Allure of the Seas Western Change in Itinerary

[tlund]

Booked our cruise back in May on the Allure.  I know that the ship is having propulsion issues and has altered some of the Eastern Caribbean itineraries.  I was in the process of looking at shore excursions and just noticed the itinerary for our Western is now changed.  Instead of going to Roatan, the ship is going to Nassau.  The days we were to be in Cozumel and Costa Maya have also been changed.  I did not receive any notice of the change in the itinerary and I am the travel agent.  Good thing I looked again as we were in the process of booking some private excursions.  I would have booked and not been in port for the days that were booked.  Just thought I'd let others know to look at their current itineraries.  It's obvious the ship is trying to stay close to Florida. 

[Clarea]

You might want to mention the sailing date for others who may be on the same cruise.

[tlund]

Sailing date is January 12, 2020 but I looked at all the Westerns that previously included Cozumel, Costa Maya, Coco Cay and Roatan and Roatan is missing on all and replaced with Nassau.

[SamTimeDining]

No offense, but you're a Travel Agent and only just now hearing about the Allure propulsion issues and itinerary changes? It's been *quite* the topic of interest on here as well as elsewhere for the past few months (if not even further back). 

[tlund]

1 minute ago, SamTimeDining said:

No offense, but you're a Travel Agent and only just now hearing about the Allure propulsion issues and itinerary changes? It's been *quite* the topic of interest on here as well as elsewhere for the past few months (if not even further back). 

Please read my post.  I DID say that I was aware of the propulsion issues but only the Eastern itineraries were previously affected.  

[CruisinCons]

I'm really surprised you didn't get a notification.  Allure's propulsion issues have created itinerary changes for Oasis too, over 30 sailings have been impacted.  We're on Oasis in December and we got two emails from our TA about it.  We're sailing with a bunch of friends, many using different agents, and we all got notifications.  

 

You better check the sailings that you've booked for your clients - you should've received multiple notifications at this point.

[tlund]

2 minutes ago, CruisinCons said:

I'm really surprised you didn't get a notification.  Allure's propulsion issues have created itinerary changes for Oasis too, over 30 sailings have been impacted.  We're on Oasis in December and we got two emails from our TA about it.  We're sailing with a bunch of friends, many using different agents, and we all got notifications.  

 

You better check the sailings that you've booked for your clients - you should've received multiple notifications at this point.

Again, the sailings that were previously affected were Eastern Caribbean, not Western.  It is now obvious that they are changing the Westerns as well and skipping sailings to Roatan as it would take to long to get back to Florida.  I think I would know if I received any notification from Royal.  I don't need to check again and at the present time, I do not have any other clients that need to worry about those sailings, but hey, thanks for the professional advice.

[CruisinCons]

6 minutes ago, tlund said:

Again, the sailings that were previously affected were Eastern Caribbean, not Western.  It is now obvious that they are changing the Westerns as well and skipping sailings to Roatan as it would take to long to get back to Florida.  I think I would know if I received any notification from Royal.  I don't need to check again and at the present time, I do not have any other clients that need to worry about those sailings, but hey, thanks for the professional advice.

 

Cruise Critic is all about giving professional advice, I'm sure you've noticed by now.  But so you know, RCCL sent out notifications around July 25th of all the western caribbean sailings that were affected. 

[tlund]

4 minutes ago, CruisinCons said:

 

Cruise Critic is all about giving professional advice, I'm sure you've noticed by now.  But so you know, RCCL sent out notifications around July 25th of all the western caribbean sailings that were affected. 

Since I have been a member for quite some time, I am very aware of what Cruise Critic is all about.  That is the exact reason for my post.  That's great that Royal sent out notices on July 25th, however, I can emphatically say that I did not receive a notice (therefore I have to assume that others have not as well).  My post was to provide that notice to others and not be questioned about my abilities to book or manage a cruise or be told that I should have known about the Allure's propulsion issues before.

[P.A.]

49 minutes ago, CruisinCons said:

I'm really surprised you didn't get a notification.  Allure's propulsion issues have created itinerary changes for Oasis too, over 30 sailings have been impacted.  We're on Oasis in December and we got two emails from our TA about it.  We're sailing with a bunch of friends, many using different agents, and we all got notifications.  

 

You better check the sailings that you've booked for your clients - you should've received multiple notifications at this point.

I am on the Allure to the Eastern Caribbean in Feb and neither I or my TA got notified which I think is ridiculous!! It's a simple email that can say the exact same thing to all the guest effected. It just doesn't make sense.

[motheroftwocats814]

I didn't think TA's were allowed to mention they were TA's on CC?

[Clarea]

9 minutes ago, motheroftwocats814 said:

I didn't think TA's were allowed to mention they were TA's on CC?

 

Not an issue for someone to say they are a TA. 

[motheroftwocats814]

Just now, Host Clarea said:

 

Not an issue for someone to say they are a TA. 

Thanks for the clarification 

[Djsmrs]

We didn’t receive any notices about our itinerary change on eastern either.  Neither did my TA.  I knew it was probably coming so kept an eye on it.   So odd that they weren’t sent - I know they have my email on file.  

[Iamcruzin]

And this is why I don't book through a Travel agent. Too many operating out of their garage as a hobby only to receive benefits for themselves.

Edited August 19, 2019 by Iamcruzin

[PhoenixCruiser]

And this is why I don't book through a Travel agent. Too many operating out of their garage as a hobby only to receive benefits for themselves.

Sometimes thoughts are better kept unsaid

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

[Bobal]

The change in ports was discussed on the Roll Call for that cruise some weeks ago 

 

 

[Clarea]

6 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

And this is why I don't book through a Travel agent. Too many operating out of their garage as a hobby only to receive benefits for themselves.

 

This is why you have to choose the correct travel agent.

[doones2]

7 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

And this is why I don't book through a Travel agent. Too many operating out of their garage as a hobby only to receive benefits for themselves.

Wow!!!! I thought this site was to help other cruisers, not belittle them. Your remarks were offensive to me and probably most on this site.

[Iamcruzin]

1 minute ago, doones2 said:

Wow!!!! I thought this site was to help other cruisers, not belittle them. Your remarks were offensive to me and probably most on this site.

Sorry I'm sure there are many good dedicated travel agents out there but if the OP isn't on top of their own booking how are they managing others? While Royal Caribbean should have emailed a notification even I know from following these boards that there is a lot they don't do properly. However they must have updated the cruise planner and you don't need a travel agent or Royal Caribbean to inform you of any changes. Also there are some here who have stayed on top of their own booking even though they booked through a TA. 

 

There are many out there who pay a  start up fee to belong to a travel agent search engine company who primarily use the site for booking there own and maybe friends and family cruises. They use the commission as a built in discount and perhaps find a few clients along the way. Those are the ones to be made aware of because it's a hobby not a career.

[mayleeman]

16 hours ago, motheroftwocats814 said:

I didn't think TA's were allowed to mention they were TA's on CC?

 

They can't solicit business or give their website or include any other advertising. A thread like this one is not likely to steer anyone to a TA who was not aware of the itinerary changes to the Allure announced over a month ago, and who then gets snippy when told other people had known about them.

 

It does seem from the thousands of posts I have read here that no one is safe in assuming RC will provide all the pertinent info for an existing cruise. You might not expect ordinary cruisers to know this, but regular CC members know, and I would think a TA would be more aware of the need to be proactive and periodically check on things.

 

Goin' along with @Iamcruzin on this one!

Edited August 19, 2019 by mayleeman

[tlund]

8 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Sorry I'm sure there are many good dedicated travel agents out there but if the OP isn't on top of their own booking how are they managing others? While Royal Caribbean should have emailed a notification even I know from following these boards that there is a lot they don't do properly. However they must have updated the cruise planner and you don't need a travel agent or Royal Caribbean to inform you of any changes. Also there are some here who have stayed on top of their own booking even though they booked through a TA. 

 

There are many out there who pay a  start up fee to belong to a travel agent search engine company who primarily use the site for booking there own and maybe friends and family cruises. They use the commission as a built in discount and perhaps find a few clients along the way. Those are the ones to be made aware of because it's a hobby not a career.

I am not one of those and don't appreciate being questioned about my ability.  Even travel agents don't have the time (and neither do I for my own booking) to stare at the booking every moment.  When a cruise is booked way in advance, I don't think anyone checks on a daily basis.  I have been watching, although not every moment of every day, and just noticed the change.  That means it was changed rather recently.  My intention was to let others know so they could check their own bookings, which is a benefit I have received as someone who watches these boards (again, not on a daily basis because I do have other responsibilities).  If you don't like travel agents, feel free to book however you choose, but don't make a general criticism of a profession.

[motheroftwocats814]

6 hours ago, mayleeman said:

 

They can't solicit business or give their website or include any other advertising. A thread like this one is not likely to steer anyone to a TA who was not aware of the itinerary changes to the Allure announced over a month ago, and who then gets snippy when told other people had known about them.

 

It does seem from the thousands of posts I have read here that no one is safe in assuming RC will provide all the pertinent info for an existing cruise. You might not expect ordinary cruisers to know this, but regular CC members know, and I would think a TA would be more aware of the need to be proactive and periodically check on things.

 

Goin' along with @Iamcruzin on this one!

This!

[springfire]

We always transfer our bookings to one of our Travel Agents.   We compare our approved travel agents and we use the one that gives us the most OBC and perks.   You are leaving lots of money behind, if you are leaving your booking with Royal.

[tlund]

7 hours ago, mayleeman said:

 

They can't solicit business or give their website or include any other advertising. A thread like this one is not likely to steer anyone to a TA who was not aware of the itinerary changes to the Allure announced over a month ago, and who then gets snippy when told other people had known about them.

 

It does seem from the thousands of posts I have read here that no one is safe in assuming RC will provide all the pertinent info for an existing cruise. You might not expect ordinary cruisers to know this, but regular CC members know, and I would think a TA would be more aware of the need to be proactive and periodically check on things.

 

Goin' along with @Iamcruzin on this one!

Consider how much time you spend on pre-planning and preparing for your personal cruise, especially in the time period close to sailing.  Now imagine doing that for a group travelling to Europe for their first trip to Europe.  In that same time period, imagine having to also handle plans for a larger group that you are escorting in the next few weeks from Canada to Hawaii.  So, the fact that I have not been combing the boards and logging in to the Cruise Planner daily in the last few weeks for my own personal booking sailing in 5 months does not warrant criticism that is being given.   The main point of my post was to let others know that no notice was provided, not even to the TA of record, so it would be recommended to check bookings..