cruiserccl

Have to say 30% off the DBP is a little underwhelming

This year's Black Friday sale runs Nov 24-30, which is good so we can spend the holiday with family. 

I found the following on the section "View Set Sail Pass." Where are you sailing out of?
 
Departure testing
Unvaccinated children ages 2 to 11 will take a complimentary antigen test (PCR if required by the destination) onboard the day before their cruise ends for sailings 5 nights or longer. Complimentary COVID-19 testing is also available for vaccinated guests who need it for entry into their next destination. More information will be provided onboard.

Don't be sorry - it is a good question. I was concerned too when I couldn't find it on the website. I am sailing on Dec. 30 and received my email last week - 45 days out I believe.

I just called and spoke to a C & A rep - she told me that the program is continuing through March and although it might not be on the website it will be mentioned in the protocol email Royal sends for your individual cruise.

I just called and spoke to a C & A rep - she told me that the return to Canada free testing program is continuing through March and although it might not be on the website it will be mentioned in the protocol email Royal sends for your individual cruise.

Same! We made sure it was offered so our trip home would work. Im worried now. Can't find it anywhere.

That's exactly how I read it...that the local laws have changed to require vaccinated or negative test...But the tour operator requires that only vaccinated guests can participate.

FYI...on the Anthem. It was just announced last night that the main shows 'Spectras Cabaret' and 'We Will Rock You' have been canceled for this cruise due to a lack of available production personnel. Hmmmm...I also see that the Anthem's status has been changed to 'yellow' on the CDC website, showing an uptick of cases onboard. I hope they're not connected. I'll see what happens next cruise.

Two weeks ago, I found a good better price and contacted RCCL to get it re-priced. The rep told me that it would be higher price if she did it. I asked her to try anyway and she then told me that I wasn't eligible. I asked her why since I didn't think it was for specific group rates or anything. It was the new promotion. She refused to change it so I asked her to cancel it since my reservations were refundable. She said it would take 2 weeks to post (and sometimes could take 30 days depending on my bank). I asked her for a confirmation and she said they don't provided those.
Now, I'm concerned that my reservation was indeed cancelled, but I won't get my refund. 
How long do they usually take with refunding a refundable deposit? Did she tell me incorrectly that it would take 2 weeks?
After I got off the phone, I went ahead online and booked it with no issue at the lower price.
 
 
 

It's automatic 

My guess is new.

Before covid, despite how much I hate flying, we would fly. We drove twice and it was not that enjoyable.
But after dealing with airlines refusing the refunds and constant changes to reservations, I don't trust them. I think it would be much more stressful to deal with either AC or WJ at this point.
For this Dec trip, we are driving. But taking a flight from Buffalo on JetBlue is an option.
So, it's not so much the safety or regulations to fly, it's the specific airlines I don't trust.
 

This email notification does not apply to US citizens

@YOLOI received these emails twice for my last two cruises on the Oasis. I think it’s just a glitch because it concerns traveling from the UK. I drive to the port from my home in New Jersey and found it entirely too inconvenient to drive to Bayonne via the UK…too much traffic.😂
I ignored the emails. If you need confirmation, you can call your travel agent or Royal directly.

The discounts might not be offered on popular weeks and they can change based on other factors. 

I don’t think Royal advertises when they give resident discounts…which states…for how many days it’s offered.  At least when I got  it I had no clue it was part of a sale!  It’s like a catch it if you can…and lucky you if you do!  

I go through the cruise booking exercise about once a week until final payment date.  We have back to back cruises booked in 2022 and the price dropped on both cruises. We realized a combined $3600 savings from the original bookings.  I called RCCL and the cost of the cruises were adjusted and the balance we owed reduced.  Of interest we were given a NRD on cruise 1 and a NRD on cruise 2 when I called last week, but not on the original booking.  We never pay off the balance of a cruise until a few days before it's payment due date.  If we had paid the balance off, the price drop would have given to us in the form of onboard credit.  In that case we would have to make on board purchases we would normally not make to use it up.  I have read on the RCCL FAQ OBC's not used are lost. 

Honestly you could check prices every day and find different pricing and discounts over 50% of the time!  Once I book a cruise that is pretty much what I do…I figure the 5 or so minutes it takes me to check prices is worth what I most likely will end up saving!  Of course once you have hit your best price (which you really never know when that is) then the checking gets a bit tiring.  But…you will never know unless you check!

Yep, resident discount. I have no idea the cruises Royal decides to give them on, but it seems like 2022 doesn't really have them right now. As with any reprice the resident discount could make the price go down, but it's at prevailing rates so the overall cruise care could also rise, I don't know how their algorithms work.

Im in NY and I got the Resident NRD as well. 

Yes the military discount is very hit or miss. For our Explorer cruise, was not there to start, found it a month or two later at $620!  It’s still there now but down to around $200.  Boy you gotta look ALL THE TIME!!

Yes there are sometimes sales specific to certain states and if you are lucky enough to get one it is awesome.  I scored a $500 discount for my nephew because the particular day I was checking prices for our cruise Royal was giving RI residents a discount!

Yeah, it's a state residency discount. I've gotten it on some cruises before, but there's not currently one for either of my two booked for next year. No idea how or when Royal decides to offer them though. Maybe @Sharla might have more insight?

My guess is you entered your state of residence and that particular cruise had a discount available to residents of that state and the second cruise did not.  My husband is a veteran and WHEN a military discount is available, it lists as Military NRD.  Again I am guessing but there must be a reason they ask for state of residence under other exclusive discounts.