erllje

Just got off Quantum of seas on May 30th. It took us ( party of 11) by surprise how disappointed we were with RCCL. It started with embarkation, we signed up for the 1:00 check in and still had to stand in line for 2 hours before we managed to get on board. Why have a check in time, no one checks if it’s your time or not. The same thing for the Covid test we had 2 people in our group that wasn’t even asked to show their test results.
We had a room for 4 and when we went to take showers there were only 2 towels, the 2nd night the soap dispenser was empty. We finally got our bathroom glasses replaced on the 4th day and he never closed the balcony drapes on the first day and had to ask him to close them the rest of the week. I know it sounds petty but when that sofa is made into a double bed there is like no room to walk though.

It seemed like the food in the Marketplace Buffet was the same every day for lunch, if you like a good burger this is definitely not the place for it. The food was so salty was ankles swelled up the 3rd day, never had that happen.

It’s great that they have all this trivia but the venue needs to be larger, not uncommon to see 30-40 people sitting on the floor. Everyone of the host was hard to understand because of masks and accents, on 1 occasion the host had to spell 6 different words because she didn’t know how to pronounce the word. It’s also great having all these things to do but they have such limited time you can’t get in. My grandson tried to get on I-Fly all week and had no luck. The bumper cars, Flowrider , laser tag and rock climbing walls are all very limited when it came to times of operations. Don’t go and think your going to these everyday because your not. I will say the sportplex area is a great place for kids and adults.

With all that said I think this may be my last RCCL cruise. This was a family vacation, as for the ports the beautiful weather we had at every port it was a great time. I thought it was interesting that our last 2 family cruises have been on Carnival and they all wanted to go on something nicer so I thought RCCL was the answer but all 11 said Carnival was better.

Then on the last day of the cruise my grandson tested positive and him and my daughter in law are quarantined in Seattle  till Friday. I just talked to her and RCCL said they would be in touch with her and she has not heard anything. She had to book her own room and everything, why do this? To look good to the CDC?
There was a great guitar player singer in Harp and Horn every night his name was Carlo. There was no sail away party on deck no bands and very little entertainment.

We are cruising to Alaska the last week of May, round trip out of Seattle and was wondering what port is best for whale watching. We are thinking Juneau or Victoria. There will be 11 of us including 6 children. Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

I posted the OP and maybe 5 people tried to give me their reason which I appreciate. The other 372 replies were a waste of time. I guess this was not a good idea on my half.

I’m the OP and after 4 pages of posts not one person even attempted to give me an answer to my question. Everyone goes off on their only platform. If someone could take a stab at my question I would appreciate it. Why do they take the drink package away when you put your 2 children age 10 and 8 in your cabin?

I think it is good for any one that has a VIFP number. It is code RU2, sure it has exceptions but I just can’t come up with a reason why they take it away for taken your family? 

I received an email which I’m sure many have from Carnival giving the drink package if you are a VIFP. We decided to take the family and called Carnival and requested 3 balcony cabins for 6 adults and 6 children aged 7-16. We told her the cruise we wanted and got everything we wanted except the drink package. I asked why we didn’t get the drink package and she informed us because it is only for cabins with double occupancy, so even if they are children under 21 you lose the perk. I don’t understand why Carnival would do this, you take an extra 6 people and it seems you get penalized. What are your thoughts why they would do this. 

3 hours ago, BlueRiband said:

Denied boarding for what reason?  You've given us very little information. If denied boarding for lack of proper travel documentation, PVSA, or missing the check-in cut off that's entirely the passenger's fault.  If denied boarding by the cruise line or local authorities due to COVID-19 that's something else.  Please elaborate.

We were denied boarding after we had a 1 hour layover in Hong Kong. We flew to Singapore on January 30th for a Celebrity Cruise leaving February 1st, on January 31 we received an email saying anyone who transited through Hong Kong would be denied boarding. We purchased this trip as a package and our TA said since we used the air we would not be reimbursed for that or our hotels. Were talking almost $2500 that we thing Celebrity should give us back. We did get a full refund plus a 50% FCC. We have filed a claim with insurance for interruption but not heard anything yet.

Has anyone that was denied boarding once you arrived at the port city filed a claim with insurance for refund of flight and hotel. If you have, could you let me know where it stands and if you have heard back from them. No offense but I would appreciate if only those denied boarding response to this post.

5 hours ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

People are always willing to throw other people's money around in Goodwill gestures.  That are rarely all that well received.

I feel since they denied us boarding when we were already in port Celebrity was willing to throw our money around!

2 hours ago, JennyB1977 said:

@erllje While I understand where you are coming from. You would have to have taken those flights either way. The best you can hope for (in addition to the refunds) is FCC. While this is not normally my stance, I think you did everything"right". There was no way to foresee them denying you the ability to board after you had already begun your journey. If phone and e-mail don't get you anywhere, I would then escalate to HQ, Social Media and then the Elliott Advocacy Group.

I goggled Elliott Advocacy Group. Thanks for the info, I may need it.

2 hours ago, JennyB1977 said:

@erllje While I understand where you are coming from. You would have to have taken those flights either way. The best you can hope for (in addition to the refunds) is FCC. While this is not normally my stance, I think you did everything"right". There was no way to foresee them denying you the ability to board after you had already begun your journey. If phone and e-mail don't get you anywhere, I would then escalate to HQ, Social Media and then the Elliott Advocacy Group.

I don’t get where your coming from on I would have to have taken those flights either way. If we would of had two days notice we could have switched to flights not going to Hong Kong. Can you tell me what the Elliott Advocacy Group is.

19 hours ago, klfrodo said:

Curious, are you now going to be denied re-entry or held in quarantine when you come back home to the states?

No, we left Singapore Saturday 2/1 at 6:30 PM and got home at 11:00 AM Sunday after 4 flights and 36 of flying and sitting in airports. Our fight that our TA arranged for us home was back though Hong Kong where we didn’t change planes but required us to exit the plane and go though security which was the same way coming but this time going home they took our temperature. When we arrived in SFO it was same as normal, just went though customs and on to our next gate. I don’t know what would have happened if 1 of us would of had a temperature in Hong Kong. We keep thinking that Celebrity will step up and cover the cost of our flights like Princesses has.

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

Did you book your air through celebrity?

 

No

Just now, erllje said:

Then insurance kicks in, they say since we use the flights we are entitled to no compensation 

Plus we would have change flights not going to Hong Kong

6 minutes ago, Toofarfromthesea said:

 

Just curious.  Given that almost all flights are non-refundable, if they had told you a week earlier wouldn't you still have been on the hook for the airfare?  Just trying to figure out why it would be X's problem.

Then insurance kicks in, they say since we use the flights we are entitled to no compensation 

44 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

End of the 4th paragraph: 'any guests who has transited through mainland China or Hong Kong, 15 days prior to embarkation, will be denied boarding and issued a full refund.'  

We were in Singapore when they decided to deny us boarding and our flight was though Hong Kong. 

43 minutes ago, JennyB1977 said:

@erllje could you please post a copy of the e-mail you received? I'd assume you would receive refunds for the cruise fare, port fees, taxes, cost of prepaid excursions, drink packages, etc. I am surprised there was no FCC offered.

 

You said you were "booted" from your hotel? I am not sure what that means. Didn't you only have two nights booked (Thursday and Friday)? 

What I meant about being booted from our hotel was our flight out was not till 6:30PM we asked for a late check out but didn’t receive. We will get a refund from Celebrity for the cruise but we will not be reimbursed for airfare which was $2498.13. I feel since they waited to the last minute to deny us boarding they should reimburse us for flights.

14 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Your travel insurance does not cover this instance?

 

X did not offer a FCC?

 

bon voyage

Our TA said that since we used the flights and hotels insurance will not cover that part. X is giving us a full refund on cruise only, we feel that X should refund our flights since they didn’t notify us before we flew out.

2 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Hate to sound like a Pollyanna, but I knew Celebrity would come through.  They needed a minute to get everything sorted out and patience is key during times of crisis.  I have to say that some other cruise lines, like NCL have yet to follow Celebrity's lead.  Hopefully, they will.  Thank you for posting.

What did they get right? After all they denied us boarding February 1st in Singapore because our flight came thought Hong Kong. Now out $4000 for flight and hotels. It might be fine for those with future cruises.

4 of us were denied boarding the Celebrity Millennium February 1st because celebrity decided to deny anyone who transited though Hong Kong. We arrived in Singapore Thursday afternoon and received an email Friday from Celebrity saying we were not allow to board Saturday. We were booted out of our hotel and headed back to the airport for our 36 hour trip home. Everything was booked though our TA, so when we contacted them today they said we would receive only what the cruise cost. We have over $8000 tied up in this trip including airfare and hotel, they said since we took the flight and the stay in the hotel we would not get that money back. We have insurance so my thinking is they would pay but I don’t know.

So my question is if anyone else has experienced this can you let me know how it came out.

Unfortunately my DW and two friends were denied boarding on the Millennium on February 1 in Singapore because we had a 1 hour layover in Hong Kong. We never changed planes or seats but were required to exit and go though security. It’s seems to me if you are going to try and contain this virus you would  just keep people in place. 
My question is why doesn’t Celebrity have a 24 hour emergency phone number, what about older folks without internet access. I emailed my TA as soon as I saw the email from Celebrity and she knew nothing about it, and when there is a 13 hour time difference it’s hard to get a quick answer. So after more than 24 hours of travel to get to Singapore arriving at 2:00 PM on Thursday and flying back home less than 48 hours later with 4 flights and 34 hours later getting home. On top of this they put us back though Hong Kong where we didn’t change planes again but made up get off and this time took our temperature and back though security and back on the plane.

People are saying it takes time to change itineraries, well it takes us longer to get ready and get there then it takes then to change itineraries. I do have insurance but I feel X should give a little more than a refund just for goodwill. How many people are going to spend over 58 hours to go to Singapore for 2 days. 
My only other pet peeve is Singapore had more confirmed cases than Hong Kong at the time. 

Pukeolive don’t depend on cruisett.com for correct information on how many ships are in port on a certain day. Search for each cruise port schedule where you are going to stop or go to cruiseportschedules.com and search for the dates you are going to be in port. When I looked on cruisett for how many ships were going to be in port along with us in SPB it said just us when I checked the cruise port schedule it said 7 ships are there the same day we are.

Sign up for an Uber account, you can all ride for 1 fee.

Yes we are only doing cruise parking. We are getting there two days before our cruise and we are planning on using public transportation. They told me they have 24hour parking with in and out privilege. Yes you should call them. Good luck.

I saw a post under Carnival Dream written by Janet Foster entitled Pre Cruise Planning Dream out of NOLA and what to expect. She has pictures posted and does not miss a thing. She has great ideals and it is expertly written. Check out the whole thread. I hope this will help.