SadmanCruiser

Applied for stats match last week - RCCI Pinnacle to MSC Diamond.

It only took 48 hours from submitting form to receiving status match.

Pete

Also saw this cruise over the weekend.

Cheapest inside £999 per person, balcony over £1600 per person for a seven night cruise.

Don't think I'll be going.

Pete

I decided last night to book two cruises, back to back, on the Ovation of the Seas in April/May 2021

First cruise is Singapore to Tokyo followed by Tokyo to Seattle.

I booked a D3 balcony on deck 7, unusually for me, I selected the cabin I wanted for both cruise. Booked under

non-refundable deposit.

U.S. price, including taxes $6150 (approximately £4800)

U.K. price, including taxes £6610 (approximately $8470)

£1800 is a lot of money to me - how can these price differences be justified? I know people say we have better

protections in the U.K. but when the Oasis sailings were cancelled recently, no such protections helped us, even

our travel insurance company were reluctant to pay our 'out of pocket' costs.

I am really glad we have an excellent U.S. agent, who is also a very good friend.

Pete.

7 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I heard EU cruisers got taxes included in the FCC. 😉

Don't know about that, TA was booked with my US agent.

Pete

Much the same experience for me.

One phone call to UK centre to cancel Med B2B and one email to royal guest services.

Both cruises fully refunded, flight costs refunded and FCC received which has been applied to Adventure in September.

Two weeks from cancellation to full refunds is, IMHO, pretty well organised.

Pete

I received my FCC on Friday but no refund yet. I was booked on the crossing.

Pete

Faye G, no such thing as a silly question!

I usually catch the 09:30 National express coach and have never had any issues. Southampton is normally a very quick port to leave. I let the cruise line take my luggage off for me - never been more than 20 minutes from ship to kerb.

 Taxi lines can get a bit long but as previous poster said it's an easy walk.

Pete

Hi Carol

I am guessing you visit Oman on a cruise. If you are, no need for visa. Cruise line will collect passports and when it is returned there will be a stamp from Oman.

Pete

Not sure about the Adventure but I have had an occasional glass of Lindeman's Moscato on board.

Pete

1 hour ago, Rjh8842 said:

 

Who excactly is mbaylay? Also if you have contacted them before How long should I expect for a response? Should I wait for a response from them before trying to call royal again? Tia

mbayley@rccl.com is the company president. In the past when I have sent an email to him, someone from corporate has called me within 24 hours and they have always been very helpful.

Pete

Hi. I am booked on the Oasis May 5th and final payment for me is not due until March 9th, not sure when final payment in U.S.A. was due . This cruise was booked under U.K. rules which I know are different to the U.S.A.

As this is the first cruise after the Transatlantic, prices do tend to stay a little higher with a large amount doing B2B

Have you considered doing the Explorer May 7th - prices are a lot better.

Pete

How is it in 28 years of sailing Royal I have never seen this actually happen. It's impossible for me to know why anyone else is at Guest Services. How have you figured it out?

Whilst B2B on the Navigator recently my luggage got 'lost' as I was moving stateroom. Whilst standing at guest services waiting for my problem to be resolved, 3 guests, one after another, were at guest services asking to remove the gratuities. This was boarding day around 2.15pm.

Later in the cruise whilst waiting in the queue at guest services, a member of staff was asking guests in the queue if they could help. Guests in front of me wanted gratuities removing and were advised to wait for someone at the desk.

Pete.

Molly, Bob & Ken, sorry, didn't realise it was that long ago.

As I have always pre-paid and usually book our cruises way in advance, it was only when pricing some cruises up last night that I saw the increase.

Pete

So, daily service charge, note not using the words tips or gratuities, have risen again to $14.50 per person, per day.

I have always prepaid in the past but am beginning to wonder.

Next year we do 23 nights on the Adventure of the Seas. Daily charge of $29 per day equals $667. Add to this approximately $250 in DL/SL and other bars (yes, I know it's my choice) during the cruise plus a little extra for the stateroom attendant, waiters and speciality restaurants (again, I know my choice), my total tips will exceed $1000 on a cruise costing a little over $4000 - that's almost 25%.

A lot of us have seen guests removing tips at guest services and we probably know lots of guests who remove tips. What I would like to know is the percentage of guests who remove tips.

Recently, at a table of 8 in the MDR, I was the only person who pre-paid (solo traveller), one couple intended to tip waiters and stateroom attendant, but less than the recommended amount which they thought was excessive, one couple the stateroom attendant only, one couple were not paying anything as they thought 'the cruise line should pay them' and the other solo chap was going to tip in cash to the people who served him.

I am sure if tips were included in the fare, as a non removable service charge, Royal could afford to half the amount charged. It seems at the moment, I am subsidising those who remove tips which seems unfair.

Pete

I recently had a theft incident on the Navigator.

Doing a B2B but changing rooms I left some cash in my backpack in the cabin. Went to new stateroom at 2pm, no luggage. Two trips to guest services and luggage turns up at 3.15pm minus approximately $300 from my backpack and no hanging garments from the wardrobe.

Apparently they forgot to move my luggage and after security had watched the CCTV, 11 people went into the room during the time my luggage was there.

I had various chats with GS manager, security and Hotel Manager but as they could not prove anyone had been into my backpack there was not much they could do.

The new passengers found my garments still hanging in the wardrobe when they entered the room at 4pm. They phones guest services who then had them moved to my new room.

Pete

Have you considered doing a ship tour?

Normally offer either Stonehenge or Windsor with airport drop off.

Pete.

I was just able to update our gift preference using the old links. Used old username and pw. We will see in August if it really updated anything.

 

mac_tlc

Trip to L.A. and now sorted.

Sent from my VFD 700 using Forums mobile app

Hi,

 

Sailing on the Independence on 16th June and looking for parking. Previously we have parked alongside the ship which I think is abparking. There are lots of discount codes on line, but not seem to work.

 

Has anyone got an update code please.

 

Many thanks.

 

 

daddynews:)

I just booked using the code and it worked perfectly.

Try using capital letter for SPRING

Pete

I find it wrong that each D+ member does not get their own gift. If they were each in different cabins, they'd each get a gift.

9 No bonus gift will be delivered on sailings less than 3-Nights. Only one bonus gift will be delivered on sailings between 3- and 6- Nights. All orders need to be placed up to 5 days before a US based sailing and 7 days for an internationally based sailing. If no selections are made before the time prescribed above, then no order will be placed. Orders and/or substitutions cannot be placed on or after boarding day. All Diamond Plus and above members can go into the secure Crown & Anchor section of the website and select your preferences and keep them up to date; or, Diamond Plus members and their travel agents can contact a Loyalty Specialist within 14 days of their departure to select an amenity and arrange timing for delivery to either their stateroom or dining room by calling (800) 526-9723 and pressing 9 at any time during the greeting message. All orders are per household and will be selected by the primary member in the relationship. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (ET).

The wife and I travelled in different cabins - she travelled with our son and I was solo. 3 bottles of White Zin in my room over four days, nothing in hers.

Spoke to L.A. who showed us on the website that it per household, not per stateroom.

Pete.

Got the upgrade email yesterday for our April 13 NOS 9 day cruise. $100 to move from Inside to OV. This might work out (depending on the location). I copied the email and the fine print below:

 

It does not state that you have to accept the upgrade offer. I will let you know if they call and how it works out.

 

 

We’re excited to welcome you onboard soon! As your sailing approaches, there may be an opportunity to upgrade your stateroom for the below price. Secure your position on the waitlist and take advantage of this limited offer. If an upgrade becomes available, we will call you to process the upgrade.*

 

*Price is per stateroom, in USD, and subject to Royal Caribbean offering Potential Upgrade to guest. The above upgrade price is not an offer to upgrade at this time. By clicking the “Add Me To The List” button, guest agrees that Royal Caribbean may use guest’s phone number to call guest to offer a stateroom upgrade, subject to these offer terms. Upgrade offer only applicable to the guest, stateroom, and sailing identified above; upgrades are not transferable. Offers are made in Royal Caribbean’s sole discretion. Inclusion on the wait list does not guarantee that an upgrade will be offered to guest. Royal Caribbean will make one attempt to call guest using the phone number listed on guest’s booking. If guest fails to answer the call, Royal Caribbean will move on to the next eligible guest on the wait list and will not call again. Upgrade is subject to an additional per-stateroom charge. Payment is due in full at the time of guest’s acceptance and is non-refundable. Limit one upgrade per booking through any offer by Royal Caribbean. Conditions of guest’s original cruise reservation will remain in effect after upgrade.

I am on the same sailing. Booked direct with Royal UK but have not received an email :(

Pete

What deck and cabin were you in? I will try to stay clear of this as I am booking several cabins for this sailing.

It was either 8261 or 8263

Pete

When you arrive at the airport just look for the taxi signs.

The marshals direct people to the best vehicle based on number of people, bags, etc.

Cruised out of Barcelona many times and never had any problems.

Pete

Highest promenade is deck 8. Hot tubs on 11?

Sent from my VFD 700 using Forums mobile app

Another lover of PR cabins here.

I like deck 7 personally as there are cabins above and below. Try to avoid cabins directly over the pub and cabins under the hot tubs - can be a bit noisy in the evening and remember to shut the curtains whilst changing.

Pete

Like Bob, we have dropped our luggage at 10am. We then took the 'blue bus' to the bottom of the Ramblas and back for a few Euros.

Pete.