idamae3218

9 hours ago, idamae3218 said:

I’m really disappointed in Royal. It’s been our go to cruise line for almost 20 years. First cruise was in 2001. 
 

I just learned that as of 6/1/22, their NRD program no longer gives Future Cruise Credit (FCC) if you cancel. 
I called on 6/2/22 and put three cabins on hold for our family vacation in June of 2023. My family was ok with the date and price, so on 6/3/22 I paid the deposits for all three. 
 

Last week we discovered the date in June no longer worked for us, so I called Royal to cancel. I expected at most to pay the $100pp penalty fee. But no, Royal kept the whole deposit. 
 

They said even though I called and no one told about the new policy, it was in the terms in the reservation they sent me when I put it on hold. Even though the $100pp change penalty is there, it doesn’t say they no longer give FCC.

 

We are out $1500 and did not receive anything.  After I cancelled I remembered my husband and I had another cruise planned with a group. So I called Royal back, asked for Resolution dept. I requested they apply my cabin’s deposit to this cruise. No go. 
 

I feel like it’s a money grab. Like airlines have with  baggage and seat fees. They get the our deposit and 10 months to fill the three cabins. 
 

Royal could have shown some good will to a loyal customer by salvaging part of our $1500 deposit.
 

Don’t get taken by Royal. Online reservations does not offer an option without NRD; and over the phone the agent does not mention a non NRD option.
 

I can’t believe it. Almost twenty years of cruising with Royal is over. Their methods are sneaky and deceptive. 

Now we’re looking into MSC cruises. They have newer ships that leave from our area.   

I appreciate the responses from most. But the ones about how I could look for the refundable rate online or that over the phone some of you were asked, (I was not & the phone recording confirms that), or if….

 I do not believe that because a company supposedly gives you a discount on a product, that you should be able to get a credit if you cancel. As I mentioned in another reply, I’ve booked several groups with them and deposits use to be fully refundable if you canceled before final payment. I probably didn’t pay attention to when NRD started as we’ve never cancelled (outside of Covid). 
 

Royal taking our money while providing no service versus giving a credit for a future cruise to keep their customers coming back, only leads me to believe that their business model includes collecting fees as a priority.  
 

If you’re ok with Royal doing business this way, cool. But please don’t try to make this policy sound ok. It’s not.

Even they greedy dollar grabbing ($ for bags, seats, food) mainstream airlines give their customers credit.

5 hours ago, RobInMN said:

I never tried to cancel a cruise pre-pandemic, but from my understanding of the definition of NRD, this sounds correct to me. If you want to cancel out-right, you loose your deposit. I would believe that this would have been the result for years pre-pandemic. During COVID, they added additional flexibility to encourage people to continue to book cruises, and apparently they don't feel like they need this anymore.

However, a change should still result in the $100pp change fee. This is probably what you were thinking of when you thought you could cancel for $100pp. The change fee would be for changing your booking to a new cruise (you are booking as part of the change), and as such, it would make sense that they won't let you merge the value into another already existing booking. This I did do once pre-pandemic.

Obviously you are currently upset, but if RC has been your go-to for over 20 years, I would just sit on the existing booking until you find another cruise that suites your schedule and pay the $100pp change fee.

From my most recent updated Cruise Vacation Receipt 10 days ago:

"These deposits are non-refundable and a change fee of $100 USD per guest will apply for ship or sail date changes."

Actually, that’s incorrect. NRD, non refundable deposit, you did not receive a refund, but a credit, minus the change fee. You can research this that as of 5/31/22 FCC was stopped. 

I have booked groups with Royal several times. Deposits use to be fully refundable if you cancelled before final payment. NRD is recent (last few years) and is the default for online reservations. No option for refundable deposits. Over the phone, they don’t offer refundable fares.
 

Why is that? Without FCC, if you cancel, Royal can basically keep the deposit fees of anyone that doesn’t have another cruise to book. What reputable travel company does that? A booking almost a year away should be able to receive a refund or at least a credit. 

Btw, we have several other vacations planned over the next few years and do not have any availability. I would cancel the other cruise, that’s 5+ months away, but don’t want to lose another deposit. 
 

Royal’s business model has changed too much for my family. If it works for you, great. 

I’m really disappointed in Royal. It’s been our go to cruise line for almost 20 years. First cruise was in 2001. 
 

I just learned that as of 6/1/22, their NRD program no longer gives Future Cruise Credit (FCC) if you cancel. 
I called on 6/2/22 and put three cabins on hold for our family vacation in June of 2023. My family was ok with the date and price, so on 6/3/22 I paid the deposits for all three. 
 

Last week we discovered the date in June no longer worked for us, so I called Royal to cancel. I expected at most to pay the $100pp penalty fee. But no, Royal kept the whole deposit. 
 

They said even though I called and no one told about the new policy, it was in the terms in the reservation they sent me when I put it on hold. Even though the $100pp change penalty is there, it doesn’t say they no longer give FCC.

We are out $1500 and did not receive anything.  After I cancelled I remembered my husband and I had another cruise planned with a group. So I called Royal back, asked for Resolution dept. I requested they apply my cabin’s deposit to this cruise. No go. 
 

I feel like it’s a money grab. Like airlines have with  baggage and seat fees. They get the our deposit and 10 months to fill the three cabins. 
 

Royal could have shown some good will to a loyal customer by salvaging part of our $1500 deposit.
 

Don’t get taken by Royal. Online reservations does not offer an option without NRD; and over the phone the agent does not mention a non NRD option.
 

I can’t believe it. Almost twenty years of cruising with Royal is over. Their methods are sneaky and deceptive. 

Now we’re looking into MSC cruises. They have newer ships that leave from our area.   

That takes minutes, not all day. Why would you download updates on a ship?

I usually take a power strip. I don't leave my devices out while out of the cabin. I charge at night. Which requires more than two outlets. One is in use all the time with a travel clock, I like to glance at the time when I get up at night, phone would be too bright. My point is not everyone can get by with two outlets.

Well if the anthem is going to stay and YES I know it's a new ship why can't there be reasonable pricing as were on the explorer?. Or yes bring one of those ships back for a $10.000 grand suite on this ship or a $4.000 on the explorer BRING IT BACK. How long will royal keep this up be for people go some were else. All I want to do is cruise at a reasonable price. We have invested a lot of money to get where we are and would love to keep on going to pinnacle some day.

 

 

P.S You can't even get a JS on the anthem for under $6000.00 on a good day now I was told once on the explorer once a bigger ship comes in the price will be lower....

I have a GS on Anthem in November for a 10 nts Caribbean Cruise for $6000.

I don't want to put words into kassimer1's mouth, but I think the implication was that the parents would not be there if the child was left in AO while they went on shore.

 

If the child got injured on board and needed to be treated by the medical staff, it would be worse because they'd probably be scared with no familiar people or surroundings to be with them for comfort, not to mention no parent to provide consent for certain types of procedures.

Agreed. But I found it all to be unnecessarily negative. An accident prone child is not the norm. If that's your situation, you should stay onboard, listening closely for overhead pages. Hopefully your not visting anyone else's cabin. I hope the OP can look past unusual or rare bad situations.

I have used AO many times when my children were younger. We loved it. There were some tours we wanted to experience, but were not child friendly. ie Mayan ruins in Belize. Not something our then 10 & 7 year old sons would have enjoyed. In fact, another port on the same cruise, we took them on an excursion and they asked when we were going back the whole time. When they stayed onboard, they had a blast eating lunch with AO, since at that time (14 years ago), they only did that on port days. Our kids were beyond tantrums and enjoyed being with the kids & staff in AO, so for us, there was no concern. Everyone was happy. Of course, you have to feel comfortable.

I don't see the repositioning cruise from Sydney to Hawaii. What are the dates?

52, now 53 responses and no follow up from the OP. Seems like some like to wind up the members and then watch the show. Oh well. I'm done contributing to keeping the thread alive. Good night. :)

Did you mean you have different mobile carriers, like att, Verizon, etc or different type phones, iphones & android?

Walkie talkies aren't as expensive as the internet plans, but sometimes the reception is bad.

I can tell you from experience (sons were 6 & 3 on first cruise & are now 21 & 18), that at 12 & 13 they have a lot planned in the teen program. If phones & walkies don't work out, you could schedule check in points throughout the day.

My sons were expected to be in the teen program or find us tell us where they would be. We left them notes with our location and they did the same if they missed us. They had so much time after the last activity at night to be back or they might be embarrassed by mom & dad looking for them.

I received a my time dining email as well, but had reserved 6pm traditional. I called Royal. Seems to be an error. Still have 6pm traditional.

If you book at least 8 staterooms with double occupancy, Royal gives back the equivalent of one fare of whatever is the majority category booked. If you intend to book with a travel agent, you need to discuss this before you book.

The credit does not include non commission cruise fare or taxes/port charges, but is obviously still a great perk.

What ferry? We were there March 2014 & didn't see a ferry.

I was there in 2012 & there was a ferry then as well, it goes to Columbus Cove. But since the OP said barefoot beach, it wasn't sure that would have helped. Can you get to barefoot from Columbus without going through the vendors?

First cruise is just over $,2000 and the second is just over $3,300 so a decent amount of commission for each cruise - so if commission is 10% that would be in the vicinity of $270 for 1st cruise and $520 for 2nd cruise, not bad for doing nothing as all the lead up work had already been done.

As travelguy stated, deduct taxes & non commissonable fare, which can be $225pp + taxes. Then they get 10% on what's left. So if the $3000 is for two, It's $2550 minus taxes, let's say $200 for two. So it's $2350. So $235, if the non commissionable & tax amts are correct. If so, there is some room for obc, but not a lot. Again, if the amts I state are close. Non commissionable can be higher.

Agencies make money on bulk.

I've watched a little rescue boat race up beside the ship and, while both were still moving, arranged for two people to get back on the ship. They were staff members ... I doubt they would have done it for passengers.

We saw it on our first cruise. NCL's now retired Norway. The couple went to the port agent & was brought out by pilot boat. Ship slowed to let them board. I understand that they paid for the boat ride. I already knew to do this from a classic episode of I love Lucy, when she misses the ship in NY on its way to Europe. :)

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Final payments may shake some loose.

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That is incorrect. I did not claim that the poster never mentioned class.

You are correct. Coach T's post (65) apparently did not start the conversation about class, but simply confirmed that whitecap's assumption that he was referring to classes.

I have no issue admitting my error.

Don't want to get too much in the middle of this, but disagree with that. As an engineer, many of my friends make really good money, but would fit the "cheap cruisers" 110%.

 

Only a few seem to be putting cheap cruisers with class level or even economic status, which ignores the fact that many, many, many wealthy people are that way because they are cheap.

 

Cheapness does not reflect economic status. Nor some kind of class level that some want to label.

 

Unless YOU are the one reading that into it.

Go back and read my EDITED post. The person Paul said never brought up class, actually did. I posted his own words in my edit.

My point was not whether I agreed or not, but that Paul was stating the poster never mentioned class, but in fact he did.

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Again, YOU are the one talking about separating people into classes. He was talking about eliminating deep discounts being a good move, from a stockholder point of view, under the premise that those who buy low-priced cruises tend to be those who are on a tight budget and won't spend much on the ship, therefore are not good for profit.

 

I'm not so sure his premise is right, but it's not the class warfare that you want to pretend it is, so that you have a reason to criticize. I'm just suggesting a little introspection, but if you don't want to do that, this is the last I'll say about it.

Paul, you are correct that Coach T did not mention classes. However, I think when you repeatedly say "cheap cruisers", it can be taken as referring to those with less. He did say discount seekers once, but kept repeating cheap cruisers. Now since being a bargain shopper or someone that cannot schedule ahead, doesn't necessarily make one cheap, who is her referring to?

Of course, making assumptions can cause misunderstandings, so I would not assume this is what he meant, but it did sound like he meant something more than the bargain shopper. Personally, I would have asked what he meant and why he kept using the term. That's just my point of view.

Edited to add: I stand corrected. Coach T did mention class. In post 5 & 13 he talks about the cheap cruisers. Then in post 65, he states:

"Believe me there is a class of Carnival people who are able to afford a certain price point and I choose not to cruise with that class. Yes and we all discriminate in our lives and there is NOTHING illegal about it."

Well, there you have it. He says the cheap cruisers do not provide revenue and he's glad they're raising the prices. Then he sates there is a certain class that can afford Carnival and he choses not to sail with them. Of course, he can decide where to spend his hard earned money, as can we all. But his posts sound like he's glad Royal is raising the prices to hopefully price out the cheap cruisers, who he states are a certain class.

I don't agree with anyone being bashed for their opinion, but you seemed to think he never mentioned class and he did.

Check out his other post. He was the one who used those terms to describe cruisers.

Yes. That's what I meant. The person I responded to had responded to a post that referred to Mr Fain & then quoted CoachT. They thought the poster was saying Mr. Fain used those terms.

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He did not insult the middle class working people. He made comments that they intended to stop the practice of making last-minute discounts and cited the fact that such discounts often tend to upset those who booked in advance at a higher price.

 

Someone on here may have characterized it as him "clearly stating" that he was OK raising prices to keep those "classes of cruisers" from being able to afford the cost. But that is not at all what he said. At least that was not in any of the quotes from Richard Fain that I saw. If I missed something, please direct me to an article that quotes him talking about "discount seekers" or "cheap cruisers."

Those two terms were Coach T. I think they combined responses to two different comments.

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The economic reality is FACT. When the prices dropped and the discount seekers and cheap cruisers came, onboard revenue dropped.

I don't quite understand this. Discounted fares will attract cruisers that don't spend or don't spend as much as those that booked early & paid more? So revenue will go down. Ok. What if they don't discount the, let's say, last100 cabins empty? Won't revenue still go down if they sail empty?

Oh, btw. Sailing last minute doesn't make someone a cheap cruiser (or discount seeker for that matter, which I didn't know was a bad thing! ). Some cannot book a year ahead due to their schedules.

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Looks like it starts on page 40. Thanks.

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I am certainly not pious, but I would never pack essential medication in checked luggage. I do pack some medications that might be of the "just in case" variety, like ibuprofen or Benadryl. But if it's an essential prescription med, I would want to have that on my person.

I've read all the comments before responding. I think perhaps, the OP didn't see it as "checked" luggage since they were not flying. I can relate. She already had a bagful of essentials & may have thought that since the medication was not needed right away, that she could pack it. I mean, it wasn't going to miss a flight! :)

I wouldn't have thought they would lose it between the pier & the right cabin either. But as she stated a couple of times, lesson learned.

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Royal is a joke... here is a mock booking...what a practice they use.

Guest 1 Guest 2

Cruise Fare: $1,319.00 $1,319.00

Taxes, fees and port expenses: $59.01 $59.01

Onboard Credit $50.00 $50.00

Discount: $0.00 ($660.00)

Per Person Total: $1,378.01 $718.01

Yet on their website while booking, its says

 

Balcony

$966.5 - $1,004 USD

So how does a published price of a balcony of $1004 maximum jump to 1319.00 per passenger? Exactly

Anzore, if I'm not mistaken, the price up front totals 1st & 2nd, minus discount and divided by two. $1319 x 2 = $2638 minus $660 discount is $1978, divided by 2 is $989 pp. Taxes and fees not included.

That's the math, although I think it's misleading when you first search for a cruise and see that initial price. Part of why so many have complained about the BOGO sale, they already discounted the rate upfront, but you don't know that initially.

Hope you find something that meets your needs.