Harmony Cabin Surprise (not a good one!)

[molly361]

Instead of waiting for your cruise is be over to peruse your complaint, I would recommend that you request a formal meeting with the head of housekeeping. By doing so you will go on record with RCL as having a problem(s) with the cabin and then you will get a case number that can be used when corresponding with RCL.

 

Ditto but I would try the hotel director instead and let them know about the non connecting issue as well

[dasi11]

Having raised 3 kids and had many connecting rooms, it is necessary! Going in and out of the sliding door is noisy and inconvenient.

With inside connecting doors it is a different story. Besides, you don't leave the balcony door open all the time. I too would be upset and expect the room chart to list it correctly. If it can not be corrected on the website and floor charts, why didn't RCCL just fix the rooms by adding a door between the rooms?

It would take one Day to bring in two doors and make the rooms connecting. I just don't understand how RCCL has let this issue just exist? Really stupid on their part!

I do hope you enjoy your cruise anyway!

[mjkacmom]

Keep the dividers open, and let him fall asleep alone in the cabin, he's 8. Family of 7 here, so we always need 2 rooms for everything, we've been burned like this before. Booked connecting rooms at a hotel once, and then was told they don't even have any connecting rooms. Booked a 2 bedroom, showed up and were given 2 one bedrooms. So far, we've always received connecting cabins on cruise ships, fingers crossed for our next one!

 

Definitely ask for compensation while you are on the ship.

[starfish216]

I feel the OP concerns.

 

With adjoining rooms you can leave the inside door ajar to hear if someone calls for you during the night. It's like being at home, kids or older adult will have their own rooms but you can still hear them if need be. Being in the next cabin isn't the same.

 

As for leaving the balcony divider open to enter through the balcony, I think the newer ships are designed that if you leave the balcony door open or not in the locked position the air conditioner will not work. I don't know if you can enter from the balcony if the door is locked on the inside, never tried that.

 

Try to make the best of your vacation.

[cello56]

I must say, there are some really mean spirited people posting on this thread. Just because having a connected room would not be a big deal to YOU, doesn't meant this is not a huge deal to OP. As for the suggestion to leave the balcony door open .... really? You think she should leave an 8 year old with unsupervised access to a balcony? I think not.

 

OP I am so sorry that this happened to your family. Please take the advice of previous posters and make an appointment with the hotel director and get a case number started on this issue. Most people choose connecting cabins for a specific reason, and you just might help the next family who are booking.

[LisaT91403]

Good morning from the high seas!

 

Thanks for those who have made helpful suggestions! I appreciate it.

 

I think this is either something you "get" or you don't. In addition to just my son, my 79 year old mother has health issues. I really take care of both of them. But I'm not going to go into more detail about why the door situation was important to us...you will just have to take my word for it (or not...that's fine too). Everyone's situation is unique.

 

Again, I really do appreciate the supportive comments and suggestions.

 

I also wanted to post about this in case anyone else was booking these cabins thinking they were getting a different layout. Hopefully, I can save another family some potential aggravation (and maybe even get Royal to correct thei website).

 

Oh look...time for Bingo! Have to get Grandma over to that 😀

[luvscruising2007]

I know this is not ideal but what about switching out sleeping arrangements for the remainder of the cruise. Put grandma in with you and put DH in with your son. The room steward can separate the beds for you. Just a thought.

Definitely, make your complaint to the Hotel Director while you are on the cruise. It is much easier to resolve while you are still on the cruise.

[mjkacmom]

I must say, there are some really mean spirited people posting on this thread. Just because having a connected room would not be a big deal to YOU, doesn't meant this is not a huge deal to OP. As for the suggestion to leave the balcony door open .... really? You think she should leave an 8 year old with unsupervised access to a balcony? I think not.

 

OP I am so sorry that this happened to your family. Please take the advice of previous posters and make an appointment with the hotel director and get a case number started on this issue. Most people choose connecting cabins for a specific reason, and you just might help the next family who are booking.

Yes, I think an 8 year old is old enough not to climb over the balcony. My kids walked to school at that age, and were mature enough not to run into the street.

[es0]

Perhaps you can stay in one room with your mom, and your son can stay in the other room with you husband (assuming he is traveling with you).

 

 

 

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[marci22]

I think it's ok to ask for compensation onboard, but not necessary. She has already been told there are no other cabins available. Demanding compensation at this point would introduce more stress. This is something that can be addressed later.

[marci22]

Yes, I think an 8 year old is old enough not to climb over the balcony. My kids walked to school at that age, and were mature enough not to run into the street.

 

8 year olds are not always the best decision makers...

[robtulipe]

As for leaving the balcony divider open to enter through the balcony, I think the newer ships are designed that if you leave the balcony door open or not in the locked position the air conditioner will not work. I don't know if you can enter from the balcony if the door is locked on the inside, never tried that.

 

On the newer ships you can shut the door, latch it with the lower lever in the shot below so the AC will work and still open it from the balcony side. You need to engage the child lock indicated by the arrow to have it locked from opening from either sides.

 

Edited December 18, 2016 by robtulipe

[pbfp2008]

8 year olds are not always the best decision makers...

 

My 23 and 20 year olds are not always the best decision makers. Heck, if you ask my wife, I sometimes make.questionable decisions, :rolleyes:

[leisuretraveler223]

As for the suggestion to leave the balcony door open .... really? You think she should leave an 8 year old with unsupervised access to a balcony? I think not.

 

The suggestion wasn't to "leave the balcony door open". It was to have the divider opened up. Balcony doors can be opened from both sides (if you don't throw the pin). This would allow her to get in to her child's room.

 

Try and keep up...:cool:

[DragonOfTheSeas]

The suggestion wasn't to "leave the balcony door open". It was to have the divider opened up. Balcony doors can be opened from both sides (if you don't throw the pin). This would allow her to get in to her child's room.

 

Try and keep up...:cool:

 

That will work. However, I was on the Harmony in November and I can tell you the balcony doors are HEAVY and make a loud noise when they open and close.

 

I would be pretty upset by this, too. Two JS on Harmony come at a premium and they did not get what was advertised.

[ONECRUISER]

Yes, I think an 8 year old is old enough not to climb over the balcony. My kids walked to school at that age, and were mature enough not to run into the street.

 

I agree but my kids were mature, some kids not

[ColoradoGurl]

Thanks. I'm trying! It's really not what we planned. My son can't fall asleep with someone else in the room. We always put him to bed, then go into the connecting suite while he falls asleep. It's going to be very challenging.

 

 

 

No luggage yet. No cabin steward yet.

 

 

Did you mean to say your son is 8 MONTHS old? I read your initial post to say he was 8 YEARS old. If he is 8 months I would be upset too, because you need more constant access to a baby, but hopefully Grandma doesn't mind helping out with the immediate needs and overnight wake ups. If he is 8 years old, this really shouldn't be a big deal (and kind of odd that he still has a bedtime issue).

 

But nevertheless, I would still make a point to go to guest services and mention that you fully intended to book a connecting room and that they advertise it as such. There's probably nothing that can be done at this point, unless there's a different cabin category with connecting rooms they can move you to. If your son is 8 months old, I might consider the move even if it doesn't have a balcony and is a smaller cabin, but if he's 8 years, I'd just make do with what you've got, but be sure to mention it and ask for a small on board credit.

 

 

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[Langley Cruisers]

Did you mean to say your son is 8 MONTHS old? I read your initial post to say he was 8 YEARS old. If he is 8 months I would be upset too...

 

No, OP said 8 years old. It's not altogether unusual for an 8 year old to want one of his parents to linger at bedtime. I have fond memories of my own Mom (now deceased) lying down with me at night until she, I mean, I fell asleep. :)

 

Grandma and DS(8) stay in one cabin, DH and I in the other. That way, I can take care of both Grandma and DS...

[Fred the ferret lover]

Funny, because we've been longingly standing by the wall where our door should be. We have also discussed the torch. You've read our minds!

 

Right now, I'm sitting in a completely dark cabin, hoping my son will eventually fall asleep. Fun times.

 

Poor thing. You are in our hearts and prayers.

[Ocean Dancer]

I completely understand your dilemma as we have traveled with my elderly mother, now deceased, and one of our sons.

 

At this point you probably will have to deal with it. Don't forget to tell your mom and son to use the phone if they need call you in the middle of the night.

 

While you are bringing to their attention the lack of connecting doors that shows what you booked on their deck plans.......ask them where the adult solarium pool is..........also listed on the web with beautiful pictures. Might as well get comped for that too.

 

Glad you are making the best of it..........a good attitude will lead to a better cruise.:)

[mjkacmom]

No, OP said 8 years old. It's not altogether unusual for an 8 year old to want one of his parents to linger at bedtime. I have fond memories of my own Mom (now deceased) lying down with me at night until she, I mean, I fell asleep. :)

 

The OP said he can't fall asleep with someone in the room. I don't know if that means their family if 3 can't sleep in the same hotel room - my family of 7 has slept in the same room many, many times (my kids can literally sleep anywhere, most of them are the first ones out at a sleepover - dd13 and dd15 slept in a twin bed with another friend for a week overseas with their dance teacher).

[grapau27]

RCI acknowledge people want connecting rooms by having them in the first place so to give false information has ruined someones cruise and they really need to help this family properly.

 

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[JVilleGal]

RCI acknowledge people want connecting rooms by having them in the first place so to give false information has ruined someones cruise and they really need to help this family properly.

 

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Ruined someone's vacation? Oh give me a break! This is an unappreciated inconvenience that should not have happened but no ones vacation has been ruined.

 

 

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[LisaT91403]

I never said my vacation was ruined. I was very sad and disappointed, and it's not going the way we planned...but I will not let it ruin my vacation.

 

I'm not going to address every comment, as I don't want to spend my vacation dwelling on this. I appreciate the support, and laugh at some of the sillier comments.

 

My son's first cruise was at 12 months old, again at 3, 5, 6 and 8. Believe me, I know things don't always go as planned. We are dealing.

 

The funny thing is that, at first, Guest Relations and Hotel said that the "mistake" happened because we booked before the ship was built. They were under the impression that, while the Royal website might show the incorrect deck plan, their internal deck plans on the ship were correct. They were shocked when they checked their own plans and they were wrong too.

 

I am making it a mission to make sure this is not ignored, and gets updated so that others aren't in my position.

 

Thanks again. Off to the casino!

Edited December 19, 2016 by LisaT91403

[JVilleGal]

Have a great trip and enjoy your family!

 

 

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