sk8erguy1978

5 minutes ago, YOLO said:

I was going to try to point to a link to that old thread, but after 10 minutes of searching I had to give up.  Yes, it was out there before.  Embarrassing for me and I learned my lesson.  As you can imagine, I was not able to get any sort of refund for the unused portion of the cruise.  So what did we do you ask?  We went to Disney World !!!  True story after spending one night at the Montego Bay Riu Resort...

At least you were able to "save" the vacation and make the best of it, my wife would still be pissed. It's a good lesson and goes to show the no tolerance on a cruise ship. Although, it does make me wonder, what if he did confront you where you needed to protect yourself... hopefully that situation would have been different... Tough situation, while only a dress was ruined, what he did could have resulted in serious injury. 

26 minutes ago, YOLO said:

Yeah, I agree.  Of all the RCL policies, this one I really hate!  They do not disclose any partial charters to non-charter passengers in order to protect the privacy of charter passengers.  Really, what does that mean?  What about my privacy?  I guess it doesn't matter...

I recall reading your story in another thread, thanks for sharing again. What about your safety too! Clearly a bunch of people trying to live up to an image. I want to say I wouldn't have chased him down and went to customer service / called security / something but I'm guilty of acting first and thinking later; I'm sure my wife would have grabbed me so I didn't go running after him.

FWIW, the guy sounds like a punk who didn't expect you to confront him, why not toss the wine glasses when you had plenty of time to get out of the elevator... That's not only a cheap shot, but a cheap shot with a chance to get away. Also an idiot, I mean cruise ships are large, but not *that* large... You'd see him again.

3 minutes ago, Ray said:

If social distancing involes my Wife on one ship and me on another, then yeah no problem

When looking at suites, we stumbled across the 2 Bedroom Grand Suite - wife's reaction - "YES, SEPARATE BEDROOMS" ... LOL

The short answer is, sure, it's part of my daily life anyway. Here in NY it's rare to find a store (especially a big box like Home Depot or a supermarket) without markers on the floor indicating where to wait in line. Our grocery stores (and other types of stores too) have one way isles (not that everyone listens) and for the most part people try and keep clear of one another.

That kind of stuff wouldn't be too bad at a reduced capacity sailing. 

The ships designs are so similar, Indy is a touch bigger which would lean me that direction (especially with the hot tubs that hang over edge a bit). Although, full disclosure, I've sailed Voyager class (Adventure and Explorer) but not Navigator, so I'd personally consider her just for the different ship factor... But, like Freedom Class slightly more.

On 7/4/2020 at 9:42 PM, twangster said:

On a plane I'm stuck next to a stranger with no escaping it.  If they start coughing or sneezing all I can do is scream inside.  Every time you board a plane it's spin the wheel and see if you get the virus.  It's much safer on a ship.

THIS is the reason if I fly in the near future (which is highly unlikely), especially with my wife, splurge to first class where it'll just be us in the two seats. If solo, still first and isle seat (I'm an isle guy so it works out anyway), it'll just be one person next to me & I can easily get up and walk away from a cough/sneeze/etc (sorry seat belt light)... might not increase my odds, but gives me some false sense of security. 

On 7/4/2020 at 9:42 PM, twangster said:

At least on a cruise ship the maximum time I spend next to a stranger is at a show or muster drill.  I can choose to skip a show or leave 10 minutes in.  Stop the shows and that's solved.   In the WJ I can be in and out in 20 minutes, if I take it to go 1/3 of that.  

I think stopping shows wouldn't be a bad idea, at least for the first few months when sailing resumes. I agree, I am no closer to someone in the Windjammer than a grocery store (maybe in line, but if we are 6 feet apart), and on a sea day, I like to take my lunch to the pool. 

On 7/4/2020 at 9:42 PM, twangster said:

The airline industry needs to be grounded.  They should just stop pretending.  

I agree. Especially with the rise of cases around the U.S. it's time (overdue honestly) but instead, as you stated, some airlines will go back to full bookings.  

40 minutes ago, YOLO said:

BUT, now I have a $230 Visa credit to deal with when it only should have been been $32...

Cannot speak for BOA but Chase has been a simple 2 minute phone call to request my negative balance be returned. It is frustrating, paying a bill that you know "any day now" the refund should post... but at 17% interest, whatcha going to do. Ugh!

Guess I'll come out and say it ... I'm definitely the drinker!

I periodically check Royal Caribbean's site and price compare against my spreadsheet with current price and possible upgrade options. In addition to that, I've used the Cruise Shipmate app, I'd sign up for price alerts for the cruise I want to monitor then uninstall the app (I hate clutter / apps sitting on phone I don't use), they send emails so no need to keep the app. 

Ask 10 people on this message board and 11 will give you the name of their MEI agent (Kathy here), there is a reason we all cherish their service, quick responses to simple email inquires is one of many.

I'm not sure how FCC work with agents, whether they have control or you, however if there was a cruise / room that I wanted, I wouldn't wait for a FCC, I'd put down the cash and apply the FCC after.

Not sure which agent(s) you're talking about on YouTube but Danny from Harr Travel does some awesome walk-through's / tours of ships, rooms, CocoCay, etc... However, I'm sticking with my MEI agent. 

15 hours ago, twangster said:

Not exactly.  In some ways it is similar but in cases where the airline cancels the flight the money or miles used go back to the original form of payment.  

I have bought and cancelled dozens of award flights with Delta and the points came back to me.  Same with credit card purchases when they cancel the flight.  

If I cancel or we use 1/2 of a booked trip then the dollar amount is named to an individual, but only when I cancel for my own reasons.   

Similar experience with United. When a land vacation was cancelled due to COVID-19 I received all cash portion of refund to my CC. Part of the trip was booked with miles, I received all my miles back, wife didn't get my miles. Most important, the credit portion was issued in both names, similar to Royal, but I had a choice to leave it like that or combine into one large credit, which I did.

3 hours ago, JohnK6404 said:

Just remember that you risk paying much higher prices through the Cruise Planner for beverage or dining packages, etc., if you skip the sales that may come along earlier (possibly Black Friday) and wait until the last minute.

Yep. I'll scoop at sales times, just because. Heck, I'm tempted to grab the standard 20% off drink package price as they might decide to randomly increase that!

I know you're comfortable sharing a room, 

2 minutes ago, cruisinnewbie said:

And anything seems like less money when you break down the payments over 22 months! 

Yep. Each check I put money into a Ally savings account JUST for cruises, without using it this year (well, I might have borrowed some for a new grill - IE, not putting my refunded drink packages back into the account) there is MORE than enough to upgrade to a GS with money left over for drink packages and spa treatment for wife.

26 minutes ago, Neesa said:

While I love sailing and am always positive I have little faith now we will be sailing until 2021

1 minute ago, twangster said:

I'm thinking 2021 for the U.S. with other regions possibly sooner (China specifically).

I feel the same about 2021, probably spring time (March?) but want to remain positive so holding my guess for November of this year LOL!

(I cancelled all cruises for this year, so it's positive for others, and the cruise lines financial bottom line).

This is more difficult than predicting the next number on a roulette wheel, with that said, my random guess ... November 1st, 2020.

It's only July 1st tomorrow, so anything is possible. They really need to treat this on a week by week basis, with decisions made based on scientific facts and right now facts say the US isn't over the first wave yet given the increase in other states. 

Maybe they are catching up? I cancelled cruise planner purchases on June 6th before cancelling the December cruise, I received the refund on June 24th. I cancelled cruise planner purchases for my September sailing on June 20th, and received those on June 24th as well.

On 6/26/2020 at 6:47 PM, FManke said:

Went ahead and pulled the trigger with the L&S. Just wanted to get it over and start the cruise clock again.

Just went from 98 days to 463. hurray. 

This is the smarter move IMHO. Ugh, I saw mine go from 90 days to 450 ish. 

3 minutes ago, twangster said:

Guinness is almost a diet beer given it's relatively low calorie count.  At least that's how I justify it.  

Very true. But, I'm talking the low calorie Michelob Ultra, Miller Lite, etc. 

12 minutes ago, SteveinSC said:

Over the past few years, I've embraced enjoying fruity concoctions and things like Corona Refrescas and hard seltzers. My "coronavirus drink" has been Mai Tais, followed closely by Piña Coladas. Before it was all bourbon and craft brews. Don't get me wrong, I still love a good bourbon, and a good beer....but there is something about "vacation drinks" that just put me in a good frame of mind... probably the liquor.....but either way, enjoy! That sounds amazing!

Not a craft beer person, when I am not on a "diet" (drinking diet beers) I'll indulge in a nice Guinness, Smithwicks, or similar; I do enjoy a nice Irish Whiskey too. Vacation mode, pool deck, I always enjoy a fruity beverage, whether from the Island Oasis machine or a non-frozen fruity beverage like a Rum Punch, Mai Tai, or similar. Just something about Pina Colada I thought I wouldn't like, then my friend "made" me try one... glad I did!

Something about a fruity frozen beverage to put me in a good mood too, even if it's in my backyard looking at my dying grass! LOL

Last cruise I learned an interesting fact...I enjoy Pina Colada's. I am also becoming quite creative. Here is my Pina Colada with a Strawberry Daiquiri "swirl" it was delish! We are planning a little beach getaway end of July / beginning of August ourselves, cannot wait.

Anyway - Cheer to you too!

I cannot speak for the ports of call, but Central Park can be romantic at night, small crowd so not overly embarrassing, and there *should* be a ships photographer there that you can alert to your idea a few ahead of time; a small $20 dollar tip will go a long, long way here.

My wife personally wouldn't have wanted a big spectacle, so what I did (which can easily be applied to a ship) was propose in the hotel room in Las Vegas. I went to a local florist and asked to buy rose pedals (most will have tons they sell as they are destined for the trash anyway), a ton of mini led lights, and a precious moments figure to hold the ring (I flew with this stuff from NY to LAS - my anxiety!).

It was a bit more challenging to set everything up in Las Vegas, not easy to sneak back to the room ... so, while she was in the shower, I quickly set everything up so that she would exit it to it. It was rose pedals leading to the table which held the figure with ring inside a heart shape from the mini lights ... as well as mini lights leading to the table with more rose pedals. She loved it! On a ship it wouldn't be hard to run back to the room and set stuff up. If you have a balcony or higher, you can have rose pedals or something lead out to the balcony where there is a bottle of bubbly waiting (might need room stewards help with this) and something like led lights around it... (rose pedals outside might blow away).

I don't want to hijack your thread with my story, but if you would like me to share the photos for an idea for yourself, I'll be happy to add them.

Welcome to the forums, congratulations, good luck & most importantly, share your story!

1 hour ago, SteveinSC said:

I sure did, Jr. Suite to Grand Suite on Oasis next September, just under $4500... Cannot beat that!

I also remember (thanks Gmail) being able to book my January 16th, 2010 sailing on September 3rd, 2008.

I followed everything closely back then but don't remember timing of announcements, but as @AGSLC5 mentioned I recall them giving little teasers along the way. I still have some of the photos saved LOL.

@Mrs. Thomas Ugh. Sorry, sounds stressful. My only contributing suggestion is Google his name (assume you did that) and maybe one of those sites where you can get a record of someone for his contact information (not sure if I am allowed to post site names like that but a quick Google and you'll find some).

Good luck, hopefully someone has solid advice for you! 

15 minutes ago, Pooch said:

Go to the State Department website. They address the issue as you are not the first to have it.

Yep. Out of boredom and curiosity, I just took a quick look and I am sure one of the first three under "7. show parental consent" will apply in your specific situation.

Good luck!

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/under-16.html