LissyTx

I can no longer find health information on Royal's website.   We sail soon on an Alaska cruise.

Are there any health checks in order to board?   Do we need to bring vaccination cards?    

Thank you!!!

Is there any rhyme or reason to how they are processing refunds?   It seems like I'm hearing people with sail dates beyond mine saying they are seeing money back.

I'm asking because our sail date was 3/15/20 on Liberty.   RCL / CDC cancelled our cruise on 3/13.

On 4/10 received FCC email.

On 4/14, we received email saying our cruise planner purchases were cancelled / refunded but here on 4/27 still no money back to my Credit Card.   No mention of Royal Up refund and none of those dollars back yet.

My travel agent said oh give them time they are working on it.  She also said they are processing the cruise fare refunds first then the cruise planner when cancelling out the room/reservation.   Well, FCC issued 4/10, refund email for cruise planner 4/14, so seems the money is lost somewhere.  What is left for them to cancel out on the reservation?   

I called Royal today and was told something new and disappointing.   I was told it would be 30-45 days from the 4/14 cruise planner cancellation email to receive my money back.   REALLY?   So now, that is basically Royal telling us to wait 60-75 days from sail date for refund of cruise planner items.

Thanks for any insights!!

I don't see this anywhere official.  Can you link me?  We were actively packing to drive to port tomorrow...    Thank you!!

Howdy!   We just got upgraded (via Royal Up) to a Grand Suite.   When we had a regular balcony we had booked the Key.   Is there any reason to keep the Key?   I am thinking the only difference that Suites does not get us that the Key does is 1 - Chops Boarding Lunch and 2 - Internet.    Am I missing anything?   If those are the only two benefits we don't get with the Suite, thinking it will be better to book internet and Chops separately, but just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything, it has been a few years since I've sailed Royal.

Thank you!!!

Melissa

9 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Nope, except for continental breakfast in the morning, it's now $8 plus 18% per order.

Oh my gosh, $8?!?   Ugh.   We defected to Disney (b/c of having a toddler/little girl) and the up front price is much more but you are not nickel and dimed for nearly as many things.

I remember long waits for room service delivery.  Is it at least quick now with the fee?    Thank you!

Is room service still free?  

What's new?

I haven't cruised Royal in about 4 years.  What's new or changed since I last cruised?  (Besides new ships.  I mean things I might want to be aware of when cruising in a few weeks.)

Thanks!

Melissa

I do wish they'd release pricing before it goes live for booking so we can not waste our time on things we won't end up booking.

YAY!! So excited!!

Yes I was curious - you don't have to book the non refundable deposit right? You can still book with the refundable one?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

You should see a refund for the port charges show up on your credit card statement (if that is how you paid for the cruise). It will be handled by shoreside after the fact' date=' not by shipboard services. If you paid by check, you'll get a check back but that will take 4-6 weeks. The refund amount is always something really odd, like $8.24 per person. (example, not currently accurate). I would see a credit amount for $16 from DCL and wonder what the heck that was about...

 

If you went to a different port instead you will see a refund only if there is a difference in the port charges. If the one you visited is more, DCL eats it. If it is less, they refund the difference.[/quote']

 

Thank you!!!

I've had several "hurricane issues" on DCL cruises' date=' mostly because we do a lot of September cruises.

 

The first time, Captain John took the Magic to Key West (before there was a Western) in order to wait a day, see where the hurricane went, and recoup as much of our cruise as possible.

 

Other times (at least twice) we have missed a port and it became a sea day.

 

The worst was when the hurricane closed Port Canaveral. Our 7 night cruise became a 4 night cruise. DCL gave us the choice of canceling for a full refund or taking the 4 night with a large refund and an OBC. Since we were already at WDW, we did the shorter cruise. It was sad, but it was a reasonable option.

 

Funny, but we've never had to miss Castaway, even when the storms were supposedly affecting the Bahamas.

 

Cruises I have not been on but heard of--there was a cruise that couldn't get in to ANY port. DCL gave a full cruise fare credit toward a future cruise to those passengers.

 

There is no compensation if you miss a port or go to an alternate port. The crew does really hustle to arrange new excursion options and of course there is no charge for anything booked thru DCL at the missed port.

 

If you have travel insurance and are very uneasy, look at the policy to see what the fine print says about storm forecasts.

 

They will not take the ship into the storm. The captain will find a "work around," regardless of what it does to the planned ports.[/quote']

 

Hi Moki's Mommy... question: We just returned from the 9/24 - 10/1 Fantasy sailing where we skipped St. Thomas due to Hurricane Matthew (it was a tropical depression at the time.) Shouldn't we at least get port fees / taxes back? I assumed it was automatic but didn't see it on our final bill and we were too hurried to stop at Guest Services on our way off the ship. I'm not sure if I should call DCL tomorrow or how they normally handle. Thanks!

The family and I recently returned from a 7-night voyage on the Disney Fantasy and outlined below is a very thorough review of the ship and ports of call visited. Our itinerary included stops at Tortola, St. Thomas and Castaway Cay. Our travelling group included me (35) my wife (33) and daughter (3.5). This was our fourth cruise and second with Disney. We have previously sailed the following: Celebrity Silhouette, Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas and Disney Magic. I will review our cruise chronologically and will touch on everything from food, entertainment, adult spaces, kid spaces and of course the ports. A few other subjects may come up as I start to write, I hope you find the review informative and gets you excited for your families cruise on the Disney Fantasy.

 

 

 

I know this review was quite large and if you’ve read through to this point you must have enjoyed it. I hope you did. If you have any questions about the ship, the ports or travelling with a little one please do not hesitate to ask. I love writing these reviews and helping others the way I have received help from others on these boards when we first started cruising a couple years ago. Paying it forward one review at a time.

Happy Sailing.

THANK YOU! This was excellent and very helpful!!! We are sailing with an almost 3 year old, so the advice and experience seems quite relevant. Thanks again.

St .Thomas is VERY easy to do on your own. There will be plenty of cabs right at the dock area.

 

Some suggestions for things a child might like...there is a butterfly farm within walking distance of the dock. Coral World is an attraction with a small aquarium' date=' an underwater viewing tank that you walk into, touch tanks with "educators," (tanks where you can touch a nurse shark, etc.) a gift shop, snack bar, etc. Right across the parking lot from Coral World is Coki Beach--a nice, free, family friendly beach. It does not have vendors and stuff, but if you go to Coral World you get a wrist band that allows you to go in and out all day--you can use the restrooms and snack bar at Coral World. Check out their web site and the magazine you can get free at the dock as there are sometimes discount coupons. Taxis will be there to take you back; if not the person in the gift shop will call one for you.

 

There are many advantages beyond cost to going on your own. The butterflies will become inactive at all the noise from the crowd. We arrived as the DCL group was leaving. As soon as they were out the door, the butterflies went crazy. The other advantage with a small child is that you can leave when you want to--you don't have to hang out for the group.

 

Traffic can get heavy late in the afternoon. We always plan to be back a whole hour early so that we have plenty of time. But if your taxi can't get back, the DCL vehicles can't get back either! Just allow more time than you think you'll need and you'll be fine.[/quote']

 

Thank you! These are very helpful tips.

Me again! LOL.

We are doing the Eastern Route on the Fantasy and I was looking to do the Maegan's Bay Beach excursion. My daughter is 2. However, it won't let me book it for her.

I cannot tell which DCL excursions are allowed for 2 years old and which are not. Some have nothing in the 0-2 column and some have 0.00 which I assumed meant you could take them but they are free. Maybe this is not correct since it wont let me book Maegans Bay with the 0.00 listed in the 2 column.

Also, any recommendations for good excursions in St Thomas or Tortola?

I appreciate your help!

So the linked article to that cruise law blog mentions no one or just crew should be in the lifeboat when lowered.

In case of a real emergency, how do passengers get in?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I don't know about other parents but I would be mortified if my kid had an accident in the pool.

She has never peed or pooped in the bath (we'd know because we dye the water blue haha) and now typically has an accident once a month when she's sleeping.

So I feel like she's at a "safe stage" or whatever you want to call it to swim in the pool. However I'm still debating it as we hate to be the cause of a biological.

Candidly though I bet half the 4-5 year olds pee in the pool even though they're potty trained just because they can and are too lazy to get out. [emoji16]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

For use on the ship' date=' I'd suggest a small umbrella stroller. It folds up easily to store in your cabin, under a bed or whatever. If you want a big stroller for excursions, they are available to borrow from GS, first come, first served (but they have hundreds). A big stroller will just get in the way in the cabin.

 

 

 

Wagons are available at Castaway as you get off the ship.

 

There is no prohibition I've ever seen about tents. Be sure it doesn't interfere with your fellow cruisers or that could be an issue.

 

You are restricted in the use of to use floats, etc. in the pools. There is a rack of various sizes of life vests available at no charge both by the pool and at CC. No need to drag your own on top of all the other stuff you'll need.[/quote']

 

 

Thank you Moki's Mommy.

 

I had no idea about the large strollers good to know!

 

We will be at WDW Magic Kingdom for 2 days before the cruise. I'm hoping our umbrella stroller is enough for there.

 

Yes we will definitely be mindful of others on the beach if we take the tent.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Unfortunately wagons are on the prohibited list. Here is a link to it: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/prohibited-items/list/

 

 

 

There is nothing in the prohibited list about pop up tents so presumably it is allowed for use off the ship.

I'm not sure where you could set it up and how you would lash it down on Castaway though.

 

Yes you can bring your own Coast Guard approved life jacket for your daughter.

The ship does provide complementary life vests for use in the pools and on Castaway, so you may wish to bring your own for use on the islands.

Just to reiterate that only toilet trained children are allowed in the pools, and swim diapers are not allowed to be used in the pools.

Children not toilet trained can use of the splash zones with a swim diaper.

 

ex techie

 

They have complimentary wagons on Castaway. First come first served.

Thank you Ex Techie!

We will try to be first off at CC. Or suck it up and carry her. [emoji6]

Good news is she is toilet trained. I kind of think swim diapers are a joke. I don't really think they contain much. [emoji85]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hello! We will be traveling on the Fantasy soon with our almost 3 year old. A few questions about things and whether A) they are okay to bring and B) have you found anything better?

1) Folding Wagon vs. Lightweight/Small Stroller

So something to carry/push my daughter in is a must as at not quite 3 it is often that she'll get tired and ask to be carried.

Our current lightweight stroller:

http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/chicco-reg-liteway-trade-stroller-in-almond-beige-grey/1045836411?Keyword=chico+stroller

This worked well last time around the ship (when she was 11 months old) but, it is awful on sand.

WE have this folding wagon and my DH was wondering if it might be better to give us more carrying space... but I don't know how practical it is ON the ship...

https://www.amazon.com/Mac-Sports-Collapsible-Folding-Outdoor/dp/B0079P1KH6/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t

2) A lightweight beach tent... don't laugh

So, I burn really easily. (Whatever I love cruises and refuse to give them up.) Pair this with a daughter who asks us to go to the beach weekly. Sometimes umbrellas are hard to come by, sometimes not, sometimes they cost $$$... So, I was wondering if A) the ship allows us to bring this on - fairly compact when folded up. B) Has anyone used one, did you like it? Amazon reviews are pretty good.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RQQRTSM/ref=pd_luc_rh_bxgy_01_02_t_img_lh?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

3) Last one - Life Vest

This is Coast Guard approved. Are we allowed to use it on her in the ship pool? At the beach? If not at Castaway Cay, I think it'd be useful on the islands we are going to.

https://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Puddle-Jumper-Deluxe-Elephant/dp/B004Q6O3ZW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1473661785&sr=8-5&keywords=life+vest+for+toddler

Thank you for any insights!

Thanks for all the replies. I'd be okay with the credit towards a future cruise and some of you made it sound like your whole amount spent was credited which would be awesome. I'll call Royal and also look into the insurance more.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Questions about how both Royal and Travel Insurance would handle.

Have a cruise booked for Feb. Final payment is in Nov. If we happen to get pregnant between final payment and cruise date we are not going due to Zika.

One - will Royal refund you for this reason?

If not, does Royal sell travel insurance and if so is this a reason that you can cancel for and they'll refund / reimburse you?

Thanks!!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Totally' date=' completely strict in the programming after an unfortunate situation some years ago when they "slid" the rules.

 

 

 

However, the kid no longer needs to be toilet trained. The CMs cannot change the child. They will call the parent if attention is needed. A kid may wear diapers or pull ups, but must be fully 3 years old.

 

 

 

BBB--you can't book them ahead, but can book after boarding if there is space. However, if the child is too immature to sit and allow them to do the transformation, too bad. You pay anyhow.

 

 

 

As to bored in nursery....YOU can take her to the OC during Open House hours. The difference is that you need to stay with her; you can't drop her off.[/quote']

 

 

 

Thank you so much for the info! Really good to know about the open hours.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Does anyone know how strict they are on the requirement to be 3 for the Kids Club, Bibbidy Boutique, and the Princess Tea Party?

Our little one will be 2 weeks shy of 3. Candidly I'm worried she'll be bored out of her mind in the nursery.

Thanks for the info!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Hello!

Can someone point me to where on DCL's website they give info on the Private Cabanas on their private island?

I'm not sure what's included or how much they cost.

Thanks!

Melissa