More Royal Romance problems

[fooshrock]

I get a call from RR today telling me where and when my ceremony is going to be and now they tell me that only iced tea and water will be served at my reception. I spoke with three different people that told me soda and punch will be served. Their answer was those people were wrong. Next thing, they tell me all sailing guests have to be at the port at 11:00. We were always told 10:30 when asked why the difference in time, they said all the other ports are 10:30 so they assumed it was 10:30, so now my 85 guests have to stand around for an extra half-hour. Their answer sorry.

 

I just don't understand how so much mis-information can be given. How do I know anything they say will not be changed. I tryed calling Royal Carribean directly and they said they can't help me. I am just so frustrated at this point. I don't even know what to do anymore.

 

Question for anyone who knows, they said our ceremony will be in the Conference room lounge, is this an ok place for a ceremony?

 

Cruiseescape....what time did you have to be at the port? I don't wanna tell my guests 11:00 and then it really is 10:30.

 

Thanks,

Lori

[sas80]

First off - place a call to your TA and figure out exactly which "room" the "confrence room lounge" is. I am crossing my fingers that RR/TWE is not really saying that they are going to hold your reception in an actual confrence room...

UNLESS the ship you are sailing on has a conrence room that has windows - surf to the RCCL site and take a look at the ships layout - you may find "confrence room lounge" listed on a deck, and then you can determine if you will have windows or not. If you cant determine where "confrence room lounge" is, I suggest you call back RR/TWE and ask what floor it is on and is it forward or aft, where is it located, etc.

If they are trying to stick your reception in a confrnce room with no windows then you need to call back RR/TWE and RAISE HOLY HELL.

If RR/TWE wont budge then, my suggestion to you is to call RCCL customer service and start crying, literally. When you cry they really get in there and help you - I learned that first hand.

If your ship has a confrence room that has windows, and that is your room, then you are probably okay. It's not going to be a lounge setting, but at least you will have a view and the confrence rooms are really not too bad.

[fooshrock]

The reception is in the dining room. Only the ceremony will be in the conference room lounge. RR said it was a nice room, but who can believe them.

[sas80]

The only way you will really know what you are getting from RR/TWE, in terms of drinks and services, is what they charge you for on your final bill.

 

If today is 2 weeks out then you should be getting a fax from them that will tally up everything - check it over.

 

IF someting is not listed on that tally and you cant get RR/TWE to budge on giving it to you then, again, I suggest you call RCCL customer service - explain that you requested the items and RR/TWE fell sort and try to get ahold of someone in dining to arrange the beverage you desire and you can pay for it outside of RR/TWE charges.

 

If you have booked through a TA then the TA needs to get in touch with dining because dining wont deal with you.

 

It can be done, I had to do it.

 

A direct line to dining is: RCLdining@rccl.com

 

but, again, your TA needs to contact them and she/he probably has their direct number.

[sas80]

The reception is in the dining room. Only the ceremony will be in the conference room lounge. RR said it was a nice room, but who can believe them.

 

UGH! Why are they sticking you in a confrence room for your ceremony??? I would want to know if it at least has windows for the view.

 

Another route you can take is to take an online look at the ship and have your TA call and request to reserve a lounge for the ceremony. TA, again, can call dining.

 

You need to submit the number of people in the room, the type of set up you want (chairs, no chairs) and the amount time you need it for.

 

I would send TA a list of lounges you prefer, in preference order.

 

I would not be surprised if you can secure an actual lounge for your ceremony and or reception - simply because RR/TWE SUCKS!

 

My thinking is that there cant be THAT MANY weddings that you have to get put into a confrence room..... Certainly SOME lounge has to be availiable!

 

If you can secure a lounge then call RR/TWE and inform them that you have done this and would like them to change their record of wedding location. If they balk at this then ask them, if you could do this, why couldnt they?

[sas80]

From what I recall, all of your sailing guests should be allowed to sit in the platinum and diamond C&A section - so at least they will have comfortable seating.

 

Again, I would suggest calling RCCL customer service, informing them that RR/TWE said your guests get into the priority wait area, because they are there for the wedding, and ask RCCL if there will be enough seats for your XX number of guests and all of the other platinum and diamond members that will be using the lounge.

 

Ask how you can double check that there will be enough seats - is there someone you can call at the port, etc.

 

At least their extra half hour wait wont betoo bad.

 

perhaps you could crack a few bottles of champagne or sparkling cider while they wait? That would be a nice touch for the festivities.

 

Champagne/cider in a few plastic buckets filled with ice and some plastic champagne glasses would be a fun way to start the festivities!!!

 

And, dont worry, just leave the mess behind!!!

[cruiseescape]

Hi Lori

 

First take a deep breath!! Call Royal Romance back and ask for a supervisor they will probably try to give you a hard time but tell them exactly what you want. If they continue to give you a hard time relax you will have the coordinators and the officiant there when you arrive and they will bend over backwards to make your day perfect...the people in the office are just that they are in the office and they don't really know what goes on when you are actually there.

 

I was originally told to have everyone there at 10:30 also....like you at the last minute they told me 11:00 o'clock. I just pretended I never heard them it was too late to tell everyone different. The funny part is I was worried that people would be late and hold us up from boarding well....most people were early I had so many people there at 10:00 o'clock...relax leave it stand at 10:30 you will be fine. When you arrive at 10, 10:30, 11 whenever the table is set up for them to check in they will at whatever time be taken inside to an area set aside for your group. They have water and cookies or something like that on a table in there and time flew for everyone once they arrived...remember this is all new to them too! They will just be in amazement at everything going on....it will all be perfect....honest! I can't wait until you get back and post a review! :)

 

I don't know about the conference room lounge but if you had somewhere else in mind I would push for it!!!! But remember the ones that are actually there when you arrive just want to make your day perfect and they will no matter where it is!

 

I will see if I can find out where that is though for you and get back to you shortly.

 

I'll talk to you soon if you need me just yell! :)

[cruiseescape]

Hi Lori

Here is a link to pictures of their conference centers but I don't know which one is which.

 

http://public.fotki.com/rccldesign/photoalbums/cruisepics/voyageroftheseas/publicspaces/business/conferencecenter/

 

Let me know what you decide.

 

Lori

[fooshrock]

thanks Lori,

 

I'm trying not to freak out. I just went to the deck plans of the boat and the conference room is on deck 2 at the bottom of the boat. That doesn't sound good to me.....I will try to call rr tomorrow

 

Thanks for everyones help

Lori

[pathubia]

I was told by The Wedding Experience ahead of time that my guest needed to be at the terminal by 10:30 am, when I got my final arrangements they told be 11 am, I had already sent out the invitations with 10:30 listed, I figured, what the heck, at least everyone will be on time. No one complained.... Good luck!!

 

Patty

[sas80]

Make your phone calls and push hard for what you want, you will probably get it.

 

Your day will be great, dont worry about that! with all your family and friends, and everyone who loves you, even if your wedding and reception were in a cave it would be wonderful and special.

[sas80]

& please be sure to tell us which room the "confrence room lounge" actually is.

& what ship is it?

[devilishlilgroom]

Hello Sas80,

 

I just read through the posting where you reviewed your wedding, and it seems to me that your wedding went extremely well. However, in another thread that deals with RR/TWE, you state that you have had many negative results, even though you started off your wedding day review with "Did I mention I had the best wedding ever?" If it went so well, then why complain?:confused:

 

The reason for my reply to you is that I have been booked with RR/TWE for several months now. I have had nothing but wonderful service from all of the coordinators, and I have spoken to many of them. And did I mention that my fiance and I call a lot!

 

Throught out my calls I have asked almost every question imaginable, and each question has been answered professionally and they make sense too. See you have to remember that this is a cruise wedding, umm not your typical wedding at home, and that is why most of us go this route.

 

My initail call was to book in Ocho Rios, Jamiaca, and I was then told that because of that the Cruise Program Administrator would be my contact, but since that call we changed our minds and since we want guests that are non-sailing to come on board for the wedding/reception, we have chosen Miami. The coordinators have told us that now the Cruise Program Administrator is not our contact but our actual coordinators that day will be.

 

We are hoping to have about 125 people attend in total and of course have the full Lunch Buffet for 2 hours since I agree with them, it seems like you are getting your monies worth.

 

Again, I have nothing but good reviews so far and recommend that everyone takes a deep breath and let them do their job. Just call, ask the questions and they will answer and arrange things for your best intrest. Remember they are the specialist, not us. They are there to make our day special and I trust that they will. :)

[MentalVacation]

devilishlilgroom -- i think sas's review said something to the effect of having a great wedding DESPITE RR/TWE's mistakes/lack of effort. I think I am recalling the right one.

 

In any case, I'd tell you (And everyone else) GET IT IN WRITING. ALL OF IT. You can probably dig my review up -- i got married in May 2005. I too had a lovely wedding overall (due to the joy of having friends and family come so far and be there, and just being happy b/c I was getting married to the person I love for gosh sakes) BUT RR/TWE did not enhance the joy. Frankly, they tainted it a little. And I am not sure I'd consider them "specialists" or someone to just hand off the entire planning to. To the contrary, I'd say that if you want anything remotely personalized to your wedding you need to stay with them every step of the way. I'm not saying my coordinator wasn't nice/friendly/helpful -- she was all of those things. BUT the end result was still what it was -- missing flowers, a cake that would have horrified a clown, poor timing and coordination generally and things not done the way we requested or not done at all. Life will go on but the fact is that RR/TWE has issues and I haven't seen them improve in the year I've been on this particular board. I think the brides/grooms have perhaps gained some help in learning how to better deal with them, which is all to the better, but I reiterate -- get it in writing!!!!!!!!!!!

[scottishflower]

I'm perplexed as to why people are being questioned when they express their dissatisfaction; why a person cannot discuss poor service without being called out as a whiner, bridezilla or baby (I fondly recall the babysitter remark) is beyond me. Can we not keep the discourse here on the level of simple respect?

 

Regardless of why a person chooses to do a cruise wedding, they have every right to expect a decent level of service for the money they spend. I don't think anyone is expecting a million dollar wedding for a couple of grand, but they are expecting some level of customer service.

 

Judging by the number of individuals who have complained on these boards (and other forums) over the last couple of years (and believe me, I've paid attention), it's not an aberration. The pattern of behavior for RR/TWE is very real. In fact, the pattern is well-known among cruise professionals (having a family member in the cruise business, I've confirmed what has been experienced by individuals here is common knowledge out there as well).

 

Again, some have had great experiences, and some have been miserable. Cannot each of these experiences stand on their own merit without questioning, "Why complain?"

[sas80]

Hello Sas80,

 

Devil,

I am really happy for you, and extremely jealous, that your experience with RR/TWE has been ultra pleasant. I could say that you got 'lucky' and got one of the better coordinators who is well versed on all potential hiccups that could happen.

 

Congrats to you you lucky bride/groom!

 

Unflrtunately this was SO not the case for me. Did it ever occur to you that my experience may very well actually be authentic? As I am politely assuming that your experience, and what you comment about it, is authentic.

[sas80]

MentalVacation & ScottishFlower :)