Booking Scam

[Steven W]

Booked a cruise costing a reservation fee of £311 for an outside balcony. Was offered a room  nobody wants, balcony was covered obscuring direct sunlight and the room had hellish reviews due to the content noise from the kitchen located above which started from 6 in the morning till late at nigh. When I tried to change this room I was refused even when I offered to pay for an upgrade. 

Edited January 24, 2023 by Steven W
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[Pattycruise]

Sorry that happened to you.

I never book without checking out the deck plans of the ship so I can know what is above/below, or next to me. I too learned the hard way.  

[Atlantix2000]

What is a reservation fee?  Do you mean deposit?  Because that seems pretty cheap for a whole cruise.  What category did you book?  A guarantee rate?  If so, did you understand the terms of that category?  It means you get whatever is left after other people paid more to pick the rooms they wanted.  The worst room on the ship is still a cruise vacation.

[Traveling Mike]

@Steven W are you looking for help or giving us a warning.  If you are giving us a warning can you please let us know what ship you were on and what cabin it was, so we do not make that mistake?  I just checked and most of the dining rooms are on decks 3 and 4 without balconies below them.  The rooms below the buffets are junior suites.  I would really like to know what ship you were on so I can avoid it.   

[RCIfan1912]

This post at the moment sounds fishy. No mention of cruise line, ship, itinerary, absolutely no details. 

[ScottD]

45 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

This post at the moment sounds fishy. No mention of cruise line, ship, itinerary, absolutely no details. 

There has been a whole bunch like this posted in the past few days... all from people who only have one post and never return to respond to anyone. It's definitely fishy. 

[TeRriii]

Another one post and leave ?

[RCIfan1912]

On 1/25/2023 at 3:56 AM, ScottD said:

There has been a whole bunch like this posted in the past few days... all from people who only have one post and never return to respond to anyone. It's definitely fishy. 

Yup, been noticing this for a while now. 

[Xaa]

I'm not sure fishy is the right word.  I expect this person has some gripe.  I doubt we'll hear from them again.  People get mad about something and their knee jerk is to leave what they believe to be a bunch of bad reviews all around.  I think often they don't even know where they've been to return.  This is a common dumping ground for it.

It's too bad because many times the person might have something to learn or an experience that when shared in greater detail, may help someone else.

For this one, it's only been overnight so @Steven Wmay return and fill us in.

[FionaMG]

It does unfortunately look like the OP signed up for the purpose of posting a complaint but they did come back to edit their post so perhaps there is hope they will return to the thread to read our comments and provide us with some more information.

They obviously posted in anger and that emotion prevented them from expressing themselves clearly. I can't actually make my mind up whether they have already sailed and are basing their comments about the cabin on their personal experience or if they have yet to sail and their remarks are based on what they have gleaned from reviews of the room.

I think from the word "scam" in the title of the thread, it's likely that as well as being a first-time poster (and possibly not realising this is a fan site as opposed to an official Royal Caribbean site), they are also a first-time cruiser because if they had cruised before they would have known to look out for what's above, below and nearby any given stateroom and book a specific room if it matters to them.

 I do suspect they've been sold a GTY cabin and that whoever sold it to them didn't do their job properly. I used to encounter this issue frequently, many years ago when I was an on-site rep for a tour operator. They used to sell a similar product (they called it "Allocated on Arrival") and like a GTY on a cruise the only thing you were guaranteed was the type of accommodation. Those who had had this explained to them fully by their travel agent knew and were fine with this, even if they were allocated somewhere they wouldn't have normally have chosen (and paid a higher price for); meanwhile, those to whom the product had not been properly explained were almost invariably disappointed because they would have looked at the brochure, chosen the accommodation they really wanted (but hadn't paid for) and did not understand that they could be placed somewhere miles away and with inferior facilities and they would still be getting what they booked. It's all about managing expectations.

The "booking fee" the OP mentions is almost certainly the supplement to go from a basic inside or OV to a balcony cabin but what's significant is that the amount is in British pounds. That puts a whole new slant on things because, under UK rules, once your GTY cabin has been assigned you can't change it to anything else. You're stuck with it and generally your only way out would be to cancel the whole booking and lose your deposit (at best) or more (if you're inside final payment).

As to the cabin being under a restaurant, I'm totally guessing here but Anthem, which sails from the UK and would thus be a strong contender for a first-time UK cruiser, has a couple of obstructed balcony cabins up on deck 13. They don't look to me like they're right under the WJ but deck 14 is a potential noise-producer for the staterooms below wherever they are located.

Anyway, unless the OP comes back to clarify there's not much we can do to help or advise.

However, just in case you do come back @Steven W there are perhaps a couple of things you can try if you haven't already sailed. You may be offered the opportunity to bid for an upgrade through what's called the "Royal UP" programme. With this programme you still don't get the chance to pick the location of your cabin but you could potentially snag something better than what you have already. The other thing you could do would be to contact Guest Services after you board and ask if they can move you to a different cabin. That might or might not come with a cost. In either case, however, with ships sailing full, your chances are unfortunately, pretty slim. Hopefully, if you haven't already sailed, you will discover that the room is not as bad as the reviews make out. Remember that people are far more likely to post a bad review than a good one and people who enjoyed themselves will often only post a review at all if there was something particularly outstanding about their experience. I hope it works out for you.

[Matt]

It's not a scam, it's a case of not understanding what type of cabin you booked.

It sounds like the person booked a Guarantee cabin, which offers a lower rate in exchange for Royal Caribbean picking the room.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/08/27/should-i-book-guarantee-stateroom-cruise

It's also possible this person booked directly instead of with a travel agent. A good agent could have provided better clarity of the options and pros/cons.

[Steven W]

The ship Royal Caribean Anthem of the seas has 13 decks the Balcony on the 13th deck is covered preventing direct sunlight which is what you have balcony for. Apparently there is no sound proofing from the top deck above so every movement of chairs etc makes the ceiling vibrate making can be heard as if in a drum. Reviewers had stated it left them stressed, deprived of sleep and felt ill at end of the cruise, and they were only on a weeks cruise. I didn't want that for a fortnight so I offered to pay for another room, was refused and lost £311. Why would anyone want to go on a cruise to be made stressed, tired and feeling ill? A lot money must be made by booking Balconies located on the 13 floor and not giving a warning that they are deprived of sunlight and noisy which you only find out about after reviewing the room you have been allocated.

[RCIfan1912]

2 hours ago, Steven W said:

The ship Royal Caribean Anthem of the seas has 13 decks the Balcony on the 13th deck is covered preventing direct sunlight which is what you have balcony for. Apparently there is no sound proofing from the top deck above so every movement of chairs etc makes the ceiling vibrate making can be heard as if in a drum. Reviewers had stated it left them stressed, deprived of sleep and felt ill at end of the cruise, and they were only on a weeks cruise. I didn't want that for a fortnight so I offered to pay for another room, was refused and lost £311. Why would anyone want to go on a cruise to be made stressed, tired and feeling ill? A lot money must be made by booking Balconies located on the 13 floor and not giving a warning that they are deprived of sunlight and noisy which you only find out about after reviewing the room you have been allocated. 

Way, way over dramatic. It's nearly impossible to end up stressed, tired and feeling ill after a cruise unless it ended like Titanic in 1912. If the cabin caused that then cruising probably isn't for you. If a cabin did all that then most vacations might be an issue for you. 

Again, something very, very strange about these posts. Sorry, that's just how I read it. 

[FionaMG]

2 hours ago, Steven W said:

The ship Royal Caribean Anthem of the seas has 13 decks the Balcony on the 13th deck is covered preventing direct sunlight which is what you have balcony for. Apparently there is no sound proofing from the top deck above so every movement of chairs etc makes the ceiling vibrate making can be heard as if in a drum. Reviewers had stated it left them stressed, deprived of sleep and felt ill at end of the cruise, and they were only on a weeks cruise. I didn't want that for a fortnight so I offered to pay for another room, was refused and lost £311. Why would anyone want to go on a cruise to be made stressed, tired and feeling ill? A lot money must be made by booking Balconies located on the 13 floor and not giving a warning that they are deprived of sunlight and noisy which you only find out about after reviewing the room you have been allocated.

Thanks for coming back and clarifying what happened.

It's very unfortunate but I hope you won't let it put you off cruising in the future.

Perhaps going forward you could consider working with a travel agent who specialises in cruises as they would be able to help you find the type of room that suits you best.

Also, this blog site is a great source of information, so you just have to ask and the people on here will be more than willing to share their experience and offer advice.

[Xaa]

3 hours ago, Steven W said:

The ship Royal Caribean Anthem of the seas has 13 decks the Balcony on the 13th deck is covered preventing direct sunlight which is what you have balcony for. Apparently there is no sound proofing from the top deck above so every movement of chairs etc makes the ceiling vibrate making can be heard as if in a drum. Reviewers had stated it left them stressed, deprived of sleep and felt ill at end of the cruise, and they were only on a weeks cruise. I didn't want that for a fortnight so I offered to pay for another room, was refused and lost £311. Why would anyone want to go on a cruise to be made stressed, tired and feeling ill? A lot money must be made by booking Balconies located on the 13 floor and not giving a warning that they are deprived of sunlight and noisy which you only find out about after reviewing the room you have been allocated.

Hi @Steven W,

Thanks for coming back.  When you say "the room you've been allocated", did you choose a GTY Balcony?  Otherwise you would select your room.  When choosing the lower price of the GTY, I think it should be expected that you will be given what is left in that category.  It appears that in the UK, you aren't able to change after a GTY has been assigned.

This is certainly not a scam.  Deck plans are made available.  These reviews exist prior to your booking.  Also, sometimes people want the warmth but not the direct sunlight while others might want easy access to the amenities on decks 14 and 15 on Anthem.

I'm sorry you feel taken advantage of.  I'll join the others who recommend you use a good travel agent for your next cruise whether it be with RCL or another line.

[tjcruisers]

So the OP books a GTY stateroom, then complains it's not in ideal location. The GTY being far cheaper than pick your own room would have been something that I'd spend some time investigating as to why (there is a reason). A few simple searches on youtube about GTY statements or what rooms to avoid yields 100's of videos

[michaelp1446]

4 hours ago, Steven W said:

he ship Royal Caribean Anthem of the seas has 13 decks the Balcony on the 13th deck is covered preventing direct sunlight which is what you have balcony for.

Depending on the time of day and direction the ship is heading half the balconies on the vessel are in shade. No balcony has direct sunlight all times. Deck 13 forward on  Anthem is popular for easy access to the Solarium through the "secret " door. Any room below the pool deck is susceptible to noise, but the claim of the overhead vibrating is a little bit of a stretch. Now that you've found the boards I hope you are able to do a little more research and ask questions before your next cruise.

[tjcruisers]

Gotta love Matt. Checking out today's youtube video for Royal Caribbean Blog titled "The worst cruise ship cabins?". The people ask, he gives  

[CruisingNewb]

1. Was the booking directly through RCCL?

2. When you book balcony rooms with obstructions, the website CLEARLY says it has obstructions.  I believe in RED lettering, but I can't recall for sure.

In 2023, reading and writing has devolved to the stone age where hieroglyphics were the standard.  The use of shortcuts, emojis, abbreviations have all lessened the public's sense of urgency and prudency towards careful reading and writing.  Of course, I am not immune.  PLEASE READ the agreements and literature regarding your cruise CAREFULLY and with purpose before making vague and general accusations.   

[Ampurp85]

I don't understand this. If I am spending my money on something, I always do my research. I just booked a GTY room, the difference was over $300. Since I don't care much about the rooms on Mariner, I'm expecting the worse. I also take reviews with a grain of salt. What bothers someone else might not actually bother you. Lite sleepers can't take even basic noise. While someone else wouldn't hear stomping in their sleep.

[RCIfan1912]

On 1/26/2023 at 12:11 PM, Ampurp85 said:

I don't understand this. If I am spending my money on something, I always do my research. I just booked a GTY room, the difference was over $300. Since I don't care much about the rooms on Mariner, I'm expecting the worse. I also take reviews with a grain of salt. What bothers someone else might not actually bother you. Lite sleepers can't take even basic noise. While someone else wouldn't hear stomping in their sleep.

I booked my first GTY balcony myself because I really wanted this 9 night cruise to Canada and NE and this was the cheapest way. We both said, oh well it's guarantee, it probably won't be the best but we really want to go on this cruise. We basically said we'll have to live with it. 

Now I might if offered make a Royal up bid. But we'll see. That's a maybe. 

[CruisingNewb]

7 hours ago, Steven W said:

The ship Royal Caribean Anthem of the seas has 13 decks the Balcony on the 13th deck is covered preventing direct sunlight which is what you have balcony for. Apparently there is no sound proofing from the top deck above so every movement of chairs etc makes the ceiling vibrate making can be heard as if in a drum. Reviewers had stated it left them stressed, deprived of sleep and felt ill at end of the cruise, and they were only on a weeks cruise. I didn't want that for a fortnight so I offered to pay for another room, was refused and lost £311. Why would anyone want to go on a cruise to be made stressed, tired and feeling ill? A lot money must be made by booking Balconies located on the 13 floor and not giving a warning that they are deprived of sunlight and noisy which you only find out about after reviewing the room you have been allocated.

1. Covered balconies prevent direct sunlight?  Pretty sure that is why they are covered.  Shade anyone?  Additionally, you still get sunlight, and IN FACT direct sunlight, just maybe not at Noon o'clock when the sun is directly above us.  You know that the Earth rotates and the path of sunlight changes throughout the day right?  

2. Noise from upstairs?  Pray tell!  How do you sound proof the balcony?  Aside form stomping noises and what not, which cannot be totally prevented and SHOULD be expected, noise travels through solids and gases.  Yes!  Sound even travels through air!  So a dampened balcony cover would NOT dampen noise that travels through.....AIR!

3. Last but not least, what are you trying to accomplish?  Is your unsupported and unwarranted complaint going to change our minds about cruising with RCCL?  LOL this is a fan site.

Sorry guys, if you guys read my posts and comments, I am generally kind, civil, and try to be light, but lately, these one-off rant posts REALLY tick me off.  I will be taking a break for awhile and ONLY lurk, not post.

[Carlos A.]

2 hours ago, CruisingNewb said:

1. Was the booking directly through RCCL?

2. When you book balcony rooms with obstructions, the website CLEARLY says it has obstructions.  I believe in RED lettering, but I can't recall for sure.

 

I'm not sure, recently I almost booked an obstructed view cabin by mistake, the only "flag" was a little icon on the deck plan that you had to go to the bottom to se what it meant. It meant obstructed view.

[Linda R]

I always pick my cabins and make sure public areas are not above me.  So, mostly I  choose a cabin with cabins above mine and below.  No problems.  

[Geoff P]

I have to say I understand as when I booked my first cruise I had no idea that I should be doing research into the cabin and it’s location etc…booked one of the worst cabins…found this site shortly after that and haven’t had any issues since!  

[Atlantix2000]

5 hours ago, CruisingNewb said:

1. Covered balconies prevent direct sunlight?  Pretty sure that is why they are covered.  Shade anyone?  Additionally, you still get sunlight, and IN FACT direct sunlight, just maybe not at Noon o'clock when the sun is directly above us.  You know that the Earth rotates and the path of sunlight changes throughout the day right?  

Every balcony on the ship has a ceiling so it shouldn't be a surprise that you won't get sunlight from directly overhead.  I wonder if the actual complaint is that the pool/upper decks overhang the sides of the ship above the poster's assigned cabin.  That would mean less sunlight than most balconies.  I'm not sure if that would qualify as an obstructed view cabin but it would make it a likely candidate for a GTY assignment.