Ogilthorpe

Just now, Ampurp85 said:

I am doing an Eastern Caribbean on Allure in Sky class next year. I plan to visit Next Cruise on my Liberty sailing this year so I will make sure to ask all the right questions.

A recommendation (from experience), the concierge lounge will have an assigned NextCruise representative, it is our favorite method to engage NextCruise  ... relaxing, over a cocktail.

8 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

For Star Class savings?? 

Yes We were discussing some sky class options for next year, and the representative pointed out a Grand Loft option on the Anthem for a fare that was higher by about the cost of the beverage package than what we were considering. We booked it ... then upgraded our October sailing ... I sense an expensive trend!

21 minutes ago, GA Cruiser said:

If I reprice a cruise, do I lose pre-cruise deals like discounted beverage package?

It is dependent on whether it was a part of the promotion you had at booking. If your original booking included On board credit and that is not part of the new promo, it would not persist. For example, if you had a $200 obc as a part of the sale, and the new promo was a lower price but no OBC, that credit would be gone, but your price would be lower.  NextCruise OBC and C&A discounts will remain after repricing. If repricing be sure to explore other discounts that aren't always available for certain sailings: resident, senior. Etc

@Ampurp85 I have not seen a formal announcement of a promotion, but we were tipped off to one by the NextCruise representative on our last sailing ... it was a great deal ... needless to say we booked it!

8 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

 

I will see you there!  Don't miss it!

We will be there! Anxiously awaiting the email from the concierge so we can confirm reservations Yes ... we overplan

32 minutes ago, SwagsAF said:

Thanks for posting the updates. Where are you getting them from? I looked on the official royal website but didn’t see anything. 

RCI is now posting updates on their site:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/anthem-of-the-seas-updates

On 2/7/2020 at 10:04 AM, bobroo said:

Back in the day before drink packages you'd be billed at the end of the cruise and you'd receive your account print out just as you do today; letter sized papers tucked behind your stateroom room number in the hallway.

 

 

 

There was a time that the old style print outs were slipped under your door. If yours didn't  fit and was leaning up against the door, you knew you overdid it!

@WAAAYTOOO while this is not the way any of us would want to start vacation, I hope this works out so that you can still proceed with your plans in Port Canaveral. 

It is my understanding that, while you receive the perks and amenities of the room to which you are upgraded, you receive the C&A points per your original reservation.

I believe the timing for 'cancel for any reason' has been changing over time. I have seen references to requiring purchase within 14 days of booking, but about a year ago RCI told me it had to be before final payment to be in effect.  Then, last February, they excluded New York from eligibility for their insurance, so I have no more recent data except for 3rd party insurers for whom that feature is an a la carte option 

10 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

 It’s a pricey Uber ride from JFK ($160.00) 

Last year at this time, the flight from ELM to EWR was $137

The new policy was published on Feb 3, this sailing left Jan 27. I suspect there are a number of ships that boarded and departed prior to the policy being enacted and many if not all should conclude this weekend.

We are on the Oasis on March 8 also. My wife has many clients in preschool settings.  I think our hand sanitizer bill leading up to the trip may rival the cruise fare!

An update: I called today and took a different approach. Rather than go through reservations, I took a path of web assistance, my documents showed up immediately.  Working with your travel agent is still the best approach, but for the DYIers out there, if you have a situation similar to what I experienced this approach could solve the eDocs issue.

55 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Prolific posters promptly peak at pinnacle.

Absolutely appropriately alliterative!!

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

(sorry...not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition)

Bowing down ... Thank you!!!

Yes, your observation is correct. Only the first 2 on the reservation are charged for the Royalup, but everyone in the room is upgraded if successful.

The only Quantum class that currently has a Broadway (London West End really) Show is the Anthem: We Will Rock You.  My personal favorite I have not seen any reports of the shows for the Odyssey.

Given the choice, I would pick the Anthem for a Canada and New England Cruise. Quantum class has most of the suite amenities of the Oasis class, the concierge lounge and coastal kitchen are on different decks and there is no bar on the suite sun deck. The advantage it has for me is that Quantum class and smaller can tender in Bar Harbor which is my favorite  port on that itinerary.  With that said, there are no quantum class sailings on the schedule for 2020 or 2021.  The smaller classes are fantastic also, and while not sky or star class, they do have suite programs.

29 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

In nearly 50 cruises with Royal Caribbean the worst thing I've encountered was a drawer with the previous occupant's underwear in it.  We found the room attendant and had it removed ....

Same situation with us on the Symphony in the fall. A foundation garment was in our bottom bathroom drawer.  We didnt want our suite attendant to think it was ours ... so we mentioned it. While no hazmat suit was involved ... rubber gloves, plastic disposal bags and a can of disinfectant spray all quickly came into play.

16 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Wow! I had to read that line twice because I thought I mis-read it at first. Not just the ship, the entire terminal building?!?!?

That has to be a typo, 

I thought the same thing. Perhaps they planned for it with the new terminal design and they can accomplish it with an efficiency.

On the Oasis, the suite lounge has complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks from 11 AM  to 11PM. Additionally, there is an expanded offering of cocktails available during happy hour, approximately 4:30 to 8:00.  The beverage plan can be a value depending on where and to what extent you would wish to enjoy cocktails and other premium beverages. The suite lounge benefits do not extend to the other venues on the ship such as the restaurants, lounges, the casino, the entertainment venues, the cafes, the pool bars or the suite deck bar.

I have seen similar situations recently, but have seen the opposite as well.

15 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I have never had expedited boarding but I have read that it just saves a few minutes by cutting out the counter time, if I’m not mistaken.  From what I understand, you get a Expedited Boarding by checking in with the app and scanning your passport.  You cannot get expedited boarding without a passport, from what I understand.

I confirmed this recently, not only do you need to fully complete your check-in online. But you must scan your passport in the app to have expedited boarding status.

4 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

Yeah we paid it off anyway. I mean its due in 9 days anyway on a non refundable rate. We really couldn't cancel if we wanted to but we don't. 

In this case, even bookings with a nonrefundable deposit, can be repriced until the final payment date. If the current promotions are better than your current reservation, you can adjust to align with the latest incentives.