vithibee

I stumbled upon this trying to assess the aft cabins on Odyssey.  It would be a new thing for us (family of four with a tween/young teen). It would be same cabin but on deck 11 - I assume it would be a little shorter (some extra space but not the 6 feet noted above).  That is nice but not a reason unto itself. The view looks cool - not the straight down to water that I am used to, but unique and a little cleaner as I am not surrounded by 60 cabins on either side of me. What is the main allure for an aft cabin? Just the wake? 

On 4/20/2021 at 1:43 PM, Vacation Crazy said:

We are in a 3D category(11326) which is a regular ocean view room.  It is listed as 198 sq ft. but the room and balcony definitely appear larger on the deck plan.   We just upgraded from an obstructed OVB room.  It was $400 more but glad we did.  There is nothing like the wake view!

I am interested in any feedback on 11326 or 11328 - they appear a little longer (not sure how great a benefit that will be). Balcony about the same. Views of wake a plus, but cannot look straight down to the water. Longer walk to some locations on the ship. Yet people love aft balconies - thoughts?

Leaving 10/15 on Symphony. I googled a few minutes and found several "pay per test" options between FLL and POM.I suspect the same as we have these options in Indy (smaller metro area).  Please Please google this and have a plan B.  Not cheap but if CVS botches your test and you are on a plane, don't as facebook or this blog where to go. 

On 7/6/2021 at 12:54 PM, vithibee said:

With the casino, the 5% price to turn my 125% FCC into cash seems tolerable as a last alternative. 

Churning this question for another minute.  Is my logic copied above correct?  I picked up 125% FCC but I had already purchased my drinks package, etc. via credit card as I spotted a good sale.  So I'd lose almost all of the 25% bonus in the now higher cost. Of course I am watching for future sales.  If the sale does not click, can I just pay 5% to get casino chips and then cash them out.  I am still ahead, right?

2 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

Actually if you purchased items with OBC and cancel,  the OBC is available immediately for use.  Meanwhile you have to wait several business days at a minimum to see the credit card refund show on your credit card account statememt.

I understand that is how it works when the OBC was purchased or offered in a promotion. Is that how FCC credit would work?  I ask because the cruise fare FCC process was not quick - getting the FCCs issued took several months, then it took weeks for a partial FCC to be reissued.  I realize they were possibly short staffed last winter but no one can claim RCL is administratively superior when it comes to issuing refunds and FCCs.  I just worry I will see a sale on the drink package and end up trying to cancel a package previously bought with FCC and they will say "please wait for your FCCs to be reissued" - has anyone already seen these cruise planner FCC process in the real world? 

14 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

The only way to use the OBC on items already purchased is to cancel and rebuy them.  Keep an eye on prices, because we always advise that you can always cancel if the price drops and take advantage of it.  In that case if the OBC is loaded and available you can use it then.  Otherwise, OBC can cover the gratuities that get charged daily.  You can use it in the casino, but if you go through the cashier they charge 5% if you don't have Casino Royale status.  Sometimes they have it set up that you can use it at the slot machines with no added charge, but that's been hit or miss for me.

Any data points on the timing or process to cancel and rebook CP items when you use FCC?  I have done the cancel and repurchase thing via credit card and it is instant. In the case of FCC, I worry the cancel/reissue FCC process would take weeks (as it did for cruise fare FCC). Hard to believe it is instantly available (after the CP item is cancelled). 

With the casino, the 5% price to turn my 125% FCC into cash seems tolerable as a last alternative. 

I have 125% cruise planner FCC from a cancelled cruise. I have two cruises booked before the FCC expiration date (Sept 2022); however, I already booked my main CP purchases (drink packages, CocoCay) via credit card as I saw good prices before the FCC was processed.  I assume RCL won't let me apply the FCC to the existing purchases and just refund my money. Is there any other way to effectively cash out the FCC?  The casino maybe?  (If it matters, I am booked on Symphony this October and Harmony next March.)

Prediction:  It will become a challenge for families to schedule over school breaks (Fall Break, TG, Winter, Spring Break 2021) as school districts toy with new schedule models.  The colleges have already announced plans to start early and end the fall semester at Thanksgiving with no fall break.  It is possible Spring Break 2021 is also on the chopping block - the worse part is decisions may be withheld for months. I fully expect my local elementary and high schools to adopt that fall 2020 plan.  The good news is that opens up early December (a great time for values) for a cruise.  

Are other families hearing this, thinking about this, or holding off on school break cruises due to uncertainty.  

If I’m Emerald, what’s the C&A discount (balcony)? Is it combinable with common promotions like Bogo50, kids sail free, etc?  (I rarely get the shareholder discount since it won’t combine with any other discount.)

On 1/19/2018 at 9:18 AM, Matt said:

You can re-price and/or change rooms on the same sailing. You just cannot cancel or change sail dates/ships without incurring the change fee.

Any data points on re-pricing from a "traditional" fare to kids sail free?  I feel like what I see on a non-refundable fare for March 2017 but I usually mail a KSF in the summer and that would make  it a no-brainer.