No Show Question

[Cyn874]

I'm supposed to be cruising with my Mom at the end of August. We booked our cruise back in November 2018 during a special "Buy one, get 2nd guest half off" sale, and we got an interior QTY cabin, so the fare was relatively inexpensive. 

 

Since then, my Mom has had some big life changes, recently entered a new relationship and just moved halfway across the country a couple of weeks ago. She's pretty busy getting settled in a new home, in a different state, with a new family, as well as has some declining health problems. She's already hinted to me that she isn't sure she wants to go, and things seem kind of up in the air right now. 

 

I've always been curious about solo cruising and honestly would not mind doing the cruise alone, with her as a 'no show', if she decides she really doesn't want to go. We are beyond the time frame for her to cancel and get a refund, and doing so would also refare me at the CURRENT rate which would likely be much more expensive than at the time of our original booking. 

 

I've never been in this situation and I have heard of people doing this, with one person traveling solo and the other party being a 'no show'. But how is this supposed to be handled? Do I need to notify the cruise line in advance? Do I just mention it when I check in at the cruise terminal? Would that cause a problem with boarding? 

[taglovestocruise]

You just check in and let them know the other person will not be arriving. The no show person will have port fees and taxes plus anything they pre ordered put back on the cc they used to book. 

[Coralc]

Don't cancel her. You will be fine if she is a no show. You will also receive 2 points per night for the sailing. 

 

Her taxes and port fees will be refunded to the credit card used for the purchase. I suppose that it is possible that they would re-fare the cabin if you cancel her. Since you said it was relatively inexpensive, I would just let her be a no show. It is odd when mom's flake out, isn't it?  My mom did something similar 10 days before a cruise. But it all worked out, because then a tree fell on her house rendering it uninhabitable. So her travel insurance paid.  

 

Have fun! 

Edited July 12, 2019 by Coralc

[Ashland]

Print out your own boarding document...check in at the terminal...no need to say anything...no one will ask or care. Port fees & taxes will be refunded for the no show within a few weeks to the credit card used to make the final payment.

 

We have had this happen a few times and even with more than one no show...no worries...Enjoy your cruise !!!

Edited July 13, 2019 by Ashland

[dodge9]

If you are under 100% penalty you can cancel her without being refared.  You may also be able to do a name change with only a name change fee, typically around $50.  If you are NOT within 100% penalty, you would then be refared, so it is best to wait until you are within 100% penalty.  The only hiccup is if the fare was based on your Mother (senior rate, past guest rate, casino etc based specifically on her).  If that is the case you will be refared regardless.  The other issue would be if  you are booked under a no refund deposit rate, as then when canceling mom, she would be penalized that amount, but if you are within 100% penalty that doesn't apply, would only apply if doing a name change.  Good luck and safe travels!

[cruisinfanatic]

26 minutes ago, dodge9 said:

If you are under 100% penalty you can cancel her without being refared.  You may also be able to do a name change with only a name change fee, typically around $50.  If you are NOT within 100% penalty, you would then be refared, so it is best to wait until you are within 100% penalty.  The only hiccup is if the fare was based on your Mother (senior rate, past guest rate, casino etc based specifically on her).  If that is the case you will be refared regardless.  The other issue would be if  you are booked under a no refund deposit rate, as then when canceling mom, she would be penalized that amount, but if you are within 100% penalty that doesn't apply, would only apply if doing a name change.  Good luck and safe travels!

There is no name change fee and there is no change in cost to do it no matter when. Never has been.

The OP is sailing in August, obviously in panalty

[dodge9]

5 minutes ago, cruisinfanatic said:

There is no name change fee and there is no change in cost to do it no matter when. Never has been.

The OP is sailing in August, obviously in panalty

There is a difference in being in penalty and being in 100% penalty... anything less than 100% penalty you are refared.  Depending on your fare code and how close you are to the cruise, name changes can incur a fee or not be permitted.

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, dodge9 said:

There is a difference in being in penalty and being in 100% penalty... anything less than 100% penalty you are refared.  Depending on your fare code and how close you are to the cruise, name changes can incur a fee or not be permitted.

 

My understanding was that Royal allowed name changes up to 24 hours before the cruise, no charge.

[dodge9]

7 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

My understanding was that Royal allowed name changes up to 24 hours before the cruise, no charge.

There are situations where it is not the case... specific fares tied to the cancelling party is one... for instace if "Jim" is booked under a special senior fare and the other passenger is not a senior and no refund deposit fares have different ties to them as well. It is not as easy as it once was.  

[Ourusualbeach]

12 minutes ago, dodge9 said:

There is a difference in being in penalty and being in 100% penalty... anything less than 100% penalty you are refared.  Depending on your fare code and how close you are to the cruise, name changes can incur a fee or not be permitted.

Name changes are permitted at no charge on North American bookings up to 24 hours prior to sailing regardless of type of fare booked.

[Ourusualbeach]

Just now, dodge9 said:

There are situations where it is not the case... specific fares tied to the cancelling party is one... for instace if "Jim" is booked under a special senior fare and the other passenger is not a senior and no refund deposit fares have different ties to them as well. It is not as easy as it once was.  

There is still no charge for the name change.  They may lose the special fare for the cabin without the qualifying individual but there is not a charge for changing the name 

[Cyn874]

In my case, everything was booked by me on my credit card, and there were no special rates tied to either of us, beyond the promotion going on when I booked the cruise. 

 

I would definitely NOT be canceling her from the reservation, it'd just be a no show. I just wasn't sure if I needed to declare her as a no show a certain amount of time before the date of sailing.

 

Edited July 13, 2019 by Cyn874

[Aduntu]

13 minutes ago, Cyn874 said:

In my case, everything was booked by me on my credit card, and there were no special rates tied to either of us, beyond the promotion going on when I booked the cruise. 

 

I would definitely NOT be canceling her from the reservation, it'd just be a no show. I just wasn't sure if I needed to declare her as a no show a certain amount of time before the date of sailing.

 

 

I thought the Vacation Protection Plan covered you for cancellation up to 75% in future cruise credit?

Edited July 13, 2019 by Aduntu

[Coralc]

So...that would be 75% of $629 or a $471 credit on a future cruise. 

[Coralc]

Gratuities and Taxes, fees and port charges will be refunded to passenger 2. ($282.29) . $59 insurance charge remains. That is where the $629 comes from. It is not quite as straightforward as you would think. And it is a disappointing amount. (previous experience) 

Edited July 13, 2019 by Coralc

[SuzD123]

6 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

My understanding was that Royal allowed name changes up to 24 hours before the cruise, no charge.

This is correct.  A couple years ago DD was booked with me to celebrate her college graduation.  However, days before sailing she accepted a job offer and her start date conflicted with our sail dates.  Go figure...she chose the career over a vacation?  😉 . Anyway, I was easily able to change the name on the booking at no cost to a friend who sailed instead.  The airline name change fee was another story.  Fast forward a couple years, DD finally got her graduation cruise and she has her dream job.

Edited July 13, 2019 by SuzD123

[Clarea]

6 minutes ago, SuzD123 said:

This is correct.  A couple years ago DD was booked with me to celebrate her college graduation.  However, days before sailing she accepted a job offer and her start date conflicted with our sail dates.  Go figure...she chose the career over a vacation?  😉 . Anyway, I was easily able to change the name on the booking at no cost to a friend who sailed instead.  The airline name change fee was another story.  Fast forward a couple years, DD finally got her graduation cruise and she has her dream job.

 

Thanks for the confirmation and congratulations to your daughter.😊

[molly361]

When I did this last year they asked about my husband at check in and I just told them I didn't know if he was going to make it (I knew he wasn't coming) and that was that.  Got my taxes back and double points

 

There is no upside to letting them know if advance and potentaily a big downside (re-pricing)

[Clarea]

3 minutes ago, molly361 said:

 ...

There is no upside to letting them know if advance and potentaily a big downside (re-pricing)

 

Agree, big potential downside.

[cruisinfanatic]

7 hours ago, dodge9 said:

There are situations where it is not the case... specific fares tied to the cancelling party is one... for instace if "Jim" is booked under a special senior fare and the other passenger is not a senior and no refund deposit fares have different ties to them as well. It is not as easy as it once was.  

You are wrong. I can see if the person whose being exchanged had a special fare such as Sr the cruise could be repriced, but other than that, there are no fare changes or fees to make the change regardless of when it happens up to 24 hrs before cruise date

[ZoeyVictoria]

There is a line on the invoice, “YH07-Club Royale-Casino”, that makes it appear to me that the rate may have been a casino rate.  If that is the case, who received the casino offer?  If it was Mom, I think there might be a problem if she does not cruise.

[Snit13]

7 hours ago, Cyn874 said:

In my case, everything was booked by me on my credit card, and there were no special rates tied to either of us, beyond the promotion going on when I booked the cruise. 

 

I would definitely NOT be canceling her from the reservation, it'd just be a no show. I just wasn't sure if I needed to declare her as a no show a certain amount of time before the date of sailing.

 

I find it difficult to believe you paid that much for an inside cabin.  How long is this cruise and on what ship.  To me that is a lot of money for an inside cabin.  Hope all works out for you.  I suggest you follow the advice some of our frequent cruisers and experts have given you and just show up and enjoy.  If they ask about mom when you check in do as Ellen said about her husband and just say she wasn't able to make it.  Enjoy your solo.

[ZoeyVictoria]

1 minute ago, Snit13 said:

I find it difficult to believe you paid that much for an inside cabin.  How long is this cruise and on what ship.  To me that is a lot of money for an inside cabin.  Hope all works out for you.  I suggest you follow the advice some of our frequent cruisers and experts have given you and just show up and enjoy.  If they ask about mom when you check in do as Ellen said about her husband and just say she wasn't able to make it.  Enjoy your solo.

 

Gratuities are for 7 nights.

[cruisinfanatic]

25 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

I find it difficult to believe you paid that much for an inside cabin.  How long is this cruise and on what ship.  To me that is a lot of money for an inside cabin.  Hope all works out for you.  I suggest you follow the advice some of our frequent cruisers and experts have given you and just show up and enjoy.  If they ask about mom when you check in do as Ellen said about her husband and just say she wasn't able to make it.  Enjoy your solo.

Alaska cruises are expensive!!!!

[Lady Hudson]

Due to DH’s health he has been a no show several times this year.  We always take the RC insurance and have received the 75% voucher for a future cruise.  One time, booking thru the casino, I never applied for the 75% voucher.  The cruise fare was so cheap to begin with it wasn’t worth my effort.  Every time we have received back the taxes, port charges, etc.  All was taken care of efficiently and quickly by Royal so no worries.  Enjoy your trip.  Katherine