Engineroom Snipe

You got my point. While my example is about Royal-Up, how many times do we chase our tails trying to decipher which answer and policy provided on their website it the official and correct one? That should not be our job as customers. Clearly RCI is lacking which happened first, the chicken or the egg?

Latserrof, The problems are where you go to quote 'information' from. One would think that I go to a RCI webpage site and Frequently Answered Questions (RCI site also), the information should be playing off of the same page of music. It does not following just one of my queries. I have seen over ten postings on CC RCI threads concerning the modification and cancellations of a Royal Up bid. Hundreds of postings respond with a sincere effort to help answer and clarify the question; "What is the latest time I can cancel or modify my Royal Up bid?" The truth is, RCI provides completely contradictory statements on their company's websites. On this webpage: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/can-i-modify-or-cancel-my-royalup-offer-after-i-submit-it RCI clearly states the customer has two days prior to departure to modify or cancel their bid. A reasonable interpretation of this statement is that my ship departs Sunday at 4pm. The customer has up to 4pm the preceding Friday to cancel or modify their Royal Up bid. Some customers interpret this to be two days before the day of departure and think they must do it by 12am Friday. RCI then states on another webpage that the customer has two hours before the departure date: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/terms-and-conditions/royalup-upgrade-program This webpage states that the same customer can now modify up to two hours before the date of departure. The same passenger who is leaving at 4pm on Sunday has up to 10pm on Saturday to modify or cancel their bid. That is ONE HUGE difference in time and customer rights. Read these pages and give me YOUR interpretation of what they mean. One poster reads one point of information and shares it. Another reads the second point of information and post it. They are both correct. I will give you hundreds of inconsistencies which abound on RCI's websites. Do not blame the customer for a company's clear lack of providing contradictory policies on multiple websites.a

I enjoy people enjoying themselves free of judgement. I would enjoy you enjoying your rum old fashioned and toast you with something. Happy Anniversary! 🍾🥂🍹

I will be happy to get the next fourteen years to achieve your mile mark. May we survive the sharks of doom! Good night young man. 😄....😴.

Your wife and mine are two of a kind. Somehow, I am not sure if they would do it all over again 🙄. Thank goodness they do not get do-overs 🤣. We have been cruising through life for over 35 years and there are no lifeboats on our journey. Sink or swim and we are still swimming together 😍.

Ok, you need a Hazmat team following you on cruises or you need a Mayo Clinic team to take some samples to avoid what I do not even think I want to know could happen...... 🤮🥵😰😱..

That does not kill you will make your macrobiotics in your large intestine stronger and more gaseous. "Fire in the hole!" 🤪

Oh, stop with your "catcalls" already.........🤣 Maybe some of those "Memories...." have slipped though the sandboxes...

I have noticed an interesting trend, while most cruises are sailing at 100+% booked capacity, the airlines are cutting back routes and flights due to pilot shortages and regulatory oversight. Another issue for RCI and cruise lines is the triple endemic of influenza, respiratory viruses, and continuing Covid-19 infections. For a cruiser to cancel only one week before embarkation would normally mean that they cannot get there physically or they are medically restricted. The cruise line cannot release a fully paid room because of a missed flight. They must keep that room open for the possibility of the cruiser rejoining the cruise as the next port (happens all of the time and this is why cruise insurance is needed). The only way a room becomes available at the last minute is the cruiser informs RCI that they will not officially be cruising. In most cases it invokes part of an insurance policy clause that is covered allowing them compensation for canceling the cruise. RCI is still honoring a future cruise credit (FCC) for infections but is requiring official medical documentation in order to obtain FCC. One cannot just say, "I have tested positive for XYZ," RCI wants a certified test and medical documentation. An easy thing to do if one is sick. This might create some last minute openings. Best wishes for your upgrade if it happens.

Memories............. 😁.

Is that in Crown & Anchor years or points? 🤥😉

You will have to dust it for fingerprints to find out.......... "Another one bites the dust" (Queen). Even threw in a pun for extra credit.

Assuming the cappuccino machine is working......😁

Refer to #68 on this thread..........😉

Only the good die young. Long live the PINs. 🤣

You are correct but I would appear to be a very insensitive person if I hoped the opposite. 😔

I would hope none. 🤔😬

Just like many people who chose to retire earlier than they planned due to the pandemic affecting the job market, I wonder if the 2X point reward system in place for reservations during the pandemic accelerated the amount of D and D+ cruisers generated? Was it just because experienced cruisers were more willing to book cruises early in the start-up? Are they outnumbering the new cruisers onboard creating the space problem in the lounges? Getting to D and D+ is more feasible for most cruisers using 2X cruise points than achieving PIN status during a two-year time period. Was it like this before the March 2020, shutdown of cruises?

Unfortunately, it is typical of many website booking databases. The structure was not created to address "all things considered." In this case, you want to choose your inside cabin and it is a higher price than the GTY inside cabin, but they assign the inside cabin. You are paying more to get an inside cabin anywhere they want, but you will not have a connecting inside cabin. Some people do not want to be in a connecting cabin and are willing to pay more for that option. When you buy the lower priced inside GTY, they can put you in a connecting cabin or any other cabin of their choosing. In this case, if I paid for an inside cabin lower priced GTY, I could be placed into an inside connecting cabin and you would pay a premium to obtain my inside GTY wherever it was on the ship according to the vacancies.

No, "THECRUISERFORMERLYKNOWNASRCIGUY" 😁

I did some number crunching on NCL and Celebrity prices that include a "special" package of gratuities, unlimited beverage package, complimentary premium meals, and internet service. The package ended up being much more than if you were booking pre-cruise prices with RCI. They also based their 20% drink gratuities (please do not jump on me, call them whatever you want) on their estimated full daily price per person of $138. There is fine print which quietly makes the final bill quite shocking compared to the advertised room price. RCI bases it off of what you paid for it (and many savvy cruisers pay much less than $138/person/day). My current cost per cabin per night is $200 or less. This includes 2 people, one GTY inside cabin, gratuities, and parking. The package deal from Celebrity for same inside GTY cabin was $400+. I would rather pick and choose my add-ons since there does not seem to be any savings bundling it. I have read many posts concerning the loyalty perks from RCI. I treat them just as that, perks. The main reason I cruise is to spend dedicated time with my wife. If my perks were taken away, I would most likely still cruise and compare the prices the same way I do now.

This is taking politeness to a whole new level but one must respect the intent. Everyone must make a living. "Do you work for the governor young man?" 😁 The Beatles might have said, "The Tax-Man". Not far from the British shores are you? 🤣

I wish you the best. Someday my wife and I will follow you.😁

Yes, those rogue waves.

A very astute definition which summarizes the question: gratuities are controlled by the employers while tips are controlled by consumer directly to the worker.