CaroleSS

There have been a lot of changes on X in the recent year.....some (ok most) not making folk happy. I can understand the angst people feel, but no, that should not mean it is ok to be "ugly" to one another or say hateful things. While it might not be someone's "business" to know details, if you post something and leave out those details that connect the dots, someone is going to ask. If you don't want to share, maybe it's best to pick a different example. But, enough OT chatter, back to your regularly scheduled programming........

@1Virgo trolls, no. But when a first time poster comes along with a flaming post, people are suspicious. Some posts say some "questionable" things, so people ask for explanations. It is human nature to ask for details when things don't make sense to them. This thread has a number of them, so if the only thread you read was this one, maybe you got a skewed impression. Yes, this board has some trolls (they all do), but most threads are pleasant, as you say are offering tips, asking for assistance and offering trip reports.

So a refund of port charges.....but would you be willing to pay the port charges for the ports you DID visit? What if those new charges exceeded the "old" charges? Would you be willing to pay the additional fees? Again, I'm not sure why you are so upset over....$100. You say you spoke with "staff". Who was that? Your cabin attendant? The bartender? The captain? It was said they were working on "something". Maybe that was alternate ports? I think many know that X is not the "luxury" cruise line of yore. But none of the cruise lines are what they were 5 years ago.

FCCs can be applied any time before final payment. There was no need to wait on a Japan booking unless you expected your entire fare to be refunded and used to pay for your Japan cruise. I do think you expected 100% refund and were waiting on that before booking again. You wouldn't be this upset over $100.

While I'm sure Senior staff are very interested in making sure you are happy, they have to do what "corporate" says is appropriate. Corporate may have had to pay additional monies to visit the Greek ports, especially last minute. Would you want to pay that additional fee and then get a "small gesture" in return? Perhaps they would have given you something if a port day had been replaced with a sea day? I think X did the best they could on short notice and provided you with the best experience they could. Were you given more or less port days? Again, I ask.....exactly what would you feel would be appropriate given the circumstances? What "small gesture" would make you happy?

Just remember that only one device can be logged in at any time.....so you might have to coordinate.

I DO think they were expecting 100% FCC.... "Guests who were scheduled on the same itinerary the following week were offered a 100% refund as a goodwill gesture" We've been on cruises (with different lines) where ports have been cancelled. All we got was a refund of port charges. We were scheduled to go on a cruise which was interrupted by a hurricane. We went to totally different ports than originally scheduled. We still had a wonderful time. We went to ports we've seen before, but enjoyed the cruise and booked those ports on another cruise. Yes, perhaps some type of compensation might have been in order.....so back to the OP.....what would you feel is appropriate given the circumstances?

I can understand OBC for shortened or cancelled excursions.....but expecting a free cruise when the area you had planned to visit is dangerous.....I'm just not seeing that. Did you expect them to go to those ports? To put you and others in danger? Again, what I'm seeing is that you are upset that your cruise was not "free". The people on the next cruise were given the opportunity to cancel and rebook, but you were already onboard and sailing. You could not cancel, so X did the best they could which was to reroute you to another area. We see this in the Caribbean during hurricane season. They try to give you an itinerary which you might enjoy, but within certain limitations. I'm certainly not an X "cheerleader" as I've seen the cutbacks and am not happy, but to complain because your cruise was not free.......

While I do understand your disappointment at not being able to go to the ports you originally booked to see.....your cruise contract says that they have the right to cancel ports for the safety and wellbeing of the ship and passengers. ALL cruise lines have this stipulation....so it's not just X. Did you enjoy your cruise? I can't imagine NOT....it was the Greek Island! So what I'm reading is that you are upset for not getting the cruise for free?

Nice to see that they seem to be listening and making the appropriate changes to keep their "loyal customers" loyal!

Please see post #21

I stand corrected!

After you open it, but if you take the bottle with you into, say the MDR, you pay a corkage fee.

Totally agree with this! bring on what you want to drink in your room and skip the free "rot gut"!

The offering that "comes with the room" is terrible. If you want something nice for the room, you will have to buy a bottle. As you have the package, go to the nearest bar, get a glass or two and go back to your room.

We sailed in Aqua and there was sparkling wine in the cabin, but I'll be honest.....it is AWFUL!

Why do they need secret shoppers......they have US!

I do apologize. I originally ready that you were E+ due to reciprocity, but re-read your post and determined you had done so via sailing. I should slow down the reading and increase my comprehension! I did some math too. It seems that the benefits folk like most are the 4 "free" drinks and laundry. 4 drinks per day for a 7-night cruise has a monetary benefit of $330. Laundry adds, say, $20. The Elite benefit then becomes $350. To go from 24 RCCL points to Diamond would require another 56 points (80 points). 56/7 = another 8 7-night cruises. Not sure how much that would cost (although you would get the benefit of the cruise experience), but it hardly seems worth the cost for $350.

I am not necessarily the best to answer as we sail in Aqua, but here it goes. if you are a true "foodie", I think you will be disappointed. We enjoy Blu, but the food was "meh" on our last sailing. Also, you won't know that cabin you are getting.....obstructed or under the pool.....until it is too late. with that in mind, some suggestions 1- call X and ask how much it would cost to do an upgrade to Aqua. It might be cheaper than you think 2- stay in concierge and use the Move Up money to buy a specialty dining package. They sometimes offer sales which will bring the price down 3- take a chance, bid on it and see where it goes....ya only live once!

The RCCL website says Elite is the highest you can attain via reciprocity. Is this incorrect? maybe I misunderstood you.....you will attain Elite Plus due to your sailings on X?

Can you elaborate on what benefits you are "dying" for? Most of those benefits are available in other forms.

Doubt it I don't worry about any company's loyalty points because, IMHO, they don't amount to anything anymore.

Plus, if you are to be objective about things, the highest level you can attain by reciprocity is Elite. If you use RCCL to attain Elite status, that's as high as you can go. if you want to have Elite status on X, the better way would be to sail on X, knowing you might be able to attain a higher level with better benefits. Yes, it will take more "work" to get there.

If I sail in an Aqua cabin (5 points per night) for 60 nights, I'm Elite. If I sail on RCCL for 60 nights, I'm not yet Diamond. X does give you the opportunity to gain status faster if that is what you want.

Platinum on RCCL gets you Select status on X, not Elite....so, yes, easier to get there.