AGSLC5

3 minutes ago, accio7 said:

According to this article, this travel ban goes into effect Friday and will impact airlines, cruise lines, freighters. The UK is exempt from this ban, people returning to the US can fly to the UK and then fly to the US.

So I just looked it up Only 3 sailings on Royal would be effected so far by this travel ban.. All 3 on Jewel of the seas.. Now if they extend the travel ban longer than 30 days its a whole different story.. Basically Royals Europe season starts May 2.. So I wonder how long the Europe Travel Ban will last

3 minutes ago, accio7 said:

A passenger received this letter from the VP of NCL today, it was posted in one of my FB cruising groups. I wonder if Royal is planning to send out something similar soon.

I think Yes.. Vicky Freed Vice President of Sales and deals with travel agents did a webcast on Tuesday and said this was proposed to the White House on Tuesday.. So I am pretty sure that yes this is going to go forward. Basically it requires people over 70 to get a form filled out by a doctor saying they are not sick and fit to cruise. 

18 minutes ago, tiny blonde said:

 

The cancellation fee might have been charged by the travel agency (CruisesOnly.com). In my experience, hotels will allow cancellation >48 hours.

I am impressed that you got a cruise for 2 for only around $700!  It cost me closer to $1200. That speaks well for booking as far in advance as possible.

I think the cancellation fee is absolutely from cruises only.. Royal is not charging anyone a $100 cancellation fee.. 

16 minutes ago, blueship said:

We were just on the Symphony of the Seas last week out of Miami.  The ship was full. No health questionnaires to fill and no screening of any kind.  I have to say I was a bit nervous throughout because a lot of people were coughing ( including me ) since the east coast is in full swing cold and flu season.   My nightmare scenario was what happened to the Westerdam or the other ship that had a suspected case and were being denied ports.  I don’t think being QT on a ship is no big deal.  When you see what the folks on the Princess Diamond went through and those on the Westerdam it was awful. Add that to the stress of not knowing what lies ahead ...  I think it was also terrible that the crews were made to work even though they should also be considered potential patients.   Add the logistical nightmare of disembarking ( the ship in Oakland ) and being taken to a military base .... none of it sounds good.  If you feel comfortable with the possibility of this happening then that is certainly your personal decision but it is very possible that no country will want to take responsibility for thousands of potential patients / carriers  after what happened in Japan.   It is possible that the cruise industry might have to take a hiatus if any more ships have cases.   

Just so you know Starting this past weekend when you got off they started implementing screenings.. They started taking everyones temperature before getting on and doing health screenings.. So I understand what happened to you made you nervous but Royal has addressed this and is fixing it. 

2 hours ago, mark52479 said:

Thank you for posting this.  I was wondering how this would work.

 

Do you happen to know that if you booked through Costco Travel it would be the same thing?  So if I cancel and change my cruise through Costco I would still have to pay the new deposit and wait for the FCC?  And I can apply the FCC through costco? Or do I do that through Royal themselves?

thank you

I was just listening to the webcast Vicki Freed does for Travel agents... This question was answered.. Unfortunately their computer systems make you put down a deposit and the FCC cant be used for a deposit... Now here is another annoying example.. Lets say the cruise you want to move to is $900 and you have an FCC for $1000.. You still have to put down the deposit and you can use the entire FCC but they will have to refund you back your deposit.. It makes no sense and very annoying.. 

I am on Symphony March 21. Happy to report back. 

40 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Wow.  Well.....glad you finally got it all squared away....and super glad that an accessible room popped up !!!

Yeah me2 Thank you! 

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Good grief.  It really takes any faith we might have had for them and throws it right down the shi**er.  Glad you finally got it squared away.  Did you adjust a comp cruise ?  From a certain or from an annual comp ?

Its little complicated but I will explain.. So on the big Oasis class ships I often need a scooter. I also like using a shower chair because I have terrible balance and have fallen before so an accessible stateroom is ideal.. This cruise is Symphony and its my Prime annual comp.. Then back in November I used an FCC that I got because of Hurricane Dorian to upgrade to an Oceanview balcony.. At the time there were no accessible staterooms but they put a note in my file that should one become available that I need it and they would price protect me and give it to me... Well it was looking I was going to have to squeeze in the room with the scooter and get a portable shower chair because no staterooms became available. All of a sudden this morning because of all the cancelations they became available. So my room category was a 6D Oceanview balcony but the handicap rooms are 4D Oceanview balcony. The lady from club Royale understood and said she has to get the escalation department involved to get it price protected for me because as I said they see back in November I did request that room.. So I am on hold forever and she finally comes back and says great news we can do this for $138. I say Ok that sounds reasonable.. Then I go to get my credit card and she says oh I'm sorry its $877.. I said no now that is not reasonable that's not being price protected. She says Ok let me get my supervisor so I was another 30 min and finally she comes back and says great news you were right my supervisor said we shouldn't be charging you anything. I said oh that is great news. Then she said ok we will fix this and I will send you an updated invoice.. I said oh no sorry but I am not hanging up until I have invoice in my email.. I said no offense but I have been burned by club Royale before and I am not sitting on hold another 90 min to explain this to someone else and start over.. She reluctantly said ok and put me on hold for another 30 min while the supervisor fixed everything. She then came back and sent me the invoice.. So I am very happy it got done I just wish we didn't have to go through all kinds of nonsense to do it lol. 

3 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

That's GREAT news.  Awesome upgrade.

I have been on with Club Royale for literally the last 90 min. First they said an upgrade would cost $138. Then I go get the credit card and she says oh im sorry I mean $877.. I said no that's not acceptable.. Then she talks to a supervisor and all of a sudden its free but they want to call me back once the invoices are fixed.. I said NO Way lol. I will wait on hold. I don't trust these people for a second.. I feel like they gave me a price to see what I would say which really upsets me. I just wish they were easier to deal with.. 

Update.. I was able to get the rooms for free. But I still do wish they were easier to deal with lol. 

26 minutes ago, Vacation Crazy said:

I called Casino Royale with the call taking less than 10 minutes.  We were upgraded from our Ocean View balcony room to a GTY Junior Suite for a whole $3.00.  We said we would never spend the money on a suite but couldn't pass that deal up.  Enjoy your upgrade!

I have been on hold with club Royale for 40 min you are lucky you got through..I am trying to upgrade but its hard to sit on hold lol

2 hours ago, PG Cruiser said:

ADDED TO THE LIST:

Carnival Panorama - debarkation process suspended Saturday (3/7) due to a medical matter on board the cruise ship. Test results came back negative for COVID-19.

Royal Princess - Passengers who were set to sail for a 7-day journey to Mexico from the Port of Los Angeles on Saturday were forced to make other plans after the cruise was canceled over coronavirus concerns.

Regal Princess -   refused permission to dock in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday (3/8) morning pending results of tests on two crew members who transferred recently from the Grand Princess.

The Regal Princess test also came back Negative and the Boat has been allowed back into Ft. Lauderdale.. 

16 minutes ago, mark52479 said:

Yeah what if you have an underlying issue and you have the insurance. Wouldn't a doctors letter work?

yes it would see my above apology

17 minutes ago, Mljstr said:

Why fo you say indu

Why do you say it isn’t covered?  If you have a doctor letter saying you cannot go why wouldn’t it be covered?  It makes a big difference to those of us who are “ of a certain age” and have underlying health issues. Your comment is very crass and insensitive. 

your right if you have a doctors letter it would count.. Not trying to be mean. Just extremely frustrated with people asking other people if they should cruise or not. Its a personal decision everyone needs to make. I am choosing to keep cruising. You are choosing not to.. Neither one is right or wrong its what is right or wrong for you. I just personally find all the multiple threads on the same topic extremely annoying but I apologize. 

15 minutes ago, Mark_UK said:

Sorry I'm from the UK where our travel insurance is often directly linked to government travel advice. So if the foreign office here advises you not to go somewhere and you then choose to do so, the travel insurance will not cover you whilst there if something goes wrong and you incur additional expense.

So I wasn't talking about cancelling. More if you have to pay for extra flights/accommodation were the itinerary to change or medical expenses.

I don't know how it works in the UK with travel insurance sorry.. Also not sure how it works with flights because I am spoiled and live in Florida and drive to all my cruises.. 

46 minutes ago, Mark_UK said:

Official advice: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/cruise-ship-passengers.html?fbclid=IwAR23mRlu4-382HLuSM8i0KWQBSaZ4heDniggmxR3kBR6e2EgWiKr6B0EseM

If the US government are advising citizens not to travel would that invalidate travel insurance?

Unless you had cancel for any reason insurance this wasn't covered by Travel insurance anyways so why does it matter what the government says? not trying to be mean.. I just don't understand why this all of a sudden makes a difference to people. 

10 minutes ago, mark52479 said:

https://breaking911.com/breaking-state-dept-u-s-citizens-should-not-travel-by-cruise-ship-quote-tweet/

Whats Breaking about this.. They have said for days that elderly people should avoid cruising... I am not elderly but even if I was I would still go on my cruise... 

2 hours ago, Shae Memmott said:

Does anybody have the current menus for the MDR on Symphony of the Seas? Our cruise isn’t until November so the menus aren’t available yet and I’d really love to see them. 

Exact same menu as it has been for 2 years.. 

20 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

He and @CruiseLifeRick have both been doing scopes..the Playmakers they added to Freedom looks amazing..blows all the others out of the water, even Oasis class!

They also have that amazing one on Indy.. I spoke to someone in charge of those Bars.. The Freedom class ships will all have the largest playmakers in the fleet! 

Good to know. I am glad there is a way. 

I do not know of a way to combine the OBC.. Unless you call Amex and ask if they can put it all on your reservation but I don't know if they will do that.. 

1 hour ago, PatsFanBrian said:

Of course, they would not have been allowed off the ship if it was positive.  But it's also important to note that the passenger did not show symptoms of Corona (fever, cough, shortness of breath) and yet they went through this charade anyways.  My sister-in-law was understandably angry as were other passengers who had to rebook flights because of overreaction.

OH I agree with you that's annoying and frustrating.. This whole thing is totally blown out of proportion and the media is making everyone panic.. Im sorry they had to deal with all those problems.. I just wanted to highlight some good news that the person actually did not have the Virus. 

41 minutes ago, PatsFanBrian said:

Carnival Panorama - Debarkation yesterday was delayed until late Saturday night.  My sister-in-law was on this cruise.  A passenger was reported to be ill but no signs of the virus symptoms.  The authorities stopped debarkation (which has started at 6:30 AM) until test results were returned which didn't happen until 10:00 PM.  My wife talked to her sister a few times and passengers were initially not allowed to return to their rooms, so they had to stay at their debarkation locations.  Finally during the afternoon, they were allowed to go back to their rooms until clearance was given.  The next cruise has been shortened to 6 days.

The panic and over reaction is insane.

Also the test for the Virus came back NEGATIVE that's important to note. Sounds like the person just had a basic cold. 

They seem to be VERY STRICT when it comes to FCC.. I had one from a hurricane and it was difficult. It was only allowed to be used for me.. I don't think your plan is going to work but hey you could try.. 

2 hours ago, SailorDave17 said:

We are going on a 3 night Memorial Day Cruise on Indy. Do you think there will be a lobster night?

Thanks!

The answer is No. I am also on that sailing.. In the app it lists all the menus for the weekend and there is no lobster.. Also usually there is no lobster unless it is a 5night sailing or longer.. Sorry about that.. You can pay for lobster in either the MDR or Chops if you really want it... 

4 hours ago, DDaley said:

Have you ever had experience changing the first night's reservation time? I finally pulled the trigger on the UDP for my Oasis cruise but the only time slot available to pick was 9pm. woof! We usually eat between 5-6 at home so hoping when I get on board we can mess with their pre-assigned reservation. 

While I'm asking! Have you ever had experience changing the first night's reservation place? Or do you have to go with whatever they've chosen? 

Don't worry at all.. As soon as you get on the ship make all your reservations and you should get the times you want.