melski94

Here's my email to RCCL customer service and the CEO:

Dear RCL;

Last August I wanted to surprise my twin 15-year-old daughters for their Grade 8 graduation and booked a 5 night Navigator of the Seas cruise out of Miami (Reservation #XXXXXX). I love researching our vacation, so I made sure and got a ship with a corner Large Panorama room, room 1864, which is oversized, on the corner of the ship, and amazing looking. 

We watched endless hours on Youtube of Miami (since we've never been), the ship (which we've never been on) and all the ports (especially Labadee, which looks amazing). Since its our March Break in Toronto, I booked the flights extra early, as soon as they were available, one day before our cruise and two days afterwards. 

Once I realized that Navigator will be coming out of drydock shortly before our cruise, we were even more excited. We watched even more Youtube videos about Mariner of the Seas' recent refurb and were hoping that the laser tag, the Skypad and the Bamboo Room would be included in our sailing. I even booked a beach bungalow and the Ultimate Dining Package, though I had to scrimp a bit more in our monthly budget.

Then yesterday, I got the news that you cancelled my cruise for a charter. Basically, from my point of view, you screwed over everyone currently booked on this and two other cruises because you had a better offer.

A 5-night cruise may not be huge to you, but I'm a widowed single father of three teenagers, and every dollar counts. I can't change the dates of our cruise to the options you gave me, since it's March break, and my girls will be out of school. I can't change my flights and go somewhere else, as the cancellation fees alone are $200/person/flight, and you'll only pay that if we rebook. Plus, because it's March Break, every flight has doubled in price, as have every cruise.

So I have two extremely pissed off teenagers and around $2000 of flights I can't change. And you're offering me $100 onboard credit? Really? 

What I would like, if at all possible, is for you to book us on the March 11, 2019 Mariner of the Seas cruise at the rate it was when I booked Navigator last August. It would be one less day of cruising, but I think it's the best I can do under the situation YOU created. Plus, I think my daughters and I deserve an actual apology for all the hardship you've created. Again, it's not a life or death situation, but I scrimp and save in order to afford vacations, and I shouldn't have them add stress to my life and expenses I wasn't planning on. My daughters shouldn't be crying and I shouldn't lose a night's sleep because RCL wanted a few extra dollars at the expense of their customers.


I await your prompt response.

Paul Cyopick

That just stinks!  I would be really mad and upset too if any of my cruises were cancelled.  My DH would be able to get over it and go to plan B very quickly but I would hold a grudge and want to cancel all of my other Royal cruises too.   We have kids so like you our dates are not flexible. 
I understand that the airfare is one of the biggest concerns between change fees and additional cost.  If your TA can't make a change that you find acceptable, I hope you salvage your vacation with your kids and just go to Florida.  There are so many places to go: the Keys, west coast, east coast, Orlando, etc.  Often times you can find a reasonably priced VRBO or AirBnB for the week (Orlando in particular is fairly inexpensive).  As the teens get older, every vacation is more precious as we won't have many more opportunities to vacation together.
I would also write a letter to the Royal Caribbean CEO.  How many customers did they lose over this?  With it being a spring break cruise, I'm sure many families will feel the same as you.
Good luck!

That just stinks!  I would be really mad and upset too if any of my cruises were cancelled.  My DH would be able to get over it and go to plan B very quickly but I would hold a grudge and want to cancel all of my other Royal cruises too.   We have kids so like you our dates are not flexible. 
I understand that the airfare is one of the biggest concerns between change fees and additional cost.  If your TA can't make a change that you find acceptable, I hope you salvage your vacation with your kids and just go to Florida.  There are so many places to go: the Keys, west coast, east coast, Orlando, etc.  Often times you can find a reasonably priced VRBO or AirBnB for the week (Orlando in particular is fairly inexpensive).  As the teens get older, every vacation is more precious as we won't have many more opportunities to vacation together.
I would also write a letter to the Royal Caribbean CEO.  How many customers did they lose over this?  With it being a spring break cruise, I'm sure many families will feel the same as you.
Good luck!

Timing is random and you need to check with every sale.  My cruise in November the best sale was in April.  None of the other sales have come close. I have cruises in March and May and neither have had a good drink package sale or excursion sale yet.  I buy when I am comfortable with the price.  I'll also buy if I am worried about an excursion selling out.  For example, I have a beach bungalow booked for both Nov and March cruises.  The bungalow for the March cruise is about $60 more than November but there are only 8 bungalows and I'm not willing to have it sell out as I wait for a lower price.  If it goes lower, I'll call and reprice it.
I haven't seen the drink package for $42 on any of my sailings for a while.  I think that was almost 2 years ago for me.  The cheapest I've recently seen for the deluxe is $47 and that is only for the November cruise.  My other cruises are $56 and $60 right now.  I'll wait on the drink package for those and see if it will come down as that is too much to me or go without.  
Last year, I remember October having decent sales but Thanksgiving/Black Friday was the best sale prices. However, the price varies with each ship and sailing and you may or may not see prices similar.  If I do see a price that I like before Black Friday sales, I will buy it before then and reprice if lower over Black Friday.
  
 
 
 

I'd probably go on an airboat everglades tour. If you are willing to drive and possibly not spend every night in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, you can drive the keys to Key West and spend a night there.  Its about a 3-4 hour drive but very pretty.  So many options.

Not a crazy idea!  I was also comparing Oasis class to NCL to MSC for spring break 2020 this week.  For what I was looking at NCL was actually higher than Oasis and since pools are a huge feature for my family that was quickly axed.  Here are a few of my thoughts since I have no experience:
1.  I compare cruises by price per person per night.  In that case, Anthem balconies would be the cheapest at $113 ppn and the JR suite option would be the highest at 181ppn.  $113 per night per person is very cheap for RC.  NCL is a good deal being about $143 ppn in the balconies with mini suite about $157 ppn.  That gives you a base rate when adding things like drinks, voom, etc.
2.  While there is free wifi in NCL, it is only 250 minutes for both kids for 14 days or 8.9 minutes per day per child.  I can't imagine you won't be paying for more wifi at some point in the cruise.   NCL says the savings is $125 but if you need to buy another 250 minutes for $125 thats pretty close to a voom device for 1 and there is still a limit to the minutes.
3. Now for ports.  Are ALL the NCL ports actually somewhere you want to go? I know Ocho Rios is one and I would imagine the Falls or Blue Hole would be difficult for you because of your knee.  If you won't get off the ship, then that port becomes a wash.  Also when I think of ports, I just think extra expense.  At $50 -$100 per person per excursion more, that can eat up any saving however the experience may be worth it to you.
4.  The go cart track is outside. It may not be able to be used for 2-3 days each way due to weather.  You may be wishing for indoor things to do.
5.  Now this may be different for you but I have to balance my soon to be college daughter's desire to be home to see her friends at home with my desire to be away on a vacation.  Mine wouldn't want to go for 14 days but we could compromise on the shorter cruise.
The beauty of the decision is that you can't go wrong!  Time with the family is the best and becomes more precious when they go to college!
 
 

My daughter turned 18 a few weeks before our spring break cruise.  The first few days were tough.  On previous cruises, she would  meet new friends in the teen club and hang out with them so much that we rarely saw her except for dinner. This cruise she tried a few 18-20 year old meet ups as in the Cruise Compass but she said there was no one there.  Once she got over the fact she may not meet anyone to hang out with, she hung out with us and she decided her parents were almost fun.  We'd sit around the pub and just had a good time hanging out with our new "adult". During the day, she was willing to do things with her younger siblings. It was still a good cruise but just different than what she experienced in the past. 

My daughter turned 18 a few weeks before our spring break cruise.  The first few days were tough.  On previous cruises, she would  meet new friends in the teen club and hang out with them so much that we rarely saw her except for dinner. This cruise she tried a few 18-20 year old meet ups as in the Cruise Compass but she said there was no one there.  Once she got over the fact she may not meet anyone to hang out with, she hung out with us and she decided her parents were almost fun.  We'd sit around the pub and just had a good time hanging out with our new "adult". During the day, she was willing to do things with her younger siblings. It was still a good cruise but just different than what she experienced in the past. 

Playa Mia has a rather large beach area plus the water park although Matt is right about the mediocre food. You can snorkel right off the beach area (not very good snorkeling but there are underwater statues that attract some fish to the area) and they have the inflatables in the ocean.  There are also slides, a basic pool and a younger kid area.  You can also rent jet skis, kayaks, etc.  Service is good, food is mediocre, clean bathrooms, and showers.  It is crowded but it is huge so people are able to spread out and there isn't really a wait to do anything.
Haven't been to Paradise Beach.  We've been to Playa Mia three times but would probably try Mr. Sanchos next time we go to Cozumel.

Hot topic and there will be a million different opinions.  The bottom line is Royal does not enforce its policy so you need to decide what is right for your family.  They will not turn away your children and depending on the ship you will see others in nice shorts and a polo.  However, on formal nights (usually nights 2 and 5 on a 7 night cruise), they should wear long pants to the MDR. It will be nice for a good family picture!  My boys wear khaki pants and a button down shirt. 
 

It’s July 4th and I know there is a RC sale but I’m on a land vacation in the Smokey mountains and spent the day rafting and zip lining. I check my email to find an email from my MEI TA. This new sale can save  $400 but I’ll have give up my current OBC of $175 but a net savings of $225. I am too busy to check on this myself and so love that my TA does this for me. 
Love MEI! Thanks Nancy for working this holiday to help your clients save money! 

It’s July 4th and I know there is a RC sale but I’m on a land vacation in the Smokey mountains and spent the day rafting and zip lining. I check my email to find an email from my MEI TA. This new sale can save  $400 but I’ll have give up my current OBC of $175 but a net savings of $225. I am too busy to check on this myself and so love that my TA does this for me. 
Love MEI! Thanks Nancy for working this holiday to help your clients save money! 

It’s July 4th and I know there is a RC sale but I’m on a land vacation in the Smokey mountains and spent the day rafting and zip lining. I check my email to find an email from my MEI TA. This new sale can save  $400 but I’ll have give up my current OBC of $175 but a net savings of $225. I am too busy to check on this myself and so love that my TA does this for me. 
Love MEI! Thanks Nancy for working this holiday to help your clients save money! 

It’s July 4th and I know there is a RC sale but I’m on a land vacation in the Smokey mountains and spent the day rafting and zip lining. I check my email to find an email from my MEI TA. This new sale can save  $400 but I’ll have give up my current OBC of $175 but a net savings of $225. I am too busy to check on this myself and so love that my TA does this for me. 
Love MEI! Thanks Nancy for working this holiday to help your clients save money! 

It’s July 4th and I know there is a RC sale but I’m on a land vacation in the Smokey mountains and spent the day rafting and zip lining. I check my email to find an email from my MEI TA. This new sale can save  $400 but I’ll have give up my current OBC of $175 but a net savings of $225. I am too busy to check on this myself and so love that my TA does this for me. 
Love MEI! Thanks Nancy for working this holiday to help your clients save money! 

It’s July 4th and I know there is a RC sale but I’m on a land vacation in the Smokey mountains and spent the day rafting and zip lining. I check my email to find an email from my MEI TA. This new sale can save  $400 but I’ll have give up my current OBC of $175 but a net savings of $225. I am too busy to check on this myself and so love that my TA does this for me. 
Love MEI! Thanks Nancy for working this holiday to help your clients save money! 

I have also been on Liberty post-refit twice during prime spring break. During both cruises, the ship had seen some of the highest numbers of passengers than normal due to the number of families onboard.  Were there crowds?  Sure but I can't say it would be different than any other ship. Windjammer was crowded but that is every ship and I just learned to eat breakfast or lunch in the MDR if I don't want to deal with the crowds.  Crowds were worst after muster drill and after shows.  Once again, I think that is typical on any ship.  Don't try to use the elevators then if you can manage the stairs. I am always very surprised by the packed crowds on the promenade during the "sales".  
We'll be on Independence in November and so look forward to hearing what you say about it!

Here's the rule on kids in their own room:  Stateroom must be next to or directly across the parent's stateroom.  If next to the room may be connecting (with a door in the middle to connect the 2 rooms) or adjoining (no connecting door) but if in a balcony you can ask the room attendant to open the balcony divider between the 2 rooms.  
You can't book this configuration online but need to call or ask a travel agent for help.  Many of us use MEI Travel, a sponsor of this blog,  You can ask the TA if there are any special connecting rooms.  For example, I have an OV balcony connecting to an interior room on Adventure which was really inexpensive.
I agree with the 7 days if you can swing it considering flying is a huge part of the cost.  One of the reasons we are doing a 5 day is that it is over Thanksgiving week.  All of my kids have off that week but I have a soon to be college student who wants to be home part of the week to see friends.  For us its a compromise as I'm hoping the college kid will keep wanting to travel with us when possible!  This will be our first cruise during Thanksgiving as we normally would go to WDW, however, a cruise is so much more relaxing.  Having done 7 fun days on Liberty, I think there will be plenty for us to do! 

If you want a nice reasonably priced beach on St. Maarten, there is Great Bay beach right by the cruise ship.  It is a $7 water taxi ride round trip and chairs are about $20 for 2.  @twangster has pictures in one of his live blogs (I think it was the Christmas one).
I did a private tour in March.  A tour is a great way to see the island the progress of the island post hurricane.  Back in March, Orient beach was still not back to normal and only had 1 restaurant and I don't think any bathrooms.  We also saw Maho beach (where the airplanes land).  That seemed back to normal with restaurants and facilities but it was very crowded for a very small beach.  In general, the Dutch side seemed to have recovered better than the French side.  
When we go again next year, we'll either do a snorkeling tour or go to Great Bay beach.

We started cruising about 4 years ago and started off on a 5 day Brilliance cruise and after wished we had done 7 days.  We are mostly introverts and we don't do the social things like Bingo, trivia, etc.  We hang out mostly as a family with my kids (not 18, 15, 11 and 7) going to the teen/AO clubs every once in a while and in the evening.  We enjoy the balance of family time and couple time that cruising offers.
We like My Time Dining for semi-casual dining but if you want true casual dining the Windjammer would be your best bet.  However, every ship the Windjammer gets crowded during peak hours and I never eat there as it is too crowded to me for breakfast and lunch.  It isn't very crowded during dinner.  With My Time Dining you can get a table just for your family easily too.
My vote is Oasis class (Harmony especially) if in the budget but if not in the budget then go with Freedom class (Independence).  Both will have good activities for you and the kids.  We are trying Independence and Adventure for our next cruises in 2018 and 2019 but will go back to Oasis class (Oasis or Harmony) for spring break 2020.  Just an FYI, OV balcony staterooms are very tight for 4 and especially tight on Oasis class.  If there is any way to do 2 connecting rooms (even interior) that is so much better to have an extra bathroom and extra space.
If you go out of Cape Liberty, don't go during Spring Break as it may not be very warm then!  I'd also avoid the Mariner Perfect Day because you will be taking a chance if construction will be done by your cruise plus Nassau is really expensive.
Final thing, if you decide to go out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale, you can fly in to either airport.  It is about a 35-45 minute drive between the 2 cities. 

We did Harmony last spring break and it was the most expensive cruise we have taken. It was even more than in 2 JR suites on Liberty!  So I get where you are coming from as that is why Independence and Adventure are our next 2. 
Harmony is expensive because it is newer.  Symphony is actually the newest and a bit more than Harmony.  Both have all the newest features including waterslides.  Oasis is going to be refurbished in 2019 and will probably have slides put in then.

We started cruising about 4 years ago and started off on a 5 day Brilliance cruise and after wished we had done 7 days.  We are mostly introverts and we don't do the social things like Bingo, trivia, etc.  We hang out mostly as a family with my kids (not 18, 15, 11 and 7) going to the teen/AO clubs every once in a while and in the evening.  We enjoy the balance of family time and couple time that cruising offers.
We like My Time Dining for semi-casual dining but if you want true casual dining the Windjammer would be your best bet.  However, every ship the Windjammer gets crowded during peak hours and I never eat there as it is too crowded to me for breakfast and lunch.  It isn't very crowded during dinner.  With My Time Dining you can get a table just for your family easily too.
My vote is Oasis class (Harmony especially) if in the budget but if not in the budget then go with Freedom class (Independence).  Both will have good activities for you and the kids.  We are trying Independence and Adventure for our next cruises in 2018 and 2019 but will go back to Oasis class (Oasis or Harmony) for spring break 2020.  Just an FYI, OV balcony staterooms are very tight for 4 and especially tight on Oasis class.  If there is any way to do 2 connecting rooms (even interior) that is so much better to have an extra bathroom and extra space.
If you go out of Cape Liberty, don't go during Spring Break as it may not be very warm then!  I'd also avoid the Mariner Perfect Day because you will be taking a chance if construction will be done by your cruise plus Nassau is really expensive.
Final thing, if you decide to go out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale, you can fly in to either airport.  It is about a 35-45 minute drive between the 2 cities. 

Not a crazy idea!  I was also comparing Oasis class to NCL to MSC for spring break 2020 this week.  For what I was looking at NCL was actually higher than Oasis and since pools are a huge feature for my family that was quickly axed.  Here are a few of my thoughts since I have no experience:
1.  I compare cruises by price per person per night.  In that case, Anthem balconies would be the cheapest at $113 ppn and the JR suite option would be the highest at 181ppn.  $113 per night per person is very cheap for RC.  NCL is a good deal being about $143 ppn in the balconies with mini suite about $157 ppn.  That gives you a base rate when adding things like drinks, voom, etc.
2.  While there is free wifi in NCL, it is only 250 minutes for both kids for 14 days or 8.9 minutes per day per child.  I can't imagine you won't be paying for more wifi at some point in the cruise.   NCL says the savings is $125 but if you need to buy another 250 minutes for $125 thats pretty close to a voom device for 1 and there is still a limit to the minutes.
3. Now for ports.  Are ALL the NCL ports actually somewhere you want to go? I know Ocho Rios is one and I would imagine the Falls or Blue Hole would be difficult for you because of your knee.  If you won't get off the ship, then that port becomes a wash.  Also when I think of ports, I just think extra expense.  At $50 -$100 per person per excursion more, that can eat up any saving however the experience may be worth it to you.
4.  The go cart track is outside. It may not be able to be used for 2-3 days each way due to weather.  You may be wishing for indoor things to do.
5.  Now this may be different for you but I have to balance my soon to be college daughter's desire to be home to see her friends at home with my desire to be away on a vacation.  Mine wouldn't want to go for 14 days but we could compromise on the shorter cruise.
The beauty of the decision is that you can't go wrong!  Time with the family is the best and becomes more precious when they go to college!
 
 

Not a crazy idea!  I was also comparing Oasis class to NCL to MSC for spring break 2020 this week.  For what I was looking at NCL was actually higher than Oasis and since pools are a huge feature for my family that was quickly axed.  Here are a few of my thoughts since I have no experience:
1.  I compare cruises by price per person per night.  In that case, Anthem balconies would be the cheapest at $113 ppn and the JR suite option would be the highest at 181ppn.  $113 per night per person is very cheap for RC.  NCL is a good deal being about $143 ppn in the balconies with mini suite about $157 ppn.  That gives you a base rate when adding things like drinks, voom, etc.
2.  While there is free wifi in NCL, it is only 250 minutes for both kids for 14 days or 8.9 minutes per day per child.  I can't imagine you won't be paying for more wifi at some point in the cruise.   NCL says the savings is $125 but if you need to buy another 250 minutes for $125 thats pretty close to a voom device for 1 and there is still a limit to the minutes.
3. Now for ports.  Are ALL the NCL ports actually somewhere you want to go? I know Ocho Rios is one and I would imagine the Falls or Blue Hole would be difficult for you because of your knee.  If you won't get off the ship, then that port becomes a wash.  Also when I think of ports, I just think extra expense.  At $50 -$100 per person per excursion more, that can eat up any saving however the experience may be worth it to you.
4.  The go cart track is outside. It may not be able to be used for 2-3 days each way due to weather.  You may be wishing for indoor things to do.
5.  Now this may be different for you but I have to balance my soon to be college daughter's desire to be home to see her friends at home with my desire to be away on a vacation.  Mine wouldn't want to go for 14 days but we could compromise on the shorter cruise.
The beauty of the decision is that you can't go wrong!  Time with the family is the best and becomes more precious when they go to college!
 
 

Not a crazy idea!  I was also comparing Oasis class to NCL to MSC for spring break 2020 this week.  For what I was looking at NCL was actually higher than Oasis and since pools are a huge feature for my family that was quickly axed.  Here are a few of my thoughts since I have no experience:
1.  I compare cruises by price per person per night.  In that case, Anthem balconies would be the cheapest at $113 ppn and the JR suite option would be the highest at 181ppn.  $113 per night per person is very cheap for RC.  NCL is a good deal being about $143 ppn in the balconies with mini suite about $157 ppn.  That gives you a base rate when adding things like drinks, voom, etc.
2.  While there is free wifi in NCL, it is only 250 minutes for both kids for 14 days or 8.9 minutes per day per child.  I can't imagine you won't be paying for more wifi at some point in the cruise.   NCL says the savings is $125 but if you need to buy another 250 minutes for $125 thats pretty close to a voom device for 1 and there is still a limit to the minutes.
3. Now for ports.  Are ALL the NCL ports actually somewhere you want to go? I know Ocho Rios is one and I would imagine the Falls or Blue Hole would be difficult for you because of your knee.  If you won't get off the ship, then that port becomes a wash.  Also when I think of ports, I just think extra expense.  At $50 -$100 per person per excursion more, that can eat up any saving however the experience may be worth it to you.
4.  The go cart track is outside. It may not be able to be used for 2-3 days each way due to weather.  You may be wishing for indoor things to do.
5.  Now this may be different for you but I have to balance my soon to be college daughter's desire to be home to see her friends at home with my desire to be away on a vacation.  Mine wouldn't want to go for 14 days but we could compromise on the shorter cruise.
The beauty of the decision is that you can't go wrong!  Time with the family is the best and becomes more precious when they go to college!