Chadster

I sorta went on a bit of a spree with some money I've had socked away, and now I can attest to the fact that YOLO booking is indeed a thing. ?
September 26, 2021: Oasis out of Cape Liberty (7 days)
December 24, 2021: Anthem out of Cape Liberty (Christmas at sea!) (7 days)
December 31, 2021: Anthem out of Cape Liberty again! (Why not be at sea to welcome in 2022?) (9 days)
UPDATED AFTER SAGE FORUM ADVICE: May 1, 2022: Serenade out of Vancouver (North to Alaska...and back...) (7 days)
All of these happen during breaks for me with school and will celebrate milestones in said schooling since I'm getting toward the final phase.
If they all go off without a hitch, I'll be Diamond for the second leg of the holiday B2B and Diamond Plus at the end of the Alaska cruise; the one on Oasis will be my first Royal cruise (not for a lack of trying over the last 18 months!). These points will apparently really stack up with the bonus and because I'm cruising solo.
You people are a bad influence! ?

I sorta went on a bit of a spree with some money I've had socked away, and now I can attest to the fact that YOLO booking is indeed a thing. ?
September 26, 2021: Oasis out of Cape Liberty (7 days)
December 24, 2021: Anthem out of Cape Liberty (Christmas at sea!) (7 days)
December 31, 2021: Anthem out of Cape Liberty again! (Why not be at sea to welcome in 2022?) (9 days)
UPDATED AFTER SAGE FORUM ADVICE: May 1, 2022: Serenade out of Vancouver (North to Alaska...and back...) (7 days)
All of these happen during breaks for me with school and will celebrate milestones in said schooling since I'm getting toward the final phase.
If they all go off without a hitch, I'll be Diamond for the second leg of the holiday B2B and Diamond Plus at the end of the Alaska cruise; the one on Oasis will be my first Royal cruise (not for a lack of trying over the last 18 months!). These points will apparently really stack up with the bonus and because I'm cruising solo.
You people are a bad influence! ?

I sorta went on a bit of a spree with some money I've had socked away, and now I can attest to the fact that YOLO booking is indeed a thing. ?
September 26, 2021: Oasis out of Cape Liberty (7 days)
December 24, 2021: Anthem out of Cape Liberty (Christmas at sea!) (7 days)
December 31, 2021: Anthem out of Cape Liberty again! (Why not be at sea to welcome in 2022?) (9 days)
UPDATED AFTER SAGE FORUM ADVICE: May 1, 2022: Serenade out of Vancouver (North to Alaska...and back...) (7 days)
All of these happen during breaks for me with school and will celebrate milestones in said schooling since I'm getting toward the final phase.
If they all go off without a hitch, I'll be Diamond for the second leg of the holiday B2B and Diamond Plus at the end of the Alaska cruise; the one on Oasis will be my first Royal cruise (not for a lack of trying over the last 18 months!). These points will apparently really stack up with the bonus and because I'm cruising solo.
You people are a bad influence! ?

Aw thank you! 

Recently decided to go with MEI for my Alaska cruise and chose @Sharla to book my trip. I have always booked cruises myself and what a ordeal that has been in the past. I had to come on here and just let everyone know how wonderful she is! She has been  SOOOO patient with me with my Alaska questions as well as recommendations for things to do in Seattle. I just received an email from her this morning telling me that there was a price adjustment for my May 2022 trip and saved me a lot of money! I consider this a Christmas in August gift! ? I have enough of a savings that I may try to move up in room class now. It's nice to know that she is there doing what she can to take care of her customers.
Anyway, I am sure that all MEI staff are wonderful, but I just had to say Thank You to Sharla ?. What a pleasant experience to have her there for my wife and me. I look forward to booking with her soon again.
Carlos

I don't normally get a drink package but when I know @Matt will be on board it's a compelling case to get the drink package. 
Otherwise I might miss out when he drinks ALL the Kraken on board.  

By way of update/closure to say thanks again: I went ahead and cancelled before final payment was due; my TA is in the process of getting the FCCs I used and some OBC taken care of, which will be applied to the new cruise, a May sailing in a studio balcony cabin on Ovation to Alaska for less than my previous cruise! It's even a day longer, so that means more points. 
Thanks for all the feedback, everybody. This cruise is going to fit much better into my schedule, and the timeframe leaves extra room to get all the FCCs sorted and applied instead of worrying about final payment date approaching while still waiting for them.
Watch out, though, future group cruisers -- I'm keeping my eyes open to be amongst your numbers one day! ?

I've also been able to use the 10% and a $100 OBC reward. I took a break from MyVEGAS for a while, but now I'm back and continuing to play, and have a nice amount of reward points socked away for if and when new RC rewards come sailing along. 
That's awesome to hear that an upgrade paid off so well! ?

Since this is basically a @Sharlaand MEI appreciation thread (and a "Why you should consider MEI for your cruise planning" thread), let me chime in with some praise. Way back sometime last year, Sharla went on vacation, and before she left, she told me who would be filling in for her. Of course, during that time, I found a cruise...and her coworker was right on it, and Sharla dove right in after she got back from vacation.
I tend to be very anxious/focused on getting things squared away (this week was an example due to a situation that changed very quickly), and occasionally I stumble over details or things get lost in a brain fog, and the MEI team has always been so very patient and helpful. I had a different travel agency in the before times (both before the pandemic and before I found MEI), and they frustrated me to no end.
The Blog definitely has cultivated the right partnership with the right agency! Enjoy your vacation, Sharla! ?

Since this is basically a @Sharlaand MEI appreciation thread (and a "Why you should consider MEI for your cruise planning" thread), let me chime in with some praise. Way back sometime last year, Sharla went on vacation, and before she left, she told me who would be filling in for her. Of course, during that time, I found a cruise...and her coworker was right on it, and Sharla dove right in after she got back from vacation.
I tend to be very anxious/focused on getting things squared away (this week was an example due to a situation that changed very quickly), and occasionally I stumble over details or things get lost in a brain fog, and the MEI team has always been so very patient and helpful. I had a different travel agency in the before times (both before the pandemic and before I found MEI), and they frustrated me to no end.
The Blog definitely has cultivated the right partnership with the right agency! Enjoy your vacation, Sharla! ?

Since this is basically a @Sharlaand MEI appreciation thread (and a "Why you should consider MEI for your cruise planning" thread), let me chime in with some praise. Way back sometime last year, Sharla went on vacation, and before she left, she told me who would be filling in for her. Of course, during that time, I found a cruise...and her coworker was right on it, and Sharla dove right in after she got back from vacation.
I tend to be very anxious/focused on getting things squared away (this week was an example due to a situation that changed very quickly), and occasionally I stumble over details or things get lost in a brain fog, and the MEI team has always been so very patient and helpful. I had a different travel agency in the before times (both before the pandemic and before I found MEI), and they frustrated me to no end.
The Blog definitely has cultivated the right partnership with the right agency! Enjoy your vacation, Sharla! ?

Since this is basically a @Sharlaand MEI appreciation thread (and a "Why you should consider MEI for your cruise planning" thread), let me chime in with some praise. Way back sometime last year, Sharla went on vacation, and before she left, she told me who would be filling in for her. Of course, during that time, I found a cruise...and her coworker was right on it, and Sharla dove right in after she got back from vacation.
I tend to be very anxious/focused on getting things squared away (this week was an example due to a situation that changed very quickly), and occasionally I stumble over details or things get lost in a brain fog, and the MEI team has always been so very patient and helpful. I had a different travel agency in the before times (both before the pandemic and before I found MEI), and they frustrated me to no end.
The Blog definitely has cultivated the right partnership with the right agency! Enjoy your vacation, Sharla! ?

Ha! I felt bad enough emailing Sharla on a Friday night (that is when I had free time)... I had no idea she was on vacation. She moved me from a studio to a 7th floor obstructed view balcony for a nice cost savings on Saturday! Sharla and MEI are great. 

Since this is basically a @Sharlaand MEI appreciation thread (and a "Why you should consider MEI for your cruise planning" thread), let me chime in with some praise. Way back sometime last year, Sharla went on vacation, and before she left, she told me who would be filling in for her. Of course, during that time, I found a cruise...and her coworker was right on it, and Sharla dove right in after she got back from vacation.
I tend to be very anxious/focused on getting things squared away (this week was an example due to a situation that changed very quickly), and occasionally I stumble over details or things get lost in a brain fog, and the MEI team has always been so very patient and helpful. I had a different travel agency in the before times (both before the pandemic and before I found MEI), and they frustrated me to no end.
The Blog definitely has cultivated the right partnership with the right agency! Enjoy your vacation, Sharla! ?

Since this is basically a @Sharlaand MEI appreciation thread (and a "Why you should consider MEI for your cruise planning" thread), let me chime in with some praise. Way back sometime last year, Sharla went on vacation, and before she left, she told me who would be filling in for her. Of course, during that time, I found a cruise...and her coworker was right on it, and Sharla dove right in after she got back from vacation.
I tend to be very anxious/focused on getting things squared away (this week was an example due to a situation that changed very quickly), and occasionally I stumble over details or things get lost in a brain fog, and the MEI team has always been so very patient and helpful. I had a different travel agency in the before times (both before the pandemic and before I found MEI), and they frustrated me to no end.
The Blog definitely has cultivated the right partnership with the right agency! Enjoy your vacation, Sharla! ?

Right thread!?

They are not, and you're right. I mainly just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something in my thought process with the FCCs and everything else...but it's looking like cancelling (sorry, Group Cruisers! ? ) is going to be the right call.
Especially since after reading a suggestion above, I was doing some "backup cruise" checking, and let's just say I stumbled into what could be one heck of a deal for spring to celebrate before diving into dissertation work. ?
I was just really conflicted because I wanted to hang out with an awesome group, but I know there'll be future opportunities! Will touch base with my travel guru at MEI and get things sorted!
Thanks to this group for being an awesome sounding board.

Finally onboard RC again ? Just left⁹ Limassol 15 mins ago. As Matt told all ships sail with low capacity. Jewel this week sail with only 520 guest (normaly aprox.2800). So yes its very different but I think it will be a unique experience with a very high level of service. 3 crew per 1 guest. 

Now I know who’s on vacation! Lol. I’ll bug her when she gets back! 

OMG. You are the best but you are supposed to be on vacation - LOL. Thanks much I will reply to the email.   

Do you have a refundable deposit? If so, the fare is higher. 
 
I always end up bugging @Sharla to price check and then she does and then reminds me I have a refundable deposit so no better price for me. 
 
I always forget that lol and always disappointed ?

One interesting thing I've noticed with the WOW Sale as a single cruiser: I haven't been quoted the normal 200% price ("the singles penalty"). As a result, the OBC amounts are lower, but then again,  so are the fares! Alas, I don't have any C&A offers yet -- I'm still trying to get my first points!

By way of update/closure to say thanks again: I went ahead and cancelled before final payment was due; my TA is in the process of getting the FCCs I used and some OBC taken care of, which will be applied to the new cruise, a May sailing in a studio balcony cabin on Ovation to Alaska for less than my previous cruise! It's even a day longer, so that means more points. 
Thanks for all the feedback, everybody. This cruise is going to fit much better into my schedule, and the timeframe leaves extra room to get all the FCCs sorted and applied instead of worrying about final payment date approaching while still waiting for them.
Watch out, though, future group cruisers -- I'm keeping my eyes open to be amongst your numbers one day! ?

By way of update/closure to say thanks again: I went ahead and cancelled before final payment was due; my TA is in the process of getting the FCCs I used and some OBC taken care of, which will be applied to the new cruise, a May sailing in a studio balcony cabin on Ovation to Alaska for less than my previous cruise! It's even a day longer, so that means more points. 
Thanks for all the feedback, everybody. This cruise is going to fit much better into my schedule, and the timeframe leaves extra room to get all the FCCs sorted and applied instead of worrying about final payment date approaching while still waiting for them.
Watch out, though, future group cruisers -- I'm keeping my eyes open to be amongst your numbers one day! ?

By way of update/closure to say thanks again: I went ahead and cancelled before final payment was due; my TA is in the process of getting the FCCs I used and some OBC taken care of, which will be applied to the new cruise, a May sailing in a studio balcony cabin on Ovation to Alaska for less than my previous cruise! It's even a day longer, so that means more points. 
Thanks for all the feedback, everybody. This cruise is going to fit much better into my schedule, and the timeframe leaves extra room to get all the FCCs sorted and applied instead of worrying about final payment date approaching while still waiting for them.
Watch out, though, future group cruisers -- I'm keeping my eyes open to be amongst your numbers one day! ?