tdcackler

Yeah, I'm really frustrated about it. They cancelled the cruise, offered me $200 Onboard Credit and a chance to transfer to a select handful of cruises out of the same port and keep my rate OR rebook at prevailing rates. I have a kids sail free promotion that saves us a ton with our two boys. If I had known they were going to cancel the cruise, I would have booked another one when I did this one and got the better offer. I'm beyond frustrated at the complete lack of customer service from RC - to a point where I'm about ready to tell my TA to skip it and I'll never sail on RC. I'm ok with paying the difference between my cruise and a different one, just give me the discounts since they cancelled it, not me. Grrrr.

Yeah, I'm really frustrated about it. They cancelled the cruise, offered me $200 Onboard Credit and a chance to transfer to a select handful of cruises out of the same port and keep my rate OR rebook at prevailing rates. I have a kids sail free promotion that saves us a ton with our two boys. If I had known they were going to cancel the cruise, I would have booked another one when I did this one and got the better offer. I'm beyond frustrated at the complete lack of customer service from RC - to a point where I'm about ready to tell my TA to skip it and I'll never sail on RC. I'm ok with paying the difference between my cruise and a different one, just give me the discounts since they cancelled it, not me. Grrrr.

Yeah, I'm really frustrated about it. They cancelled the cruise, offered me $200 Onboard Credit and a chance to transfer to a select handful of cruises out of the same port and keep my rate OR rebook at prevailing rates. I have a kids sail free promotion that saves us a ton with our two boys. If I had known they were going to cancel the cruise, I would have booked another one when I did this one and got the better offer. I'm beyond frustrated at the complete lack of customer service from RC - to a point where I'm about ready to tell my TA to skip it and I'll never sail on RC. I'm ok with paying the difference between my cruise and a different one, just give me the discounts since they cancelled it, not me. Grrrr.

Obviously, with them having to cancel cruises, this wasn't a planned remodel? Is this common?

I think the refurb last year was cut short bu a hurricane, and they didn't get to do everything they wanted.
I had to rebook my Jan 13 cruise on Adventure to Jewel on Jan 21.  They honored my cruise rate and gave some OBC to make up for it.

I guess I will be on one of the last pre-refurb cruises (Christmas 23 - 30 Dec.).
I'm thinking about cancelling this one anyway.  Maybe a land cruise this year for Christmas !

This is exactly why I don't bother with the web site --- I just call in for everything.  Everyone is incredibly patient and helpful, I get receipts and confirmations almost immediately ..... I've never had to be on hold more than just a couple minutes.

Back in my day, we had to traverse a much more clunky site that routinely crashed.  And I walked uphill in the snow both ways.

I think this blog post will be helpful: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/07/23/first-time-cruisers-when-can-i-prebook-entertainment-dining-and-more-my-royal-caribbean

Well I'm not an IT gal and I find their site very frustrating too. 

I totally get it - I left IT and entered the ministry because God is easier to understand and deal with than computers. ;)

They must be blessed more than I am - because I couldn't take IT anymore. :D

Of course, there are priests that are in IT, too.

I totally get it - I left IT and entered the ministry because God is easier to understand and deal with than computers. ;)

I totally get it - I left IT and entered the ministry because God is easier to understand and deal with than computers. ;)

We are set to sail on the Adventure of the Seas next January (2018) and I keep checking to see when I can book things like excursions, drink packages, etc. It won't let me book anything. Is this because we went through a TA? Or, am I just too eager?
 
Thanks!

You're probably just too eager.  
 
:D
 
It doesn't matter if you book through a TA or book directly.  You will be able to book things through your Cruise Planner once they become available for booking.
 
Good luck !

If they have your email they will contact you when the time is right 

I was experiencing the same frustration not long ago, and my cruise is even further out than yours! (March 31, 2018) I even posted about it here, just like you, only a few weeks ago. And magically, a day or two after posting, I was able to start booking excursions and spa treatments. Still can't book beverage packages, internet, dining plans, or other on-ship things besides the spa, I guess they don't unlock until more like 3-6 months out from sail date. But at least the doors cracked open a little. ;)
 
I don't know if it's a matter of their system needing a certain amount of time to work your account info through their systems, or each cruise has its own timetable of what opens up when, but I can say that it will happen eventually. And I also booked through a TA, so that definitely doesn't play any role.

I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to when they open up bookings.  I have had bookings where they didn't open up bookings until 90 days before sailing and I have had ones (like on the Harmony that I took 2 weeks ago !) where the bookings were open more than 6 months ahead of time.  Actually, I think it was almost a year ahead of sailing for the Harmony.  I don't know what parameters cause them to open up reservations.  You just have to hunt and keep checking.

I laughed out loud when I read this. I'm a current IT guy and my day job is making well-designed and useful web applications, so I seriously feel your pain! :D

I have a cruise booked in June and there are currently only a smattering of excursions available. However, I expect more as the sailing approaches. My guess is that they'll all be loaded within 90 days of sailing and it's even worth checking back even if you've reserved others in advance just to make sure something better hasn't come along.

Thanks everyone - I just find their website very frustrating (honestly, most websites are frustrating as a former IT guy, I know how it SHOULD be done). I'll just keep checking.

Thanks everyone - I just find their website very frustrating (honestly, most websites are frustrating as a former IT guy, I know how it SHOULD be done). I'll just keep checking.

Absolutely! I wish I had a beer for every time we changed our plans once we were on the ship. :)