Mike.s

Sorry to hear of your experience with RC, I'd like to think they're not our to scam us and the FCC detail is probably part of the T&C that we all agree to without ever reading.
My own recent experience with their contact centre was surprising good, I called them mid morn from the UK, got through to a representative in under 5 minute who was able to answer my question. Now I like many are waiting for refunds etc. and will probably be pulling my hair out at the end of the month screaming where's my money, but based on my last call I was pleasantly surprised.

The issue I have is the exact arguments about cruise ships and concern over the spread of coronavirus can be applied exactly to the theme parks, which evidently have no oversight into their re-opening/operations.

Ian, we all hope you're wrong, but fear you're probably correct, feels like death by 1000 cuts.

I love the US, it's by far the best country in the world. But seriously who came up with the idea of gratuities? ? Just advertise the real price and pay your workers more!!!

I doubt they have been removed from sale, RC would rather receive our $ and have to hand it back later, rather than not receive it at all.

I doubt they have been removed from sale, RC would rather receive our $ and have to hand it back later, rather than not receive it at all.

It's not due for release until 2021, let's hope we're back cruising before then?

Since cruising isn’t an option at the moment, could you get the move on and release season 8 of Endeavor? I’ve got to have something else to watch, I’ve seen everything else that’s on TV! @Mike.s or @Jason12 Do you have any connection to make this happen? ?

Looks like Norwegian could be aiming for the same start date, just cancelled all cruises to the end of July
https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/22974-norwegian-cancels-all-july-sailings.html

So RC subsidiary SilverSea has announced a further pause in service until mid July, will RC announce the same at today's stock market update?
https://www.cruisetradenews.com/silversea-extends-pause-in-operations-until-july/

Very nicely put, no emotion, just an honest post

You have to want to get them home, like calling Royal Caribbean to get an issue taken care of; you have to be persistent. Like a James Van Fleet weather forecast, you have to be honest and frank. Like James Van Fleet, daily briefings and frequent updates will go a long way. Van Fleet uses a bunch of social media to get his word out. In short, honest communication will go a long way with the stranded crew if Royal is in fact trying. Today, Royal Caribbean is not trying.
CDC mandates??? How about turning your negatives around into positives??? How about leadership and guidance??? This whole maritime platform is based on leadership, seniority, and wisdom; well.....I'm expecting brilliance out of highly paid people with stripes on their shoulders and corner offices in Miami and so far I'm not getting any.
If I was the zookeeper I would clean the floating petri dish to the point it was a germ free environment. I would test everyone aboard twice a day. I would implement platforms and activities so that those onboard do things. I would start with the easy stuff, how can we do the dances that are done during the sail away? How can these people go to the main theater and watch a movie or a performance? How can we let them on the pool deck and occupy a lounge chair for an hour? How can we feed them all together? It means changing behaviors, it means changing norms. 
Instead of saying we'll just let our boat and the staff linger on some ocean; I would create a space and protocols that make a cruise ship better and safer than being on land. Someone disembarking from one of my cruise ships would be welcome in any country, in any airplane, or at any hotel. The relative few staff that are onboard would be my guinea pig, a nice small sample size to work with to establish how life and activities on future sailings might be preformed for when we pack the boat with 5,000 passengers.
Imagine....people wanting to get on a cruise ship because it is a better, safer place than where they are at??? Whoa...
Doing so requires leadership. It means changing things and implementing practices that other companies and institutions will look at see are a successful path going forward. It means being a pinnacle.
 
 

Why do so many people here have a difficult time for Royal being exposed for doing something obviously wrong? 
It's clear these crew members feel marginalized. Royal has promised to send them back home and has not done so. Their feelings and concerns are valid and true; Royal is very, very wrong. Why attack the poster or the news source?
 
As a lover of Royal Caribbean, how can you not feel sympathetic for these crew members? Or, do we only appreciate them when they make us a towel animal or bring another drink?
 

So it's very obvious from yesterdays briefing by Michael Bayley that we're not going to start sailing in the next month, and certainly not from a European port, so please just get on and announce the next phase of cancellations. I appreciate they are trying to manage their cash flow (or hold onto our money depending on your viewpoint) but they are just increasing the frustration with their loyal customers. Long term no one will thank them for building up our hopes only to then cancel at the last minute.

Seems a strange decision to send 3 ships to the UK, none of which are due to be home ported in the UK, and to send Anthem, which is due to be in Southampton to India, can't see many sailings happening this summer

It's hard to imagine they're still trying to repatriate crew (some into late May and early June), yet actually truly believe they will be sailing on June 12. ?
http://crew-center.com/royal-caribbean-announces-major-crew-repatriation-plan?fbclid=IwAR25gXTFuJyoh7pIf0tTCQjuBdyYpqC_4lxzw8gJOeExrFAxJEeFHCEM8kg

Theres no doubt in my mind that when these crew members, who having worked long hours for weeks or even months on end with almost no social life found out about a party onboard with music, free food , drink and the chance to get lucky, that they refused to go and were forced to attend against their will.
Lets not forget that the whole world was on lockdown on the dates mentioned ( not ) that social Distancing measures had been implemented across the globe ( not ) and that the whole world knew what was coming because this virus had been classed as a pandemic ( not )
Honestly this is why i could never stay in the US, i would be scared to go outside in case i farted in the wrong direction and got sued for spoliling someones day 
 
 
 
 

They couldn't resist the "floating Petri Dish" comment could they ?

One of the few advantages we have here in the UK/Europe when booking a holiday or cruise, and in the current environment it could come in handy?

One of the few advantages we have here in the UK/Europe when booking a holiday or cruise, and in the current environment it could come in handy?

One of the few advantages we have here in the UK/Europe when booking a holiday or cruise, and in the current environment it could come in handy?

See above....
?

We sailed of Rhapsody of the Seas from Tampa earlier this year, having previously sailed on Anthem, Freedom and Independence. We loved it. Much smaller ship meant much less walking, hardly ever used the lifts, sorry elevators ?, no queues anywhere, could always get a sunbed. Yes we did miss the promenade but will be sailing on a smaller ship again in the future.

I've done window, balcony and junior suite on a few different ships. I will never go back to anything less than a junior suite. with either 2 or 4 people in the room, the extra space and priority boarding is worth the extra money to me. I have family that say you don't spend much time in the room so why does it matter. For me, when I come back from a long day of hard play and excitement I want to stretch out and relax. I don't want to feel like I'm sitting on top of the person/people I'm travelling with. GO with the JS, you won't regret it. 

The smaller ships are less of a theme park and more like an adult cruise.  Aside from the other benefits already described, my wife and I very much enjoy the Centrum.   The music may be heard throughout the ship (amidships), and one can snag chairs in the upper decks for a great view of the special activities.  For us, the ports are more important than the ship, but we've enjoyed the Rhapsody and the Grandeur very much.  We actually believe Radiance Class is the best, so take advantage of any cruises you can schedule with that class.