deep1

Assuming I get my refunds and FCCs before I die of old age. I've been going through re-booking options. My money RCCL is sitting on is earmarked for cruise travel. It does have a budget but not overly restrictive... With GF kids in school there is time constraints... They live in Jersey so our plans did lean toward Oasis. They get expensive in prime summer season so that would push us to July 11 to book. As I have been burnt twice by the cancellations and as yet not refunded or FCC, I'm slow if at all to risk yet another cruise worth of my money floating in cyber space. If I was to book it and it actually did go, I would do a second trip in early November when the kids have another break on Indy from Lauderdale for a five night. If Oasis doesn't pan out (which I'm thinking likely not) then that would leave November to do our cruising. I'm looking at one on Harmony that has good itinerary. Touch pricey. If I go that route a second trip is out.. That leaves my B2B option on Indy. A 5 then 4 night... Have never done a B2B... Do we have to disembark when we get back from one? Is there some way to stay checked in to the same staterooms or do we have to pack, leave, then come back to another? Any other things I should know about B2B . As you can see I'm trying to be organized but am completely scatterbrained right now...

Just a quick update... No closer than I was... No first refund, no second FCC... Not a word from RCL other than the generated Apology letter that everybody got. Saw somewhere today what looked like an update explaining stuff. According to it I should have had the first refund by April 13 as I was originally told...

Another week since I started this update and not word one... Again, Refunds and fcc will be applied to new cruises but need t see em before that can happen.

I have had great luck in the past calling to resolve problems... Often it takes a few calls to get with an agent who understands how to get things done and has some customer service skills. Writing has its place as well to lay out specifics...

Must b nice... Congratulations...

The dishonesty had me at the point of chest pains last night... I was guaranteed in writing 30 days (by April 13) .As of last night the story had changed ten times since the 13th and I was told it would be about 45 more?!!!!!!!!! I need that money not for me but complete another booking or two!

Ya know... I'm in the cruise business "kind of". I do big game fishing trips, often in the Bahamas . I often act as travel agent booking the air, transfers, lodging, etc for my parties. We do take deposits and full payments for these trips. Weather gets in the way of some trips or unforseen mechanical issues might cause cancellations as well. The client gets choice of whole cash back or book again (with some extra bennies tossed in) and that very day funds are made available... One push of a button they get reimbursed as they wished within minutes... No excuse for a company the size of RCCL to not have a far more streamlined and faster system. If I ran my boats as poorly as they do this refund system they would be on the bottom!

My cancel date was March 13 and my target date was the April 13th. (In writing) Then the 15th, Then 20th both "guaranteed" then the 24th (told). Then as of last night "We only started your process on April 10. It will be another 45 days" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first refund is the one that I'm increasingly uptight about. The second I'll take FCC... I'm usually good at sitting down and hashing out problems but they are getting worse with their inconsistencies and could care less attitudes... Some of the worst most belligerent customer service I have ever seen anywhere. I'm sympathetic but they need to ramp up their game in tough times like this and not lose track of tending to their client base with respect and honesty. May 25th is not the April 13th they guaranteed on the refund. Goodness only knows when the FCC will become available... If its another 75 days that's early July... Long after final payment is due on the cruises I'm looking to book. Then what?

This isn't about venting... This is trying to hopefully straighten out an ongoing and increasingly bad situation. Its a prayer shot to the wind that we hope somebody who's "been there done that" might shed some light on... Its posted also in hopes that nobody else gets sucked in. Tonight they drifted to that BS of "Oh we only opened this refund on April 10th????????? So it will be 45 days from then!!!!!! I'm trying to book now three cruises and cant because they are sitting on my money, some over a year now! I know in other situations with some good input and ideas of approaches I have been able to string the right words to get positive things done... Hoping somebody has some sound input...

Not from me... Its good t know the perspectives from our fellow cruisers in lots of different places...

Sounds like the speech one of the three agents tried to feed me today... What stopped him dead in his tracks was I made new reservations at the same time I requested my refund... within hours of them cancelling the trip ... Waiting on three call backs and none taking place...

Quick refresher in case you havn't followed along; Booked for Indy cruise on board last year. They blatantly lied and said there were no rooms that could take four where we wanted to be. After getting home did a mock booking to check price and found loads of rooms that could take 4 where we wanted to be. Both same sq ft Ocean views. same deck even. Not in middle (premium) but they charged me 400 and took my obc to change rooms... Some time later I paid big for upgrade to balcony... Then a little good luck with a price drop I was able to turn the one into two. Ok, thats more like it. Here comes the first wave of cancellations and I'm nailed... Instantly get on phone to book something else. Find out I can't use FCC for deposit, or really anything as the reservation gal doinked me for double the usual deposit at $2000 instead of 1000 (mind you it was only 400 deposit for original booking... ) That left only a grand to fill out the fare and I would have 3500 FCC, 2500 of which I'd have to use within six months. So I opted on that cruise at that time to get full refund and the agent plugged me in. I never did get an email confirming so I called (several times) verifying it was in the process. Each time I was told it would be in my hands before April 13. My new cruise final payment was due on the 15th... The payment didn't come the 13th as promised. Called again and 'Promised" I would have it in time the 15th. I didn't so I paid the balance for the next trip also out of pocket. Next day they cancel... Figures... Today I call and ask about original refund. Three calls three different answers. First on tried to tell me that it had been done ????? Proved they didn't he said they would call back with an answer, never happened . Second tried to tell me it was never 30 but 45 days to get payment?????... I pointed out friends that requested later and were refunded days or even weeks ago. Then showed him their 30 day statement when they notified me of cancelling... Told me they would call back... hasn't happened... Third one tried t tell me I ony started getting processed April 10th?????... I had guys mid March show me it was in process. I provided them that info ... They would call me back... Nope... For the second reservation they pretty much pushed me into the FCC. I don't mind as I'll have the cash from the first to pay the deposits when I do rebook... At this point I'm out $6000 cash and don't even have an existing reservation. Trying to stay loyal to royal but they are making it tough. Any suggestions about at least expediting the original refund?

That would be me times 2 cruises... Then they are up my butt about final payment for next cruise that they double charged me for deposit ($2000!) Right now they are sitting on $6000 of my money they have had for over a year plus the 2 they have had for a month ...

I'm based in Palm Beach but most of my work takes place at West End, Grand Bahama. Chub Cay between Nassau and Coco Cay, in the Berry Islands) is another favorite haunt. Then the little island of Bimini has served as a second home for years.. Walkers Cay at the north end of Abacos will reopen this year and if I can find a ride I will be there... I migrate from Bahamas to New Jersey also chasing sea serpents. My cancelled Indy that I should be on now resulted in a booking on Oasis out of that Jersey end of things. Hope that one goes.. If not It's simple. I will book again also for near future... Side note... They have really clamped down on their curfews and lock down... This one will be revisited 4/14.

A lot of my business is in the little out islands that depend on boats like mine to support them. They don't have the same cushions we do to fall back on... I feel terrible for them...

The curfew has been n place a few days and will be reviewed again on the 31st... Then likely stretch into May, per what I'm hearing from that side... I'm a boat captain... We got cancelled for April 4 on the Indy so I went north early to get a boat I use in Jersey ready. They basically shut off fishing. I was going to head back south and since I have been in the "hot spot", Florida doesn't want me back right now. Another client was going to fly me to the islands to pick up and bring his boat stateside then I saw this new info... So I guess sitting all alone in a big house in still cold Jersey is what I have to look forward to...

A 24-Hour Country-Wide Curfew ♦ Every Non-Essential Establishment or Business Shall Remain Closed. NOTE: Hotels are allowed to remain open, but all casinos, spas, gyms, discotheques and restaurants therein must remain closed. Hotel restaurants may offer take-away or room service. Restriction on International Travel: ♦ Except with the prior written permission of the Competent Authority, all airports including private airports and fixed-base operations (FBOs) shall be closed to incoming international flights carrying any visitor. ♦ All sea ports shall be closed to regional and international seafaring and private boating. ♦ No visitor shall be permitted to enter and disembark for any reason, including transiting through The Bahamas.

Thanks for the heads up.As one of our posters points out its been discussed a lot on here. I recently got "surprised" like you and wrote on it as well. Can't hurt, especially now, to keep it a fresh and accessible thread to help others avoid confusion...

They are a bit more on Oasis than I was looking at on Indy...4 units is about 45 a day... then 7 nights is over $300 just to keep in touch and remind them to get ready for dinner...

China where this began is almost back to Normal... Work has resumed... All is good... A little more than 2 months end to end... While, yes, it could take a long time for vaccine or treatment , its more likely this will be long over before we ever get those things... Stay optimistic... Thinking doom and gloom does nobody, especially yourself , any good...

My first go at Oasis class ship... In the past I have seen mention that some of RCL ships have ability to communicate on board via the App with no WiFi needed? Is Oasis one of them? Or do I need to get gouged on a bunch of vooms?

Im seeing that we as USA citizens are really at the back end of the progression of this... South Americans as well but not significantly behind us. Remember too that they have the warmer climate that will not let this virus flourish very long... Some cases yest but large numbers not as likely... With proper screening in place I'm thinking that The April 11 is a little light but close to it we should be ok.

I went for the refund when all was said and done... FCC just had far too many strings and conditions attached and didn't pay for far too much that I had already paid for in the initial booking. Today I got a fresh "Welcome" confirmation for one of two invoices (Have two rooms and two separate booking numbers) involved with the original booking??? Hoping I don't have issues collecting on the second? Or anything for that matter... Not being afforded my time dining on new booking though I requested it. Meanwhile my friend today got it on his booking for same trip. Did the check ins and not showing set sail on line or in App... Lots of bugs to still work out...

I am taking advice from a few people who have pointed out the strings tied to FCC really don't make a lot of sense for me... It would force me into taking a second cruise before Dec.7, 2020. Or lose whats left over from this one (which is enough to buy a fairly substantial cruise). I filled out the "refund " stuff but no confirmation back from them yet... I know its busy there so I won't push...