring chocolate candies and pass them out to the crew. It is a change of pace. We like to give the candy to the head waiter or person in charge of a section for them to dole out to their great crew. They crew appreciate any type of goodies that they get. I think it tells them that they are doing a good job and I would suggest anyone reading this post do something similar.
Check out your sound system!
Volume was all over the place. It went up and down throughout the video. This hasn't happened in other videos.
Content was informative.
Can't believe smoking is aloud indoors on the ship thats crazy. That need to be changed.
I am okay with all the covid protocols! Testing & Vaccines! It was a smooth trip for me!
Excellent point about the different medical care in other countries. Thanks Matt!
I hope testing ends soon! I also hope to cruise one more time before cruise lines file bankruptcy and close down permanently
Quantum of the seas technical engine issues!
Thanks for another very informative video, Matt.
I am anxiously awaiting an announcement about doing away with the COVID vaccine mandate. We have a group family cruise scheduled for Sept. 2023. Several in our group do not want to be vaccinated but scheduled rhe cruise anyway hoping that the mandate is dropped before our cruise date. Please keep us up-to-date on that. The pre-cruise testing is a hassle and most would like to see that requirement canceled also, but we do it anyway just so we can cruise. The vaccine mandate actually prevents some people from cruising.
Your videos are great, but please speak more slowly. Some words get slured due to speed.
Just want to let you know that your audio levels are really bad. Your shine effects are really loud but your voice is hollow, high pitched and hard to hear.
Instead of having 1 large casino, why not have 2 smaller casinos with both being identical and of the same size designated as Smoking and Non-Smoking? (Ex: 1. Divide the established Casino equally and enclose the Smoking Side from the high traffic area, if it's mid-ship. 2. Smoking Casino at the rear of the ship, maybe top level.
Personally I think we need to move on from testing. Tens of millions in the US have already had it and tens of millions more will get it. Most people who get covid have common cold symptoms or no symptoms at all. The more severe symptoms are very rare and usually old or already severely ill people. The testing has also proven to be highly flawed in many ways. At some point you have to move on. We can't be scared of covid forever and it's never going away.
I don't understand the smoking in the casino. 88% of Americans do not smoke. I wanted to gamble on my last cruise but it was so disguising in there and my eyes were stinging after about 1/2 hr so much so that I had to leave. Why are we catering to only 12% of the people.
The pearl looks like a satellite for the new internet system with Elon Musk.
Just bought RCL at historically low prices. Own minimum of 100 shares and get minimum $100 onboard credit depending on trip length… win-win
While the pre-covid testing and vaccine requirement is a hassle, it has, for the most part worked. Went in a cruise in May, my mother who was not boosted and didn't mask got Covid, my father, my wife and myself, who were masked and boosted did not. It's about taking whatever precautions you deem necessary. Masking wasn't required but we masked anyway.
On our first cruise in March on the Adventure, I wanted to do a bit of gambling. We did go to the casino but we didn't even get in because of the smell. We're booked on the Allure for next April and we would like to go into the casino, but the smell of smoke kicks off breathing issues so I don't plan on going to play now. I wish you could do a non-smoking one.
Talk closer to your mic next time please. We could barely hear you. Had to turn volume up to max. Thank you.
Not really sure why people care so much about having to get tested before you cruise. It’s not that inconvenient and it gives people piece of mind.
I was on the Allure at the beginning of June and it seemed like they had split the casino in half. One side permitted smoking and the other did not. I wonder if this is experimental or if it has always been like that.
Excited for preboard testing and vaccine requirement to go away. Millions with only 2 deaths, yeah I think we can cancel the COVID theatre
Do you have to be vaccinated or will negative tests suffice?
Please define “High degree” of vaccination? Are Mexico destinations requiring boosters too?
Thank you for talking slow enough that I can understand you 🙂
Is it possible that when you record your blogs you could record them at a louder level? If you do that people on their phones can lower the volume if they prefer but on my iPhone at top volume I have to be doing nothing else in order to hear you I’m curious if this is something that can be done please let me know thank you
Did Mr. Baylay say anything about the kids vaccine requirements? Also, thank you for keeping us informed! While I have hit the "Subscribe" button, I was wondering typically when you post new videos? I'm preparing to go on my next cruise and would really appreciate some tips, even though this will be my 24th.
Pre cruise testing needs to go away!!
What about the broken engine on Quantum of the Seas and canceling the glacier stop??? No mention whatsoever
Good info. Is your audio whack on this vid? Had to turn you way up to hear you.
The Pearl looks like a Planetarium. Looks similar to the one in the Hayden Planetarium in NYC. I hope Royal soon embraces the fact that many cruisers are also star gazers and want to view the stars and planets with their own eyes.
Just went on a cruise to alaska. I was never, not once, asked for my pre cruise negative Covid test. My sister though was. So I wonder how many other passengers were missed and why.
Hii, I wanna ask disembark time to move for airport actually I’m having flight at 09:30am from Singapore and my disembark time that is mentioned is 06:30am.
Please do reply
I can’t believe smoking is allowed anywhere on these ships. It’s totally banned in public places where I live. I’m really disappointed to hear this.
I think the idea of a fuel surcharge is inevitable. Listing it separately seems to me the better option rather than increasing listed prices.
We sailed on “Ovation” to Alaska in May….Trust me, smoking has already returned to the casino.
The food was HORRIBLE on the Liberty of the Seas this past June 2022. Totally took the wow factor out of cruising for us and many that were on cruise.
The pearl…metaverse device experience.
Royal really needs to end pre cruise Covid Testing, especially if you are already vaccinated ! All Adults on ships are already vaccinated, Most not wearing masks and not social distancing. Kids vaccinated and not vaccinated already swimming together and
playing together!
If you are scared of covid, don't go on a cruise
The Pearl seems like a VR experience greater than whats on Odyssee
Audio volume is quite low in this video.
When oh when will we be able to cruise again? The vaccine is nearly useless. Test us, but a vax requirement is pathetic.
End pre-cruise testing ASAP!!!
I am really excited about the Icon of the Seas and would love to be on the inaugural cruise or whatever they call it. How do you get on for the first cruise…
what's wrong with the sound quality of this production?
I would have assumed that they wouldn’t allow smoking anywhere inside the ship. I hope they’ll change it that way.
Need a new updated video! New protocol is given for sailings after October 1st.