Joe33472

I'm also wondering if perhaps the cabins that disappear and then appear again is somehow RCI adjusting the inventory to create "perceived" demand. I've been watching the pricing on a particular cabin and when it disappears, I'm somewhat sad, then when it reappears, I'm happy again. But not happy enough to pay the $$$. 🤣

Thanks! I just checked a couple of TA websites and it looks like on their inventory it only shows 1 cabin rather than the "only 2" remaining on RCI's website.

When looking for a particular cabin, the booking site shows on deck 7 that 2 staterooms are available, but when I actually look at the deck plan I only see one stateroom that is bookable. Is the other stateroom on hold? Or is it just RCI's glitchy system. I also see sometimes cabins will appear and then disappear and then come back in a few hours. Is that part of this "glitch"?

I was just trying to understand why MSC might have made that decision and if Cunard might go down a similar route. But it seems like consensus that Cunard won't go down that route. It's really not about MSC per se, probably any cruise line with plans in the Red Sea.

I did see that Cunard has ports around continental Africa, but I just looked and it appears that MSC also has ports around South Africa. So now, I don't think it's a port thing. There are some early 2024 MSC cruises around continental Africa. Maybe it's a port availability issue.

I've been following this thread to see what happens with the QM2 and the Red Sea issue, but I had a thought this morning. MSC cancelled three cruises that were supposed to route through the Red Sea and are now going around Africia without paying passengers (empty). I guess I'm wondering why empty? None of the articles I find online gives a reason why they decided not to take passengers. I'm thinkinkg it has to be a money issue, but it seems to me that empty ships are not generating revenue and even a 1/2 empty ship is better then sailing empty. I was thinking that perhaps it's a supply chain issue with provisioning the ship, fuel, etc... But it's MSC, they must have tons of global partners. Wondering if Cunard might do the same, just scrap that leg of the WC and speed back to Southampton empty.

Thanks! This is great to hear. I was just thinking at RCI would try to block this type of stuff. Thanks again.

Does this work on all ships? We're on the Odyssey in April and I'm debating wether to purchase another line for my laptop. I'm probably going to have to do work rather regularly, so it would be helpful to be able to have my phone to text and receive WiFi calls while using my computer. I was thinking that RCI would block routers and tethering....

Wow! Just looked at both itineraries and this would be a logical solution to the Red Sea issue for the QM2. Although the WC passengers probably wouldn't be too happy as they already went around Africa, but better to be safe. Hopefully Cunard makes a decision sooner, rather than later, so people can adjust their plans accordingly.

^^^This is really great advice. No reason to wait until you’re on a cruise ship to figure out what works in each person’s individual setup. I put my phone on airplane mode, connected to my home WiFi, and see what would work as far as SMS. I also just read online that some calls may be charged by the carrier (e.g. such as calling Internationally, even on WiFi Calling). So, if I was the OP or others asking about what is possible, I think it’s important to remember that there are a lot of different cellular plans, carriers, and phones. YMMV depending on those factors. https://www.signalboosters.com/blog/international-wifi-calling-is-it-free/

I think that you are correct, if wifi calling is not enabled and the phone is in airplane mode then no SMS would be possible even if connected to WiFi. iMessages would still be possible and other Internet messaging services when connected to WiFi. SMS requires a celluar connection. Since all the major carriers have WiFi calling, it's just toggling a switch, but I wonder how many folks using MVNOs might not have access to WiFi calling. Maybe it's a phone issue too, I wonder if there are some phones that don't have the feature. Or is WiFi calling ubiquitous at this point?

I like your balance due much better than my balance due.

I think we're on the same cruise! Nothing on my invoice and nothing in my email that says that. On the cruise planner website it even says that I don't have a balance due. When I click on the link to pay it says this: Nothing about 5:00 p.m. EST

At this point I've only insured the cruise deposits. I did that mainly so we would have pre-existing health conditions coverage (I did that about a year ago). Once all the final deposits are made, I will have to increase the insured amount. I was holding off increasing the coverage amount until after the final deposit date. Because then I'm on the hook for the $2,000. Most of our land based travel is with AirBnBs and I only booked places with liberal cancellation policies, so I didn't insure those costs. The policy I got through Steve doesn't require that all costs are insured and it will still be $2,000, but it's a long trip with medical and evacation coverage. Hopefully we won't have to use those!

I usually pay all my bills way in advance, just because you never know what could happen. I'm also wondering about my credit card, if I'll have to call and let them know a large charge is coming.

Perfect. Thanks for your help. I definitely hope it doesn't go that long for us to make a final decision about the trip, but good to know. Thanks again.

Our embarkation is 4/21. I guess if I pay on 1/22 that it would be okay.... I hopefully won't have to wait that long to make a final decision. The medical issue should resolve before then. I guess I just wanted to allow myself as much time as possible...

It really doesn't say anything in the email. Here is what it says: So, it that by noon on 1/22 or midnight? Eastern time or some other time? Is it really 12/21 by midnight? I also looked at the attached invoice and nothing....

I received an email this morning that final payment date is coming on 1/22 for our cruise in April. Does that mean I can pay on 1/22 or do I need to make payment before then? Is there a time zone that that payment needs to be made by? I usually don't wait until the last minute on anything, but I have a minor health issue that I'm tending to (went to doctor yesterday) and want to make sure that clears up. I purchased trip insurance when I made the deposit, so I think that if the situation doesn't clear up by sailing date that I'd likely be able to get a doctor's note saying not to travel. But I'd rather not get that far and I've only paid $400 for insurance thusfar. If I made the final deposit and contacted the insurance company, I would have to pay about $1,600 more in insurance. We have international travel planned after the cruise, which is part of my hesitation.

Quite a spirited discussion, with strong opinions on both sides of the issue. At least it's not a dress code debate. Not as many of those here as on the Cunard forum. Those can get heated like this 🤷‍♂️

If giving back cash tips to RCI for guests who waive auto-gratuities is actually the policy, then I think some crew might be scared to keep cash gratuities. Especially if GS notes on the account that the guests indicated they tipped on their own, but that would probably end after the crew member’s first cruise. With cash there is always plausible deniability. RCI could always ask the crew member if they received a cash tip from a certain cabin or passenger, and I hope that the answer from the crew member would be NO, even if they had received a cash tip.

I was thinking the same thing but didn't want to be judgmental. It would be the same like going out to a service restaurant and not leaving any tip. Or going out to dinner with a six people and leaving $6. Just cook at home. That's probably why restaurants add a gratutity for large parties, so the staff doesn't get stiffed.

I was wondering if RCI's written policy is that if a guest removes auto-gratuities that if a crew member receives cash from one of these guests that he or she is "supposed" to give any cash tips to RCI so that those tips can be made part of the pool, hence the need to share with the crew which guest keep or remove auto-gratuities. I can't imagine that RCI would share the list with crew with the intent that the crew would provide less service or sub-standard service. That doesn't make sense. Trying to claw back the cash tips seems like a corporate move and pausible. But, I were a service person on a ship, I don't think I'd give my cash tips to RCI.

I should have said "walk off the ship on disembarkation" without giving the cabin steward a dime....

Exactly this ^^^ To me, the auto-gratuities are "cheap". It's really not a lot of money. If we ate out three meals a day on a land-based vacation, I'd definitely be on the hook for more tips than the auto-gratuties, nevermind the hotel tip. So, if I leave auto-gratuities on, and don't open my wallet all cruise long, I'm doing "better" for the staff? Or, bettter yet, I'm supposed to leave on auto-gratuities and also generously tip in cash. I'd be more ashamed to leave on auto-gratuities and never open my wallet. I'm sure that there is a large portion of the 80-90% that leave on auto-gratuties do exactly that. They feel satisfied that they've provided sufficient tips and walk on the ship on embarkation without giving the cabin steward a dime. Now that's cheap, but I'm not sure if those folks are called out.