KJ1231

We re-booked our May Alaska cruise in July. We've never done GTY before but the difference in cost was over $3K for 4 of us in 2 balcony cabins. We would not have been able to go in July if we picked our balcony. What I did was look at available cabins when we booked using the RCCL website. Then used cruisedeckplans.com so see which of the available balcony cabins were an issue. I came up with 2 - one with a obstructed view, the other with only half a balcony - while alot of the remaining balconies look fine. My wife is concerned because 90% of the time on the ship last time we did Alaska was spent on the balcony. So hoping for the best IF, big IF, we actually sail in July.

Just booked our first casino cruise. We chose Enchantment of the Seas, 7-night, 11/28 sailing from San Juan to Southern Caribbean (Tortola, St. Kitts, Martinique, Barbados and St. Lucia). My wife prefers the smaller ships and we've not been to any of these ports before. We did upgrade from interior to balcony for $674 ($337 each).

Not allowing me to use it for the 12/27 Southern Caribbean o Freedom because it includes New Year's ?

This ^^^

@michelle Just sent you mine ?

So on another thread I mentioned that I was able to re-book our Alaska cruise from 5/15 to 7/17. I was able to cancel our flights to/from cruise and American is offering a one-time change. So I call AA to arrange flights and the young lady insisted that I wait since i can only change our flights once. Since the new flights are a little cheaper then the original flights AND I like to dot i's and cross t's as early as possible I was a little concerned. There are limited 1-stop flights from Philly to ANC so I want to make sure I get on a particular flight but understand her warning that if I change I will lose my free change opportunity should the cruises get canceled again.

@michelle told us that RCCL contacted her that our 5/15 Northbound Vancouver to Seward was canceled and to expect an email at some point from RCCL regarding FCC. it still shows active in cruise planner. Michelle also booked us on the 7/17 Southbound which is NOT showing in the planner.

Don’t forget the suitcase to haul it all in. ?

We booked a boat “expedition” out of Seward on 7/17. We just re-booked our May cruise for the southbound starting July 17th. The boat we chartered can take 6 people. We have 4 and room for 2 more. Captain is giving me a little deal since business is way down. When I talked to him yesterday it was the first business he booked in more than 2 weeks. The charter is 8-2 so will have plenty of time to get from charter to the Radiance. If you are on the southbound leaving Seward on 7/17 or the northbound arriving early on 7/17 and have 1 or 2 that would like to join us, send me a message.

Just got the email from Casino Royale. Free cruise for two in an interior room. Any ship, any length, any CARIBBEAN itinerary. My wife is on the computer looking now! sorry - September-December 2020 sailings.

I wrote elsewhere that our 5/15 Alaska sailing was canceled. I didn't think we would be able to do Alaska this summer strictly because of cost. However, with 4 of us we managed to get 2 "guarantee" balconies for a price well below our FCC on the 7/17 Southbound. We had a balcony and an inside for 5/15. My wife is worried about what we might end up with because with Alaska last time we spent the whole time we were on the boat when the sun was up on the balcony. I used cruisedeckplans.com to look at the balconies on decks 7, 8, and 9. They list 13 balconies with obstructed view and a couple with small balconies. For the heckuva it, I started a new reservation and of all the balconies I could pick from only 8058 (obstructed) and 8508 (small balcony) looked to be balconies I would not take. I'm thinking the odds were pretty good that we'll get a decent balcony at an $800 pp ($3,200 for 4) discount. If not for that discount we couldn't go. BUT - my wife is saying if we get those 2 it will ruin the trip....decisions, decisions......

Just got email with official cancel for May 15 Alaska cruise. Cash refund or 125% FCC that I should get by 4/30 and good until 12/31/2021. Guess it's time to start planning. Can't imagine what the folks at MEI are going through.....

Same here - had a pretty good deal. July cruises look like double the price of our May cruise... and would I get the 125% FCC in time for final payment in April for a July cruise?

Yeah - my issue is that we have to use flight $$ by 12/31/20 and schedules may not allow it, especially for college kids ? Hoping they allow us to use it next May.

Just to clarify - you got a refund from American Airlines? That would be great! AND would allow us to just move Alaska back to next May or June!

Thanks! Will help with planning. Since my wife works in a school and the two kids are in college we'll be looking at something in December since American Airlines current offer is free change but fly by 12/31. We're in Philly and airfare now to San Juan is a little less than what we were paying to go to Vancouver and back from Anchorage. Will have to get @michelle to look for Southern Caribbean perhaps!

Same here - we were sailing 5/15. I'm less concerned about the cruise since the credit is good til 12/31/2021 and we could just do next May. Where I may get burnt is on airfare. I have $3K in airfare invested with American Airlines on 4 tickets (wife and I and 2 kids). Right now they are giving free changes but you must start trip by 12/31/2020 and I think it will be 4 tickets so I don't get a $3K lump to use how I want. SO, what does one do with (4) $750 airfares and $6k in FCC? As for FCC - do I get a lump? Or is it by cruiser like the airfare? Funny thing is, 28 years ago my house was being foreclosed on. Now I'm in a situation where I need to figure out how to use $9K in vacation cash. I am truly blessed! I truly feel like a heel asking this during sicce trying times but at least its a distraction....

No balloon last Sunday and heard it hadn't been up in a while due to winds.... hope you fare much better than we did!

I'm not usually one to post negative stuff but my wife and I came away from CocoCay disappointed last week solely because of the weather. I know RCCL can't control the weather and it's not their fault! We spent $429 for the cabana on sale and thought it would be great only to get to cabana #6 - right in front - and have a cold breeze blowing in our face all day. Water was a bit chilly, too. We walked to the interior by the pools and water park and was so much nicer - actually warm. Next time we'll be one of the first off the boat and grab a free seat somewhere. The $429 for 8 bottles of water, towels and a great attendant (Matthew - just his 3rd day with RCCL!) was not worth it.

So we have our 6th cruise coming up in May to Alaska on 5/15/20 (2nd trip on Radiance). I redeemed 50,000 points on the RCCL card for $500 of Onboard Credit last July. To date the reward has not shown up in the cruise planner. I called the rewards desk today and am being told that it could be two weeks before the cruise (5/1) before the OBC gets applied. What the heck? I was hoping to use it to purchase excursions. I have another 35K points to purchase more OBC but will miss sales, etc. Anyone else experience this? I could have sworn we did this before and got $$ applied much sooner! Anyone higher we can complain to? Will be ditching the card after this upcoming cruise if we can't get OBC in time to use it for what we want. One caveat - if we purchase excursions now, any way to get the $$ reimbursed when they do apply the OBC credit? HELP!

Got an email yesterday letting us know that Glacier Bay NP has been replaced by Skagway for our 5/15/2020 Radiance sailing. Disappointed, to say the least!!

I'm not certain that turning off the WiFi or turning off the phone will do it. If I'm not mistaken, the device remains registered on the ships network until you explicitly "logoff". I know I had to do this more than a few times before it became habit. This also prevents you from turning your phone on and "stealing" the connection back whe nyou didn't mean to. And, YES, you can share.

We had our 3yo and 2yo grandchildren with us on our last cruise. The first two nights we did My Time Dining altogether (9 of us) and the wait staff was great! They know how to handle the little ones. That said - they still get rammy after an hour or so. The remaining 3 nights my daughter would take them to the Windjammer to eat and then take them to be watched while we ate. We didn't have to rush to beat the rammy phase and the kids loved being with the other kids. Win-win!

Unless things have changed you may need an additional step. From any device go to your web browser and go to www.logout.com. This will disconnect your device from the network and assure you can get the other device connected. I have had issues connecting a device when another was already using the access code.

I synch my watch and phone to ship time as we're leaving ship and aim for 30-60 minutes early depending on where we'll be in port. Has a ship ever left early? You need to know how far away you are from the ship and the minimum time to get back (walk, cab, etc). I only have 4 cruises under my belt but reading this thread you might be afraid to take a non-RC excursion (we've done 2 and loved them and were something RC did not offer) or race back to the ship hours early just so you don't miss the ship. Bottom line - know where you are at all times and how long it will take you to get back to the gangplank. For example, there can be "state" security to re-board before you get to the ship.