Balsam12

3 minutes ago, emdia43 said:

Post your complaint about this on their Facebook page.That usually gets their attention and alerts others to the possibility that this could happen to them. 

It will also alert the wider community to the fact you're a whinger, and don't actually understand how the system works.

RCI are going to do absolutely zero more for the OP. They have already done far more than they legally had to by giving the offer of compensation (although the OP has not clarified just what "compensation" was being offered) if they went ahead with the changed itinerary, or a full refund if they decided to cancel. There was no obligation for RCI to offer either of these options.

Our OP still hasn't explained just WHY they couldn't just take the cruise with the new itinerary plus "compensation"? I would guess the compensation would have been in the form of either OBC or discount?

I don't see anything logical in not doing the cruise if it started and ended in the same ports and on the same dates as the original itinerary. Maybe not the ports you wanted, but as you have already noted, there was no time to arrange a different vacation, and you would not have wasted 1500 pounds... and guess what... you would probably have still had a very enjoyable cruise.

Now if the starting or finishing ports, or the dates were changed, that's a different story altogether, however I seriously doubt any of those would be changed, as it would then affect other cruises for that ship.

Not sure if you are aware, but all three ships you mention are Voyager class, so are all very similar.

Voyager is getting the Royal Amplified upgrade in 2019, Explorer in 2020, and Adventure in 2021.

Yep... we have taken the package for both of us, as we drink coffee, juice and alcohol. Added that we can't be bothered carrying a 24 pack of water, so for the convenience, we were happy to pay AUD 60 + 18% for the package.

I believe you can purchase the package onboard as long as there are at least three days left on the cruise, however the price per day will probably be higher than purchasing before the cruise.

So... if you will take water on board, don't drink soda, hubby doesn't drink alcohol, then really it only leaves barista coffee and fresh juice. If you're happy with the standard coffee and other included drinks, it comes down to how many alcoholic drinks you would have per day.

Some maths as an example, using prices from my upcoming cruise:

Deluxe package - $69 per day

Refreshment package - $35 per day

Total for you to get the Deluxe would therefore be $104 per day.

The Deluxe package covers drinks up to $12 each

If neither of you drink soda, fresh juice or specialty coffee, and you have your own water, then you would need to have 8 or 9 alcoholic drinks per day to make the Deluxe package worthwhile.

If coffee is important, you can usually get a coffee card, which on my sailing gives 15 coffees for $43.

Note - my prices are in AUD, but the maths would be the same no matter what the currency.

Hope that helps.

From what I read on various websites, you can contact RC and simply tell them the truth... that your husband does not drink alcohol. They will then allow him to purchase the refreshment package and you the Deluxe Beverage package. It the first operator you speak to to says no, just try again with another one.

The other question would be, if your hubby doesn't drink at all, do you drink enough to warrant the package, or would it be cheaper for you to get the refreshment package and just pay as you go for alcohol?

1 hour ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I believe even with an Aussie booking, you can cancel and reorder of the price goes down.

I can confirm that, as I have done it myself with the three night dining package.

Unfortunately, the Beverage package hasn't dropped below the AUD 60 that I paid originally 😞

4 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

 Unless you are an American I think it kind of presumptuous to talk about what Amercan's "think".  Our system includes incentive pay in the final take home.    

I didn't mention anything about what Americsns "think". I mentioned the unique model they have for remuneration in the hospitality industry.

Every other country in the civilised world pays their staff a reasonable wage, and then the customers tip when they feel the service is worthy of extra recognition. 

What I resent is the idea that people will think less of me if I simply pay the price for whatever meal or drink I buy, and don't tip the staff for simply doing their job, just because that's what the American model insists I should do.

I spent 20+ years in the casino industry, where most of the staff were prohibited from accepting tips. I then spent many more years behind the bar, where I did rather well out of tips, but only because I provided a level of service that made people want to give me extra reward... and because I kept the tips I earned without having to share them with the other staff.

Again, the American model, where the tip I give a staff member doesn't even go to that person... I'm actually tipping every staff member, even the ones that give poor service.

I find it interesting... many people here saying they prefer the Australian model where the gratuities are built in to the cost of the cruise in the first place.

If RCI did this in all markets, tipping would then go back to how it should be... a reward for excellent service, or for something unexpected, rather than something that is almost seem as compulsory.

Unfortunately, Americans have designed their own model for remuneration in the hospitality industry, and then think the rest of the world is wrong for actually paying their staff a decent wage in the first place.

One of your three nights must be either night one or two of the cruise.

You can select the night and the time in yhe cruise planner, but not the restaurant. That will be chosen for you, and you won't know the restaurant until you board.

I believe you can then go to any of the restaurants onboard to book your other two meals, and even change the first one if you want..

2 hours ago, Big_G said:

 I wouldn't feel comfortable asking them to front that.

So you give them the funds up front.....

11 minutes ago, tiger13 said:

the price to upgrade will surely be higher going from a balcony compared to going from a GS.

 

 

 

As I said, I'm not sure on the pricing, however my suggestion involves one upgrade... Balcony to top of the range suite.

The other option involves two upgrades... GS to higher suite, and balcony to GS.

OK... let's see if I'm reading your question correctly...

You are in a GS, but want to upgrade to a better suite.

You realise this will then leave a vacant GS, which your family could upgrade to from their current balcony, but you're not sure how to make sure they are the ones that get that GS.

If I'm correct there, here's another way of looking at it... not sure if it's possible, or how it would work out with cost, bur anyway...

Have your other family upgrade their balcony straight to the better suite you want. Then when you board, just swap cabins.

I'm also seeing a font that's difficult to read...

Just looked at the cruise planner for my sailing, and the T & C reads:

On certain sailings, gratuities and taxes are additional and will be applied at check-out. To modify a beverage package purchased prior to the cruise departure date, first, cancel the existing order and second, create a new purchase. Beverage selection is limited to those described in the package details and in Cruise Planner and is subject to change without notice. Package is valid only for the sailing for which it was purchased and is non-transferable. Offer is not combinable with any other offer or promotion. No refunds or credits for unused days. ©2018 Royal Caribbean International.

This is for a March 2019 sailing on Voyager.

Is yours close to the actual sail date?

Entree in this thread means main course.

Thanks Bob.

Can someone please clarify what "entree" means in these threads?

Is it referring to your "main course"?

In Australia, a three course meal consists of entree, main course, dessert. A "starter", or "appetiser" is a small serving that comes before the entree.

I look at menus for Royal Caribbean and see no mention of "entree", so am guessing that Americans are just calling their main course an "entree".

Yes I has a typo and drydock is in 2019.

 

as Sept 3 2018 has past.

Ahhh... missed that bit :rolleyes:

Cheers!!

Drydock looks to be Sept 10 to Oct 14, 2919..

Not trying to be funny, but the OP is on a September 18 Sailing.

I'm guessing you meant to say "Drydock looks to be Sept10 to Oct 14 2019", which is still a year after the OP's cruise.

If I'm wrong and you meant 2018, this would be very interesting, as we are on a March 2018 sailing.

Can you please clarify?

Any company that would change is bait and switching.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

You really do need to look up "Bait and Switch".

A bait is something used to entice the buyer into a purchase.

The "bait" in this case was the offer of a suite at a cheap price.

You accepted this offer.

A "switch" is to then provide something different to what was offered in the "bait".

Where has this happened?

Give it up. You are getting exactly what you paid for. You are entitled to nothing else, including flowers.

Based on your posts here on CC, you have been on a cruise at least every 7 weeks, so should really know how these things work by now.

If you really think RCI have done something wrong, get a lawyer and take them to court.

"What is relevant is I was baited and switched."

Incorrect. When you accepted the upgrade, you were told you would get a JS or better. You have received that.

Bait and switch is when you are told you are paying for something, and then receive something different.

"RCI dangled a carrot"

Again, incorrect.

Had RCI offered a GS, and then after payment was made, offered something different, that would have been dangling a carrot.

Good experience or not, RCI have delivered exactly what was offered, and exactly what was paid for. Would I be disappointed in the same situation? Undoubtedly. Would I have a legitimate complaint? Nope.

I did read the entire thread but I never saw where the OP actually admitted it was a guarantee booking versus an actual suite booking. It’s possible I just missed it.

Yep. I've been following this thread as well, and the OP has conveniently ignored any questions about whether it was a GTY booking or not.

I'm not an experienced cruiser, nor an expert on RCI, but I do have a lot of experience in online forums. When people have a rant, but then repeatedly ignore questions, it generally indicates they actually know exactly what has happened and why it has happened.

If, as has been suggested, this is a GTY booking, and the first cabin offered had been the one our OP ended up with, would this thread even exist?

My other half and I have never been on a cruise before, but are booked for Voyager (SIN - HKG) in March 2019.

A very quick look at the drinks package and we have decided it will be purchased, even at the full price (Can't purchase via Cruise Planner as yet).

For us, a decent coffee and a fresh juice with breakfast, a bottle or two of water to take ashore, a beer or two (or even soft drinks) after coming back on board, a glass or three of wine with dinner, and finally a cocktail or whiskey before bed will more than cover the "value" bit. We have no intention of recording every drink to see if we "got our money's worth", but we will be happy knowing there will be no huge drinks bill at the end of the cruise.

With two sea days on the cruise, we will probably have a few extra drinks by the pool as well.

I can see how someone that doesn't drink alcohol, coffee, soft drinks or fresh juice, plus brings a refillable bottle to take water ashore could see the package as a waste of money, but that's up to the individual.

So many threads here and on other forums that just do this topic to death...

Australian here. Happy to answer any questions

 

I don’t think you mentioned where the cruise is going, or how long you plan to spend in Australia before or after - it would help to know that to give general advice.

 

One thing I will say, Australia is really really big. Lots of visitors overestimate how much they can see, so depending on how much time you have you might be able to see 2 or 3 places.

So you mean my plan to see the Opera house, Harbour Bridge, Uluru, Barrier Reef, Barossa Valley, Margaret River and Broome in the three days between the cruise and flying home is enough to fill the time?

Sorry... Aussie sense of humour :-)

Yep, not very much info about these cabins here on CC.

I did a review of one here (Navigator), including a comment on noise.

Hope this helps you. :)

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=42735698&highlight=6204#post42735698

Thanks for that link... we have booked cabin 7204 on Voyager, and I have been looking for pics that give some idea about the cabin layout.

As 6204 is directly under 7204, I'm guessing they would be very similar, but less noise from the crew area.

Cheers

As an additional question for this thread, which currency/currencies are accepted in the casino?

Cruising Voyager out of Singapore.

Cheers..