Royal Let Down

[Mouse's Shadow]

I was thinking about sending gifts to the 8 cabins of friends that are going to be cruising with us. It doesn't sound like it's worth the possible aggravation.

[wolfganghowell]

Mouse, my personal observation on CC has been the negative beats the positive on these packages by about 10-1.

 

On the flip side, when we cruised Solstice in 2008, we had a small miracle on a related note. A coworker arranged with my TA to have a funny picture of me waiting in our cabin. This meant she had to send it to corporate, to send it to the ship, to send it to the hotel director to housekeeping to our stateroom attendant. Would you believe when we walked into our cabin for the first time it was lying on the bed? I still can't believe that actually happened.

 

We haven't ordered packages but we have ordered onboard credit or casino credit as "gifts." I always take the confirmation and make sure I can prove the credit card was charged. The packages just don't seem worth the hassle.

[time4u2go]

I think OP said the charge was never on the CC prior to sailing... Wouldn't that be the first clue there was a problem with the order??? I mean it doesn't appear as if the OP did their due diligence in regards to most of their issues. Nobody is perfect ...not even RC.

 

Not quite true. They didn't check until after they had sailed:

 

"I had no choice but to purchase an internet package on the ship to check the bank to see if they had taken the money. "

 

And I sympathize with the OP on this. I mean, when any of us buys something on the internet, do we then go check our credit/debit card account to see if the money was taken out? We just expect that the order will be completed correctly. At least I do.:rolleyes:

Edited November 8, 2013 by time4u2go

[yummymummy99]

We had originally used cash for the account on board but then after we had decided to buy the premium photo package realised we did not have enough cash on us left to buy it, this is why we put down the debit card. If the photo guys hadn't charged us for the same thing 4 times, we would have been OK.

 

The transfers sucked and the first bus driver was rude and basically forced me into tipping him, even though the drive was terrible, he was on his phone the whole way and kept slamming his brakes on because he wasn't concentrating on the road.

 

I think the problem was that we bought the holiday as a package deal, if we were to do it again, we will arrange everything ourselves.

 

Hi! We have done the package thing before and don't recommend (well not from the uk!). Our flight details were unknown when we booked and we ended up getting routed via Dallas to Orlando! We also on the same occasion stood at Orlando airport for over an hour trying to find the bus laid on to take us to the hotel - was v stressful and unnecessary! We had numerous calls to the number we had (whom had no idea of how to help us) and it was not a good experience! We now book our own flights and car hire!!

 

We love cruising and RCI but also sometimes there are little things that affect our experience - just bk from a b2b on Freedom and we had lots of issues with onboard credit, wine packages, my bill going onto my parents credit card (no financial connection between us) and we got the same message 'but it's sorted now' - we joked that my hubby spent more time at guest services than anywhere else!!

[yummymummy99]

Sorry to read about your issues.

 

Was it the Post Cruise Customer Relations Team that you spoke with ?

 

We have recently returned from an amazing b2b on freedom but had some issues we would like clarity on - for example why my bill ended up on my parents credit card (sounds a bonus but I'm in my 40s and my folks have no financial responsibility for me; different cards, different bookings, different rooms!) Anyway we emailed them and the automated reply says we will hear in 21 days!!! Long time! Maybe I should have phoned them?

Edited November 8, 2013 by yummymummy99
Spelling!

[Paulxyz2004]

Not quite true. They didn't check until after they had sailed:

 

"I had no choice but to purchase an internet package on the ship to check the bank to see if they had taken the money. "

 

And I sympathize with the OP on this. I mean, when any of us buys something on the internet, do we then go check our credit/debit card account to see if the money was taken out? We just expect that the order will be completed correctly. At least I do.:rolleyes:

 

If it wasn´t there after they had sailed I would say it´s pretty safe to assume it wasn´t there before they sailed:rolleyes:

 

Whenever I buy something online I will absolutely check my credit/debit card account to see if the money was taken out correctly. That being said I monitor my accounts rather closely anyway and you can bet I know what should be on there and what shouldn´t. Not Monitoring a bank account is uhmmm well how to express it without getting in Trouble.....

let´s say not very smart.

[tlatrice]

I mean, when any of us buys something on the internet, do we then go check our credit/debit card account to see if the money was taken out? We just expect that the order will be completed correctly. At least I do.:rolleyes:

 

 

ALWAYS and IMMEDIATELY! Especially when I use my debit card. If nothing else, I check to make sure I'm not being charged incorrectly, i.e., I check that I'm being charged what's being shown on my confirmation. I also check my email immediately for a confirmation email from the vendor.

 

I shop online A LOT! I'd say my online shopping to brick-and-mortar shopping is about 50/50. I pay all my bills online. I always check to make sure that the payment went through. With my bills I know it takes a couple of days to show up. But I keep checking till I see that charge in my transaction history.

 

You mean people DON'T do this??? :eek: I never considered myself the anal retentive type but now I'm worried I am! LOL!!!

[time4u2go]

ALWAYS and IMMEDIATELY! Especially when I use my debit card. If nothing else, I check to make sure I'm not being charged incorrectly, i.e., I check that I'm being charged what's being shown on my confirmation. I also check my email immediately for a confirmation email from the vendor.

 

I shop online A LOT! I'd say my online shopping to brick-and-mortar shopping is about 50/50. I pay all my bills online. I always check to make sure that the payment went through. With my bills I know it takes a couple of days to show up. But I keep checking till I see that charge in my transaction history.

 

You mean people DON'T do this??? :eek: I never considered myself the anal retentive type but now I'm worried I am! LOL!!!

 

Interesting. I don't use a debit card. Not sure if that matters.

 

I do always reconcile my monthly credit card bill with everything I purchase. And I check to make sure that my payments go through. I just don't check every purchase right away. Maybe I'm the only one?

 

I'm curious...do you also check your account immediately (or at least when you get home ;)) after making a credit or debit purchase at a store?

Edited November 8, 2013 by time4u2go

[time4u2go]

If it wasn´t there after they had sailed I would say it´s pretty safe to assume it wasn´t there before they sailed:rolleyes:

 

Whenever I buy something online I will absolutely check my credit/debit card account to see if the money was taken out correctly. That being said I monitor my accounts rather closely anyway and you can bet I know what should be on there and what shouldn´t. Not Monitoring a bank account is uhmmm well how to express it without getting in Trouble.....

let´s say not very smart.

 

I completely agree. But the point that I was trying to make was that the OP hadn't checked before they left, so they didn't know at that time that the charge hadn't occurred.

 

I too check all my purchases carefully. I just don't do it right away, for every purchase. Apparently I'm the only one?:rolleyes:

Edited November 8, 2013 by time4u2go

[Paulette3028]

My DH and I exclusively have cruised with RC and will be going on our 14th cruise & have our 15th already booked for next summer. I could not total up as many screw-up as these travelers have had.

 

We went on our very first cruise with some very 'seasoned cruisers' and the advice we were given was simple -- it isn't necessary to pre-book everything. We do pre-book our land excursions and do it through RC....people say, you can save money doing it privately....I don't want a hassle if something happens and the excursion is cancelled.

 

We have made arrangements the moment we get on board the ship, at Guest Services, for any specialty things to happen...they have plenty of time to take care of it right then and there.

 

Even when unexpected things have gone wrong, small as they were, RC handled them with little fuss and headache to us. Maybe we were just lucky.

 

When we have had to arrange land transfers my TA took care of it for us, and we knew all the details from her.

[Debitoo]

I agree with your points

with experience we have learned to do much on our own

we always take care of transportation to and from the ports

we never buy room decorations or packages

we always buy photos one at a time

sorry for the issues you are dealing with

no one likes to waste time on a cruise getting issues resolved

Ditto

[tlatrice]

Interesting. I don't use a debit card. Not sure if that matters.

 

I do always reconcile my monthly credit card bill with everything I purchase. And I check to make sure that my payments go through. I just don't check every purchase right away. Maybe I'm the only one?

 

I'm curious...do you also check your account immediately (or at least when you get home ;)) after making a credit or debit purchase at a store?

 

 

*grins sheepishly* If it's over, say, $50, yep. I need to know what I have left to work with. All other purchases, I do check within a few days. I've had a brick and mortar store double charge me. So yeah, I try to stay on top of it.

 

I guess it does make a difference as to whether it's a credit card or debit card. I can see being more relaxed with a credit card. But with a debit card - nope. I gotta know. Right NOW. How much do I have RIGHT NOW! LOL!!!

[Paulxyz2004]

I completely agree. But the point that I was trying to make was that the OP hadn't checked before they left, so they didn't know at that time that the charge hadn't occurred.

 

I too check all my purchases carefully. I just don't do it right away, for every purchase. Apparently I'm the only one?:rolleyes:

 

While I understand what you wanted to say, you actually blamed another poster making a false Statement. In regards to the Statement it is quite irrelevant what the OP knew at the time, it was just about the fact that the Charge didn´t post Prior to the cruise.

 

You seem to stress about the words"immediately" and "right away" in regards to checking the account after the purchase.

 

I´m mostly using my credit Cards, but debit Cards as well if credit Cards are not accepted. I probably do 80% of my Shopping online.

Now in your Terms I don´t check immediately after the purchase, as I know it will take a businessday or two to post. But you can be sure I will keep track about when it is posted. This is just a regular Routine for me to check my accounts about every couple days. The monthly Statement of my credit Card is usually something just to glance over anymore, as I already know exactly what´s on there and all I Need to confirm is the final amount at the bottom, as it should match what I have on file.

 

BTW I carry on this behaviour while on vacation as well. I exactly know my financial Situation at any given time. As I have some Software to check my accounts and download all Transactions it´s not even consuming lots of online time. It will download all necessary Information at the same time I download my emails to read offline later. Maybe it´s because I´m not rich and have to monitor my finances.

[Wilda]

Interesting. I don't use a debit card. Not sure if that matters.

 

I do always reconcile my monthly credit card bill with everything I purchase. And I check to make sure that my payments go through. I just don't check every purchase right away. Maybe I'm the only one?

 

I'm curious...do you also check your account immediately (or at least when you get home ;)) after making a credit or debit purchase at a store?

 

Yes, I check my AmEx and MC daily. The morning that I saw over $1,500 worth of online orders from WalMart on my husbands card (he doesn't shop WalMart and rarely orders online) I knew he was the victim of identity theft. It was at the beginning of our billing period...if I had waited to reconcile my statement until the end of the cycle who knows how much they would have gotten away with:eek:

[time4u2go]

While I understand what you wanted to say, you actually blamed another poster making a false Statement. In regards to the Statement it is quite irrelevant what the OP knew at the time, it was just about the fact that the Charge didn´t post Prior to the cruise.

 

You seem to stress about the words"immediately" and "right away" in regards to checking the account after the purchase.

 

I´m mostly using my credit Cards, but debit Cards as well if credit Cards are not accepted. I probably do 80% of my Shopping online.

Now in your Terms I don´t check immediately after the purchase, as I know it will take a businessday or two to post. But you can be sure I will keep track about when it is posted. This is just a regular Routine for me to check my accounts about every couple days. The monthly Statement of my credit Card is usually something just to glance over anymore, as I already know exactly what´s on there and all I Need to confirm is the final amount at the bottom, as it should match what I have on file.

 

BTW I carry on this behaviour while on vacation as well. I exactly know my financial Situation at any given time. As I have some Software to check my accounts and download all Transactions it´s not even consuming lots of online time. It will download all necessary Information at the same time I download my emails to read offline later. Maybe it´s because I´m not rich and have to monitor my finances.

 

Oh no, I'm not stressed at all about the words "immediately" or "right away". :D

 

As I said, perhaps I'm the only one that doesn't check their credit card account after every puchase. And I can certainly accept that! :)

Edited November 9, 2013 by time4u2go

[onyourtoes]

If they're holding funds because you used a debit card, yet another reason not to use debit cards.

 

In regards to the transfers, your problems are exactly why we use taxi's and not RCCL transfers. Taxi's are usually no more expensive, and you get where you want to go immediately without any confusion or waiting around for other passengers to fill a bus.

 

 

Amen to that. I used to use the RCCL transfers up until about 3 years ago, then I started using an independent company (mainly Orlando because I take Freedom a lot). I booked 2 weeks before I arrived and when I got to the airport the transportation was waiting. On the return, however, I do used Royal's transportation because my vacation is over and I don't care what time I get home LOL. I am sorry to hear of all of the things that went wrong for the OP. I hope whichever line he chooses to travel next that things are better. Happy cruising to all:)

[TEXASMUNK]

Ok, not a cheerleader...But...my one fault with your complaint.....Waiting an hour for the bus to fill? You buy a group transfer, the operative word is group....yup you wait....Did you expect them to immediately put the bus in gear with two people on it and leave?

Ok, enough of that.

I would be truly angry about the pre-purchased honeymoon package. How to resolve? Simple. Royal Needs to empower their onboard management to make things right. It is a simple, lazy cop put to blow you off with no positive customer result.

The pictures problem? Again, simple, charge the difference, somewhere in their software is the term "misc"....charge the difference and make a customer happy.

Again, lack of empowerment by RCI to their onboard management team.

[Folk Singer]

I was thinking about sending gifts to the 8 cabins of friends that are going to be cruising with us. It doesn't sound like it's worth the possible aggravation.

 

 

should be no problem we have done this and never had an issue.