Matt31

Seems like the refunds aren't really being processed in order of cancellation. I cancelled all of our cruise planner purchases for our September 28th Honeymoon Cruise on Independence of the Seas on the day that NCL announced they were cancelling cruises through September 30th figuring Royal would most likely do the same just so I could get ahead of the next wave of cancellations and it only took about a week to get the refunds. So pretty much standard RCCL pre-covid. Weird right? 

7 hours ago, Hutcherl said:

8-3-20 Independence, 5 day,  only CoCoCay and Labadee Stops.  Fingers crossed that this shorter cruise with only their private island itinerary kind of fits the description of what he talked about.  One can hope! 

I booked the same itinerary 9/27/20 - 10/3/20 for my honeymoon and I'm thinking the private islands are definitely a tick in the positive column for us. 

I am also a frequent Delta Flyer and it always seems that their prices defy the odds. Time after time I've waited to book flights thinking I'm booking too far out only to have those original prices be the lowest I ever saw. I'd say if you are comfortable with the price and you could travel elsewhere (& pay change fees if applicable then) then I would say book when you want. I feel that as more of the country opens up and more travel is at least possible or more than a major unknown that flights are going to start increasing in price back to more normal prices or more fees are going to get tacked on them to raise the price.

More experiences for about the same price, I'd say you are the winner and I love that Royal allows repricing instead of locking you in

Thank you all!

Hey everyone, 

My fiancee and I are looking at booking our second cruise of the year for our honeymoon at the end of September-beginning of October, just curious what you all have had good experiences with or have found to be good pricing on travel insurance? I've had the insurance through RCI before but have heard many cons lately about getting the insurance directly through the company you are traveling with. Any suggestions to look into would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

On my Symphony of the Seas sailing right before the COVID-19 postponement of operations the lowest it got was $59/day. My 2019 Oasis cruise was $49. So there are a few prices for the biggest ships. 

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9 minutes ago, DunkelBierJay said:

would say that we are biased because we have had great experiences and know that the risk of getting sick on a cruise is greatly lower than on land...

 

100% correct. We know how hard they work to actually keep the ships clean and love the style of vacation that cruising allows

Central Park 1)love eating at Park Cafe and sitting outside enjoying lunch or breakfast as you don't dine outside much on a cruise, and coming from MN in the winter makes it wonderful to eat outside instead of being cooped up. 2)The lights and quite/relaxing atmosphere of central park after dark is wonderful, especially with the live musicians others have mentioned

Its amazing how much the cruise industry is on blast. Time after time they are used as an example of COVID-19 disasters or activities that aren't recommended anyway. I get pretty irritated with the people that claim the ships as germ pools or "floating incubators of viruses, bacteria, or disease." It makes me wonder if these people writing these articles have been on a cruise before or if they did and it just wasn't their cup of tea for a vacation per say. I know we are supporters of the cruise industry on here so we may be a little bias on the other side but I feel the Royal ships are quite clean in comparison to normal hotel rooms I stay in, amusement parks I've visited, and quite honestly shopping centers I go to, so why aren't they being berrated like the cruise industry for their actual uncleanliness. And how about Airplanes, they continue to fly even with a lot of non-essential staff on board and wasn't it the other day that 100 flight attendants for American Airlines reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, why was that pushed to page 10 and ignored. Seems the cruise industry is taking the "big kid" role and just taking the punches instead of fighting back or squabbling since that's what it would be viewed as

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24 minutes ago, Pima1988 said:

This is going to be interesting to see how it pans out.  Unlike a decade ago with that same questions loomed over the bank and auto bail outs, or 19 yrs ago after 9/11 and airlines, the big key is that these cruise lines are not US companies per se.  

HOWEVER,  many US cities have economies that get a bump from the cruise industry indirectly.  Here are a few:

1.  KEY WEST.  Yes,  people go to the Keys for vacation and fun, but not at 6-9K a day (2 cruise ships)   Think of not only the artisan shops, the excursions, the hop off, hop on buses, but port fees, long shore men, pilot boats, etc.
2.  Cape Liberty.   They can exist no problem, but again, if you have sailed out of there you know that the parking lot alone is pumping a huge amount into their city taxes from a business tax rate.  They have to employ at least 100 people just outside of the terminal, i.e. people directing you to a lane to drop off luggage, porters to take your luggage and those directing you into a parking lot.  Let alone, the porters waiting for you to debark and take it back to your car, or in processing you at the terminal.  RCL fails, those jobs are gone.
3.  Anchorage AK.  I lived in Eagle River for almost 4 yrs.  it is right outside of Anchorage.  The cruise industry is huge in Anchorage.  Captain Cook Hotel makes it living due to cruise lines.  Princess cruises of course has their private train to Denali.  That port would be hit hard.  
4.  Portland Maine.  Same as Key West.
5.  Charleston?  Even small ships like Lady G or Enchantment docking brings in $$$ to their economy.
6.  Galveston Texas....seriously, any of you going there for vacay if it wasn't tied to a cruise?  Yet, that state is getting $$$$ into their infrastructure from not only port/tax fees, but even hotels bc cruisers come in a day 4
7.  Ever noticed the day of embarkation the forklifts of food being brought on?  Local area companies are supplying the products.  It trickles down.  You think there are chickens laying eggs on a ship?  If I recall correctly from my Caribbean galley tour, they only take on new produce from specific ports.  IOWS, they load up on food while we load up on our 1st cocktail!
8.  Do you think any back up part that the terminals need do not employ local companies for paint supplies, replacement lightbulbs, cleaning supplies for their terminals?

My point is, that  I could hear a lot of politicians starting to scream if they don't somehow help the cruise lines even though they are not a registered US company.  Now expand that even more.  RCL has headquarters in Miami.  How much did they spend building that new terminal?  How about TX building their new terminal?  How about NCL and CCL and their impact?  

I can easily see our MoCs fighting to bail them out in some manner.  Hence,  I believe they will not fail.  Maybe, not as much as they may want, but they will bend for the economy.

I agree with this and have been thinking it for awhile. Everyone is quick to say they aren't US companies. But they still support many US jobs and industries.

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1 hour ago, Ogilthorpe said:

True, but 3 months sounds worse in a headline ... they always seem to feel the need for maximum sensationalism and go the extra mile (which sounds so much farther than 5280 feet!)

Isn't it sad that your comment is so true, especially right now. I watched an interview the other day on CNN and the financial analyst guest was I kid you not asked the same exact question 3 times as the host (conducting the interview) was just reaching so hard for a quote she could use as a headline. The guest got very upset and said well I've already answered that question and kept saying the same thing but eventually she explained just a tiny bit more and sure enough that was the little she used as her take away. I think it's crazy in this instance for them not to say 3 months because that's in reality what it is and also for them not to just say all cruiselines instead of singling out a few big hitters, and lastly the headline should say Cruising potentially suspended for up to 100 day (3 months by CDC) just to emphasize the uncertainty

It might be too early for the full cruise planner to populate. Sometimes it takes a long time

We knew it wasn't going to just be avid cruisers buying stock if they had money. These are the times that wealthy folks like up their next pile of cash. Buy low and Sell high is the way to go to increase your portfolio.

On 4/2/2020 at 9:47 PM, RCVoyager said:

Those two ships are now docked in Fort Lauderdale.

I saw that, and i was happy to see that

I think there needs to be some level of compassion for those that truthfully need an ER/ICU. Can anyone truly just say sorry can't help you? I'd say at least bring the critically ill off the ship because it's the right thing to do and quarantine the others on the ship. Then proceed with determination from there. 

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2 hours ago, F1guynz said:

I constantly hear people refer to cruise ships as “floating Petri dishes” so I suspect people will very reluctant to cruise for a while yet.

 

I hear people say this a lot too but those people are often those who have never cruised or didn't like cruising. I feel like Royal's ships are quite clean. They are a heck of a lot cleaner than large gathering places such as stadiums or the Mall of America near me

It makes sense that this would be a cut. Might as we'll finish the refurb on Allure and other ships that they've more or less already paid for and delay the new port building since it's not even really started. They have to prioritize somewhere and prioritization of improving assets they already have makes sense to me

It will definitely be interesting to see what changes come of all this for sure. My fiancee and I are getting married at the end of September and originally were going to go Disney world since she's never been but due to being out of work for several weeks for the COVID-19 we are looking to keep the cost down and instead go on our second cruise of the year because cruises are just honestly so affordable and the best vacation there is in my opinion. We traveled on Symphony the week before the shut down so came back to an empty cruise terminal which was really weird and then we will go in the fall after all this is over so it will be interesting to see the before and after first hand

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On 3/28/2020 at 7:50 AM, HeWhoWaits said:

At most it should have been extended by the length of time that the "official panic" lasts.

 

I agree with this. I don't see a point in doing away with it. It's just a simple increase in sophistication in our government ID's its not hurting anybody and it's not a big deal because they already know the information we are supplying anyway, more or less they are just verifying it

@Lovetocruise2002 Thank you. I was guessing that's what it was but just wanted to make sure

I don't think RCCL will go under unless this lasts for the 18 months some have predicted. If we are back to traveling by the end of the year I think the cruise industry as we know it will still be around. I think there will be some steals to get too just to get as many bodies back on board as possible. Those of us on here love cruising, but once again the news is smearing the industry and I have several friends and coworkers that still comment on a cruise ship being a "germ factory" but when I ask them if they wash their doorknobs and railings 3 times a day and clean their bathrooms 2x daily they all are shocked that RCCL takes those measures. I was just on Symphony the week before the shutdown and the ship was extremely clean just as all other royal ships I've sailed on (other than what passengers do with their food between cleanings). I think the news would do a favor to us all by actually going on a cruise themselves and getting a passenger experience for themselves and I bet they'd speak more highly of the vacation we all love.  I'm optimistic we will get to enjoy the breeze blowing on a day at sea in the not too distant future and life can be back to normal once again. If this COVID-19 last for the 18 months dooms day scenario then we are going to be worrying about a lot more things than the cruise industry. Could you imagine all the cruise ships just sitting somewhere if no cruise lines were in business again? That's crazy talk

I wonder what they will do for Allure? Normally they would just cancel a few cruises at the end of the dry dock if it's coming out late and obviously they probably have all of the parts and pieces per say waiting for Allure to arrive. However, in this case I wonder if they will want to get as many passengers back on ships ASAP and not cancel any cruises just because they want the dry dock this year? Hard to say because its a lose lose situation. She would be the only Oasis Class Ship that would be different really if they didn't amplify her, which could be good and bad for different preferences. 

On a quick note, I've been reading this blog and comment board for a year now but just signed up to comment, so I have a question. Is the pre-gold notation near my username based on ranking on the blog or can you change it to reflect your crown and anchor society status? If so, how do you change it?

They should still enforce the original date of this October, they have given everyone plenty of time to comply. Pushing it back yet again haha

I echo some of you all and hope that they keep Labadee as a different experience than Coco Cay. Labadee can stay as just a simple beach destination as it is. We sailed to Labadee last year on the Oasis for the first time in a long long time and absolutely loved the laid back atmosphere and thought the bar service and food offerings were ok. Then we went to Coco Cay a few weeks ago aboard Symphony and the food and beverage service there was far superior. Way more places to get food, so the lines were minimal and the food quality and selection was much better. Also nice that there were more options for drinks on the island. I'd vote to keep labadee as what it is but take the improvements you put into Coco Cay for food and beverage and implement those into Labadee. And for those of you scared of an amusement park/ waterpark feel at Coco Cay, I'd say it was not that at all. Despite all the commericials showing all the thrills, it was only a very small part of the experience and you easily could find places to relax and just enjoy the beach. The free umbrellas were a huge plus too.