Changing passengers on reservation

[HtownHolly]

Howdy folks! Been awhile. I'm using an MEI travel agent and he and I are getting different feedback from RC about a change to my reservation. We want to swap out one passenger for another (someone not currently on the reservation), on a fully-paid sailing that is still about 3 weeks out - he was told that he can't do that. When I called RC they told ME he should be able to (and of course wouldn't just make the change over the phone with me, since I went through a TA). Anyone run into this before? It's super frustrating... I know the manifest isn't set yet (it's on Allure, Dec 18), and we've paid for the whole thing, so... not sure what gives.

[Ampurp85]

You can swap as long as one original pax stays on the booking.

I just got a new MEI agent as mine retired and I am already feeling the difference. My old agent was fast, and responsive, I feel like with the new one I am low man on the totem pole, so I am getting worse service.

[twangster]

Unless there is some extenuating circumstances such as FCC in that's guests name, casino discount from that guest, Crown and Anchor discounts based on that guest or something similar you should be able to swap a guest so long as at least one guest name from the original reservation remains on the booking.  

If guest #2 of 2 changed names 3 months ago then guest #1 can't change names, ever.

[HtownHolly]

1 hour ago, twangster said:

Unless there is some extenuating circumstances such as FCC in that's guests name, casino discount from that guest, Crown and Anchor discounts based on that guest or something similar you should be able to swap a guest so long as at least one guest name from the original reservation remains on the booking.  

If guest #2 of 2 changed names 3 months ago then guest #1 can't change names, ever.

None of those apply. It’s swapping out one “never cruised before” 14 yo for another. The sailing currently doesn’t show up on the website so maybe it’s sold out. But we aren’t impacting capacity or changing rooms or anything. Just names. I’m pretty frustrated with this, honestly. TA basically said all he can do is try calling daily, and no reason for blocking out TAs has been given to him.

[twangster]

52 minutes ago, HtownHolly said:

None of those apply. It’s swapping out one “never cruised before” 14 yo for another. The sailing currently doesn’t show up on the website so maybe it’s sold out. But we aren’t impacting capacity or changing rooms or anything. Just names. I’m pretty frustrated with this, honestly. TA basically said all he can do is try calling daily, and no reason for blocking out TAs has been given to him.

When a cruise is sold out and Royal "closes" the cruise or the category you are booked in is closed it does severely limit all options, with or without a TA.  However sometimes things change so keep checking.  

[hanyb131]

I have the same problem now I trying to add a second guest to my room list after I called customer service they told me that the ticket system is off and they can't do any changes I am wondering about my trip now I really hope someone can tell me how to solve this question or when they gonna reopen the ticket system for that trip.

[Ampurp85]

6 hours ago, hanyb131 said:

I have the same problem now I trying to add a second guest to my room list after I called customer service they told me that the ticket system is off and they can't do any changes I am wondering about my trip now I really hope someone can tell me how to solve this question or when they gonna reopen the ticket system for that trip.

If your cruise is closed, they will not reopen to add passengers. Each ship has a certain number of lifeboat spaces, if those get filled up, they can no longer add passengers. It doesn't matter if your room can hold more.

[HtownHolly]

dupe - see quoted below

[HtownHolly]

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

If your cruise is closed, they will not reopen to add passengers. Each ship has a certain number of lifeboat spaces, if those get filled up, they can no longer add passengers. It doesn't matter if your room can hold more.

This is understandable, for adding more people. I'm hoping something can be done for changes which do not impact capacity. Like, what if I noticed a name was misspelled and wouldn't match any official documentation - it's over 2 weeks out, so seems like that kind of "administrative" change should be possible, but so far the TA has not been allowed access to make any changes at all (of any kind).

[Ampurp85]

40 minutes ago, HtownHolly said:

This is understandable, for adding more people. I'm hoping something can be done for changes which do not impact capacity. Like, what if I noticed a name was misspelled and wouldn't match any official documentation - it's over 2 weeks out, so seems like that kind of "administrative" change should be possible, but so far the TA has not been allowed access to make any changes at all (of any kind).

This might be doable, however adding someone when it is closed won't be. 

If a name is misspelled, they will be able to correct it when you check in, I have seen this happen. I traveled with 2 people recently who had this issue, they left the S off one and added JR to another. They were able to correct the issue during check-in to match their passports. 

[HtownHolly]

Happy update on this! I got the Royal Up offer email today so thought "hmmm, maybe things are opened back up?" I still don't see the cruise listed on the website, but asked my TA to give it a go again, and he was able to make the change, which I can now see online. Hooray! And surprisingly enough, the shore excursions and drink package purchase transferred over to the replacement passenger as well.

11 days to set sail so this got a little close, but everyone is thrilled that it worked out finally. SHEW!