anneglubis

I haven't even been invited to bid.

Oh sure yes. Lessons are being learned. For me, I learned about charters. I think I've been invited to one, now that I understand what they are. I haven't had a cruise cancelled or been denied boarding due to overbooking yet. And I didn't mean to suggest the discussion on rccl business practices stop. I literally just wanted to know if we settled that weird business about the OP question. It's all I was invested in. I find myself getting into these philosophical convos with hubby all the time. He likes to consider issues theoretically. I like to solve one concrete instance, then maybe root cause, but not before. So I wanted some closure on that concrete OP question. Having that, I'll step away while y'all work out the theory. Seriously, no judgement. Hubby is over here talking about the war in Ukraine right now. I need to find a different post on here to engage in. Love this site!

I thought we were debating whether the OP was a real customer who actually faced this real situation. Since they're gone during a discussion in which the OP was vigorously defended, seems like that judgement is leaning for the petitioner.

Don't mix my wasabi into the soy sauce? How dare they?!

Bah. No can join midcruise. And apparently there is a casino on this one, because the deal also comes with free play. They might shut it down while in the islands, just gambling in the lower 48 and Mexico. Anyway, it was carnival. Ok. Time for sleep here in Italy. Gotta get up good and early to wash the dishes, lug our suitcases from the 3rd floor, get cash for our tourist tax, and take the trash down to some piazza. I'm a bit over VRBO today. But I see I'm way off topic. I surely hope I get a good deal to be booted off the cruise this week. I'm not looking forward to 10 days with the SIL.

Is it possible I'm thinking of another cruise line? I know it started in LA (yuch), went to Hawaii, then back past LA to Mexico (not my cup of tea), then up to LA (and we're back to yuch). It is a free offering, so maybe it's from another place I've been known to gamble . I'll check when I get back home. A good pal o' mine is a cruise director on Virgin Ocean. I'll ask him about those rules, too. Bbiab with interesting intel.

I brought a bunch of coffee pods and my personal favorite creamers. Because it didn't occur to me they'd provide coffee for the machine. I could really use a clue lol

I live in Florida and love all the climates . But the cruise ships aren't governed by Florida. Don't let that keep you from coming! We'd be happy to have you sail from here. I can admit, though, that the bad behavior on ships is more prevalent on our Caribbean cruises than I see in Alaska or Europe. @Bmac we are considering Hawaii cruise. But we're only interested in the Hawaii portion, not the sail to/from LA. Do you know if it's possible to hop on/hop off at the islands?

The thought of someone serving me TOO much is what kept me from choosing the gooder suites. I booked my first suite, but a JS, for this week's trip, thinking we'd get the coastal kitchen at least. And then I realized I missed out on a bunch of other perqs and the concierge wouldn't be too attentive to just me. Too late to upgrade. Y'all enjoy! I'll remember all this for the next booking.

They charter the ship? So the keep the crew on it and just have a cruise but with all people from one company or whoever chartered? Or do the just charter the ship and some other cruise company runs the trip? Someone mentioned charter in a different post this week. But that's the first time I ever heard of such a thing.

We're in Italy! Last one here is a rotten egg!!!

Well, I'll jump things off with our official vacation photo. DH and I are headed to Florence for a couple alone days, sister joining us the last day in Florence, 3 of us train to Rome for a few days with the rest of the group: DH, me, sister, sister's bff, brother, SIL, niece (21 and a free spirit), and niece (24 and a nurse loner). My favorite? Sister’s BFF. We've traveled with him before and it's a dream. Kick off photo: carrot cake at the sky club, after waiting to get in (in Jacksonville Florida lol).

European RV caravan anyone?

I did not know the CEO started in audit into finance into CFO. Now you have my interest. My personal experience with CFOs trying to meddle in customer strategy decisions has been, to be kind, poor. It's possible a CFO would make this kind of ridiculous model. Now, I just need to see some data on involuntary cancellations and customer sentiment/loyalty. I'm headed to vacation today. Maybe I'll have some time to snoop around. But I'd still love for people to share what they have: news stories, I guess, if no real industry data.

Tamago is what converted me to sushi. And tamago for sure with my hands even though I can use chopsticks. Stir some wasabi into your soy sauce (with a chopstick lol). I can't wait to get on that dang ship! These guys are kidding with you. The staff will think nothing of giving you a fork. I guarantee they only want you to enjoy your meal. Be confident. That's the key. Good luck!!

If people really do have a problem with this, we don't have to wait around for a Congressional act. The impacted people need to voice their experiences to as many cruising customers as possible. Celebrity or Holland will come out saying they won't force anyone off... or their stats are so much better... I'd switch loyalties if there's some evidence of a company process whereby cruisers are thrown off a ship without a fair agreement. Actually maybe one of y'all has a link to the industry data. Will someone share that? I'm into customer analytics. I'd totally spread the word if these are truly unfair or predatory practices.

Me too. I absolutely love it. None of my travel... Wait... There was one family issue out of country during COVID... Only one time has my travel schedule been more important than getting a good deal.

100% OP's friend's fault. I'm not giving them a pass. But it's not in RCs long term interest to allow this. There's a bunch of customer loyalty data explaining why. They're better off financially making it easy on customers to remember. I'm disappointed and actually surprised in their process here.

Well heck. That's the same thing I was thinking. Nonetheless... Can't wait to get out there! Hubby and I planned a few days touring around Italy a little before the cruise. But now I'm exhausted from work and I just want to get settled on the ship. Lesson learned to do the huffing and puffing land tours after we've relaxed on the cruise next time.

Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Did you get a thanks for trying email, Dina? I'm more confused than ever. Seems like they wouldn't tell you no until the very last minute since, like someone wrote, a person might not show up etc. Dang. I love a balcony room, though. You're gonna have such a fun cruise! I'm reading a blog of a lady on our ship right now going to the holy land itinerary. Looks like tons of fun on there

Yay!!!! Yay for both of these things!!!!

Glad to know there were reservations available. They are "sold out" for my cruise according to the app. Maybe they have some set aside.

I'll be getting on Odyssey in Rome when you disembark I guess. What's wrong with quantum? I'm not arguing lol. I'm really asking if someone will enlighten me. What am I in for? Too big? Too small? Overbooked?

Lol! We're vegetarian lolol. But hubby eats meat occasionally. So I'll take you up on that advice and try to set him up for a nice steak. Part of what I'm hoping is that CK serves better vegetarian options than the dining room, which has only about 2-3 Indian dishes they shuffle throughout the cruise. We can only do that for a couple of meals and then it's so much salad and cheese pizza on these trips. It's fine for me, who always has weight to lose and doesn't care that much about food quality actually. But hubby burns calories like a furnace. I gotta find protein to shovel in there and he is kinda picky. BTW, I'm surely not suggesting royal change anything for the 2% passengers who are vegetarians. Just trying to see if there are more options on the ship that I've been missing. So come on CK!! Thanks so much for the tips.

Bah. I guess my app isn't updated with that stuff. Tons of the buttons in the toolbar don't bring up anything. Maybe once I get on the ship, it'll all sort out. I'm so used to NOT using the app on carnival, I just didn't bother with the RC app.