Marilyn Johannes

We will be in Victoria on Monday October 2nd and wonder if there will be transportation available at the pier? We’d rather not do a ship excursion. We have been here before and don’t really want to do the Butterfly Gardens. 
Thanks for any information. 

In 2005 we were cruising out of Galveston when hurricane Katrina hit. I couldn’t understand why everyone was evacuating to Houston because we hadn’t watched the news. Spent the next 20 hours in extremely rough seas. Vowed I’d never go on another cruise if a hurricane was coming! 

Also, first cruise on Song of Norway in 1987 got us hooked. 

We were on Ovation August 20th and the Windjammer was not open for dinner. We were told 2 different passenger counts 1700 and 1800. Around 35% I believe. 

10 hours ago, tserface said:

That seems like common coutesy!

I have never been asked to leave the Windjammer before that is why I posted that. Not sure how they will handle the crowds when they get back to normal capacity. We have 1800 passengers and things seem a little crowded with some venues closed. 

5 hours ago, Hogbay said:

Any  photos of the food.  Thanks 

No photos of the food. Smalller portions and less options. 

6 hours ago, FromSea2ShiningSea said:

 

When is formal night, please?

Night 2 is formal night and night 6 is Smart Casual or something like that. Every other night is very casual. 

On Ovation right now. No reservations needed but they have asked if you are finished to please leave so other diners can come in. They don’t want you sitting around after eating when others are waiting to get in. 
 

5 hours ago, TX-Cruiser said:

We are sailing on Ovation to Alaska on the Sept 17 sailing. I want to get excited...but have not allowed myself because of fear of cancellation. Thoughts? I would think at this point it is a go no matter what...but again...after a few cancellation maybe I am being a bit too cautious? Momma needs a vacation. 

We felt the same way you do and we didn’t start packing until we received the rapid Covid test the day before our departure to Seattle. We are on the Ovation right now. Things are different but it is nice to be traveling and cruising again. North Star and Ifly are not working, not sure if it’s Covid related or a mechanical issue. Dining room is somewhat spaced, but there are a lot of two seat tables situated very close together (less than 2 feet apart). We asked and were given a table that is socially distanced from others. If you are doing My Time Dining be aware that some nights it is impossible to go to the show and eat in the dining room. Also, Windjammer being closed for dinner makes dining more difficult. 
The crew has been great and food is okay. We decided we probably will postpone our next cruise in April if cruising has similar practices as now. 

12 hours ago, Sea Hag said:

I'm still seeing the banner on their website saying that they're closed for 2021, and if I click to book a tour I get a blank page. If I go to the generic Princess Alaska excursions from the link on Jewell Gardens' website, I do see a glass blowing excursion, but if I'm in Personalizer looking at excursions for our 8/29 sailing, I don't see it. Very odd. I hope you get to do your excursion!

Spoke to the owner of glass blowing at Jewell Gardens and he is not doing tours this year at this time. He may start them as the season goes on but doesn’t have enough employees due to Covid.  He said he would contact us if he did end up doing the tour but it didn’t sound hopeful. 

On 6/27/2021 at 11:56 AM, Sea Hag said:

The glass blowing place's website says they're closed for all of 2021. Have they decided to open and not updated the website?

We booked this excursion directly with Jewell Gardens last week and our credit card has been charged. We are in Skagway August 25th. We will report back if we hear anything. 

On 3/8/2020 at 12:49 PM, xxHadleyxx said:

We had cruises out of Shanghai for this week).  We got most of it back only a couple of days later (what would have been refunded under normal rules), were told we would get the rest as FCC within a week.  Then two weeks later told it would be refunded (no FCC) within a week.  Then another email, would be refunded "after 25 February"  STILL do not have tht last $700.50.

On the one hand i do understand that they are inundated with issues at the moment.  On the other hand, Shanghai sailings were among the first to be cancelled so I feel like we ought to have been the first refunds issued and fully dealt with.  

 

We also do not yet have our refund for our cancelled Lufthansa flights for the same trip.  We have an email, dated 3 February telling us we will get it back, but so far nothing.  I can't even get into the hold queue with LH on that.  

 

If either or both is not refunded by the end of next week I am appealing to my credit card to refund the monies and take over going after RCI and LH themselves---I have all the emails and notes on all calls.  We have made a good faith effort to be patient and collect ourselves.

We too had our Shanghai cruise canceled on February 19th. Didn’t receive the first refund until March 10th. (This only came after an email to Michael Bayley’s office.) It has come in different transactions but I’m still owed $740. I’ll wait until March 20 (30 days after cancellation) and ask my credit card company to refund the monies. So stay on top of the refunds and make sure you get the full amount. 

Also, we had the unfortunate luck to book a vacation to Disney World since we couldn’t  go to Asia. Haven’t even begun to see those refunds come in. 

My Shanghai cruise was cancelled February 19th, no refund yet. 

I think you’ll have a better chance of getting FCC than a refund. I’m still waiting for my refund from canceled (byRoyal) Spectrum Shanghai to Shanghai. I was supposed to receive the refund by February 27th or sooner. Still waiting. 

2 hours ago, kernow said:

I'd have a plan B if I were you, RC's wait and see attitude meant they cancelled our 15/02 Quantum cruise just 3 days before it was due to sail when many people had already flown to Singapore.

How long did it take you to get your refund?  My fare was supposed to be refunded February 27th, still haven’t received it.

The email said that I should see the refund by February 27th but most likely sooner. Just wondering if someone has received the refund. I would like to book another vacation that would start March 14th but want to use this money when booking airfare and hotels. 

Has anyone gotten their refund for recent cruise canceled by Royal?  I was supposed to receive it by today and it hasn’t posted to my credit card yet. This was a Shanghai to Shanghai cruise on Spectrum in March that was canceled on February 19th. 

5 hours ago, feenix said:

I did use a travel agent, so I am not sure if that changes how they would refund.  Does anyone know the answer to that?  🙂  Thanks.

I was booked on Spectrum sailing March 21, 2020 Shanghai to Shanghai. I was going to cancel between 30-60 days and told I would lose 75% of the cruise fare and $225 on each airline ticket even though American had canceled our flights, booked the flights with Air2Sea with Royal.  I emailed Michael Bayley’s office and explained that we saved a long time for this cruise and was then offered FCC. I then decided to wait and see if Royal canceled knowing I could at least get 100% FCC. On February 19th I received a letter from travel agent saying Royal canceled and I would get full refund by February 27th, not any additional FCC. I haven’t received refund yet, but today is only the 26th. Talked to my travel agent and they said refund would come directly from Royal, not travel agent. Hopefully this helps others in the same situation I was in. 

On 2/21/2020 at 8:57 AM, FLConnie said:

NCL cancelled our Asia cruise that was scheduled for April and we got 100% of trip refunded from NCL and 100% of the trip insurance that was booked separately through Allianz. Our TA thought we may have to put the travel insurance toward another trip, but we didn’t. 

Update on Travel Guard insurance. Our Spectrum Shanghai to Shanghai on March 21 was canceled last Wednesday. Royal will give a full refund on cruise, air and even the $65 I paid to downline (leave the ship early in Tokyo instead of Shanghai). All tour companies refunded monies as well as hotels. I contacted Travel Guard and asked for a refund because at this point there is nothing to insure and it wasn’t my choice to cancel. They said I could have credit to be used within 2 years. So I’d suggest you check other insurance carriers and see what their policy is for something like this. We have purchased travel insurance through Travel Guard for the last 10 years and luckily never had to use it. In the future I’ll probably reach out to another company like Allianz. 

Thanks FL Connie for your reply. I need to make sure Royal refunds everything and then the travel insurance company will let me know if they will refund policy premium  since I’m not rebooking another cruise at this time. 

I need to clarify my question in post #9. Do you think travel insurance will reimburse policy cost due to the airlines and cruise line cancellations? Had a cruise booked to China in March, airlines and Royal have now canceled both the flight and cruise. Hotels and tours have refunded money. Since there is nothing left to insure would they reimburse the cost?  I bought trip insurance before final payment because I had refundable deposits. In a sense there was insurance for approximately 6 weeks from purchase date to cancellations. 

I wonder if this is the same if the airlines and cruise line cancel?

1 minute ago, jegoodman said:

Thanks for posting, Marilyn.

 

It really is ashame that Royal treats its customers this way.  Probably just as well that there's no offer of an FCC.  That would have tempted me to book again.  I really think Royal has blown it by taking so long to cancel these cruises.  I'm still waiting for mine to be canceled.  I think Holland America cancelled their whole season through September.  

 

Royal is getting positive press by offering cruises to first responders.  I wouldn't be surprised if it's tax deductible for them.  Royal doesn't do something for nothing. It's funny, I used to be really loyal to them but over the years (mainly after they hired a Carnival Executive) they have slowly but surely "carnivalized."  I remember in the 90's sodas were free and there were no specialty restaurants.  In the 2000's there were specialty restaurants but the pricing was minimal to cover the gratuity.  Now the pricing is quite high AND you pay gratuities.  

 

I will continue waiting for them to cancel my cruise on 3/28... get my refund.. and be done with this whole stressful mess.

We only cruised Royal for maybe 15-20 cruises. A few years ago we were at a table with a couple that only cruised through Princess. It was their first Royal Cruise. They were treated far better that we were. This is when we figured there was no reason to be loyal to Royal. So we have been cruising with Princess the last few years and have been treated as well or better than Royal had treated us the last few cruises. Only booked this one because we wanted a shorter cruise than Princess offered. Also paid $65 to downline and hoping to get this back. 

Good luck with getting your money back. 

2 hours ago, jegoodman said:

Marilyn,

Thanks for posting.  No word yet on mine. I'm hoping my cancellation will come in the next day or two.  I just want this over with.  I want to use that money towards something other than a cruise.

 

I assume they didn't offer any OBC or incentive for cancelling.

No, there wasn’t any offer of any OBC or FCC but I didn’t expect anything since the March 5th cruise wasn’t offered anything. It’s a shame they waited to the last minute to cancel when they knew this cruise wasn’t going on as planned. Now it costs more for flights to travel during that time frame. Money to be refunded by February 27th. 

Also, just went on website and the cruise is still posted. Didn’t try to book it so I’m not sure you could go all the way through with the reservation.

Good luck with getting a refund on your cruise. 

Just got email from my travel agent that Royal canceled March 21 Shanghai to Shanghai cruise. 

Does anyone know how long Spectrum will be doing humanitarian cruises in Australia?