FoxboroCruiser

Sounds like our first lunch stop on anthem in April! These are the little things that make cruising even more unique.

If the passengers have lists this long, imagine what the crew has found!

That’s great to hear.  So 100% of the money you paid was returned?  Port fees, taxes, gratuities, cruise planner purchases?

On 3/4/2022 at 11:59 AM, Johnson84 said:

FCC is an absolute joke, I will never take the 125% again, Definitely not worth it. I have spent countless hours on the phone with RC trying to get credits which finally happened but I don't believe I received all of it but I gave up and excepted what I finally got....

Agree100%. We had 2 cruises canceled and accepted the 125% FCC both times.  We booked the third and few months before the sailing RC  randomly choose to refund our money. We had made at least two down payments, even though they had been canceled.  The refunds were impossible to figure out, and like you, I still think I came out behind in the process. I am positive that we didn’t get 125% of anything.  When it comes to money transparency is critical and RC seems to prefer to muddy the waters.  We love cruising with RC but will never accept an FCC ever again is I can possibly avoid it.

We tried to switch to My Time and got waitlisted… guessing the ship on April 17th is going to be fuller than what we’re hearing things are like currently.

Thanks I had searched for info here and came up short, but after posting I did find a better explanation about the first night, and making reservations after boarding.  Thanks very much for replying, we really appreciate the info!

When I add the 3 Night Dining Package to my cart, it makes me select either Day 1 or Day 2 and a time.  Does that mean it will be three nights in a row same time?  It just feels strange not to select the restaurant and time by day…I thought I’d be able to select the venue and time for each individual dinner.   Just looking for a little clarity before placing the order! 
 

Thanks for any info you can share!

Majesty of the Seas on my honeymoon in 1994.

Coco Cay Honeymoon May 1994 

Damn.  In 2019 our Cuba cruise got impacted by politics.  We took the 50% credit and booked a June cruise on Adventure to Bermuda for the following year.  COVID hit and that cruise was canceled.  We rescheduled on Freedom for 2021 thinking we’d be fine over a year later... nope.  Now we are looking at 2022.  It’s a long wait to take a much needed vacation!

10 minutes ago, jticarruthers said:

Did Royal cancel June yet (Except for the OUS cruises) or is that still to come? I know NCL cancelled June, thought Royal was still holding on to it but that basically has to go soon right ?

No official word yet...

You’d think having two cruises canceled (June 2020 and June 2021) would count for something...lift and shift is the least they could do  We will likely have to push to June 2022 so we can wait for the price to be right if we have to, but they better not think I’m putting down a third deposit when the first two times ended in cancelations.  

32 minutes ago, Matt said:

There is no pattern to when Royal Caribbean cancels

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/02/18/there-pattern-when-royal-caribbean-cancels-cruises

Great article, very helpful - thanks Matt!  Seems like we'd have a least a month's notice, which may be enough for us.  I guess I have to now start trying to figure out /what and when to rebook...  The price of  balcony cabin on the Bermuda sailing we have planned has gone as high as $1800 and as low as $950.  Timing is everything!

7 minutes ago, princevaliantus said:

There will be NO cruises in the month of June from any U.S. ports.

Was that formally announced?  I agree that’s likely the case, but I was really asking when an announcement might be made.  May be I missed it?

I clicked through a bunch and tried a search or two but didn’t find a clear answer.  We’re trying to figure out how close to the June 19th sail date RC can get before canceling. Recently it seems they are one month at a time and announce with about 45 days before the start of the month.  They have canceled though May 31st so may be mid April they’d announce June cancels...?

Would you agree that’s likely what we’re looking at?  It would be a bit challenging for us to plan to be on vacation with less than a few weeks notice.  Our jobs require several weeks notice to take a week off.  We REALLY want this cruise to happen, but doubt it will.  If we take the time off and they cancel we are stuck home with no plans... just trying to figure out how to play this!

8 hours ago, Chuck586 said:

Following this topic as we will also be cruising out of NJ in June 2021.

Same here!

Honeymoon was on Majesty in 1994 and 25th Anniversary in 2019 on Empress.  Sad day indeed.

The drink package/voom  wasn’t any less expensive than when we purchased it a few weeks ago, but We booked the All Access Ship Tour for the 4 of us.  Can’t wait for that!

We pulled the trigger today.  It was $54 for DBP and 1 Voom device, down from $61 just for the DBP...

We lived in NY for about 10 years, and would go to Whippany to JR Cigars! Great place if you like a stogie.  might have to head out to route 10  Before the cruise!

2 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

When we stayed at Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ (it's right next to the Courtyard) we ate at iHOP lol.  Probably not the recommendation you were looking for though.  I was not a fan of that area, lack of good dining options was one of the reasons.  We prefer Manhattan and just make the trip to Bayonne the following day.  I was also entertaining the idea (although now it's been cancelled) of staying in Jersey City instead for better pre-cruise dining and entertainment options.

IHOP doesn’t sound like a bad start to embarkation morning!  We cruise from Port Liberty in June and pancakes sound good to me!

Empress 2019 - Right behind Bolero's

I agree.  The crew probably isn’t making big money, and I’m guessing a few extra bucks means more to one of them than it does to me.  They are ways from their homes, families and friends so I can have a great vacation.   My first job was a busboy, and I waited tables and bartended for my early twenties. I took a lot of pride in being good at both serving food and drinks.  It’s honest work, and those who are great at it deserve to be recognized.  If you add up what you’d pay in tips for all of the tippable services you receive onboard daily, I’m sure it would be more than what the daily fee is. I don’t think you have to break the bank to do the right thing...

Great stuff, thanks to everyone who has shared.  Really helpful in our planning

We are booked for a 5 Day to Bermuda on Freedom as well. The crystal caves sound interesting (will definitely research that some more) , hoping some more tips, recommendations, and ideas are shared!