Baked Alaska

In May, you might get hit with a late spring snowstorm.  NFLD got dumped with 30cm of snow in June.

I second July!! And we need to celebrate the big 50 with @JLMoran ?

@Matt!!  You know what I see when I read this post right?!  Canada/NE Group cruise!! Summer 2020!! ?

You are most welcome!! I"m glad somebody saw a reduction and more OBC!  Mine did not change ?

I was able to take $258 dollars off of our Grand Suite booking on the Radiance for July 19, 2019 Alaska Southbound. Also added an additional $100 OBC (we already had $100 with previous booking). Our 2019 Dec Holiday Cruise to Eastern Caribbean did not get any less expensive. Actually, it went up by $700 for our Junior Suite. Thank you @Boston Babe for the heads-up on this!

UPDATE!
Tell ya what, snake bites are different breed altogether! The swelling in my husband's leg has gone down considerably. It did not "pass the second joint " a la Poison Control not your local dispensary LOL! , in this case his knee. So he didn't need the anti-venom. (Whew!)  During the time his leg (above his ankle) was HUGE, the temp of it was  10 to 15 degrees warmer than his non-bitten leg. Now that the swelling is down, the temp is equal to his other leg. Here's the weird part. His foot is still huge (no way to put on a shoe, yet), BUT it is now colder than the foot that didn't get bit. I hope this is okay. He's got an appointment with his PMD this afternoon. Hoping he can go to one crutch (or no crutch) and get some exercises/pt for mobility.
What a roller coaster we've been on this week. Monday started out like any other day, just like today for anyone reading this (perhaps?), and it ended and Tuesday started with a possibility lethal situation. Then we went from averting death (I guess it is THAT dramatic) to possibly losing limb. Now, we're back to, I think, how Monday started, for the most part. 
Here's the take away, if there is one: Looking at the epidemiological data (before I had my own business, I was an epidemiologist so I'm kinda of a science/medical/statistics nerd), the chances of being injured or killed in a car accident OR being struck by lightening are greater than being bit (note, I didn't say "dying") by a venomous snake. 
Since, most of us have already driven somewhere today, and you lived (you're reading this, aren't you? ?), buy your trip insurance if you haven't  (add that "cancel for any reason", if you still can). If you still won't, go buy a lottery ticket and pray.
THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone for your well wishes. I have truly found a community of wonderful, nice, caring folks!

As they say "bagged, tagged, and in the freezer!" 8 trout (limit)

Awesome, glad everything is working out.

Thanks for the update.  Glad to hear it's been working out so far.  Keep the updates coming.

When I was a young fellow I got bit by a rattlesnake on my foot. Painful, swelling & nausea, but, didn't loose a limb. So glad to hear your husband is doing well! But, how did the trout fishing go? 

UPDATE!
Tell ya what, snake bites are different breed altogether! The swelling in my husband's leg has gone down considerably. It did not "pass the second joint " a la Poison Control not your local dispensary LOL! , in this case his knee. So he didn't need the anti-venom. (Whew!)  During the time his leg (above his ankle) was HUGE, the temp of it was  10 to 15 degrees warmer than his non-bitten leg. Now that the swelling is down, the temp is equal to his other leg. Here's the weird part. His foot is still huge (no way to put on a shoe, yet), BUT it is now colder than the foot that didn't get bit. I hope this is okay. He's got an appointment with his PMD this afternoon. Hoping he can go to one crutch (or no crutch) and get some exercises/pt for mobility.
What a roller coaster we've been on this week. Monday started out like any other day, just like today for anyone reading this (perhaps?), and it ended and Tuesday started with a possibility lethal situation. Then we went from averting death (I guess it is THAT dramatic) to possibly losing limb. Now, we're back to, I think, how Monday started, for the most part. 
Here's the take away, if there is one: Looking at the epidemiological data (before I had my own business, I was an epidemiologist so I'm kinda of a science/medical/statistics nerd), the chances of being injured or killed in a car accident OR being struck by lightening are greater than being bit (note, I didn't say "dying") by a venomous snake. 
Since, most of us have already driven somewhere today, and you lived (you're reading this, aren't you? ?), buy your trip insurance if you haven't  (add that "cancel for any reason", if you still can). If you still won't, go buy a lottery ticket and pray.
THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone for your well wishes. I have truly found a community of wonderful, nice, caring folks!

UPDATE!
Tell ya what, snake bites are different breed altogether! The swelling in my husband's leg has gone down considerably. It did not "pass the second joint " a la Poison Control not your local dispensary LOL! , in this case his knee. So he didn't need the anti-venom. (Whew!)  During the time his leg (above his ankle) was HUGE, the temp of it was  10 to 15 degrees warmer than his non-bitten leg. Now that the swelling is down, the temp is equal to his other leg. Here's the weird part. His foot is still huge (no way to put on a shoe, yet), BUT it is now colder than the foot that didn't get bit. I hope this is okay. He's got an appointment with his PMD this afternoon. Hoping he can go to one crutch (or no crutch) and get some exercises/pt for mobility.
What a roller coaster we've been on this week. Monday started out like any other day, just like today for anyone reading this (perhaps?), and it ended and Tuesday started with a possibility lethal situation. Then we went from averting death (I guess it is THAT dramatic) to possibly losing limb. Now, we're back to, I think, how Monday started, for the most part. 
Here's the take away, if there is one: Looking at the epidemiological data (before I had my own business, I was an epidemiologist so I'm kinda of a science/medical/statistics nerd), the chances of being injured or killed in a car accident OR being struck by lightening are greater than being bit (note, I didn't say "dying") by a venomous snake. 
Since, most of us have already driven somewhere today, and you lived (you're reading this, aren't you? ?), buy your trip insurance if you haven't  (add that "cancel for any reason", if you still can). If you still won't, go buy a lottery ticket and pray.
THANK YOU THANK YOU everyone for your well wishes. I have truly found a community of wonderful, nice, caring folks!

Also checking for updates. How is he doing now?
...and I bought my travel insurance right after reading this the first time!
 

Always at a table for two, by myself.  Tables are so close though that if you have friendly neighbors you can have a conversation.  
I actually prefer this and usually get great service.  In and out in under 45 minutes, sometimes faster.

I wanted to pass on a tip to try and reduce your cruise fare.  We are booked on Freedom for ABC Islands in Oct. for my wife & I.  Sunday is our final payment deadline.  Today before I called the travel agent to make our last payment, I checked the pricing on our Stateroom.  2B Spacious View Balcony on the hump deck 10.  3 days before final payment deadline it was $468 cheaper than when I booked it 18 months ago during a BOGO 60 sale.  One thing that Royal allowed was for us to change our deposit from refundable to non-refundable (don't need it for final payment) at the lower cruise fare rate.  We booked today under the standard BOGO 50 offering, no onboard credit.  Not only did Royal give us the lower fare they allowed us to keep the onboard credit from when we booked originally.
Cruise Hack #1 always check the available fare before making your final payment and if you booked your cruise with a refundable deposit change it to non-refundable.  This hack just paid for one of our airfares to San Juan.
 

Sharla and Annette at MEI have gone above and beyond and have gotten a vacation that at least I am happy with and at no extra cost to me. My daughters need some convincing, but I have 8 months to do so.

Did Royal call YOU or Sharla?  If it were you, he may not be aware of the work that's going on with Sharla ..... hoping for the best

Contact Michael Bayley's office and suggest this resolution.  Explain your situation and how you would like to remain a Royal Caribbean guest.  Seems fair to me.  

For the small fee that you pay for trip insurance it is well worth it.  I would not trust the other policies with all of their supposed coverage.    Besides the more the merrier. And what one may not cover the other one might.  The Allianz policy is the one  we buy all of the time.  Nothing better than having a piece of mind.  

@alamode123 - ask your credit card company if they offer any coverage for this.  Sometimes credit card companies offer certain type of travel insurance.

Another example of why you should purchase trip insurance.

This is EXACTLY what they are saying to you but also, "...sorry for whatever OTHER money you've expended on this.  You will have to eat that".
I do not blame you for being upset about this at ALL.  I had a cancellation fiasco with the Empress when it first came back up to majors from the minors and it was a complete disaster as well but we have much more flexibility to cruise than you do and we made alternate plans fairly easily.
I would be livid.

That just stinks!  I would be really mad and upset too if any of my cruises were cancelled.  My DH would be able to get over it and go to plan B very quickly but I would hold a grudge and want to cancel all of my other Royal cruises too.   We have kids so like you our dates are not flexible. 
I understand that the airfare is one of the biggest concerns between change fees and additional cost.  If your TA can't make a change that you find acceptable, I hope you salvage your vacation with your kids and just go to Florida.  There are so many places to go: the Keys, west coast, east coast, Orlando, etc.  Often times you can find a reasonably priced VRBO or AirBnB for the week (Orlando in particular is fairly inexpensive).  As the teens get older, every vacation is more precious as we won't have many more opportunities to vacation together.
I would also write a letter to the Royal Caribbean CEO.  How many customers did they lose over this?  With it being a spring break cruise, I'm sure many families will feel the same as you.
Good luck!

Funny thing is my only other RCL cruise was a charter. A Comic Con like cruise on Brilliance two years ago.

To me, it's like renting a hall for a wedding. You book over a year ahead, then the hall says eight months before your wedding "We found someone that's willing to pay more, here's your money back."

I booked this last August, early, like Matt said. I booked m,y airline early, a day before our cruise and two days after. because it was March break, I didn't even risk waiting until the return flights were available and booked two one way tickets for us 11 months out. Now I have to use my flights by mid April 2019 or lose the $2000 US I paid for them (around $2600 Canadian).

A five day cruise may not seem like a big deal to you, but I'm a widowed father of three teenagers. I saved up almost two years for this trip, and had EVERYTHING set. Room 1864 on the Navigator, the pie shaped Large Panoramic View room. It was a month after the Navigator's refurb. I had a bungalow booked on Labadee, our first time there. I booked the Ultimate Dining package. We watched endless hours of Youtube videos all about the ship, the ports, Miami and now ..... screwed.

And their offer for the inconvenience? two sailings of THEIR choice that they will give me the price fix from when I booked. I have kids in high school. Ever heard of March break? Otherwise I get $100 on board credit for a new cruise, and rescheduling fees for my flights (but ONLY if I rebook, and it doesn't include increases in flight costs). Screw that. The ONLY way I could see them salvaging this is to say "We'll put you on ANY ship that week out of Miami or Ft lauderdale in an equivalent cabin, no extra cost. $100? Gee thanks but no thanks.

I think the policy is terrible.
 
I wonder how many people would consider NOT booking Royal if they knew this ahead of time. For most people that travel, its a big occasion, costs a lot of money and planning and isn't easy to simply change it.
 
Royal should require those that want to charter to have to do it further out at the very least.
 
But like it has always been stated on this form....Royal is a business and in it for max profits...they aren't in it to please or accommodate you if they can make more money doing it for someone else. They are so big that its worth to piss off or lose a few customers if they make more $$ in the long run.
 
Sad but true........
 
Big question is.....what are the other cruise lines policies on charters I wonder?!