Lovetocruise2002

Yes, I have moved things around several times now in recent months. That is why my TA gave me a heads up that it’s ending in case I move anything else.

On top of the points that @WAAAYTOOOmade, Oasis/Allure have normally been cheaper than Harmony/Symphony. That has been the trend for a while now. They are waiving the change fee on suites but that will only last until either the end of this month or next. I cannot remember. But if you are moving, do it soon.

Totally agree with this point. But boarding is quite efficient there, makes up a bit for the lackluster suites area.

If you are looking for somewhere just to sleep and possibly leave your car, I like Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ. I wrote about it in my Anthem blog in 2018. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5780-anthem-of-the-seas-march-9-17-2018/ However, we actually like staying in Manhattan when sailing out of NJ and for that I love the Intercontinental Times Square (disclaimer: I tend to gravitate towards Intercontinental properties). I blogged about hotel that in my Anthem blog in 2019. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/13683-cruising-with-greatness-–-anthem-group-cruise-–-july-4-13-2019/ Both times that I sailed out NJ, I did not find the port area to be too crazy. But we got there early around 10am both times. While we did not sail Star either time, signage was clear and easy to find for star. Genies were also visible receiving guests both times that we were there.

Need dates or can't add. ? Still waiting for you or @twangster to adopt me. lol

I have nothing to add I top of what everyone has already said except that my heart will always belong to Deck 17. ?

If they cancelled on you, and you took the 125% FCC, I believed that you have until the end of this year (12/31/2020) to request a refund instead.

Truth!! #TeamCK always!

We've been friends for a whole year now?! Where did the time go? I am so thankful!

Yes. I have done this a few times already since March while shuffling things around. However, I have heard through the grapevine that this ends January 31/21 so if you are going to reschedule, do it soon.

Yes, that and the only way to get a Star Class Royal Up is really if someone cancels. Those suites are booked solid usually so the only opportunity to squeeze in is a last minute cancellation usually. This is not a worry or a genuine concern. It is fact and most definitely going to happen lol.

They are so marked up on eBay I cannot justify buying them. ?

Reports prior to covid was that, yes, while rare, you can get a Royal Up to Star, and it would include all the perks of Star. Not sure when in March (2021 or 2022) your sailing is, but I don't even know if Royal Up will even be a thing in the post covid era in the near future. Have you received an actual Royal Up offer. If so, that is very interesting because I was under the impression they were not sending those out anymore. If you have things purchased in your cruise planner and you get the Royal Up at the last minute, your Genie can handle the refund for you. As far as Genie contact, depending on how last minute your Royal Up is confirmed, you may or may not hear much from your Genie ahead of time. IMO, is it worth it depends on the price. The jump from Sky to Star is often debated. If you do a quick search here, there are many threads discussing if it is worth it or not. I am sure @WAAAYTOOO will weigh in as well, but some of the perks of Star Class cannot be quantified (mainly the Genie and what he/she can do for you. Only you can decide if the jump in cost is "worth it" as we all put "worth" in different things. I will tell you that I booked a sailing on Anthem recently (also Quantum class) and I had two cabins on hold, a Sky Loft and a Grand Loft. The difference between the two was $2000 in total for 4 people. The decision was a no brainer for us. We ended up booking the Grand Loft.

The last time I used a local TA was 18 years ago lol. So no, I don't think it matters. Not for me anyway.

You probably just need a new one. I have had my share of lemons too. I get it.

This and this! Both things were invaluable especially this year.

A good TA does far more than basic price checking, but yes, there are some good ones out there that will set alerts and watch for drops for you. No one has a more vested interest in it than yourself though, so that is something that I choose to do myself as well. That is not the reason why I use a TA.

Most definitely a bummer, but like I said, find yourself a good TA and it's almost like you have a Land Genie. No joke.

Don't look at me, I nominate @WAAAYTOOO, she's the one who just retired lol.

A step in the right direction, but they really need to extend longer IMO. At least until summer 2022, or allow us to stack them.

It's the same situation as our 8 nighter on SY in August. That reservation is stuck in limbo too at the moment...

This is what complicates things the most. I wonder if we were booked on the same 8 night sailing on Brilliance out of Miami for July 2021? Because they temporarily shut down anything over 7+ nights but did not cancel them yet, your TA is correct in the sense that they are stuck. They cannot access or make changes at the moment. Unfortunately, in this case, you either pull the plug first and cancel under CWC, and take the FCC to book something else that fits your needs and time frame. Or you unfortunately have to hang tight until they figure out what to do with those 8 night sailings.

Correct. Once it's sold out, it can no longer be viewed by the public. If you booked direct through Royal, they can price check a sold out category for you. If you booked with a TA, only the TA can request the price check. This is why a good, trustworthy TA is so critical. Once you find one, they are worth their weight in gold. MEI is the official agent sponsor of Royal Caribbean Blog.

Lol. I am quite simple when it comes to price tracking and booking. If you want spreadsheet advice, @JLMoran and @twangsterare your guys for that. I use Royal’s website to look for prices and itineraries. Once something is booked, all I do is take screenshots of the suite pricing and save it in a folder. I price check every few days. If the price has gone higher or the same, I do nothing. But if I notice a drop, I ask my agent to check and if in fact there is one, I take a screenshot of that round of suite pricing and note the date. Sorry it’s not more fancy but this has worked for me so far and I don’t see a need to make it too complicated. ? My TA also sets a price drop alert on all my bookings. Sometimes she catches them before I do, and sometimes I catch them first because I usually check early in the morning.