any changes i should know?

[Heatherdbby]

our last cruise got cancelled thanks to the C word, so we are finally going again this fall.

what has changed that I need to know?

Do they still come get the kids from MDR during the later dining time?

 

[anricat]

Do they still come get the kids from MDR during the later dining time?

No, this hasn't come back. I think awhile back someone made a master list of all the changes. I can't remember what it was called. "What hasn't come back" or "what haven't they brought back" or something like that.

 

[cvjw]

We sailed a few weeks ago. Sold out sailing. Everything is just about like it was pre pandemic. We do not use the kids clubs, so I can’t comment there. We sailed during the covid protocols and it seems all of those are gone - with the exception of some cast members wearing masks.

 

[NephieRN]

They do no pick up kids from the dining room anymore. They also do not provide any meals in the kids club anymore. The buffet at palo brunch is gone. Palo dinner has a prix fixe and an a la carte option. Those are about the only changes I can think of.

 

[CamColt]

We recently sailed on our first full capacity/no rules cruise since covid (we had previously done 2 others with restrictions). The 2 things I've noticed that haven't gone back yet are check in being 30 days out and even platinum guests need to choose a PAT, and there is no dedicated Club Host running adult nighttime events. Also, as noted above no Palo brunch buffet, and the kids club changes.

 

[Heatherdbby]

Well this makes me sad bc one of my kids favorite parts was picking dinner (to be sent to the room) then dancing in his seat till they came by to take him to the club

 

[RedHead0186]

One of the biggest changes is check in. It's now done online 30 days out from your sailing (regardless of CC status). There's a really helpful thread that outlines what you need to have ready, how to do it, tips and tricks, etc.: https://www.disboards.com/threads/what-do-i-need-to-have-prepared-for-online-check-in.3885775/

 

[Flossbolna]

Also no more dinner at Cabanas. They used to offer a sit down meal there most evenings. As far as I know this hasn't come back.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[anricat]

This is the thread I was thinking of. It has a pretty good rundown of what's different:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/changes-since-2017-especially-for-platinum.3906362/

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Check-in is done in ground level in PC Terminal. (It moved sometime after 2014; I assumed it was in the 2020s.)

Hmm... didn't know that. It was still up the escalator after entering building and passing security in 2017.

 

[randumb0]

Possibly no late-night buffet on Pirate Night.

They have it on the Fantasy and Dream. I can't speak for the others

 

[Calantha]

Hmm... didn't know that. It was still up the escalator after entering building and passing security in 2017.

Concur. We did it upstairs in 2019.

 

[Dug720]

Hmm... didn't know that. It was still up the escalator after entering building and passing security in 2017.

Concur. We did it upstairs in 2019.

It was upstairs every cruise I had pre-shutdown. The only time I've had it downstairs was my one cruise back (so far) which was in May.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Kesohio63]

On January 30, it was downstairs, right before the security check. Then you go up the escalator and wait for your boarding group to be called.

 

[melissa723]

We recently sailed on our first full capacity/no rules cruise since covid (we had previously done 2 others with restrictions). The 2 things I've noticed that haven't gone back yet are check in being 30 days out and even platinum guests need to choose a PAT, and there is no dedicated Club Host running adult nighttime events. Also, as noted above no Palo brunch buffet, and the kids club changes.

We sailed on the Fantasy and Dream in March and June and had no dedicated adult area host, but we were actual lucky enough to have one on the Magic in October. Her name is Tisa and she was fantastic! So much so that I'd book another cruise just to see her again! Maybe it depends on the ship?

 

[TRTRguy]

The downstairs checkin at PC was a permanent change instituted when the terminal was renovated that happened the same time during the covid shutdown.

 

[n2mm]

They have it on the Fantasy and Dream. I can't speak for the others

Not anymore. I had it on the Fantasy in September and in October and November on the Fantasy it was again discontinued. I’ve heard it was from the shortage of cast members, but recently folks are being told it stopped because wasted food and cost. Since November most of the post are correct. Also you checkin on the ground level. The breezeway entrance is complete closed off. You can use it but have to go down the escalators to the terminal entrance. During the 18 months shut down they moved checkin downstairs and revamped the luggage entrance with very large ramps where they can control the crowds entering. Ive cruised 7 times since the restart and have used the new checkin terminal area ,except on my second cruise of my b2b where we checked in upstairs. Only half of that desk area is still there. It’s used for folks with issues or looking to change cabins. One thing that still hasn’t returned is early boarding for platinum which is a pita. I’ll be a Pearl on May 1 and really thought it would return. I really wish that we could check in by our status. It would make the process a little less painful.