whitsmom

The NCL article shocks the system, how very very sad. BUT, your loyal patrons are here standing by waiting to sail again. Speaking for my family we found ourselves comparing our land vacations to sailing every time and each and every time sailing came out on top. 
We know you are looking outside the box for ways to get us sailing again for everyones safety BUT glance back and look within also. Our TA family is working so hard and partnering with your patrons for an amazing sailing future. Concentrate on accuracy + speed. Raise the bar and pay attention to the details of our refunds and FCC 's. Please take a look and be as transparent as possible, maybe add one more step to make sure your loyal customers are made whole, the first time. There is a lot of confusion on this end. Re: monies out vs monies refunded.
We want you to succeed, we enjoy so much and choose to spend our very hard earned monies with YOU. Please remember we will be at embarkation on the other side of this awful situation. Every aspect of our interactions matter, everyone needs to be important no matter what the exchange. Please don't relax to soon pertaining to your customers at this time, we do our best to advocate for you and cruising at every nasty insult, looking forward to sailing again soon, 12 June 2020 would be great! Don't let this NCL news bring us down! 
Thanks for reading RCCL rep, we know you are here somewhere!
 

@AnnetteJackson and @Matt I explained on another thread but this is a good to know. Maybe, can you explain the process? I cancelled about 6 items on my cruise planner tethered to my November 2020 sailing on the Odyssey due to much better sale pricing. 5 items were refunded outside of a week with just one item a Chops lunch (I purchased three) so 21.99 still outstanding, I waited thinking maybe the person finished their shift and it would appear, for a week more it did not. So I called. Here is where it gets crazy scary,
The representative told me everything was processed the computer showed this and to call my bank, I was kind and pressed firmly but calmly stated my bank processed everything it received; so she was kind and checked again. 
Apparently while the computer reflected the refund processed she went INTO the system and found my refund had NOT completed the process and she had to get a supervisor.  Honestly I felt a mixture of vindication, wow and weird fighting for 21.99 while others are fighting for so much more but I refuse to just give my money away. 
So discussing and realizing @WAAAYTOOO brought up a great point, can this happen again to someone else? What if it is a sailng refund? So the concern I have is how can something show processed when it is not?  I hope they can get this worked out because this is extra stress,and frustration no one needs.  FYI they processed the amount again and said I would have it in a week. Stay safe and healthy all! Hope this helps and moreover hope this never occurs again. Shout out to my rep from RCCL she was an angel. Thank goodness I was blessed with a great one!

I used to travel a lot and Newark was one of my least favorite airport areas to stay in. Another vote for embassy suites here, at least you feel safe there. At the very least go for the bigger chain hotels, like others have said even then it can be a gamble. You really aren't going to want to be in the wrong spot of Newark.
 
Not a ton to do right there either, only thing worth seeing close IMO would be the Liberty Science Center / Liberty State Park.. I have zero interest in going into the city unless it's for Broadway or Mastro's steakhouse (if you like high end steakhouses this is where it's at in NY).
 
Since my traveling days i settled down in NJ, there is a lot to do (and eat) if you are willing to drive a bit. I live about 45 mins from the airport and it's another world out here... slower pace, houses with actual property, mountains, hiking, and the best pizza you'll ever have (sorry NY and Chicago you got nothing on Jersey).

We have stayed at the Best Western 2 times. They have a free shuttle that will take you to the Inner Harbor area. The room we had you can see the port and the ship out the window. The shuttle to the port was quick and easy.
 
 

Big Thanks @Lovetocruise2002!!!

@WAAAYTOOO Thanks so much Raye! I saved Waay much on my August 1, 2021 sailing on Allure. My 29th wedding anniversary celebration cruise, August 1, 1992! Total savings $1,200.00 on a Crown loft, I read your post, shot an email to Sharla and feel just wonderful. Be safe and stay healthy :) 

Doesn’t hurt to remember ? 

Received (after asking on RCCL on FB Messenger) my FCC for my 3/12 Indy Cancellation.  I had to call my TA and they called Royal to get the Certificate Numbers;  then my TA had to call Groups (at Royal) to get the Value.  So, all in all, I got to apply them to a September Cruise.  Now, I'm waiting for the Cruise Planner Purchases to be refunded from that cruise.  Finding that if your TA books you through groups to get you a good rate, seems to make it harder for RCCL to peel your refunds/credit out and it takes longer.  That's been my experience (and what I've been told by the RCCL folks).   The people I've dealt with thru the FB Messenger at RCCL have been nothing short of awesome; they're passing on a very tough message, but have always responded to me in a pretty timely manner given what I'm sure is a very fluid and crazy situation.   I'm hoping that after all of this, that my September cruise on Navigator actually sails!  

Southern Ohioan here - I remain hopeful, however skeptical. I'm hoping that with the return to normal we don't see a sharp increase in virus cases. 

I think we will change more of our land based behaviors to mimic what we do on the ship more than the other way around.
Lots of hand sanitizer, not touching door handles (when possible), and more "washy washy" than ever.
 

Being a stage 4b cancer survivor, I adopted stringent personal protocols when I was in treatment that stay with me today. I avoid the Windjammer as much as I can. I take a lot of supplements for my immune system as well. Don’t touch handrails or elevator buttons. Wash hands a lot. 

I'm gonna get the drink package....I deserve it after going through all this. 

Paramedic Firefighter here and I also work part time in the ER as a ED Tech, no change here other than washing my hands and using hand sanitizer as usual.  People are going nuts over this thing and do not realize that yes it is deadly but mainly to those that are old/young in age and have secondary conditions such as diabetes or congestive heart failure.  For the average person that is young or middle aged then it is almost like a case of the flu.  The coronavirus is not as lethal as some media outlets are making it seem, that being said I know that it is spreading rapidly but its just not as lethal as some are fearing that it is. 

That is PERFECT!  I may have to try and design us some!

Good to hear that Royal's glitches can be in favor of the consumer occasionally.
 
I swear if we ever get to peek behind the "IT" curtain it will look like an old 3 Stooges routine ???

I'd extend my Celebrity Summit sailing to 21 days and make the following changes:
(Day 1) Embark NJ (Day 2) Sea Day (Day 3) Halifax, NS (Day 4) Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown) (Day 5) St. John's (Day 6) Sea Day (Day 7) Sea Day (Day ? Qaqortoq, Greenland (Day 9) Prins Christian Sund (cruising day) (Day 10) Sea Day (Day 11) Reykjavik (arrive at 8 AM instead of 2 PM) (Day 12) Reykjavik (extra day) (Day 13) Reykjavik (depart at 5 PM instead of 1 PM) (Day 14) Icelandic fjord exploration along the northwest coast (Day 15) Akureyri (arrive at 8 AM instead of 11 AM, and depart at 5 PM as already scheduled) (Day 16) Sea Day (Day 17) Sea Day (Day 18) Edinburgh, Scotland (Day 19) Aberdeen, Scotland (Day 20) Sea Day (Day 21) Dublin

I have to change that up some, 
        Departure Port
Day 1 San Diego
Day 2 Cruising
Day 3 Cabo San Lucas, MX
Day 4 Puerto Vallarta, MX
Day 5-6 Cruising
Day 7 Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala 
Day 8 Cruising 
Day 9 Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Day 10 Cruising
Day 11 Panama Canal
Day 12 Colon, Panama
Day 13-14 Cartagena, Columbia
Day 15-16 Aruba
Day 17 Curacao
Day 18 Bonaire
Day 19-20 Cruising
Day 21 Turks & Caicos 
Day 22-23 Cruising
Day 24 Fort Lauderdale
 

.... for those who have Drink Packages !!!

It has been 165 days since our NCL Getaway cruise
Our Adventure of the Seas is in 161 days.  Hoping that we can go now that they have removed the health restrictions. Hubby is healthy and fit but has a stint and A-Fib so we were afraid they wouldn't let us get on.  We are waiting until final payment to decide what we are going to do.  Lots of praying and all fingers and toes crossed!

? It’s Official ? Port of Galveston voted this afternoon to allow Royal Caribbean a one year delay in building Cruise Terminal 3. New target completion date is September 1, 2022. Neither the Port nor Royal Caribbean wanted to cancel the contract and felt the best option was the one year delay.

This is exactly what I'm doing in November. Well, actually, even more direct -- flying or taking the train to EWR and then heading right to the terminal morning of. Yes, I know normally people wouldn't advise this, but I've heard it works well for Newark/Cape Liberty. All flights from here are non-stop, so I can grab a super-early one.
I know things might look a bit grim in the New York metro right now, but I believe in the medical workers and the people of New York and New Jersey. Yes, there's a chance a second wave of the virus could strike in late fall/early winter. Or next spring for that matter. Until there's a vaccine, that's a risk. It's also nearly 7 months away for me.
I believe that as long as cruise ships are sailing again by then, I and many others will be on them. And we'll be smart, follow directions, and adjust to any "new normal" aboard. Yes, all of this in spite of the possibility of being told to quarantine for 14 days afterward -- let's face it...at this point, 14 days is a cakewalk! -- and the possibility of people generally scowling at me because I'm "one of those cruise types". Dang right, I am. My first cruise (albeit on another line) was some of the most fun I've had on a vacation!
And at this point, I need that. I need to get away. I need something to look forward to. I'll wear a mask. I'll spend a certain amount of time in my cabin (part of why I'm booking a balcony). I will do whatever I'm told as long as it means I get to be enjoying one of my favorite days -- Thanksgiving -- on Anthem, especially because I've got a friend who might wanna actually go with me!
If I'm told I can't go, then I trust that Royal and others are making the decision that's best. Until I'm told otherwise, I'll look forward to going, and I'll be prepared to do my part to stay safe and well on board and in ports of call.
@alamode123, I hope whatever you do, you don't make any decisions right now, 9 months out. While "Cruise With Confidence" may or may not still be in place to give lots of extra cushion, you still have 6 months before you hit the final payment date, and a lot can happen in 6 months.

It has been 165 days since our NCL Getaway cruise
Our Adventure of the Seas is in 161 days.  Hoping that we can go now that they have removed the health restrictions. Hubby is healthy and fit but has a stint and A-Fib so we were afraid they wouldn't let us get on.  We are waiting until final payment to decide what we are going to do.  Lots of praying and all fingers and toes crossed!

As I currently reside in Alaska, I'm seeing first hand the impact this current 14-day travel quarantine has had on this state.  Obviously, cruising has been completely shut down until at least July, and it has had devastating effects on the travel and tourism industries up here.  All restaurant dine-in service has been completely stopped, with local take-out the only option allowed.  National and state parks have closed, along with stopping all passenger train service.
The governor locked down travel in the state in the latter half of March.  This even includes travel BETWEEN communities and towns in Alaska!  This has been a very literal stay-at-home statewide mandate.   As of today (4/28/20) we have only had 351 confirmed cases in the entire state, and have had only 9 deaths.  Our "new case" rate is anywhere from zero to three or four a day, and has been trending downward.
Just this last weekend, the governor released "phase 1" of opening things back up, and that is the permission to now travel between communities with minimal human-to-human contact (stay in your car), and restaurants can now open at 25% capacity with reservations ONLY and 10' distance between tables.  This "phase 1" is suppose to last 10-14 days before the next "phase 2" is considered, depending on how the new COVID-19 cases progress and trend.
The restriction of interstate travel is supposed to be considered for lifting in "phase 4" which is about 45-60 days or so out.  This would put it at the end of June / first part of July.

I love all the planning that comes with a cruise; however, I have been holding back on our October 8th cruise just because everything is so up in the air.  I did cancel and repurchase our UBP and saved over $212.  We also got a great deal in November for our flights (1st class for $430 each round trip). 
I am more hopeful today as Kentucky is starting to open up stuff starting May 11th; however, time will tell...