WAAAYTOOO

Bummer.  I hope you are recovering comfortably.  At least you will have recovered and have the antibodies (hopefully).  Honestly, if I knew for sure that we would not be particularly sick, I would wish to get it myself....but I'm a chicken.  I'll settle for staying away for now.

1 hour ago, ScooterScott22 said:

Wow, 4 b2b that sounds awesome!!!!!!  Hope you guys have a great time.

Wish we would have known before we did the L&S to the Monday on Quantum.  We were trying to decide which Sydney - Honolulu to take and it didn’t really matter at the time.  I did look at the rooms to see about switchIng and it looks like 10720 was the only one left on the Ovation sailing.  We probably are not going to change since right now because we have 8724, and you sold us on that stateroom.  So unless 8324 or 8724 opens up we are locked in place.  We’ll just have to wave bon voyage to you from the Sydney shoreline.

Definitely do not switch to 10720...you are far better off on deck 8 in the middle suites.  Who knows....things change every day !!

Dan and I are going to Sydney a few days early so that we can see a little bit of Australia before we set sail so maybe we can all get together before anyone leaves.  I'm sure we could sweet talk @twangster into arriving a day or so early.

2 hours ago, CJS2766 said:

Add me to the list of confused/not getting it! Here's my situation. I have a Nov 8 cruise on the Oasis. While I am hopeful, I doubt it will happen. It's a 7 night cruise. I paid it in full a long time ago. Now, if RCG cancels this, I would assume I can left and shift, right? Problem is, when I looked into 7 night cruises to the Caribbean next November, all I saw were two 6 night and two 8 night cruises neither of which are going where I am this November. Of the 2 options, I prefer the 8 night on the Odyssey. So, how would I figure out how much extra this would cost me? I have a great deal with a balcony this year. I'm just nervous that I will not get as nice of a room if I have to end up moving it to next year. Thanks all!

You can L&S to any 7 night eastern/western (whichever you have) Caribbean cruise regardless of the ship....so if you are willing to move to a different ship (and perhaps a slightly different itinerary), you should be able to make it work.  Also, you don't have to wait until they cancel the cruise.  If you want to go ahead and L&S this cruise now, you can.

I count 5 Eastern Caribbeans and 3 Western just in the month of November 2021.  Remember that you can go +/- 4 weeks in either direction of your original date (Nov. 8,) so you can also look in late October for suitable L&S cruises as well.  The itinerary does not have to be exactly the same as the original....it just has to be labeled "eastern" or "western" as your original.

A qualified L&S cruise is price protected, so if you find a qualifying cruise that you want to L&S to, your current price is locked in.  All you would pay would be a slight difference in taxes/port fees, if there are any.

33 minutes ago, Javasharp said:

 Is the refund usually issued in parts, or should I contact customer services regarding the rest of the funds? 

It is very common for the refunds to be refunded in parts and over a number of refund events...unfortunately.

7 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

And I have YOU to thank for it, because you encouraged me to have Michelle check again. So THANK YOU!!!! 

Yippee !  I won’t steal Michell’s laurels.  She’s THAT good. I can’t tell you how excited I am for you.  Only problem is, that OS is going to ruin you.  You might as well know that, up front.  That is just the BEST news I’ve had in the past couple of weeks.  Sooooo happy to hear it.

23 minutes ago, cruisellama said:

This is an interesting story.   Oops!     https://cruiseradio.net/false-positive-one-wrong-test-cancels-alaska-cruise-season/

Hopefully this will stop the knee-jerk overreactions that have been so prevalent. What a shame and such a high cost to everyone involved.

Those antigen tests have an unacceptably high false positive record.  They just aren’t reliable enough to put your entire livelihood (not to mention, vacation) on.  So glad Royal is taking time to let others make these mistakes, first.

2 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I'm in the process of Lift and Shifting my Jan 2021 Empress sailing to 2022 Odyssey.  I haven't received confirmation from Royal Caribbean, but the sailing is showing up on my Cruise Planner, so I'm assuming that's a good sign.  The difference between the Owner's Site on Empress and the Owner's Suite on Odyssey is $9200.  Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

WOW !  Waaay to go !  If it’s showing up in your online account I think you’ve done it !  That’s the best deal I’ve heard of yet !

12 minutes ago, Thecatlady said:

I posted this EXACT post, word for word, around a month ago:

 

Even the subject line is the same.

 

Wow !  

60% of the bookings are from “new people” ?  Hmmmmm ???

Rather an esoteric term.  I don’t believe for one minute that 60% of the new bookings are “new”.  MAYBE new money....but definitely not new people.  The article is a bit misleading (IMO) but nevertheless, on the positive side, so a welcome change.

3 hours ago, MrB said:

I see little or no incentive for the operators to keep up high levels of service once the entire boat is purchased. Yes, they do have all-inclusive monthly fees, but the incentives would be at best to keep it barely better than acceptable. A regular cruise line has to earn every cruiser's trust and $$$ every time a ship embarks. Not so here. They got you, because you already bought into this. Literally.

Thanks for bringing up this point. I hadn’t even thought about it.  It’s an excellent thought point.

One of the things that I thought about is the very fast depreciation that with this type of investment.  These vessels have a definite life span and the value of your “property” will begin to depreciate on day 1.  Unlike real property, the value of the investment will go down as the ship ages.  For someone who doesn’t care about their investment (for whom money means nothing), it would be an interesting possibility but if you don’t like seeing your investment depreciate rapidly, probably not a good investment.

Go to cruisedeckplans.com.   There are a couple of pix there. 

I agree. They’re going to have to learn to manage the risk or just give up and shut down. There will be no such thing as zero risk.

6 minutes ago, ScooterScott22 said:

2021 or 2022?

We start off on Ovation on March 30, 2022 with an 11 night New Zealand cruise and return to Sydney on April 10 for a 16 night TP to Honolulu.  We will also be booking the Honolulu-Seattle (or Vancouver....wherever it’s going) once that itin comes out.  Dan and I are planning on staying on for the first Alaska Cruise....so, 4 legs in all (2 of which have yet to be booked).

If testing is part of the new reality (and how can it not be ?), passengers will pay for it, one way or another.  Even if there is not a direct charge, the cost will be passed on.  In fairness, this is true for many other public industries...not just cruises.

20 minutes ago, SteveinSC said:

Ill take a test to get on board...sure.....

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/08/10/royal-caribbean-cruises-likely-have-covid-19-testing-upon-return/3302471001/

But what happens when people get false negatives?????? 

 

...or worse than that...when they get false positives !

Scott, have you looked into a L&S ?  I'm not sure what month in 2021 this sailing is....but  @twangster and I are both on the Ovation TP from Sydney - HNL....and will be booking the next leg to Seattle or Vancouver...wherever it ends up going - when those itins come out.

1 minute ago, RWDW1204 said:

It took me a minute to get this one.

Resurrecting an older thread.

I checked Cruise Planner prices this morning on all of my cruises (at least, the ones for which CP prices are posted).  Even since yesterday, prices seem to be waaay up.  They were up to "normal" prices yesterday, but took a big jump today - at least the ones that affect me.

Example:  April 11, 2021 Liberty price for DBP+1 Voom S&S - I purchased for $54 PP/PD last week.  Yesterday it was up to its "average price" (can't remember exactly, but up from $54).  Today that combo is going for $71 PP/PD.

The UPD prices don't seem to be as impacted...but the drinks and internet are.  So glad I purchased most of mine already.  The only ones I have not yet purchased are those for which the prices have not yet been published (2022) or for which the drink package has never been reduced (notably, October 3,10 Allure).

It is my hypothesis that once Royal believes sailings will commence, Cruise Planner (and onboard prices) will go up and remain there.  Perhaps there will be a pretend sale for Black Friday/Cyber Monday (although not much materialized this past year) but I don't believe it will be a real savings (based on current/recent prices).  I think we will soon be saying bye-bye to the $40-something and even $50-something drink package prices.  I'm usually wrong...so there's that...

10 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

My 'story' is pretty much the same...used CWC to cancel April 13, 2020...then Royal cancelled it.  I didn't even bother trying to get a refund since I knew what I agreed to when I cancelled was set in stone.  I did try to get my travel insurance $ back but got nowhere with that!    Rebooked to April 19, 2021...just recently used the FCC to pay (only had to payout a little new money since I upgraded from 4 Spacious Balconies to 4 JS) . 

So, I believe if this one gets cancelled I will still only receive FCC for what I paid in FCC and any NEW monies paid toward the cruise fare would probably get refunded.  After reading so much material on all this my understanding is the original form of reimbursement stays with me until I use it or lose it.  Any newly paid money begins a new round of refund offers should this sailing be cancelled by them. 

You have it right !

4 hours ago, Ian T said:

I have a question that has no doubt been asked a number of times already so I apologise...

Are the taxes and fees the only element that cannot be covered by the FCC or do the pre-paid gratuities also fall into this bucket (the comments above suggest they do)?

The reason I ask is I have a FCC in GBP that more than covers my only remaining future booking in this currency (the rest are booked in USD following my conversion to team MEI) so I will end up forfeiting the balance. If pre-paid gratuities can be included then I "only" stand to lose about USD100, but if they cannot I am better off foregoing the extra 25% and converting the FCC to a refund, then paying for the future booking in the usual way.

Thanks! 

It is my understanding that the FCC can ONLY cover cruise fare, so that would make me think that pre-paid gratuities would not be eligible for an FCC.  

7 hours ago, WackyCactus said:

When I did L&S they mandated that it be out of the same port.  Mind you there was a sailing out of that port at the time.

Ugh. I think they have eased up on this requirement lately. Maybe you just had a stubborn CSR.  

12 minutes ago, YOLO said:

my next cruise gets me to D+ 

Congratulations in advance !  What a great milestone !

17 minutes ago, joshgates said:

• Staffing up of a(or multiple) ship

I think this is the one that will actually mean something.  Of course, Royal will never announce that they are recruiting/manning ships, but we will know...there are plenty of people out in the etherworld that have connections and will hear when Royal starts to hire.  That is when we will know things are moving.

Presently, they are still trying to get staff OFF the ship and back home so it doesn't seem like things are turning the corner yet.  ...but I am sure we will hear about it once Royal, or any of the other lines, start hiring.

6 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

no gold pass?? 

Nope.  I think your Seapass will be dark blue...can't remember.  But only the full suites (and Pinnacle Club members) get gold cards.

1 minute ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

Got it...thanks for this info.  So I am going to assume my April 2021 cruise will happen and start socking away some "play" money now.  I assume it doesn't matter whether it's table games or slots, right?  

Actually, your fastest way to Club Royale royalty is slots.  You get more bang for your buck with slots than you do with table games.  Even though both Dan and I hate slots, we established our membership in Club Royale (back when you had to "qualify"...many years ago) by playing the video blackjack machines (which no longer exist) on Allure.  I'm pretty sure that's the last dime I ever put into a Royal Caribbean slot machine.  Unless you are making very very large wagers ($100 plus per hand), the table games will probably not get you where you want to be, quickly.  If you are on a 3 or 4 night NAV cruise, I think you would find it very difficult to qualify for Prime level without putting a good bit of money (and probably lots of hours) through the slot machines.  The good news is, qualifying points are cumulative, so even if you do not make Prime on your first cruise, your points will follow you to your next cruise and continue to build until you reach 2400 points (I think that's still what it takes...) to make Prime level.  Once you make Prime, you're good-to-go...you will get 1 free casino comp cruise per program year (which runs from 1 April of one year through 31 March of the following year), free drinks in the casino and waiver of the 5% "convenience fee" when getting money on your Seapass card at the casino.  Unfortunately, you are required (these days) to requalify every year, so when 1 April rolls around, your points are wiped out and you have to start all over again.  I liked the old system better...when you were "in" for life.