Morganno

16 hours ago, MrB said:

U.S. cruiser here: We are not even thinking of any cruise before December 2021. Even then, if we were to book, it would be with the understanding that we would bail out on the cruise if conditions have not improved. If we got a credit or a refund, so be it. In this climate, we would have to be willing to lose any money (or argue with RCI at a much later date.)

For the first time we would be gambling on a cruise - in this case, on the cruise itself. But we're not going to bet our lives on it.

 

I fully understand your worries which are legitimate but since RC are still allowing free movement of the cruise upto 48 hours before sailing I think snagging a good price is also important especially now they have moved the rebooking date to 2022.

19 hours ago, twangster said:

If you move the cruise before final payment is due then the final payment deadline for the new future cruise also moves.

Thanks Twangster that is very reassuring. 

Honestly there are 4 level 3 trials going on for a vaccine the Oxford people are very confident their vaccine works with no major side effects. I honestly would be very surprised if we don't see a roll out before end 2020.  I will be first in the queue to get one. 

Me too Twanster like I said to my better half we can afford to lose this deposit.

Nearer the time we can always move the cruise which I think should also move the final date for payment? 

I'm very very tempted by a week 9th May Barcelona Med cruise.

I am just wondering if we still can move it if things haven't gotten better.

I am afraid that once the vaccine is out prices will skyrocket so looking to book now it's only £450 deposit. Even better if we find it cheaper elsewhere we can even claim an onboard credit. For me I am quietly confident that by May 2021 we shall be vaccinated and ready to go. Even if it means paying for a vaccination.

Itching to get searching for drink package offers again

Just to clarify I live in Belgium and flights to Spain are plentiful. 

EDIT there is no news of Royal going bust is there? 

Anyone know about their European operations which don't rely on CDC? 

I would but I simply don't trust people in general and definitely not drunk people so I won't be cruising. 

When then I agree if they already got more than a 100% cruise credit for their original cruise in 2019 they really can't expect it again. 

1 minute ago, Ampurp85 said:

@Morganno RCCI didn't state credits aren't cash because they only have FCC. I stated it. A credit could be cash or OBC....but an FCC prior to CWC would not be. FCCs could not be exchanged for cash prior to CWC. I see no logic in

OP took the bonus FCC instead of cash, it is business. OP made the choice and all the choices leading up to this. They now what special treatment.

Did the OP get a bonus on their first credit? If so then I agree with you. They should not get 125% twice.

And the OP story is precisely why I opted for a cash refund. 

It is ridiculous for RCCL to state that a credit is not cash. Of course it's cash and they should be thankful to the OP for allowing them to keep the cash for months.

Update on the refund issue.

My UK based TA asked for my UK bank account on Thursday, stating it would be between 90-120 days to get my refund. 

Our letter says they will post to the account but we booked through a travel agency.

The same day our travel agency said click here to say where you want to use your FCC NOT ONE THING about being able to apply for a refund.

I'm not at all happy about it. I understand they lose commission but given the situation I found it very sneaky of them to offer no way to tell them to get  a refund. 

Now I read from facebook that the same TA are taking 3 months to issue cash refunds.

21 hours ago, twangster said:

Tests are great but they are a "right now" snapshot of your state.  

Who is to say that the very instant you become infected you will test positive 5 seconds later?  How long does it take once infected before you do test positive?  10 minutes?  One hour?  8 hours? 

You are in a hotel room the night before the cruise.  You take an Uber to the port.  Between the two of them you are exposed to the virus but it hasn't taken hold to the point you test positive. 

The last passenger in an Uber sneezed and the Uber driver didn't clean their car very well between passengers.  You grab the handle of the Uber car door that has virus on it as you step out at the port.  You unload your luggage, hand the porter a tip and you touch your face to scratch that itch.  Sixty seconds later you get tested.  The virus has been introduced to your blood stream but it hasn't multiplied or taken root. 

You pass the port instant test with flying colors, board the ship and the first thing you do is start drinking.  Your drunken immune system can't fight of the multiplying virus within your body.  It reaches critical mass and now there is enough virus in you that you do test positive, except you've already tested negative, boarded the cruise and it's day 2. 

The porter is now infected from your cash tip and is interacting with other guests arriving every 30 seconds.  Twenty five percent of them become infected but they get tested 60 seconds later when the virus hasn't taken hold in them yet.  

Well this is depressing. How can any cruise line hope to restart then before this whole issue is over ? 

I also had thought about this as well.

Basically my wife doesn't drink but we are cruising in two cabins one for my son and uncle and one for my wife and I.

To avail of the drinks promo I was going to put myself and Brother in Law in one cabin on the reservation and my son and wife in the other.

However in reality I would be staying in my wife's cabin. Good to know they will give out extra cards as this solves our problem.  

19 hours ago, Matt said:

My advice is to wait it out. I think prices for next year are still rooted in a pricing model based on pre-coronavirus. 

I think once cruises resume, there will be a break in price when demand is significantly less.

Totally correct. The cruise industry out of all the travel industries has taken the worst beating. Confidence is at rock bottom and higher prices will not encourage people back onto the ships.

I fear they are in for a tough couple of years and hope they can ride out the storm.

Most of my non cruising friends are shocked when I say I will cruise again next year. 

10 hours ago, AGSLC5 said:

I have a feeling they will do one more round of cancelations and I think cruises will really resume July 14.. I have no proof of this just a feeling based on the CDC order. I honestly think they didn't extend it until that date because they cant afford to give 2 months worth of refunds. I also think cruises out of Florida will open First.. I cant see NJ, Alaska, or Europe opening this year. Again I have no factual proof of this its just a feeling. I do hope cruises open by July. I am dying to go and I have a cruise booked for the end of July so I do hope it happens. 

With Europe being weeks ahead of the US with this virus what is your reasoning behind them not opening ?  

Looking forward to our cruise from Southampton on 15th May visiting La Coruna, Vigo, Lisbon (overnight) and Bilbao.

Can't wait.

yes it's still not cancelled only 30 days to go. To be honest I thought they would cancel earlier to give us time to secure a good price for 2021 but no ... nothing yet.

What you mean the may test for more than corona and on that basis refuse future cruises?

What rapid results could they have from a blood test?

What if the test was done by a third party with no affliation to RCI? 

Genuine question. 

This of course means no port cruising ..... what about crew they going to be tested at every reboard?

1 hour ago, Cile said:

Sorry. I guess I was just in bed mood . I love cruising so much and nothing make me more happy then cruising. Most of my friends don't understand me and they questioning me all the time why do I go so many times on cruise. I love big ships and everything that cruise offer. What is happening now in America and around the world is like bad dream. I probably will cancel some of my cruises first one in May . And that make me really sad.  

Me too we had one planned for 15th May.  

Can't wait to be cruising again. I also have friends who have looked in shock when I mention i would go on a ship again. I always pointed out that at any given time nearly 600 000 people are at sea on ships. The reason outbreaks at sea make the news is that they are very rare but everyone know this on the boards.   

Stay safe Cile 

On 3/20/2020 at 9:06 PM, Cile said:

I think this is kind of harsh!!! I am always very realistic but that kind of comment is way to much I think. And don't forget Morganno we live in country that has best healthcare system in the world !! If we can contained this virus then rest of the world will be in big trouble.   Don't forget that all people with lot of money come in this country if they have major health problems. So I am positive even if will have lot of people getting sick , nowhere in the world will be better place to be sick then here!!! Our hospitals are like best hotels in Europe !! 

Hi Cile,

No way was that meant to be  harsh, at the time this board was full of comments of people sure they would be sailing soon.  I hoped we would get through it but what I feared coming to pass in the US has finally arrived. 

Like I said also below on my post I hope everyone makes it through to the other side of this and we get to cruising again when it passes and it will pass. 

Guessing when that will be is stumping even the most talented epidemiologists. 

5 hours ago, Balsam said:

P and O Australia have been doing away with buffets over the past couple of years.

They now have "The Pantry", which is somewhat akin to a shopping centre food court. About 10 small outlets, all serving different types of food which are cooked/prepared on order.

It solves two issues... passengers are not handling anything, and the food is not sitting on a buffet for unknown periods of time.

I have not sailed on a ship with this, but all the reviews have been very positive.

Good idea but on harmony at breakfast even with a huge buffet the line outside last august was 20 minutes, they closed the buffet at the usual time even if you were still waiting in line  . I simply don't know how they will feed 6000 people if it's not self service.

I was booked on Anthem of the seas sailing 5/15 from Southampton.

Our T/C stated that cancellations more than 57 days out we would only lose our deposit.

At 11 days ago at 65 days out I emailed our TA to say we wanted to cancel. 

On Friday (57 day mark) I get an e-mail from my TA saying they had passed my enquiry onto their cancellations department.

Now I don't want a cruise credit I want my money back as I am entitled to via their T/C.

Do you think they will try to keep the money since my TA has not acted in time to cancel the cruise?

First world problems but I know you guys will understand. 

Even if I waited for  a FCC it wouldn't cover the price of rebooking (same cruise in 2021 is 160% more expensive).

Thanks for reading and hope you all stay safe and healthly. 

August 2021

America your pain hasn't started yet.

that's all I'm saying.

I hope you all stay safe and we see each other on the other side. This will pass anti viral drugs and a vaccine will come but this is our WWII but many more will die than in that war.

Possibly not bankrupt but administration then takeover and FCC wiped thus they just keep everyone's cash and say sorry take it up with the creditors...

31 minutes ago, TXcruzer said:

Your credit company will not help in this situation. First question they will ask is “have you cancelled with Royal?” “Did they ignore/deny your request?” The answer is no on all counts. Put on your grown up pants, call back, put the phone on speaker, pour a glass of wine, and wait like everyone else. 

A glass of wine certainly sounds nice.

Our TA is overwhelmed they are only accepting cancellations buy mail.

Luckily my cruise is 65 days away and if I cancel before 57 days (UK/Europe) I get a cash refund of everything apart from my deposit which I understand will be a FCC (if RC survive.)