StephanieH

We don't have access to the whole "game plan" for it actually starting, but I think we usually have a good idea of the immediate next steps.
In my opinion, I see two things that need to occur first:
End of the No Sail Order Royal Caribbean submitting their health policies and protocols to the CDC It may not occur in that order, but those are two tasks that need to be complete before anything else related to cruises restarting can occur.

I’d like to see some sort of Cruise with Confidence stay in place. I wonder how many people continue to take their cruise knowing they are sick. I’d like to see some incentive for people to stay home when ill. 

Muster 2.0 sounds like it will be permanent

We do this all the time.  I get the 4 device plan and share it with the kids.  

It's never easy to say goodbye to a friend, let alone three amazingly talented friends.
I know I speak for everyone here when I say we will miss your guidance, hard work, and positivity. 
For years I've advocated using "a good travel agent", and if there were a dictionary definition of that, it would have either of your three photos as examples. 
I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors and hope you remain part of our community here, and hopefully we will get to cruise again together soon.

@AnnetteJackson and @StephanieH wish y'all the best.
Been a pleasure meeting and working with ya.

I was on a call today and we were told that in reality it is taking them more like 45 business days on the first round to complete the cancellations and while they have put that out for the other two rounds, they hope that they can do those faster.  Royal is supposed to be sending an apology to all guests as well.
Not posting this for people to attack on it, or comment really... Just wanted to post it somewhere so people would see this and maybe ask for everyone to be understanding of those that are working on all of these cancellations.  The person that you call in at the call center is not the person that is working on the cancellations.  Your Travel Planner does not have a way to speed the process up.  This is a Pandemic that was not planned for and everyone that is left working is working hard to process these cancellations.
 

On the part of all this about this being a manual process...... I can tell you they have said that on other cruise cancellations BEFORE all of this.  This is not like airlines that worked with Corporate travelers and had a system in place for tons of changes after final payment.  I know that everyone is frustrated with this process, but please remember that this is a VERY UNUSUAL circumstance that EVERYONE finds themselves in and no one had a good plan for what would happen when the world shut down.  The cruise lines have furloughed lots of people and have moved people from their normal jobs to helping handle the refunds, FCC, call center questions, etc.  The systems were never created to give all the money back plus some...lol  Manual process means its slower and less accurate.  
We all have to hang in there and find some patience.  I know its hard, but your TA cant push this thru faster, Royal cant move any faster, and anyone that picks up the phone to help explain all this - needs some understanding as they didnt create this issue, they are only there to try to help
 

‘You wouldn’t pay them now, they’d go on your invoice now and lock in the current gratuity rate ..... you actually pay them on your final payment date along with the rest of the cruise fare.
 
 

This is precisely my attitude. 

If you aren't paid in full, I would wait to use it.  If another offer comes out that's a better deal and doesn't include an OBC, it will fall off.  You'll have 24 hours to make payment on the cruise planner to keep your purchase from cancelling.
 

I'm very excited for this cruise as well!!
 

Not yet. Next week 7+night caribbean phase two gets announced. Could be there.

We still have quite a ways to go until final payment, so until then I assume everyone is in!

POST-CRUISE
The delayed disembarkation was the start of a busy weekend for me - the flight home, laundry, birthday celebrations, church, etc - which somehow took the edge off my PCDS (Post Cruise Depression Syndrome).  Today, Monday (my day off),  The "depression" is starting to kick in.  This forum should tide me over until my next sailing in November 2020... if not sooner. (a Spring cruise???)

The Allure. We were watching a bunch of Allure videos, then I realized it's getting an update. So we will have to wait to explore every nook and cranny of the ship!
When the kids were little we would make paper chains to countdown to big events. I told them all that maybe I would make one of those, except it would be a chain for every week instead of every day! ?

Love @StephanieH!

Man ain't that the truth! I for fun decided to price out a Disney cruise out of NY when one of the ships comes up here because I have a 6 year old. I almost fainted! I mock booked a regular balcony which is normally what we book on Royal Caribbean but you was about triple the cost. Yes triple! I think an inside cabin was still more than a balcony I usually book on Royal Caribbean. I was blown away. 

Deposit high, but the overall price is lightyears below DCL!

Thanks I will certainly be visiting the NextCruise desk in January.

Thanks Stephanie!  You're the best and enjoy working with you.

Group rates and group deposits can be a little less.  If we have a group setup for a date for instance for a 7 night cruise the deposit is $500 in the group no matter how many people are in the cabin (Versus $250 per person if a regular booking).

We do setup groups in advance to secure lower rates.  Group rates are typically lower than the regular rates offered by Royal Caribbean.
 

Here's how to Cancel and Rebook with the cruise planner: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/10/29/how-cancel-and-rebook-pre-cruise-purchases-royal-caribbeans-cruise-planner

When you purchase anything in the cruise planner you will be charged immediately.  It’s part of the checkout process.  
 
If the price drops or you simply change your mind you can cancel your purchase for a refund.