By: Erin Sudomir, a Marvelous Mouse Travels agent
Positive and COVID are rarely used in the same sentence. However, there are some things that will forever change because of the pandemic. And believe me when I say some are for the better.
Change is not easy for most. It is human nature to like consistency. Sometimes we dislike change because it alters traditions. Learning a new update can also take time. Vacation vendors understand this and they know making changes is not always well received. We as vacationers know what we like and expect it to be the same as it has always been.
But let’s take a minute and look at the positive changes that have been made in the cruising industry. Recently I traveled with Royal Caribbean on the Freedom of the Seas. I had a wonderful trip and would like to share a few changes that were made because of the pandemic. I truly hope these changes are here to stay.
First, there were specific times for boarding that if you arrived early to the port, you were asked to wait for your boarding time. It was a seamless process. We visited our muster station as we boarded the ship. After listening to a safety spiel we were given a sticker to place on our Sea Pass Card (room key) and we were on our way. It was super convenient and we did not have to file in to the traditional Muster Station like a herd of cattle. Also, the drill was out of the way and our afternoon was not interrupted. Because we pre-checked in online we had electronic boarding passes. Our Sea Pass cards were waiting for us on our stateroom door in a sealed envelope. We boarded at 2:30 and by 3:00 we were enjoying the ship with no interruptions for the rest of the day.
Almost everything is paperless! Not only is this excellent for the planet, but it is also convenient. We used a QR-Code to look up food and drink menus. Don’t worry if you don’t have a smart phone, or you choose not to carry it. The crew was ready with paper copies for anyone who preferred it.
The ship was not even close to capacity. As sailing increases, this will change. However, it was nice to have room to breathe. We did not need reservations for shows or specialty dining. With this being said, I would still plan dining in advance if you would like a specific place or time. But for now, we had the opportunity to be more spontaneous.
Disembarkation was a breeze. Gone are the days of checking out of your stateroom early and sitting in a packed theater. There is no giant line when your disembarkation group is called. Instead we relaxed in our room. Guests can enjoy breakfast in one of three locations on disembarkation day. The Main Dining Room, Windjammers and Cafe Promenade were all available for breakfast and drinks. In our sealed envelope at the stateroom upon check in, we receive a card with a QR code. We chose the time we wanted to depart between 7am and 9:15pm. Each disembarkation time was from a different end of the ship. For example we exited from the Aft of the ship and the next group approached from Forward. When we departed the experience including Customs was less than 30 minutes.
There is no doubt the last year and a half has had its challenges. But cruising recently was not one of them. The travel agents at Marvelous Mouse Travels are here to help you with all your travel needs. Our services are free when you book with us. We continue to stay up to date in an ever changing world. Go ahead and take the trip, because we have you covered.
Please reach out to Erin, an agent with Marvelous Mouse Travels to plan your next vacation or you may contact Marvelous Mouse Travels.
