VACruiser

Out of sheer curiosity, and envy, how many years are the cruises spread out?

Cruising is about disposable income and it used to be just for the rich. Since we are in a time where the middle class has more money than anytime historically the cruising industry has answered the call and has developed huge ships to meet the need. RCI is a for profit company with publicly traded stock and has to answer to stock holders. This time is a historic period in our lives and they have to figure out a way to stay profitable. As I look above and read the posts I don’t understand the conversations about price increases and being upset. RCI and other cruise companies have to figure out a way to make money and so there is no choice but to raise prices to make up for lost revenue. The only way to counteract that is don’t cruise and they will have to lower the price to entice people to return to cruising. It is about supply and demand...it’s about the elastic part of the economy. As a product is demanded beyond its ability to supply the price increases. When demand exceeds existing stock they build more ships. That’s why we have Oasis class ships. There was a demand so they built them and they have to price the voyage to make a profit. I have no problem with the pricing structures and it seems to me RCI is operating as they should. If cruising returns to normal the Allure of the Seas will get upgraded. That’s capitalism at its best.

As a relatively new cruiser do you mind expanding on your statement I’m not sure I understand the between the lines discussion?

I gave her the Dr’s note in a PDF and she worked the magic but I don’t believe she actually had to use it. At this point the mere mention of the flu will have them giving a future cruise credit to get you off and away from the ship. I can’t say I blame them with all the bad press. Just look at this months RCI stock price and you will see why they are so worried.

I did get a doctors note indicating the positive test for Influenza- Strain A. My MEI TA Michelle Cunningham did all the work while I slept and took tamiflu. And, that is why a TA is worth their weight in gold when it comes to these issues. I also had insurance for the trip too.

As someone who is getting over the flu, and had a cruise set for this Sunday, 8 March 20 on OAS, I can tell you they moved our cruise to Dec 20 without much of a fuss. I got the flu on Tuesday, 3 March and I bet I could pass those medical tests easily so it doesn’t provide much comfort to the fellow passengers. I never had above a 99 fever and the major symptoms were gone within 48 hours leaving me with a bad cough and very snotty nose. But, the doctor told me to stay away from people for 7-10 days as I could be still contagious.

Good thing you looked it up I was too scared to. ?

I also found out today that a guy at work I speak to a lot also just tested positive for influenza Type Alpha. I think he had it first so I can blame him. You always need a fall guy!

Also found out this morning that my wife had insurance on the flights from Washington Reagan National to Miami, so although we lose $200, the rest is on a credit from Expedia so we can use it to fly to Orlando in December and should have no issue using the remainder of the credit for the flights. All well that ends well in these poor circumstances.

They rebooked my wife and I as a package deal in 1 room.

I know catchy title but the worst happened this week. I have a cruise for this Sunday, 8 March 2020 on Oasis of the Seas. We booked this cruise a year and half ago and was really looking forward to it. I woke up Tuesday morning with the room spinning out of control and feeling very nauseous. I knew that feeling, it was the flu. Knowing I couldn’t just ride it out I had to go to the doctors and get a note indicating my status to inform RCI. Under the rules I had to be 14 days well to sail and I was well within that window. So off I went to the walk-in clinic where they jabbed a cotton swab so far up my nose I thought they were hitting brain. Nurse puts it in a container and says I will be back in 10 minutes to let you know the results. PA walks in next and says what I already suspected- Influenza Type A....UGH! There goes the trip. At this point I send an email to @michelle at MEI to let her know what was going on. Michelle let us know our options - Go to insurance (always get insurance people) and get the money back or she would TRY and rebook us but no promises. She had me choose 3 cruises by priority and she would give them a call. This morning I woke up to a new cruise in December 2020 and all the previous items for the Oasis cruise will be refunded and the cruise money itself will transfer over to new cruise. I just have to replan the cruise for what we want to do. I love doing that already so I’ll have fun doing a new cruise planner. I found about MEI from this blog, as I have never had an agent before, and this is a classic case of why they are so important. I have learned so much from this site so thanks to @Matt for starting this blog forum. Plug for Michelle - she did an awesome job in a very short amount of time and I am so thankful for her help. If you ever thought of an agent but said no, I could do it myself, think again...I would still be on the phone with the flu trying to fix this mess. Instead I was home in bed taking Tamiflu and getting rid of this flu without having to rebook or fight the insurance for a refund! Thanks again and maybe this thread can help someone else in the future if the worst happens to you pre-cruise week. Oh BTW - someone should be getting a Royal-up for Junior Suite 12636 soon since I had to cancel. And, I did have a flu shot this year so It didn’t work so well.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes - strong and kills a lot of germies or Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes

Could you imagine Cozumel when six cruise ships are in port and someone coming down with symptoms after leaving port? Or someone testing positive to COVID-19 a week after visiting the island. That would be a mess. Oh yea, I will be in Cozumel 13th of March with six ships that day so it is something I have thought about but not worry about it.

I am pretty sure that this is the one and only time a person mistook an open window on a cruise ship and lifted a child up to a window and released the child as if the window would hold the child and the child fall to its death. There is so many wrong thoughts in doing that act it is hard to begin to understand what was going on in the Grandpa's mind. I feel so sorry for the family and I couldn't even imagine them sitting down for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner together in the future. The pain and tragedy would be too much.

The one item that I didn't look at the first time I bought luggage was how the wheels on the bottom of the suitcase are protected. The first cruise and two of the four broke. If you have ever seen how your luggage gets onto the ship you will quickly see how much torture it takes. Make sure you look at those things that protrude from the case itself and think how it will stand up to the pressure of movement. They take a lot more torture going onto the ship than they will ever do at the airlines which toss them around pretty good as it is. I'm trying a new one this time that protects the wheels but we shall see. I wish there were wheels that can be retracted back into the case and you can lower them only when required.

I am - I'm on the 8th of March 2020 sailing on the Oasis.

I normally take Bonine for a couple of days after a cruise and it seems to help a lot. I'm very prone to the swaying effect whereas my wife never gets it.

Now Bermuda! Should you chose to join us, our updated compensation is: • A 50 % refund, which will be added to your Onboard Account as a refundable onboard credit. • And, because we know that this is not how any of us wanted this to go, and we want you to give us another shot, we will be also provide you with a 50% future cruise credit. • In addition, if you purchased an internet or beverage package, unlimited dining package, or pre-paid your gratuities, you’ll receive a prorated refund as a credit for the 3 days your cruise was shortened by to your Onboard Account. • Any pre-purchased Royal Caribbean International shore excursions for the impacted ports will also be refunded to your Onboard Account. All credits applied to your Onboard Account can be used anywhere onboard, and any unused credits will be refunded back to your credit card on file about 3 – 5 business days after the sailing ends.

I work in a facility that you have to key punch to gain access to the work spaces. That is a virtual hot-zone of sickness so I have started wearing gloves when I have to punch in. Yes, everyone laughs at me but I feel like the picture above...don't mess with my cruise with your sickness. Germ-X is going fast at my desk - is it good as a mouthwash ?

I am on the Oasis of the Seas in 32 days, 8 March, and I would like to self-quarantine myself from my oh-so-sick co-workers. Hacking and coughing everywhere...oh the humanity! I am sure they got it from their booger pickers anyways.

I always think of items like these on a cruise that if you have to ask how much then it’s too much for you already. ? nice pictures thanks for taking the time to post!

@AshleyDillo - thanks for the detailed response but as you can see it is still a toss up as to if you will get your money back. The cruise alone could be 3-4K or more depending on rooms chosen as well as $500-1500 on flight so this isn't chump change we are speaking of. I'm glad you discussed about getting paperwork as I'm not sure I would have thought about that in the state of shock I would be in. All interesting things to think about. I'm glad we have this forum to discuss these type of odd events.

Just curious as to would happen if you failed the health requirements and were left standing there dumbfounded - would you get reimbursed for the cruise? You now have a flight seven days from now, if it is a seven day cruise, and you now have to get home. I would lose that ticket as it is probably non-refundable. I can imagine all the costs that would start racking up as I try to get my, supposed sick-self, back to Virginia? Thoughts?

Looks like Oasis needs to be put on diet for a while - that tushy is getting rather robust ? And, I will be on her in about 35 days so I shall tell her then. Hope she is ok with a soft suggestion.

I’m also on the 8th of March cruise in a junior suite. The last Crown Loft suite was booked about 6 months ago. I watched the pricing for months but couldn’t pull the trigger. Down to 7 weeks now - can’t wait. I got a Royal-Up email about two weeks ago.