suzepoo

They sure wouldn't allow me to do that on the Grandeur in February!! Glad it worked out for you!!

but I agree....I was NOT going to put my credit card information on a form and just leave it on her desk.....I filled three out, but since I wanted to also use a RCCL credit card to apply the charges to, I needed to also apply for that, AND I had several questions, so when I stopped by to drop off my forms with her and apply for the RCCL credit card, that is when she told me that the people waiting had an appointment. I asked her if I should make one, and she said that I could just check back with her and if she wasn't busy she would answer my questions. In the meantime, that is when my Next Cruise bookings and my Credit Card approval were sent to my room WITHOUT Family and Friends Certificates, and also still had my TA listed on them, which I had requested to be removed, thus why I had to make another trip to see her. Really not a big deal, but that's why I suggested a check list, so there are NO misunderstandings and you don't end up leaving the ship without something you wanted.:D

on the Grandeur last week....they were REQUIRING appointments! I just kept going back until I saw her alone and just walked up to her. At one point, though, some other people walked up and she indicated to me that they had an appointment and that she would get back with me later. I didn't wait for her to get back with me, though, I went back later that day...again when she was alone at her desk.

OK....it did not go smoothly onboard the Grandeur last week, so heads up everyone! I went to the area of the ship where you can book your Next Cruise. The lady "seemed" very competent, however....when I received my packet in my cabin....NO Friends & Family certificates were inside my envelope, so a second trip to her desk was necessary. I had also noticed that she had listed the travel agency I had used to receive the future commission, meaning I would have to book through them, which I had specifically told her I did NOT want to do, sooooooooo she had to change that so I would be able to book directly through RCCL, AND issue my Friends & Family Certificates. Thinking ALL was ok now....I called RCCL yesterday to book our next cruise, only to discover that she had NOT included any on-board credits, so now a call to Customer Service is necessary. Not a big deal...just a lot of hassel unnecessarily in my opinion. It might be a good idea to make a "CHECKLIST" of what to make sure you receive for anyone getting ready to cruise that wants to book a "Next Cruise". Hope this helps you all!:D

I was told that my "Next Cruise" certificate would have to be booked with my original TA that I was booked through on the cruise where I obtained the certificate?:( I guess this means I can't call RCCL directly when I get back to book my "Next Cruise", so it would make sense that the LA would want you to book directly through her. I will be interested to see if she will allow me to book 8 cabins and give ALL of us the $100 OBC then....if so, that is exactly what I will do.:D Otherwise, it will be "Next Cruise" certificates for me regardless of WHO gets the commission, but I sure would prefer to book through RCCL directly, as the only reason we didn't this time was because it was last minute, and RCCL was more expensive and wasn't offering any OBC, and Cruise Deals was. Sooooo, as the story goes....book with whoever has the best deal at the time you are booking!! HAHA I know, however, that booking direct with RCCL (or any other cruise line) makes it much easier to get adjustments if the rates go down, and upgrades if they are available, too. Oh well....so much to watch and learn!!:eek:

EXACT SAME STORY from each of them.....NO MORE GROUP DEPARTMENT!! It's not even an option when you call now, so perpahs they just implemented this change after the MLK holiday?? I don't know, but am sure glad you got your group booking made first! I didn't mention a ship or date, just inquired about booking a group when they first came on the line....since the first person could barely speak English, I hung up and called back....but when I got the same story from the 2nd person I was so flustered that I just thanked them for their time and hung up. About 3 hours later after speaking with my other friends I decided to book anyway, so I called back and got a VERY nice and RCCL informed sales person who again informed me that there is NO Group Department any longer and that the lady who sat next to him had been moved to another building since they did away with her "group booking" job???!!!! If anyone else has any further information I'd love to hear it??!!! Also....if you have the contact name and phone number of your "group agent' that you just booked with, could I pleaseeeeeeeee have it???!!!

Thanks for the very helpful info on the Next Cruise Certificates, too! Since my cruise on the Grandeur is only 5 nights, I will be sure to take care of this FIRST THING!! Then relax and enjoy the rest of my cruise...can't WAIT!!! WOO HOO!!:D

Are you serious? What if you want to give the certificate to a friend who wants to cruise on a different ship and different date than you? They can't do this?:confused: What if you all book, then the original person has to cancel? What happens to the then booked "friends and/or family"???:(

I'm telling you one thing right now....when RCCL (or any other cruise line for that matter) decides that it is no longer to their financial benefit to offer group bookings with discounts and amenities, that is just getting down right GREEDY IMHO!!!:mad:

I will be cruising on the Grandeur in 12 days and was planning to book another cruise while on board in order to receive the OBC.

My question is this.....I want to book 8 cabins for a specific ship and date. Will they allow me to do this if I have names and birthdates?? :confused:

I called RCCL this morning to inquire about group rates and amenities and was told that they no longer have a Group Department??? When I asked what sort of incentive they have for booking more than 1 cabin, I was told "NONE"??? I've NEVER heard of such a thing as I do Group bookings all the time on Carnival. Anyone have any recent RCCL Group info???:confused:

Thanks for all the GREAT info so far!!!:D