AGSLC5

8 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I don't suppose this will be compatible with any casino discount/rate....

My guess will be No lol. But maybe.. It might be combinable with Dollar off comps because those I always get to put my crown and anchor number in for an extra discount but who knows lol they make up new rules everyday. 

This is something special Royal is doing for the next few days.. It was just sent to Travel Agents Yesterday... Here is the verbiage from Royal:  

I think You have a good chance.. I think cruising will be back July 1

52 minutes ago, melmar02 said:

Looks like no cruises from SF for all of 2020 - I'm not sure where the Sunshine, Legend, and Radiance were supposed to be but they are cancelled into Oct and Nov.  I didn't have high hopes for my Enchantment sailing at the end of next month, but I thought my Nov 1 back on Liberty would be safe...not so sure now.

I think you should be good for Nov 1.. Liberty is out of Galveston that's not a big hot spot.. NY on the other hand is a huge hot spot so I think that's why carnival did that.. 

Its very frustrating.. I was going to Vegas and spirit canceled my flight obviously lol They refunded me within 3 days of requesting it. So if an airline can do it why can't Royal? Honestly a lot of my refunds are taxes and fees.. I have almost $1500 in taxes and fees from various cruises and I would be happy if Royal would just move the money over to other cruises I want to book but they won't. That bothers me the most.. They owe me that amount of money AND expect me to give them more money to rebook.. 

I said this before but about 2 weeks ago the casino sent out offers for July and August.. Once they did that and didn't send one for June I knew that Royal knew they would start sailing again in July.. 

1 hour ago, Flacruiser99 said:

Can't you just look at your reservation on their website and if it's still there it's not canceled.

you would think so lol but for my symphony cruise in march even though it said canceled I still could see it in my cruise planner so I am not sure I would trust that. Its better to call so they can actually look it up in the computer system and give a specific date that it got processed. 

22 minutes ago, Mljstr said:

I haven't been on this blog for several weeks for obvious reasons-no cruise in sight! Without having to troll through hundreds of posts, my April 12 cruise was cancelled and I applied for a refund. My understanding is that the refund will show up 30 days after my cancellation date. I would appreciate hearing from people who receive their refunds before me. Isn't today the day, the first round of cancellation refunds are due to be sent? TIA

Unfortunately its not 30 days from when you cancel. Its 30 days from when their computer system cancels you. My March 21 cruise got canceled and I have called a few times and they told me the computer didn't officially cancel me until March 20 so I have until April 20 to get it.. Yours might not have been "canceled" in the system until this past Friday. I really don't know but its 30 days from whenever it got "canceled" in their system.. My May 7th cruise got canceled on March 24 but still shows active in the system. Its very frustrating but that's the way it is. I suggest you call Royal and ask what date you got canceled in their system so you know when your 30 days starts. 

I just counted this would put us in July... I had a strong feeling when the Casino department put out offers for July and August that they figured that would be when we would be allowed to sail again. 

19 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Just one more reason to use a GOOD, experienced TA to book your Club Royale cruises.

Our summer offer finally showed up on the website (20RFO103).  Neither of us ever got an email.  Be sure and check the website regularly so as to not miss the offers.  It is for July-August Caribbean sailings.  I decided that we could squeeze an early August sailing on Grandeur (only 3 days of vacation and no airfare) so I asked Michelle to book it for us.

1.  This offer is one of the offers that they are not permitting agents to book.  But instead of just telling me that and shoving it back to me to do, she went ahead and put a hold on the JS that we wanted, including the gratuities and said that all I have to do is call them and make the final payment. I received an initial booking showing a balance due. Unbelievable service, considering she will get nothing whatsoever for this work.

2.  She then sent me a follow-up email telling me that the Bermuda sailing on Grandeur does not qualify for the offer.  BOOOOO....bummer.  But she said to just go ahead and call and see if they will let me pay for it anyway.  I did just that and the cruise is now paid in full.  I guess there is a possibility that they will bounce the reservation down the road but I think that's highly doubtful.  Normally, once a booking is paid in full it's good-to-go.

So even though Michelle will get no credit at all for this booking, not only did she do all of the legwork for us but she basically got us a deal that we would most likely NOT have gotten on our own.  Why ?  Because she has a relationship with these agents.  It makes a difference.  Having her as our agent makes a difference.

She combined both of our offers (we both had offers for OV rooms plus $150 each in "free play").  We basically paid $73 each to upgrade this complimentary offer to a JS.  What a great deal especially when you consider that it didn't even qualify for the offer !!

I specifically called and asked if TA's can get credit for this offer and was told YES. Clearly its always whoever you get on the phone which is so annoying lol. I should of went ahead and booked the offer then but I wasn't ready to. But you got an awesome deal. I hope this ends soon and we can all go back to enjoying our favorite things cruising and gambling. 

45 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Unfortunately, we have not gotten that summer offer

I didn't get it at first either.. Many people reported it on Friday.. I did not get it until Sunday.. So I wonder if they release it in batches? keep checking the website you still might get it. 

21 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

We had the same experience. First time it had ever happened.

The new offer they sent for July and August is TA Friendly.. I called this morning and told me I could book as a TA.. Now of course as we know its who you get sometimes on the phone so hopefully that is the correct answer and TA's will be able to book the comped July and August offer. 

45 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

OK, that's what I guessed. Any ideas why the restriction? Maybe because each line tracks its own profit and loss, even though they're under one parent company, so they can't easily trace a refund (loss) from one line over to a new booking (profit) on the other?

I really have no idea lol. Many of their "policy" rules annoy me and don't make sense lol but I enjoy their product so I go on them but honestly your guess is as good as mine as to why. Its just like I hate how I am a member of Royal Caribbeans Casino and Celebrity won't recognize my status.. 

32 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

“Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.”

Question for the travel agents (@AnnetteJackson, @michelle, etc) or anyone who already received FCC: If I should have my August cruise on Celebrity canceled and I take the FCC option instead of cash refund, can I use the FCC on a Royal Caribbean booking, or do I have to stay with Celebrity?

Can only use it for Celebrity.. We got emails stating this.. 

On 3/29/2020 at 11:36 AM, WAAAYTOOO said:

I figured as much.  Sucks, really.

Once you book your casino offer let us know if the gratuities have gone up.  I just booked mine and the suites gratuity is now $19 PP/PD.

The upgrade discount was 38% which is about what it was last year so I'm relieved that they aren't going even lower.  2 years ago it would have been around 60%.

 

I just booked my cruise this afternoon. I ended up doing a balcony for now because I want to see if after final payment prices go down and I can use my FCC to upgrade. Although I don't know if you can use a FCC for Thanksgiving. Anyway the tips for me still said $14.50 so maybe just suites went up? I really loved this offer the only thing that could of been better would have been if it was for Odyssey lol but still I will not complain about free Thanksgiving cruise and $200 in freeplay. 

3 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I figured as much.  Sucks, really.

Once you book your casino offer let us know if the gratuities have gone up.  I just booked mine and the suites gratuity is now $19 PP/PD.

The upgrade discount was 38% which is about what it was last year so I'm relieved that they aren't going even lower.  2 years ago it would have been around 60%.

 

I am considering upgrading to a junior suite because I have a $1000 FCC I need to use back from Hurricane Dorian that I tried to use for my March Symphony cruised that just got canceled lol. But as you know the Casino's upgrades always have odd math so I have no idea what price they will give me. I am upset they won't let us use this offer for Odyssey because I would still gamble the same but I get it they don't need to fill that ship.. When I do book I will tell you what the grats say for me. I am not sure when I am going to book but as soon as I do I will let you know if it says mine went up or not. 

18 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I just asked @michelle to book the CR offer 20RBO103 for me.  I'm turning our Dec 2020 Oasis into a B2B (we are already booked on 12-6).  She was on hold for EVER, gave up, waited a while, called back and got an agent within minutes.  Go figure.  The very weird thing is....they would not allow access to this booking as a travel agent.  She was able to put it on hold and get a casino price but will not be able to access it.  I have never known this to happen before.  I don't know whether I will be able to move it over to her once I get it going or not.  Once I get a detailed cost I can determine what kind of casino discount they are giving me on the upgrade.  If it's reasonable, I will put down the deposit and keep it.  If not, I will remove the hold.  I won't know until I get a confirmation.

I just called Casino and they explained to me travel agents are not going to get commission for this offer. They wouldn't tell me why but if I had to guess its because they are even letting people book Thanksgiving cruises. Which is something they NEVER do. The offer is amazing and I am annoyed I cant make my commission off of it but i understand Royal is basically trying to save some money by not paying TA's and getting gamblers on the ships so they will spend money.. 

15 minutes ago, Shannon said:

Did I read somewhere that RC is delaying upgrading a couple of their ships? Do we know anything about when those upgrades will happen? I'm scheduled on Allure in June of 2021, and part of the reason we picked that sailing was for the upgraded ship. I'm trying to figure out if I need to consider booking a different one? Or if they will lower the price if the upgrades don't end up happening?

Anyone have any insight?

Pick a different ship.. I don't think allure will get Amped.. I am also upset. I picked Allure specifically for the Amp and now that's not going to happen

2 hours ago, whenismynextcruise said:

 

Thanks @AGSLC5 I am actually not a fan of the older smaller ships anymore so thanks for that tip!

Then you definetley should Not pick Enchantment lol. Go with an Oasis Class or Quantum class ship and try to get Star Class. I really think that's the only way to get a good mattress..  

1 hour ago, whenismynextcruise said:

Thanks!!! I was looking at a 2 BR on Anthem for Thanksgiving this year. Trying to be hopeful here. I am certainly willing to pay for a better cabin with a better matress at this point! I will look at the Enchantment sailings to see what she is offering,

Don't go with Enchantment for the bed.. She is an old small ship.. Do you like small ships? If not don't pick that ship

16 minutes ago, whenismynextcruise said:

I am wondering what people can say about matresses on RCL ships. Specifically Anthem. I have sailed on her before and have found the matresses to be like sleeping on a hard bench. In a word they suck. I realize this is a personal opinion of mine. What can people tell me about the upper classes? Does anyone have direct mattress to matrees compare information? I have zero interest in schlepping some funky mattress pad with me. I have stayed in balcony cabins and mini-suites (which claim to have luxury pillow top matresses and they dont. Its the same matress) 

Is there a softer sleep out there in the Star Class? I am not really looking for "how you do it" answers here. I have read most of them (towels, egg crate things, etc) on the boards here.

thanks

Yup Star Class has the fancy mattresses.. I agree with you the regular mattresses in all the other cabins stink. 

1 hour ago, notacomplainer1 said:

FACT...  I made a reservation a few hrs ago.  Thinking I could use my FCC as deposit.   I could not.  The nice person on the phone offered to check if the deposit could be lowered to the amount of port charges and tax.  Nice person returned with the factual information that I had to pay the normal deposit required , right then , or I could not continue with the booking.  I gladly paid the normal deposit, which was deducted from my account while still on the phone with nice person.  Nice person advised me that at some point after 4/15 ( I assume 30 days after my original cruise departure date ) I could contact post cruise to have FCC credited to the new booking and any over payment would be refunded sometime thereafter.  These are actual , factual events which occurred on 3/23/20.  I hope that anybody who chooses to not use a good TA finds this information helpful. 

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to use a good TA.. The people at Royal's call center are notoriously terrible and don't know policies and procedures very well. I get that this happened to you but its because you didn't use a good TA. The new policy makes it so you don't have to put down a deposit. Fact a good TA costs you nothing. So why wouldn't you want to use one I don't get it? Also just so you know this is a fan website of Royal Caribbean.. Most people on this site use TA's because we follow the suggestions of Mr.Matt Hochberg the person who writes this blog and he always recommends using a good TA. 

8 hours ago, SteveT said:

Royal's website doesn't even mention cash refund or 125% at all anymore. Regardless of date or cancellation. This wording was on the CWC flyer previously.  

And this is for cruises now through July 31, 2020, just as it was before. 

Royal's website never mentioned the 125% or cash refund before.. This was explained in an email to travel agents and guests effected by the 30 day shut down.. I am sorry but you have been misinformed.. The CWC Flyer always explained 100% FCC for any cruises departing before July 31... The only thing that changed is when the cruise line shut down for 30 days and then had to offer refunds to those effected cruises. 

2 minutes ago, SteveT said:

I just talked with Royal.

Seems my only option for my June 7, 2020 Oasis cruise is to take a 100% FCC, not a 125% FCC. 

Agent on the phone stated that there is currently no cash refund for anything sailing after April 11th-estimated date. 

 

Even the wording on Royal's site has changed on their Cruise with Confidence banner.

I told the agent, that's not a lot of confidence there the way the program changed. 

The 100% refund and 125% FCC is ONLY for the cruises that have currently been canceled not for cruises in June.. Now if Royal extends cancelations into June then you would qualify. But if you choose to cancel on your own now without Royal canceling the cruise your option is a 100% FCC

10 hours ago, sp113 said:

Hello All!

We were recently on the Empress and usually don't mind taking an inside cabin to save money to spend on other fun things. 

However, this was the smallest cabin we have ever stayed in.  Now that I am off, I am wondering if anyone knows the square footage of the cabin we were in?  It was Cabin #3201.

I know Empress has the smallest cabins of the fleet...but wondered what the size actually was.

Anyone? 

Its so small just like Majesty.. Thats how they built ships 30 years ago.. Exactly one of the reasons I am not an old small ship person.