Sharla

Whether you carry your own bags off or put them outside your stateroom, a porter can be extremely helpful. They can help locate your bags in the terminal as well as get through security, load them into your car. Just tip them well, at least $2 a bag IMO. They work for tips and they work hard!

17 hours ago, 12thman said:

WHAT!!?? Sorry I'm not interested in being a TA then. Don't work well with the theme the customer is always right. I'm not a PC person you will know where you stand with me. (good or bad)

It's a job. It's hard work. Don't get me wrong, there are fun things about it! But especially this year it's been incredibly difficult. Not all will survive. I still have days where I wonder if it's worth it and how long I can keep it up.
Here's to better days ahead!

I LOVE the Celebrity Edge, and I'm sure I will love Apex as well since they are so similar. It's just a unique ship, one you don't really understand until you experience it. All staterooms include WiFi, gratuities, and a beverage package, so the price can be reasonable when you compare it to Royal Caribbean. Celebrity is a little more elevated.

2 hours ago, 12thman said:

Isn't that why people become TA's to cruise at a discount? Way back when working for an airline it was for the free flights, deep hotel, car and cruise discounts. Fly out to another state in the morning for breakfast and catch the next flight back. When DIA opened we flew in that morning walked around the airport and hoped right back on the same plane back home. Those were the days!!  

We don't really get discounts on travel. There are times we can go on an inaugural, or hotel discounts, but more times than not I pay full price for cruises (including the Blog group cruises) and other travel. It's not worth the hassle for free travel, especially now with COVID. 

There are two ways Royal Caribbean is applying FCCs now- one is that line item that comes off the top of your cruise, and another is as a payment. It's less confusing than when this first started, but yes that TBZ5 line item is on there when FCC is applied. 

If the TA won't do it you can still reach out to Royal Caribbean and ask them. It's up to that TA if they charge any fees, but might be worth it to get rid of them. 

I'm sorry this is happening to you! If you have booked cruises, you can contact Royal Caribbean and ask for the cruises to be released back to you. If they say no, escalate it. You have the right to take them back.

If you have FCCs (not applied) you can book new with another travel agency or direct. FCCs belong to you, not to the travel agency. 

Good luck! 

18 minutes ago, bbowers said:

This would all be easier if royal had a website where you could check FCC amounts issued in your name.

What I've been saying for a year.

FCC reinstatement and the fact that there is no central place to look up FCCs based on C&A numbers or your name.

Welcome!

If you're in a group you could have an earlier final payment date as well. 

Packing cubes! They help a lot. Also if you want to plan on doing laundry one day that will help, you can even bring a couple of laundry soap pods for simplicity. 

And hooks- the walls are magnetic, can help dry out clothes such as bathing suits or workout gear 

On 4/16/2021 at 12:01 PM, Neesa said:

before I bother Sharla. To waste her time is not an option.

22 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

From what I understand, when they extended the FCCs to September 2022, they also changed their system to allow agents to apply the FCC directly.  In doing so, this new system does change the "cruise fare" when FCCs are applied early on, it considers the FCC applied as payment instead so it is way easier to get a price adjustment now when cruise fare goes down, even with FCCs applied.

Perhaps @Sharlaor @michelle can confirm, but I think this is the case now.  When I look at my Norway sailing for July 2022, I used $1000 FCC as deposit and my statement from Royal reflects that as payment.  The original "cruise fare" is unaltered.

Yes, you can apply it as deposit, and can reprice. But there is a portion that comes onto the reservation in a separate part, which is also confusing. @Jillis correct, I do prefer waiting until final payment, even with the new system, but if you want to use FCC earlier (for deposit or earlier) we can do it and still reprice, mostly. 

I don't see other cruise lines following this. They need kids on board too much.

Yes, individual. The only issue is if you're under a BOGO or the third guest is a lower price. Meaning person A would get the most FCC, person B next, and person C the least amount. Assuming you divided the price equally to pay you might be in a weird spot with FCCs.

4 hours ago, UNCFanatik said:

2a. put refundable deposit down on Thanksgiving week cruise to lock in price and wait and see if July cruise is cancelled so I will not miss out on any extra FCC that Royal may give me for them cancelling July Cruise. And then roll money into the Thanksgiving week cruise

This one.

No- L&S will be the same reservation# as the cancelled cruise. You can cancel the existing one as said above.

I hate hate hate it that Royal Caribbean allows smoking in the casinos. One, because I'd love to play. But besides that, I can smell it wafting into the Royal Promenade from the ships that have that spiral staircase from the Promenade into the Casino. 
So I don't agree that their air filtration system before was great, and I hope that it gets better from here. 

If you'll go if the cruise goes, pay it. If Royal cancels you can take a refund.

15 hours ago, Matt said:

1- escorting a group

2- free cruise. 

No shame here, I like other cruise lines. Not all of them, but some.

I have 3 on Royal and a couple others on other lines. I am hopeful that they will all sail!

 

8 hours ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

Royal really need to IMPROVE ... they've had over a year to get better with FCC and haven't

Amen.

@Neesa well at least getting a new booking number for the one sailing has worked thus far! No more auto-cancels!

Disney is much much much much easier too- FCC is tied to your Castaway Club numbers and shows up with you book. Royal needs to take a lesson from other cruise lines on this matter.