The Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to start sailing for Carnival Cruise Line in November 2022 from Brisbane, Australia. Prior to joining Carnival Cruise Line the ship was the Costa Luminosa and sailed for Costa Cruises since 2009. In September 2022 the Costa Luminosa will be officially transferred to Carnival Cruise Line and a dry-dock will take place.
​         Due to the short length of time before entering service, Carnival is keeping much of the Costa architecture onboard. The ship's Costa funnel will be kept onboard, but repainted red, white, & blue. This funnel will be similar to the original Mardi Gras, Carnivale, and Festivale. On the interior of the ship Carnival will be making some changes in order to adapt or add some Carnival features that can be added in a limited amount of time. 
                     The goal of this post is to share some of the features that are expected to be added during the Carnival Luminosa's dry-dock as well as answer common questions about the Carnival Luminosa. 

The released Carnival Luminosa deck plan show the Carnival branded areas that are going to be onboard when the Carnival Luminosa begins sailing in November 2022. Below is a list by deck of some of the areas guests can expect on the Carnival Luminosa: 

Will the Carnival Luminosa have a traditional Carnival style "whale tail" funnel?
When the Carnival Lumionosa debuts in November 2022 the ship will not have a traditional funnel. Based on Carnival's renderings of the ship the old Costa funnel will be re-painted red, white, and blue. However, the ship is expected to receive the blue Carnival hull livery based on the renderings published by Carnival. 

Is the Carnival Luminosa going to have Playlist Productions shows?
Playlist Productions is scheduled to be installed on the Carnival Luminosa. Carnival's website shows the Carnival Luminosa will receive scenic Playlist Productions. 

​Will Carnival Luminosa have Guy's Burger Joint or the Blue Iguana Cantina?
The Carnival Luminosa is not scheduled to debut with Guy's Burger Joint or the Blue Iguana Cantina. Instead the Carnival Luminosa's Lido Pool area will have a "Grill" line. The menu options that will be available through the "Grill" lines is not yet announced. These popular Fun Ship 2.0 features may be installed in a later dry-dock.

For More Information About The Carnival Luminosa:
​Carnival Luminosa's Page On Carnival's Website:  Click Here To View
​Carnival's Press Release About Carnival Luminosa:  Click Here To View 
​Both links will open in a new window away from RyG's Cruise Guide. 

       The Battleship Texas is scheduled to move to Galveston on August 31, 2022 for a dry-dock. This past week the Battleship Texas Foundation announced the Battleship Texas is scheduled to depart LaPorte, Texas, to sail to the Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations' Galveston Shipyard. 
           During the Battleship Texas' move to Galveston the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, parts of Independence Parkway, and the Lynchburg Ferry will be closed until the Battleship Texas has moved past. The Port of Galveston announced via Twitter that the US Coast Guard has issued a channel closure and moving safety zone for August 31st from 9am - 6pm. due to the battleship's tow. 
                The Battleship Texas Foundation's website mentions that the Battleship Texas is planned to leave LaPorte before dawn on the morning of August 31st. The estimated timing is to pass the Texas City Dike & Seawolf Park around the early to midafternoon time-frame and be at Galveston by mid to late afternoon. The departure time or date could be delayed depending on weather or any other factors that could cause a delay. 

Looking At The Battleship Texas While It Is In Dry-Dock: 
                      The Battleship Texas' dry-dock is taking place at the Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations' shipyard, which is on Pelican Island. If you want to see the Battleship Texas in dry-dock one of the best places to look is from Pier 21 which is right next to the Harbor House Hotel. It is not clear how long the Battleship Texas will be dry-docked in Galveston, but guests sailing on cruises from Galveston during the duration of the dry-dock will also be able to see the Battleship Texas. Guests sailing on ships from Terminal 1 will have the best view of the Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporations' shipyard on Pelican Island. Guests sailing on a cruise ship from Terminal 2 should still be able to see the Battleship Texas, but during sail-a-way will have a good chance to view Pelican Island. 

The Move To Galveston - You Can Livestream:
                          The Battleship Texas Foundation announced you can track the Battleship Texas live on their website as well as view a live stream on Facebook & You-Tube. Updates will be posted by the Battleship Texas Foundation on social media. If you cannot view the Battleship Texas' move to dry-dock in Galveston, watching online is the next best option!

For more information, including information on tracking & live-streams, please check out the Battleship Texas Foundation's website by clicking here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide). 

        If you are trying to plan lunch for the first day of your Carnival Cruise this post is for you. The goal of this post is to share some suggestions for places you can eat on the first day of your cruise that are complimentary. For the exact places open on the first lunch of your cruise you will need to check the Carnival Hub App for the venue's locations and times of being open.

Below are my recommendations for places to eat that are generally open and complimentary for your first lunch on the ship. Please note, not all of these venues are on every ship. 

Guy's Burger Joint:
               Carnival Cruise Line teamed up with Guy Fieri to create a complimentary onboard venue that serves a variety of different burgers. Each Carnival Cruise ship as of August 2022 has a Guy's Burger Joint line. The process of getting a burger is generally quick and easy. You tell the crew member which burger type you want and then they will assemble it in front of you. A toppings bar is available nearby for you to add extra vegetables (tomato, lettuce, onion, etc.) as well as a variety of different sauces. Visiting Guy's Burger Joint makes for a great start of a cruise and based on some of the lines I have seen is a popular place to eat!
Typical Hours:   Lunch & Afternoon (Generally Not Open In The Evening) 
Type of Dining:  Counter Service 
Click Here For My Post On Guy's Burger Joint
​

Blue Iguana Cantina: 
                 The Blue Iguana Cantina is a buffet line that serves complimentary custom burritos and tacos. You can choose between the "Burrito" line or "Taco" line and tell a crew member what you would like in your burrito or taco. A salsa bar with a variety of salsas (from mild to spicy) and different toppings is also available for self-service. Not all Carnival ships have a Blue Iguana Cantina line, but on the ships that do have one this is a popular place to eat! If your ship has a Blue Iguana Cantina this would be a great place to get a first day's lunch. The Blue Iguana Cantina serves breakfast tacos and burritos in the morning during breakfast hours. 
Typical Hours:  Breakfast and Lunch
Type of Dining:  Counter Service 
​Note:  Not on all ships (I think the Carnival Splendor is the only Carnival ship to not have the Blue Iguana Cantina). 
Click Here For My Post On The Blue Iguana Cantina

Lido Buffet:
                   The Lido Buffet is one of the most popular places to eat lunch on the first day. Each Carnival's ships Lido Buffet has a different name (such as Rosie's on the Carnival Valor or Lido Marketplace on the Carnival Breeze). The exact buffet lines you find within the Lido Buffet will vary by ship, but typically Carnival either has a Comfort Kitchen line or Chef's Choice line available at lunch. Each Carnival ship's Lido Buffet will also typically have a salad bar and dessert station. Self-service ice cream machines are typically also available within the Lido buffet. 
Typical Hours: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (buffet offerings vary by meal) 
Type of Dining: Self-Service ​

Pizzeria: 
                  Another popular and great choice for lunch is the Pizzeria. Carnival's Pizzeria has 5 different pizzas to choose from and is complimentary. You order at the counter the pizza you want and then the Pizzeria crew will serve you the pizza when it is ready. The lines at the Pizzeria can get long so be prepared if you are wanting pizza! Carnival's Pizzeria is typically open for lunch on the first day, but the Pizzeria is not 24 hours like it used to be. 
Typical Hours:  Varies - No Longer 24 Hours
Type of Dining:  Counter Service 
Click Here For My Post On Carnival's Pizzeria 

Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ: 
                Not all ships have Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ, but for those ships that do this option is a great first day lunch. For ships that serve Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ guests can go outside and get in line for BBQ. A variety of meats such as sausage, chicken, beef, and pork butt are available as well as numerous sides such as slaw, mac & cheese, potato salad, collared greens, baked beans, and a variety of sauces. If your ship has this venue and is open on the first day, all you have to do is tell a crew member what you want and they will fix you a plate.
Typical Hours:  Lunch On First Day & Sea Days (not typically open on port days) 
Type of Dining: Counter Service
​Only Available on Carnival Dream, Magic, Breeze, Vista, Horizon, Panorama, Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee, Radiance, and Sunrise 
Click Here For My Post On Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ
​Note: Some Carnival ships have Ol' Fashioned BBQ which is open for lunch on the first day. Although this is not the same venue as Guy's Pig & Anchor BBQ, Ol' Fashioned BBQ is good too. ​

      Pizza on Carnival Cruise Line's ships is popular and often a place where guests will form long lines to get some. As of August 2022, Carnival has not been offering 24 hour pizza due to crew staffing concerns, but pizza is available most of the day (hours vary by ship and are published in Carnival Hub App). 
              The goal of this post is to share tips, information, and the menu related to Carnival's Pizzeria. I have also included a quick reference at the bottom that shows where the pizzeria is located on each Carnival ship. 

Tip #1:  Be Prepared For A Line 
                Carnival's Pizzeria lines onboard can get long. This is due to crew staffing and time required to cook pizza. On my recent cruises I have seen the Pizzeria crew members cooking multiple pizzas at once when means when the pizzas are done the line will move quicker until they have to stop to get more in the oven. The crew members often take orders and then step away from the counter to prepare the pizza & get it in the oven. Additionally, late at night there are less food options available onboard so guests will line up for pizza due to the lack of other options. Please note: pizza is no longer available 24 hours which means it will close at some point in the night/early morning. I highly recommend mentally preparing yourself to have to wait anywhere from 10-30 minutes on average for pizza. The wait may be shorter or longer than that depending on when you go & how many other guests are getting pizza. 

Tip #2: Order The Quantity You Want
               From my experience, the crew members working the pizzeria will automatically serve two slices to each guest. If you only want one slice feel free to let them know. However, you can also ask for a whole pizza. If you want two slices of one type of pizza and two of another - just ask! Since you likely had to wait in line, make sure you get what you want! 

Tip #3: Want pizza, but willing to pay to bypass the line? Order via the Carnival Hub App!
​               Check your Carnival Hub App onboard to see if you are able to order pizza. If the Carnival Hub App is accepting orders you can select the pizza you want and your Sail & Sign Card's onboard spending account will charged. You can have the pizza delivered to your stateroom or tell the app your location of delivery. As of May 2022, the pizza fee is $6 per pizza. 

            On Carnival Cruises after the Covid-19 pandemic checking in for dinner in the main dining room is supposed to be done using the Carnival Hub App. This minimizes the need to wait in line for dinner check-in which used to involve guests lining up a long time before dinner actually started. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic Carnival had rolled out digital check-in for Your-Time dining, but after cruising restarted guests are strongly encouraged to use the app for check-in. The goal of this post is to share some basic information about the Your-Time Dining digital Carnival Hub App check-in process and answer some common questions. 

Summary of the Process:
                     Under the food section of the Carnival Hub App you are able to view the day's dining options. The food options are generally divided into breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Under the "Dinner" section, guests with Your-Time Dining should able to see Your-Time Dining listed. There are two buttons under Your-Time Dining. The first is "View Menu" which allows guests to view the night's dinner menu. The second is "Check-In to Dine". When it is time for dinner the "Check-In To Dine" will be highlighted and able to be pressed to start the check in process. When checking in after pushing the "Check-In To Dine" button the guest checking in is able to select the names of the other guests that will be dining for the night. If you are traveling in multiple staterooms and have your bookings linked everyone in your party should show up for selection. Once you have completed the necessary steps you will see a confirmation on your app that you have checked in. When your table is ready it will show up with a number and then you will need to press that you are on your way to the dining room. Otherwise your check-in could be cancelled. If a table is not ready due to there being a wait you should not receive a table number until a space is ready for you. At the dining room entrance you will show the crew members your table number on the Carnival Hub App and they will take you to the table to start your dinner experience.  

Question 1: How much time before dinner does the check-in start?
                 In my experience the check-in has opened approximately 10 minutes prior to the actual start of dinner. On one of my cruises the app did not open until 5 minutes prior to dinner, but there was a technical glitch according to the hostesses working that night. 

Question 2: Can you still check-in without using the app (like the old days)? 
                    You can still check-in for Your-Time Dining without having the Carnival Hub App, but it is highly discouraged by the crew. The Carnival Hub App check-in generally minimizes the amount of contact between guests & crew and cuts down on the amount of time guests spend lined up for dinner. If you do not have a phone or wish to not use the Carnival Hub App, the dining room team can still check in you manually. 

Question 3: Is someone around to help me if I have difficulty using the Carnival Hub App to check-in for Your-Time dining?
                      Yes, the hostesses working the main dining room are able to help you if you are having difficulty checking in. I have seen them patiently walk guests through the check-in process. If it does not work they will be able to check you in manually. 

Question 4:  Can you request a specific table number or waitstaff through the Carnival Hub App? 
                        Unfortunately, the Carnival Hub App does not allow table requests. The current version only allows selecting the guests you are dining with and does not accept requests for a specific table or waitstaff team. You may be able to request a specific waitstaff team after checking in if you speak with the hostesses (they will likely have to go to the computer system to see if your request is feasible and then manually make adjustments to the system for your request). ​

Question 5:  Can I check-in from my stateroom before heading to the main dining room?
                          Yes, you should be able to do as long as you are on the Carnival Hub App. After checking in and receiving a table you will need to head to the dining room. Keep in mind that it may take time for you to get to the dining room from your stateroom depending on where your room is located and the length of time needed to wait for an elevator. 

​Question 6: Can I request to be seated with others outside your party when digitally checking in through the Carnival Hub App?
                              There are guests that hope to meet others and the Carnival Hub App does give an option for Your-Time Dining check-in to request to be seated with others outside your party. If this feature is available when you check-in you should see a check-box that allows you to request to be seated with others. Your request may not be granted. 

Question 7:  Does each guest eating need to check-in for dinner if you are dining as a group?
                            Only one guest in the group will need to do the Carnival Hub App check-in. Since the guest completing the check-in is able to select the guests on the booking (or linked bookings), there is no need for each guest to complete a separate check-in. If you run into issues selecting guests you are dining with I highly recommend speaking with the dining room hostess team. ​

          Carnival Cruise Line's Main Dining Room dinner experience is a highlight for many guests while onboard a cruise. Most items served in the Main Dining Room are complimentary and you can generally have multiple appetizers, main courses, or desserts if you would like. Any items that are an additional charge will have a price or $ sign on the menu and the charge will be made to your Sail & Sign card onboard spending account. 
             Prior to cruising I enjoy researching Carnival's dining menus and looking at others' food pictures. This post will share 5 night cruise menus from my Carnival Breeze 5 night cruise that took place in May 2022. I have also included food pictures of the dish from my recent Carnival Breeze cruises. 

General Reminder Regarding Menus: Please note, menus are subject to change at any time as supplies and staffing can dictate which menu items are able to served. Additionally, please note that the exact presentation & ingredients that come with a certain dish are subject to change. If you have allergies or cannot eat a certain ingredient please consult with Carnival to determine if a dish is suitable for your consumption (it's always better to be safe than sorry so please be careful to avoid a serious allergic reaction or other issue). ​

       Carnival Cruise Line has announced changes to the Have Fun Be Safe health protocols that have been constantly evolving throughout the cruise re-start & Covid-19 pandemic. Today Carnival Cruise Line announced changes to both the pre-cruise testing requirement and is welcoming unvaccinated guests to sail on most cruises starting on September 6, 2022. However, the policy regarding pre-cruise testing and vaccination status can still vary by destination as some destinations will still require pre-cruise testing for even vaccinated guests. 
            The goal of this post is to share with you what Carnival has announced their policy is. Please keep in mind that the policy can change at any time so it is best to check with Carnival for the latest information.

​The below is from Carnival's press release on 8/12/2022 regarding the updated guidelines:  

"All new guidelines are effective for cruises departing on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022 or later, and include:

• Vaccinated guests must continue to provide evidence of their vaccination status prior to embarkation. Pre-cruise testing is no longer required, except for cruises to Canada, Bermuda, Greece and Australia (per local guidelines), and on voyages 16 nights or longer.

• Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail and are no longer required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer.
• Unvaccinated guests or those who do not provide proof of vaccination must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days of embarkation.
• All policies are subject to local destination regulations.

Note: Guests under the age of five years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements from the United States and under the age of 12 from Australia."

UPDATE (8/13/2022) - Please see this letter from Carnival sent on Friday, August 12th. One important thing to note is unvaccinated guests cannot sail to Canada unless they meet Canada's vaccine exemption requirements for valid medical purposes. 

GUEST ADVISORY
COVID-19 PROTOCOL UPDATES 
SAILINGS DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 6, 2022, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2022
    
August 12, 2022


Dear Valued Guest,

We want to update you as we modify our public health protocols to simplify the process and welcome more guests aboard. We have much to share but will try to be as concise as possible.

As we finish a very busy and successful summer travel season, we are pleased to announce protocol updates that meet public health goals but recognize the evolving nature of COVID-19. With these changes, we are making it easier for more guests to sail with simplified vaccination and testing guidelines, including no testing for vaccinated guests on sailings less than 16 nights, and eliminating the exemption request process for unvaccinated guests, who will only need to show a negative test result at embarkation.  

All new guidelines are effective for cruises departing on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 or later, and include: 

• Vaccinated guests must continue to provide evidence of their vaccination status, either through VeriFLY or at embarkation. Pre cruise testing is no longer required, except for the following destination regulations: 
  • Canada: a PCR test can be taken 3 days before sailing or an antigen test can be taken 2 days before sailing
  • Bermuda: a PCR test can be taken 4 days before sailing or an antigen test can be taken 2 days before sailing
  • Greece: a PCR or antigen test can be taken 2 days before sailing
  • Australia: a PCR test 3 days before sailing or a self-administered antigen test 1 day before sailing
• Unvaccinated guests are welcome to sail and are no longer required to apply for a vaccine exemption, except for cruises in Australia or on voyages 16 nights and longer. 
• Unvaccinated guests or those who do not provide proof of vaccination must present the results of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days of embarkation, expect for the following destination regulations: 
  • Canada: a PCR test can be taken 3 days before sailing or an antigen test can be taken 2 days before sailing
  • Bermuda: a PCR test can be taken 4 days before sailing (antigen tests are not accepted)
  • Australia: a PCR test 3 days before sailing or a self-administered antigen test 1 day before sailing

Note: Guests under the age of 5 years are exempt from vaccination and testing requirements for sailings from the U.S., and under the age of 12 for sailings from Australia 

The following additional destination requirements remain in place:  

• Unvaccinated guests ages 12 and over are unable to sail on cruises to Bermuda (no exceptions)
• Unvaccinated guests ages 12 and over are unable to sail on cruises to Canada, unless they meet Canadian requirements that validate they are unable to be vaccinated for medical purposes. Details on Canada’s medical exemption documentation requirements are available here:
• Guests sailing to Canada and Bermuda will be asked to confirm their vaccination status within 21 days of booking in order for us to manage the requirements of these specific destinations. Guests who are currently booked must complete their vaccine attestation by August 24. The vaccine attestation is located on the to-do list under Manage My Booking on Carnival.com. Failure by the guests to confirm vaccination status will unfortunately result in cancellation of the booking.
• Certain destinations may have protocols that prohibit debarkation by unvaccinated guests, which are largely consistent with their guidelines for passengers arriving by air.  So, while unvaccinated guests may sail after presenting the results of a negative COVID test, they will need to remain on board the ship during visits to the following destinations:
  • Cartagena, Colombia and Grand Turk (for unvaccinated guests 18 years or older
  • Bermuda, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, St. Kitts and Tortola (for unvaccinated guests 12 years or older)

Voyages 16 nights and longer will continue to have vaccination and testing requirements that are specific to the itinerary, and Carnival will continue to communicate with those guests in a timely manner.  

For guests who have a pending vaccine exemption application and are awaiting confirmation for cruises departing September 6 or later, the booking is confirmed unless booked on a sailing that calls on Canada, Bermuda, Australia or if the voyage is 16 nights or longer.   

We are in the process of updating our website, communications, and processes to reflect these new, simplified policies.  We appreciate your patience as we work to streamline requirements for guests leading into their cruise vacation. Requirements for long voyages and destination-specific protocols will soon be available on Carnival’s Have Fun. Be Safe. page on Carnival.com. 

We look forward to welcoming more guests aboard.  We’ve got lots happening, with Carnival Luminosa and Carnival Celebration joining our fleet this November and more to come in 2023.   Whatever the ship, homeport or itinerary that works for you, our great onboard team is ready to deliver a fun and memorable vacation. 
​

Carnival's press release notes that the website, communications, and processes are currently being updated. If you are cruising prior to September 6, 2022 the old protocols are still in effect and must be followed. If you would like to view Carnival's press release please click here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide to Carnival's press release). 

For the latest Covid-19 protocol information please check out Carnival's Have Fun Be Safe page: Click Here 

Please note: Covid-19 requirements related to vaccines, testing, onboard amenities, and procedures are subject to change at any time. Please consult Carnival's website for the latest information and any changes that may take place after this article is written. The article's information is up-to-date at the time of writing, but procedures may change so you need to make sure you stay on top of the latest information. If you have questions about procedures for your cruise I recommend contacting Carnival Cruise Line. ​

          The Carnival Luminosa will be joining Carnival's fleet in 2022 to sail from Brisbane, Australia, but in 2023 the ship will reposition over to Seattle, Washington to sail Alaska cruises. Currently the ship is known as the Costa Luminosa and will receive a name change prior to sailing for Carnival Cruise Line. As of the time of writing this article (8/12/2022) Carnival has not yet opened bookings for the Carnival Luminosa, but there are some hints and breadcrumbs available on Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska's website and the Carnival Hub App of the sailing dates that are soon coming out. 

Itineraries From Seattle, Washington
                   The Carnival Luminosa is expected to primarily sail 7 night cruises from Seattle, Washington from early May - mid September 2023. According to the Cruise Lines Agencies of Alaska's 2023 Seattle docking calendar the Carnival Luminosa is scheduled to dock in Seattle on the following dates: 

• Thursday, May 4, 2023
• Thursday, May 11, 2023 
• Thursday, May 18, 2023  
• Thursday, May 25, 2023 
• Thursday, June 1, 2023 
• Thursday, June 8, 2023  
• Thursday, June 15, 2023 
• Wednesday, June 21, 2023 
• Wednesday, June 28, 2023 
• Thursday, July 6, 2023  
• Thursday, July 13, 2023
• Thursday, July 20, 2023
• Thursday, July 27, 2023
• Thursday, August 3, 2023
• Thursday, August 10, 2023
• Thursday, August 17, 2023
• Thursday, August 24, 2023
• Thursday, August 31, 2023 
• Thursday, September 7, 2023 
• Thursday, September 14, 2023 

If you would like to check out the docking calendar for yourself please visit Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska's webpage by clicking here (link will take you away from RyG's Cruise Guide & open in a new window). This website is the source of sailing dates from Seattle posted above. 

Carnival has not yet opened these dates for booking so things are subject to change. It will be interesting to see what happens! Dates of docking are always subject to change. 

Carnival Hub App Shows Two Sailing Dates - Not Yet Open For Booking 
              ​The Carnival Hub App shows two sailing dates uploaded into the system for the Carnival Luminosa. Right now November, 6, 2022 and May 4, 2023 are showing as being able to be selected in the Carnival Hub App. The November 6th sailing date will likely be one of the first cruises from Brisbane and the May 4th sailing date will likely be the first cruise from Seattle. Why are these two dates the only ones showing in the app? My thoughts are no dates should be showing until bookings are ready to be opened, but a mistake might have been made which is why these two dates are appearing in the app. This is not official until Carnival opens the Carnival Luminosa's bookings. 

Carnival Allows Guests To Sign Up For Carnival Luminosa Information On Their Website
            Carnival has a webpage setup for the Carnival Luminosa, which includes a rendering of the ship. To see the rendering of the ship and to sign up for alerts on the Carnival Luminosa please visit Carnival's website by clicking here (link will take you away to Carnival's website). 

       Royal Caribbean announced its vaccine requirements last year in order to comply with the CDC and port of call requirements for starting cruising again. With cruising now going on for over a year and the CDC ending its requirements for cruising, cruise lines are starting to update procedures & protocols. 
             Today, August 10, 2022, Royal Caribbean announced a major change in the vaccine requirement for cruises from Galveston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and European homeport. All guests regardless of vaccine status are able to sail as long as guests meet the testing requirements to board. Below is the exact wording from Royal Caribbean's website: 

The testing requirements that Royal Caribbean's announcement links to can be accessed at this page: Click Here (will take you to Royal Caribbean's website away from RyG's Cruise Guide). Testing requirements can depend on cruise length, homeport, & vaccine status of an individual and can vary by cruise so it is important to read these & check for updates prior to your cruise. 
To read Royal Caribbean's Healthy Sail Center please: Click Here (will take you to Royal Caribbean's website away from RyG's Cruise Guide). 

What about other homeports?   Royal Caribbean's vaccine requirement change only relates to Los Angeles, Galveston, New Orleans, and European homeports. Royal Caribbean's website notes they are working with local governments in Eastern Caribbean ports, but right now no changes are announced. Any homeports not mentioned by Royal Caribbean still have a vaccine requirement in effect. 

Screenshot of Royal Caribbean's website: 

        Carnival Cruise Line's main dining room at dinner has a variety of appetizers to choose from. One of the options available is the Roasted Broccoli and Three Cheese. The goal of this post is to share some basic information about the Roasted Broccoli and Three Cheese appetizer. 

​It's A Soup And Not Just Broccoli! 
              Carnival Cruise Line's dinner menu describes this dish as "Sharp Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gruyere". This description alone is not very descriptive. On my Carnival Breeze 2021 cruise I ordered the dish expecting to receive stalks of broccoli with melted cheese. When the dish came I was surprised that it was a soup. Maybe I am the only one that thinks this based on the menu description, but I wanted to bring this to your attention before you order!

​​​Why I Liked The Roasted Broccoli and Three Cheese Appetizer: 
             During my trip on the Carnival Breeze in 2021 I enjoyed the Roasted Broccoli and Three Cheese Appetizer despite thinking the dish was actual broccoli. This soup was delicious and here are some reasons why I thought it was good: 

• Temperature:  In my experience, the soup was served warm. My waitstaff brought the soup from the galley with a cover to preserve the warmth and to protect the dish in transit. I do not know if this was a Covid-19 procedure because in the pre-Covid days I would sometimes see the waitstaff bring an empty bowl and pour the soup themselves from a common vat located in a side area of the dining room. 
• Very Cheesy -  I like cheese and the soup had a very cheesy taste. I personally was unable to taste the broccoli component of this soup, but the cheese taste was good. The taste reminded me of broccoli cheese soup. 
• Portion Size - The portion size of the soup was generous. I was already starting to feel full after eating the roasted broccoli and cheese soup. The soup was rich and thick which probably made the portion size feel larger.