dchurchward

That's impossible. Can you find one of these "stories"?

I could, but I won't. As soon as I share some of the stories I have seen on this and other boards, people will start picking apart the reasons the claims were denied. The likelihood is that they were legitimate denials because people didn't read the fine print, didn't include their documentations correctly, failed to understand the terms and conditions, or didn't file their claims on time. The insurance companies probably had good reasons to deny the claims, but it seems like the quick answer here is simply to get insurance. If we wanted to be specific, you may want Cancel for any reason insurance, trip interruption insurance, medical insurance that covers you in other countries. There may even be theft insurance if your personal belongings get stolen while on the ship. I'm just stating that insurance isn't always a magic solution either.

We are doing the Alaskan cruise out of Seattle next week. We have 3 additional days booked in Seattle afterwards. Any recommendations for must do's (other than Pike Place Market..which is a MUST see) or dining options?

Thanks!

Here are a few food options. Seattle has a large variety of restaurants so it really depends on your taste.

1. Din Tai Fung - Dumplings and noodles, very popular
   
2. Flintcreek Cattle Co. - Focused on farm raised game meats and vegetable dishes.
   
3. Un Bien - Caribbean sandwiches
   
4. Canlis - Asian tinged, but has a wide variety of options.
   
5. Dick's Drive-In - Hamburgers, a Seattle institution
   
6. Matt's in the Market - Fresh seafood
   
7. Any Tom Douglas restaurant
   

Seattle has a lot of excellent food, so ask around as there are many places to get a great meal.

We are doing the Alaskan cruise out of Seattle next week. We have 3 additional days booked in Seattle afterwards. Any recommendations for must do's (other than Pike Place Market..which is a MUST see) or dining options?

Thanks!

I live in Seattle. I will provide a few ideas, but some will depend on if you have a car or not while you are here. If you have a car, here are some great attractions to check-out.

1. Mount Saint Helens - Great visitors center and observation center.
   
2. Deception Pass - This is a very scenic location to visit and enjoy the beauty of the state.
   
3. Hoh Rainforest - A very beautiful location over on the peninsula
   
4. The Museum of Flight - Lots of historic aircraft
   

If you don't have a car.

1. Pike Place Market - Lots of different merchants and flying fish.
   
2. The Experience Music Project - A tribute to rock music with many artifacts.
   
3. The Seattle Art Museum - An extremely varied selection of different styles of art.
   
4. Chihuly Garden and Glass - Featuring the glass art of Dale Chihuly. Lots of beauty in different glass sculptures.
   
5. Argosy Cruises - They have a variety of different cruises.
   
6. Seattle Aquarium - Many varieties of fish
   

I will think a bit on your dining question.

Ask = fine

Advocating a social media smear campaign = unethical

 

That's where the line is for me

It was not my intention to advocate for a smear campaign and I apologize if my comments came across that way. I do support an ask, but with a truthful account of what occurred.

The one concern I have about people just saying to get insurance is the stories of those who have purchased 'cancel for any reason' insurance only to find out that their specific case then doesn't get covered. Just in this thread I have seen a few specific examples called out. What do we say then? Sorry, you are screwed because you didn't get the right kind of insurance.

I am very sympathetic to the OP because his/her son is sacrificing for his country by serving in the military. I am much more willing to look for companies to show compassion because of the sacrifices of our military. In my opinion the worst thing that could happen is that RCL would say no, but you never know unless you ask, and if they have a resolutions department, that tells me they know policies don't cover every situation.

I don't have a problem with case by case basis and common sense. I don't have a problem with people asking for something they may not be entitled to; maybe they get it. Fine.

 

What I have a problem with is people basically suggesting that OP mount some kind of angry social media smear campaign until they get what they want. That's how adults think things get handled these days. This is how they teach their offspring to resolve an issue. No one thinks of being responsible and taking the option of insurance. Too late for that now, lesson learned, no one hurt, just some money lost. A lot of people that don't take insurance and have something happen have special circumstances or something they didn't see coming. If cruise lines make a habit of refunding all hard luck stories, why would the rest of us pay for insurance?

 

I can empathize with OP, really, but I also do not feel compensation is warranted. The cruise line was ready, willing, able to fulfill their contractual obligations, there was no force of Mother Nature that impeded OP or their family, etc. Just bad timing for their son.

I assume this was directed at my advice. In retrospect, I poorly worded my thoughts and I apologize for making it seem like I was proposing a smear campaign. If going through resolutions wouldn't work, I would go to social media, but using the word shame (spelled incorrectly) was not the right word choice. I might share my story and see if RCL would make a concession. I do agree that they do not have to legally, but they may for PR reasons because the OP's son is serving our country. I don't see it as entitled to ask, I see it as entitled if the OP believe RCL "owes" them the money. It is very possible RCL may do nothing, but the OP would be out nothing to ask.

You really don't see how this is unethical? Should we explain it to you, or are you going to insist on ignoring the lesson?

I honestly don't see it being unethical to ask. Even if the OP went to social media, I would encourage them to be honest. I realize that from looking through my previous posts that may not have been clear. I personally do not see it as unethical to ask as that doesn't mean RCL will choose to do anything, but I have received compassion from companies when I admitted I made a mistake, but asked if there was an agreement that could be reached. The fact that the OP's son couldn't go because he was serving our country hits a soft spot for me. I do recognize that companies can't make concessions in every case, but I truly don't see it as unethical to ask. I would consider it unethical to be untruthful about the situation. Make sense?

Guess my ethics are a bit different.

How is my suggestion unethical? I suggested that the OP go through resolutions as well. If that doesn't work, then I would tell my story on social media, taking advantage of the fact that the person who was unable to go on the cruise had approved time off, but is sacrificing for our country by serving in the military. At the end of the day, insurance is optional and many policies wouldn't have covered the OP in any case. There is no downside to taking your story to social media and pressuring RCL to make a concession. Even if it doesn't work, the OP is out no more than they are now.

The point is that with many of these stories, the CC community is good at telling people what they should have done, which is useless once the situation has occurred. I am trying to help the OP with something they can try, it may not work, but it is better than just saying...sorry you screwed up, do better next time.

Going to social media because you neglected to do something (e.g., purchase insurance) is just wrong. Expensive lesson, yes, but certainly not the cruiseline’s fault.

It makes no difference if it is right or wrong, it only matters if it works.

Much as I sympathize with OP's problem, I can never understand why people suggest contacting the CEO or other departments and request an exception be made - for any circumstances. What if the person, or any member of their party, had an accident, become ill, etc. That's why you purchase insurance!!!!!!!

 

Over the years I have spent thousands of dollars on insurance, and other than a minor claim, never used it. But I buy it to cover medical, baggage, etc.

 

I have family in the military who purchase insurance for this very reason. No one suggests contacting RC after a cruise because they didn't use their insurance and would like a refund! (Joking,of course)

 

Sympathy to OP but expensive lesson learned, unless credit card has some coverage. Also, taxes, fees should be refunded.

Because policies don't matter, perceptions do. That is a fact of life in the social media world we live in.

My family and I will be on the Ovation next year out of Seattle. While my daughter likes cruises, she is afraid of the water and won't go on any of the water-based excursions in Juneau. She will be 18 and will spend the day with my DW. I was wondering if anyone had a recommendation for an excursion that the two of them might enjoy that doesn't involve going on the water? My boys all really want to go whale watching so we are going to split into two groups for the day.

You have already received good advice to purchase insurance going forward. I would simply add to check that it covers military deployments so you can be more at ease as you go into a cruise vacation. Like others have suggested, I would call resolutions. If they can't/won't help you I would take your story to social media specifically mentioning RCL and the CEO by name. While RCL is within their policy, the fact that your family member is in the military may help your story to get traction and at the end of the day, perception is more important than policy. I think you will have some good success using social media to share RCL into helping out.

I think that the majority opinion is that Carnival offers multiple options. Those options are designed to appeal to as wide a range of passengers as possible. That strategy makes sense as Carnival wants to make their cruises work for as wide of an audience as possible.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Forums mobile app

You hit the nail on the head. The late Leroy J. Alexanderson, Commodore of U.S. Lines and last Master of the SS United States told me in answer to my question: " The food was quite good but sometimes I just wanted a good, juicy cheeseburger." Thanks for the memory from 1992.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Forums mobile app

Someone was referring to changing the noodle bar into Johnny Rockets. Changing the menu might be easy enough but redecorating is a bit more of a project. Of course all this is speculation on our part.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Forums mobile app

Boards are open discussions, and when a product is bad, people like to share.

Sent from my LG-H910 using Forums mobile app

I don't consider myself a foodie at all, although I enjoy a high-end steakhouse and other nice restaurants. However, I have never found Carnival's food to be inedible, it isn't great, but it isn't bad either. That is about what I'd expect for the price point of a Carnival cruise. It does seem that the selections in the MDR have decreased, but they have also added a number of specialty restaurants as well so the variety of food offerings has probably stayed the same or even increased.

What is interesting is that this does seem to be consistent feedback across all of the mainstream cruise lines (Carnival, RCL, Princess, and Norwegian). It does make me wonder if they have truly cut back on their food costs, or, like others have said, have a problem obtaining high-quality ingredients.

For those of you who hate the food, do you send it back, or order an alternative when you are on board? If not, it seems like it may not be as bad as you describe.

I think people would settle for quality going up to go along with those price increases. I for one realize that Carnival has the best flat rate (no add ons) cruise prices and also realize that the food in the MDR and buffet correspond to those low prices. Most hate rising prices, on any cruiseline, and falling food quality and choices. Carnival is no exception .....

I think there are people who would be willing to pay for extra quality. Some of these people probably cruise on different lines. There are also those that like the overall value of a Carnival cruise and consider that they are getting a good service for a fairly low price. I think the cruise lines have strived to address the desire of some for higher quality food by providing the additional cost restaurants.

Personally, I have been on 3 different lines. I thought that the food on Holland America was the best, although everything was very light on salt (probably due to their demographic), and then Carnival, followed by Royal Caribbean. It is all subjective though as this thread proves.

Does it not make sense to you that if you want 5-star food, prepare to pay 5-star cruise price, not 3-star Carnival deals. You can't have it both ways.

But, but, but I want 5-star food for a 1-star price. I mean why should I have to pay for all of the costs associated with building new ships with additional amenities? I want the price of my cruise to keep going down and the quality to go up. ;);););););)

I'm on the Hawaiian Island reposition, so this is something I look froward to seeing. Loved the Anthem, so I am hoping for a similar experience with the Ovation.

I hope you will write a review so I can see how your experience is. That cruise sounds great!!!

By the time you sail most of the Asian influence will have been removed, from signs in Chinese to the Kung Foo Panda Noodle Shop being redone to once again being Johny Rockets. Once she leaves Alaska the city of Sydney will be her home port, no more Asia. A lot of Westerners were shocked to find the Solarium for suite guests only. China based ships sail with the caste system in full swing.

Yes, I am sure there will be several differences. I am always interested in learning about the ship that I am on so I can be prepared for what to expect. There will be things that change, but getting impressions of the ship facilities, activities, etc. are useful. While researching, I was just surprised at the dramatic differences in the reviews between Australia, and China.

Maybe, but since you are going on her in Alaska, that won't matter.

That is a fair point. When I was reading the reviews, I was trying to see what areas may still be applicable when it sails in Seattle, and what will likely be different.

My family and I are cruising on the Ovation of the Seas next year when it goes to Alaska. Asa part of my research, I have read many reviews from multiple sites. One pattern I see regularly is that when the ship is in Australia or New Zealand, the reviews are mostly good, but when it is China and Singapore, the reviews are consistently poor.

It strikes me that the focus of the negative reviews relates to the overwhelming abundance of Asian food and the behavior of the passengers. It strikes me that the tone of the reviews may mainly relate to who the cruise line is treating as their core demographic for a particular itinerary. I would be surprised next year to see the majority of the food remain Asian themed when the ship goes to Alaska, and I would also expect that if passengers from China came over and took the cruise in America, there would likely be many things we do that would shock them.

Is that the impression that anyone else gets when they look at ship reviews of the cruises based out of Asia?

I had some friends who went on this cruise earlier this year. They arrived at 10:30 am and were on the ship by 11:00 am.

That is a great video! Nice job!