Fuzzywuzzy

Bikinis are overrated.  Parkas are the new thing.  
Boy do I sound old...

Much as I find it best to not discuss religion and politics in hostile territory, I have added "cruise industry" to this philosophy.

@MattJust a short post to say the Boards look FANTASTIC on Chrome! Love what you've done with the place!!

I just wanted to share some good vibrations. While I had two cruises cancelled this year (May, Oct), and I am still waiting on taxes and fees to be refunded, I have made the best of a bad situation. I gladly chose the 125% FCC and the 125% cruise planner credit. I have done all the bookings myself, mostly through email using RCI sales reps I have used in the past, because I’m in the UK and don’t really have a goto travel agent.  So the good news is I have been able to go from an 8 night sailing to a 12 night sailing (with nothing but gratuities, taxes, and fees to pay) using the 125% FCC and have amassed $1400 OBC to spend. I have lost out on about $125 OBC credit but considering the 4 extra nights and the itinerary (Canary Islands, Portugal, and Spain) I am super excited! I didn’t even have to pay a deposit, as FCC was reinstated while I was on the phone finalising the booking.  So yes, it has not been ideal, I am still looking at a much better cruise than I started out with in my opinion. The new booking is for July 2021, so hopefully 3rd time lucky.

Those same folks probably love Sorrento's.

Maybe they would have been better off if there was a Taco Bell on board? Not everybody can appreciate good food.

No wonder I haven't been able to deduct my cruises from my taxes!

You think?
Might also be the reason why @Matt is so highly regarded in the “cruise world” and he is sometimes privy to info and invites that others are not. Also the reason why he takes pride in only reporting what is fact, not gossip or hearsay.

I got it too and suggested they hire Matt Hochberg to completely redesign and implement a new website.

Did you ask them to bring back the $18 DBP intern? I'd that a 10! 🤣

As happy as this should make me, I imagine RCCL’s agents are instructed to project optimism.  I am as anxious as anyone here to get cruising started but one comment to one TA by one agent doesn’t really mean much to me.  I will of course keep my fingers crossed.

I know what I am about to impart may be met with happiness or derision but here is the latest.
Our agent spoke with her rep at RCCL this week and this what she was told.
"Everything is looking good with Europe slowly opening up. She further stated that RC is going ahead with their plans for Nov 1 so PLAN WITH CONFIDENCE!!"
So we went ahead and paid off our Nov 28th cruise. Again this is info directly from RC.

I'm feeling smug and vindicated. 

Not all media sites are the same, and some have no issues reporting on rumors without any confirmation or research.
What I post on RoyalCaribbeanBlog reflects on me and my reputation, and I wont post rumors until there is strong evidence behind it. 
The rumors of Empress may end up being right at some point, but I need more to run on than "unnamed sources" by the same website that said Cunard and Seabourn were sold last month when they were not.

I can't believe @crisgold52has such little faith in our Supreme Leader! All Hail @Matt! 🤣

Clearly you are not familiar with @Matt Hochberg in the "cruise world". Perhaps you should get the facts straight before making assumptions.

...or for being particularly annoying...whichever is applicable.
😜😜😜😜❤️❤️

Pretty self explanatory and I am sure a lot of people will be in the "cause it was somewhere to take a vacation" group but I have to wonder if there are others with different reasons.
For me it was something I always thought would be interesting but would never be able to afford.  Then when my wife passed away it became something to get me out of the house and keep me from pulling my own hair out literally.  About a month after my wife passed and was cremated I received part of what was left of her burial policy and didn't know what to do with myself.  My wife was from Jamaica and we had talked multiple times about getting on a cruise and then stopping in Jamaica and dropping off a power chair because she was having a hard time walking.  I took the same route we had looked at which left from Galveston, TX and went to Cozumel Mexico, Georgetown Cayman Islands, and then Falmouth Jamaica where I dropped off a couple bags because I was going to be back in Jamaica a couple months later.  When leaving Jamaica I stood on the deck as the ship was leaving and cried long and hard because my wife didn't get to see home again.  The whole time we were married we were supposed to go down and were supposed to have been give the trip by her aunt as a wedding gift but it was never the right time.  
 
My first cruise had only been planned for a couple months but having something to look forward to helped me keep going and in a way my next one is slightly similar.  The day I booked the next one I felt like I have a little something to look forward to doing and started planning and reading to be ready to go.  In a lot of ways to me it's more the trip than the destinations though being able to be in good water for diving will be a big advantage.

Really? I had NO IDEA.  Thank you for this information.

We were supposed to be in Bermuda on Thursday. Sob, sob.

We love Bermuda, hopefully back in april.

We were supposed to be in Bermuda on Thursday. Sob, sob.

We were supposed to be in Bermuda on Thursday. Sob, sob.