Wanderlust876

I usually travel solo; always social distance (even before Covid was a thing😁); always wash my hands thoroughly with soap and water (not the splash and dash that I see some others do); never touch a bannister (a ship captain gave me that advice long ago); use the stairs a lot trying to avoid crowded elevators (very carefully because of the no-bannister-touching🥴); grab the buffet tongs near the bottom; I even use hydrogen peroxide wipes to wipe down my room when I first board.
I always did these things even pre-Covid. My concern was avoiding flu and, especially…Norovirus. That’s why the hydrogen peroxide wipes. Regular alcohol wipes don’t kill Noro.
But…I know there is no way to completely avoid Covid exposure. Even wearing a mask will not prevent me from getting it…it may offer some protection but it’s primarily meant to keep me from unknowingly spreading it if I am asymptomatic.
I have been on 18 cruises since Sept…many b2bs…through Delta and the beginning of Omicron…and I have been extremely lucky. But, it finally got me. I disembarked from a 7 night on the Oasis on May 8…luckily it wasn’t a b2b. That afternoon I had a minor sore throat which lasted into the next day. I tested and was positive. Minor cold symptoms for three days.
I cancelled the next cruise on the Adventure scheduled for May 12. Didn’t need to send a copy of the test because it was outside the 48hrs CWC. Received refunds for my Cruise Planner purchases in three days…and a full cruise refund in fourteen days…three days after the cruise ended. Oh, well…I figure it was inevitable…but now I have the antibodies.
I hope everyone who gets it going forward has the same minor symptoms…or less…and recovers quickly. And I hope the inconvenience for those being isolated onboard is stress-free. Also, I hope the refund process is just as quick. Best wishes to all!

I wondered about this when I booked. When booking he just kept saying with your USAA discount it's "x" price. So perhaps it was booked through some kind of group block. 

Matt, it looks like they moved the "Up to 48 hours guarantee" to the Beast Price Guarantee Program.  This is from the RCL site.  What is the Best Price Guarantee Program? | Royal Caribbean Cruises

Last week I called Costco Travel and the agent told me I could not reprice and RCL would only let me reprice one time.  She would not do anything and dropped the call.  I called back knowing it was not correct.  The next agent got me a reprice that gave me $550 OBC on a $2000 cruise.  They then sent me to a supervisor that said they would follow up with the first agent and sent me a Costco card for $50 for my troubles.  So, the answer is most of the time you can reprice.

That was the policy under the Cruise with Confidence program.
The CwC program ended and the policy is back to the old one where there are no price adjustments after final payment date.
However....
If you booked your cruise under CwC and it sails before Sep 30, 2022, you can still do price matches after final payment date.

All you'd want to do to take advantage of this in the future should they reimplement this is to book the early seating. Then it's ad hoc if you drop your kid off during dinner

I'd also fire that TA.  Lazy or incompetent!

Q What is the Royal Caribbean Best Price Guarantee Program?
A Spot a better price on your booked cruise? Our Best Price Guarantee lets you take advantage of a better price up to 48 hours before your sail date — just give us a call or use our online form. You’ll receive the difference as a non-refundable onboard credit inside final payment or rate adjustment outside final payment.
For more information on the Cruise with Confidence Best Price Guarantee for sailings booked on or before March 31, 2022, that depart on or before September 30, 2022, click here.
Send this link to your TA because they are wrong.  https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/best-price-guarantee-policy

I also got the $18.99 refreshment package for the April cruise I had to postpone. Now it's up to $23. I was able to get the swim with pigs at our previous rate yesterday so that's a plus. Seems like it's a crap shoot. Maybe there will be a Mother's day sale. 

Best prices happen when they happen. Some of the steepest discounts mentioned on these boards were during random times. If you're wanting the lowest price possible, commit to signing into the cruise planner frequently (if not daily) for a 30 second price check. Book when the price is acceptable, and be willing to refund and repurchase if a better price becomes available (assuming your finances allow it).

Local library cards, yes. No photo though. Looking at voter ID card now to see if that's an option. 

The point of an ID is of course to ID someone and therefore I would think the expiration would be less an issue than that his picture and name are congruent. To be honest, I don’t recall people looking at our ID’s for long enough to be checking everything. I know he’s got a drivers license, can they also issue him a state ID that they might be able to get to him faster or on the spot? I ask that because when I get my new drivers license they always give me an exact copy on cardboard immediately and then mail me the same one with laminate. If all else fails I think I would take the expired passport, expired license, his birth certificate, and school ID and then if needed (as they may not even notice the date) plead my case in person. But that’s me… Yet in the end If it says online a BC snd student ID are acceptable then they *must* accept that Whether the school is public or private.
 
I would also be as distressed as you are and I feel so for you. It does at times feel like it is one thing after another and the world is out to get us. I have all my fingers crossed for you!
 
P.S. I’m sorry if I missed this, but are you working with the TA? Just wondered is she/he had thoughts/options. And this may sound silly, but does your local library (even local college library who offers locals cards) give photo id cards?? That would be a govt ID!

It doesn't make sense. It's not clear at all. I tried looking at a voter ID card. Ironically student ID is listed as what you can use to vote.
He suggested we go and try and if he can't get in he will stay with his Dad who lives less than an hour away. But I would feel too terrible. Part of the cruise was for his graduation this year. 

Absolutely
Regardless of a terminal agents understanding of the school ID being government issued, there is no disputing a passport being government issued photo ID, expired or not.

I’m sorry but those reps are usually wrong.  I agree with a PP. Royal should be embarrassed by how little correct information they are able to provide.  I think it entirely possible that the person to whom you just spoke was sitting in their dining room.  Put you on hold, went & made a cup of coffee and came back with the safe answer which is no.  Can you reach out through either Facebook or Twitter?  It appears that will get you a faster and more likely correct answer.  Please keep us posted.

I used to be an investigator for the U.S. Department of Personnel  Management (specialized in Background Investigations for Security Clearances), the policy there was that a U.S. Passport could be used as an instrument of Identification, but not for travel.  So, if you produce a Birth Certificate and are using the Passport for the purpose of identity only, I don't see why it can't be used to get on a ship.  I would guess a Passport is much more creditable, even if expired, than a Student ID.  

Stay on the phone and talk to them.  Here is the RCL site that states they need a Government Issued ID.
What travel documents do I need to board a cruise ship (U.S. Citizens)? | Royal Caribbean Cruises

Does your DMV do the digital licenses now? That may be an option. Or some form of non-driver's license. Sometimes they're really wonky about what they can get for you same day.

Post on the other boards, wallet lost enroute with all IDs and did not have a passport.  Port accepted a photo of his expired DL 😳😳🤷‍♀️.  If you have his birth certificate, his student ID (has his picture correct?) and his expired passport, that should be good.  If however, you are flying be aware he will be subject to additional TSA screening.

Seriously?!?! This was one of the reasons I booked Royal as opposed to a few other cruise lines.  It's so gross, especially now. 

Seriously?!?! This was one of the reasons I booked Royal as opposed to a few other cruise lines.  It's so gross, especially now. 

Hahaha. Independence next week actually. But I will bring some warm and cozy extras just in case. 

Seriously?!?! This was one of the reasons I booked Royal as opposed to a few other cruise lines.  It's so gross, especially now. 

If you’re going to be on the symphony, bring a parka, snow boots, and a wool blanket 🤣

cabins are usually ready by 1 or 2 o'clock