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For me, the Lift and Shift offer is brilliant and I think RCL is to be commended for providing this option. We were due to sail from Fort Lauderdale in October but, as we are in the UK, we have no idea whether flights will be back to normal by then, or even if we will be allowed into the US. We changed to the same cruise for October 2021. We retained our current price and package (drinks, OBC, etc.) which is great. This year's cruise is 33% lower in price for a like for like cabin compared to next year. Final payment has been moved from July this year to July next year. (This is for a Celebrity cruise through the Panama Canal but the principle is the same.)

I came on the blog to talk about the importance of TAs and saw this thread that ties into my point. So my sailing that we had is a 3 person sailing and we paid around $3,400 total for our JS (excluding taxes and port fees). I got an email from Royal today telling us we got our FCC issued! Very exciting! Except it’s for 2 of 3 passengers and only for $420 each which is NOWHERE near the realm of what we should have gotten, not even taking the 125% aspect into account. All I had to do was forward that to @michelle basically going “what in the world???” And she replies back within hours (emphasis mine) “yes all the ones they just did this week are all wrong We will get it all straightened out – so frustrating. I will take care of it so no worries” The amount of relief I felt when I found out I wouldn’t have to wait on hold to argue with Royal is legit invaluable. I can’t believe this level of service is free to me. @Matt is SO right when he says that you think you don’t need a travel agent until you really, really do.

Somewhere at Royal Caribbean... working feverishly on our refunds and FCC calculations... LOL! ?

Hopefully we will see you on board in the near future

Shareholder meeting May 28. I’m expecting some news related to new builds to come out of that.

You need an AWESOME TA to negotiate the Lift & Shift Royal wedgie!! I have one!! A HUGE HUMONGOUS "HAT'S OFF" TO SHARLA at MEI! She Lifted and Shifted our Dec 28, 2020, Galveston Adventure 7 Nt Western Caribbean to Dec 26, 2021, Miami Oasis 7 Nt Western Caribbean with Coco Cay in a Crown Loft from a Grand Suite on Adventure. With Allure being doubtful in Dec 2021 and no seven nighters in Dec 2021 in Galveston, this was a good substitute (better than the original cruise, I think). This task was dicey since we used partial FCC from our canceled March (last month) sailing on the Adventure sailing. So pleased!

We are booked on Odyssey's inaugural and after the news this week, I have a bad feeling as well. That led me to do some looking (as I really do want to sail Odyssey sooner rather than later), and I ended up booking the 8 night on Odyssey 03/12/2021. Now, I did say to a friend yesterday that might be cancelled too depending on how long Odyssey gets delayed for but that is way too far off to predict right now. Fortunately for us, we are able to put down the deposit and hold it for now and as @Neesa said, let it play out. So at the moment, I am holding two bookings for that week in March. Allure (which I was originally booked for that week but now disappointed that she won't be amped) and Odyssey (in case that inaugural doesn't go through as planned). I am hoping that by December (final payment time) we will have a more clear picture of what this will look like. At the same time, I also grabbed the 8 night on Brilliance that you are talking about, but for July. I too have been wanting to head back the the Southern Caribbean and the July itinerary on Brilliance has St. Lucia as a port of call. This is also my Plan B in case I decide not to go the Norway GC. I have always been a book cruises way in advance person, but this is getting crazy. I am starting to lose track of all the Plan A, B, C, Ds that I am juggling at the moment lol.

Not sure if its any indication but some European countries published when they are planning to start and allow tourists to visit : Cyprus - June Italy , yes Italy , Bulgaria , Greece - July. Spain Turkish - August France - currently only 2021

@Ampurp85 I learned something new this week from a fellow blog insider. I have always thought that the policy was that the FCC would be issued in the name of the passenger, however, a fellow blog insider this week had some luck otherwise. One of her sailings got cancelled (she paid for everything) and they had their son's friend on the booking with them. She was concerned that the friend's portion of the FCC would be useless to them as they would not be bringing this friend on future cruises. Anyway, to make a long story short, she called and pleaded her case and Royal issued the FCC back to them, not the friend. So you might want to call and try your luck...worth a shot.

Remember, folks -- give those mothers in your life what they really want.

So is the lesson to just take the refund? Asking for a friend.

Rescheduled now for Sept 26 2020 Symphony of the Seas eastern Caribbean ?

I have learned that when the drink package (DBP) first appears for a distant sail date in the Cruise Planner, the drink package (and most CP items) is not discounted (posts as the full onboard price at first). As you get closer to sail date and they start offering Cruise Planner sales, etc., you will see it drop. As an example, the price on our Symphony 4/24/21 cruise is currently $89 for the DBP. Today, for our Oasis 10/4/20 cruise, it’s currently discounted to $44 (states 40% off onboard prices). We had purchased the DBP for our original, now cancelled, Oasis 5/31/20 sailing at $51. As far as we can tell, there is no rhyme or reason for the prices as they are not set in stone by ship or itinerary and vary based on the specific sailing, time until sail date, current promotion/sale, etc. The general rule of thumb is to purchase the package when you feel comfortable with the price and then continue to monitor for price drops and then cancel your original purchase and repurchase the package at the new lower price.

Here’s another good short documentary I found (under 8 minutes) on “What It Takes To Be A Cruise Ship Performer”... filmed on Symphony!

We got our kids room back a couple of weeks ago. The credits were correct. We got our room back today and it’s totally off. (Shorted $600 ish each). Same price per room. I waited on hold for 40 mins today and gave up. I’ll try again tomorrow. PS very annoyed!

Again, the cruise contract as written states it goes in the names of those sailing. Any deviation from the policy would be a courtesy and not required. As the phone agents life’s have been torn upside down, with more than a quarter of the staff laid-off or reduced pay you could have gotten someone who’s job it isn’t even to be in a call center taking reservations. They took anyone they could to help process reservations. Again, this is precisely the reason to have people like @AnnetteJackson and the team at MEI travel on the issue. They know the rules and who can help. Having a travel agent for a cruise doesn’t cost anything, but not having one can cost a lot.

The name of it sounds like a tagline for underwear: "Lift & Shift for that Royal Wedgie."

That’s wonderful news. Michelle is trying to shift me from Empress February 2021. To harmony February 2022. They are so busy and I’m very impressed with them. I’m so glad I found this site. I had AAA for my last cruise and I know they wouldn’t put in this much time to help.

Eh, just tell the teachers they’ve learned to work from anywhere. We’ll save them some pool chairs while they get their homework done. Also, any school system that begrudges a vacation after things get back to normal needs a reality check, so many kids have had their lives put on hold while still forming personalities. We all became who we are from bouncing things off of groups in school.

@TXcruzer I do agree that they are all not as well versed in the rules but remember this was issued like 3 or 4 days ago. I was able to L&S my Liberty Oct 2020 to a Allure Nov 2021, both were western Caribbean, 7 days and an OVB.There seems to be very strict rules in place for L&S. For example I wanted to do the Oct 24, 2021 out of Canaveral, it was a western as well but it included perfect day. This changed the product and itinerary, which went against the criteria. My rep said people are calling in trying to get around the criteria. Like thinking it just has to be Caribbean or it just has to be this ship etc. I went into the call with 3 options and the Rep was successful with one. He told me a lot of people were being turned down because they failed to understand it pretty much a copy and paste. Also it won't be available for all cruises as the new cruise must be 12 months out.

Joe, I'm both sad and relieved to hear you've made a decision. I know another year of waiting will be torture, but hopefully that waiting will be fueled by joyful anticipation and not just a feeling of dread or wondering when the other shoe is going to drop. I'm really glad you're able to Lift & Shift and get such good pricing/promotions for next year's cruise, especially since next year's base prices are so different! Extra year or no, still looking forward to your blog for this one -- and who knows? Maybe I'll even hit the lottery in time to be able to grab a cabin, too! ?

After reading the last page of posts, I guess I should be grateful that my FCC is only short $352 lol...? This whole thing is getting crazy....

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I have always been vexed by the values for FCCs. I don’t see how it’s possible for Royal to justify anything less than 100% - or 125% - depending on what has been promised, but they always surprise me with something less than I expected. I hope they will recalculate those who have received less than they expected but I have been disappointed before.

I called them because it was taking forever. And they actually said they made a mistake and cancelled the refund so would now reissue the refund. So maybe call and see to be sure as with he amount of cruises cancelled things are falling through the cracks.

Yup me too still waiting. Since im not traveling I'm pretty sure she's waiting till tomorrow to reply to me which is all fine. Bottom line I just want to have this settled before may 31 bc that's when I have to pay soemthing towards my booking for my next cruise

We cancelled 3/10 for our 3/15 sailing. We just got our excursion money back this past week. I think it was Thursday. So 5/7. ?

As @JohnK6404 said buy it when you feel comfortable. That Allure sailing may reach that same level or may bottom out at about 65 a day depending on early demand for that sailing. Many pricing factors go into the deluxe beverage package, sailing length, destinations, crowd. There’s plenty of data they may be using that we don’t know. If they were smart they would know the historical drink package possibility based on prior sailings of those guests. The Harmony 2021 group cruise drink package is priced now at 89.00 a day.

Oooooohhhh.......! Thanks for the explanation. ?

If this is easy enough and cheap enough the workforce can be tested monthly at every employer to monitor employees. Its a way to open up everything. How this helps cruises I don't know but I know this, I want to cruise on our Oasis cruise is Sept. I don't want to social distance on a cruise and I don't want to wear a mask/face covering so things need to be figured out. I'm not smart enough to know the answers but social distancing and face coverings on a cruise is not the answer. If I have to personally buy 7 of these tests for each day of the cruise I will do that and take one each day. I do not want to be restricted in who I interact with or how man people I interact with and I do not want to wear a face covering everywhere I go on the ship. Sorry, just my thoughts.

Great article with a lot of good points. The Points Guy: 5 reasons why I’m bullish on the return of cruising. https://thepointsguy.com/news/5-reasons-why-im-bullish-on-the-return-of-cruising/

Well Carnival just announced today that they are up 200% in sales for the month of April compared to last yr. Now of course nobody knows how much if it is from cancelled bookings and new bookings. My point is though it seems like many are not afraid of sailing in the future.

We were not able to pick our cabana. The water was around 5 feet deep. I'm 5 11 and i touched the bottom in most spots and my head was above the water. Don't think it would be shallower if you had one closer to shore with the way they were built. I was in cabana #10 , one of the 4 end units with the most open water to the sides

It sounds like those of us who got our crusies credits back today we're very much slighted. If my agent can't fix it by Monday I'll be on the phone with royal that night bc I really don't think you can call it a credit if it doesn't equal out to what you actually paid let alone no 25% extra

That’s a good one! No truer words.

Ok, I’m going to have to ask for some sort of responsibility here from you, rather than just leaving that comment here. Let’s say I bought a new volvo last year, I signed all the paperwork, maybe reading some of it and ignoring other parts. If I decide I don’t want it anymore I should just be able to give it back and not have to eat the depreciation penalty? No one is forced (in the US as deposit rules differ elsewhere) to take a non-refundable deposit but many choose to do it. Ignorance of the policy doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply.

I wasn’t judging what someone was going through, questioning the motive is an entirely different issue. However, most of the crew members are still under contract and getting paid at the rates they agreed to prior to the stop sail order. Also, as a publicly traded company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has a fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders, and pointing out that the CDC put an uneven burden on the industry with charter flights was what they should have done. No other industry was held to that. Should colleges have been forced to repatriate students? Should tech companies charter jets for their H1 visa workers? Possibly, but they weren’t.

Please report back as soon as this is figured out. It seems straightforward yet.......My June will be cancelled 99%sure and I was going for the 125% FCC at that time. Reading all of these confusing posts is making me re-think that. Why Royal, why? I am also still waiting for a "cruise planner mistake" to be corrected even though they said it was taken care of, and additionally almost $900.00 for another Cruise Planner Re-price for an additional sailing. Please RCCL take care of your Loyal fan base, correctly the first time. Thank goodness for our MEI, they will get it sorted!

It’s not a hardship, they are housed, and fed, I empathize with being away from home, but a hunger strike is just ridiculous

It took our TA hours with Royal on the phone to accomplish our Lift and Shift of our October 2020 cruise to the Greek Isles. When we read about the program Wednesday morning we called our TA right away. He was on phone with Royal for 1 hr 45 mins on Wednesday and then got disconnected, causing great frustration. At that point, he did a very smart thing and booked the room under regular price to make sure it was still available since he knew it was the only one ( we were booked in a 2 BR Grand Suite), and then started the whole process again on Thursday, upon which took an additional 1hr 20 mins., after which he was able to send us our new confirmation with the reduced price of our 2020 cruise. He was able to shift our October 2020 Greek Isles Cruise on Explorer in 2BR Grand Suite to a 2 BR Suite in Oct 2021 on Odyssey to the Greek Isles for the same price we had secured for our 2020 cruise on Explorer. It was a significant savings and we are so very thankful our TA persevered through much frustration, and he’s a professional used to dealing with it! He reported, like others did above, that there were many details that once worked out had to be checked and approved by supervisors, amounting to much time on hold.

I try to have paella in the Windjammer for lunch on embarkation day. For dinner I choose a fish entrée of some sort. I loved Chocolate Sensation for dessert, but lately that hasn't been available. That said, anything chocolate is good for me! I am not sure what your delivery options are, but I hope you can enjoy your special celebration. When we sailed from Southampton, we toured the Canaries, so perhaps you can find some nice videos online...I recall a travel show that described Funchal and the hand-pushed carts down the hill (we actually did that). Take care...

Developed in my home state at our State College. I'll take this monthly if needed. This is easy.

Absolutely fascinating story, had no idea this is where the ships were, I winder if they let them have a break at CoCo key or Labadee! https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33338/satellite-images-show-armadas-of-vacant-cruise-ships-huddling-together-out-at-sea

British Columbia released their reopen plans Please note the June reopening phase. HOTELS AND RESORTS to open again, which is a MAJOR factor in cruises determining if feasible to bring back guests. Hotels and resorts are huge for drop and go points! The ONE big barrier right now is if Canada will extend or rescind the port closures, but again POSITIVE hopes here! https://bc.ctvnews.ca/here-is-a-list-of-services-that-will-be-allowed-to-reopen-in-b-c-and-when-1.4929748 for the full slide show and release, look here: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/from-haircuts-to-dinner-parties-b-c-unveils-plan-for-easing-covid-19-restrictions-1.4927166

Did you know Darth Vader had a sister? Her name was Ella........... and of course their relationship had its ups and downs......

STEALING!!!! Thank You

I'd settle for a stale bag of peanuts and a bottle of warm water if it meant I was cruising soon.

YOLO booked it! Just added 8-night sailing on Odyssey for 2/12/22... My wife just realized it will be Valentine's Day during that cruise. This will be our first Quantum/Quantum Ultra experience and the first time we're going to Grand Cayman, Curacao and Aruba! Only 647 days to go for that one! LOL!