S.A.M.J.R.

An article from nine months ago supports the danger theory? Got anything more recent that the riots are close to Labadee?

Saw these articles last night... https://www.thestreet.com/travel/royal-caribbean-bad-news-for-customers-good-for-disney https://fortune.com/2023/07/29/royal-caribbean-earnings-profit-pandemic-recovery-revenge-spending-travel/ So expect prices to go even higher.

Have you tried calling Royal and saying you want to cancel with a full refund because they've significantly changed what you were looking for?

based on?

Why? Labadee is a secure area.

It's a good thought, but don't count on it... https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/05/politics/state-department-passport-delays/index.html https://abc7.com/passport-delays-2023-us-passports-application-how-to-get-a/13459772/ https://time.com/6291865/long-waits-us-passports-visa-processing/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2023/07/07/passport-renewals-17-weeks-summer-2023/?sh=cd52b7451222 All of the above articles are from earlier this month.

Agreed. And a company should be willing to refund your money if they've made a significant change to the offering. Is cutting housekeeping a "significant" change? And you're right, no company is perfect. So you're saying, even though you don't think you're getting good value for the money, other companies are "worse"? THATS why you continue with Royal? In which case, you're satisfied with the value for the money.

And again, what's wrong with saying "if things are that bad, either stop cruising or find another company"? No one can explain why, if you don't think you're getting a good value from a company, you keep giving them money? That's really what this boils down to.

Here's the problem though. Royal Caribbean is no longer providing twice a day service (except to suites). If that is something that is important to you, which only you can judge, for whatever reason, then either book suites, or find another line. As long as you (general) keep giving Royal money and put up with the cutbacks, they don't have reason to change back. Folks claim Royal reads on here. OK, fine. But the ships are sailing full. So why would they go back to spending money they don't need to?

My suggestion is to get a hotel near MCO. Use their free shuttle to get you from the airport to the hotel. Arrange for private transportation (there are a LOT of them) to get you from the hotel to the port the next day (because you are flying in the day before, right?). Yes, more expensive, BUT less hassle. If you need a car, based on what you've written, I would drop off the two 80 year olds, luggage, and four others at the pier. Go return the car with someone else (keeps you company) and catch the shuttle back.

Personally, I honestly don't mind complaints as long as they're not over the top. Speaking of the Half and Half debate... If it would have been: I tried to get Half and Half for my coffee, but the container marked as such just had milk in it. I know there's been other reports of the same thing on different ships, so I wanted to add what I experienced. I asked the worker if they had half and half, and was told "no". I totally get it. Instead what we got is: I tried to get half and half for my coffee, but the container marked as such just had milk in it. It's another way of Royal trying to save money and another example of how they lie about things. Despite being on a cruise with some Royal muckety mucks, I won't tell you what they said when I asked about their lying. I do agree with the OP though... if you aren't getting the service you expected or are mistreated, vote with your wallet. Continuing to work with the company does nothing other than say you're fine with their choice.

Then you didn't bring it up with TPTB. Because if it fit your narrative of Royal "lying" to customers, I'm pretty confident you would have posted it. Oh wait, that's right, you're just providing anecdotal information that on your cruise, the container labeled "Half and half" was just milk. Got it.

VERY possible, if not probable. Personally, I wouldn't want to make the trip with an assumption though, which is why I suggested contacting Royal to get clarification. Also, the 6 month expiry on the passport has NOT been a requirement.

You feel it's worth it to claim Royal is intentionally lying to customers (which you're entitled to your opinion), but it's not worth it to let us know what TPTB response was to your claim? I'm guessing the answer you got didn't support your narrative.

If the letter posted on page 1 is an indication, what's happened in the past doesn't mean it will happen in the future. The letter isn't ambiguous at all, no "recommend" or "suggest". They use pretty plain language. Personally, I don't think it's fair to change passport requirements without notifying passengers at least six months in advance, but *IF* Royal wants to enforce that letter, they can. I think it's funny that people are concerned about getting a notary to sign off on the signature, but requiring passports is going to be ignored.

If it was me and my child had a passport, I'd bring it. If they didn't have a passport, I would get in contact with someone from Royal Caribbean and get it in writing that a BC is enough and a passport isn't required. Yes, I would use the excuse "I saw a letter on the internet that says a passport is required for all children." If it's not, they should have no problem sending you a letter saying such. If they wouldn't do that, I would be extremely nervous until after checkin.

Regarding the second point... according to the letter in post #5... "All children regardless of age require a passport book valid for at least 6 months after your sailing ends." That's pretty plain.

Then maybe you shouldn't make it sound like you don't understand? You don't think demand is ever going to drop. Could be. We've stopped going to Disney because the trips just aren't as enjoyable and are MUCH more expensive. That could happen to cruises also. But, Disney is still bringing in the guests, and cruises could continue to also. That's called "spin" or "marketing". EVERYTHING a company says should be taken with a grain of salt, just like you do with a politician. So your company does the same thing.

The rates will stay as long as people will pay. If people stop cruising, they'll drop rates to fill the ship (or try to add "value"). No different than any other product on the market.

So at work, if someone mentions they have a headache, you don't say "Oh, I've got some ibuprofen you can try!" I've shared medicines with people and had people give me meds (OTC ones of course).

I'm curious... were you looking in a mirror when you posted this? I have no problem RCI (ANY company) being negatively mentioned. What I have a problem with is people making their issues sound like "the end of the world", YET CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH THAT COMPANY. Why would you continue to do business with a company that you (general) feel are LYING to you (OP's words, not mine)? Why would you continue to do business with a company that you (general) don't think is providing a service equal or better to the amount of money you spend (see the threads about menu/dining changes and housekeeping cutbacks)? So a company LYING to you (again, the OP's words) is "trivial"? I've asked this before and I'm pretty sure I didn't get an answer... Why should Royal: * Go back to twice a day housekeeping * Get better service in MDR * Get better food in MDR * Provide H&H When they are sailing the ships full? I don't care if someone posts bad opinions about Royal, but then stick to it. And you're right, no cruise is going to be 100% perfect. But making claims about "lying" on a message board (again, OP is on the President's cruise, wouldn't that be a good time to ask TPTB what's goin on) or the "value of provided services" but then going back for the same thing just amazes me.

So it's ok when you make a judgement based on money, but not ok when RCI does it? DECADES ago, we went to Value City Furniture and got some kind of "deal" with the bedroom set we had purchased. I don't even remember what the deal was (like free pillow cases or something minor), but I had to fight them tooth and nail to get them to honor the "deal". I made the promise back then that I wouldn't do business with them again, and I haven't. If you don't like the way a company does business, or don't like the value you get for you money, don't use them!

According to the posted letter, he'll need a passport.

I can help on some of it... Regarding bottled water, they're available from every bar and roaming waiter. As far as being chilled... depends on how long they've been in the fridge/on ice. If wherever you are getting the water from has given out all their cold ones and what they've restocked hasn't had time to get truly, cold, you might end up a "cool" one. I wouldn't let that put me off though. I don't do coffee (specialty or otherwise), but I believe Cafe Promonade has lattes and such. I believe mocktails are about $8-9 including tip, so assuming you're paying $30/day for the package, three waters (I believe $4 each but could be wrong) and two mocktails per day (give or take) would be about the break even.

So now either EVERYONE should tip an extra $5 to every crew member OR folks here think candy bars cost $5? I thought it was impolite to tell people how much they should tip? Maybe if you buy them in a gas station, but if this is something someone wants to do seriously, you can get candy in bulk for less than $1 each.