Engineroom Snipe

I tend to go to Next Cruise and book a trip I am interested in for a $200 deposit fee. I do not have to pay for anything else until 90 days before the cruise. I get a $100 onboard credit and the room of my choice. I then transfer it to my travel agent where I get another OBC. If the cruise price goes down, I call and have it immediately adjusted. There is travel insurance available that covers pre-existing conditions with the only caveat being that it must be purchased before final cruise payment. The end result, I can cancel my cruise at any time up to about 95 days before my cruise and only be out $200. That would be the price of rebooking another cruise (change fee). I say 95-days because I will purchase the insurance, then make final payment about two days prior to the deadline. My gratuities (please do not discuss that in this thread, it has been thoroughly discussed in other threads) are charged only after I am onboard. I do not pay for parking unless I physically arrive at the port and successfully take my cruise. I only have $200 in play until three months before the cruise. At ninety-days out, most cruisers are fairly confident that their cruise will take place. If something comes up after that, use the insurance for coverage.

I agree but it is a good example of how the packages have to be profitable. I do not think they are limiting them due to bad behavior of the drinkers.

Interesting, I noticed RCI has a shore excursion at Bimini, Bahamas, which touts "Open Bar" for a set price to include access to resort facilities. Part of the terms when you read them is that you cannot request more than one drink every fifteen minutes. The excursion is about 4 hours long. A way to ensure that the profits are very carefully calculated. Most people will not max out the package for four drinks per hour for four hours (you have to go up to the bar to get the drinks if you are at the pool or at the beach): otherwise, you are at the mercy of how busy the drink attendants are which is another way to limit consumption (costs).

Just checked my NJ DMV website and they are not mandating real id for operating a motor vehicle or renewing their licenses, now, or in the future.

There seems to be some confusion with the mandates for the current drivers licensing being compliant. The Division of Motor Vehicles in many states are still leaving it up to applicant to apply for either one. This is leading to confusion because for years, New Jersey required "6 points" for driver license approval which seems far more secure than previous versions. The "6 point" application does not qualify for real id without the addition of further paperwork which they scan and keep on file. I was offered to get the real id with my last renewal which I did. I was not mandated to get the real Id. They might be trying to "stage" over the renewal periods to keep from getting overwhelmed with everybody doing it at once.

I stand corrected sir. I should have stated that a passenger could be in their original assigned room for at least two hours (or about) since many cabins are available at 1:00pm on day of sailing and the ships' departure times are usually around 4pm to 5pm. A customer could be unpacked in their original room to be moved at time of departure to the upgraded room. 🙂

I cannot mention the name for risking being found out of this site's policy. Junkanoo Beach, Nassau Bahamas, very professional 90-minute massages for my wife and I for much less than the cruise spa prices. Not as cheap as $40 but easily 1/2 of the price of on-board including tips. You will need reservations on cruise days. I would reserve at least two months ahead during the busiest seasons when multiple ships are docking simultaneously.

"No funds for you!" (Meme from Seinfeld, "No soup for you!")

The cruise line states that they can notify you as late as two hours after the ship departs. You can possibly be in your room and then be moved at that time to the upgrade room unless you cancel before they accept your bid. Once they charge your credit card and accept your bid, you have no choice.

Bermuda is still requiring a $40 travel authorization (health visa) but has dropped the testing requirement. Bermuda is still requiring submission of vaccination proof or medical travel insurance proof. Many posters have suggested that it will stop requiring the visa before the next spring sailing season. My best speculation is that it MIGHT (I stress might) be discontinued after March 30, 2023, as their fiscal year is from April to March. This would also align itself with having a fiscal year contract with the company that created the travel authorization. I have a cruise next November 2023 which is stopping at Bermuda and thus my interest. I hope they drop it by then.

This could lead to another problem of the "favorite brands" being massively consumed and then go-out-of-stock. Adding yet another exasperation to the already tense situation. I read about a few cruises were specific whiskey and bourbon would not be available by the third day.

I guess you want some pot-stickers to go with stirring the pot 😁. Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall not get popcorn for the show. We lose much weight by being righteous, but now that I think about it, could I have some of that movie popcorn delicious butter on mine? 😋

Everyone, take a one day time-out. This in not war time in the trenches. Please, one deep breath and look upon this tomorrow. 🤔.

Everyone seems to forget that RCI would like its customers happy and coming back for more. Why would I not accommodate your request and make you a satisfied cruiser if possible?

And it just came back-up when I recently checked. 🤓

In case anyone needs to know, the website was down as about 10:00am EDST today. Still down as of 2:45pm EDST.

Everyone has their own level of understanding and I can see that you thought about your decision. If it works for you, that is all that matters. Everyone's situation is unique.

As always, you have nothing to lose by asking politely. I would approach the exchange with no expectations. You will come from the exchange with nothing lost and possibly something gained. Some will lecture you about how you booked a GTY and should take what you are given per the contract. This is a leisure activity. This is not a corporate takeover with lawyers on both sides sharpening their pencils and spreadsheets protecting their turf. Ask, if you get a no, nothing lost. You tried.

JC, my post was not in response to you or your post. Please accept my apologies if you thought such. It was a general comment about some posters who think those who do not wait until the last day to pay bills are fools.

Just a small little note: RCI had an outage that caused extreme stress for many customers today. Some were checking in, some where trying to do their final payments on the last day available. Food for thought, is it worth the stress of waiting for the final day for payment when some computer outages seem to be rather random and unpredictable? I for one would not want to risk my vacation for trying to save 2/365ths of an interest payment. Think about all of the money that one waste on so many things. This subject is a moot point to anyone who studies economics. How much money is lost by paying a bill two days early? I want a spreadsheet of a year's worth of bills showing me the efficiency of waiting until the very last minute to pay their bills and how much money was saved. 0.7% maybe? I want to see how the meager savings by waiting until the last minute is invested wisely and yields such significant results against knowing that the ultimate goal was achieved: my vacation is finalized and I am less stressed about the outcome.

Cape Liberty in September, the security screening lines seemed to be the limiting factor. If there were openings, the specific times did not seem to matter. Rather hit or miss depending upon the ebb and flow of arrivals. I would say that they were moving the cattle very well and a specific arrival time was never checked.

There used to be more possibilities of a last minute upgrade during the pandemic. One family member (especially children) would test positive for Covid one or two days before boarding or at the point of being in line at the port. I would enjoy your cruise in your designated cabin. Have FUN!!!

I think you make some good points. Banks, financial institutions, hospitals, and credit card agencies are more reliable because there are laws regulating their information in which they can be fined for malfeasance. RCI does not have those laws apply to them except for their publicly listed stocks. While its corporate home is in the USA, it is hard to fine them for lack of access to a website or your account. You can only sue them if you can prove that the lack of website or app damaged you financially. If RCI cancelled your cruise because you could not get to the website for final payment, that would be cause. If you are inconvenienced because they do not have a working website today but take your deposit tomorrow, no legal harm done. That said, I agree with most of your points. Whatever opportunity, good will, or possible monetary loss created by these outages; RCI finds it acceptable. As I read in so many threads of problems constantly reoccurring, if RCI wanted them fixed, they would be fixed. I think it all comes down to the financial bottom line.

It is a good thing too; they probably needed your payment to get the electricity turned back on to the computer server. 😁

I am one of those IT, Electrical, Electronic type with degrees in each and advanced in some. I am not sure if this is a glitch. In most cases, a planned outage is preceded by an advance notice. "The following website applications, xxxxxx, xxxxxx, and xxxxx will not be available from date & time to date & time." I do not think they want to advertise that their sites will be down for patch maintenance, so they optimistically pick an arbitrary low volume period during the month and have at it. They are going to get complaints if they advertise the shutdown. If they do not advertise the shutdown, they are going to get complaints. I think they just buckle the seatbelt and click the restart screen knowing the complaints will be coming. If management did not want it to happen, they will have to spend more money. Otherwise, they would have to have a "hot-site" redundant system which would duplicate the costs of the current system but only be utilized 1% of the time (estimated on 8 out of 720 hours per month usage). If you want full redundancy, get ready for ticket prices to go up and I do not want to give them an excuse, 🤐