CruisingHogFan

It’s a little expensive currently but no worse than everything else. About the only way you can get away away from the crowds at the pools or loungers near the beach. Hideaway is great for a party atmosphere but it’s just as packed as the big pool with 2 larger ships in port. I rather pay extra and have a better experience

Beach Club….

It dropped to $180 this week for our June Icon cruise. We paid $150 in March on Oasis

I planned on it except for the deluxe drink package for me since everyone has to have it in the room. Figure it would just refund once I no showed.

What happens to cruise planner purchases if I have a couple that wants to take over the booking? Do the names transfer for the onboard purchases or is everything canceled and must be rebooked? I have the drink packages and 3 night dining package which is sold out.

Thanks!! This is what I expected. I don't mind the cancellation fee. It will be less than 1k as of now. It’s just losing the great price we have and I’ve been looking a replacement dates. Every sailing on Icon for the next year is at least double what we paid. Plus I have the deluxe package at $70 and refreshment at $23. Guess I can see if some TAs have any blocked off rooms left as I usually book on my own

We always buy insurance just not the xtra for cancel for any reason. If we end up canceling I’m still coming out ahead over the years buy not getting it as this is the first time I’ve had a issue

Yes, that’s my understanding as well but thought I would ask on here. We have a room for 3 and could “sell” our cruise to friends but I rather not go through that.

We have Icon booked in June (great price the day it went on sale) and we just passed final payment date a couple weeks ago. We found this week that summer school is that week so we may have to change our plans. Anyone had any luck moving dates past final payment date (not looking for money back)? I know we could have moved for a $100 per person penalty before final payment but I think that doesn’t apply now. We could cancel pay the current penalties as a last resort. Just curious of real life experiences with Royal.

We just got off Oasis last week and was the first ship to be canceled for Labadee. There is way more to it then “passenger safety” for the cancellation. It’s not even the main reason. We also booked a driver in Falmouth that took us into Ocho Rios so we could explore on our own for the day. Never felt unsafe. Did the same in Nassau… For the people that are so scared of these ports why even cruise/spend money in the first place??

Ours (exactly the same) was taken last week also on Oasis along with many other passengers. I asked when I picked it up and they have changed the rules. Anything with multiple outlets are not allowed. It doesn’t matter if it has surge protection or not, corded or no cord. Not allowed anymore. I’m sure some are still getting past security.

Maybe so, but those prices aren’t happening on the new ships….

We call and buy one deluxe package and one refreshment then I give my vouchers to her since she only has 7-8 drinks a day. Makes for a pretty good discount!!!

Black Friday sales haven’t been great the last 3 years for the Deluxe package. Usually find the best price at a random time

Many sailings are having the best sale in a really long time at 35% off including Icon at $70.99

If you have time go to the Senior and Co and get some Curaçao (original as there are lots of replicas) the blue makes a great margarita but the secret is the Chukulati. Makes a perfect chocolate old fashion

$65 is currently MSRP and I’ll sometimes buy it at that price if I need a xtra or two. Anything more is too much for such an average bottle. Blanton’s makes a great gift to impress for people that don’t know bourbon. Now the SFTB is a different story but I’ve never seen it on the ships.

Prior to Covid you could find good deals on Blanton’s but now it’s not worth it. I think I saw it for 99.99 on our last sailing which is crazy

I agree with this! Used once and will never use again. I argued for days before finally convincing American Airlines to pull the booking from them which is rare.

Just call Royal and book a deluxe and a refreshment package per room.

I was thinking you had to have a passport but didn’t look it up. We did our global entry when we flew back into Miami right after things opened back up from Covid. There was a year plus wait at most of the major airports at that time. I also just renewed my passport and had the new one within 3 weeks with standard processing. global entry for our 13 year took about a month after completing the interview for her to get the card this summer.

You went through the hassle to get Global Entry but don’t have a passport? Guess I don’t see the point since you have to have a passport to fly internationally. I haven’t seen a global entry kiosk at a cruise terminal. Guess it’s really not needed with all the upgrades since you even have to stop and talk with anyone. We have passports and use global entry with Clear. Helps a lot at the airports

Some sailings have a lower price on the Deluxe package right now. I just called (high volume/wait) so I could rebooked at $4 lower a day than it’s been in months.

I know what I’ve personally experienced and also know what my polices will provide so I’m not here to argue. All I have to say is good luck if anyone that has issues and needs to fly home without a passport.

I just don’t understand how people and spend thousands of dollars on a trip but won’t protect themselves for a couple hundred dollars. I didn’t even give my parents or adult child an option of not getting a passport when they decided to go on their first cruise with us. BTW, if you purchased insurance and don’t have a passport they aren’t going to try to get you home in case of an emergency…