Symphony - terrible / no shows / Covid ?

[Ocean Boy]

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

That's me. ..though I'm already booked jan 30 and have a nonrefundable hotel jan 29th. I've seen the shows on loberty so wouldnt matter too much if they cancelled.

 

I've watched may all week and prices havent budged, though from all the negative posts I was hopeful of lower prices. 

Same here, I've been watching pricing on Allure for Jan and it isn't moving. More cabins are appearing though.

[firefly333]

22 hours ago, Pratique said:

They could first ask for voluntary cancelations. Then move to involuntary cancelations. The expenses are at the traveler's risk. I paid extra for refundable airfare to Miami next month just in case we test positive before leaving or if something else changes. This is not magical thinking.

It's one thing to cancel a cruise, it's another to pick and choose just certain pax and cancel them to lower capacity. I'd be screaming if I was cancelled and the cruise went on without me. You say my expenses are on me like hotel, parking or whatever I paid. 

 

If people who had the chance to cancel and are screaming about stuff on the ship being cancelling, rcl picking and choosing would really set people off.

[Sigma Cruiser]

First cabins appear in the inventory after cancellations. Then prices will tend to drop…but not significantly. However; any drop in prices for those already booked for their category of room will result in OBC(if you call in). 

[Ride-The-Waves]

RCCL is fully to blame.  They set the capacity levels.  They set how protocols will be monitored.  They set how crew must behave/react to non-maskers and protocol violators.  Bumping these huge ships, which are over-crowded on a normal cruise, up to full capacity to make $$$ during the Christmas/New Years period is a policy decision that flaunts safety.  There will always be a few non-vaxxers/non-maskers in the crowd just as there are at the local supermarket.  Those people must be dealt with quickly and efficiently.  These huge ships have large security staffs.  Just a couple of security responses to corral those who flaunt the protocols is sufficient to "correct" passenger behavior.  If you want too cruise, follow the rules.  Just like driving a car on the highway:  follow the rules.

[rich_cathybrock]

On 12/26/2021 at 9:59 AM, DirtyDawg said:

I wonder haw many of these complaint threads we'd get here on CC if Symphony had closed it's casino for the cruise rather than cancelling the shows? 🤔

I wonder how many complaints you'd see here if they closed the bars. 

 

If we have learned nothing else from this pandemic, we all ought to try to be kinder to one another.  Cruises offer so many things:  fine entertainment, numerous music and drinking venues, quiet nooks to read and decompress, excellent activities for young and old alike and a wide variety of excellent dining options to name only a few. 

 

Regardless of which of these activities are the reason(s) we cruise, it is wrong to be dismissive of someone else's disappointment predicated solely on the fact that it would not be an issue for you.  I don't drink, haven't in 30 years and counting, and I would never disregard someone else's disappointment if their favorite beverage ran out.  Ultimately, it is the value we get for the "whole package" that makes cruising an attractive option.  I agree with OP that this fell far below expectations for him, and I would have been equally dissatisfied.

 

We have now rolled 5 cancellations over 2 years into a kings' ransom worth of certificates.  I have to use by May and sail by December 2022 or lose them and as my son is getting married later this year, options are limited.  I was thinking of rolling it onto a May Oasis out of Bayonne, and if there is no Aquatheater or limited Casino access on our first cruise on Aqua Class ship, we would be very disappointed indeed. 

 

It seems they overbooked, and it was a mistake.  Now let's see how they handle lessons learned, and hopefully they will do better in future.

[Maitaivegas]

Well I guess I will add my .02 cents.

1. I will be sad if there is no big show but I would rather the crew quarantine than spread Covid.

2. Running out of mixers and alcohol is 100% RCL fault, there is no excuse for that, keep better inventory records.

 

3. I am looking forward to trivia the most and if it is cancelled I will be bummed.

I guess I will have to get there really early to get a seat, if they have it.

 

People wearing chin/nose masks drives me nuts and my DD told me not to argue with people about it.

[rich_cathybrock]

 

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

It's one thing to cancel a cruise, it's another to pick and choose just certain pax and cancel them to lower capacity. I'd be screaming if I was cancelled and the cruise went on without me. You say my expenses are on me like hotel, parking or whatever I paid. 

 

If people who had the chance to cancel and are screaming about stuff on the ship being cancelling, rcl picking and choosing would really set people off.

Offer them $250/pp to cancel in FCC and step it up until you get enough takers - airlines have been doing it for years.  It is ultimately far less costly than this PR debacle.

 

[Maitaivegas]

1 minute ago, rich_cathybrock said:

 

Offer them $250/pp to cancel in FCC and step it up until you get enough takers - airlines have been doing it for years.  It is ultimately far less costly than this PR debacle.

 

I probably would cancel if they gave me my money back as a refund.

I don’t want future cruise credit because I probably would not cruise with Royal Caribbean again.

[A&L_Ont]

On 12/28/2021 at 1:57 AM, DevonfromAcme said:

 

Not sure what is "unethical" about it?  From what we know so far:

 

-- The crew CANNOT social distance.  There is literally not enough square footage below decks to keep them apart.

--  Covid is spreading among the crew.

-- Positives among passengers are minimal.

-- The number of positive crew members is impacting the ability of ships to dock at scheduled ports.

-- RCI is offloading positive crew members to isolation ships at St Martin and Coco Cay to minimize infection and allow sailings to continue onward.

 

I'm just not sure what's unethical about this?  What, exactly, are you expecting RCI to do as an alternative?

I think this is ingenious. I have no concerns with this. 

[danielwje1]

Yet another day at sea with nothing to do all day 

[nocl]

10 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

 

 

Can we infer that the positivity rate on those tests are very high?

No information to infer anything.  While there have been some positives on the tests for those returning to other countries and require them, there have not been any reports of large numbers.  No way to quantify the number.  Only some antidotal reports.

[danielwje1]

Just a suggestion, it would be nice to keep this thread on topic around the Symphony and experiences of people. 
 

i don’t think it’s the place to be debating Covid, vaccines or politics. 

[Iamcruzin]

5 minutes ago, UNCFanatik said:

 

 

 

NY has both mask and vaccine mandates in place but yet are seeing highest surge levels of pandemic.

 

 

People are still not getting vaccinated in NY and are wearing mask underneath their nose. The bank my son works for gave a deadline to be fully vaccinated.   Between covid cases in the branch and those who refused to get vaccinated they had to close that branch temporarily  and send vaccinated staff to other branches. Those admitted to the hospital were not vaccinated. Those who are vaccinated are experiencing mild symptoms if they have covid.  They keep talking about canceling elective procedures in hospitals again.

[luckyinpa]

2 hours ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

RCCL is fully to blame.  They set the capacity levels.  They set how protocols will be monitored.  They set how crew must behave/react to non-maskers and protocol violators.  Bumping these huge ships, which are over-crowded on a normal cruise, up to full capacity to make $$$ during the Christmas/New Years period is a policy decision that flaunts safety.  There will always be a few non-vaxxers/non-maskers in the crowd just as there are at the local supermarket.  Those people must be dealt with quickly and efficiently.  These huge ships have large security staffs.  Just a couple of security responses to corral those who flaunt the protocols is sufficient to "correct" passenger behavior.  If you want too cruise, follow the rules.  Just like driving a car on the highway:  follow the rules.

 

I dont follow the news really nor endorse this. but if they kicked one group of people off the ship for not wearing a mask wouldnt that have an effect on the crowd? they def have the right to do so under their terms

[Pratique]

2 hours ago, firefly333 said:

It's one thing to cancel a cruise, it's another to pick and choose just certain pax and cancel them to lower capacity. I'd be screaming if I was cancelled and the cruise went on without me. You say my expenses are on me like hotel, parking or whatever I paid. 

 

If people who had the chance to cancel and are screaming about stuff on the ship being cancelling, rcl picking and choosing would really set people off.

I'd be furious too. But also playing out right now are angry guests lining up at the guest services desk demanding answers for the service reductions, and management is hiding in conference rooms because they can't provide enough guest service recovery to make anyone happy.

[danielwje1]

Captain sounds like he’s reading from a PR statement at the 12:00 announcements. 
 

To “Keep us all safe and well informed” but yet proceeds to provide no information all week on what is going on. 

[nocl]

1 hour ago, rich_cathybrock said:

 

Offer them $250/pp to cancel in FCC and step it up until you get enough takers - airlines have been doing it for years.  It is ultimately far less costly than this PR debacle.

 

There are also laws that prevent airlines from just bumping passengers without compensation like they used to do prior to the laws being passed.  Cruise lines are not covered by any such regulations.

 

 

[joeyancho]

On 12/25/2021 at 1:48 AM, DevonfromAcme said:

With all due respect, what did you expect?

 

You booked a gigantic ship AT CHRISTMAS (literally THE premium week of the entire year), during a pandemic.

 

I'm really not sure what you're asking, here. . .

 

Don't be rude. You know what they expected, a reasonable facsimile of how cruising is. They did not book for just a boat ride

[cruiselvr04]

3 hours ago, Maitaivegas said:

I would me mad if someone yelled at me like that.
I would never yell at someone for not wearing a mask outside.

also I don’t yell at people, I kindly ask them to pull their mask up, DD calls that confrontation.

 

One time I asked someone “Can you please put your mask on”?  At the time we were under a mask mandate in our county, in a medical building which had signs posted, in an elevator.  Her mask was around her wrist.  I honestly just thought she forgot.  I was yelled at, called names and berated for 8 floors.  I was truly shocked someone could be so mean. I had just gotten a cancer treatment and sobbed all the way to the car, not because she hadn’t put a mask on but because of the hatred.  I’ve never said a word in public again and will not.  
 

I cruise accepting that not everyone will follow the rules.  I’m hopeful that Symphony gets its covid outbreak under control, that crew gets better quickly and the entertainment gets back on track.  I’d be disappointed but you also have to have a good attitude.  Maybe free in room movies to compensate?

[danielwje1]

For anyone onboard, we just noticed this afternoon that all movies are now free on the TV. This wasn’t the case when we boarded.

 

seems like a missed opportunity not to promote this to guests (unless I missed the memo?) 

[tcneal]

1 hour ago, danielwje1 said:

For anyone onboard, we just noticed this afternoon that all movies are now free on the TV. This wasn’t the case when we boarded.

 

seems like a missed opportunity not to promote this to guests (unless I missed the memo?) 

Thanks.   I will take a look.  I didn't get the memo either. 

[MrMarc]

5 hours ago, tcneal said:

Royal just sent out the warning for future cruises that people here have been talking about.   We can say we should have known but we forget very few cruisers read these boards.  Obviously Royal finally recognized the issue that so many people here believe are just petty complaints. 

A few of the complaints may petty, but most of us have understood the disappointment, just not the attitude and some of the expectations are impossible.  The point I think most of us are trying to make is this should not have been a surprise, and although it sucks, they are not owed any compensation under the cruise contract.  So everyone onboard has 2 choices: either try to make the best out of a bad situation or make themselves, people around them and the crew more miserable.  It's his choice.  However most of the posters do not support doing the latter, which is clearly what the original poster is doing,  So I am totally confused as to what you or anyone on the ship wants people to do or say on these boards.  We can't fix it, and we don't have to condone the posters attitude or actions.  

[MrMarc]

3 hours ago, danielwje1 said:

For anyone onboard, we just noticed this afternoon that all movies are now free on the TV. This wasn’t the case when we boarded.

 

seems like a missed opportunity not to promote this to guests (unless I missed the memo?) 

Or you could say something like: Hey, I just found out all the movies are free, so tell anyone that doesn't know so they can watch the free movies.  There is a huge difference on how it will make you and everyone around you feel.

[snoope]

When do we expect the entertainment crew out of quarantine and back on board? Should be a week or two?

[Jarmo]

3 hours ago, danielwje1 said:

For anyone onboard, we just noticed this afternoon that all movies are now free on the TV. This wasn’t the case when we boarded.

 

seems like a missed opportunity not to promote this to guests (unless I missed the memo?) 

Should probably go to GS, let them know, and tell them to charge your account for the oversight.