Baked Alaska

Nope. A payment is a payment. I had already paid the deposits on those two cruises (months ago/December and before). A deposit is part of the overall cruise fare.

We cancelled our cruise that was to sail March 22 on Oasis. We took the FCC and paid off our next cruise (Holiday Cruise) and about half of our Alaska cruise (July 2021). We were in a suite, so while being stuck in QT wouldn't be roughing it, the time commitment would not have been ideal. So, yes, we used our FCC for two cruises.

Of course it is. . . Even when you're on the (rare) QT ship! Some folks can't risk the additional time off being in QT. School work, work obligations, pets and children under the care of others are still major considerations. DH and I have our offices at home and can telecommute to the office. If kids, the elderly, and work are not a factor for you, I say go for it. I definitely would.

Love this! https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/03/10/royal-caribbean-promises-protect-travel-agent-commissions-deferred-cruises-coronavirus

Thank you to Sharla at MEI for working on our cancellation and our upcoming cruises! You rock!

@WAAAYTOOO I'm trying to understand this. We are sailing on a Holiday Cruise, Dec 26, 2020 to Jan 4, 2021. The cruise planner shows the UDP and the 3 Night Dining Package. Does RCCL sell these packages knowing that we can't use these on the cruise? Or??? Just confused.

Noticed the day they announced their temp cancellation policy that an ALMOST identical sailing was $2k greater than the one I just cancelled.

Hi @JLMoran 100% +1 HOWEVER!!! You are overlooking one major detail and it is why we cancelled our cruise for next week, the mandatory QT that may occur, even if you are not sick. With our son being in Honors Math, H. English, and H. Biology as a freshman in HS, we felt we couldn't risk a QT situation. Once again, not afraid of the virus. Very very annoyed from the hysteria. Once again, good luck everyone driving to work, errands, and the grocery store. You have a greater chance of being killed or hurt in your car than you do from Covid-19. Let's get some perspective people! @JLMoran if we were not traveling during the school year or didn't have our son (love him, by the way!), we would still take this trip.

As of NOW, none in Mexico.

See! This is why you use a TA like @AnnetteJackson and Sharla at MEI!!

Why not just cancel and rebook? Given the COVID-19 cancellation policy, couldn't you do that? Best to bring in a TA on this one.

I am not worried about the virus itself (I am an epidemiologist MPH, interned at CDC&P/retired from that and have a different life, now), but rather the panic that is spreading faster than the virus. Actually, cancelling the 7 day cruise portion of our vacation due to the very real possibility of being stuck on the ship well past spring break. Killed me to cancel that $18/day intern sale DBP. We'll still go fishing in FLL and Lake Okeechobee and go to the Blues/Panthers hockey game, but come back a week early. I've got a HS freshman that needs to get back to classes and not stuck on a ship with passengers in QT.

Following

Just make sure you CALL the redemption center, don't do the redemption online. If you don't like what you hear, say "thank you", hang up and call back. But, you definitely have to call the redemption center number.

Even if you plan to put it into an IRA for example, I THINK you need to wait 30 or 31 days to avoid the "wash sale," otherwise you may not see any tax loss harvesting benefits. "Talk to your tax advisor" is a great idea.

Like the cruise planner, invest based on what you DO know and invest when you are comfortable with the price. Don't jump ship in a storm, hold on, calmer seas always ahead.

Here is an interesting graphic from an email I received today from my wealth advisor (Motley Fool Wealth Management):

+1. . . heck +100!

I've been able to apply the RCCL OBC credit immediately after I requested it for two sailings out of two sailing attempted . . . like within minutes. I just tell them that I have purchases that must be made today as the excursions are booking up, etc. Was even successful during Black Friday.

Just did a mock booking for almost same sailing in 2021 same stateroom category. $2k more. Not. happy. And forget trying to carry over the $18 intern drink sale. STill sailing at this point.

We've been to Green Grotto caves on a DCL excursion. Keep in mind that it is a dry cave, unlike most you'll find in the States. We found it very interesting.

Ditto! I received a price check email from Sharla at MEI as well. She check our three upcoming cruises. I sooooo appreciate her!

FWIW, for our Dec 2020 New Year's Cruise, we were able to book a JS cheaper than a balcony, by about $500. We have since moved up to a GS, but I find the effects of the algorithms interesting. For our last ROTS, southbound Alaska, we initially had a GS, then checking one day I noticed the Owners Suite was the same or a tad bit less than the GS we had reserved. We changed to the OS.

Have your TA check out for you. Asap

Yeh, but I'm hoping you get the spirit of what I'm trying to convey.