BrianB

No…but I always do it. Just in case something unexpected happens that prevents me from going the first week. I still do online check in and get an early arrival time.

Update… Sure enough, as expected, today I received the ‘balance due’ email. Having nothing better to do I called again and explained the situation yet again. I’m getting pretty good at explaining this in short, easily understandable and precise terms. This time I spoke with Paulo. He reviewed my reservation and ensured me it was paid in full. He then researched the history of the reservation and found all the back and forth balance due and refund activity. He placed me on hold for about ten minutes as he reached out for someone who could help. He came back and explained what I already knew…the amount was for a cancelled CocoCay purchase but was being mistakenly carried as a cruise fare amount. He then explained that the issue is being corrected and the amount is being separated from the cruise fare. Then…I should make the payment again and then a refund will be issued back to my card. This action will finally clear the ‘glitch’. I made the payment and then held on as he checked to make sure the amount was separated. He came back and told me it worked. I received yet another cruise confirmation receipt showing I’m paid in full. I’ll add it to the pile. Fingers crossed….

I read an article where it reported there are no charges filed against the protesters for their illegal actions. No consequences equals no deterrence.

…and here we go again! Today I received another refund to my credit card for $138. Again, it’s for the same cancelled CocoCay purchase. Today is the final payment due date for the cruise…embarking on November 17. It's Groundhog Day and Deja vu all over again.

I had this happen too. I posted about it in the past. Same thing as this time but instead of receiving a refund causing my account to have a balance due….the last time my account was paid in full but they kept sending me an email that I owed $88. Every time I received that email, I immediately paid the money. A few days later I would receive a refund to my card because I overpaid. A few days after I paid, another $88 refund. Over and over again. When I called, they said it was a ‘glitch’ and just ignore it. I made sure I got that in writing so I could bring it with me to the terminal on embarkation day just in case. But, it wasn’t needed.

I have a Sky Class Junior Suite booked on the Icon. It comes with all the Sky perks including Coastal Kitchen and suite sundeck. Looks like they are expanding this concept to other ships. This way they can get more than the cost of a typical JS by offering the Sky perks.

Be aware! A week ago I noticed my credit card had a refund applied from Royal in the amount of $138. I know I had cancelled and rebooked quite a few CocoCay purchases over the past months due to price drops…and getting refunds is not unusual. However, this one just popped up. I figured it was just an IT glitch causing a late refund. Well I was right that it was an IT glitch. But the glitch was they issued a double refund. Today I received an email advising me that I had a final payment of $138 due in six days. So I called. The representative explained that the refund was a ‘mistake’ on their end and should not have been made. I made the payment over the phone and received another ‘paid in full’ confirmation email. The representative confirmed that had I not made that payment, my cruise would have automatically been canceled for non-payment. Moral of the story…either use a good travel agent or make sure you pay attention to your booking. Or both! Make sure you have a valid email address listed and check it for notices from Royal. Be aware. As the saying goes…Anything can happen and it usually does.

I’m also old school. I like walking up to the counter and handing over my passport with the paper Set Sail Pass folded in half in the information page. No fumbling with my phone. For me, much easier. Then the passport gets put away in my carry on and the pass goes in my pocket. When it’s time to board, I have the paper pass in my hand to show the keepers of the portal and then to be scanned prior to the escalators…(Port Liberty).

I believe they do not make the cancellation/change until after final payment.

Someone asked about drifting and the captain said they do it to conserve fuel. The engines are always running the generators to provide electricity for hotel operations but they can save lots of fuel consumption by limiting the electricity required for constant propulsion. But guest safety and comfort is their top priority. Of course they are always ready to maneuver for obstructions or other vessels. But, sometimes even if the current and wind conditions are perfect for propulsion-free drifting, they won’t do it because of swells which will cause just enough rocking to be noticeable if the ship is drifting.

Our cruise that began on May 9th canceled Labadee and we received the email notice on March 26…about a month and a half prior. So I would guess you should get it about the same time frame…probably in September. Labadee was replaced with Puerto Plata, DR.

No problems using my CC with Royal. I also have the text alert function where I get a text anytime the card is used…either in person, over the phone or internet. No matter how small the charge. And the alert is quick. I can use my card buying a sandwich and as soon as it’s authorized, I get the text telling me where and how much. I highly recommend getting the text alert function.

If I rent a Prime movie and then download it for later viewing, it will not let me access the movie without WiFi. Makes sense as they need to keep track of when I view it…to start the allowable viewing window, usually 48hrs. If I download a Netflix movie, usually no problem viewing it without WiFi. I just have to keep an eye on it in my downloads because it may expire if it’s there too long. Then I’ll just delete the expired download and then download it again before boarding. If I buy a Prime movie and download it then it’s mine and I can view it offline as much as I want.

The evening glass bottom boat tour is pretty good. It leaves after dark from the pier where the ship is docked. The captain/guide narrates the tour as you motor out into the sound and gives pretty interesting information about the islands and their history. Then you will linger over some of the coral reef as everyone goes downstairs to look through the glass bottom. You’ll also view the sunken ship Vixen and learn about her interesting history. Lights are turned on beneath the boat…which attracts fish. There’s rum swizzles for the adults along with a basic bar. Virgin swizzles for the kids. Waters and soda. And, of course, a restroom. Sometimes it can get chilly out on the sound, especially at night, so bring a sweater. The ride back as you approach the dockyard is nice with the ship lit up. Nice photo op as the ship is reflected in the water. The boat leaves you where you boarded…steps from the ship.

@Ampurp85 Me too! I just sent in the renewal application and my ‘Walgreen’s’ passport photo…then saw this notice. Oh, well…….

When I see what appears to be a one-and-done, everything-was-awful post…I usually quickly scan through it to find the buzz-word terms. Especially the ‘trip of a lifetime’…or ‘nightmare cruise’.

In my opinion… Encore Ice Show is really good…as are most of the ice shows on Royal. Saturday Night Fever is very enjoyable…a full Broadway production with great 70’s music. Jason Bishop is an excellent illusionist. Try to keep up with his funny one-liners. His card trick finale is cool!

@Sharla But that’s only regarding a casino comped full cruise, right? If I have a booked cruise that I did online or through NextCruise…or through a TA…and then I subsequently want to apply an instant rewards dollars off certificate earned in the casino…that cruise would still be eligible for the TA’s full commission? Also, if it’s a TA reservation, would the TA be the only one who could call to request the certificate be applied…as they now control the reservation? I ‘dabble’ in the casino when I cruise and usually end up earning a dollars off certificate which I apply to one of my future booked cruises. ps…sorry for all the questions. Not a newbie cruiser…not by a long shot…but a potential newbie MEI customer.

I’m a solo cruiser. On applicable sailings, the way I figure it is to divide the basic cruise fare (minus tax, fees and add-ons such as insurance, pre-paid gratuities, cruise planner stuff, etc) by 4. Subtract that result from the cruise fare and then add on the rest.

I believe the minimum action is a warning. Then comes an additional charge added to the room account for ‘sanitizing’ the room to remove the smoke smell…whether or not you think there is any. After that comes the more drastic penalties like disembarkation and finally…banning. I’m thinking it depends a lot on the attitude of the offender. Being rude, nasty and insulting will likely result in elevating to the higher penalties. As will repeat offenses. As it should.

Currently on the Liberty. Captain Dustin. He’s originally from Canada but currently living in the U.S…dual citizenship. Very nice gentleman! The other is Captain Mal. Also from Canada, but currently living in Texas. Also a really nice guy. Loves having the Loyalty event in Studio B so he can show off his hockey skills.

With the huge demand for cruising happening now…I’m thinking the planners are trying very hard to come up with new cruise schedules to take advantage. They realize that as soon as they float the new schedules…reservations come flooding in!

MSC re Ben and David…what’s the nautical term for ‘oops!’?

@Traveling Mike I heard, on these boards, lots of advice telling me to avoid the ‘big box store’ travel agents like Costco. That they were just interested in initial bookings and not good on follow-up or responses. I'm guessing you have a contact person who actually monitors your reservation and gives you personal service. Sounds like you got lucky. What you suggest is my plan….do all of my research and monitoring and then, instead of wasting time and effort, have a contact person that I could reach out to who would promptly take care of all those annoying follow-up details. Plus, maybe get a better price or a few extras by using the TA.