Sharla

That's not on you, as I have been saying for the last year and a half they are SO SLOW on the phone. This is why it sometimes takes me days to get things done, when I'm on the phone with them for 2 hours for one thing it really eats up my day (and another reason why I'm working at 7:30 on a Friday night). I hope you get your room, but you can ask for it to be waitlisted. Good luck!

This- I'm sorry your cruise was canceled but you may be past the deadline for rebooking. Call them right away.

Some ships have a deck 13. Quantum Class, for example. Edit- I see this was already answered so carry on.

They can be loud with the engines, yes. And some obstruction in terms of beams going through, but overall I have really enjoyed the aft balconies I have had.

I'm so excited for you @KristiZ!

It's because of Royal Caribbean that I drink. Or cry. Or both.

I exclusively travel with non-smokers and it bothers everyone. I agree with your overall point, but, again, smoking affects everyone, not just the smokers. I'm glad that the info will be changed.

Ok, well the non-smoking section is worthless in there, because it's still everywhere and on many ships it wafts into the bars next to it and up the stairs into the Royal Promenade. I don't disagree that the signage and everything should match, but that is likely not their priority since they were shut down for over a year and a half and need to spend money on important things. A 20-page booklet was definitely printed well before they shut down.

I would be very happy if they stopped allowing smoking in the casinos. Celebrity already has smoke-free casinos. I would spend a lot more time in there if they'd ban it.

Most of the time I am able to let clients know about a price drop first- most people don't check prices all of the time themselves, they let me do that. I find it the exception for clients to email me first.

Use a travel agent? Might not help you this time but for next time.

It's possible for sure. If you're questioning it, call back and see if you get the same answer.

I can't speak for other TAs necessarily, but Royal Caribbean (or most suppliers) pay the agency after final payment is made. Then the travel agency pays the agent the month after travel is completed. If a cancellation occurs before final payment, no commission. If a cancellation occurs after final, there may or may not be commission. Commission even gets recalled sometimes by the supplier. Basically, though, you book a trip and cancel I don't get paid. It's kind of like a return of a product to a store. There was some commission protection last year from a lot of suppliers but only after final payments were made and only in certain circumstances- If FCC is used and a cancellation happens, no commission. It has been a tough year and a half.

I always try to give OBC or a gift in the room. This was pre-COVID, and right now I'm just trying to stay afloat, no pun intended. Gifts will start up again soon as long as people keep up with traveling. We don't get paid until after clients travel, so there is still not real money coming in just yet. But I just cannot give the huge rebates that some big agencies or wholesalers do. However, I stand by my service.

Royal Caribbean pays a certain percentage of the cruise fare in commission. A portion of the cruise fare is non-commissionable, and the amount that they pay depends on the business you do- the more business you do, the higher the commission percentage. How a specific agency pays their agent will depend on the agency, if the agent is an employee or an IC, bonuses, etc. If you book onboard at Next Cruise and request that it does not go to that current agent, then they will not know. Then you can keep the booking yourself or transfer it to an agency within 30 days of returning from the cruise (and keep your Next Cruise OBC). If you feel like an agent with MEI or any company you can request a different agent with MEI or the other company.

Don't feel guilty, it's part of it. Again, want you to have the best deal, and want to give the best service!

No you can't, but you can alert the TA and they should do it for you. I can't speak for Costco because they are a wholesaler and not exactly a TA. But a lot of traditional agents reprice. As people have said those of us at MEI-Travel have a tool that checks for us. But a lot of times clients email me before I get that notice from the tool. Sometimes it's lower, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes they forget that they added gratuities or insurance and the price isn't actually lower. But to answer what I think is your question- yes, if the price goes down the commission goes down, so would that make me not want to change it? No, because it's part of the service we provide, meaning if I do a good job with helping you out you'll come back, meaning more money. I don't know of any alert sites beyond what people have mentioned, but those alert sites aren't 100% accurate anyway. They mine the RoyalCaribbean site for the price but they don't necessarily know your price or, again, if you added gratuities, have a non-refundable vs refundable deposit, etc.

Well now I don't feel special that carib_life wanted to fly everyone to the Caribbean! I thought she just liked me!

You can do it, but the current agency must release it. If they charge a fee you'll have to decide if that's worth it to you. And as I'm sure @DWandermanhas told you we never charge fees at MEI-Travel. Contact your current TA and tell them you'd like to release it to a different agency. Then Daniel can take it from there. Here is the official wording from Royal Caribbean: In order to change the agency on a booking to another agency, written authorization must be obtained from the agency of record releasing the reservation. Written authorization from the agency accepting the reservation must also be provided. All Authorizations must be on company letterhead and signed by the owner or operator of the agencies. A fax copy of the authorization is acceptable provided the fax copy is on company letterhead and it is signed by the owner or operator of the agency. All requests for Agency to Agency transfers are processed by the TSS Administration Department. Please submit request via email to [email protected].

I have seen this before, and I love the idea!

It's the number of shots you buy for Matt on a cruise.

On Royal Caribbean you can bring 2 bottles per stateroom at the beginning of your cruise. Anything purchased in port must be checked and you'll pick it up at the end. I know people on here get down on Disney Cruise Line, but they do allow two bottles of wine per port, so there's that plus for them.

Yes, you can email me [email protected]

There are a couple of things you can do here. One- ride it out with that TA. Since the cruise is so far out that may or may not be what you want to do. Two- ask for it back, the agent can release it back to your care. Three- You can have it transferred to a different agency. Four- If it's a refundable deposit and the price is the same or similar as what it is today you can just cancel. With options 2 and 3 it will depend on the agent releasing it (more so with option 3) and make sure that agent doesn't charge fees for cancellation. But the reservation number will remain the same and if you have anything on the cruise planner (unlikely since it's so far out) that will also remain. Good luck!