smokeybandit Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wordell1 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Well, I guess they can finally cancel July then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNCFanatik Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 10 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: There it is. Symphony of the Seas cancelled for July sailings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Couldn't they theoretically sail 95% cruises prior to test cruises? Highly unlikely but seems within the realm of the CDC backwards guidance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanS Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Exciting but that seems late. Thankful each day I booked my adventure of the seas cruise wordell1 and PRebecca 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heimbig Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 I guess I can assume my August 1st on Allure will be canceled. RyanS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandi799 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Do we know yet how long it needs to be between a test cruise and a paying cruise? Has actual information about that been shared yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razorbackhead Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 welp there goes my cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 8 minutes ago, dandi799 said: Do we know yet how long it needs to be between a test cruise and a paying cruise? Has actual information about that been shared yet? Whenever the CDC gets around to reviewing them. While the CSO noted that they wanted 60 days (later revised to 5) to approve test cruise applications, there is no mention on turnaround time for CSCs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 7 minutes ago, dandi799 said: Do we know yet how long it needs to be between a test cruise and a paying cruise? Has actual information about that been shared yet? This is the big question. Everything seems to be moving in the right direction, but at what speed? I know not fast enough for any of us. What do you think the chances are that a least one of our RC Blog members will be invited to test cruise? It would be very interesting and insightful for the rest of us. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it happens for one of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 I'll be curious if RC has any plans to mix and match the 95% cruises with the other cruises (specifically referring to the period prior to a ship getting its test cruise results approved) Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClockingOut Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 28 minutes ago, RyanS said: Exciting but that seems late. I totally agree that seems late. I am booked on Allure in September.. never would've thought that we would be one of the early sailings back on her. Glad though that she will be one of the early test cruises. Baked Alaska and RyanS 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redraider629 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 With the test cruises pushed out that far making it likely that other test cruises will be late summer as well, and no telling how long it will take to get approval after test cruise, I am losing more and more hope that we will get to go on our Liberty sailing in September. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhilding10 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 7 minutes ago, redraider629 said: With the test cruise pushed out that far, and no telling how long it will take to get approval after test cruise, I am losing more and more hope that we will get to go on our Liberty sailing in September. I'm unfortunately starting to lose my positive outlook that I had regained over the last 3 to 4 weeks, and am starting to really feel the squeeze on our Navigator sailing out of Miami in September. With her moving to LA even earlier, it's a double whammy for us. Florida works much better for us being from Maine, and we have a friend who works on Navigator, so this one would sting! Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ampurp85 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 This is giving me higher hopes that my Oct Allure will sail. I wanted to cruise early but I had a feeling that cruising might not be back until Sept in the US. I am sad for all those who have to go through cancellations again but glad I saved myself the heartache by booking later in 2021. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimnKathy Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 I'm feeling good about our B2B on Symphony in September, but I suppose it'll depend on the length of the bureaucratic CDC turnaround time...ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griffinjam22 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Feeling even more hopeful for my sailing on Symphony in October! As long as the test cruise goes well and CDC approves revenue sailing soon after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 It just dawned on me that I was at one point supposed to be on Allure on July 25 before I switched it to the Bahamas cruise when those opened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSoxFan Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 The slow re-start is why I just cancelled my Brilliance sailing over labor day. My next cruise is in January on the Celebrity Apex which starts sailing in Greece in less than 2 weeks. So at least I know that ship is crewed and sailing. Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitlynambrai Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Wel, poop. I'm scheduled for Allure July 25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floski Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 1 hour ago, Heimbig said: I guess I can assume my August 1st on Allure will be canceled. Oh, don't tell me that. I have to hope that once they get back in, the cdc will sign off and we'll be underway!!! Neesa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Sorry @UNCFanatik See if you can move it to October/November. I’m hopeful my late October symphony will now sail. Hopefully the CDC won’t drag its feet approving revenue cruises. I guess Freedom will be our first clue how fast they approve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigert2008 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 14 minutes ago, Floski said: Oh, don't tell me that. I have to hope that once they get back in, the cdc will sign off and we'll be underway!!! I think they are going to have to tell people something way sooner than that. From a purely customer support position, it would be bad to wait until 2 days before the August 1st cruise to let people know the status of their sailing. If customers need to make other plans or change up things, they would need more time than that. I know many people may have "backup plans", but even with those they may not have committed much money to them too far in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNCFanatik Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 13 minutes ago, Jill said: Sorry @UNCFanatik See if you can move it to October/November. I’m hopeful my late October symphony will now sail. Hopefully the CDC won’t drag its feet approving revenue cruises. I guess Freedom will be our first clue how fast they approve. Thank you! November 21 sailing on Oasis was always backup plan. I would think your October sailing would be good. Hopefully when cruising restarts across multiple ships, October will be good! Baked Alaska and Jill 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LovetoCruise87 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Holding out hope that my Aug 22 cruise on Allure will still be a go....... JimnKathy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jensspark Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 Well, now I’m worried about our August 14 sailing on Symphony. This is so confusing to me. The point of doing test cruises was to accommodate families, but at this rate kids will be returning to school before the paid sailings start. At that point, wouldn’t 95/98% sailings have been the better option? griffinjam22, DDaley and Jill 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNCFanatik Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 I will say this. They need to fire whoever is in charge of Marketing/PR. Michael's Bayley FB post was tone deaf. Yippee!!! is how he starts? Does he not realize how that will be received by customers on July/August sailings that for the first time they realize that their sailings will be cancelled?? Not every cruiser keeps up with cruise news and boards like this. They trust Royal and what they are told. Bayley's FB message was totally tone deaf and put TAs in a terrible position today not to mention those poor customer service reps that man the phones who are now being instructed to outright lie to paying customers. This is a PR nightmare. It would have been better to announce cancellations FIRST and then announce test cruises. I get it, Bayley is rightfully excited about test sailings but did he even run this by his fellow execs and Marketing/PR departments before he announced on FB? If so, did no other exec stop and give him some pause as how this would be received by passengers on July/August sailings? This is truly an unforced error by Royal in customer relations and PR Neesa, TXcruzer, jensspark and 3 others 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 PR is a fickle thing. The good PR from announcing test cruises, even if it has a negative impact on some booked passengers is a better approach than the larger negative PR from cancelling more cruises up front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickNafster79 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 I know this is a long shot, but is there any chance that the test cruise announcement will end up being nullified by the upcoming agreement between Florida and the cruise industry to allow vaccine passports? The CDC guidelines state the cruises with the 98/95 ratio do not need to do test cruises--maybe I'm absurdly hopeful/optimistic, but I really don't want my honeymoon cruise on Allure next month to be canceled :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandi799 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 10 minutes ago, NickNafster79 said: I know this is a long shot, but is there any chance that the test cruise announcement will end up being nullified by the upcoming agreement between Florida and the cruise industry to allow vaccine passports? The CDC guidelines state the cruises with the 98/95 ratio do not need to do test cruises--maybe I'm absurdly hopeful/optimistic, but I really don't want my honeymoon cruise on Allure next month to be canceled RCL has stated that they are not going to go the 98/95 route, which is why they have to do test cruises. They are still requiring all eligible passengers to be vaccinated, though. I’m so sorry about your cruise! What a disappointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jverge Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 43 minutes ago, LovetoCruise87 said: Holding out hope that my Aug 22 cruise on Allure will still be a go....... And I'm holding out hope my Aug 15 Allure cruise goes forward... if I was RC I'd just say for the Aug cruises everyone needs to be vaccinated to cruise so they aren't dependent on CDC approval of the test cruise. Otherwise they are likely canceling another round of cruises waiting for the CDC approval. jensspark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeybandit Posted June 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 10 minutes ago, NickNafster79 said: I know this is a long shot, but is there any chance that the test cruise announcement will end up being nullified by the upcoming agreement between Florida and the cruise industry to allow vaccine passports? The CDC guidelines state the cruises with the 98/95 ratio do not need to do test cruises--maybe I'm absurdly hopeful/optimistic, but I really don't want my honeymoon cruise on Allure next month to be canceled I could see the CDC lowering the percentages to a "herd immunity" percentage, or remove those under 12 from that calculation. AS it is now, 95% is a random number not based on any science, but to force a de factor vaccine mandate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jverge Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 43 minutes ago, LovetoCruise87 said: Holding out hope that my Aug 22 cruise on Allure will still be a go....... And I'm holding out hope my Aug 15 Allure cruise goes forward... if I was RC I'd just say for the Aug cruises everyone needs to be vaccinated to cruise so they aren't dependent on CDC approval of the test cruise. Otherwise they are likely canceling another round of cruises waiting for the CDC approval. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redraider629 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 31 minutes ago, UNCFanatik said: I will say this. They need to fire whoever is in charge of Marketing/PR. Michael's Bayley FB post was tone deaf. Yippee!!! is how he starts? Does he not realize how that will be received by customers on July/August sailings that for the first time they realize that their sailings will be cancelled?? Not every cruiser keeps up with cruise news and boards like this. They trust Royal and what they are told. Bayley's FB message was totally tone deaf and put TAs in a terrible position today not to mention those poor customer service reps that man the phones who are now being instructed to outright lie to paying customers. This is a PR nightmare. It would have been better to announce cancellations FIRST and then announce test cruises. I get it, Bayley is rightfully excited about test sailings but did he even run this by his fellow execs and Marketing/PR departments before he announced on FB? If so, did no other exec stop and give him some pause as how this would be received by passengers on July/August sailings? This is truly an unforced error by Royal in customer relations and PR I thought the exact same thing when I saw his post. It was completely tone deaf. NickNafster79 and Neesa 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jverge Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 43 minutes ago, LovetoCruise87 said: Holding out hope that my Aug 22 cruise on Allure will still be a go....... And I'm holding out hope my Aug 15 Allure cruise goes forward... if I was RC I'd just say for the Aug cruises everyone needs to be vaccinated to cruise so they aren't dependent on CDC approval of the test cruise. Otherwise they are likely canceling another round of cruises waiting for the CDC approval. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNCFanatik Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 10 minutes ago, NickNafster79 said: I know this is a long shot, but is there any chance that the test cruise announcement will end up being nullified by the upcoming agreement between Florida and the cruise industry to allow vaccine passports? The CDC guidelines state the cruises with the 98/95 ratio do not need to do test cruises--maybe I'm absurdly hopeful/optimistic, but I really don't want my honeymoon cruise on Allure next month to be canceled The challenge with summer sailings to Caribbean is that its prime family season and those vaccinated thresholds may not be able to be met on those sailings that are already booked with the amount of children 12 and under plus the hesitancy of parents who may not want to have their 12-16 year olds vaccinated. I think that is why Royal chose the test sailings route NickNafster79 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrK1ttens Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 This is super annoying, I am supposed to be on Aug 7 with Symphony of the Seas but clearly that won’t be happening. They need to just up and cancel those cruises already so people can either rebook or make other plans. At this point they know July/early Aug won’t be happening, so it’s really bad customer service that they aren’t moving forward with that information. Neesa, Heimbig and NickNafster79 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickNafster79 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 10 minutes ago, dandi799 said: RCL has stated that they are not going to go the 98/95 route, which is why they have to do test cruises. They are still requiring all eligible passengers to be vaccinated, though. I’m so sorry about your cruise! What a disappointment. Where did they say that? Not doubting you, just wanting to read it with my own eyes (and the inevitable tears that will follow). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNCFanatik Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 30 minutes ago, smokeybandit said: PR is a fickle thing. The good PR from announcing test cruises, even if it has a negative impact on some booked passengers is a better approach than the larger negative PR from cancelling more cruises up front. But they have to announce more cancellations anyway. Just a matter of time now. We all know it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LovetoCruise87 Posted June 3, 2021 Report Share Posted June 3, 2021 I agree with a post earlier. Royal should have just gone ahead and announced cancellations that would be caused by the test sailings instead of announcing the test cruises first. It's still a hard pill to swallow knowing your cruise is cancelled, but I would rather hear that first, than to be sitting in a black hole not hearing if my cruise is cancelled or not. Neesa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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