Jim D

Jewel On Dec 4 - is now going to Nassau, it is replacing Labadee.

Hey VirtKitty - want to hang out at the ship's pool and share a few cocktails on that day? My B2B on the Jewel just changed their stops as well.

This was a picture from a woman who was currently on the Jewel and she had taken a picture of the compass and posted it.

I get what you are trying to say. Hopefully no one else has to deal with this and things get resolved.

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to give a quick update - I did email Michael Bayley's office and another person higher up in guest relations, that was yesterday afternoon. I received a call from a wonderful gentlemen today and we are working on getting me off the fence of whether or not to go on the cruises. Thanks for the advice everyone. I will provide you with the final resolution.

Thank you matt and everyone so far for your words. Next time I know that I should deal with a TA, you and others have suggested it. Thank you!

I just think its fun to meet other solo cruisers - I doesnt mean you are single and looking to hook up.. Whats wrong with making friends?

That is very kind of you and much appreciated - we can only hope he is on vacation and will surprise me with an email later today.

I am mainly looking for advice on this subject and what to do and where to go from here. I am may be opening myself up to a lot of hate or criticism , but here goes. And sorry for such a long post. After I booked my cruise everything was going fine, I ended up booking a B2B - worked well with Customer Service it was great super excited! I then called back with a question about something (not sure I remember what at this point), the customer service individual I was speaking to - was looking stuff up for me and was chatting and asked "so any special reason you are going on this cruise, or what made you think about doing a B2B" something along those lines - I replied that I was a little nervous but excited as this would be my first solo cruise and knowing that RCL has had good reviews with LGBT travel sites and that celebrity is owned by the same company and celebrity has lgbt single cruises - I thought since I havent been traveling like I used to now would be the time. I received dead silence for a good 20 seconds and then the agent started to give me the answer to my question - but was down right nasty and rude. I was taken aback for sure. Anyways the call ended and I went on my way passing it off. A second time I called and asked if with covid protocols they were still doing LGBT meet-ups on board and if they would be listed in the compass as they used to - the answer was a phone hanging up. At this point I was annoyed. However as things keep changing and evolving because of covid and changes in destinations I thought maybe I will just stick to the text messaging customer service - I dont remember the entire conversation but something LGBT related came up again - because frankly, why should I hide anything and this is customer service that I am talking to, just looking for answer - I received the following text back - which I include a picture of "I am not engaging with this person any longer." This is the point where I decided to escalate things and spoke to a gentlemen in the resolution department (I guess the supervisors of customer service). I told him what was going on and he was appalled - rightly so, we spent over an hour on the phone he was apologizing right and left- made me feel some much better. And I told him I am not looking to get anyone in trouble (I have the agents first names) but all I was looking for was some solid answers. He told me that if I had any questions or concerns to email him. Great - problem solved. Well that was more than two weeks ago - I emailed him with some minor questions and I also emailed him shortly after our first conversation that if he could let someone above him know what was going on - because I believe no one should be discriminated against or talked to in such a manner. I have heard nothing in return - a similar incident happened on Sunday when I was discussing safety concerns if our cruise had to go to a different destination (such as Jamaica or Belize - as both countries it is a crime to be LGBT and people are sometimes kidnapped and killed) I said obvisouly I would stay on the ship and not go site seeing but my question was regarding how the ports were set up and if they had shops right there so that if I did get off the boat I could not go far if there was stuff right there. I emailed him about this. Nothing. This morning I asked a agent thru the text line how I would get in touch with a supervisor of the resolution team - I was asked well what is it regarding so I can direct you to the right place. I told the agent a very brief statement about it. The agent stopped talking - I said hello? Still there? That was 6 hours ago. I thought at first I was just imagining it - but after a few more times, unless I am loosing my marbles. And I KNOW it is not everyone - and I know for certain the staff on the boat are the ones that make the trip and they are wonderful. But its a little unfortunate that I have to go thru any of this just to get a simple answer to questions about Royal gifts, GTY rooms, ports of call. So I guess my point is - where do I go from here - who do I talk to? Or do I just continue to try with customer service and hope I get a decent person. But when I was told by the resolution specialist who was so kind about everything and wanted to do anything to make it up to me - and I email him as he stated to do and I hear nothing and since I hear nothing from him I have to have other incidents occur. Again sorry for the long post and I hope everyone is cool with me posting about this.

Personally I dont know if that would work for me- I like long dinners - I recently went to dinner with a friend at a local resturant and it was a good 2.5 hours lol...might have to switch to anytime dining if that is the case.

What time dining did you have in the MDR. If at 8 - did you feel rushed?

It came from a Facebook post on one of the Royal Caribbean facebook groups

Ive heard and perhaps they are just rumors about the bigger shows onboard only offering 1 showing? It has been a long time since I have been on a cruise but I thoughts they used to have a earlier showing in the main theater for people who have the late seating in the MDR. And then a little later showing in the main theater for the folks who had the early seating in the MDR. Because what I have heard is there is only 1 showing at 945 - which makes it hard for the 8pm diners to have a nice relaxed dinner with some cocktails and wine and be out of there to get to the theater by 930. Is this only a Europe based thing or a smaller ship thing? Has anyone else come across this?

Someone on a FB group posted a picture of there daily cruise planner. Not sure what’s it’s called. The compass? This was on an overseas trip in the Mediterranean. For all the big shows in the main theater it only lists one time for the bigger style shows (aka hairy spray and the like) at 945pm. If you are set for MDR at an 8pm seating how are you supposed to rush thru dinner in an hour and a half and get to the theater 15 mins early, especially if you plan a nice dinner with cocktails and wine. That’s a bit of a time crunch. I always remembered having two show times and early one for the late dinner seating and a later show time for the early dinner folks? Has anyone else seen this in the states? Or heard of anything like this due to reduced capacity?

Interesting. Either way. If I was me personally I wouldn’t mind 172 million. Then I’d take everyone on a nice cruise.

300-400 million dollars a year from cruise ships stopping there.

Our itinerary doesn’t leave from Texas or western Fl.

The strange think is they say it’s because of the level 4 warning out out by the state department that these cruises have been change. If you check out the state department every island in the Caribbean has a level 4 warning attached to it. Including Puerto Rico which also hasn’t been changed in anyone itinerary. In addition there are still traveling that are supposed to be traveling to grand cayman Yet grand cayman has had a ban against cruise ships since the summer and the cabinet ministry just extended the ban well into next year. But RCL still says we are going there.

I was just wonder if it has been banned since the start of cruising again why was it ever on the itineraries. Not that I should stop cruising because of it.

Does anyone know how you are supposed to us the royal up when they still have you listed as a gty? How do you know if you can bid on a better balcony room when you don’t know what category balcony you have?

The original ban weas supposed to go until December 31. The extension was just added

The ban has been effect since the spring/summer of this year. They just announced the extension into next year the the 14th. And they is the cabinet ministry of grand cayman.

CVS is really good about getting the PCs tests done within two days if you go early enough on that first day. They said all their stuff to quest labs to be test!

Grand Cayman just announced on October 14 that they are extending their cruise ship ban Until February 2022. My question is why have none of itineraries been changed for ships that are selling within the next 3 to 4 weeks and why are they continuing to sell cruises listing Grand Cayman as a destination that is only lying to people who may particularly want to go to that island

What kind of cabin did you have booked? Rear? Aft? Midship? and can you let us know what they change you too "like-for-like"??