BrianB

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

$105,177.58 for the Family Townhouse?
Sorry, but that’s $177.58 more than I would have spent for it.

12-3 Anthem
12-17 Anthem
12-31 yep…you guessed it…Anthem.

12-3 Anthem
12-17 Anthem
12-31 yep…you guessed it…Anthem.

I appreciate the company’s position of withholding information out of respect for the family…and the process.
I agree that they have more substantial evidence including cameras and witnesses. But there’s no immediate need to satisfy curiosity or quell rumors at the expense of prematurely reaching an official conclusion until all of the investigative processes are complete…from all agencies involved.
Then they can issue a carefully worded statement addressing the cause. Litigation will likely follow, as usual…a life was lost and all avenues need to be explored as to how it happened, what preventive measures were reasonable to ensure it didn’t happen, and can anything be done to prevent it from happening again.
Condolences to his family and friends.

I appreciate the company’s position of withholding information out of respect for the family…and the process.
I agree that they have more substantial evidence including cameras and witnesses. But there’s no immediate need to satisfy curiosity or quell rumors at the expense of prematurely reaching an official conclusion until all of the investigative processes are complete…from all agencies involved.
Then they can issue a carefully worded statement addressing the cause. Litigation will likely follow, as usual…a life was lost and all avenues need to be explored as to how it happened, what preventive measures were reasonable to ensure it didn’t happen, and can anything be done to prevent it from happening again.
Condolences to his family and friends.

@WAAAYTOOO According to the story, a collision involving a P&O ship this past August damaged some lifeboats and other life saving equipment, so they had to reduce capacity. Passengers were asked to volunteer to leave the cruise at the current port.
I believe they offered incentives such as a refund plus future cruise certificates. Also they would have a dedicated flight arranged to get them home.
I don’t know if they got their volunteers or if they had to pick. If they did, I also wonder how….eeny, meeny, miney, mo? Rock, paper, scissors? 

12-8-23 - Freedom
12-11-23 - Freedom
12-22-23 - Adventure
12-30-23 - Adventure

I usually go to guest services, or the Loyalty Ambassador, on the second day and ask them.
They can give you the final count for your cruise. There’s always no-shows on embarkation day…or those unfortunate enough to be denied boarding for whatever reason. They can also give the breakdowns…how many kids and loyalty levels.
Then it’s easy to just Google the ship for capacity limits. They’ll have the numbers for full double occupancy and full to capacity.
Capacity is the top number allowed onboard that the available life boats and rafts can hold. In other words…having every available bed, pullout, drop down, crib or rollaway bed occupied will never happen. I have seen once where they offloaded some crew members and put them up in local hotels for a week because we had so many guests onboard. Recently, there was a story where some cruise passengers had to be disembarked mid-cruise due to damage to some life boats. The maximum amount of souls onboard is the amount that the life boats and rafts can handle.

My opinion…
Royal panicked (understandably so) when the unprecedented shutdown occurred.
The entire business was rocked with huge losses that had to be balanced with enormous, expensive debt in the form of long term loans with very unattractive interest rates. There was no bailout, no subsidies, no government assistance of any kind…to my knowledge. They were left adrift on their own without a paddle. Some say they had significant profits stored away for emergencies, but I don’t think anyone could have ever imagined or prepared for such a long period of zero income. They realized their industry was being demonized with everything from ‘Petri Dish Cruising’ to ‘Covid Cruises’. Public perception was at it’s worse.
So they relied on their loyal cruisers when the restart occurred. Nobody knew how many would just stay away. So they offered incentives…double points, lower pricing, cheaper extras. Anything that would help bring back the regulars and help attract new customers. We were the priming for the pump.
But I don’t think they were expecting such a huge response. For whatever reason…cruise bookings have exploded. Ships are sailing at over one hundred percent capacity. Cruise Planner purchases are at an all-time high. Onboard spending is better than ever. Loyalty levels are saturated with new upper level members.
So they do what any other business would do…they start raising prices and see if demand continues. It did. So they raise prices even more. And people are paying more. Demand keeps rising so prices keep rising. I really think they are flabbergasted (and I don’t use that word lightly) that passengers are really paying such ridiculous prices for things that were so less expensive such a short time ago.
Just as an example, CocoCay Beach Club was $88. Now…some sailings are over $300. Overwater cabanas have risen to a price where instead of renting it for a few hours, it’s more like taking out a mortgage. Yet people are paying. The demand is there.
I don’t blame the company for acting like a for-profit business. But I think they should be able to figure out better ways they can reward their most loyal cruisers who helped ‘prime the pump’. At least come up with some way to improve the perception that we are as important to them now as we were at the beginning of the restart.
For me…I really appreciate what I get with my loyalty status. I know any of the perks can be removed or changed at any time. I really don’t care about the lounge access…it’s not important to me. But, it is important to so many others. I love the new MDR menus and don’t eat in CK…even when I’m in a suite. I appreciate the drinks and…especially…the WiFi.
I don’t know what can be done…but it’s fairly apparent that reading blogs and posts show there are many who feel under appreciated. This period of huge profits may eventually slow…or even reverse. And they will once again rely on the ‘Loyal to Royals’ to prime their pumps once again. 

Or, judging by the amazing comeback, maybe they realize they don’t have to anymore…
Just my opinion.

I guess I can be considered a frequent cruiser. I’m also a retiree and have the time to manage my own reservations.
I don’t mind checking my bookings every day to see if there have been any price drops. Same with any Cruise Planner purchases. I’m pretty well versed dealing with RC agents when I call. For example, I know when to politely end a call and call another agent when I feel I’m not getting the right answer. They really try but sometimes they are mistaken, or misunderstanding, or not completely informed. I know to call resolutions if I have to. I know my casino cruises can only be serviced by the casino agents so I call them directly. I have an excellent source of Royal-related information at my fingertips……….here!
I usually book en mass onboard so I only pay $100 deposit and get the OBC (depends on cruise length…but typical seven night is $100). It’s helpful to me that NextCruise can check cabin availability on b2bs, which is my preferred cruising itinerary. Easier than me going back and forth trying to lock in the same cabin on each leg.
I don’t know if I lose anything (reduced deposit and/or OBC) if I transfer a NextCruise to a TA. Honestly, I’ve been considering checking out a TA to see if it’s worth it to me. The one thing I’m wary of is I would no longer ‘own’ the reservation and would depend on the TA for any and all adjustments, changes or re-pricing…many of which come and go quickly. Although the trade-off would be an expert that can handle any problem that arises.
So far, I guess I’ve been pretty lucky. No major issues that I couldn’t handle quickly and satisfactorily. But, thanks to all your comments…ya got me wonderin’!🤔

I’m breaking in a new TA from MEI as my old one, who I love dearly, will be “retiring” in 2025. I wanted to stay with MEI so she got me in with a new one for our fjords cruise in 2025 with Celebrity. 4 couples and she got us in a group booking that saved us over $800 per couple compared to booking ourselves
I normally book my own cabin online, then transfer it to the agent. Covid and the whole FCC mess earned my agent a set of Angel wings and a halo! 
 
We’re starting to check off those bucket list cruises and several are out of Europe and I want an agent here at home that can help me if things go sideways 

Sorry about that. Too many drinks down at schooner. Lots of flights up to deck 17. Was taking a quick siesta. Security let me know that the elevators are open 24/7. 

I’m booked on this cruise, also.

Hello!
I’m on this also.

Hello!
I'm booked!