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em.down.the.rabbit.hole

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Everything posted by em.down.the.rabbit.hole

  1. I haven't fumed about it as I have been trying to max out the fun for the kids as it turned out to be our last day. They haven't been able to do much onboard and I couldn't get through to anyone onshore. Big faceless corporation type of scenario...wondering how I can go up the chain of command as I never get passed the (hopeless) customer service people, rarely get responses from emails either... I am annoyed as we came onboard expecting to be onboard for 2 weeks, and spaced out what we were planning on doing onboard (ie there is events that we haven't done as we thought we could do next week). So, I would be interested in compensation for this week's cruise, as well as a refund on next week's (which they can't guarantee until after the weekend). The onboard staff were left to deliver the news thinking we already knew, and they have their hands tied.
  2. No-one onboard knew about this policy until earlier today. This is the first sailing that's longer than 4/5 nights and the 1st sailing that's within the UK school summer holidays.
  3. Nope there's at least another family onboard in the boat...this will happen on every sailing until the end of the school holidays because the Anthem normally does 2 week itineries out of Southampton, during school holidays. And now they reissued the itineries as 1 week durations. The number of kids onboard is set to go up week on week, next week due to be 400 kids onboard.
  4. Well they sent out an "express" email last night to say parents cruising next week will not need PCR Tests for the kids (just for kids on the sailing 7th August onwards). I have had it confirmed onboard that this is not a span email (as they didn't send it out using a RCL email address).
  5. Well I'm on my last full day onboard of Anthem OTS and about to go and get tested onboard for our back2back sailing next week...and guest services rang...their land based team informed them that unvaccinated kids cannot do back2back sailings!!! The land based team told crew that they had already communicated this policy to us. They hadn't and all onboard with kids doing a back2back were informed this morning that they are being kicked off tomorrow! I booked the back2back directly with RCL ... appealing behaviour! But apparently I can take the kids back home, where the covid rate has sky rocketed, let the kids run a higher risk of picking up the virus, and then return a week later, do a PCR test on all passengers and if negative, reboard the ship with the same unvaccinated kids. But I'm not allowed to get off tomorrow, pop down to the testing centre near the port, take a same day pcr test, and reboard the ship later on in the day as a new passenger. But turning up next week and doing the same is fine. BONKERS !!! We thought we had 2 weeks onboard so had spread out all the activities and were due to do certain activities/shows next week. If we had known beforehand then we would have at least been able to pack everything into one week. As it is I'm only being offered refund on next week's cruise and no compensation for this week's cruise! Very poor behaviour so far ... all I get onboard is "we're so sorry" ...
  6. Wonder if that is because international cruising is now allowed from Southampton from August 2nd ...?
  7. I'm currently onboard Anthem of the Seas doing a back to back cruise through next week. Sailing with 2 kids who both love adventure ocean. When we boarded, kids 2-17 only required rapid covid tests doing at the southampton port on the day. As of an hour ago, via email, kids 2-17 now require a pcr test within 72hrs of travel. This applies to kids on the next sailing departing Sunday! Guest serves has just confirmed to us that they knew this was changing a week ago, but guests only just informed. This is going to lead to more frustrations for parents travelling kids (more than this week)! This week we boarded to discover that 300 of the 1000 passengers were kids. At first I thought great numbers on a Quantum ship (and this is true except for the kid situation). Each age group has 70+ kids in and they are limited each group in adventure ocean to a max of 20 in each session. They are then limiting the number of hours each kid can attend to 12hrs for the entire week. And you need to book in advance. With covid etc this would be fine if RCCL were clear upfront but we were left to discover when onboard. This left a lot of kids entertaining and playing with each other outside the kids club and across the ship (adapting). But beware the onboard security (I don't think they like it much). Also be aware if you are used to doing windjammer for dinner with the kids (and don't normally do formal night dresses etc...). The windjammer is shut in the evening and the main dining is the only dinner option with proper food, that is included as part of the cruise fare. And there's at least one formal night on the Anthem cruises. Apart from that, the cruise has been amazing, great fun considering everything. And the crew have been amazeballs and the shows fabulous. Can't wait for next week. Fyi - we get to stay onboard into the next cruise and just have to do rapid flow tests onboard with the crew on the day before change-over day. For any parent boarding on Sunday, breathe, you just need to adjust and get used to the new normal with kids onboard.
  8. I'm on Anthem OTS this Sunday, out of the UK, on a British Isles cruise and wondering about mask wearing. This is due to masks no longer being required to be worn in the UK as of Monday (dubbed Freedom Day over here). If RCCL is following CDC rules in US and has been following UK rules for UK sailings then do you think they will ditch mask wearing over here?
  9. I've just checked all the Alaska 2022 sailings on the UK site and none have air fare included. However, all 2021 (July to Oct) sailings on Jewel of the Seas (out of Cyprus) include airfare and transfers from UK airports.
  10. @Brogan - here in the UK it's interesting for various reasons: Gove & Boris have indicated that "vaccine passports" will involve a combination of options (vacinnation, negative pcr test, or positive for covid within last 6 months). We will need to wait to see if apps are able/allowed to distinguish between the 3 options (and whether there's a difference between domestic or international use). Government ministers have also indicated that vaccine passports may not be implemented until September time (after adult population has been fully vaccinated, making passports a mute issue potentially). Stage 4 of the Roadmap out of lockdown (currently slated for 21st June) will lift lockdown, allow all UK residents to move about the country as they please, etc... Royal is sailing the Anthem around British waters/ports from July and will only allow UK residents onboard. So, why would vaccine passports be required? When there is no more lockdown? Surely, negative pcr test would suffice? I think if mask wearing is also required onboard, a negative pcr test should be enough. If everyone is mandated to be fully vaccinated then I think mask wearing should be ditched. And yes it would be "fair" to wait for everyone to be vaccinated (more "polite" than fair). But it would also be "fair" to let those that are fully vaccinated to get going asap so they can let businesses crank back up (and be the guinea pigs for everything). We'll all be back cruising before we know it, the more we wait, the more we long to return, the more we enjoy it when it does finally happen.
  11. Well RCI just allowed b2b on July 25th and August 1st sailing ?. I will need the vaccine and my 2 nieces will need a negative pcr test (within 5 days of sailing), but Royal confirmed that if I "forget" to get the tests done then they will provide the test free of charge at the port (would just delay boarding for a couple of hours whilst you wait in the queue to be swabbed and for results to be returned). Still eyeing up Cyprus for later on in the year though...
  12. I was just about to ask about the health warning... However, have they missed it... Once lockdown is fully lifted in the UK (circa June 21st) then we will be allowed to travel anywhere in the UK...Anthem is only doing UK itineraries for UK residents only.... technically they won't need vaccinations or negative tests...‽
  13. Ok that took 25mins to get through... They were unable to book 25th July as system broken on dining options ... Also advised they are not doing back2back cruises because of the kids requiring negative PCR tests, and even though you can purchase the 2 cruises separately, it's in the t&c's...not that they're making that clear to anyone!!! They also only had all the info dropped on them this morning - how organised is Royal, NOT!!! So not booked yet, but wanting 25th July
  14. @Brogan @Mike.s Anthem on sail already... Will let you know how long I have to wait on the phone when I finally get through...I have a discount card that doesn't work on the website arghhh. Wish me luck ?
  15. I reckon they are booking to full capacity. If they need to reduce numbers, so far they cancel the entire sailings and "re-debut" the ship. This is what just happened for Anthem of the Seas out of Southampton, although they also changed the itineraries as well.
  16. They didn't tell you on a cancellation email, you had to find the link to 125% OBC. They subsequently sent a reminder email weeks later with the link in it. @All - if you don't get a link for 125% OBC do a search in the FAQ on Royals site for the link - it's standard on all purchases where they cancel on you. I am however still waiting for all FCC and OBC from cancelled May sailings ?
  17. Then I'd ring them and ask about the lift and shift option. When you lifted and shifted the first time, did the drinks package also shift?
  18. I haven't seen any drinks included promos on Royals uk site for absolutely ages, so I'm thinking it may be a travel agent bolt on...
  19. I had my 2020 cruise cancelled before lift + shift existed. They cancelled and refunded the on-board items to my cards and issued FCC for the fare. I then had time to wait for black Friday to book drinks packages at a decent price, as RCI had hiked all the prices. Although recent weeks I've seen cruise planner sales that reduced items back down to black Friday price points (in the uk). If RCI has packaged the drinks package in with the Headline price, then there lift + shift promise to match prices to next year would need to be honoured. If its a travel agent that's added it then you may be out of luck, as RCI hasn't guaranteed lift + shift on "bolt ons" ... only RCI can include it as part of the package price (check with travel agent to whether its a promo passed onto them from Royal, or whether they were the ones to sweeten the pot).
  20. @Brogan my sister in law just rang her GP up and said she had a BMI higher than 40 and he just bumped her into group5 (GPs have all the power to determine who's in group5). If in Group12 then its all about when the 2nd dose is given, if group5 its all about getting dose1 in to start the 12 week clock.
  21. With those types of prices I'll be booking a b2b on the 7 nighter on 25th July and the 6 nighter on 1st August...?
  22. @Brogan thanks for posting these dates, I was looking for them so I could plan ahead. Not sure where you found them, but did dates for Jewel OTS for Cyprus also get released? They also go on sale on April 7th...
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