Ret MP

I guess I didn't follow because I don't think I implied anything of the sort., At least that wasn't my intent. My intent with this is only to point out that there are some TAs that won't answer the phone at 2:00 AM on a Sunday morning or in some cases, any time after regular business hours. That's some of the horror stories that some people have posted, and it was on the Internet so it has to be true, in a few cruising social media sites and some stories, that I have actually heard (not many, but a couple), people have communicated while on the ship. It's just something that has to be discussed with a TA before anybody make a decision to utilize any TA. I'm a realist, I know that the Travel Industry isn't much like any other industry, there are Great TAs, Good TAs, just good enough to get along TAs, and those that just want to make the sail and screw you after the sale. No, I'm not singling out any one TA, not at all. I don't personally know any, anymore. However, you have my curtesy meter peeked, I THINK I could guess, but go ahead and tell me who the TA is/was. And just for the record, I do feel that MOST TAs are very fine hard working people. Just like any other profession.

Like I said, I could be wrong. It just seems fishy to me. When I see only two or three cabins open in a particular area of the ship, then a day or two later those are gone but several cabins that weren't available are now available, and this isn't even close to to embarkation day or final payment day. Many times just after they open up sales for the season. But, anything is possible and Royal is free to run its business as it sees fit, within the law, of course, and we are free to cruise with them or not. I'm still very happy with the sailing part of the cluster F.

Royal has one full time terminal, terminal #18, and another that is shared, terminal #25, at least that is the way it was when I retire, 2005.

Gotchya! But, just to be clear

I believe, and I could be wrong, that many sales entities show things like cabins, seats, widgets as almost sold out, when in fact they aren't. It's an attempt, that actually works, to make people make on the spot decisions. All sales people want to make the sale NOW, not tomorrow. Live for today, screw tomorrow. My wife is constantly in Royal's site looking for deals and lower prices (not that that matters much anymore (lack of a good price guarantee)). She is always telling me which Aqua Theater suites are available, like one or two, then the next day they are gone and then a day or two later a few others become available, Aqua Theater suites are just one example of many. My take on this, as I stated above and/or/both what you guys have stated about returning cabins to inventory. That's not to say that you @Ourusualbeach & @fredmdcruisers aren't 100% right-on with what you are passing on/experience.

There is that!

We have always had hurricanes and policies have been written for decades. COVID, sprung up, mostly unexpectedly, tons of government involvement and a public relations nightmare could ensue if a wrong step is/was taken. Apples/Oranges AND, I did say, "The fare prices are going up enough without this added pressure".

Is your booking part of a Group rate? What date was the booking made? This may help explain (maybe): https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/final-payment-schedule-policy When is the final payment for my cruise vacation due? A Final payment of the balance must be received at Royal Caribbean's offices at least 75 days prior to the sailing date for 1 - 4 night cruise vacations and 90 days prior to the sailing date for 5-night or longer cruise vacations. The payment schedule for groups is different from that of individuals. You will usually have access to your cruise documents 30 days prior to your sailing as long as your reservation is finalized. The above information also applies to all holiday sailings, defined as sailings that occur on or between Christmas and/or New Year's day. To make a payment on your cruise vacation, Look up my reservation.

Totally agree. I don't want the cost of my future cruises to go up because I have to subsidize a person's willing non-participation in an insurance policy. The fare prices are going up enough without this added pressure. I take responsibility of my actions by purchasing an insurance policy or at least purchasing a fully refundable fare, sometimes both.

https://www.carnival.com/content/lowest-price-guarantee YOU’RE GETTING THE LOWEST PRICE POSSIBLE… 110% GUARANTEED! If you find a better Carnival-advertised deal within two days of booking your cruise… well, we’re going to be very surprised. And then we’ll give you 110% of the difference in onboard credit! You can be confident that our prices are the lowest, so you can get on to more important things... like counting down the days until you sail! Just remember this: You have 48 hours from the time you book to find a lower price. Carnival will give you 110% of the difference in onboard credit. Lowest Price Guarantee only applies to publicly available rates. Edited IN: Yes, there is the "Early Saver Protection". But, some "ifs, ands, or buts.

Just for perspective and to be fully informed: Very top of picture/circle: Royal's Terminal A little lower and to the left is the Park N Go At the very bottom is the Park By The Ports is Personal note: The Park By The Ports parking lot is in the Dania Jai Alia/casino complex, right next to that is Frost Park where I played little league baseball. That entire area is my old stomping grounds. Now, I'm nostalgic 😔.

Correction to my arrow pointing at the Garage. It's actually one more structure to the right of that building. It is a bit of a walk to the Royal Terminal. And it isn't a direct/straight line walk either.

I'm a former General Manager of the Parking Facilities at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport and Port Everglades. I will say three things: 1. Keep in mind that a parking garage is not intended to protect a vehicle. In fact, there are many situations that a parking garage is much worse than a surface parking lot. Just as one example: The vehicle that is parked on the level above you springs a leak of anti-freeze or oil or gas, it flows between the expansion joints and drips down on your car. The parking company will not take care of it for you, you park at your our own risk and that kind of damage is between you, your car, and your insurance company. There are many other examples I could give but I hope you get my point. A garage is nothing more than a vertical parking lot. 2. The closest parking lot to the Royal Caribbean terminal is a surface lot. The closest parking garage is a little bit of a walk to the terminal. 3. Now that I'm retired from there, I use Park N Go (I have no financial or other interest in Park N Go), always great service at a great price, especially if you reserve in advance. It's actually located at the entrance to the port just off of I-595. The circle on the left is the Park n Go lot The circle top right is the Royal Caribbean Terminal The circle immediately to the left of the Terminal is the surface lot The arrow middle right is pointing to the garage.

I do only use a TA for cruising (the OBCs). Almost every cruise I've booked, exception for about, maybe 3 have been with a big box TA. Why, because we, with the exception of one cruise (out of Seattle, never again), drive to the port and we only book one night in a hotel and I know exactly (geographically) where I want to go to and my wife loves to do the hotel shopping. If we cruise out of Canaveral, we drive in that day. If we go to Galveston, we stay with our cruising friends in Seguin, TX., and drive in from there. Also, being retired from the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport AND Port Everglades, my second retirement, believe me, I've heard the horror stories both where TAs helped and where they didn't. This discussion about ancillary services TAs can provide is based upon decades of being in these social media sites and from being heavily involved in a traveling family, friends and military. I'm fully aware of the hotel industry almost destroying the TA industry, it's a damn shame. The TA industry had to make a lot of business model changes, that's for sure and some didn't survive. Hence, the growth in the big box cruise focused TAs. So, the bottom line for me, and my comments aren't really directed towards you or any one person, use a TA or don't, use a TA for all your traveling needs or don't, it's a wonderful thing to have options, choices and the ability to freely make your own decisions on just about everything/anything, TAs included. I'm not discussing/advocating for or against TAs. It's just nice to be informed.

Sorry, I'm not following/not sure what you're saying.

This is just too rich........... I can't...... Never mind.

So, nobody else does? Yes this is a cruise forum that we talk about cruise fares, TAs and ancillary items TAs provide. Many folks book many ancillary items along with their cruise booking. Many consider their TAs as their own concierge. I don't think it beyond the scope of the discussion to discuss all aspects of TAs services and capabilities. Sorry, I didn't realize we had to put blinders on in this discussion. YMMV, of course. So, there is some possible needs to call a TA (that you booked your cruise with) in the middle of the night, even at 2:00 AM on a Sunday morning.

I've never cruise with my BC. Hell, I don't even know where it is, I shouldn't have a hard time finding it, it's a stone tablet after all. A Passport is all we need, post COVID, unless you are traveling to a location that requires a visa, I don't think any country in the Caribbean requires one for entry. I have my passport with me on embarkation and on all ventures into Ports of Call. I have it on a lanyard, in foreign countries (inside a baggie, inside a case) around my neck and tucked inside my shirt/t-shirt. I guard my passport like my life depended on it. I would never travel anywhere outside the U.S. without my passport. It's the gold standard for "stand alone" identification and verification of citizenship.

I think you are focused on the actual cruise reservation. I'm sure there are many situations in the middle of the night that a little help would be deeply appreciated. Off the top of my head, you arrive at your hotel, the one the night before your cruise, at say 1:00 AM, go to check in and the desk clerk says that he/she doesn't have your reservation that was booked through your TA and the hotel is completely booked. Your car rental is all screwed up. And on and on.

So far, so good. Nobody hurt is a good thing.

Yes, for Cruise and Customs purposes. However, I do bring along a Credit Card, or two and my Military ID with Medicare Card. The rest I leave in the car in the parking lot, locked in a separate lock box attached to the cars seat attachments with aircraft grade cable/2nd Amendment box. I try to take as little as possible when cruising. I hate full pockets.

🤧

Last week we decided to book a cruise during Halloween. Not because we "hate" Holloween. We just hate getting up and down going to the door dozens of times OR sitting out in the, usually chilly and damp weather passing out candy. That was one of two reasons we booked our Oct 31 cruise, reason two is because we are only 3 nights away from Diamond status. It doesn't mean much to us, but it's all about goals and achievements, substantial or not. We're retired and don't live very close to the kids, so what else are we going to do.

Ya, but did you nail a bedsheet between two 2X4s and get on your skateboard? Send pics/vid! 😉 Believe it or not, we did that as kids. I think I still have some aches and pains.

Yes, for sure. It's not like they're giving away the bank or anything. Depending on the level, it's a drink or two, a day of this, that, or the other thing, priority reservations at the trash dump or something like that. But, it's their business and they have the right to run it as they see fit. But, we have the right to complain about it.