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Goodbye Cruise with Confidence, it's been nice knowing you


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At your best, you were a program that provided piece of mind for cruisers to book a cruise knowing that they had flexibility in case their travel plans changed and could even reprice their fare even past the final payment deadline.

At your worst, you were a complicated mess of conflicting information from support agents, redemption deadlines, issuance delays, and transfer restrictions.

We'll always remember waiting for the next notice that you may stick around just a little longer; that you might be a part of our next booking.  This is bitter sweet because we know that in order for us to get back to the way that things used to be, we have to go our separate ways.

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The program goes through September. Just no cruises booked from here on out will be eligible for it.

This one is more concerning. Test positive on board? You're on your own after April 30.

 

  • If you test positive for COVID-19 during the cruise, Royal Caribbean will cover the costs of COVID-19 related medical treatment onboard, any required land-based quarantine, and travel home for you and your Traveling Party, for cruises departing on or before April 30, 2022.
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33 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

This one is more concerning. Test positive on board? You're on your own after April 30.

 

  • If you test positive for COVID-19 during the cruise, Royal Caribbean will cover the costs of COVID-19 related medical treatment onboard, any required land-based quarantine, and travel home for you and your Traveling Party, for cruises departing on or before April 30, 2022.

Yup, there's a couple bullet points before that to consider as well.  This FAQ page was just updated today.

The first bullet point hints that they may continue pre-boarding testing until March 2023, which is interesting.  Obviously protocols have not been released that far out, but the fact they are stating it here with a date way out in the future suggests they plan on keeping it around.

 

  • 100% cruise fare refund for you, and your Travelling Party, if any of you tests positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the boarding terminal, for cruises departing on or before March 31, 2023.
  • Pro-rated cruise fare refund if your cruise is cut short for reasons related to COVID-19, for cruises departing on or before April 30, 2022.

So they'll refund you if you test positive before you get on the boat until March 2023, but you're on the hook for medical expenses if you test positive for COVID-19 or are suspected of contracting COVID-19 after April 2022?  Also, steps taken to contain and evacuate are at the sole discretion of Royal.  Definitely a good reason to purchase decent travel insurance.

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Cruise with Confidence was a tremendous crutch to have a consumer, especially over last 6+ months to be able to change your mind for any reason at the last minute. 

While I don't miss juggling FCCs (well, I'm sure my TA doesn't miss juggling them nearly as much as I did), it was a lovely program to have. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well it looks like the Royal Caribbean legal department strikes again.  Conflicting information in their online resources.

From FAQ page:

100% cruise fare refund for you, and your Travelling Party, if any of you tests positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the boarding terminal, for cruises departing on or before March 31, 2023.

From the COVID-19 Refund and Cancellations Policy:

For all RCI cruises scheduled to sail between April 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023, inclusive:
• If you, or someone in your Traveling Party, cancel a cruise booking due to testing positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of embarkation, you and they are entitled to a refund, or an optional FCC, for the cruise fare paid to RCI. If you had close contact with a positive or suspected COVID19 case within 10 days of embarkation, and RCI deems you are unfit to travel, you, and anyone else in your Traveling Party who cancels, are eligible for a refund of the cruise fare paid to RCI, or an optional FCC equal in value to the same.

Second Conflict:

Again from the FAQ:

Pro-rated cruise fare refund if your cruise is cut short for reasons related to COVID-19, for cruises departing on or before April 30, 2022.

And then from the COVID cancellations policy:

For all RCI cruises scheduled to sail between April 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023, inclusive:
• If you, your family members, traveling companions or other close contacts are denied embarkation or reboarding, or quarantined or disembarked during the voyage, due to a positive COVID-19 test or being suspected of having COVID-19, you and they are entitled to a refund, or an optional FCC, for the cruise fare paid to RCI in the event of denial at embarkation, or a pro-rated refund or prorated FCC for the unused portion of your cruise fare in all other cases. 

The third bullet point of the FAQ does align with the COVID policy which states coverage for quarantine, medical treatment, and travel home is covered by Royal Caribbean only until April 30, 2022.

Since the information doesn't conflict until the end of this month, not a big deal.  But they should get these two pieces of info aligned to avoid confusion. 

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42 minutes ago, AspiringCruisePlanner said:

Well it looks like the Royal Caribbean legal department strikes again.  Conflicting information in their online resources.

From FAQ page:

100% cruise fare refund for you, and your Travelling Party, if any of you tests positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the boarding terminal, for cruises departing on or before March 31, 2023.

From the COVID-19 Refund and Cancellations Policy:

For all RCI cruises scheduled to sail between April 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023, inclusive:
• If you, or someone in your Traveling Party, cancel a cruise booking due to testing positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of embarkation, you and they are entitled to a refund, or an optional FCC, for the cruise fare paid to RCI. If you had close contact with a positive or suspected COVID19 case within 10 days of embarkation, and RCI deems you are unfit to travel, you, and anyone else in your Traveling Party who cancels, are eligible for a refund of the cruise fare paid to RCI, or an optional FCC equal in value to the same.

Second Conflict:

Again from the FAQ:

Pro-rated cruise fare refund if your cruise is cut short for reasons related to COVID-19, for cruises departing on or before April 30, 2022.

And then from the COVID cancellations policy:

For all RCI cruises scheduled to sail between April 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023, inclusive:
• If you, your family members, traveling companions or other close contacts are denied embarkation or reboarding, or quarantined or disembarked during the voyage, due to a positive COVID-19 test or being suspected of having COVID-19, you and they are entitled to a refund, or an optional FCC, for the cruise fare paid to RCI in the event of denial at embarkation, or a pro-rated refund or prorated FCC for the unused portion of your cruise fare in all other cases. 

The third bullet point of the FAQ does align with the COVID policy which states coverage for quarantine, medical treatment, and travel home is covered by Royal Caribbean only until April 30, 2022.

Since the information doesn't conflict until the end of this month, not a big deal.  But they should get these two pieces of info aligned to avoid confusion. 

The Cruise with confidence program allowed you to cancel a cruise up to 48 hours prior to sailing for ANY (or no) reason at all. I.E. you didn't like the protocols or were not comfortable with cruising due to risk etc.....

What you are referencing here only relates to someone testing positive before or during the cruise.

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9 minutes ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

The Cruise with confidence program allowed you to cancel a cruise up to 48 hours prior to sailing for ANY (or no) reason at all. I.E. you didn't like the protocols or were not comfortable with cruising due to risk etc.....

What you are referencing here only relates to someone testing positive before or during the cruise.

I know, I just didn't want to start a whole new thread.

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