OK, new to the forum but I always see a lot of great responses. I have also used the search function pretty extensively to read about changing names on reservations but have been unable to find any specific to our issue. We are planning on calling RC but kind of wanted to have some idea of what we are walking into before doing anything as it probably sounds like a bit of funny business...but it just seems like such a waste to have no one use these rooms.
We are cruising on IOTS March 7th, 2024, so right around the corner. My family (me + wife + daughter) are booked in an interior stateroom. We were travelling with another family who is booked in 2 connected balcony rooms (room 1 mom + dad, room 2 3 kids). Unfortunately they can no longer travel. They understand they are completely SOL as far as their cruise payment goes but lucky for them it is a work issue and his company is reimbursing him (must be nice!).
Because they have 2 rooms, we were interested in potentially 'trading' our one room for their 2 better rooms, which are already fully paid for. I understand that one person from the original booking needs to remain on the reservation, but could we potentially swap out some names on the reservations so that we can have these rooms? I also know that you can't be booked in multiple rooms at the same time.
Current Situation
Room 1 (Our room): Me, MyWife, MyKid
Room 2 (Balcony 1): Husband 2, Wife2
Room 3 (Balcony 2): Kid1, Kid2, Kid3
Desired Situation
Room 1 (Our Room): Me
Room 2 (Balcony 1): Wife1, Wife2 (not actually cruising)
Room 3 (Balcony 2): MyKid, Kid2 (not actually cruising), Kid3 (not actually cruising)
I am thinking this would be relatively 'simple' if this replacement was being done with another family that wasn't already on the cruise, but imagine that us already having a room complicates things. I am not sure if a reprice would be triggered by removing my wife and child from our room to transfer to their room. I also don't think we could just cancel our room and move everyone to their rooms as that would change the ages of the people in the rooms.
Thank you all in advance...I know I am asking about some serious finagling which could be unethical, but not feeling too bad about making it happen because the rooms are already paid for and will just go to waste (other than Royal making a few more bucks from a last minute RoyalUp).