Neesa

@twangster, thank you! I had never even known this existed. Not that I am ever leaving MEI but still very good to know. I appreciate your time in explaining this, just WOW!

@SpeedNoodles, wow you sound like me, my family says I have issues! No I don't now I have tissues, I carry them everywhere to open doors, push elevator buttons etc. Then I whip out the 60% alcohol infused hand sanitizer when I am settled in if I can't get to soap and water. And heaven help either of them (husband teenage daughter) if they touch their face while out with me hahaha!!! BUT with this super sad situation I'm like, huh who has issues? And just like you I sanitize the entire cabin, I make them stand behind me and move in only after I get started & yes my hands are beat up after that, I have located and already packed in my bag the gloves for that mission as well as project combat Wind Jammer utensil nastiness. Great hack, surprised i never though of that. Cue family eye roll..... Mama gets sick, well EVERYONE SUFFERS! Better to be safe then sorry. I'm too darn busy to be down with an illness. Have a safe and healthy day :)

Another thought to interject; Given the people's love for cruising and RCL being best in brand with a strong balance sheet, I believe this virus will be short term as all of the previous virus's. Even if you get the Corona virus your chance of recovery is near 99%. In addition, it was announced Sunday that the US Treasury Secretary and VP Pence would be giving any financial assistance needed to the airline as well as the cruise line industry. I find it difficult to think RCL would go bankrupt, many of the cruises this Thanksgiving and Christmas have categories already sold out even with the virus information. Call and put options will probably expire worthless and all the shorts will have to cover when aid is announced. I feel it is best to average down and be a long term investor. Last thing, ask yourself, did people stop traveling after our last disaster?

@RCVoyager, Yes! In fact I may be adding these to my cruise emergency kit. This makes perfect sense, you can purchase a huge box of clear ones at Wal Mart super cheap! Oh boy, my teenage daughter is going to be even more embarrassed to travel with me now! Fantastic, can't wait to go back to the windjammer in June (fingers crossed) Thanks for posting this :)

@Lovetocruise2002 Richard Fain Chairman & CEO 1050 Caribbean Way Miami Florida 33132 Michael Bayley President & COO [email protected] I can't imagine that this action is known about or approved by the highest ranks of the company, I just can't fathom it. Good Luck!

@Lovetocruise2002, Ugh I am frustrated for you! Your loyalty to them is boundless. You always support them and educate everyone here on the positives and the joy not only by words but acts. I personally would put all of your information together including especially your undying loyalty affirming all of you sailings and send it certified mail to the CEO or someone much higher up. Don't stop here, a strong worded, non emotional, fact driven communication may do the trick. Important you send so they realize they know YOU know they have received it. Not right away because of this mess but the squeakier the wheel usually gets their attention. I can't imagine the higher ups would have a 25% FCC problem, really?? Gees!! Something similar happened to me at a "make it right" Hilton property who I was very loyal to. I was relentless because you can't say such things and then just ignore...it took 5 months but you know what the CEO or his assistant at least knew my name and I was made whole, nothing extra but that was not what I was looking for. Please keep at it, deep breath and forge ahead, I have difficulty believing board members and those who care about the brand would agree with the handling of this, I could be wrong but it doesn't hurt to try. IT.IS.THE.POINT. Good luck, Denise (I am rooting for YOU)

The key on our November 2020 Thanksgiving sailing was 29.99 and then went up to 31.99 of course even for our 14 year old. Um, no thanks I'm good! We also look at the dollar amounts never the "promotions" BTW What is the cheapest anyone has observed as the keys price? Seriously curious.

@Chadster- We utilize Sharla (MEI) also and vowed to just wait until she returned if we needed anything BUT THEN a previously sold out cabin opened up in the category that I desired for Thanksgiving 2020 on the Odyssey and I was like," rut row" now what? I knew she would check her emails on Holiday & did not want her to see my name I wanted her to relax! So I private messaged @AnnetteJackson on this blog and she was wonderful, she sent my info to Kelley Hardy with a message to me if I didn't hear from her to reach out and someone else would help while Sharla was away because Kelley was now dealing with this situation as well as her and Sharla clients. I logged off the blog and Kelley was already in my email, she was sweet and kind and did her best to help me while Sharla was away. Kudos to the MEI team, so happy I found this blog and ultimately MEI !

This is such a trying time but I agree so much with @bcarney, I am in it for the long hall so as bad as it has been I have averaging down like a crazy person. I believe in this product and just know we will weather this storm. I feel so strongly and my feelings are supported by most here on the blog with a special shout out to the efforts of @Matt & the amazing @AnnetteJackson to include the MEI team of Sharla & Kelley too. Be safe everyone, this too shall pass, let's try to be as positive as possible. We are blessed to be here discussing cruises & vacations, some are much less fortunate, all the best my friends. :) As an aside, I sent my electronic paperwork in for all of my sailings ( the measly OBC benefit for my shares) very early as I did not understand you should wait until the 30 day mark but low behold all of my sailings were already credited the OBC, just Wow!

Yes I mentioned this on another thread. My cruise planner choices for my November sailing went up in a few hours, in the morning they were 25% off by afternoon, 10% off. I was watching for the key to drop, instead it went up and the same with the refreshment package from 22pp to 28pp. This will not stop me from sailing though, praying for the awful situation to be done with. I have many blessings and this too shall pass, everyone be safe and stay healthy!

Looked through the RCCL offerings and nothing made me go WOW! Is there any excursion you would recommend as well as the vendor that offered it? Thanks so much in advance, going in November 2020.

Jumping on here, does anyone know the location of the Coastal Kitchen on the Odyssey of the Seas. In a Jr. so I am purchasing the Key but I may still wish to dine in Coastal for dinner. Also I was assigned (only one left 6630) yet if you look on the deck plans there is no such cabin, crazy right? I am waitlisted for a grande but if the 6628 is the Jr I really like the location, any thoughts?? Thanks everyone!

True, I was looking at the cruise planner & the key this morning as I could only get a Jr, suite for our Thanksgiving cruise. WOW, looked again at 1615 hrs and the prices in the planner went from 25% off to 15% off. We did get a very fair price on our Thanksgiving sailing though but never did Sea class before, Sky class sold out; so looking to supplement what we are used to with the Sky class. No matter what, I am just happy and feel blessed to be on that sailing, 11/20/20 Odyssey of the seas. Our cabin number is not listed on the deck plans though but it says Jr. suite, I am just going to "let it go" and see what occurs. I am not calling now during this sad time, I will wait when it gets a bit closer. Sending positive thoughts to everyone who had their sailings cancelled, I feel your pain. Get the he!! out of here Carona!!!

We just received our call, all Hillsborough & Pasco County Florida students, if leaving the Country or going on a cruise for Spring Break (next week) they will be not allowed to return to school. Must have completed the 14 day self quarantine plus a Doctor note with a clean bill of health before return. At least here in Pasco County Florida they have just affirmed they are on board (sad tears insert here due to pun) to institute distance learning via the schools portal and platforms to alleviate the pain of the 14 day absence. For whatever reason this year the sailing I wanted was sold out during spring break so we opted for something else, little miracles. I stand here and pray for this thing to just go away, and count my blessings....especially when washing my hands. Sure enough, there is no TP anywhere, and little water ..... empty shelves in Publix and Wal Mart. We are used to hurricanes so we are always well prepared but this just needs to END! Be safe & stay healthy everyone!

It seems they are halting cruises also starting Saturday, this just came over my local news feed. Resuming 01 April 20 I believe. Praying for this illness to take a hike. Be safe everyone.

I called this morning and was immediately placed on hold, it was 0745hrs. I placed the phone on speaker and went about my day, probably 12 minutes later I was speaking with a representative. This was a follow up call from last night at about 2230hrs when I was on hold for just minutes. Maybe try an off time if you can. Good luck!

@Relasky28, not only am I #stillgoing I have just booked another sailing. So I trust my gut and in addition to my 3 previous sailings 28 June 20 Harmony, 03 August 20 Mariner, 01 August 20 Allure and I just booked 20 November 20 Odyssey I have faith in RCCL we won't sail if it isn't safe and I have been stalking that Thanksgiving sailing since forever. Personally using good judgement and trying to keep the hysteria out of my life and yes I am (OLD) Be safe everyone, happy sailing!!

#stillgoing 109 days until graduation celebration. Just can't wait! Harmony out of PC 28 June 2020

@Chelsearyder0 ^^THIS^^ It is so sad that this is what it took for people to take precautions and wash their hands longer. Having always been a "hand washer" and a "germophobe" these behaviors are second nature in our family (or else) That being said you will have fun, the sheer fact that you opt to continue to sail I am sure makes the cruise line and the staff happy. They always do their best to make sure there is fun at every turn. There are so many things planned day & night, IF you miss a port so be it, the ship is a destination of it's own. Happy Honeymoon, may your love continue to grow and grow! Take lots of pictures, what a story you will have to tell to your kids. Positive thoughts your way, congratulations!

While we are comfortable driving to Port Canaveral the same day as a sailing, Port Everglades we feel would be a more comfortable start to the sailing if we arrive the evening before. We will jump in the car after school in Tampa for a sailing the next day, we would be at the hotel literally just to sleep in proximity of the sail date. Would you be so kind as to share your favorites? Does not have to be fancy but must be safe & clean. We leave cruise luggage in the vehicle and just bring in an overnight bag, thanks all!

This same circumstance happened with a cabin I desired, there are only two on the ship and it appeared after not being there previously, so I called MEI (Sharla) and sure enough it was available, someone had just cancelled so yes it can occur, good luck! Yes stay on hold, read more posts, the cruise compass can help pass the time too. Oh and amazing pics with trip reports.......

Same thoughts here for Sharla @ MEI. She works so hard for us and while we were not cancelling anything she did manage to secure us fantastic re-pricing during this crazy time. While I like to imagine she is all mine, I want to acknowledge her hard work and dedication as reality is she most likely makes all of us feel like that, while she helps us all! Yes and thanks to the wonderful @SpeedNoodles for starting this thread. Be safe and stay well everyone, happy sailing.

@Chadster Same for me, after saving me an additional $800.00 on my August 2020 sailing on the Mariner yesterday Sharla let me know she was taking a quick getaway, and same if I could not wait she had someone who would take care of me, NOPE! I'm waiting for Sharla she has earned that from our family. Did I mention she just saved me another $800.00? She is amazing! I hope she has a most wonderful and relaxing getaway :)

We can't say enough about Sharla Manglass [email protected]. Takes great care to make sure our sailings are priced at the best rates. Waking up to an email saying you just saved $840.00 plus you now have $300.00 OBC, yes We love Sharla!!

@BTCking, NO, no, we purchased the refreshment package, so Sorry I was unclear. I just meant with the suite offerings we were able to enjoy the suite lounge offerings and the Refreshment was enough for us to complement it. Sorry again! We are sailing in the panoramic ocean view suite in AUGUST on the Mariner and for that sailing with 2 stops at perfect day I did purchase the DBP