AnnetteJackson
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Posts posted by AnnetteJackson
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On 12/14/2019 at 7:44 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:
We were on that cruise (it was actually a RCCL Blog group cruise) but I never even saw any of the people in this film although the only one I would have recognized would have been Kelsey Grammer. We were staying on Deck 17, too !
Not sure how you missed all of them.... I walked in on shooting a couple of times in Coastal Kitchen, on Labadee and then I got to "babysit" for Kelsey's little boy since they all went to sit for breakfast and the little guy was playing cars on the floor in Coastal Kitchen.
I have also been on other cruises (DCL) with many of the Disney Channel Stars - like Raven and the Jonas Brothers... but the best was Richard Sherman on a group cruise I did where he was the special guest. To hear his stories of working with Walt Disney, writing and composing the music for soooo many Disney classic films, and then the personal stories he shared with me of his memories of Annette Funicello.
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2 hours ago, Neesa said:
@AnnetteJackson you have been wonderful whenever I speak to MEI, can you help Shannon? @ShannonTo quote all of our friends on this blog, no question is silly! Hope you get the answers you seek, actually I know you will. Have a great week!
Shannon,
I would love to talk with you on this and help you understand what we can and cant help you with at this time. Because I do not know exactly what you have asked, email me at [email protected] or give me a call at 919 605 6282 and I can make sure you have everything you need to pre plan. @Shannon
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On 11/2/2019 at 12:02 PM, S.Marie said:
I am in Knightdale (right outside of Raleigh, NC) and I guarantee that if there was a RC ship out of Charleston, I would absolutely cruise more often (and include my kids/larger groups) because it is such a driveable distance (and Charleston is a fun locale for us since we are foodies). @AnnetteJackson thanks for continuing to encourage RC to try to get something lined up there in the future!
Hey.. I am from Cary and lived there until 5 years ago... know Knightdale well. I keep asking, they keep saying maybe one day - but who knows.
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19 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:
Anyone know if travel agents have this ability? @AnnetteJackson or @michelle?
Would be nice... but I assume Royal like for EVERYONE to have to work for the cruise bookings! Call center has to do the same thing.. sailing by sailing
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1 minute ago, DanielB said:
Just curious why would they want to take a benefit away from their clients that does not cost them anything to participate in?
Another reason I am happy I have Stephanie with MEI!
HAHA... maybe because they prefer to sell tires and large amounts of food over travel plans
Not sure to be honest, but a really odd plan in my opinion.
Thanks for the shout out for MEI and Stephanie
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20 hours ago, Vlgg said:
Guess ours went to the travel agent we used. She still hasn't told us that the itinerary changed. Just is assuming I already know, I guess. First and last time with her.
From the TA perspective on this... We do get copied on SOME of the emails for the RoyalUp program, but not always. I have been in meetings with Royal about this very topic as we do not always get them. At Mei-Travel if we get them we contact the clients to let them know, but again we dont always get them. It is supposed to be tied to your C and A account and emailed to you that way or if you have an email on file for the bookings you would get notified, but from my experience with @Matt bookings - there are times he does not get emails and times I do not get them and I am willing to bet there are some emails that neither of us get. Tried to fix this many times, but Royal IT is "looking into this".
But I can say 100% that Costco is not allowing those booked with them to participate in the RoyalUp Program. This happened a couple of months back.
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4 minutes ago, SteveinSC said:
I
....and getting better, all the time. Its changed A LOT just in the last few years. You should check out Legal Remedy Brewery, for lunch or dinner, next time youre here. Its by far my favorite spot for beer (they serve a local hard cider, also) and food (pub nachos with pulled pork....amazing).
You should stop by Dust off Brewing CO - look for the bald bar tender with a beard - that is my son. Tell Jonathan that his mom and MATT sent you
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On this one.... the ship that sails out of Charleston is one of Carnivals smaller ships. There are plans in the next two years to expand the port area in this location but not sure what size ship would be able to come to this port. BUT i am always asking this at sales meetings because I love a driveable port! Allows you to cruise more often.
And Rock Hill..... My son lives there! I am there a few times a year. great place you are at !
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On 4/12/2019 at 8:58 PM, cookingyo said:
The crappy thing is the group price was the exact same price as the RCCL web price. So this was a case where I lost money booking with a TA. It happens, and going forward I wouldn't apply it to group cruises. I'm saving up for the 1,000,000 point Oasis class cruise they offer around Christmas for sailing in January anyway.
Yes, the casino rate is not ombineable with a group rate.... but we will still give you the others options even if you book at RCCL Blog Group cruise with MEI-Travel. We don;t want anyone to be left out from the fun!
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18 minutes ago, 12thman said:
Thank you for the information! Waiting for my TA to get me pricing hopefully it'll have that GS maybe a OS.
Feel free to email me and I can let you know exactly what we have left.
we do hold certain cabins so it could depend on what is booked right now as to what we have at group rate. Happy to help and work with your MEI Agent.
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18 hours ago, 12thman said:
@AshleyDillo thanks for all the insight! Hopefully we can make it. I'm planning our Alaska cruise for next year. Group activities sounds fun!! Does anyone know how booking excursions, meals etc. Gets coordinated with group activities?
Hey - as I sit at SeaTac right now!
Group cruises - I wish we could post all the group events when we start out the gate, but because the numbers in the group change, we cannot lock in some of our items with the ship until after final payment. Matt did give a link to group events as an example, but we try to have a meet up each day. We never want to force anyone to eat dinner at a certain time so we try to avoid meal times. We use an app for those that are on wifi so that we can give you changes and reminders about group events, but for those that are not on wifi, I will make sure you have a printed schedule as well as notecards along the cruise so you have reminders of items and locations.
Groups - the people are the best!
Excursions - I always say book what you want to do just in case. Make sure you can cancel if you decided to do a group excursion with us - but always your choice. For an example, we have not announced the Group Shore Excursion for NYE on Freedom yet. It can take several weeks after everyone makes final to lock some of the events in place.... but trust me... we try to make it fun for everyone!
- SpeedNoodles, Ken23 and Mike P
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8 hours ago, Matt said:
If I can expand your question to be a bit more general, I'd say if you find yourself in the NextCruise office and want to use MEI, simply inform the NextCruise agent that you want to have MEI manage the reservation.
If MEI booked you on the cruise you are currently on, when at the NextCruise office, tell them to use the travel agent you're sailing with currently. If not, tell them to either assign the reservation to yourself (and you can transfer it to MEI after you get home) or provide NextCruise with your MEI agent's info and it will be sent to them.
Or you could do the Matt method....
He typically checks with me to see what price is he is booked at or will send me what next cruise is offering so I can check with what he is booked at. Then he knows if he needs to book on board or not. Check with the agent you are working with or I can assign you to an agent prior to your sailing - and then work with them to make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck!
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8 hours ago, Matt said:
Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. What I mean, is do both quotes include taxes, fees, gratuities, insurance? MEI tends to include that by default, whereas others do not.
Also MEI-Travel - we tend to send you refundable prices and not non refundable... as those will be lower but while all of us think we will cruise no matter what... you never know
- StephanieH and Matt
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There are 2 main pier 66 - NCL and some Princess port closer to the market. Royal and Celebrity pier 91 are further away and sometimes Princess will go to this port as well.
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5 hours ago, CNA Jacksonville said:
We have booked our RCCL cruises directly with the cruise line itself. But in reading this and similar posts, seems like better deals and perks might be had by using a Travel Agent. I will plead ignorance by reporting I have no experience with Travel Agents. What advice can you all share about finding a good one for future RCCL adventures? We do have AAA and they do have Travel Agents but I am pretty sure not all Travel Agents are created equal.
I have said this several different threads on this board, but I would say give one a try with 1 cruise to see what you think. BUT I always recommend that you treat this like you would finding a contractor to work on your house. Get on the phone and ask the agent what they do for their clients, what else they mat be able to provide, etc. This is hopefully the start of a relationship with a person that can handle all your vacation needs so you can relax and just vacation. Make sure to ask about price reductions are they done automatically or do you have to let them know. Ask if there are fees with the agency as some do charge a fee just to quote and book for you. Make sure you feel comfortable with the agent you are working with.
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13 hours ago, Chris Winters said:
Called my travel agent 2 weeks ago to upgrade to Central Park View Balcony. Was given a cabin on deck 11. Logged in today and see I am now on Deck 10. Is RC allowed to change assignments like that without notice, and what would be the reason for doing so?
Hey Chris,
This can happen if they have issues with a room close in, someone puts you in a room that sleeps say 3 people but there are only 2 on the reservation, royal upgrade I have seen it happen without asking the client etc. Most of the time Royal will call to let you know of the change or let your TA know but sometimes the call comes after the move has happened.
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On 10/18/2019 at 10:14 AM, Neesa said:
@AnnetteJackson, That's wonderful news! To clarify my particular inquiry was "do you have an OBC scale like Small World?" Whatever the case may be I totally stand by the belief that an OBC does not always = a great TA. Sharla had our business with her customer care and communication skills, knowing we will be receiving an additional gift, well that's just icing on the cake. Thanks for educating me on MEI and confirming once again how I made the correct choice, have a lovely day! (In Sharlas defense I had so many questions at the time and was so excited to be booking another sailing (I had just cancelled a B2B DCL) that she may have mentioned the gift but I missed it. #MEI
We do not have a scale like Small World. I am very familiar with them as we have a strong Disney business as well. Small World has a business model that gives back to the client and pays less to the agent. That amount you are getting back is coming out of what the agent would have made - so good for the customer, but maybe not so much for the agent. We decided years ago that service is worth something and our agents deserve to get paid. They determine the amount of gifts and OBC that they give. I firmly believe that you will get better service from an agent if they are happy in their job and getting paid.
Thank you for the nice words on Sharla. I know that our team of agents that work with this community love to hear the kudos and when I see them here, I share with them. Again, thanks for giving us a try and I am so glad you are happy.
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5 hours ago, L454S said:
Wally World....$14, pack in carry on.
This is the exact fan I have gotten on my last 5 cruises when I asked for a fan to be brought to my room. So these are totally approved
There are a limited number on board the ships that you can ask for. Sometimes the Room Steward might tell you they dont have them, but they have them on the ships. You can ask at Guest Services as well. I dont recommend waiting too long on day one as I've never been given the number of them that they have. BUT, I did have a group on board that requested between all the rooms 25... and they had them.
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55 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:
Anyone know what benefits those new ultimate panoramic suites will get? Sea, Sky, Star?
Supposed to be Star Class starting May 2021.
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42 minutes ago, Neesa said:
We have sailed 10X with DCL and Small World Vacations had the OBC amounts all laid out in print very searchable on-line. Fast forward pretty much disgusted with the DCL experience in relation to the prices as well as the diminishing services and finally customer service pretty much gone we came over here to RCCL for our 1st sailing in a few weeks. The TA picked by the group offered a decent OBC so they went with her BUT alas she is no RCCL expert. Can't even minimally compare to my previous TA. I researched for our summer 2020 sailing and landed on MEI as recommended from this site for our 2cd RCCL sailing, as there was no way I could book with the previous one. I was surprised when I asked about OBC she said they didn't offer it, but just speaking with her I KNEW she was the best for our family. (Sharla) has taken the best care to adjust my pricing (price drop within 1st week of booking) as well as answer any questions I had. I feel like I have an RCCL expert advocating for me and since we are cruisers and will most likely now sail exclusively with RCCL I believe I made the correct choice, I would rather a good relationship and feeling of comfort versus an OBC at the end of the day! #TeamSharla
Thank you for giving us a try and glad Sharla is helping you with the planning to make this easier for you! I know I am not involved with this booking, but it sounds like she may have been telling you that the offer you were booked at didn't come with an OBC from Royal. MEI agents will provide a gift to clients - sometimes its in room, gift card or an OBC. Most are shying away from in room gifts as Royal does not always send a gift card so you may not realize its from them.
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5 hours ago, Mackensie said:
My husband and I are traveling with our 3 kids and have two state rooms. I received a RoyalUp email and can upgrade to a 2-room Grand Suite. If I bid and get it, can our kids stay in the room with us? I don’t care if we don’t get the kid’s room cancelled/reimbursed. Has anyone done
this before??
You would be fine doing this. Many people have done this. As long as you are ok with the room you are paying for but no one sleeping in.
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On 10/14/2019 at 10:12 PM, davidlap said:
My wife and I have signed up for our first Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise (Oct 2020). I know it is a long way off but we were already looking at excursion options and other activities. We know that the group cruises will sometime feature activities that are exclusive for the group. We are curious to know if any of these are known in advance so that we minimize the chance that we will book something else at the same time.
Can't wait to sail with you guys!
We will start to have some plans like pre stay and such once we get into 2020. But as @Matt stated. We have learned over the years that its really hard to plan some events in advance because the number of guest can change drastically right at final payment. Also, please know that I have to work with the events team on board the ship for many items and they will not even talk about most plans until a couple months before the cruise.
- DaveWithHat and StephanieH
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RCB Group Cruise 2020 Questions?
in Royal Caribbean Discussion
Posted
Hey there,
Your MEI Agent can quote you either rate. Some people in the group will be booked a nonrefundable rates and others will be a refundable - all depends on the client. We quote you both ways so you can see the difference in pricing and decide which rate works best for you. I can say that @Matt doesnt book group cruises a non refundable rates. He prefers (as do I) to have refundable and then as we get closer we can compare to see if close to final payment the nonrefundable rate works in his favor. That $100 Penalty per person will stop most people from the small savings with this rate.