Hypno3

1 minute ago, FionaMG said:

That was an amazing itinerary. So sad.

I hope you manage to sort things out so you can get your trip in the not too distant future. 

Thankyou 2021 

2 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

That's so sad, even more so since you were coming from so far away. What cruise were you booked on?

Explorer of the Seas 9 nights departing from Civitavecchia. The cruise  was part of a 10 week bucket list holiday and is now just a huge headache trying to organise refunds, credits etc. Oh well - 1st world problems I guess...

Well just got word that our Med cruise departing 30th August has been cancelled. RC have agreed to refund but will take 12-16 weeks. This was to be our first cruise - unlikely to convince hubby to go on one now 

We've got a Med 9 night cruise departing 30th August from Rome- not feeling hopeful...by the time we leave Australia - 28th July we will probs have to self isolate for 14 days at the other end as Aus predicteded to peak round then - which will royally stuff up all our other plans, connecting flights accomodations etc 

1 minute ago, princevaliantus said:

Hec!!! You can avoid all this drama and by the time you get back, all this might be a distant memory.

Hmm dont see how I can avoid the drama, we've already booked and paid for longhaul and internal flights, hire cars, ferrys, cruise and accomodations (all time snsitive) so quarantine is a concern - that is if we can even leave Australia at all by then  

1 minute ago, Tgk79 said:

We have Caribbean on March 22nd which I assume is still on, since we haven't heard anything yet. 

Just now, princevaliantus said:

10 weeks or 10 days????

10 weeks - bucket list holiday. Amsterdam, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia

2 minutes ago, princevaliantus said:

Ohhhhhh....ok....I don't have a med cruise with RCCL booked but I do have Caribbean sailings.

6 minutes ago, Tgk79 said:

I hope sooo!! At this point i dont want to go anywhere, but i dont want to loose my money or deal with that FCC. 

6 minutes ago, Tgk79 said:

I hope sooo!! At this point i dont want to go anywhere, but i dont want to loose my money or deal with that FCC. 

Well we have a 10 week Europe trip booked leaving Australia 28th July, 9 nine day cruise only part of it - so It's not looking good. I'm so dissapointed as this was our bucket list holiday 

Just now, princevaliantus said:

Whooooooooo !!!!! You're saying that RCCL will be suspending ALL cruises?????

She advised all mediterranean cruises cancelled at this stage. She has been emailing clients - RC offereing full refund...we have one shceduled to leave Rome 30th August

37 minutes ago, princevaliantus said:

I hope this doesn't become a trend:

https://cruisefever.net/viking-suspends-all-cruises-until-may-1-2020/?fbclid=IwAR1tX53TNC0bxqWJ0IC79d1bALt-OkZvrKvWhIw5i4kd9YxvLzSvGBBKdzc

My travel agent advised me today that RC have done the same

My travel agent just informed me that RC have cancelled all med cruises till May. Ours leaves Rome 30th August - hoping things have improved by then ...

14 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

As others have mentioned, it does depend on the regional rules where you booked your cruise.  Most people on this site are in the US so we know those rules best (and yes, we pay the gratuities separately either before the cruise or as daily charges).  In other regions, the gratuities are built into the total cost and you won't see a daily charge.  What makes it especially confusing is if I book an Australian cruise using the US website, I get the US rules and I will see a lower price but have to pay gratuities.  If I book that same cruise using the Australian website, I should see a higher price but no gratuities.  (Assuming the other posters are correct that Australian rules are gratuity built-in.)

Wow you would think they'd just make it standard one way or another! but it's a win for me as an Aussie. I rang RC as I wanted to pay for my cousins drinks package  as a surprise gift (they are in Italy and have booked from Italy) - proving to be near on impossible as each region has different rules

13 minutes ago, Neesa said:

@Hypno3, that is correct, the gratuities are not included in the price. They are 14.50 pp in a cabin or 17.50 pp in a suite per night. You can choose to pre-pay them any time before you sail or with final payment or wait and they will be charged to your on board account, payable at the conclusion of your sailing. So yes the gratuities are also "extra" Knowing this I just factor it into the cost of my sailing. Enjoy your cruise!

When you experience the amazing people on this line working so hard to make your vacation so special, maybe like a handful of us you will actually want to give a little more, I was shocked at the constant desire from the crew to make sure every aspect of our sailing was amazing, we wanted for nothing! I brought some little thank you cards to slip a bit of cash in with a heartfelt note, they also leave you an envelope at the end if you so desire. 

Thank you, so this is USD? and where in the cruise planner do I find this please

Ok I'm super confused now! 1st timer cruiser this year August on Explorer of the Seas. Are gratuities not included in the cabin/cruise cost? (Im in Australia). Understand the drinks package is extra...

Thanks Kristi. Guess I'll have to join the OCD club too 

We're sailing 30th August on Explorer of the Seas. Price was $75 AUD and has just changed to $69 AUD. No mention of a sale though, just a price change. is this normal??