DaiC01

7 hours ago, accio7 said:

Be thankful that Royal did not put up one of their ships as collateral like NCL did with Epic: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/nclh-secures-additional-675m-liquidity-amid-coronavirus-uncertainty

Surely in reality its exactly the same thing, the RC extended credit would be based on company value, assets and current debt {Or its a a personal lone from a very rich friend}. The only difference here is that they haven't committed a particular asset as collateral. If after the team of said credit stream {and they have drawn on the credit} the financial institution can seize any appropriate asset.

As some have said perhaps NCL are prepared to sacrifice a ship that has not proven very popular in some markets.

6 hours ago, Zambia-Zaire said:

LoL...that's what a LoC is. It's just a revolving loan....reasons why I said "Expand/Increase"

Exactly.

2 hours ago, KenCP said:

NCL is really looking for cruisers. 

"FREE FOR ALL" Free Open Bar, Free Specialty Restaurants, Free excursions (I guess if you can get int port), Free WIFI, and $200 on board credit.  This is available to all cruises and staterooms.

Also, great air offers as well to Europe, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Interesting to see what Royal offers

I would book if I could get my money back off RC

21 hours ago, PhantomWolf said:

Just spent about 2 hours in total on hold but I was able to get my June sailing on Navigator upgraded in a big way!  Went from an interior room to an ocean view balcony and I'm getting $60 back after the entire process!  It was very much worth the wait!  Just saying if you have an upcoming sailing, it might not be the worst idea to give them a call now with everything going on.  Figure the worst that they could say was "no we can't help you".

Good luck and stay healthy everyone!

I tried  for our {2 cabins} sailing out of Singapore on the 30th April, offered to pay circa £900 extra {$300 OBC per cabin} to upgrade to a suit, but all I got was a suggestion to cancel and rebook. Not sure if that would be a good move as my travel insurance & credit card company might wonder why I booked new cruise with the knowledge it might be cancelled. 

On 3/7/2020 at 9:12 PM, TXcruzer said:

Sorry but I have to disagree. The individuals that  are not comfortable traveling can now choose to travel at a later, more comfortable time without losing thousands of dollars. I’d say that makes the consumer a pretty big beneficiary. 

Many people choose a cruise due to the price point and Itinerary, do you really expect the same cruise to be available next year at the same price - I know of many who would rather have their money back in their banks that sitting in RC's. 

7 hours ago, Zacharius said:

Advising someone against cruising isn't the same as banning someone from cruising. If the government comes out and actively says "look, we don't think you should do it", that doesn't mean you can't. Heck, in my mind, that's great...cuts down on the crowds

Nothing I see in that article says they're considering an outright ban, just an advisory against. 

Yes but it could allow the government to refuse any help if you get tied up in any virus related issues and delays.

9 hours ago, Jachar said:

Not amazed or surprised but maybe an astute move by RC, in all likelihood lots more sailings will be cancelled and rather than full refunds they have managed to keep your money in their account. 

Agree just good publicity  and on the surface it appears a good thing to offer, but the greatest beneficiary is themselves. 

UK customer:

I've just offered to pay £900 pound for an upgrade to 2 * Jnr Suit from 2 * balcony. JS has a $300 OBC per suit on at the moment,  that combined with the perks seems a good deal. The response is  for me to cancel the complete booking and rebook at the current offer.  We are passed final payment so would lose deposit and cancelation charges.

Basically RC are turning down a circa extra £400 income, I've travelled with several cruise companies  and have done this several times. I had the usual response when I asked why other nationalities can do this and got the usual, "This is our policy in the UK and I'm unaware of the policy for other countries"

I'm now at the stage where I hope this cruise is cancelled and I get my money back and will never book via RC again.

I can see most cruise lines doing a share issue {generate some cash to cover lost income} when this all dies down which will probably drive down the share value further in the short term. 

2 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

Here:  https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/18895-cruise-ships-affected-by-the-coronavirus/

 

I've added this link to OP hope you don't mind.

14 minutes ago, tiny blonde said:

As I've said, I'm planning to cruise in April, although we currently have a state of emergency here in Florida due to two confirmed cases. I plan to bring face masks and gloves and Lysol wipes, and be smart and otherwise relax and have a good time. I might eat all my meals in the MDR instead of going to the buffet, which could be riskier.

Face masks will do nothing to prevent you catching the virus - they would only help the infected from spreading the virus, who will hopefully be in quarantine. Face mask companies, will do nothing to dispel the myth, and explain how and when different type of masks are effective for what {Dust, chemical and fluid}

17 minutes ago, SnickerTail said:

Did you book directly or with a TA? Someone else mentioned that some agencies are excluded (or opt out) of the Royal Up program.

Direct! None of it makes sense, I'm starting to think the invite is subjective and based on the availability of cabin type {Balcony in my case} you have secured and the next couple of levels up availability.

If that make sense.

2 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I will be bowled over if you reach anyone who knows.

Amazingly I had a reply:

Dear Mr Croke,

Thank you for contacting Customer Service with your request to add your booking to the RoyalUp program. 

You first need to make sure to Opt-In to receive marketing e-mails, (through your My Cruise account)) then wait to be within 45 days from sailing date. From there on, you’ll need to wait to get the invite email.

I have since replied that this doesn't corollate to the information I have that customers are already receiving the said emails for our cruise and have had bid excepted. 
 

1 hour ago, Chadster said:

Interestingly, I didn't get an RoyalUp invite, but on a whim, I decided to try the web site -- not to bid, but to see if it worked. I'm 70 days out, and it takes me to the bid screen.

On my December 2020 cruise, I get the "only available 30 days prior" message; that one's not paid in full yet.

Thanks for the info, I only paid the final balance yesterday so I will defiantly keep trying now, I've also contacted RC to explain the criteria for access to RoyalUp.

This does help anyone both the US & UK Royal web sites have different restrictions in relation to Boarding at Singapore {Im very close to pulling the plug due to the UK info but when I read the US it paints a very different picture for us as a group} Which one is correct.

UK web page:

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) HEALTH PROTOCOLS

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to:

a. Any guest who has travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy in the past 15 days.

b. Any guest who has come in contact with anyone with 15-day prior travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy. The CDC characterizes contact with an individual as coming within six feet (2M) of a person.

c. Guests who report feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.

2.  Mandatory, specialized health screenings will be performed on:

a. Any guest who has travelled from, to or through Japan, Singapore, and Thailand in the past 15 days.

b. Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy in the past 15 days.

c. Guests presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.

US web page:

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) HEALTH PROTOCOLS

1. Regardless of nationality, we will deny boarding to:

a.  Any guest who has traveled from, to, or through mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy in the past 15 days.

b. Any guest who has come in contact with anyone with 15-day prior travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy. The CDC characterizes contact with an individual as coming within six feet (2M) of a person.

c. Any person who within 15 days prior to embarkation, has had contact with, or helped care for, anyone suspected or diagnosed as having COVID-19, or who are currently subject to health monitoring for possible exposure to COVID-19.

2.  Mandatory, specialized health screenings will be performed on:

a. Any person who reports feeling unwell or demonstrate any flu-like symptoms.

b. Any guest who has travelled from, to, or through Japan or Thailand in the past 15 days.

c. Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Italy in the past 15 days.

d. Guests presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.

All guests who are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.

I'm totally perplexed by the variation, live is a mater of risk management but we need consistent information to manage the risk, but it appears that the authors of both pages are interpreting the risks in Singapore differently. 

Singapore Info and probably the most transparent I've seen for all nations affected:

https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/two-more-cases-discharged-five-new-cases-of-covid-19-infection-confirmed

I believe MSC are allowing passengers that have flown directly from a non-affected / band country and have transferred directly to the ship and passed every other protocol to board and this applies to travellers who have directly transited through an airport {sterile lounge areas minimum contact with public / staff}in a non-band but affected country. Perhaps RC might adopt something similar when things become clearer.

Its all basically about risk management and not being risk averse.

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

That's the same message I always get regardless of when I try to use it.

Yip, I thought as much 

42 minutes ago, Jason12 said:

On the UK site we have this..I never get emails on the royal up but my wife does..? 

 

Thanks yes I tried that web page but keep getting "only available 30 days prior to embarkation" massage,

I used Avis, the drop off was off port and they supply free shuttle to and from the port. {about 10mins away from port}

I've heard via Facebook that people are getting Royal Up invites for the cruise I'm on in April 30th, what is the criteria for getting such emails? I've been on the Royal Up web page but it says I cant bid until 30 days before embarkation.

1st time with RC

This update was posted on the RC web site on the week end:

 Mandatory, specialized health screenings will be performed on:

a. Any guest who has travelled from, to or through Japan, Singapore, and Thailand in the past 15 days.

b. Guests who are uncertain about contact with individuals who have travelled from, to or through mainland China, Hong Kong, China, Macau, China, Iran, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy in the past 15 days.

c. Guests presenting with fever or low blood oximetry in the specialized health screenings will be denied boarding.

All guests who are denied boarding due to these restrictions will receive full refunds.

This will make boarding interesting for cruises starting in Singapore.

Update: The "Singapore" has now been removed from the policy and is no longer included in either UK or US press releases.

25 minutes ago, YOLO said:

The email also describes who will be required to undergo mandatory screenings...

That going to make my sailing out of Singapore interesting on the 30th April. Worst case I spend a couple more nights in Singapore, I can think of worst places to be and probable be able to claim hotel and flights back through insurance.

New update on the RC website, it should make boarding interesting at Singapore {not sure why Singapore has been added only 100 ish cases so far and was one of the first places affected outside china}

2.  There will be mandatory specialized health screenings performed on:

a. Any guest who has travelled from, to or through Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Italy (all regions other than Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto) in the past 15 days.

16 hours ago, YOLO said:

@DaiC01  Thanks for the article info.  Is this on-line?  Do you have a link?

It is on-line but for the life of me I cant find which article I saw it in, it was linked within a link in a discussion forum that a medical friend of mine gave me access to, I'll see if I can find it again.

Interesting addition to an article I've been following :

"IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - CORONAVIRUS
Last evening dining out with friends, one of their uncles, who's graduated with a master's degree and who worked in Shenzhen Hospital (Guangdong Province, China) sent him the following notes on Coronavirus for guidance:
1. If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold
2. Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose.
3. This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees. It hates the Sun.
4. If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne.
5. If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours - so if you come into contact with any metal surface - wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap.
6. On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it.
7. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice.
8. Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but - a lot can happen during that time - you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on.
9. You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice.
10. Can't emphasise enough - drink plenty of water!
THE SYMPTOMS
1. It will first infect the throat, so you'll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days
2. The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further.
3. With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing.
4. The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you're drowning. It's imperative you then seek immediate attention."