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On 11/15/2021 at 3:28 PM, LorraineP said:

I emailed my request for our 11/28 & 12/5 Anthem & received $100 within a few days just a few days ago. Seems like emailing has a faster turn around time then using their electronic form. 
 

 

That is my experience. I initially used the electronic form and never heard anything back.Yesterday sent an email and now my credit is there.

I do believe Covid 19 is here to stay, including many future mutations. Do you think that cruise lines will eventually do away with mask requirements, pre-cruise testing, vaccination proof, etc. or do you think the requirements are here for the long term? 

I plan on waiting until all of the hoops we have to jump through are gone. If they ever are gone. I am vaccinated, but really don't like the idea of the "vaccination passport." Plus, I don't want to mask up or worry about pre-cruise tests. So will just stay in my little Florida paradise until this all passes. But am wondering now if it ever will.

On 9/3/2021 at 4:52 PM, not-enough-cruising said:

Exactly why I am doing the home test, and enjoying cruising 

Good for you. Everyone has to make his/her own decision as to what is best. 

On 9/3/2021 at 2:12 PM, Oxo said:

The way things are going now, you may have a long wait. 

So be it. Luckily, I live in paradise anyway!

2 hours ago, cruiser101_1 said:

What a wonderful business model! So it means that if Walgreens or CVS screwed up and don't send the results, ppl lose thousands?

Exactly why I am not cruising until the testing requirement is lifted.

It really bothered me not to have anything should I have to prove I actually called. i did request that they send me an email and they finally did. Anytime anyone cancels anything, they should receive a confirmation of some sort. I do for everything except for a cruise. 

9 hours ago, rj59 said:

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2021/08/20/royal-mess-for-some-galveston-royal-caribbean-customers-no-cruise-no-luggage-no-callback/

 

This is my biggest fear about sailing with the testing requirements in place--what if you don't get your test results back before the cruise? It seems RCL gave passengers without valid test results a local option, but those results too didn't get back in time for them to sail (although their luggage did get to cruise). I fear this scenario will be playing out on all the cruise lines, except for NCL, and it really seems unjust that the unvaccinated can get a quick antigen test at the pier but the vaccinated whose cruise depends on the efficiency of a pharmacy worker or overburdened lab to get results to you in time can't get a test at the pier. The other huge stressor is that if you can't cancel for FCC until 2 days before, but if your test isn't back in time, then you're left at the pier or scrambling around port cities with huge test demand now. With worries about breakthrough cases now onboard, including a death on Carnival, I'm not sure if I want to add the risks and stress of not having testing availability and results in time. 

I decided to cancel my Aug. 22 cruise for that very reason. I was having a lot of difficulty finding an appointment to get a test on Aug. 19 in my area, and it was absolutely impossible to get an appt for a rapid test. 

When I called even at 9 AM EST they had a message saying they are closed. But I finally got through on the main number about 9:30 am EST.

That must be it! Thanks!

3 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Yes, you will have a hard time getting through if you called them when they are closed.  

 

Try calling at 9 AM. You shouldn’t have any problem. 

m

Their website says they open at 7 am est. 

• Their website says they open at 7 am. They should not be closed.

I have been calling all morning. It is EST where I live and EST at Royal's offices. Every number I call says the office is currently closed. They were supposed to open at 7 am. Grrrr. 8:17 right now. Anyone else have any luck?

I was supposed to cruise in a week, but called and cancelled a couple of weeks ago. My reservation still does not show a cancellation. I called this morning and got an automated confirmation about my reservation and that did not say it was cancelled. I have been trying to call since 7 am EST but just get a recording that says the office is closed. It is supposed to open at 7 am. Very frustrated! I have sent a couple of email asking if my reservation was indeed cancelled but no response. 

I cancelled my Aug. 22 cruise because of the mask requirement and I was finding it very diffiult to make an appointment to get a rapid antigen test in my area. 

Hello. I usually cruise Royal Caribbean, but recently cancelled our Aug. 22 cruise due to (1) mask indoors requirement and (2) having to get a negative covid test at my own expense prior to boarding. In my area I was unable to make an appointment to get a rapid antigen test due to high demand and didn't want to chance not getting results back with a pcr test. 

I just looked at Norwegian (have cruised with Norwegian a number of times) and it looks like they do not require masks since they are doing only vaccinated cruises. Also, they test you at the port at their expense.

I would just like to confirm that this is correct. I am fully vaccinated.

14 hours ago, ChicagoCubsFan said:

We are suppose to be taking a 4 day cruise out of Miami in October.  Now that Royal will be requiring Covid tests for 3 and 4 days cruises I am not sure what to do.  Not sure where to get tested at home or in Miami.  Both my husband and I are fully vaccinated and the thought of jumping thru hoops to get tested,  just doesn’t seem worth it.  Is anyone out there torn on what to do?

I was definitely on the fence regarding our Aug. 22 cruise, and we ended up cancelling. I was finding it very difficult in my city to get a rapid antigen test and I didn't want to risk not getting back the results of the other test in time. And I didn't want to have to pay $400 to get tested at the port. That plus having to wear indoor mask. I have decided not to book a cruise until no masks and no tests. We are both fully vaccinated.

2 hours ago, Wildcat85 said:

This has been a problem for me. I called on July 21 to cancel an Anthem cruise that the itinerary was changed from Norway to Spain/Portugal. I had to call repeatedly over several days to get something in writing and it was still ambiguously written and the refund owed. Recently I got an email to check in on the canceled Anthem cruise, which was rerouted a second time to the British Isles, yet sailing is not till Sep 5. So I am still calling still and not at all confident that my cruise was canceled or that my refund is being processed. 

I hate to say it, but I wonder if this is all a RCI ploy to keep as many payments as possible? If I have nothing in writing that I asked them to cancel, what is my recourse if I don't get my refund? They could just say that I never showed up to board. I have never not gotten a cancellation confirmation when I cancelled something. They come via email immediately. Or at least show up as cancelled online. But with Royal...nothing.

On 8/7/2021 at 8:39 AM, molly361 said:

Sorry if I missed it but what happens if you don't get the results back in time?  By then your CWC cancellation window would have passed.  I assume if you can show you got tested in time you would get a refund?

That is exactly why I decided to cancel my 8/22 cruise. Plus, I was having a lot of trouble getting an appointment for any testing. Places are booked up. CVS told me they are booked up for 2 weeks. I tried to make an appointment early the first day appointments were open for 8/19 and couldn't get one. I decided it was all becoming too much trouble.

1 hour ago, SherriZ366 said:

We wonder about this also -- this type of action would be a good back-up by RCI.  Also, they are not testing unvaccinated people ages 12 and up so they probably have more testing resources to work with.  

I decided to cancel just because of this very thing, plus was having a great deal of trouble even getting an appointment for any test. That and the mask thing. There is a good chance you could get a test at the port (although would confirm with Royal), but they will definitely charge you I believe $178 per person and they won't charge your insurance company. The cost will just be on you. 

I did cancel my cruise two days ago and was also concerned that I did not get a cancellation confirmation number, or an email. Nothing to prove it was cancelled. I will be calling back next week. I did ask if I would get an email about the cancellation and was told no, but that I could call to check the status of it. Of course, will have to wait on hold a long time, I am sure. Something should appear online when I got to upcoming cruises that says cancelled, but it doesn't. Still has my cruise listed. When I don't show up, how can I prove I actually did cancel? It has me worried as well.

8 hours ago, vegas7df said:

Logged on to CVS at midnight to try and book an Antigen test for 8/19/21.  No test available for that day in my area, odd thing is they had some tests available for today. I continued to populate other zip codes for availability, finally got one in Winter Springs Fl which is 2 hours from my house.  I booked it, better to be safe than sorry.  I'll continue to look in my area for a closer location. There are plenty of PCR tests available but worried about the turnaround.   This is not fun!

 

Good Luck everyone. 

Exactly the same thing that happened to me. I was so stressed out trying to figure out testing that I cancelled the cruise. That and the having to wear a mask indoors now. I will book again when I don't have to jump through so many hoops.

Just now, vegas7df said:

I was able to get an appointment at the CVS in Winter Springs Fl on 8/19.  Booked it this morning and it's an Antigen test.  Check their website.  I live in St Augustine so it will be a drive for us, but nothing available in my area.  Good Luck.

I did see that, but my husband didn't want to. We cancelled. He was also worried we would get there and they would not have the test supplies for that day. I would have made the drive, but he thought it was best to cancel. Plus the mask thing...I don't breathe well in them.

I just cancelled my cruise that was fully paid and is to sail Aug. 22. Too difficult to get the required test 3 days prior to the cruise, plus I don't want to spend a lot of money and then have to wear a mask indoors. Would rather stay home. Anyway, they are refunding my money, although it will take up to 45 days.