AnnetteJackson

2 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

My understanding is that Royal forbids you from advertising a lower price for the cruise itself but has no issue with the TA rebating back OBC/Specialty Dinners/Etc.

That was the confusing thing for me when i first started was the assumption that all TA's had a similar OBC policy and the ones that werent offering it to me "up front" were not as good of a deal.

It can be hard to follow because Travel Agents can hold group space with reduced rates and offerings, sometimes we have group space that comes with extra perks like a Shore excursion or party included, then there are the Dining and Gratuity offers that not all agencies have access to.  I know everyone wants to feel they are getting the best deal for their cruise, but sometimes its about finding the planner that can take the worry away from your trip that offers you a thank you for doing business with them, checks your prices for discounts.  I've been doing this a long time (Dont want to give my age away) but its always getting to know the clients needs and wants to hopefully build a relationship of trust between you and the agent.

3 minutes ago, MicroBeta said:

It also seems that it would be easy to segregate what may still be clean on the trip home.

Mike 

Yep - i always have the hanging cubes and a laundry bag so I can put the dirty in a bag or two and place in the shelving and keep the clean ones in the zippered pouch.

2 hours ago, Matt said:

One of the gray areas of travel agencies is a practice known as "rebating", where the agency uses part of the money they receive as commission for the booking to give back to the client. This is a banned practice by Royal Caribbean, but it happens a lot with certain big sites/agencies to draw a large volume of bookings.

I love money as much as the next guy, but the issue is the lack of service that typically goes with it and/or change fees.  Classic example is the warehouse clubs that offer cruises.

So yes, you're not hearing incorrectly, but I think you have to look at the big picture when it comes to managing your reservation.

As usual, full disclosure: this site is sponsored by a travel agency so I have "skin in the game".

Coudlnt have said this better myself. - Be careful with any agent or agency that wants to work for FREE.  Not sure what service you will get if they are not making any money.  Also,  would like to add that I know a lot of people shop around for the OBC and extras, but the easiest way to book a trip is with a Travel Planner that knows what you like and this comes with working with them on a few trips.  

Trust me - it took a few trips with @Matt to figure him out!  Still working on it! HAHA

On 10/12/2019 at 10:34 AM, RCIfan1912 said:

Do you think its ok to ask about on-board credit with a TA? Meaning is it OK to ask if there will be any on board credit given for booking with them? I always feel awkward about that situation so sometimes I ask after we book or not at all. How do you handle that kinda situation? Should the TA tell you this information without having to be asked? Just some curious questions I've never asked about. Thanks for any insight on this.

I actually think you should interview your Travel Agent - with this being one of the questions.  Its nice for you to know what the agent can help you with and it is also good for the Travel Planner to know what you are looking for as well.

16 minutes ago, MicroBeta said:

Does anyone use suitcase packing cubes?  Can they really save any space or is more about organization...or both?  

TIA

Mike

I love them~!  The ones that I use actually hang  - so once you arrive you take it out of the luggage and it hangs in the closet.  Only having to hang those clothes that need to hang for wrinkle release   https://www.amazon.com/Stow-N-Go-Portable-Luggage-Suitcase-Organizer/dp/B01N9KMI1Z/ref=sr_1_4?crid=JVPBS5EDFXNJ&keywords=hanging+packing+cubes+for+travel&qid=1571067203&sprefix=hanging+pac%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-4

I love the back of the ship!  Yes there are some poles and metal in the way of a clear view out, but the view of the water churning behind the ship - very few get to see that!  Corners are the best as the balconies are huge!  Deck 6 is not the best since you are looking out at the blue area with the logo BUT still you can look out and see the ocean.  This is a view from deck 7 aft corner room

We went here.. and to the place across the street - wish I remembered the name - but they filled the pastries while you were there so they  were not soggy when we got them.  BUT.. the plan was to bring them to the ship - hmmm...... they didnt make it!   I ate the last ones in the Lyft on the way back to the ship.  So my add to this - buy more than you think you need if taking back to the ship!

3 hours ago, ncnickel said:

We just booked our second cruise - also through Stephanie at MEI. Made it sooo easy and she provided us with great intel! It can all be overwhelming. THANK YOU to Stephanie and MEI.

Thank you so much for giving us a try and seeing the benefits of using a TA!  We are always here as a team to help you so always feel welcome to reach out to your agent or myself if you have any issues.

I wish I could say that this always happens... but it doens't.  It really all depends on who has booked what on the ship along with who has signed up for the upgrade program.   You could wait and book a last minute deal, but you would be at the mercy of what is left on the sailing that you wanted and it might be MORE than what you could have paid in the beginning - OR - it could be a steal.  Not cruising when everyone else cruises or to the locations that everyone else books can help on getting deals.  I typically tell clients to book what they are comfortable paying and if we can reduce it or upgrade with another deal - its a win because you booked what you wanted in the first place.  If you go into this booking and inside assuming you will be able to upgrade for a small fee or for the same rate, you may be upset with the price you end up paying or the location of where your room is.  This is the case for Royal and Celebrity .

3 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I should say we didn't say we were Emerald but no asked either. I guess next time we will say it even though I find that tacky a bit. Next time we'll make it known. We are on Oasis from NJ next May where it could be a cluster before of the extra passengers and other ships in port. 

It really can depend on the port.  NJ - every time I am there it is a mess. And this has been with several cruise lines, Carnival, Royal, Celebrity.  I think sometimes it depends n the port authority and who is running things on land.  BUT once on board its all good!

For all those with the $18 drink package..... this could happen to you!

I have seen issues for name changes, dropping someone off the reservation, and adjustments to price.  And if you bought that package with an OBC then you need to settle in for your price.  It will drop off at that rate and then you have to buy - no way the savings for a new offer will offset in this case.

1 hour ago, WannaCruise said:

So I went to do a price check on our Mariner cruise (only one with a potential price drop).  My daughter is 11 years old so she qualifies for the Kids Sale Free.  The pink Kids Sale Free logo pops up with the mock booking when entering the age of 0-12 year olds, but no reflection in the price.  Pretty banner but makes no difference.  Confused....  I even filled in the details of our birth dates, etc

Yep, many times they have these offers, but they have adjusted the cruise fare before they release.  It does depend on your sailing date, inventory availability and possibly the mood of the person at Royal that sets these rates (haha).  There will be other people that we post that they saved lots with this offer.  It always depends on what price you booked at and where they moved those cruise fare rates for your particular category.  Sometimes checking another category code that might work for you as well.  Sometimes you have just picked the category that is selling better.

21 minutes ago, Zacharius said:

I believe this may depend on the fare. Not all fares are "upgradeable" so you may want to make sure you get one. On some airlines, upgrades are limited to those with certain status, too. So it's not always as simple as "I have miles, upgrade me". And of course, most are space available and those with status may have the ability to upgrade long before those without status.

That is a true statement.... depends on the starting point if with the airline you can upgrade or not.  Sorry should have been a little clearer on this.   All airlines have the basic seat to get on the plane that you cannot upgrade your seat later.  Make sure to ask about that when working with Air to Sea so you have a fare that you can pick your seat and upgrade.  Then you can possibly use your points to upgrade if you have enough and you book a fare that allows you to upgrade.

On 9/20/2019 at 7:05 PM, Jill said:

Sharla at MEI is trying to get my Symphony cruise moved. RCCL denied initially because I was past 60 days from booking. I’m still MONTHS away from final payment. She told me to email her the denial letter. 

 

Hey

I work on these almost daily for the agents.  Once we have the denial email, we can fight to take this over to help watch for discounts for you.  It can take a few days to hear, but happy to help.

12 minutes ago, ajmp5 said:

I booked my first cruise through RCL for my honey moon without a travel agent.  What would be a benefit of using a travel agent at this point in time?  I am considering transferring my reservation to MEI, after seeing such great reviews, but wanted to know what advantages it brings at this point in time to me.

Hey,

The best advice I can give on this is either submit for a quote and get randomly assigned to an agent with us, or if you want to send me an email with a little more about you, how you like to book, and how you like to communicate, I can match you with one of our agents that responds the way you prefer.  Either way, we are happy to help!

Not a dumb question as we all like to use our points!  You cant use the points to purchase, but you can buy, link to your account, and use points to upgrade your seat if you wanted.

I think many have hinted toward it, but I recommend that you book a room and then watch for other offers that can be applied to it.  Book what you want and dont assume that the rate will go down in hopes to move up.  Whether it is you or your TA checking, check the offers to see if you can beat the price.  It seems like there is a new sale of some sort every week!

I work from the cruise ships all the time.  Email has never been slow to load or send when I am sailing.  Voom is so much better than some of the other internet options on other cruise lines.

You can always go to guest services once on board and switch things around so everyone has their correct room key.  I recommend doing this as soon as you get on board because the line for guest services can get long on day one.

I have been on cruises where people got their upgrades the day of the cruise and others that were accepted the day after putting them in.  I think if you do the Royal Up offer the best way to think on it is it might happen and it might not, but be flexible and keep watching your email because you never know when Christmas might arrive!

5 minutes ago, arabucki said:

In my opinion Royal should offer their guests either a voucher for a future cruise with them or a full refund. Jeopardizing their passengers safety to maybe still sail doesn’t seem like a good decision to me. My problem is I see they are now waiting until tomorrow at 3PM to make a decision on Navigator that leaves Friday. This totally screws me on being able to cancel my flight as there is a 24hr cancel policy for that upon which I would need to cancel by 7am tomorrow. So I’m basically just screwed....I understand it’s hurricane season and no one can control the weather but the fact that I haven’t gotten one email update the entire time and am going to be out a lot of money has me a little pissed!!!! 

IF the storm continues on the path where you were landing, the airlines typically will waive cancellation fees due to the storm as well.

You can use your cell phone or I have let them take it at the terminal - it really doesnt take that much longer at check in

On 8/25/2019 at 7:21 PM, arabucki said:

We are scheduled to leave from a cruise out of Miami to Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at Coco Cay for a 4 day trip this Friday, 8/30-9/2.  Hurricane Dorian is heading up that way and I  know at a minimum we will get blasted with rain/thunderstorms.  This makes me SUPER nervous for choppy seas, etc and the lack of sun, etc to boot.  Where would they potentially reroute us on only a 4 day trip or do you think there is a chance they would cancel and how far in advance???

The best information you will get on this will be from the cruise ship.  When you did your check in, you gave a cell phone and/or email which they will use to contact those sailing on the ship affected BEFORE they let your TA or the public know the plan. 

While not in the Jr suite on Deck 7 - I have done the corner Balcony rooms on this ship on the aft.  Yes there is a little bit of metal in the way, but nothing beats the view of seeing the ship sail away from a location or that color blue of the sea you only get from the back of the ship when moving.  I love this location and this is the deck I typically book when on the aft on this class ship.

I typically start at the coffee bar for a little baileys

You can also get mimosas in the WIndjammer