Michael6913

Then you should have considered buying insurance or a hotel night in Fort Lauderdale.

 

Plus, the age for an adult passport is 16, not 18.

Well played on passport, but not insurance RCI makes millions and millions on travel insurance, while have a no empathy clause in contracts. No travel industry in the world gets sued more often than the cruise industry, actually it's not even close to airlines, resorts etc. there is a reason and it's not due to the "travel insurance"

What is your idea of the "right way" to handle something like this? Do you want us, as taxpayers to refund you, because it was a government agency that grounded the flights? Do you want RC to refund you, even though it was totally out of their control, and you did not purchase travel insurance?

 

One thing you can look into, if you haven't already, is whether the credit card you used to book the cruise includes any sort of travel insurance that would cover a situation like this. Some do offer that as a perk.

The credit card company is a good idea I spoke to them this morning, chase visa, interesting they too agreed thru slews of complaints over the years that the cruise industry had been taking advantage of its passengers for decades. I also agree that going down day before is good idea. However, Look at RCIs perspectus they made more than $4 million in profit from TI and no I do not think it is FAA fault and no I am not looking for refund, simply take the expenses out of my money for this trip and allow me to use remaining on another cruise. Come on that's reasonable!

I am constantly trying to get the word out on the various forums that no one can ever assume that there will not be a weather delay for flights to or from Florida at any time of the year.

 

As a peninsula, Florida has sea breezes and storms move in from both coasts, tropical air moving up from the south, and front moving down from the north.

 

It is common from airports to be closed on one coast and flights diverted to the other coast (and it is like dominoes as the storm moves across the state and the airports try to unstack the grounded planes before they are hit by the storm and closed down), or when they is a massive front moving over the entire state with thunderstorms, to completely close the air travel in the state.

 

We live in Florida and the only port we will drive to on the day of the cruise is Tampa as we are an hour away. Otherwise, we drive to the port the day before because one does not wish to be driving on the interstate during a heavy downpour.

 

Royal Caribbean does not owe a thing to the people who gambled with same day flights and lost the gamble.

 

And for those who don't think a passport is necessary and is going to cheap out with a birth certificate, a passport would have allowed them to fly to another port and save a part of the cruise.

Very interesting reading all of the responses I have received on this issue, I have to say I am a bit surprised. It is funny to me that we have turned into a society of nothing but "hedging your bets with insurance, trips, TVs, life, property, and almost anything u can think of, circuit city went of of biz 10 years ago but they showed a loss the last 5 years in products sales and a $90million dollar profit in insurance for those products. Really? As far as passports go my daughters passport expired in March she turns 18 on April 23 we didn't want another minor passport when she could get an adult passport in 22 days, cheap no, I could afford as many passports as they could issue just not smart. Whatever

Don't blame the FAA, you were the problem. You should have taken steps to protect yourself in the event of a delay be it weather or whatever. If you had done the prudent thing you would have bought cruise insurance and left home a day early. I guess you didn't want to spend the extra few dollars for a night in Ft Lauderdale or the hundred or so for insurance. I guess you learned your lesson. I have NO SYMPHATY for anyone who does not use their head.

Your right we should have gone down day before, however if u look at all the posts around all sites cruise companies have been taking advantage of passengers for years, again regardless of policy there is a right and wrong way to handle these situations, I would hope you would agree. And, anytime you want to compare heads you let me know!

Sorry for your misfortune.

 

How did you find out 1000 people missed the ship?

 

Just saying.

 

Just wondering if you read your contract when spending $11,000.

Really dude u read that entire contract every time, certainly it would have been advisable to know cancellation policies no doubt about it, however, I cancel hotels all the time, get money back, I cancelled Southwest Airlines yesterday got every mile and penny back didn't ask any questions, we didn't make an all inclusive in Turks 3 years ago got 90% back, we miss a cruise due to FAA grounding flight I get zero. Regardless of what contract says, simply not right and something needs to be done. They can't keep u on Tarmac for more than an hour anymore, right policies were changed!!!!!!

Let's get this out there first, I did not take the cruise insurance, I have been on 7 cruises and never needed, not even close. Now after saying that my party of 7 was scheduled to fly out of Nashville yesterday to Ft Lauderdale to board the oasis of seas with a 4:30pm departure. At approximately 9am the FAA grounded all flights entering Florida airspace due to severe weather. After waiting 4 hours to take off it was clear we were going to miss cruise. I called RCI they said I could meet the ship but two passengers did not have valid passports, they then said we could transfer and book on the allure the next day but not enough rooms. I then stated we would simply rebook on the same ship with same itinerary on June 18th and it began, all departments, emergency, post cruise, and passenger relations said sorry we will be keeping your $11,000 and you will get nothing not even a free pina colada, have a nice day. There were over 1000 passengers that missed this boat yesterday. Someone please give me some recourse. Taking all suggestions. Thanks